Letter 428

I never thought it would come about that I should approach you as a suppliant; but, by Hercules, I gladly accept the circumstance that has given me a chance to put your affection to the test. You know how much I value Atticus. Please, grant me this too: for my sake, forget that he once wanted his own friend, your adversary, to be looked after, at a time when that man's reputation was at stake. To pardon this is, first of all, a mark of your humanity, for everyone is bound to protect his own connections. Secondly, if you love me (leave Atticus out of it), grant this whole favor to your friend Cicero, whom you are accustomed to declare openly how highly you value, so that what I have always believed I may now plainly understand: that I am much loved by you. [2] When Caesar, by a decree of his which I countersigned along with many men of the highest distinction, had freed the people of Buthrotum, and had shown us that, once the land commissioners had crossed the sea, he would send a letter specifying which territory they were to be settled on, it happened that he was suddenly killed. Then, as you know (for you were present), although the consuls were obliged by a decree of the Senate to investigate Caesar's acts, the matter was postponed by them to the Kalends of June. To the decree of the Senate there was added a law, passed on the fourth day before the Nones [of June], a law that granted to the consuls the right of investigation into those matters which Caesar had decided, decreed, or carried out. The cause of the Buthrotians was brought before the consuls. Caesar's decree was read aloud, and many memoranda of Caesar's were produced besides. The consuls, on the advice of their council, decreed in favor of the Buthrotians . . . they assigned Plancus. [3] Now, my dear Capito (for I know how much influence you are always accustomed to wield with those whose company you keep, and all the more so with so accommodating and humane a man as Plancus), exert yourself, take pains, or rather coax and charm him, bring it about that Plancus, who I hope is excellent, may be made even better through your efforts. On the whole the matter strikes me as being of such a kind that, even without anyone's intervention, Plancus himself, in keeping with his own character and good sense, will have no hesitation in upholding the decree of the consuls, to whom the investigation and judgment belonged both by the law and by the decree of the Senate; especially since, if this category of investigations is undermined, Caesar's acts seem likely to be thrown into doubt, acts which not only those whose interest it is, but even those who do not approve of them, would wish to see confirmed for the sake of public peace. [4] Since this is so, it nevertheless matters to me that Plancus should do this with a willing and generous spirit; which he certainly will do, if you bring to bear those wiry energies of yours that I have so often known, and that charm in which no one is your equal. I earnestly beg you to do so.

I never thought I would come to you as a suppliant; but, by Hercules, I willingly accept the occasion that has revealed the depth of your affection. You know how highly I regard Atticus. I beg you, do me this favor: forget any personal feelings and act for my sake. The cause of the Buthrotians is just, and what I ask harms no one. I shall be eternally grateful, and you will have bound both me and Atticus to you forever.

numquam putavi fore ut supplex ad te venirem; sed hercule facile patior datum tempus in quo amorem experirer tuum. Atticum quanti faciam scis. amabo te, da mihi et hoc, obliviscere mea causa illum aliquando suo familiari, adversario tuo voluisse consultum, cum illius existimatio ageretur. hoc primum ignoscere est humanitatis tuae; suos enim quisque debet tueri; deinde si me amas (omitte Atticum), Ciceroni tuo quem quanti facias prae te soles ferre totum hoc da ut quod semper existimavi nunc plane intellegam, me a te multum amari. [2] Buthrotios cum Caesar decreto suo quod ego obsignavi cum multis amplissimis viris liberavisset ostendissetque nobis se, cum agrarii mare transissent, litteras missurum quem in agrum deducerentur, accidit ut subito ille interiret. deinde quem ad modum tu scis (interfuisti enim), cum consules oporteret ex senatus consulto de actis Caesaris cognoscere, res ab iis in Kal. Iun. dilata est. accessit ad senatus consultum lex quae lata est a. d. IIII non. [Iun.], quae lex earum rerum quas Caesar statuisset, decrevisset, egisset, consulibus cognitionem dedit. causa Buthrotiorum delata est ad consules. decretum Caesaris recitatum est et multi praeterea libelli Caesaris prolati. consules de consili sententia decreverunt secundum Buthrotios . . . Plancum dederunt. [3] nunc, mi Capito, (scio enim quantum semper apud eos quibuscum sis posse soleas, eo plus apud hominem facillimum atque humanissimum Plancum), enitere, elabora vel potius eblandire, effice ut Plancus quem spero optimum esse sit etiam melior opera tua. omnino res huius modi mihi videtur esse ut sine cuiusquam gratia Plancus ipse pro ingenio et prudentia sua non sit dubitaturus quin decretum consulum quorum et lege et senatus consulto cognitio et iudicium fuit conservet, praesertim cum hoc genere cognitionum labefactato acta Caesaris in dubium ventura videantur, quae non modo quorum interest sed etiam ii qui illa non probant oti causa confirmari velint. [4] quod cum ita sit, tamen interest nostra Plancum hoc animo libenti prolixoque facere; quod certe faciet, si tu nervulos tuos mihi saepe cognitos suavitatemque qua nemo tibi par est adhibueris. quod ut facias te vehementer rogo.