Letters to Atticus Passage 1

exanimatus tuis litteris, quibus te nihil nisi triste cogitare ostendisti neque id quid esset perscripsisti neque non tamen quale esset quod cogitares aperuisti, has ad te ilico litteras scripsi. per fortunas tuas, Cicero, per liberos te oro et obsecro ne quid gravius de salute et incolumitate tua consulas. nam deos hominesque amicitiamque nostram testificor me tibi praedixisse neque temere monuisse sed, postquam Caesarem convenerim sententiamque eius qualis futura esset parta victoria cognorim, te certiorem fecisse. si existimas eandem rationem fore Caesaris in dimittendis adversariis et condicionibus ferendis, erras; nihil nisi atrox et saevum cogitat atque etiam loquitur; iratus senatui exiit, his intercessionibus plane incitatus est; non me hercules erit deprecationi locus.

I was terrified by your letter, in which you showed that you were contemplating nothing but sorrowful measures. Although you did not write explicitly what your plan was, you nevertheless revealed its nature. I therefore wrote you this letter immediately. By your fortunes and your children, Cicero, I beg and implore you not to adopt any more drastic resolution concerning your life and safety. I call gods and men and our friendship to witness that I warned you beforehand, and not rashly; after meeting Caesar and learning what his policy would be once victory was secured, I informed you. If you think Caesar will follow the same policy in dismissing his opponents and offering terms, you are mistaken. He contemplates and even speaks of nothing but harsh and savage measures. He left angry with the Senate, and these vetoes have thoroughly enraged him. By Hercules, there will be no room for intercession.

Terrassé par ta lettre, dans laquelle tu as montré que tu ne songeais qu’à quelque sombre dessein sans écrire clairement ce qu’il était, tout en révélant pourtant de quelle nature était ta pensée, je t’ai écrit cette lettre sur-le-champ. Par ta fortune, Cicéron, par tes enfants, je te prie et te conjure de ne prendre aucune décision trop grave contre ta vie et ton salut. J’en atteste les dieux, les hommes et notre amitié: je t’avais prévenu; mon avertissement n’était pas irréfléchi. Après avoir rencontré César et appris quelles seraient ses intentions une fois la victoire acquise, je t’en ai informé. Si tu penses que César conservera la même conduite en congédiant ses adversaires et en offrant des conditions, tu te trompes. Il ne pense et ne parle que de mesures atroces et cruelles. Il est parti irrité contre le Sénat; ces interventions l’ont absolument exaspéré. Par Hercule, les supplications n’auront aucune place.