§10.1Conversa subito fortuna est.
Fortune was suddenly reversed.
ut Antonius rediit in Italiam, nemo non magno in periculo Atticum putarat propter intimam familiaritatem Ciceronis et Bruti. §10.2itaque ad adventum imperatorum de foro decesserat, timens proscriptionem, latebatque apud P. Volumnium, cui, ut ostendimus, paulo ante opem tulerat (tanta varietas iis temporibus fuit fortunae, ut modo hi, modo illi in summo essent aut fastigio aut periculo), habebatque secum Q. Gellium Canum, aequalem simillimumque sui. §10.3hoc quoque Attici bonitatis exemplum, quod cum eo, quem puerum in ludo cognorat, adeo coniuncte vixit, ut ad extremam aetatem amicitia eorum creverit. §10.4Antonius autem, etsi tanto odio ferebatur in Ciceronem, ut non solum ei sed etiam omnibus eius amicis esset inimicus eosque vellet proscribere multis hortantibus, tamen Attici memor fuit officii et ei, cum requisisset, ubinam esset, sua manu scripsit, ne timeret statimque ad se veniret: se eum et eius causa Canum de proscriptorum numero exemisse.
As soon as Antony returned to Italy, everyone had thought Atticus to be in great danger on account of his intimate friendship with Cicero and Brutus. Therefore, at the arrival of the commanders, fearing proscription, he had withdrawn from the forum and was hiding at the house of P. Volumnius, to whom, as we have shown, he had rendered aid shortly before (so great was the instability of fortune in those times that now these, now those were either at the highest peak or in the greatest danger), and he had with him Q. Gellius Canus, a man of his own age and very similar to himself. This also is an example of Atticus' goodness: that he lived so closely with him, whom he had known as a boy in school, that their friendship increased even to the end of their lives. Antony, however, although he was carried away by such great hatred against Cicero that he was an enemy not only to him but also to all his friends and wished to proscribe them at the instigation of many, was nevertheless mindful of Atticus' service; and having inquired where on earth he was, he wrote to him with his own hand that he should not fear but should come to him immediately: stating that he had exempted him, and for his sake Canus, from the number of the proscribed.
ac ne quod periculum incideret, quod noctu fiebat, praesidium ei misit. §10.5sic Atticus in summo timore non solum sibi, sed etiam ei, quem carissimum habebat, praesidio fuit, ut appareret nullam seiunctam sibi ab eo velle fortunam. §10.6quodsi gubernator praecipua laude effertur, qui navem ex hieme marique scopuloso servat, cur non singularis eius existimetur prudentia, qui ex tot tamque gravibus procellis civilibus ad incolumitatem pervenit?
And lest any danger should occur, since this was being done at night, he sent him a guard. Thus Atticus, in the greatest fear, was a protection not only to himself but also to him whom he held most dear, so that it appeared that he wished for no fortune for himself separate from him. But if a pilot is extolled with extraordinary praise, who saves his ship from the storm and a rocky sea, why should his singular prudence not be esteemed, who from so many and such tempestuous civil storms arrived at safety?