Letters to Atticus Passage 4

de sorore laudo. de Quinto puero datur opera; spero esse meliora. de Quinto fratre scito eum non mediocriter laborare de versura sed adhuc nihil a L. Egnatio expressit. Axius de duodecim milibus pudens! saepe enim ad me scripsit ut Gallio quantum is vellet darem. quod si non scripsisset, possemne aliter? et quidem saepe sum pollicitus sed tantum voluit cito. me vero adiuvarent his in angustiis. sed di istos! verum alias. te a quartana liberatum gaudeo itemque Piliam. ego , dum panis et cetera in navem parantur, excurro in Pompeianum. Vettieno velim gratias quod studiosus sit; si quemquam nactus eris qui perferat, litteras des ante quam discedimus.

I approve of what you say about my sister. We are taking pains over young Quintus, and I hope matters are improving. As for my brother Quintus, you should know that he is considerably troubled about refinancing his debt, but so far has extracted nothing from Lucius Egnatius. Axius is shamefaced about the twelve thousand! He often wrote asking me to give Gallius as much as Gallius wanted. Even if he had not written, could I have acted otherwise? I have often promised it, but Gallius wanted so much at once. They might indeed have helped me in my present straits. But may the gods deal with them! More of that another time. I am glad that you and Pilia are free of the quartan fever. While bread and the other provisions are being put aboard ship, I am making an excursion to my estate near Pompeii. Please thank Vettienus for his zeal. If you find anyone to carry a letter, send one before we depart.

J’approuve ce qui concerne ma sœur. On s’occupe de Quintus le jeune; j’espère une amélioration. Quant à mon frère Quintus, sache qu’il se donne beaucoup de mal pour obtenir un nouvel emprunt, mais qu’il n’a encore rien arraché à Lucius Egnatius. Axius qui rougit au sujet des douze mille! Il m’a souvent écrit de donner à Gallius autant que celui-ci voudrait. Et s’il ne l’avait pas écrit, aurais-je pu agir autrement? Je l’ai souvent promis, mais il voulait cette forte somme immédiatement. Que ces gens m’aident donc dans mes embarras! Mais que les dieux les... Nous en reparlerons. Je me réjouis que tu sois délivré de ta fièvre quarte, et Pilia également. Pour moi, pendant qu’on embarque le pain et le reste, je fais une course à ma propriété de Pompéi. Je voudrais que tu remercies Vettienus de son zèle. Si tu trouves quelqu’un pour la porter, remets-lui une lettre avant notre départ.