10.09.26: Level 3+; Conditional clauses [8]: unreal conditions (2) present contrary-to-fact [ii] further examples

The translations are as close as possible to the original in order to show the subjunctive operating in contrary-to-fact conditionals. Always remember that translators of original works may well vary how ideas are expressed.

[i] Sed scrīberem ad tē dē hōc plūra, sī Rōmae essēs.

• But I would write [I would be writing] more to you about this if you were in Rome.

[ii] Dē tabellāriīs facerem, quod suādēs, sī essent ūllae necessāriae litterae

• About the letter-carriers I would do what you suggest, if there were any urgent letters.

[iii] Nec tibi essem molestus, sī per alium hoc agere possem.

• Nor would I be bothering you [literally: would I be troublesome to you], if I could manage this through somebody else.

[iv] Ferrem graviter, sī novae aegrimōniae locus esset.

• I would bear it heavily if there were a place for new sorrow.

[v] nec, sī possem, vellem

• nor would I, if I could / and if I could, I wouldn’t

[vi] Cicero receives an invitation to stay at Epirus:

Esset cōnsilium mihi quidem optātum, sī licēret ibi omne tempus cōnsūmere

• It would indeed be a pleasant plan for me, if I could [literally: if it would be permitted to] spend all the time there. 

[vii] Fierī nōn poterat, nec, sī posset, ego patī possem.

• It could not happen, nor, if it could, would I be able to permit it.

[viii] Ipse Rōmam venīrem … sī satis cōnsultum quādam dē rē habērem.

• I myself would be coming to Rome, if I had an adequate decision about a certain matter.

[ix] Nōn modo sī mihi tantum esset ōtiī, quantum est tibi, vērum etiam sī tam brevēs epistulās vellem mittere, quam tū solēs, facile tē superārem et in scrībendō multō essem crēbrior quam tū.

• Not only if I had as much leisure as you do, but even if I wanted to send letters as short as you are accustomed to, I would easily surpass you and would be far more frequent than you in writing.

[x] Where’s Brutus going, Cicero asks:

"Quid tū," inquam, "Brūte?" │ “What about you, Brutus,” I said.

"Rōmam," inquit, "sī tibi vidētur." │ “To Rome,” he said “if you think I should” [literally: if it seems to you]

"Mihi vērō minimē; tūtō enim nōn eris." │ “Not at all, for you won’t be safe.”

 "Quid? sī possem esse, placēretne?" │ “"Well, if I could be, would you approve?"