Letters to Atticus Passage 3

Atticus qui civitatem conservatam cuperet pecuniam numeravit de suo. quod cum esset factum, adiimus ad Caesarem, verba fecimus pro Buthrotiis, liberalissimum decretum abstulimus; quod est obsignatum ab amplissimis viris. quae cum essent acta, mirari e quidem solebam pati Caesarem convenire eos qui agrum Buthrotium concupissent, neque solum pati sed etiam ei negotio te praeficere. itaque et ego cum illo locutus sum et saepius quidem, ut etiam accusarer ab eo quod parum constantiae suae confiderem, et M. Messallae et ipsi Attico dixit ut sine cura essent aperteque ostendebat se praesentium animos (erat enim popularis, ut noras) offendere nolle; cum autem mare transissent, curaturum se ut in alium agrum deducerentur.

Atticus, wishing to preserve the community, paid the money from his own resources. Once this had been done, we approached Caesar and spoke on behalf of the people of Buthrotum, and obtained a most generous decree. It was sealed by men of the highest rank. After these measures had been taken, I used indeed to wonder that Caesar allowed those who coveted the territory of Buthrotum to meet with him, and not only allowed it but even placed you in charge of their business. Accordingly, I spoke with him myself, and did so several times, until he even reproached me for placing too little confidence in his consistency. He told Marcus Messalla and Atticus himself to have no anxiety, and openly indicated that he did not wish to offend the feelings of those who were present, for he cultivated popular favor, as you know. But when they had crossed the sea, he would arrange for them to be settled on other land.

Atticus, qui désirait sauver la cité, versa l’argent de sa poche. Cela fait, nous nous rendîmes auprès de César, plaidâmes la cause des Buthrotiens et obtînmes un décret des plus généreux, qui fut revêtu du sceau de personnages du plus haut rang. Après cela, je m’étonnais d’ordinaire que César permît de venir le trouver à ceux qui convoitaient le territoire de Buthrote, et non seulement qu’il le permît, mais encore qu’il te chargeât de cette affaire. Je lui en parlai donc, et même assez souvent pour qu’il me reprochât de ne pas assez me fier à sa constance. Il dit à Marcus Messalla et à Atticus lui-même de rester sans inquiétude, et montrait ouvertement qu’il ne voulait pas heurter les dispositions des gens présents, car il recherchait la faveur populaire, comme tu le sais ; mais qu’une fois la mer franchie par les colons, il veillerait à ce qu’ils fussent conduits sur un autre territoire.