Ep. 6.13.1Umquamnē vīdistī quemquam tam labōriōsum et exercitum quam Varēnum meum?Have you ever seen anyone so harassed and hard pressed as my friend Varenus? Ep. 6.13.1cui quod summā contentiōne impetrāverat dēfendendum et quasi rūrsus petendum fuit.He has had to defend, and as it were to seek again, what he had obtained with the greatest effort. Ep. 6.13.2Bīthȳnī senātūs cōnsultum apud cōnsulēs carpere ac labefactāre sunt ausī, atque etiam absentī prīncipī crīminārī;The Bithynians dared to pick at and undermine the decree of the senate before the consuls, and even to denounce it to the prince in his absence; Ep. 6.13.2ab illō ad senātum remissī nōn dēstitērunt.sent back by him to the senate, they did not give up. Ep. 6.13.2Ēgit Claudius Capitō irreverenter magis quam cōnstanter, ut quī senātūs cōnsultum apud senātum accūsāret.Claudius Capito pleaded with more irreverence than firmness, as one who was arraigning a decree of the senate before the senate. Ep. 6.13.3Respondit Catius Frontō graviter et firme.Catius Fronto replied weightily and firmly. Ep. 6.13.3Senātus ipse mīrificus;The senate itself was admirable; Ep. 6.13.3nam illī quoque quī prius negārant Varēnō quae petēbat, eadem danda postquam erant data cēnsuērunt;for even those who had earlier refused Varenus what he asked voted that, once it had been granted, it should be granted still; Ep. 6.13.4singulōs enim integrā rē dissentīre fās esse, perācta quod plūribus placuisset cūnctīs tuendum.for individuals, they said, might rightly disagree while the matter was open, but when it was settled, what the majority had approved must be upheld by all.
Ep. 6.13.5Acīlius tantum Rūfus et cum eō septem an octō, septem immō, in priōre sententiā persevērārunt.Only Acilius Rufus, and with him seven or eight — seven, rather — persisted in their former opinion. Ep. 6.13.5Erant in hāc paucitāte nōn nūllī, quōrum temporāria gravitās vel potius gravitātis imitātiō rīdēbātur.Among this small number there were some whose momentary gravity, or rather imitation of gravity, was laughed at. Ep. 6.13.6Tū tamen aestimā, quantum nōs in ipsā pugnā certāminis maneat, cuius quasi praelūsiō atque praecursiō hās contentiōnēs excitāvit.But do you reckon how much of a contest awaits us in the battle itself, when its prelude, as it were, and skirmish has stirred up these disputes. Ep. 6.13.6Valē.Farewell.