Letter 12.19

I read your letter with the greatest pleasure, in which the most delightful thing was learning that mine had been delivered to you; for I had no doubt that you would read them with pleasure, but I feared they might not be delivered. I learned from your letter that the war in Syria and the province of Syria have been assigned to you by Caesar. I wish you well and happy success in this; and I trust it will be so, relying on your industry and wisdom. But what you write about the suspicion of a Parthian war has truly disturbed me. What forces you had I could partly gather by conjecture and partly learned from your letter. And so I hope that nation does not stir at this time until those legions which I hear are being led there reach you. But if you do not have equal forces for a battle, it will not escape you to follow the example of Marcus Bibulus, who kept himself in a very well-fortified and well-supplied town for as long as the Parthians were in the province. But you will decide these things better according to the situation and the moment. For my part, I shall always be concerned about what you are doing, until I know what you have done. I have never had anyone to whom I might give a letter to you without giving one. I ask you to do the same, and above all to write to your people in such a way that they know I am yours.

DCLXVIII (Fam. XII, 19) TO Q. CORNIFICIUS (IN SYRIA) ROME (?DECEMBER) I read your letter with very great pleasure. The most gratifying thing in it was to learn that mine had reached your hands; for I felt no doubt that you would find pleasure in reading it. I was afraid it would not reach you. I learn from your letter that the war now raging in Syria and the province of Syria itself have been put in your hands by Caesar . I hope it may turn out to your honour and success. I feel confident that it will do so, for I have full reliance both on your activity and prudence. But what you say as to the suspicion of a Parthian invasion caused me great uneasiness. For I was able to conjecture the amount of your forces, and your letter confirms my calculation. Therefore I can only hope that that nation will not move until the legions reach you, which I hear are on their way But if you have not forces adequate for the struggle, do not forget to follow the policy of M. Bibulus , who kept himself shut up in a very strongly fortified and well-supplied town, as long as the Parthians were in the province. But you will settle these points better on the spot, and in view of the actual circumstances. For myself, I shall continue to feel anxious as to what you are doing, until I know what you have done. I have never had anyone to whom to give a letter without giving one. I beg you to do the same, and above all, when you write to your family, to assure them of my devotion to you.

XIX. Scr. Romae sub finem a.u.c. 708. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL. Libentissime legi tuas litteras, in quibus iucundissimum mihi fuit, quod cognovi meas tibi redditas esse; non enim dubitabam, quin eas libenter lecturus esses, verebar, ut redderentur. Bellum, quod est in Syria, Syriamque provinciam tibi tributam esse a Caesare ex tuis litteris cognovi: eam quidem rem tibi volo bene et feliciter evenire; quod ita fore confido fretus et industria et prudentia tua. Sed, de Parthici belli suspicione quod scribis, sane me commovit: quid copiarum haberes, quum ipse coniectura consequi poteram, tum ex tuis litteris cognovi: itaque opto, ne se illa gens moveat hoc tempore, dum ad te legiones eae perducantur, quas audio duci; quod si pares copias ad confligendum non habebis, non te fugiet uti consilio M. Bibuli, qui se oppido munitissimo et copiosissimo tamdiu tenuit, quamdiu in provincia Parthi fuerunt. Sed haec melius ex re et ex tempore constitues: mihi quidem usque curae erit, quid agas, dum, quid egeris, sciero. Litteras ad te numquam habui cui darem, quin dederim: a te, ut idem facias, peto, in primisque ut ita ad tuos scribas, ut me tuum sciant esse.