Gaius Cassius Longinus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Syria|To Rome|AI-assisted
If you are well, I am glad. I am well too.
I read your letter and saw in it the remarkable affection you feel for me. You seemed not only to be on my side, as you have always been both for my sake and for the sake of the republic, but also to have taken on a serious responsibility and to be deeply anxious about us.
First, I thought you would understand that we could not remain idle while the republic was crushed. Second, because you suspected that we were already moving, I thought you would be anxious both for our safety and for the outcome of our operations. So as soon as I received the legions that Aulus Allienus brought from Egypt, I wrote to you and sent several messengers to Rome. I also wrote a dispatch to the senate, ordering that it not be delivered until it had first been read to you, assuming my messengers obeyed me.
If those letters have not reached you, I have no doubt that Dolabella, after seizing the province of Asia through the vile murder of Trebonius, has captured my letter carriers and intercepted the dispatches. I now have all the Roman forces in Syria under my command. I was delayed for a little while because I had to provide the soldiers with the promised pay, but I have only just been freed from that difficulty.
I ask you to consider the defense of my position as entrusted to you. You know very well that I have refused no danger and no labor in the service of my country. At your suggestion and on your advice I took up arms against utterly lawless criminals. I have not only gathered armies to defend the republic and liberty; I have also rescued those armies from the bloodiest of tyrants.
If Dolabella had reached these forces before I did, he would have strengthened Antony not only by actually bringing them to him, but also by giving him reason to think and hope that they were on their way. For these services, defend my soldiers. You know that they have done extraordinary service to the state. Make sure they do not regret choosing the republic as the object of their labor rather than the hope of booty and plunder.
Do what you can also to maintain the standing of the commanders Marcius and Crispus. Bassus was extremely reluctant to hand his legion over to me. If his soldiers had not sent agents to me against his will, he would have kept Apamea shut until it had to be stormed.
I say this to you not only in the name of the republic, which has always had your deepest affection, but also in the name of our friendship, which I am sure carries the greatest weight with you. Believe me, this army is devoted to the senate and to all the loyal citizens, and above all to you. The soldiers have been told so often of your patriotism that they feel a remarkable devotion and affection for you. If they come to understand that their interests concern you, they will think they owe you everything.
Since writing this letter, I have been told that Dolabella has arrived in Cilicia with his forces. I shall set out for Cilicia. Whatever I accomplish, I will make sure you know it at once. I can only hope our success will match our service to the state.
Keep well, and continue to love me.
DCCCLII (Fam. XII, 12) C. CASSIUS LONGINUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) SYRIA, 7 MAY: IF you are well, I am glad. I also am well. I have read your letter in which I recognized your uncommon affection for me. For you seemed not merely to wish me well — as you always have done on private arid public grounds alike — but to have involved yourself'in very grave responsibility and to be exceedingly anxious about us. Therefore, because in the first place I thought that you would believe that we could not remain inactive when the Republic was crushed: and in the second place because, as you suspected that we were moving, I thought you would be anxious as to our safety and the result of the operations, as soon as I received the legions brought by Aulus Allienus from Egypt , I wrote to you and sent a number of messengers to Rome . I also wrote a despatch to the senate, which I said was not to be delivered until it had been read to you — if by any chance my messengers have chosen to obey me. If these letters have not reached you, I have no doubt that Dolabella , who seized the government of Asia after the abominable murder of Treboinius, has caught my letter-carriers and intercepted the despatches. I have now under me all the Roman forces in Syria . I have been delayed for a short time whilst providing the promised pay for the soldiers. I am only just free from that difficulty. I beg you to consider that the defence of my position is committed to you, as you know full well that I have declined no danger and no labour in the service of my country: as on your suggestion and advice I have taken up arms against the most, unscrupulous outlaws: as I have not only collected armies to defend the Republic and liberty, but have also rescued them from the most bloodthirsty tyrants. If Dolabella had anticipated me in getting hold of these armies he would have strengthened Antony 's hands, not only by their actual arrival, but also by giving him reason to think 'and expect that they were coming. For which achievements defend my soldiers, since you understand that they have done wonderfully, good service to the state, and secure' that they do not regret having preferred to make the Republic the object of their labours rather than the hope of booty and plunder. Maintain. also the position of the imperators Murcus and Crispus as far as lies in your power. For Bassus was desperately unwilling to hand over his, legion' to me. Had not his soldiers in spite of him sent agents to me, he would have kept Apamea closed until it had been stormed. I make these remarks to you not only in the name of the Republic, which has always been the object of your deepest affection, but also in the name of our friendship, which I feel sure has the greatest weight with you. Believe me that this army is at the service of the senate and all the most loyal citizens, and above all of yourself. For from continually being told of your patriotism they regard you with wonderful devotion and affection. And if they come to understand that their interests engage your attention, they will also regard themselves as owing you everything. Since writing this letter I have been informed that Dolabella has arrived in Cilicia with his forces. I shall start for Cilicia . Whatever I succeed in doing I will take care to let you know promptly. I can only hope that we may be as fortunate as our services to the state deserve. Keep well, and love me. 7 May, in camp.
XII. Scr. in castris Nonis Maiis a.u.c. 711. C. CASSIUS PROCOS. S. D. M. CICERONI SUO.
S. v. b. e. e. q. v. Legi tuas litteras, in quibus mirificum tuum erga me amorem recognovi; videbaris enim non solum favere nobis—id quod et nostra et rei publicae causa semper fecisti—, sed etiam gravem curam suscepisse vehementerque esse de nobis sollicitus. Itaque, quod te primum existimare putabam nos oppressa re publica quiescere non posse, deinde, quum suspicarere nos moliri, quod te sollicitum esse et de salute nostra et de rerum eventu putabam, simul ac legiones accepi, quas A. Allienus eduxerat ex Aegypto, scripsi ad te tabellariosque complures Romam misi; scripsi etiam ad senatum litteras, quas reddi vetui priusuam tibi recitatae essent, si forte mei obtemperare mihi voluerunt. Quod si litterae perlatae non sunt, non dubito, quin Dolabella, qui nefarie Trebonio occiso Asiam occupavit, tabellarios meos deprehenderit litterasque interceperit. Exercitus omnes, qui in Syria fuerunt, teneo. Habui pollulum morae, dum promissa militibus persolvo: nunc iam sum expeditus. A te peto, ut dignitatem meam commendatam tibi habeas, si me intelligis nullum neque periculum neque laborem patriae denegasse, si contra importunissimos latrones arma cepi te hortante et auctore, si non solum exercitus ad rem publicam libertatemque defendendam comparavi, sed etiam crudelissimis tyrannis eripui, quos si occupasset Dolabella, non solum adventu, sed etiam opinione et exspectatione exercitus sui Antonium confirmasset. Quas ob res milites tuere, si eos mirifice de re publica meritos esse animadvertis, et effice, ne quem poeniteat rem publicam quam spem praedae et rapinarum sequi maluisse. Item Murci et Crispi imperatorum dignitatem, quantum est in te, tuere; nam Bassus misere noluit mihi legionem tradere; quod nisi milites invito eo legatos ad me misissent, clausam Apameam tenuisset, quoad vi esset expugnata. Haec a te peto non solum rei publicae, quae tibi semper fuit carissima, sed etiam amicitiae nostrae nomine, quam confido apud te plurimum posse. Crede mihi hunc exercitum, quem habeo, senatus atque optimi cuiusque esse maximeque tuum, de cuius voluntate assidue audiendo mirifice te diligit carumque habet: qui si intellexerit commoda sua curae tibi esse, debere etiam se tibi omnia putabit. Litteris scriptis audivi Dolabellam in Ciliciam venisse cum suis copiis: proficiscar in Ciliciam. Quid egerim, celeriter ut scias, dabo operam; ac velim, ut meremur de re publica, sic felices simus. Fac valeas meque ames. Nonis Maiis ex castris.
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If you are well, I am glad. I am well too.
I read your letter and saw in it the remarkable affection you feel for me. You seemed not only to be on my side, as you have always been both for my sake and for the sake of the republic, but also to have taken on a serious responsibility and to be deeply anxious about us.
First, I thought you would understand that we could not remain idle while the republic was crushed. Second, because you suspected that we were already moving, I thought you would be anxious both for our safety and for the outcome of our operations. So as soon as I received the legions that Aulus Allienus brought from Egypt, I wrote to you and sent several messengers to Rome. I also wrote a dispatch to the senate, ordering that it not be delivered until it had first been read to you, assuming my messengers obeyed me.
If those letters have not reached you, I have no doubt that Dolabella, after seizing the province of Asia through the vile murder of Trebonius, has captured my letter carriers and intercepted the dispatches. I now have all the Roman forces in Syria under my command. I was delayed for a little while because I had to provide the soldiers with the promised pay, but I have only just been freed from that difficulty.
I ask you to consider the defense of my position as entrusted to you. You know very well that I have refused no danger and no labor in the service of my country. At your suggestion and on your advice I took up arms against utterly lawless criminals. I have not only gathered armies to defend the republic and liberty; I have also rescued those armies from the bloodiest of tyrants.
If Dolabella had reached these forces before I did, he would have strengthened Antony not only by actually bringing them to him, but also by giving him reason to think and hope that they were on their way. For these services, defend my soldiers. You know that they have done extraordinary service to the state. Make sure they do not regret choosing the republic as the object of their labor rather than the hope of booty and plunder.
Do what you can also to maintain the standing of the commanders Marcius and Crispus. Bassus was extremely reluctant to hand his legion over to me. If his soldiers had not sent agents to me against his will, he would have kept Apamea shut until it had to be stormed.
I say this to you not only in the name of the republic, which has always had your deepest affection, but also in the name of our friendship, which I am sure carries the greatest weight with you. Believe me, this army is devoted to the senate and to all the loyal citizens, and above all to you. The soldiers have been told so often of your patriotism that they feel a remarkable devotion and affection for you. If they come to understand that their interests concern you, they will think they owe you everything.
Since writing this letter, I have been told that Dolabella has arrived in Cilicia with his forces. I shall set out for Cilicia. Whatever I accomplish, I will make sure you know it at once. I can only hope our success will match our service to the state.
Keep well, and continue to love me.
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
XII. Scr. in castris Nonis Maiis a.u.c. 711. C. CASSIUS PROCOS. S. D. M. CICERONI SUO.
S. v. b. e. e. q. v. Legi tuas litteras, in quibus mirificum tuum erga me amorem recognovi; videbaris enim non solum favere nobis—id quod et nostra et rei publicae causa semper fecisti—, sed etiam gravem curam suscepisse vehementerque esse de nobis sollicitus. Itaque, quod te primum existimare putabam nos oppressa re publica quiescere non posse, deinde, quum suspicarere nos moliri, quod te sollicitum esse et de salute nostra et de rerum eventu putabam, simul ac legiones accepi, quas A. Allienus eduxerat ex Aegypto, scripsi ad te tabellariosque complures Romam misi; scripsi etiam ad senatum litteras, quas reddi vetui priusuam tibi recitatae essent, si forte mei obtemperare mihi voluerunt. Quod si litterae perlatae non sunt, non dubito, quin Dolabella, qui nefarie Trebonio occiso Asiam occupavit, tabellarios meos deprehenderit litterasque interceperit. Exercitus omnes, qui in Syria fuerunt, teneo. Habui pollulum morae, dum promissa militibus persolvo: nunc iam sum expeditus. A te peto, ut dignitatem meam commendatam tibi habeas, si me intelligis nullum neque periculum neque laborem patriae denegasse, si contra importunissimos latrones arma cepi te hortante et auctore, si non solum exercitus ad rem publicam libertatemque defendendam comparavi, sed etiam crudelissimis tyrannis eripui, quos si occupasset Dolabella, non solum adventu, sed etiam opinione et exspectatione exercitus sui Antonium confirmasset. Quas ob res milites tuere, si eos mirifice de re publica meritos esse animadvertis, et effice, ne quem poeniteat rem publicam quam spem praedae et rapinarum sequi maluisse. Item Murci et Crispi imperatorum dignitatem, quantum est in te, tuere; nam Bassus misere noluit mihi legionem tradere; quod nisi milites invito eo legatos ad me misissent, clausam Apameam tenuisset, quoad vi esset expugnata. Haec a te peto non solum rei publicae, quae tibi semper fuit carissima, sed etiam amicitiae nostrae nomine, quam confido apud te plurimum posse. Crede mihi hunc exercitum, quem habeo, senatus atque optimi cuiusque esse maximeque tuum, de cuius voluntate assidue audiendo mirifice te diligit carumque habet: qui si intellexerit commoda sua curae tibi esse, debere etiam se tibi omnia putabit. Litteris scriptis audivi Dolabellam in Ciliciam venisse cum suis copiis: proficiscar in Ciliciam. Quid egerim, celeriter ut scias, dabo operam; ac velim, ut meremur de re publica, sic felices simus. Fac valeas meque ames. Nonis Maiis ex castris.