Letters to Atticus Passage 4

Scaurus qui erat paucis diebus illis absolutus, cum ego †patrem† eius ornatissime defendissem, obnuntiationibus per Scaevolam interpositis singulis diebus usque ad pr. Kal. Octobr., quo ego haec die scripsi, sublatis populo tributim domi suae satis fecerat. sed tamen etsi uberior liberalitas huius, gratior esse videbatur eorum qui occuparant. cuperem vultum videre tuum cum haec legeres; nam profecto spem habes nullam haec negotia multarum nundinarum fore. sed senatus hodie fuerat futurus, id est Kal. Octobribus; iam enim luciscit. ibi loquetur praeter Antium et Favonium libere nemo; nam Cato aegrotat. de me nihil timueris, sed tamen promitto nihil.

Scaurus, who had been acquitted a few days earlier after I had defended his †father† with the greatest distinction, had blocked proceedings through daily announcements of adverse omens made by Scaevola until the day before the Kalends of October, the day on which I wrote this. After those obstructions were removed, he satisfied the people tribe by tribe at his own house. Yet although his largesse was more abundant, the gifts of those who had acted first seemed more welcome. I wish I could see your face as you read this, for you surely have no hope that these affairs will last through many market days. But the Senate was to meet today, that is, on the Kalends of October, for dawn is already breaking. No one there except Antius and Favonius will speak freely, for Cato is ill. Have no fear about me, though I promise nothing.

Scaurus, acquitté quelques jours auparavant après que j’eus défendu †son père† de la manière la plus brillante, avait, en faisant intervenir chaque jour Scaevola pour annoncer des présages défavorables jusqu’à la veille des calendes d’octobre, jour où j’écris ceci, satisfait le peuple, tribu par tribu, dans sa propre maison après la levée des obstacles. Pourtant, bien que sa générosité fût plus abondante, celle de ceux qui l’avaient précédé paraissait plus appréciée. Je voudrais voir ton visage à la lecture de ceci, car tu n’espères certainement pas que ces affaires dureront de nombreuses périodes de marché. Mais le Sénat devait se réunir aujourd’hui, c’est-à-dire aux calendes d’octobre, car le jour se lève déjà. Personne n’y parlera librement, hormis Antius et Favonius, car Caton est malade. Pour moi, ne crains rien, mais je ne promets rien.