§2.4.1Datis mane a. d. in id. April. Scaptio litteris eodem die tuas accepi Kal. April. Dyrrhachio datas vesperi. itaque mane prid. Id. Apr.
Having given my letter to Scaptius in the morning of a certain day before the Ides of April, on the same day in the evening I received yours, dated on the Kalends of April from Dyrrhachium.
, cum a Scaptio certior factus essem non esse eos profectos quibus pridie dederam et statim ire, hoc paululum exaravi ipsa in turba matutinae salutationis.
Therefore, in the morning of the day before the Ides of April, since I had been informed by Scaptius that those to whom I had given them the day before had not set out and were going immediately, I scribbled this little bit in the very crowd of the morning greeting.
§2.4.2de Cassio laetor et rei publicae gratulor, mihi etiam qui repugnante et irascente Pansa sententiam dixerim ut Dolabellam bello Cassius persequeretur.
I rejoice concerning Cassius and congratulate the republic, and also myself, who, with Pansa opposing and being angry, delivered my opinion that Cassius should pursue Dolabella with war.
et quidem audacter dicebam sine nostro senatus consulto iam illud eum bellum gerere.
And indeed I was boldly saying that he was already waging that war without our decree of the senate.
de te etiam dixi tum quae dicenda putavi.
About you also I then said what I thought ought to be said.
haec ad te oratio perferetur, quoniam te video delectari Philippicis nostris.
This speech will be delivered to you, since I see that you are delighted with our Philippics.
§2.4.3quod me de Antonio consulis, quoad Bruti exitum cognorimus custodiendum puto.
As to what you consult me about Antonius, I think he should be kept in custody until we know the end of Brutus.
ex iis litteris quas mihi misisti, Dolabella Asiam vexare videtur et in ea se gerere taeterrime.
From those letters which you sent me, Dolabella seems to harass Asia and to behave himself most foully in it.
compluribus autem scripsisti Dolabellam a Rhodiis esse exclusum.
Moreover, you wrote to several people that Dolabella was shut out by the Rhodians.
qui si ad Rhodum accessit, videtur mihi Asiam reliquisse.
If he has approached Rhodes, he seems to me to have left Asia.
id si ita est, istic tibi censeo commorandum; sin †eam semel cepit, mihi crede, non erit id. Apr. † at in Asiam censeo persequendum.
If that is so, I think you should tarry there; but if †he has once taken it, believe me, it will not be the Ides of April; but† I think he should be pursued into Asia.
nihil mihi videris hoc tempore melius acturus.
You seem to me likely to do nothing better at this time.
§2.4.4quod egere te duabus necessariis rebus scribis, supplemento et pecunia, difficile consilium est.
As to what you write that you lack two necessary things, reinforcements and money, it is a difficult counsel.
non enim mihi occurrunt facultates quibus uti te posse videam praeter illas quas senatus decrevit, ut pecunias a civitatibus mutuas sumeres.
For no resources occur to me which I see you can use, except those which the senate decreed, that you should borrow money from the states.
de supplemento autem non video quid fleri possit.
Concerning reinforcements, however, I do not see what can be done.
tantum enim abest ut Pansa de exercitu suo aut dilectu tibi aliquid tribuat, ut etiam moleste ferat tam multos ad te ire voluntarios, quo modo equidem credo, quod iis rebus quae in Italia decernuntur nullas copias nimis magnas esse arbitretur, quo modo autem multi suspicantur, quod ne te quidem nimis firmum esse velit; quod ego non suspicor.
For Pansa is so far from granting you anything from his army or levy, that he even takes it ill that so many volunteers go to you; in which way indeed I believe, because he thinks no forces are too great for those things which are being decided in Italy, but in which way many suspect, because he does not want even you to be too strong; which I do not suspect.
§2.4.5quod scribis te ad Tertiam sororem et matrem scripsisse ut ne prius ederent ea quae gesta a Cassio essent quam mihi visum esset, video te veritum esse, id quod verendum fuit, ne animi partium Caesaris, quo modo etiam nunc partes appellantur, vehementer commoverentur.
As to what you write that you wrote to your sister Tertia and mother that they should not publish those things which had been achieved by Cassius before it seemed good to me, I see that you feared, what was to be feared, lest the minds of Caesar's party, in which way even now they are called a party, should be vehemently disturbed.
sed ante quam tuas litteras accepimus, audita res erat et pervulgata; tui etiam tabellarii ad multos familiaris tuos litteras attulerant.
But before we received your letter, the matter had been heard of and made common; your letter-carriers also had brought letters to many of your friends.
qua re neque supprimenda res erat, praesertim cum id fieri non posset, neque, si posset, non divulgandam potius quam occultandam putaremus.
Therefore the matter was neither to be suppressed, especially since that could not be done, nor, if it could, should we think that it ought not to be published rather than hidden.
§2.4.6de Cicerone meo et, si tantum est in eo quantum scribis, tantum scilicet quantum debeo gaudeo et, si quod amas eum eo maiora facis, id ipsum incredibiliter gaudeo a te eum diligi.
Concerning my Cicero, if there is as much in him as you write, I rejoice as much, of course, as I ought; and, if because you love him you make those things greater, I rejoice incredibly in that very fact, that he is beloved by you.