The Society for Ancient Languages
Week Two
English Translation |
EPISTULAE AD FAMILIARES |
LETTERS TO FRIENDS |
| 1. Nisi ante Roma profectus esses, nunc eam certe relinqueres. Quis enim, tot interregnis, iure consultum desiderat? Ego omnibus, unde petitur, hoc consili dederim, ut a singulis interregibus binas advocationes postulent. Satisne tibi videor abs te ius civile didicisse? 2. Sed heus tu, quid agis? Ecquid fit? Video enim te iam iocari per litteras. Haec signa meliora sunt, quam in meo Tusculano. . .Denique, si cito te rettuleris, sermo nullus erit; si diutius frustra abfueris, non modo Laberium, sed etiam sodalem nostrum Valerium pertimesco. Mira enim persona induci potest Britannici iure consulti. | 1. Unless you had left Rome before, now
you certainly should leave her behind. For who, with so many interregnal days, needs to
consult with a lawyer? I would surrender this kind of advice to all people, if and when it
was sought, that they seek from each interrex two adjournments. Do I seem to you to have
learned enough from you about civil law? 2. But hey you, what are you doing? Has anything happened? For I see that you now joke in your letters. Those are better signs, than in my Tusculan villa. . .Finally, if you will have returned quickly, there will be no gossip; if you will have been away for a long time for nothing, I will be afraid of not only Laberius [a noted mime - Webmaster], but also our companion Valerius. For a surprising character is liable to be introduced (on the stage), the attorney in Britain. |
EPISTULAE AD ATTICUM |
LETTERS TO ATTICUS |
| 1. O exspectatas mihi tuas litteras! o gratum adventum! o constantiam promissi et fidem miram! o navigationem amandam! quam mehercule ego valde timebam recordans superioris tuae transmissionis derreis, sed, nisi fallor, citius te quam scribis videbo. credo enim te putasse tuas mulieres in Apulia esse; quod cum secus erit, quid te Apulia moretur? an Vestorio dandi sunt dies et ille Latinus 'Attikismos ex intervallo regustandus? quin tu hac advolas et invisis illius nostrae rei publicae germanae puta<mina>? vide nummos ante comitia tributim uno loco divisos palam, vide absolutum Gabinium, olface dictaturam, fruere iustitio et omnium rerum licentia, perspice aequitatem animi mei et ludum et contemptionem Selicianae unciae et mehercule cum Caesare suavissimam coniunctionem; haec enim me una ex hoc naufragio tabula delectat. qui quidem Quintum meum tuumque, di boni, quem ad modum tractat honore, dignitate, gratia! non secus ac si ego essem imperator. hibernam legionem eligendi optio delata commodum, ut ad me Quintus scribit. hunc tu non ames? quem igitur istorum? | O your letter that has been expected by me! O your pleasing return! O the steadiness of your having promised and amazing confidence (about your return)! O what a lovely voyage! By Hercules how I greatly feared, remembering the tarps of your previous passage. But, unless I am mistaken, I shall see you quicker than you write. For I believe you have thought your women are in Apulia. As for when this will be otherwise (i.e. when you find out differently); what will delay you in Apulia? Or must you give days to Vestorius, must the Latin "Attic wanna-be" be resavored after the (your) interval (abroad)? Why don't you rush here (to Rome) and look at the husks of that real republic we know (lit. to us)? See money openly distributed in one place tribe by tribe before the elections, see Gabinius having been acquitted, smell the dictatorship, enjoy the holiday and the licentiousness of all things, observe my equanimity, both my amusement and contempt of Selicianus' 1/12 interest, and by Hercules my most pleasant friendship with Caesar. For this last delights me, one plank from this wreck. How he indeed treats my and your Quintus, good heavens!, with honor, dignity, and favor! Exactly as if I am (his) imperator. The option of choosing a legion for the winter has been offered as a reward, so Quintus writes to me. Would you not love this man? Then which of those friends (of yours)? |