Letter 11.8

Your Polla sent word at a time when I had nothing to write, since all was in suspense pending the expected envoys, and nothing had yet been reported of what they had accomplished. Yet I thought I should write this much: first, that the senate and Roman people are concerned for you, not only for the sake of their own safety, but also for your dignity. For there is a remarkable affection for your name and a singular love for you among all citizens. For they hope and trust that, just as you once freed the republic from a king, so now you will free it from a kingship. Levies are being held in Rome and throughout all Italy, though these can hardly be called levies when everyone volunteers; so great an ardor has seized men's minds with the desire for freedom and hatred of prolonged slavery. As for the rest, I ought now to be expecting a letter from you about what you yourself are doing, what our friend Hirtius is doing, and what my Caesar is doing -- men whom I hope will shortly be joined to you in the partnership of victory. It remains for me to write about myself, which I hope and prefer you learn from your own people's letters: that I am failing in nothing and never shall fail your dignity.

DCCCXIII (Fam. XI, 8) TO DECIMUS BRUTUS (AT MUTINA) ROME (JANUARY) Your wife Paulla sent a message asking me “whether I had anything to send to you,” at a time when I had nothing particular to say. For everything is in a state of suspense because we are waiting for the return of the ambassadors, of whose success there is as yet no news. However, I thought I ought to write and tell you this much: the senate and people of Rome are very anxious about you, not merely for the sake of their own security, but also for that of your political position. In fact the affection in which your name is held is remarkable, and the love of all the citizens for you is unparalleled. For they rest great hopes in you, and feel confident that as you formerly freed the Republic from a tyrant you will now free it from a tyranny. A levy is being held in Rome and throughout Italy , if it is to be called a levy, when all offer themselves spontaneously. Such is the enthusiasm which has taken possession of men's minds from a yearning for liberty and a loathing for their long-continued slavery. On other matters we ought by this time to be expecting a despatch from you telling us what you and our friend Hirtius are doing, and my dear Caesar , both of whom I hope will be before long united to you in the fellowship of victory. All that remains for me to say is what I prefer your learning from the letters of your family, as I hope you do — that I am not failing in any particular to support your position, and will never do so.

VIII. Scr. Romae ineunte mense Ianuario a.u.c. 711. M. CICERO S. D. D. BRUTO IMP. COS. DESIG. Eo tempore Polla tua misit, ut ad te si quid vellem darem litterarum, cum, quid scriberem, non habebam; omnia enim erant suspensa propter exspectationem legatorum, qui quid egissent, nihildum nuntiabatur. Haec tamen scribenda existimavi: primum senatum populumque Romanum de te laborare non solum salutis suae causa, sed etiam dignitatis tuae; admirabilis enim est quaedam tui nominis caritas amorque in te singularis omnium civium; ita enim sperant atque confidunt, ut antea rege, sic hoc tempore regno te rem publicam liberaturum. Romae delectus habetur totaque Italia, si hic delectus appellandus est, cum ultro se offerunt omnes: tantus ardor animos hominum occupavit desiderio libertatis odioque diutinae servitutis. De reliquis rebus a te iam exspectare litteras debemus, quid ipse agas, quid noster Hirtius, quid Caesar meus, quos spero brevi tempore societate victoriae tecum copulatos fore. Reliquum est, ut de me id scribam, quod te ex tuorum litteris et spero et malo cognoscere, me neque deesse ulla in re neque umquam defuturum dignitati tuae.