Ep. 6.2.1Soleō nōn numquam in iūdiciīs quaerere M. Rēgulum;Sometimes in the courts I look round for Marcus Regulus; Ep. 6.2.1nōlō enim dīcere dēsīderāre.for I am unwilling to say that I miss him. Ep. 6.2.2Cūr ergō quaerō?Why, then, do I look for him? Ep. 6.2.2Habēbat studiīs honōrem, timēbat pallēbat scrībēbat, quamvīs nōn posset ēdiscere.He held oratory in honour; he was anxious, he went pale, he wrote his speeches out, although he could not learn them by heart. Ep. 6.2.2Illud ipsum, quod oculum modo dextrum modo sinistrum circumlinēbat - dextrum sī ā petītōre, alterum sī ā possessōre esset āctūrus -, quod candidum splēnium in hoc aut in illud supercilium trānsferēbat, quod semper haruspicēs cōnsulēbat dē āctiōnis ēventū, ā nimiā superstitiōne sed tamen et ā magnō studiōrum honōre veniēbat.That very habit of his, of painting round now his right eye, now his left — the right if he was going to plead for a plaintiff, the other if for a defendant — of shifting a white patch now to this eyebrow, now to that, of always consulting soothsayers about the outcome of a case, came from excessive superstition, but also from a great regard for oratory.
Ep. 6.2.3Iam illa perquam iūcunda ūnā dīcentibus, quod lībera tempora petēbat, quod audītūrōs corrogābat.Then there were things most pleasant for those who spoke with him: that he asked for unlimited time, that he gathered an audience. Ep. 6.2.3Quid enim iūcundius quam sub alterīus invidiā quamdiū velīs, et in aliēnō audītōriō quasi dēprehēnsum commodē dīcere?For what is more pleasant than to speak at your ease for as long as you like, with the odium falling on another, and before someone else's audience, as if caught there by surprise? Ep. 6.2.4Sed utcumque sē habent ista, bene fēcit Rēgulus quod est mortuus: melius, sī ante.But however that may be, Regulus did well to die: better, if he had done it sooner. Ep. 6.2.4Nunc enim sānē poterat sine malō pūblicō vīvere, sub eō prīncipe sub quō nocēre nōn poterat.For now he could certainly have lived without harm to the state, under a prince under whom he could do no harm. Ep. 6.2.5Ideō fās est nōn numquam eum quaerere.So it is permissible sometimes to miss him. Ep. 6.2.5Nam, postquam obiit ille, incrēbruit passim et invaluit cōnsuētūdō bīnās vel singulās clepsydrās, interdum etiam dīmidiās et dandī et petendī.For since he died the custom has spread everywhere and grown strong of both granting and asking for two water-clocks, or one, sometimes even half of one.
Ep. 6.2.5Nam et quī dīcunt, ēgisse mālunt quam agere, et quī audiunt, fīnīre quam iūdicāre.For those who speak would rather have pleaded than plead, and those who listen would rather finish than judge. Ep. 6.2.5Tanta neglegentia tanta dēsidia, tanta dēnique irreverentia studiōrum perīculōrumque est.So great is the carelessness, so great the idleness, so great, in short, the disrespect for oratory and for the risks of the accused. Ep. 6.2.6An nōs sapientiōrēs maiōribus nostrīs, nōs lēgibus ipsīs iūstiōrēs, quae tot hōrās tot diēs tot comperendinātiōnēs largiuntur?Are we wiser than our ancestors, are we more just than the very laws, which grant so many hours, so many days, so many adjournments? Ep. 6.2.6Hebetēs illī et suprā modum tardī;They, no doubt, were dull and slow beyond measure; Ep. 6.2.6nōs apertius dīcimus, celerius intellegimus, religiōsius iūdicāmus, quia pauciōribus clepsydrīs praecipitāmus causās quam diēbus explicārī solēbant.we speak more clearly, understand more quickly, judge more scrupulously, because we rush through cases in fewer water-clocks than they used to be unfolded in days. Ep. 6.2.7Ō Rēgule, quī ambitiōne ab omnibus obtinēbās quod fideī paucissimī praestant!O Regulus, you who by your self-seeking won from everyone what very few grant to good faith!
Ep. 6.2.7Equidem quotiēns iūdicō, quod vel saepius faciō quam dīcō, quantum quis plūrimum postulat aquae dō.For my part, whenever I sit as judge, which I do even more often than I speak, I give as much water as anyone asks for. Ep. 6.2.8Etenim temerārium exīstimō dīvīnāre quam spatiōsa sit causa inaudīta, tempusque negōtiō fīnīre cuius modum ignōrēs, praesertim cum prīmam religiōnī suae iūdex patientiam dēbeat, quae pars magna iūstitiae est.For I think it rash to guess how long a case is before it has been heard, and to set a time limit to business whose extent you do not know, especially since the first thing a judge owes to his oath is patience, which is a great part of justice. Ep. 6.2.8At quaedam supervacua dīcuntur.But some superfluous things are said. Ep. 6.2.8Etiam: sed satius est et haec dīcī quam nōn dīcī necessāria.Yes: but it is better that these too should be said than that necessary things should not be said. Ep. 6.2.9Praetereā, an sint supervacua, nisi cum audierīs scīre nōn possīs.Besides, whether they are superfluous you cannot know until you have heard them.
Ep. 6.2.9Sed dē hīs melius cōram ut dē plūribus vitiīs cīvitātis.But of these things better face to face, as of many faults of our state. Ep. 6.2.9Nam tū quoque amōre commūnium solēs ēmendārī cupere quae iam corrigere difficile est.For you too, out of love for the common good, are accustomed to wish that things should be mended which it is now hard to correct. Ep. 6.2.10Nunc respiciāmus domōs nostrās.Now let us look back at our own homes. Ep. 6.2.10Ecquid omnia in tuā rēctē?Is all well in yours? Ep. 6.2.10in meā novī nihil.In mine there is nothing new. Ep. 6.2.10Mihi autem et grātiōra sunt bona quod persevērant, et leviōra incommoda quod assuēvī.But to me the blessings are the more welcome because they last, and the troubles the lighter because I have grown used to them. Ep. 6.2.10Valē.Farewell.