Letters to Atticus Passage 1

adventus Philotimi (at cuius hominis, quam insulsi et quam saepe pro Pompeio mentientis!) exanimavit omnis qui mecum erant; nam ipse obdurui. dubitabat nostrum nemo quin Caesar itinera repressisset - volare dicitur; Petreius cum Afranio coniunxisset se - nihil adfert eius modi. quid quaeris? etiam illud erat persuasum, Pompeium cum magnis copiis iter in Germaniam per Illyricum fecisse; id enim αὐθεντικῶσ nuntiabatur. Melitam igitur opinor capessamus, dum quid in Hispania. quod quidem prope modum videor ex Caesaris litteris voluntate facere posse, qui negat neque honestius neque tutius mihi quicquam esse quam ab omni contentione abesse.

The arrival of Philotimus, and of what sort of man, how foolish and how often a liar on Pompey's behalf, terrified everyone with me. I myself have become hardened. None of us doubted that Caesar had checked his march, though he is said to be flying along, or that Petreius had joined Afranius. Philotimus brings nothing of the sort. In short, people were even convinced that Pompey had marched with large forces through Illyricum into Germany, for that was reported “on authority.” So I think we should make for Malta while awaiting news from Spain. Indeed, Caesar's letter makes me think I can do so more or less with his consent, since he says that nothing is more honorable or safer for me than to remain apart from every conflict.

L’arrivée de Philotimus, et de quel homme, si sot et qui a si souvent menti en faveur de Pompée! a abattu tous ceux qui étaient avec moi; pour ma part, je me suis endurci. Aucun de nous ne doutait que César eût arrêté sa marche, lui qui, dit-on, vole; que Pétréius se fût joint à Afranius. Philotimus n’apporte rien de tel. Que veux-tu? On était même persuadé que Pompée, avec des forces considérables, avait gagné la Germanie par l’Illyrie; la nouvelle était en effet annoncée αὐθεντικῶσ. Je pense donc que nous devons gagner Malte, en attendant de savoir ce qui se passe en Espagne. Et il me semble presque que les lettres de César me permettent de le faire avec son assentiment, puisqu’il affirme que rien n’est pour moi ni plus honorable ni plus sûr que de rester étranger à toute lutte.