Ep. 5.9.1Dēscenderam in basilicam Iūliam, audītūrus quibus proximā comperendinātiōne respondēre dēbēbam.I had gone down to the Basilica Julia to hear the speakers to whom I had to reply at the next adjourned hearing. Ep. 5.9.2Sedēbant iūdicēs, decemvirī vēnerant, obversābantur advocātī, silentium longum;The judges were seated, the decemvirs had arrived, the advocates were moving about, there was a long silence; Ep. 5.9.2tandem ā praetōre nūntius.at last, a messenger from the praetor. Ep. 5.9.2Dīmittuntur centumvirī, eximitur diēs mē gaudente, quī umquam ita parātus sum ut nōn morā laeter.The centumviri are dismissed and the day is cancelled, to my delight, for I am never so well prepared that I am not glad of a delay. Ep. 5.9.3Causa dīlātiōnis Nepōs praetor, quī lēgibus quaerit.The cause of the adjournment was Nepos the praetor, who presides over the criminal courts. Ep. 5.9.3Prōposuerat breve ēdictum, admonēbat accūsātōrēs, admonēbat reōs exsecūtūrum sē quae senātūs cōnsultō continērentur.He had posted a short edict, warning accusers and warning defendants that he would enforce the provisions of a decree of the senate.
Ep. 5.9.4Suberat ēdictō senātūs cōnsultum: hoc omnēs quī quid negōtiī habērent iūrāre prius quam agerent iubēbantur, nihil sē ob advocātiōnem cuiquam dedisse prōmīsisse cāvisse.Attached to the edict was the decree of the senate: by it all who had any lawsuit were ordered to swear, before they pleaded, that they had given, promised or guaranteed nothing to anyone for legal assistance. Ep. 5.9.4Hīs enim verbīs ac mīlle praetereā et vēnīre advocātiōnēs et emī vetābantur;For in these words, and a thousand others besides, the selling and the buying of advocates' services were forbidden; Ep. 5.9.4perāctīs tamen negōtiīs permittēbātur pecūniam dumtaxat decem mīlium dare.after the case was finished, however, it was permitted to give a sum of money, up to ten thousand sesterces. Ep. 5.9.5Hōc factō Nepōtis commōtus praetor quī centumvirālibus praesidet, dēlīberātūrus an sequerētur exemplum, inopīnātum nōbīs ōtium dedit.Disturbed by this action of Nepos, the praetor who presides over the centumviral court, intending to consider whether to follow his example, gave us an unexpected holiday. Ep. 5.9.6Interim tōtā cīvitāte Nepōtis ēdictum carpitur laudātur.Meanwhile throughout the whole city Nepos' edict is criticised and praised.
Ep. 5.9.6Multī: "Invēnimus, quī curva corrigeret!Many say: 'We have found someone to straighten what is crooked! Ep. 5.9.6Quid?What? Ep. 5.9.6ante hunc praetōrēs nōn fuērunt?were there no praetors before this one? Ep. 5.9.6quis autem hic est, quī ēmendet pūblicōs mōrēs?"and who is this man, to reform public morals?' Ep. 5.9.6Aliī contrā: "Rēctissimē fēcit;Others, on the contrary: 'He has acted quite rightly; Ep. 5.9.6initūrus magistrātum iūra cognōvit, senātūs cōnsulta lēgit, reprimit foedissimās pactiōnēs, rem pulcherrimam turpissimē vēnīre nōn patitur."on the point of taking office he studied the law, read the decrees of the senate, checks the foulest bargains, and does not allow a most noble thing to be sold most shamefully.' Ep. 5.9.7Tālēs ubīque sermōnēs, quī tamen alterutram in partem ex ēventū praevalēbunt.Such is the talk everywhere, which will nevertheless prevail on one side or the other according to the outcome. Ep. 5.9.7Est omnīnō inīquum, sed ūsū receptum, quod honesta cōnsilia vel turpia, prōut male aut prosperē cēdunt, ita vel probantur vel reprehenduntur.It is altogether unfair, but accepted by custom, that honourable or shameful plans are approved or condemned according to whether they turn out well or badly.
Ep. 5.9.7Inde plērumque eadem facta modo dīligentiae modo vānitātis, modo lībertātis modo furōris nōmen accipiunt.Hence for the most part the same actions are given the name now of diligence, now of vanity, now of freedom, now of madness. Ep. 5.9.7Valē.Farewell.