Letters to Atticus Passage 3

nos autem (nam id te scire cupere certo scio) publicis consiliis nullis intersumus totosque nos ad forensem operam laboremque contulimus. ex quo, quod facile intellegi possit, in multa commemoratione earum rerum quas gessimus desiderioque versamur. sed βοῶπιδοσ nostrae consanguineus non mediocris terrores iacit atque denuntiat et Sampsiceramo negat, ceteris prae se fert et ostentat. quam ob rem si me amas tantum quantum profecto amas, si dormis expergiscere, si stas ingredere, si ingrederis curre, si curris advola. credibile non est quantum ego in consiliis et prudentia tua, quodque maximum est, quantum in amore et fide ponam. magnitudo rei longam orationem fortasse desiderat, coniunctio vero nostrorum animorum brevitate contenta est. permagni nostra interest te, si comitiis non potueris, at declarato illo esse Romae. cura ut valeas.

For my part, since I know for certain that you wish to know this, I take no part in public deliberations and have devoted myself wholly to advocacy and labor in the Forum. As can readily be understood, this causes frequent recollection of my achievements and longing for them. But the kinsman of my ox-eyed lady hurls and proclaims no slight terrors. He denies them to Sampsiceramus, but announces and flaunts them before everyone else. Therefore, if you love me as much as you certainly do, if you are asleep, wake; if standing, walk; if walking, run; if running, fly. It is incredible how much I rely upon your counsel and prudence and, most of all, upon your affection and loyalty. The magnitude of the matter may require a long speech, but the union of our minds is content with brevity. It is of the greatest importance to me that, if you cannot be at Rome for the elections, you should at least be there once he has been declared elected. Keep well.

Quant à moi, car je sais avec certitude que tu désires le savoir, je ne participe à aucune délibération publique et me suis entièrement consacré au travail du forum. Il en résulte, comme on peut aisément le comprendre, que l’on rappelle souvent mes actions et qu’on les regrette. Mais le parent de notre βοῶπις lance et signifie des menaces considérables. Il les nie devant Sampsicéramus, mais devant les autres il les affiche et les étale. C’est pourquoi, si tu m’aimes autant que tu m’aimes assurément, si tu dors, réveille-toi; si tu es debout, marche; si tu marches, cours; si tu cours, vole vers moi. On ne saurait croire tout ce que je place dans tes conseils et ta prudence, et surtout dans ton affection et ta fidélité. La grandeur de l’affaire réclamerait peut-être un long discours; l’union de nos âmes se contente de peu de mots. Il importe au plus haut point que tu sois à Rome, sinon pour les comices, du moins après sa proclamation. Porte-toi bien.