Letter 16: Brutus writes to Cicero from Macedonia to Rome in 1 July 43 BC.
Marcus Junius Brutus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus|From Macedonia|To Rome|AI-assisted
politicsmilitaryrepublican-crisis
Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation on ToposText, paired with The Latin Library Latin. The local ref preserves Latin Library a-letter distinctions where ToposText repeats a traditional label.
Written in camp on the Kalends of Quintilis, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 1 July 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
The alarm of the rest compels me to be anxious about Marcus Lepidus. If he should tear himself away from us—though I should wish that men have suspected such things of him rashly and unjustly—I beg and beseech you, Cicero, calling to witness the close bond between us and your goodwill toward me, to forget that my sister's children are the sons of Lepidus, and to consider that I have taken the place of their father. If I obtain this from you, you will surely hesitate at nothing that you might undertake on their behalf. Different men live on different terms with their kin; there is nothing I can do for my sister's children by which my own affection or sense of duty could be satisfied. But indeed, what good can the optimates [the conservative senatorial faction] confer upon me—if only we are worthy of having anything conferred on us—or what shall I be able to guarantee to their mother and my sister and those boys, if the fact that Brutus is their uncle carries no weight with you and with the rest of the senate against the fact that Lepidus is their father? [2] I can write no more to you, for anxiety and vexation, nor ought I to. For if, in a matter so great and so vital to me, I need words to rouse you and stiffen your resolve, there is no hope that you will do what I wish and what you ought. Therefore do not look for lengthy entreaties; fix your gaze on me myself, who am bound to obtain this from you—whether privately from Cicero, the man most closely joined to me, or, setting aside that private bond, from such a man of consular rank. I should like you to write back to me as soon as possible what you intend to do.
§ Brut.1.13 CMIII (Brut. I, 13) M. IUNIUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) MACEDONIA, I JULY: The fear which others entertain makes me nervous about M. Lepidus. If he has wrenched himself from us — which I hope it will turn out that people have suspected about him hurriedly and without good grounds — I beg and beseech you, Cicero, appealing to our close friendship and your kindness to me, to forget that my sister's children are the sons of Lepidus, and to consider that I have succeeded to the place of their father. If I can induce you to do that, there is certainly nothing that you will hesitate to undertake for them. Some people live on one sort of terms with their relations, others on another, but I cannot do enough for my sister's children to satisfy my affection or duty. What consideration is there, moreover, which either the loyalists can show me — if I am but worthy of some consideration from them — or what can I promise my mother and sister and these children, if Brutus being their uncle has no weight with you and the senate against the fact of Lepidus being their father? I am neither able for anxiety and vexation to write at great length to you, nor ought I to do so. For in a matter of so much importance and so vitally affecting me, if I need words in order to move your interest and confirm your resolution, there is no hope that you will do what I wish or what you are in duty bound to do. Therefore don't expect a lengthy petition from me. Only fix your eyes on me, who have a good right to obtain this service from you, either on private grounds from Cicero the man — and the closest of my friends — or from the consular, all private ties put aside. What you mean to do please write and tell me as soon as possible. 1 July, in camp.
[XIII] Scr. in castris K. Quint, a. 711 (43).
BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
de M. Lepido vereri me cogit reliquorum timor. qui si eripuerit se nobis, quod velim temere atque iniuriose de illo suspicati sint homines, oro atque obsecro te, Cicero, necessitudinem nostram tuamque in me benevolentiam obtestans, sororis meae liberos obliviscaris esse Lepidi filios meque iis in patris locum successisse existimes. hoc si a te impetro, nihil profecto dubitabis pro iis suscipere. aliter alii cum suis vivunt; nihil ego possum in sororis meae liberis facere quo possit expleri voluntas mea aut officium. quid vero aut mihi tribuere boni possunt, si modo digni sumus quibus aliquid tribuatur, aut ego matri ac sorori puerisque illis praestaturus sum, si nihil valuerit apud te reliquumque senatum contra patrem Lepidum Brutus avunculus? [2] scribere multa ad te neque possum prae sollicitudine ac stomacho neque debeo. nam si in tanta re tamque necessaria verbis mihi opus est ad te excitandum et confirmandum, nulla spes est facturum te quod volo et quod oportet. qua re noli exspectare longas preces; intuere me ipsum qui hoc a te, vel a Cicerone, coniunctissimo homine, privatim vel a consulari tali viro remota necessitudine privata, debeo impetrare. quid sis facturus velim mihi quam primum rescribas.
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Written in camp on the Kalends of Quintilis, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 1 July 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
The alarm of the rest compels me to be anxious about Marcus Lepidus. If he should tear himself away from us—though I should wish that men have suspected such things of him rashly and unjustly—I beg and beseech you, Cicero, calling to witness the close bond between us and your goodwill toward me, to forget that my sister's children are the sons of Lepidus, and to consider that I have taken the place of their father. If I obtain this from you, you will surely hesitate at nothing that you might undertake on their behalf. Different men live on different terms with their kin; there is nothing I can do for my sister's children by which my own affection or sense of duty could be satisfied. But indeed, what good can the optimates [the conservative senatorial faction] confer upon me—if only we are worthy of having anything conferred on us—or what shall I be able to guarantee to their mother and my sister and those boys, if the fact that Brutus is their uncle carries no weight with you and with the rest of the senate against the fact that Lepidus is their father? [2] I can write no more to you, for anxiety and vexation, nor ought I to. For if, in a matter so great and so vital to me, I need words to rouse you and stiffen your resolve, there is no hope that you will do what I wish and what you ought. Therefore do not look for lengthy entreaties; fix your gaze on me myself, who am bound to obtain this from you—whether privately from Cicero, the man most closely joined to me, or, setting aside that private bond, from such a man of consular rank. I should like you to write back to me as soon as possible what you intend to do.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
[XIII] Scr. in castris K. Quint, a. 711 (43). BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
de M. Lepido vereri me cogit reliquorum timor. qui si eripuerit se nobis, quod velim temere atque iniuriose de illo suspicati sint homines, oro atque obsecro te, Cicero, necessitudinem nostram tuamque in me benevolentiam obtestans, sororis meae liberos obliviscaris esse Lepidi filios meque iis in patris locum successisse existimes. hoc si a te impetro, nihil profecto dubitabis pro iis suscipere. aliter alii cum suis vivunt; nihil ego possum in sororis meae liberis facere quo possit expleri voluntas mea aut officium. quid vero aut mihi tribuere boni possunt, si modo digni sumus quibus aliquid tribuatur, aut ego matri ac sorori puerisque illis praestaturus sum, si nihil valuerit apud te reliquumque senatum contra patrem Lepidum Brutus avunculus? [2] scribere multa ad te neque possum prae sollicitudine ac stomacho neque debeo. nam si in tanta re tamque necessaria verbis mihi opus est ad te excitandum et confirmandum, nulla spes est facturum te quod volo et quod oportet. qua re noli exspectare longas preces; intuere me ipsum qui hoc a te, vel a Cicerone, coniunctissimo homine, privatim vel a consulari tali viro remota necessitudine privata, debeo impetrare. quid sis facturus velim mihi quam primum rescribas.