§2.1Pater mature decessit.
His father died early.
ipse adulescentulus propter affinitatem P. Sulpicii, qui tribunus plebei interfectus est, non expers fuit illius periculi: namque Anicia, Pomponii consobrina, nupserat Servio, fratri Sulpicii.
He himself, though a mere youth, was not free from danger on account of his relationship to Publius Sulpicius, who was killed when tribune of the plebs; for Anicia, a cousin of Pomponius, had married Servius, the brother of Sulpicius.
§2.2itaque interfecto Sulpicio posteaquam vidit Cinnano tumultu civitatem esse perturbatam neque sibi dari facultatem pro dignitate vivendi, quin alterutram partem offenderet, dissociatis animis civium, cum alii Sullanis, alii Cinnanis faverent partibus, idoneum tempus ratus studiis obsequendi suis Athenas se contulit.
Therefore, after Sulpicius was killed, when he saw that the state was thrown into confusion by the rebellion of Cinna, and that no opportunity was given to him to live in accordance with his dignity without offending one of the two parties—since the minds of the citizens were divided, some favoring the party of Sulla, others that of Cinna—thinking it a suitable time to devote himself to his studies, he betook himself to Athens.
neque eo setius adulescentem Marium hostem iudicatum iuvit opibus suis, cuius fugam pecunia sublevavit.
Nevertheless, he none the less assisted the young Marius, who had been declared a public enemy, with his resources, and relieved his flight with money.
§2.3ac ne illa peregrinatio detrimentum aliquod afferret rei familiari, eodem magnam partem fortunarum traiecit suarum.
And lest that residence abroad should bring any detriment to his private property, he transferred a large part of his fortunes to the same place.
hic ita vixit, ut universis Atheniensibus merito esset carissimus.
Here he lived in such a manner that he was deservedly most dear to all the Athenians.
§2.4nam praeter gratiam, quae iam in adulescentulo magna erat, saepe suis opibus inopiam eorum publicam levavit.
For besides his popularity, which was already great in his youth, he often relieved their public distress with his own wealth.
cum enim versuram facere publice necesse esset neque eius condicionem aequam haberent, semper se interposuit, atque ita ut neque usuram umquam ab iis acceperit neque longius, quam dictum esset, debere passus sit.
For when it was necessary for the state to contract a loan publicly, and they did not have fair terms for it, he always interposed, and in such a way that he never accepted any interest from them, nor allowed them to remain in debt longer than had been agreed.
quod utrumque erat iis salutare: §2.5nam neque indulgendo inveterascere eorum aes alienum patiebatur neque multiplicandis usuris crescere.
Both of these things were beneficial to them; for he neither allowed their debt to become chronic by indulgence, nor to grow by the accumulation of interest.
§2.6auxit hoc officium alia quoque liberalitate: nam universos frumento donavit, ita ut singulis seni modii tritici darentur, qui modus mensurae medimnus Athenis appellatur.
He increased this service by another act of liberality as well; for he presented the whole population with corn, so that six modii of wheat were given to each individual, which measure is called a medimnus at Athens.