Letters to Atticus Passage 3

de Octavi contione idem sentio quod tu, ludorumque eius apparatus et Matius ac Postumus mihi procuratores non placent; Saserna conlega dignus. sed isti omnes, quem ad modum sentis, non minus otium timent quam nos arma. Balbum levari invidia per nos velim, sed ne ipse quidem id fieri posse confidit. itaque alia cogitat.

I share your opinion of Octavius' public speech. The preparations for his games and the choice of Matius and Postumus as his agents displease me. Saserna is a worthy colleague for them. But all those men, as you perceive, fear peace no less than we fear arms. I should like Balbus to be relieved of unpopularity through our help, but even he is not confident that this can be done. He is therefore considering other plans.

Je pense comme toi du discours d’Octavius. Les préparatifs de ses jeux ne me plaisent pas davantage, ni Matius et Postumus comme organisateurs; Saserna est un collègue digne d’eux. Mais tous ces gens, comme tu le comprends, craignent la paix autant que nous craignons les armes. Je voudrais que nous aidions Balbus à se délivrer de l’impopularité, mais lui-même ne croit pas que cela soit possible. Il forme donc d’autres projets.