Lettres à Atticus Passage 1

cum sciam quo die venturus sim, faciam ut scias. impedimenta exspectanda sunt quae Anagnia veniunt et familia aegra est. Kal. vesperi litterae mihi ab Octaviano. magna molitur. veteranos qui sunt Casilini et Calatiae perduxit ad suam sententiam. nec mirum, quingenos denarios dat. cogitat reliquas colonias obire. plane hoc spectat ut se duce bellum geratur cum Antonio. itaque video paucis diebus nos in armis fore. quem autem sequamur? vide nomen, vide aetatem. atque a me postulat primum ut clam conloquatur mecum vel Capuae vel non longe a Capua. puerile hoc quidem, si id putat clam fieri posse. docui per litteras id nec opus esse nec fieri posse.

When I know the day on which I shall arrive, I shall make sure you know. I must await the baggage coming from Anagnia, and my household is ill. On the evening of the Kalends I received a letter from Octavian. He is attempting great things. He has brought the veterans at Casilinum and Calatia over to his view. No wonder, since he gives each five hundred denarii. He plans to visit the remaining colonies. His clear object is to wage war against Antony under his own leadership. I therefore see that within a few days we shall be under arms. But whom are we to follow? Consider his name, consider his age. First he asks me to confer with him secretly, either at Capua or not far from it. That is childish, if he thinks it can remain secret. I explained by letter that it was neither necessary nor possible.

Quand je saurai quel jour j’arriverai, je te le ferai savoir. Il faut attendre les bagages qui viennent d’Anagnia, et mes gens sont malades. Le soir des calendes, j’ai reçu une lettre d’Octavien. Il entreprend de grandes choses. Il a gagné à son avis les vétérans de Casilinum et de Calatia. Rien d’étonnant: il leur donne cinq cents deniers chacun. Il songe à parcourir les autres colonies. Son dessein manifeste est de faire la guerre à Antoine sous son commandement. Je vois donc que nous serons en armes dans quelques jours. Mais qui suivrons-nous? Considère son nom, considère son âge. Il me demande d’abord de m’entretenir secrètement avec lui, soit à Capoue, soit non loin de Capoue. C’est vraiment puéril, s’il croit la chose secrète possible. Je lui ai expliqué par lettre que ce n’était ni nécessaire ni possible.