Letter 26: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Dyrrhachium in 16 April 43 BC.

CICERO GREETS BRUTUS. What dispatches were read out in your name in the Senate on the 13th of April, and at the same time, I believe, your friends have written to you about Antony's; and to none of them do I yield [in affection for you]. But there was no need for everyone to write the same things; the necessary thing is that I should write to you what I feel about the whole conduct of this war, and with what judgment and what sentiment I view it. My wish, Brutus, regarding the supreme interest of the commonwealth [res publica], has always been the same as yours; my method in certain matters (not in all) has perhaps been a little more forceful. You know that it always seemed best to me that the commonwealth should be freed not only from a king but from kingship; you took a gentler view, to your immortal credit, of course; but which course would have been better we perceived with great sorrow, and we are still perceiving with great peril. In that recent crisis you directed everything toward a peace that could not be accomplished by oratory, while I directed everything toward liberty, which is nothing without peace. I judged that peace itself could be brought about by war and arms. There was no lack of zeal among those demanding arms; their onset we restrained and their ardor we quenched. [2] And so matters had come to such a point that, had not some god given Caesar Octavianus that resolve, we would have had to fall into the power of that most abandoned and most disgraceful man, Marcus Antonius, with whom you see at this very moment what a struggle there is, and how great. That struggle would certainly be nonexistent, had not Antonius been preserved at that time. But I pass over these matters; for the deed you performed, memorable and almost heavenly, repels all criticism, seeing that it cannot be adequately honored even with praise. You came forward recently with a stern countenance; an army, forces, and suitable legions you assembled by your own efforts in a short time. Immortal gods! What a report that was, what that dispatch was, what joy in the Senate, what eagerness in the state! I have never seen anything praised with such unanimous agreement of all. There was an expectation concerning the remnants of Antony's forces, which you had largely stripped of their cavalry and legions. That too had a desirable outcome. For your dispatch which was read in the Senate declares the valor and diligence both of the commander and of the soldiers among your men, among whom is my own Cicero [Cicero's son, Marcus, was serving on Brutus's staff]. And if it had pleased your friends that a motion be brought concerning these dispatches, and had they not fallen upon the most turbulent moment after the departure of the consul Pansa, a fitting honor, one owed also to the immortal gods, would have been decreed. [3] Behold, on the 13th of April, early in the morning, up flies Celer Pilius to you, what a man, good gods, how weighty, how steadfast, how devoted to the good party in the commonwealth! He brings two letters, one in your name, the other in Antony's; he gives them to Servilius the tribune of the plebs, and Servilius to Cornutus. They are read in the Senate. 'ANTONIUS PROCONSUL.' Great astonishment, as if 'DOLABELLA IMPERATOR' had been read out; for from him too letter-carriers had indeed come, but no one resembling Pilius who would dare to produce the letters or hand them to the magistrates. Yours is read out, brief indeed, but quite lenient toward Antonius. The Senate was thoroughly astonished. As for me, it was not clear what I should do. Should I call it a forgery? What if you had approved it? [4] Should I affirm it? That was not consistent with your dignity. And so that day passed in silence. But the next day, when talk had become more widespread, and Pilius had offended men's eyes rather too much, the beginning arose entirely from me. About 'the proconsul' Antonius I said much. Sestius did not fail the cause after me, when he said how great a danger his own son, and how great a danger mine, would be in, if they had borne arms against a proconsul. You know the man; he did not fail the cause. Others too spoke. But our friend Labeo pointed out that there was no seal of yours on the letter, no date affixed, and that you had not written to your friends, as was your custom. By this he wished to compel the conclusion that the letter was a forgery and, if you want the truth, he was carrying conviction. [5] Now it is for you to deliberate, Brutus, about the whole conduct of the war. I see that you take delight in leniency and think it the greatest reward, an admirable view indeed, but it is for other circumstances and other times that there is and ought to be a place for clemency. As things are now, what is happening, Brutus? Upon the temples of the immortal gods hangs the hope of needy and ruined men, and nothing else is being decided in this war except whether we are to exist or not. Whom are we sparing, or what are we doing? Are we then taking thought for those by whose victory not a single trace of us will be left? For what difference is there between Dolabella and any one of the three Antonii? If we spare any of them, we were harsh in the case of Dolabella. That the Senate and the Roman people should feel this way, although the situation itself compelled it, was nevertheless for the most part accomplished by my counsel and authority. If you do not approve this reasoning, I will defend your opinion, but I will not abandon my own. Men expect from you nothing slack and nothing cruel. The moderation in this matter is easy: be forceful toward the leaders, generous toward the soldiers. [6] My dear Brutus, I would like you to keep my Cicero with you as much as possible. He will find no better training in virtue than the contemplation and imitation of you. The 14th of April. Cicero

§ Brut.2.5 DCCCXXXIX (Brut. II, 5) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (AT DYRRACHIUM) ROME, 16 APRIL: I BELIEVE that your friends — to not one of whom do I yield in affection to you — have written to tell you what despatches were read in the senate on the 13th of April from you, and at the same time from Antony. But though there was no need for us all to repeat the same story, yet it is necessary that I should write and tell you my feeling, deliberate opinion, and sentiments as to the nature of this war generally. My object, Brutus, in imperial politics has always been the same as your own: my policy in certain points-not in all-has perhaps been somewhat more drastic. You know that it was always my opinion that the Republic should be delivered not only from a tyrant but from a tyranny also. You took a more indulgent view-to your own undying honour, no doubt. But which was the better course we have felt to our bitter sorrow, and are still feeling to our grave peril. More recently you have directed all your efforts to secure peace — which could not be brought about by mere words — I to secure liberty, which is impossible without peace. But my view was that peace itself could be brought about by war and arms. There was no want of enthusiasts who were eager to fight, but we checked their enthusiasm and damped their ardour. And so it had come to such a pass that, had not some god inspired Caesar Octavianus with that resolution, we must necessarily have fallen under the power of Marcus Antonius, the most abandoned and depraved of men, with whom you see at this very moment in what a desperate contest we are engaged. Now that, of course, would never have occurred if Antony had not been spared at that time. But I pass over these reflexions: for the deed which you performed — ever memorable and all but divine — disarms all criticism, for it is one which can never be even praised in terms adequate to its merit. You lately came to the front again with a look of stern resolve. In a brief time you collected by your unaided exertions an army, forces, sufficient legions. Great heavens! What a message, what a despatch! What exultation was there in the senate, what an outburst of cheerfulness in the city! I never saw anything praised with such complete unanimity. There was some anxiety about the remnants of Antony 's forces, whom you had deprived for the most part of his cavalry and legions. But that was happily relieved. For your next despatch, which was read in the senate, clearly sets forth the excellence both of com mander and soldiers, and the good service done by your staff-among others, by my son. And if your friends here had thought it right that a motion should be brought before the senate in consequence of its despatch, and had it not come at a time of great confusion, just after the departure of the consul Pansa, a regular vote of thanks and one due to the immortal gods would have been passed. Lo and behold, on the 13th of April, early in the morning comes Pilius Celer in hot haste — what a man, good heavens! How trustworthy and consistent! What an honest politician! He brings two letters, one in your name, a second in that of Antony. He hands them to the tribune Sevilius. Sevilius passed them on to Cornutus. They are read in the senate. “ANTONIUS PROCONSUL! ”-There was as much surprise expressed as though the words read had been “DOLABELLA IMPERATOR”; from whom indeed letter-carriers have arrived, but no one of the position of Pilius to venture to produce a despatch and to hand it to the magistrates. Your despatch is read. It was short indeed, but very indulgent in its reference to Antonius. The senate was greatly astonished. And I could not see my way clearly as to what I ought to do. Was I to declare it a forgery? What if you had acknowledged it? Was I to assert its genuineness? That will be a reflexion on your official position. So I let that day pass without saying anything. But next day, when there had begun to be much talk about it, and Pilius had made himself offensively conspicuous, the first step was after all taken by me. I said a great deal about “the proconsul” Antonius. Sestius backed me up. Afterwards, in private conversation with me, he dwelt on the danger he inferred for his own son and mine if they bore arms against “a proconsul.” You know the sort of man he is. However, he did not shrink from supporting the contention. Others also spoke. Our friend Labeo, for instance, remarked that there was neither any seal of yours on the despatch, nor any date affixed, and that you had not written to your friends, as was your custom. By this he meant to argue that the despatch was a forgery, and, if you would know the truth, he was thought to be convincing. Now, Brutus, you must take into consideration the whole question of the war. I notice that you take pleasure in lenient measures, and think that the most advantageous line to take. It is an admirable sentiment: but it is for other circumstances and other times that a place for clemency generally is and ought to be reserved. As things are now, Brutus, what is actually being done? The hope of the needy and the ruined is the plunder of the temples of the immortal gods; and what depends upon the issue of this war is neither more nor less than our bare existence. Who is it that we are sparing, or what is our object? Are we then consulting for the interests of those, whose victory means that not a trace of us will be left? For what difference is there between Dolabella and any one of the three Antonies? If we spare any of the latter, we have been harsh in the case of Dolabella. That the senate and Roman people take this view is partly the result of the mere facts of the case, but for the most part has been brought about by my advice and influence. If you disapprove this policy, I will speak up for your opinion, but I shall not abandon my own. From you men expect neither weakness nor cruelty. An obvious mean between these is that you should be stern to the leaders, placable to the soldiers. I should like my son, my dear Brutus, to be as much as possible by your side He will find no better school of virtue than the contemplation and imitation of you. 16 April.

[V] Scr. Romae xviii K. Mai. a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL. quae litterae tuo nomine recitatae sint id. April. in senatu eodemque tempore Antoni credo ad te scripsisse tuos; quorum ego nemini concedo. sed nihil necesse erat eadem omnis, illud necesse me ad te scribere quid sentirem tota de constitutione huius belli et quo iudicio essem quaque sententia. voluntas mea, Brute, de summa re publica semper eadem fuit quae tua, ratio quibusdam in rebus (non enim omnibus) paulo fortasse vehementior. scis mihi semper placuisse non rege solum sed regno liberari rem publicam; tu lenius immortali omnino cum tua laude; sed quid melius fuerit magno dolore sensimus, magno periculo sentimus. recenti illo tempore tu omnia ad pacem quae oratione confici non poterat, ego omnia ad libertatem quae sine pace nulla est. pacem ipsam bello atque armis effici posse arbitrabar. studia non deerant arma poscentium; quorum repressimus impetum ardoremque restinximus. [2] itaque res in eum locum venerat ut, nisi Caesari Octaviano deus quidam illam mentem dedisset, in potestatem perditissimi hominis et turpissimi M. Antoni veniendum fuerit, quocum vides hoc tempore ipso quod sit quantumque certamen. id profecto nullum esset, nisi tum conservatus esset Antonius. sed haec omitto; res enim a te gesta memorabilis et paene caelestis repellit omnis reprehensiones, quippe quae ne laude quidem satis idonea adfici possit. exstitisti nuper vultu severo; exercitum, copias, legiones idoneas per te brevi tempore comparasti. di immortales! qui ille nuntius, quae illae litterae, quae laetitia senatus, quae alacritas civitatis erat! nihil umquam vidi tam omnium consensione laudatum. erat exspectatio reliquiarum Antoni, quem equitatu legionibusque magna ex parte spoliaras. ea quoque habuit exitum optabilem. nam tuac litterae quae recitatae in senatu sunt et imperatoris et militum virtutem et industriam tuorum, in quibus Ciceronis mei, declarant. quod si tuis placuisset de his litteris referri et nisi in tempus turbuientissimum post discessum Pansae consulis incidissent, honos quoque iustus et debitus dis immortalibus decretus esset. [3] ecce tibi Idib. April. advolat mane Celer Pilius, qui vir, di boni, quam gravis, quam constans, quam bonarum in re publica partium! hic epistulas adfert duas, unam tuo nomine, alteram Antoni; dat Servilio tribuno plebis, ille Cornuto. recitantur in senatu. 'ANTONIVS PROCOS.' Magna admiratio, ut si esset recitatum 'DOLABELLA IMPERATOR'; a quo quidem venerant tabellarii, sed nemo Pili similis qui proferre litteras auderet aut magistratibus reddere. tuae recitantur breves illae quidem sed in Antonium admodum lenes. vehementer admiratus senatus. mihi autem non erat explicatum quid agerem. falsas dicerem? quid si tu eas adprobasses? [4] confirmarem? non erat dignitatis tuae. itaque ille dies silentio. postridie autem cum sermo increbruisset, Piliusque oculos vehementius hominum offendisset, natum omnino est principium a me. de proconsule Antonio multa. Sestius causae non defuit post me, cum quanto suum filium, quanto meum in periculo futurum diceret, si contra proconsulem arma tulissent. Nosti hominem; causae non defuit. dixerunt etiam alii. Labeo vero noster nec signum tuum in epistula nec diem adpositum nec te scripsisse ad tuos, ut soleres. hoc cogere volebat falsas litteras esse et, si quaeris, probabat. [5] nunc tuum est consilium, Brute, de toto genere belli. video te lenitate delectari et eum putare fructum esse maximum praeclare quidem, sed aliis rebus, aliis temporibus locus esse solet debetque clementiae. nunc quid agitur, Brute? templis deorum immortalium imminet hominum egentium et perditorum spes, nec quicquam aliud decernitur hoc bello nisi utrum simus necne. cui parcimus aut quid agimus? hic ergo consulimus quibus victoribus vestigium nostrum nullum relinquetur? nam quid interest inter Dolabellam et quemvis Antoniorum trium? quorum si cui parcimus, duri fuimus in Dolabella. haec ut ita sentiret senatus populusque Romanus, etsi res ipsa cogebat, tamen maxima ex parte nostro consilio atque auctoritate perfectum est. tu si hanc rationem non probas, tuam sententiam defendam, non relinquam meam. neque dissolutum a te quicquam homines exspectant nec crudele. huius rei moderatio facilis est. ut in duces vehemens sis. in milites liberalis. [6] Ciceronem meum, mi Brute, velim quam plurimum tecum habeas. virtutis disciplinam meliorem reperiet nullam quam contemplationem atque imitationem tui. XVIII Kalend. Maias. Cicero The Latin Library The Classics Page