Lettres à Atticus Passage 1

bene me hercule de Buthroto. at ego Tironem ad Dolabellam cum litteris, quia iusseras, miseram. quid nocet? de nostris autem Antiatibus satis videbar plane scripsisse, ut non dubitares quin essent otiosi futuri usurique beneficio Antoni contumelioso. Cassius frumentariam rem aspernabatur; eam Servilia sublaturam ex senatus consulto se esse dicebat. noster vero καὶ μάλα σεμνῶσ in Asiam, postea quam mihi est adsensus tuto se Romae esse non posse (ludos enim absens facere malebat), statim ait se iturum simul ac ludorum apparatum iis qui curaturi essent tradidisset. navigia conligebat; erat animus in cursu. interea in isdem locis erant futuri.

By Hercules, excellent news about Buthrotum. Yet I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter because you had ordered it. What harm does that do? As for our friends at Antium, I thought I had written plainly enough to leave you in no doubt that they would remain inactive and accept Antony's insulting favor. Cassius scorned the grain commission; Servilia said she would have it removed from the decree of the Senate. But our friend, very solemnly indeed, said he would go to Asia after agreeing with me that he could not safely remain at Rome, for he preferred that his games be held in his absence. He said he would depart as soon as he had handed the preparations over to those who would manage them. He was collecting ships; his mind was already under sail. Meanwhile they intended to remain in the same neighborhood.

Par Hercule, excellente nouvelle pour Buthrote. Mais j’avais envoyé Tiron à Dolabella avec une lettre, parce que tu me l’avais ordonné. Quel mal y a-t-il? Quant à nos amis d’Antium, il me semblait t’avoir écrit assez clairement pour que tu ne doutasses pas qu’ils resteraient tranquilles et accepteraient le bienfait insultant d’Antoine. Cassius dédaignait la charge du blé; Servilia disait qu’elle la ferait supprimer du sénatus-consulte. Notre ami, lui, καὶ μάλα σεμνῶς, se rendrait en Asie. Après m’avoir accordé qu’il ne pouvait être en sûreté à Rome, puisqu’il préférait donner les jeux en son absence, il déclara aussitôt qu’il partirait dès qu’il aurait confié les préparatifs des jeux à ceux qui devaient s’en charger. Il rassemblait des navires; son esprit était déjà en route. En attendant, ils devaient rester dans les mêmes parages.