Letter 25: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Dyrrhachium in 12 April 43 BC.
Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Junius Brutus|c. 43 BC|Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus|From Rome|To Dyrrhachium|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 at Rome on the morning of 12 April, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 43 BC].
FROM CICERO, GREETINGS TO BRUTUS.
After handing a letter to Scaptius this morning, on the day before the Ides of April, on that same day I received your letter, dispatched from Dyrrhachium on the Kalends of April, in the evening. And so, on the morning before the Ides of April, when I had been informed by Scaptius that the men to whom I had given the letter the day before had not set out and were going at once, I scratched out this brief note in the very throng of the morning levee [the salutatio, the daily reception of clients and visitors].
[2] About Cassius I rejoice, and I congratulate the Republic, and myself too, since I delivered the motion in the Senate—against the opposition and the anger of Pansa—that Cassius should pursue Dolabella by war. And indeed I boldly declared that he was already waging that war without any decree of our Senate. About you also I then said what I thought ought to be said. This speech will be conveyed to you, since I see that you take pleasure in my Philippics.
[3] As to your consulting me about Antonius [Gaius Antonius], I think he must be kept in custody until we have learned the outcome of Brutus [Decimus Brutus]. From the letter you sent me, Dolabella seems to be harassing Asia and conducting himself there in the most loathsome way. To several people, moreover, you have written that Dolabella was shut out by the Rhodians. If he came up to Rhodes, it seems to me that he has left Asia. If that is so, my view is that you should stay where you are; but if +he has once seized it, believe me, it will not be the Ides of April+ [text corrupt], but I am of the opinion that he must be pursued into Asia. It does not seem to me that you could do anything better at this time. [4] As to your writing that you are in want of two necessary things, reinforcements and money, the advice is difficult. For no resources occur to me that I can see you being able to use, apart from those which the Senate decreed—that you should take loans of money from the communities. As for reinforcements, however, I do not see what can be done. For so far is Pansa from granting you anything from his own army or levy that he even takes it ill that so many are going to you as volunteers—because, as I for my part believe, he thinks that no forces are too great for those matters which are being decided in Italy; but, as many suspect, because he does not want even you to be too strong; which I do not suspect.
[5] As to your writing that you have written to your sister Tertia <and to your mother> not to make public the things that had been done by Cassius before it seemed right to me, I see that you were afraid—as indeed was to be feared—that the feelings of Caesar's party (as the factions are even now called) would be violently stirred up. But before we received your letter, the matter had been heard and broadcast far and wide; your letter-carriers too had brought letters to many of your intimate friends. For that reason the matter was not to be suppressed, especially since that could not be done, and even if it could, we should think it ought rather to be made public than concealed.
[6] About my dear Cicero [Cicero's son, Marcus]: if there is as much in him as you write, then naturally I rejoice as much as I ought; and if, because you love him, you make more of it than it deserves, then this very thing—that he is loved by you—gives me incredible joy.
§ Brut.2.4 DCCCXXXVII (Brut. II, 4) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (AT DYRRACHIUM) ROME, 12 APRIL: AFTER I had given Scaptius a letter for you on the morning of the 11th of April, I received one from you in the evening of the same day, dated from Dyracchium on the 1st of April. Accordingly, on the morning of the 12th, having been informed by Scaptius that the men to whom I had given the letter the day before had not started and were going at once, I have dashed off this brief note in the midst of the turmoil of my morning levee. I am delighted with the news about Cassius, and I congratulate the Republic, and also myself, for having proposed in the senate, in spite of Pansa 's opposition and anger, that Cassius should make war upon Dolabella. And indeed I boldly maintained that he was already engaged in that war without any decree of ours. About you also I said on that occasion what I thought ought to be said. This speech shall be transmitted to you, since I perceive that you like my “Philippics.” You ask my advice as to Gaius Antonius: my opinion is that he should be kept under arrest till we know the fate of Decimus Brutus. From the letter you addressed to me it appears that Dolabella is harassing Asia and behaving in a most abominable manner there. You have mentioned also to several people that Dolabella has been prevented from landing by the Rhodians. But if he has approached Rhodes, I think he must have abandoned Asia. If that is so, I think you should stay where you are. But if he once gets a hold of that province, believe me it will not be right for you to do so, but I think you will have to go to Asia to attack him. As to your saying that you are in want of two necessary things — money and more men — it is difficult to see what to suggest. For I can't think of any resources upon which you can draw, except those which the senate has assigned to you by its decree — that you should raise loans from the cities. As to more men also, I do not see what can possibly be done. For so far from Pansa sparing you any of his own army or levy, he is even annoyed that so many are going to you as volunteers: because, as I believe, he thinks that he cannot have too great a force; but, as many suspect, because he doesn't wish you to be too strong either. But this is a suspicion which I do not share. You say in your letter that you have written to Tertia and your mother not to disclose the achievements of Cassius until I think it right. I understand your motive to be a fear lest the feelings of Caesar 's party — as that party is still called-should be violently affected. But before your letter was received, the facts had been heard and were quite public property. Your letter-carriers also had brought letters to many of your intimate friends. Therefore there is no need to suppress the truth, especially as it is impossible to do so. Besides, even if it had been possible, I should have thought that it should be spread broadcast rather than be kept concealed. As to my son, if he has all the good in him which you describe, I am of course as delighted as I am bound to be, and if you exaggerate it from affection for him, the mere fact of your being attached to him rejoices me more than I can say.
[IV] Scr. Romae prid. Id. Apr. mane a. 711 (43).
CICERO BRVTO SAL.
Datis mane a. d. in id. April. Scaptio litteris eodem die tuas accepi Kal. April. Dyrrhachio datas vesperi. itaque mane prid. Id. Apr., cum a Scaptio certior factus essem non esse eos profectos quibus pridie dederam et statim ire, hoc paululum exaravi ipsa in turba matutinae salutationis.
[2] de Cassio laetor et rei publicae gratulor, mihi etiam qui repugnante et irascente Pansa sententiam dixerim ut Dolabellam bello Cassius persequeretur. et quidem audacter dicebam sine nostro senatus consulto iam illud eum bellum gerere. de te etiam dixi tum quae dicenda putavi. haec ad te oratio perferetur, quoniam te video delectari Philippicis nostris.
[3] quod me de Antonio consulis, quoad Bruti exitum cognorimus custodiendum puto. ex iis litteris quas mihi misisti, Dolabella Asiam vexare videtur et in ea se gerere taeterrime. compluribus autem scripsisti Dolabellam a Rhodiis esse exclusum. qui si ad Rhodum accessit, videtur mihi Asiam reliquisse. id si ita est, istic tibi censeo commorandum; sin +eam semel cepit, mihi crede, non erit id. Apr.+ at in Asiam censeo persequendum. nihil mihi videris hoc tempore melius acturus. [4] quod egere te duabus necessariis rebus scribis, supplemento et pecunia, difficile consilium est. non enim mihi occurrunt facultates quibus uti te posse videam praeter illas quas senatus decrevit, ut pecunias a civitatibus mutuas sumeres. de supplemento autem non video quid fleri possit. tantum enim abest ut Pansa de exercitu suo aut dilectu tibi aliquid tribuat, ut etiam moleste ferat tam multos ad te ire voluntarios, quo modo equidem credo, quod iis rebus quae in Italia decernuntur nullas copias nimis magnas esse arbitretur, quo modo autem multi suspicantur, <quod> ne te quidem nimis firmum esse velit; quod ego non suspicor.
[5] quod scribis te ad Tertiam sororem <et matrem> scripsisse ut ne prius ederent ea quae gesta a Cassio essent quam mihi visum esset, video te veritum esse, id quod verendum fuit, ne animi partium Caesaris, quo modo etiam nunc partes appellantur, vehementer commoverentur. sed ante quam tuas litteras accepimus, audita res erat et pervulgata; tui etiam tabellarii ad multos familiaris tuos litteras attulerant. qua re neque supprimenda res erat, praesertim cum id fieri non posset, neque, si posset, non divulgandam potius quam occultandam putaremus.
[6] de Cicerone meo et, si tantum est in eo quantum scribis, tantum scilicet quantum debeo gaudeo et, si quod amas eum eo maiora facis, id ipsum incredibiliter gaudeo a te eum diligi.
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Written at Rome on the morning of 12 April, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 43 BC].
FROM CICERO, GREETINGS TO BRUTUS.
After handing a letter to Scaptius this morning, on the day before the Ides of April, on that same day I received your letter, dispatched from Dyrrhachium on the Kalends of April, in the evening. And so, on the morning before the Ides of April, when I had been informed by Scaptius that the men to whom I had given the letter the day before had not set out and were going at once, I scratched out this brief note in the very throng of the morning levee [the salutatio, the daily reception of clients and visitors].
[2] About Cassius I rejoice, and I congratulate the Republic, and myself too, since I delivered the motion in the Senate—against the opposition and the anger of Pansa—that Cassius should pursue Dolabella by war. And indeed I boldly declared that he was already waging that war without any decree of our Senate. About you also I then said what I thought ought to be said. This speech will be conveyed to you, since I see that you take pleasure in my Philippics.
[3] As to your consulting me about Antonius [Gaius Antonius], I think he must be kept in custody until we have learned the outcome of Brutus [Decimus Brutus]. From the letter you sent me, Dolabella seems to be harassing Asia and conducting himself there in the most loathsome way. To several people, moreover, you have written that Dolabella was shut out by the Rhodians. If he came up to Rhodes, it seems to me that he has left Asia. If that is so, my view is that you should stay where you are; but if +he has once seized it, believe me, it will not be the Ides of April+ [text corrupt], but I am of the opinion that he must be pursued into Asia. It does not seem to me that you could do anything better at this time. [4] As to your writing that you are in want of two necessary things, reinforcements and money, the advice is difficult. For no resources occur to me that I can see you being able to use, apart from those which the Senate decreed—that you should take loans of money from the communities. As for reinforcements, however, I do not see what can be done. For so far is Pansa from granting you anything from his own army or levy that he even takes it ill that so many are going to you as volunteers—because, as I for my part believe, he thinks that no forces are too great for those matters which are being decided in Italy; but, as many suspect, because he does not want even you to be too strong; which I do not suspect.
[5] As to your writing that you have written to your sister Tertia <and to your mother> not to make public the things that had been done by Cassius before it seemed right to me, I see that you were afraid—as indeed was to be feared—that the feelings of Caesar's party (as the factions are even now called) would be violently stirred up. But before we received your letter, the matter had been heard and broadcast far and wide; your letter-carriers too had brought letters to many of your intimate friends. For that reason the matter was not to be suppressed, especially since that could not be done, and even if it could, we should think it ought rather to be made public than concealed.
[6] About my dear Cicero [Cicero's son, Marcus]: if there is as much in him as you write, then naturally I rejoice as much as I ought; and if, because you love him, you make more of it than it deserves, then this very thing—that he is loved by you—gives me incredible joy.
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
[IV] Scr. Romae prid. Id. Apr. mane a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL.
Datis mane a. d. in id. April. Scaptio litteris eodem die tuas accepi Kal. April. Dyrrhachio datas vesperi. itaque mane prid. Id. Apr., cum a Scaptio certior factus essem non esse eos profectos quibus pridie dederam et statim ire, hoc paululum exaravi ipsa in turba matutinae salutationis. [2] de Cassio laetor et rei publicae gratulor, mihi etiam qui repugnante et irascente Pansa sententiam dixerim ut Dolabellam bello Cassius persequeretur. et quidem audacter dicebam sine nostro senatus consulto iam illud eum bellum gerere. de te etiam dixi tum quae dicenda putavi. haec ad te oratio perferetur, quoniam te video delectari Philippicis nostris. [3] quod me de Antonio consulis, quoad Bruti exitum cognorimus custodiendum puto. ex iis litteris quas mihi misisti, Dolabella Asiam vexare videtur et in ea se gerere taeterrime. compluribus autem scripsisti Dolabellam a Rhodiis esse exclusum. qui si ad Rhodum accessit, videtur mihi Asiam reliquisse. id si ita est, istic tibi censeo commorandum; sin +eam semel cepit, mihi crede, non erit id. Apr.+ at in Asiam censeo persequendum. nihil mihi videris hoc tempore melius acturus. [4] quod egere te duabus necessariis rebus scribis, supplemento et pecunia, difficile consilium est. non enim mihi occurrunt facultates quibus uti te posse videam praeter illas quas senatus decrevit, ut pecunias a civitatibus mutuas sumeres. de supplemento autem non video quid fleri possit. tantum enim abest ut Pansa de exercitu suo aut dilectu tibi aliquid tribuat, ut etiam moleste ferat tam multos ad te ire voluntarios, quo modo equidem credo, quod iis rebus quae in Italia decernuntur nullas copias nimis magnas esse arbitretur, quo modo autem multi suspicantur, <quod> ne te quidem nimis firmum esse velit; quod ego non suspicor. [5] quod scribis te ad Tertiam sororem <et matrem> scripsisse ut ne prius ederent ea quae gesta a Cassio essent quam mihi visum esset, video te veritum esse, id quod verendum fuit, ne animi partium Caesaris, quo modo etiam nunc partes appellantur, vehementer commoverentur. sed ante quam tuas litteras accepimus, audita res erat et pervulgata; tui etiam tabellarii ad multos familiaris tuos litteras attulerant. qua re neque supprimenda res erat, praesertim cum id fieri non posset, neque, si posset, non divulgandam potius quam occultandam putaremus. [6] de Cicerone meo et, si tantum est in eo quantum scribis, tantum scilicet quantum debeo gaudeo et, si quod amas eum eo maiora facis, id ipsum incredibiliter gaudeo a te eum diligi.