Ep. 1.7.1Vidē in quō mē fastīgiō collocārīs, cum mihi idem potestātis idemque regnī dederīs quod Homērus Iovī Optimō Maximō: Nam ego quoque similī nūtū ac renūtū respondēre vōtō tuō possum simili nutu ac renutu respondere voto tuo possum.See to what a pinnacle you raise me, when you give me the same power and the same sovereignty that Homer gave to Jupiter Best and Greatest: 'One thing the father granted him, the other he refused.' For I too can answer your wish with a similar nod and shake of the head. Ep. 1.7.2Etenim, sīcut fās est mihi, praesertim tē exigente, excūsāre Baeticīs contrā ūnum hominem advocātiōnem, ita nec fideī nostrae nec cōnstantiae quam dīligis convenit, adesse contrā prōvinciam quam tot officiīs, tot labōribus, tot etiam perīculīs meīs aliquandō dēvīnxerim.For just as it is right for me, especially at your demand, to excuse myself to the people of Baetica from pleading against one man, so it is consistent neither with my loyalty nor with the constancy which you value in me to appear against a province which I once bound to myself by so many services, so many labours, and even so many dangers.
Ep. 1.7.3Tenēbō ergō hoc temperāmentum, ut ex duōbus, quōrum alterutrum petis, ēligam id potius, in quō nōn sōlum studiō tuō vērum etiam iūdiciō satisfaciam.I shall therefore keep to this compromise: of the two things, one or the other of which you ask, I shall choose rather the one in which I may satisfy not only your wishes but also your judgement. Ep. 1.7.3Neque enim tantopere mihi cōnsīderandum est, quid vir optimus in praesentiā velīs, quam quid semper sīs probātūrus.For I must consider not so much what you, excellent man, want at present, as what you will always approve. Ep. 1.7.4Mē circā Īdūs Octōbrīs spērō Rōmae futūrum, eademque haec praesentem quoque tuā meāque fidē Gallō cōnfirmātūrum;I hope to be in Rome around the Ides of October, and to confirm these same things to Gallus in person on your word and mine; Ep. 1.7.4cui tamen iam nunc licet spondeās dē animō meō ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπʼ ὀφρύσι νεῦσε.yet you may even now pledge my intentions to him: 'he spoke, and nodded with his dark brows.' Ep. 1.7.5Cūr enim nōn usquequāque Homēricīs versibus agam tēcum?For why should I not deal with you in Homeric verses all the way?
Ep. 1.7.5quātenus tū mē tuīs agere nōn pateris, quōrum tantā cupiditāte ārdeō, ut videar mihi hāc sōlā mercēde posse corrumpī, ut vel contrā Baeticōs adsim.since you do not allow me to deal with you in your own, which I so burn to have that I feel I could be bribed by this reward alone to appear even against the Baeticans. Ep. 1.7.6Paene praeteriī, quod minimē praetereundum fuit, accēpisse mē careōtās optimās, quae nunc cum fīcīs et bōlētīs certandum habent.I almost passed over what should least of all be passed over, that I have received excellent dates, which now have to compete with the figs and mushrooms. Ep. 1.7.6Valē.Farewell.