§1.5.1A. d. V K. Maias cum de iis qui hostes iudicati sunt bello persequendis sententiae dicerentur, dixit Servilius etiam de Ventidio et ut Cassius persequeretur Dolabellam. arbitrarere utile exque re publica esse, persequerere bello Dolabellam; si minus id commodo rei publicae facere posses sive non existimares ex re publica esse, ut in isdem locis exercitum contineres.
On the fifth day before the Kalends of May, when opinions were being delivered concerning the pursuit of those who had been judged public enemies in war, Servilius spoke also concerning Ventidius and proposed that Cassius should pursue Dolabella. (The decree was that) if you should judge it to be useful and to the advantage of the republic, you should pursue Dolabella in war; but if you could not do so to the advantage of the republic, or if you did not think it to be in the interest of the republic, you should keep your army in the same places.
nihil honorificentius potuit facere senatus quam ut tuum esset iudicium quid tibi maxime conducere rei publicae videretur.
The senate could have done nothing more honorable than to leave it to your judgment what seemed to you to be most conducive to the interest of the republic.
equidem sic sentio, si manum habet, si castra, si ubi consistat uspiam Dolabella, ad finem et ad dignitatem tuam pertinere eum persequi.
Indeed, my own feeling is that, if Dolabella has a force, if he has a camp, if he has anywhere to make a stand, to pursue him concerns both the conclusion of the matter and your dignity.
§1.5.2de Cassi nostri copiis nihil sciebamus.
Concerning the forces of our Cassius we knew nothing.
neque enim ab ipso ullae litterae neque nuntiabatur quicquam quod pro certo haberemus.
For there were neither any letters from him, nor was anything reported which we could hold as certain.
quanto opere autem intersit opprimi Dolabellam profecto intellegis, cum ut sceleris poenas persolvat tum ne sit quo se latronum duces ex Mutinensi fuga conferant.
Moreover, you surely understand how very important it is that Dolabella be crushed, both so that he may pay the penalty for his crime, and so that there may be no place whither the leaders of the bandits may betake themselves in their flight from Mutina.
atque hoc mihi iam ante placuisse potes ex superioribus meis litteris recordari; quamquam tum et fugae portus erat in tuis castris et subsidium salutis in tuo exercitu.
And you can recall from my previous letters that this has already pleased me before; although at that time there was both a harbor of escape in your camp and a safeguard of safety in your army.
quo magis nunc liberati, ut spero, periculis in Dolabella opprimendo occupati esse debemus.
Therefore all the more now, having been freed, as I hope, from dangers, we ought to be occupied in crushing Dolabella.
sed haec cogitabis diligentius, statues sapienter; facies nos quid constitueris et quid agas, si tibi videbitur, certiores.
But you will consider these things more carefully, and decide wisely; you will make us informed of what you have determined and what you are doing, if it shall seem good to you.
§1.5.3Ciceronem nostrum in vestrum conlegium cooptari volo.
I wish our Cicero to be co-opted into your college.
existimo omnino absentium rationem sacerdotum comitiis posse haberi; nam etiam factum est antea.
I think that altogether the candidacy of absent persons can be admitted at the elections of priests; for it has even been done before.
Gaius enim Marius, cum in Cappadocia esset, lege Domitia factus est augur nec quo minus id postea liceret ulla lex sanxit.
For Gaius Marius, when he was in Cappadocia, was made augur by the Domitian law, nor did any law later decree that this should not be permitted.
est etiam in lege Iulia, quae lex est de sacerdotiis proxima, his verbis:
QVI PETET CVIVSVE RATIO HABEBITVR.
aperte indicat posse rationem haberi etiam non praesentis.
It is also in the Julian law, which is the most recent law concerning priesthoods, in these words: "WHOEVER SHALL SUE FOR OR WHOSE CANDIDACY SHALL BE ADMITTED." This openly indicates that the candidacy of even one who is not present can be admitted.
hac de re scripsi ad eum, ut tuo iudicio uteretur sicut in rebus omnibus; tibi autem statuendum est de Domitio, de Catone nostro.
On this matter I have written to him, that he should make use of your judgment as in all things; but it is for you to decide concerning Domitius and our Cato.
sed quamvis liceat absentis rationem haberi, tamen omnia sunt praesentibus faciliora.
But although it is permitted that the candidacy of an absent person be admitted, yet all things are easier for those who are present.
quod si statueris in Asiam tibi eundum, nulla erit ad comitia nostros accersendi facultas.
But if you determine that you must go to Asia, there will be no opportunity of summoning our people for the elections.
§1.5.4omnino Pansa vivo celeriora omnia putabamus.
Altogether, when Pansa was alive, we thought everything would be speedier.
statim enim conlegam sibi subrogavisset, deinde ante praetoria sacerdotum comitia fuissent.
For he would immediately have had a colleague elected in his own place, and then the elections of the priests would have taken place before the praetorian elections.
nunc per auspicia longam moram video.
Now, because of the auspices, I foresee a long delay.
dum enim unus erit patricius magistratus, auspicia ad patres redire non possunt.
For as long as there is even one patrician magistrate, the auspices cannot return to the patrician senators.
Magna sane perturbatio.
A great disturbance indeed.
tu tota de re quid sentias velim me facias certiorem.
I should like you to make me informed of what you think about this whole matter.
iii Nonas Maias.
On the third day before the Nones of May.