Letters to Atticus Passage 2

illum autem multa de istis rebus asperius solete loqui saepe sum expertus, saepe etiam lenivi iratum. id scire te arbitror. in hac autem peregrinatione militiave nostra saepe incensum ira vidi, saepe placatum. quid ad Statium scripserit nescio. quicquid acturus de tali re fuit, scribendum tamen ad libertum non fuit. mihi autem erit maximae curae ne quid fiat secus quam volumus quamque oportet. nec satis est in eius modi re se quemque praestare ac maximae partes istius offici sunt pueri Ciceronis sive iam adulescentis; quod quidem illum soleo hortari. ac mihi videtur matrem valde, ut debet, amare teque mirifice. sed est magnum illud quidem verum tamen multiplex pueri ingenium; in quo ego regendo habeo negoti satis.

I have often found him accustomed to speak rather harshly about those matters, and I have often soothed him when he was angry. I think you know that. During this journey, or military service, of ours, I have often seen him inflamed with anger and often calmed. I do not know what he wrote to Statius. Whatever he intended to do in so grave a matter, he nevertheless ought not to have written to a freedman. It will be my greatest care that nothing be done otherwise than we wish and than is proper. In a matter of this kind it is not enough for each person merely to do his own duty. The largest share of that duty belongs to young Cicero, or rather to Cicero now approaching manhood, and I regularly exhort him to it. He seems to me to love his mother greatly, as he should, and to be wonderfully fond of you. But the boy's character, although excellent, is complex, and I have quite enough work in guiding it.

J’ai souvent constaté qu’il avait coutume de parler assez durement de ces affaires, et j’ai souvent calmé sa colère. Je pense que tu le sais. Durant notre voyage ou notre campagne, je l’ai souvent vu enflammé de colère, puis souvent apaisé. J’ignore ce qu’il a écrit à Statius. Quoi qu’il eût l’intention de faire en pareille matière, il ne devait pourtant pas l’écrire à un affranchi. Pour ma part, je mettrai le plus grand soin à ce que rien ne se fasse autrement que nous ne le voulons et qu’il ne convient. Dans une affaire de cette sorte, il ne suffit pas que chacun réponde de sa propre conduite. La plus grande part de ce devoir revient au jeune Cicéron, enfant ou déjà adolescent, que j’ai coutume d’exhorter sur ce point. Il me semble aimer beaucoup sa mère, comme il le doit, et t’aimer merveilleusement. Mais son naturel, certes généreux, est complexe, et j’ai assez de peine à le diriger.