Gaius Asinius Pollio→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Corduba|To Rome|AI-assisted
You should not find it at all surprising that I have written nothing to you about public affairs since matters came to arms. The pass through the Castulonian mountains has always delayed my couriers; now it has become more dangerous because of increased banditry, but even that is not nearly as great an obstacle as the men posted everywhere by both sides, who search couriers and detain them. So if letters had not come by sea, I would know nothing at all about what is happening there.
Now, however, since navigation has opened and I have found an opportunity, I shall write to you as eagerly and as often as I can. There is no danger that I will be moved by the talk of that man: though no one wants to see him, people still do not hate him as much as he deserves. I find him so hateful that I think anything I have in common with him is bitter. My nature and my interests draw me toward a desire for peace and liberty.
So I have often grieved over the beginning of that civil war. When I was not allowed to belong to neither side, because I had powerful enemies in both camps, I avoided the camp where I knew perfectly well that I would not be safe from my enemy's plots. Forced where I least wanted to go, I faced dangers without hesitation, so that I would not be among the last. As for Caesar, because in such great fortune he treated me, though only recently known to him, as if I were one of his oldest friends, I loved him with the deepest loyalty and good faith.
Where I was allowed to act according to my own judgment, I acted in a way that won the strongest approval from every loyal man. What I was ordered to do, I did at the time and in the manner that made it clear the order had been imposed on me against my will. The profoundly unjust hatred raised by that conduct taught me how pleasant liberty is and how miserable life is under one man's rule.
So if the purpose now is that everything should again be in the power of one man, whoever he may be, I declare myself his enemy. There is no danger that I would either run from or beg off if liberty is at stake. But the consuls, neither by senatorial decree nor by letters of their own, instructed me what to do. I have received only one letter from Pansa since the Ides of March, in which he urges me to write to the Senate that my army and I will be at its disposal.
At the very moment when Lepidus was speaking publicly and writing to everyone that he agreed with Antony, that was precisely the most awkward thing for me to do. By what supply routes, against Lepidus' will, was I to lead legions through his province? Or, if I had crossed everything else, could I fly over the Alps, which are held by his guard posts? Add to this that letters could not get through under any conditions: couriers are searched at hundreds of places and then even detained by Lepidus.
No one will question that I said publicly at Corduba that I would hand the province over to no one unless he came sent by the Senate. Why should I write about the fierce disputes I have had over handing over the Thirtieth legion? If I had given it up, who does not know how much weaker I would have been for the republic? Do not think there is anything keener or more ready to fight than that legion.
Therefore judge me to be this kind of man: first, one who is deeply eager for peace, since I very much want all citizens to be safe; next, one ready to vindicate both myself and the republic into liberty. Your counting my friend among yours is more pleasing to me than you can imagine, though I envy him because he walks and jokes with you. You will ask how highly I value that. If I am ever allowed to live in leisure, you will learn by experience: I shall not move a step away from you.
One thing surprises me greatly: you have not written to tell me whether I can better satisfy the republic by remaining in the province or by leading my army into Italy. For my part, although it is safer and less laborious to remain, I see that at such a moment there is far more need of legions than of provinces, especially provinces that can be recovered without trouble. As matters now stand, I have decided to set out with the army. You will learn everything else from the letter I sent to Pansa, for I have sent you a copy.
March 16, Corduba.
DCCCXXI (Fam. X, 31) C. ASINIUS POLLIO TO CICERO (AT ROME) CORDUBA, 16 MARCH: You ought not to think it at all surprising that I have written nothing to you on public affairs since war broke out. For the pass of the Castulonian Mountains, which has always delayed my letter-carriers, though it has now become still more dangerous from the increase of banditti, is yet by no means so grave a hindrance as the parties which, stationed at every available position at both ends, spy out my letter-carriers and detain them. Accordingly, if I didn't get letters by sea, I should be entirely ignorant of what was going on at Rome . Now, however, having got an opportunity, since navigation has begun, I shall write to you with the greatest eagerness and as frequently as I can. There is no danger of my being affected by the conversation of the man, whom — though there is no one who can bear the sight of him-men can yet never hate as much as he deserves. For he is so utterly detestable in my eyes that everything I have to do with him is odious to me. Moreover, my actual disposition and pursuits incline me to desire peace and liberty. Accordingly, I have often bitterly mourned over that first step in the civil war. Since, however, it was impossible for me to be neutral, because I had bitter enemies on both sides, I shunned the camp, in which I knew for certain that I should not be safe from the plots of my personal enemy. Being thus compelled to go to the last place to which I desired to go, that I might not be lost in the crowd, I boldly confronted dangers without any hesitation. To Caesar , indeed, who regarded me as one of his oldest friends, though he had not known me until he had reached his own splendid position, I was attached with the utmost devotion and fidelity. What I was permitted to do in harmony with my own opinion I did in such a manner as to procure the warmest approbation of all the best men. When I acted under orders, I did so with so much deliberation and in such a spirit as made it evident that I was an unwilling recipient of the commands. But the wholly undeserved odium roused by my conduct sufficed to teach me the charm of liberty and the wretchedness of life under a tyranny. Accordingly, if the object of the present proceedings is to bring everything once more under the power of a single person, whoever he is, I avow myself his enemy: nor is there any danger which I would shun or deprecate on behalf of liberty. But the consuls have neither by senatorial decree nor by despatch given me any instructions as to what I was to do. For I have only received one despatch from Pansa , and that not till the 15th of March, in which he urges me to write a letter to the senate declaring that I and my army will be at its disposal.. But seeing that Lepidus was making speeches and writing to tell everybody that he was at one with Antony , this was the most awkward possible step for me to take. For by what road was I to lead my legions through his province against his will? Or if I had effected the rest of the journey, could I take wings and fly over the Alps , which are occupied by his force? Add to this the impossibility of a despatch getting through on any terms: for letter-carriers are examined in countless places, and finally are even detained by Lepidus . No one will question the sincerity of my public pronouncement at Corduba , that I would hand over the province to no one who did not arrive with a commission from the senate. For why need I describe the violent controversies I have had about handing over the thirtieth legion? And if I had handed it oyer, who does not know how much less effective in serving the state I was likely to be? For I assure you that it is the most gallant and best fighting legion in existence. Wherefore make up your mind that I am, to begin with a man most strongly in favour of peace — for I am seriously desirous that all citizens should be unmolested — and in the second place one prepared to assert my own and the state's freedom alike. Your admitting my friend into the list of yours is more gratifying to me than you can think: yet I am envious of his walking and jesting with you. You will ask me how much I value that. If ever I am allowed to enjoy leisure you shall find out from experience: for I will never budge a step from your side. One thing does profoundly surprise me — that you have never written to tell me whether I could better serve the Republic by remaining in my province or by leading my army into Italy . For my part, though it is safer and less laborious to remain, yet because I see that at such a crisis there is much more occasion for legions than for provinces (especially such as can be recovered without difficulty) I have resolved, as things are now, to start with my army. For the restt, you will learn everything from my despatch to Pansa , for I am inclosing a copy of it for your perusal. 16 March, Corduba .
XXXI. Scr. Cordubae XVII. Kal. Apriles a.u.c. 711. C. ASINIUS POLLIO M. TULLIO CICERONI S. D.
Minime mirum tibi debet videri nihil me scripsisse de re publica, posteaquam itum est ad arma; nam saltus Castulonensis, qui semper tenuit nostros tabellarios, etsi nunc frequentioribus latrociniis infestior factus est, tamen nequaquam tanta in mora est, quanta qui locis omnibus dispositi ab utraque parte scrutantur tabellarios et retinent; itaque, nisi nave perlatae litterae essent, omnino nescirem, quid istic fieret. Nunc vero nactus occasionem, posteaquam navigari coeptum est, cupidissime et quam creberrime potero scribam ad te. Ne movear eius sermonibus, quem tametsi nemo est qui videre velit, tamen nequaquam proinde, ac dignus est, oderunt homines, periculum non est; adeo est enim invisus mihi, ut nihil non acerbum putem, quod commune cum illo sit; natura autem mea et studia trahunt me ad pacis et libertatis cupiditatem. Itaque illud initium civilis belli saepe deflevi; cum vero non liceret mihi nullius partis esse, quia utrubique magnos inimicos habebam, ea castra fugi, in quibus plane tutum me ab insidiis inimici sciebam non futurum; compulsus eo, quo minime volebam, ne in extremis essem [plane], pericula non dubitanter adii. Caesarem vero, quod me in tanta fortuna modo cognitum vetustissimorum familiarium loco habuit, dilexi summa cum pietate et fide. Quae mea sententia gerere mihi licuit, ita feci, ut optimus quisque maxime probarit; quod iussus sum, eo tempore atque ita feci, ut appareret invito imperatum esse. Cuius facti iniustissima invidia erudire me potuit, quam iucunda libertas et quam misera sub dominatione vita esset. Ita, si id agitur, ut rursus in potestate omnia unius sint, quicumque is est, ei me profiteor inimicum, nec periculum est ullum, quod pro libertate aut refugiam aut deprecer; sed consules neque senatus consulto neque litteris suis praeceperant mihi, quid facerem; unas enim post Idus Martias demum a Pansa litteras accepi, in quibus hortatur me, ut senatui scribam me et exercitum in potestate eius futurum: quod, cum Lepidus concionaretur atque omnibus scriberet se consentire cum Antonio, maxime contrarium fuit; nam quibus commeatibus invito illo per illius provinciam legiones ducerem? aut, si cetera transissem, num etiam Alpes poteram transvolare, quae praesidio illius tenentur? adde huc, quod perferri litterae nulla condicione potuerunt; sexcentis enim locis excutiuntur, deinde etiam retinentur ab Lepido tabellari. Illud me Cordubae pro concione dixisse nemo vocabit in dubium, provinciam me nulli, nisi qui ab senatu missus venisset, traditurum: nam, de legione tricesima tradenda quantas contentiones habuerim, quid ego scribam? qua tradita quanto pro re publica infirmior futurus fuerim, quis ignorat? hac enim legione noli acrius aut pugnacius quidquam putare esse. Quare eum me existima esse, qui primum pacis cupidissimus sim—omnes enim cives plane studeo esse salvos—, deinde qui et me et rem publicam vindicare in libertatem paratus sim. Quod familiarem meum tuorum numero habes, opinione tua mihi gratius est; invideo illi tamen, quod ambulat et iocatur tecum. Quaeres, quanti id aestimem. Si umquam licuerit vivere in otio, experieris; nullum enim vestigium abs te discessurus sum. Illud vehementer admiror, non scripsisse te mihi, manendo in provincia an ducendo exercitum in Italiam rei publicae magis satisfacere possim: ego quidem, etsi mihi tutius ac minus laboriosum est manere, tamen, quia video tali tempore multo magis legionibus opus esse quam provinciis, quae praesertim reciperari nullo negotio possint, constitui, ut nunc est, cum exercitu proficisci. Deinde ex litteris, quas Pansae misi, cognosces omnia; nam tibi earum exemplar misi. XVII. Kal. April. Corduba.
◆
You should not find it at all surprising that I have written nothing to you about public affairs since matters came to arms. The pass through the Castulonian mountains has always delayed my couriers; now it has become more dangerous because of increased banditry, but even that is not nearly as great an obstacle as the men posted everywhere by both sides, who search couriers and detain them. So if letters had not come by sea, I would know nothing at all about what is happening there.
Now, however, since navigation has opened and I have found an opportunity, I shall write to you as eagerly and as often as I can. There is no danger that I will be moved by the talk of that man: though no one wants to see him, people still do not hate him as much as he deserves. I find him so hateful that I think anything I have in common with him is bitter. My nature and my interests draw me toward a desire for peace and liberty.
So I have often grieved over the beginning of that civil war. When I was not allowed to belong to neither side, because I had powerful enemies in both camps, I avoided the camp where I knew perfectly well that I would not be safe from my enemy's plots. Forced where I least wanted to go, I faced dangers without hesitation, so that I would not be among the last. As for Caesar, because in such great fortune he treated me, though only recently known to him, as if I were one of his oldest friends, I loved him with the deepest loyalty and good faith.
Where I was allowed to act according to my own judgment, I acted in a way that won the strongest approval from every loyal man. What I was ordered to do, I did at the time and in the manner that made it clear the order had been imposed on me against my will. The profoundly unjust hatred raised by that conduct taught me how pleasant liberty is and how miserable life is under one man's rule.
So if the purpose now is that everything should again be in the power of one man, whoever he may be, I declare myself his enemy. There is no danger that I would either run from or beg off if liberty is at stake. But the consuls, neither by senatorial decree nor by letters of their own, instructed me what to do. I have received only one letter from Pansa since the Ides of March, in which he urges me to write to the Senate that my army and I will be at its disposal.
At the very moment when Lepidus was speaking publicly and writing to everyone that he agreed with Antony, that was precisely the most awkward thing for me to do. By what supply routes, against Lepidus' will, was I to lead legions through his province? Or, if I had crossed everything else, could I fly over the Alps, which are held by his guard posts? Add to this that letters could not get through under any conditions: couriers are searched at hundreds of places and then even detained by Lepidus.
No one will question that I said publicly at Corduba that I would hand the province over to no one unless he came sent by the Senate. Why should I write about the fierce disputes I have had over handing over the Thirtieth legion? If I had given it up, who does not know how much weaker I would have been for the republic? Do not think there is anything keener or more ready to fight than that legion.
Therefore judge me to be this kind of man: first, one who is deeply eager for peace, since I very much want all citizens to be safe; next, one ready to vindicate both myself and the republic into liberty. Your counting my friend among yours is more pleasing to me than you can imagine, though I envy him because he walks and jokes with you. You will ask how highly I value that. If I am ever allowed to live in leisure, you will learn by experience: I shall not move a step away from you.
One thing surprises me greatly: you have not written to tell me whether I can better satisfy the republic by remaining in the province or by leading my army into Italy. For my part, although it is safer and less laborious to remain, I see that at such a moment there is far more need of legions than of provinces, especially provinces that can be recovered without trouble. As matters now stand, I have decided to set out with the army. You will learn everything else from the letter I sent to Pansa, for I have sent you a copy.
March 16, Corduba.
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
XXXI. Scr. Cordubae XVII. Kal. Apriles a.u.c. 711. C. ASINIUS POLLIO M. TULLIO CICERONI S. D.
Minime mirum tibi debet videri nihil me scripsisse de re publica, posteaquam itum est ad arma; nam saltus Castulonensis, qui semper tenuit nostros tabellarios, etsi nunc frequentioribus latrociniis infestior factus est, tamen nequaquam tanta in mora est, quanta qui locis omnibus dispositi ab utraque parte scrutantur tabellarios et retinent; itaque, nisi nave perlatae litterae essent, omnino nescirem, quid istic fieret. Nunc vero nactus occasionem, posteaquam navigari coeptum est, cupidissime et quam creberrime potero scribam ad te. Ne movear eius sermonibus, quem tametsi nemo est qui videre velit, tamen nequaquam proinde, ac dignus est, oderunt homines, periculum non est; adeo est enim invisus mihi, ut nihil non acerbum putem, quod commune cum illo sit; natura autem mea et studia trahunt me ad pacis et libertatis cupiditatem. Itaque illud initium civilis belli saepe deflevi; cum vero non liceret mihi nullius partis esse, quia utrubique magnos inimicos habebam, ea castra fugi, in quibus plane tutum me ab insidiis inimici sciebam non futurum; compulsus eo, quo minime volebam, ne in extremis essem [plane], pericula non dubitanter adii. Caesarem vero, quod me in tanta fortuna modo cognitum vetustissimorum familiarium loco habuit, dilexi summa cum pietate et fide. Quae mea sententia gerere mihi licuit, ita feci, ut optimus quisque maxime probarit; quod iussus sum, eo tempore atque ita feci, ut appareret invito imperatum esse. Cuius facti iniustissima invidia erudire me potuit, quam iucunda libertas et quam misera sub dominatione vita esset. Ita, si id agitur, ut rursus in potestate omnia unius sint, quicumque is est, ei me profiteor inimicum, nec periculum est ullum, quod pro libertate aut refugiam aut deprecer; sed consules neque senatus consulto neque litteris suis praeceperant mihi, quid facerem; unas enim post Idus Martias demum a Pansa litteras accepi, in quibus hortatur me, ut senatui scribam me et exercitum in potestate eius futurum: quod, cum Lepidus concionaretur atque omnibus scriberet se consentire cum Antonio, maxime contrarium fuit; nam quibus commeatibus invito illo per illius provinciam legiones ducerem? aut, si cetera transissem, num etiam Alpes poteram transvolare, quae praesidio illius tenentur? adde huc, quod perferri litterae nulla condicione potuerunt; sexcentis enim locis excutiuntur, deinde etiam retinentur ab Lepido tabellari. Illud me Cordubae pro concione dixisse nemo vocabit in dubium, provinciam me nulli, nisi qui ab senatu missus venisset, traditurum: nam, de legione tricesima tradenda quantas contentiones habuerim, quid ego scribam? qua tradita quanto pro re publica infirmior futurus fuerim, quis ignorat? hac enim legione noli acrius aut pugnacius quidquam putare esse. Quare eum me existima esse, qui primum pacis cupidissimus sim—omnes enim cives plane studeo esse salvos—, deinde qui et me et rem publicam vindicare in libertatem paratus sim. Quod familiarem meum tuorum numero habes, opinione tua mihi gratius est; invideo illi tamen, quod ambulat et iocatur tecum. Quaeres, quanti id aestimem. Si umquam licuerit vivere in otio, experieris; nullum enim vestigium abs te discessurus sum. Illud vehementer admiror, non scripsisse te mihi, manendo in provincia an ducendo exercitum in Italiam rei publicae magis satisfacere possim: ego quidem, etsi mihi tutius ac minus laboriosum est manere, tamen, quia video tali tempore multo magis legionibus opus esse quam provinciis, quae praesertim reciperari nullo negotio possint, constitui, ut nunc est, cum exercitu proficisci. Deinde ex litteris, quas Pansae misi, cognosces omnia; nam tibi earum exemplar misi. XVII. Kal. April. Corduba.