Letter 5: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Dyrrhachium in 27 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.
We have lost two consuls who were indeed good men, but only good men. Hirtius, in fact, fell at the very moment of victory, after he had won a great battle a few days before; for Pansa had withdrawn after receiving wounds which he could not survive. Brutus [Decimus Brutus] and Caesar [Octavian] are pursuing the remnants of the enemy. Moreover, all who followed the faction of Marcus Antonius have been declared public enemies, and most people interpret that decree of the senate as applying even to your prisoners, whether captives or those who have surrendered. For my part, I argued nothing too harshly when I was proposing a decree concerning Gaius Antonius by name, because I had determined that the senate ought to learn the merits of his case from you. The fifth day before the Kalends of May [27 April].
§ Brut.1.3 DCCCXLIII (Brut. I, 3) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (AT DYRRACHIUM) ROME, 27 APRIL: WE have lost two consuls-good men enough; yes, at any rate good men. As for Hirtius, he fell in the moment of victory, having also won a great battle only a few days before. For Pansa had retreated, after receiving wounds which put him out of action. Decimus Brutus and Caesar are in pursuit of the remnants of the enemy. All, moreover, have been declared “enemies,” who followed the party of Antony: and that decree of the senate most people interpret as applying also to those whom you have captured or who have surrendered to you. For my part I refrained from urging any severity, though I proposed a decree referring to Gaius Antonius by name: for I had made up my mind that the senate ought to be informed by you of the merits of his case. 27 April.
[IIIa] Scr. Romae v Kal. Mai. a. 711 (43).
CICERO BRVTO SAL.
consules duos bonos quidem, sed dumtaxat bonos consules amisimus. Hirtius quidem in ipsa victoria occidit, cum paucis diebus ante magno proelio vicisset. nam Pansa fugerat vulneribus acceptis quae ferre non potuit. reliquias hostium Brutus persequitur et Caesar. hostes autem omnes iudicati qui M. Antoni sectam secuti sunt, idque senatus consultum plerique interpretantur etiam ad tuos sive captivos sive dediticios pertinere. equidem nihil disserui durius cum nominatim de C. Antonio decernerem, quod ita statueram, a te cognoscere causam eius senatum oportere. V. K. Maias.
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We have lost two consuls who were indeed good men, but only good men. Hirtius, in fact, fell at the very moment of victory, after he had won a great battle a few days before; for Pansa had withdrawn after receiving wounds which he could not survive. Brutus [Decimus Brutus] and Caesar [Octavian] are pursuing the remnants of the enemy. Moreover, all who followed the faction of Marcus Antonius have been declared public enemies, and most people interpret that decree of the senate as applying even to your prisoners, whether captives or those who have surrendered. For my part, I argued nothing too harshly when I was proposing a decree concerning Gaius Antonius by name, because I had determined that the senate ought to learn the merits of his case from you. The fifth day before the Kalends of May [27 April].
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
[IIIa] Scr. Romae v Kal. Mai. a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL.
consules duos bonos quidem, sed dumtaxat bonos consules amisimus. Hirtius quidem in ipsa victoria occidit, cum paucis diebus ante magno proelio vicisset. nam Pansa fugerat vulneribus acceptis quae ferre non potuit. reliquias hostium Brutus persequitur et Caesar. hostes autem omnes iudicati qui M. Antoni sectam secuti sunt, idque senatus consultum plerique interpretantur etiam ad tuos sive captivos sive dediticios pertinere. equidem nihil disserui durius cum nominatim de C. Antonio decernerem, quod ita statueram, a te cognoscere causam eius senatum oportere. V. K. Maias.