Letters to Atticus Passage 2

quod scribis Terentiam de obsignatoribus mei testamenti loqui, primum tibi persuade me istaec non curare neque esse quicquam aut parvae curae aut novae loci. sed tamen quid simile? illa eos non adhibuit quos existimavit quaesituros nisi scissent quid esset. num id etiam mihi periculi fuit? sed tamen faciat illa quod ego. dabo meum testamentum legendum cui voluerit; intelleget non potuisse honorificentius a me fieri de nepote quam fecerim. nam quod non advocavi ad obsignandum, primum mihi non venit in mentem, deinde ea re non venit, quia nihil attinuit. tute scis, si modo meministi, me tibi tum dixisse ut de tuis aliquos adduceres. quid enim opus erat multis? equidem domesticos iusseram. tum tibi placuit ut mitterem ad Silium. inde est natum ut ad Publilium; sed necesse neutrum fuit. hoc tu tractabis ut tibi videbitur.

As for your writing that Terentia speaks about the witnesses who sealed my will, first persuade yourself that I do not care about such matters, and that there is nothing here worthy of even slight attention or any new basis for one. Yet what similarity is there? She did not employ those whom she thought would ask questions unless they knew what the contents were. Did I face any such danger? Still, let her do as I do. I shall give my will to anyone she wishes to read. She will understand that I could not have treated my grandson with greater honor than I have. As for not summoning her to seal it, first it did not occur to me, and then it did not occur because it was irrelevant. You yourself know, if you remember, that I told you at the time to bring some of your people. What need was there of many? I had indeed ordered members of my household to attend. Then you thought I should send for Silius. From that arose the invitation to Publilius, but neither was necessary. You will handle this as seems best to you.

Tu écris que Térentia parle des témoins qui ont scellé mon testament. Persuade-toi d’abord que je ne me soucie pas de ces choses et qu’elles ne méritent ni la moindre attention ni une place nouvelle. Mais enfin, quelle ressemblance ? Elle n’a pas convoqué les personnes qu’elle croyait devoir poser des questions si elles ignoraient le contenu du testament. Courais-je moi aussi ce risque ? Qu’elle fasse pourtant comme moi. Je donnerai mon testament à lire à qui elle voudra ; elle comprendra que je ne pouvais traiter mon petit-fils plus honorablement que je ne l’ai fait. Si je ne l’ai pas invitée à apposer son sceau, d’abord cela ne m’est pas venu à l’esprit ; ensuite cela ne m’est pas venu à l’esprit parce que cela n’avait aucune importance. Tu sais toi-même, si du moins tu t’en souviens, que je t’ai alors demandé d’amener quelques-uns des tiens. À quoi bon beaucoup de monde ? J’avais, pour ma part, convoqué des gens de la maison. Tu jugeas alors bon que j’envoyasse chercher Silius. De là vint l’idée d’appeler Publilius ; mais ni l’un ni l’autre n’était nécessaire. Tu traiteras cela comme tu le jugeras bon.