I am trying to translate this long sentence from a letter from Cicero to Ceaser (ad Atticum 9.11a):
Here is my literal translation:ut legi tuas litteras quas a Furnio nostro acceperam quibus mecum agebas ut ad urbem essem, te velle uti 'consilio et dignitate mea' minus sum admiratus; de 'gratia' ete de 'ope' quid significares mecum ipse quaerebam, spe tamen deducebar ad eam cogitationem ut tu pro tua admirabili ac singulari sapientia de otio, de pace, de concordia civium agi velle arbitrarer, et ad eam rationem existimabam satis esse et naturam et personam meam.
As I am reading your letter which I had received from Furnium, by which you negotiated with me in order that I may be at the city [walls], I less admired that you were willing to use 'my counsel and position'; [but] I asked myself what you were signifying by my 'influence' and 'assistance,' though I was lead away by my hope to this thought: that, in view of your admirable and singular wisdom, you wanted the citizen's peace and harmony to be discussed, and for this reason I thought my nature and character to be apt enough.
- How is "minus" to be translated? It doesn't seem to make sense as I have it ("less") without introducing "[but]" after the semicolon.
- Is "sum admiratus" the same as "admiratus sum"?
- Is "eam cogitationem" to be translated "this thought"? If so, why is not "hanc cogitationem" used?
- I have added a colon after "cogitationem." Is this accurate?
- Are there any other issues with my translation? There are some important differences with the translation given here. I have tried to be as literal as possible, to reveal flaws in my work.