Letter 12.10

Lepidus, your relative by marriage and my friend, was declared an enemy by the Senate on June 30 by unanimous vote, along with the others who deserted the republic with him. Still, they were given until September 1 the chance to return to sanity. The Senate was certainly brave, but chiefly because it hoped for help from you. When I was writing this, the war was truly serious because of Lepidus's crime and instability. Every day we hear about Dolabella what we want to hear, but so far the news has no head, no authority, and comes only as rumor. Even so, your letter, which we received dated from camp on May 7, had so persuaded the community that everyone thought Dolabella already crushed and you on your way to Italy with an army. If our affairs here were settled according to our wishes, we would rely on your counsel and authority; if anything happened to falter, as happens in war, we would rely on your army. I, for my part, will honor that army by every means I can. The time for that will come when it begins to be known what help that army is going to bring the republic, or what help it has already brought. So far we hear only of efforts, excellent and splendid ones, but we are waiting for an accomplished result. I trust that some result has already happened or is drawing near. Nothing is more distinguished than your courage and greatness of spirit. Therefore we long to see you in Italy as soon as possible. We shall think we have the republic if we have you. We had won a splendid victory, if Lepidus had not received Antony when Antony was stripped, unarmed, and in flight. For that reason Antony was never so hated by the community as Lepidus is now. Antony stirred up war from a troubled republic; Lepidus stirred it up from peace and victory. Against him we have the consuls-elect. In them there is indeed great hope, but also anxious uncertainty because battles have uncertain outcomes. So persuade yourself that everything rests on you and your Brutus. Both of you are awaited, and Brutus from moment to moment. If, as I hope, you arrive after our enemies have been defeated, the republic will still rise again through your authority and settle into some tolerable condition. There are very many things that will need healing, even if the republic seems to have been sufficiently freed from the crimes of its enemies. Farewell.

CMV (Fam. XII, 10) TO GAIUS CASSIUS LONGINUS (IN SYRIA) ROME (BEGINNING OF JULY) LEPIDUS, your marriage relation, and my friend, was on the 30th of June declared a public enemy by a unanimous vote of the senate, as well as all who with him deserted the Republic. To them, however, a chance of returning to their right minds was given up to the 1st of September. The senate was very resolute, but chiefly in reliance on your aid There is, in fact, a very grave war in progress at the moment of my writing this, owing to the crime and instability of Lepidus . We daily hear satisfactory intelligence about Dolabella , but as yet by mere rumour-without definite source or confirmation. But though that is the case, still the letter which I have received from you dated from camp on the 7th of May has persuaded the whole city to believe that he has already been crushed, and that you are on your way to Italy with an army, so that, if affairs in these parts are settled as we wish, we may rely on your counsel and influence; and if there is any mishap — as will occur in war — we may rely on your army. This army, indeed, I will compliment by all the means in my power. The time for that will be when it has begun to be known what amount of aid it is likely to give to the Republic, or what amount it has already given. For at present we are only told of attempts — excellent indeed and most glorious — but we wait to hear of some decisive action: which for my own part I feel sure has taken place or is near doing so. Nothing can be more glorious than your valour and high spirit. Therefore we long to see you as soon as possible in Italy . We shall think that we have the Republic, if we have you. We had gained a splendid victory, had not Lepidus received Antony when he was without provisions or arms and in flight. Therefore Antony was never such an object of dislike to the state as Lepidus is now. For the former stirred up war when the Republic was in a revolutionary state, the latter when victory had been crowned by peace. Opposed to this war we have the consuls-designate. In them we have indeed high hopes, but owing to the uncertainty of the results of battles, we are in all the anxiety of suspense. Assure yourself; therefore, that everything depends on you and Marcus Brutus , and that you are both anxiously expected, Brutus indeed now momentarily. And if; as I hope, your arrival finds our enemies conquered, yet your authority will enable the Republic to raise its head and once more to stand on some tolerable foundation. For there will be many things demanding reform, even if the Republic shall seem fairly well released from the criminal attempts of its enemies.

X. Scr. Romae ineunte mense Quinctili a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL. Lepidus, tuus affinis, meus familiaris, pr. K. Quinctiles sententiis omnibus hostis a senatu iudicatus est ceterique, qui una cum illo a re publica defecerunt; quibus tamen ad sanitatem redeundi ante K. Sept. potestas facta est. Fortis sane senatus, sed maxime spe subsidii tui. Bellum quidem, quum haec scribebam, sane magnum erat scelere et levitate Lepidi. Nos de Dolabella quotidie, quae volumus, audimus, sed adhuc sine capite, sine auctore, rumore nuntio. Quod quum ita esset, tamen litteris tuis, quas Nonis Maiis ex castris datas acceperamus, ita persuasum erat civitati, ut illum iam oppressum omnes arbitrarentur, te autem in Italiam venire cum exercitu, ut, si haec ex sententia confecta essent, consilio atque auctoritate tua, sin quid forte titubatum, ut fit in bello, exercitu tuo niteremur: quem quidem ego exercitum quibuscumque potuero rebus ornabo; cuius rei tum tempus erit, quum, quid opis rei publicae laturus is exercitus sit aut quid iam tulerit, notum esse coeperit; nam adhuc tantum conatus audiuntur, optimi illi quidem et praeclarissimi, sed gesta res exspectatur, quam quidem aut iam esse aliquam aut appropinquare confido. Tua virtute et magnitudine animi nihil est nobilius; itaque optamus, ut quam primum te in Italia videamus: rem publicam nos habere arbitrabimur, si vos habebimus. Praeclare viceramus, nisi spoliatum, inermem, fugientem Lepidus recepisset Antonium; itaque numquam tanto odio civitati Antonius fuit, quanto est Lepidus; ille enim ex turbulenta re publica, hic ex pace et victoria bellum excitavit. Huic oppositos consules designatos habemus, in quibus est magna illa quidem spes, sed anceps cura propter incertos exitus proeliorum. Persuade tibi igitur, in te et in Bruto tuo esse omnia, vos exspectari, Brutum quidem iam iamque. Quod si, ut spero, victis hostibus nostris veneritis, tamen auctoritate vestra res publica exsurget et in aliquo statu tolerabili consistet; sunt enim permulta, quibus erit medendum, etiamsi res publica satis esse videbitur sceleribus hostium liberata. Vale.