§2.3.1Litteras tuas valde exspecto, quas scripsisti post nuntios nostrarum rerum et de morte Treboni.
I am eagerly expecting your letter, which you wrote after the news of our affairs and about the death of Trebonius.
non enim dubito quin mihi consilium tuum explices.
For I do not doubt that you will unfold your counsel to me.
indigno scelere et civem optimum amisimus et provinciae possessione pulsi sumus, quam reciperari facile est neque minus turpe aut flagitiosum erit post reciperari.
By a shameful crime we have both lost an excellent citizen and been driven from the possession of the province, which is easy to recover, nor will it be any less shameful or disgraceful for it to be recovered late.
§2.3.2Antonius adhuc est nobiscum, sed medius fidius et moveor hominis precibus et timeo ne illum aliquorum furor excipiat.
Antonius is still with us, but by Hercules I am both moved by the man's entreaties and I fear lest the madness of some people may rescue him.
plane aestuo.
I am clearly in a fever of anxiety.
quod si scirem quid tibi placeret, sine sollicitudine essem; id enim optimum esse persuasum esset mihi.
If I knew what pleased you, I would be without anxiety; for I would be persuaded that that was the best course.
qua re quam primum fac me certiorem quid tibi placeat.
Therefore, as soon as possible make me informed of what pleases you.
§2.3.3Cassius noster Syriam, legiones Syriacas habet ultro quidem a Murco et a Marcio et ab exercitu ipso arcessitus.
Our Cassius holds Syria and the Syrian legions, having been summoned indeed of their own accord by Murcus and Marcius, and by the army itself.
ego scripsi ad Tertiam sororem et matrem ne prius ederent hoc quod optime ac felicissime gessit Cassius quam tuum consilium cognovissent tibique visum esset.
I have written to my sister Tertia and my mother not to publish this which Cassius has achieved so excellently and successfully, before they have known your counsel and it has seemed good to you.
§2.3.4legi orationes duas tuas, quarum altera Kal. Ian. usus es, altera de litteris meis, quae habita est abs te contra Calenum.
I have read your two speeches, of one of which you made use on the Kalends of January, and the other concerning my letter, which was delivered by you against Calenus.
nunc scilicet hoc exspectas dum eas laudem.
Now, of course, you are waiting for this, for me to praise them.
nescio animi an ingeni tui maior in his libellis laus contineatur; iam concedo ut vel Philippici vocentur, quod tu quadam epistula iocans scripsisti.
I know not whether a greater praise of your courage or of your genius is contained in these booklets; now I grant that they may even be called Philippics, which you wrote jokingly in a certain letter.
§2.3.5duabus rebus egemus, Cicero, pecunia et supplemento; quarum altera potest abs te expediri ut aliqua pars militum istinc mittatur nobis vel secreto consilio adversus Pansam vel actione in senatu, altera quo magis est necessaria neque meo exercitui magis quam reliquorum, hoc magis doleo Asiam nos amisisse; quam sic vexari a Dolabella audio ut iam non videatur crudelissimum eius facinus interfectio Treboni.
We are in need of two things, Cicero: money and reinforcements; of which the one can be procured by you, so that some part of the soldiers may be sent to us from there, either by a secret plan against Pansa or by action in the senate, the other, the more it is necessary, and not more for my army than for that of the rest, the more I grieve that we have lost Asia; which I hear is being so harassed by Dolabella that now the killing of Trebonius no longer seems to be his most cruel deed.
vetus Antistius me tamen pecunia sublevavit.
Antistius Vetus, however, has assisted me with money.
§2.3.6Cicero, filius tuus, sic mihi se probat industria, patientia, labore, animi magnitudine, omni denique officio ut prorsus numquam dimittere videatur cogitationem cuius sit filius.
Cicero, your son, so approves himself to me by his industry, endurance, labor, greatness of mind, and in short every duty, that he seems absolutely never to dismiss the thought of whose son he is.
qua re quoniam efficere non possum ut pluris facias eum qui tibi est carissimus, illud tribue iudicio meo ut tibi persuadeas non fore illi abutendum gloria tua ut adipiscatur honores paternos.
Therefore, since I cannot bring it about that you value more him who is dearest to you, grant this to my judgment: to persuade yourself that he will not have to abuse your glory to attain his father's honors.
Kalend. Apr. Dyrrhachio.
On the Kalends of April, at Dyrrhachium.