§4.1Huc ex Asia Sulla decedens cum venisset, quamdiu ibi fuit, secum habuit Pomponium, captus adulescentis et humanitate et doctrina.
When Sulla, withdrawing from Asia, had come hither, as long as he was there, he kept Pomponius with him, being captivated by both the refinement and the learning of the young man.
sic enim Graece loquebatur, ut Athenis natus videretur; tanta autem suavitas erat sermonis Latini, ut appareret in eo nativum quendam leporem esse, non ascitum.
For he spoke Greek in such a way that he seemed to have been born in Athens; moreover, so great was the sweetness of his Latin speech that it was apparent that there was in him a certain natural charm, not an acquired one.
idem poemata pronuntiabat et Graece et Latine sic, ut supra nihil posset addi.
The same man recited poems both in Greek and in Latin in such a way that nothing could be added above it.
§4.2quibus rebus factum est ut Sulla nusquam eum ab se dimitteret cuperetque secum deducere.
By these circumstances it was brought about that Sulla never let him leave his side and desired to take him along with him.
cui cum persuadere tentaret, 'noli, oro te,' inquit Pomponius 'adversum eos me velle ducere, cum quibus ne contra te arma ferrem, Italiam reliqui. ' at Sulla adulescentis officio collaudato omnia munera ei, quae Athenis acceperat, proficiscens iussit deferri.
When Sulla tried to persuade him, Pomponius said, 'Do not, I pray you, wish to lead me against those with whom, lest I should bear arms against you, I left Italy.' But Sulla, having praised the young man's sense of duty, ordered, as he was departing, that all the gifts which he had received at Athens be delivered to him.
§4.3Hic complures annos moratus, cum et rei familiari tantum operae daret, quantum non indiligens deberet pater familias, et omnia reliqua tempora aut litteris aut Atheniensium rei publicae tribueret, nihilo minus amicis urbana officia praestitit.
Having delayed here for several years, while he both devoted as much attention to his family property as a not-indiligent father of a family ought to, and devoted all remaining time either to literature or to the public affairs of the Athenians, he nonetheless performed city duties for his friends.
§4.4nam et ad comitia eorum ventitavit et, si qua res maior acta est, non defuit.
For he both frequently attended their assemblies, and, if any more important matter was transacted, he was not absent.
sicut Ciceroni in omnibus eius periculis singularem fidem praebuit: cui ex patria fugienti sestertium ducenta et quinquaginta milia donavit.
Just as he showed singular fidelity to Cicero in all his dangers; to whom, fleeing from his country, he presented two hundred and fifty thousand sesterces.
§4.5tranquillatis autem rebus Romanis remigravit Romam, ut opinor L. Cotta L. Torquato consulibus: quem discedentem sic universa civitas Atheniensium prosecuta est, ut lacrimis desiderii futuri dolorem indicaret.
But when Roman affairs were quieted, he returned to Rome, as I think, in the consulship of Lucius Cotta and Lucius Torquatus; whom, as he was departing, the entire state of the Athenians escorted in such a way that they showed by tears of regret their grief for his future absence.