Letter 4.1

Gaius Trebatius, my close friend, wrote to say that you had asked him where I was, that you were sorry your health kept you from seeing me when I came near the city, and that, if I came closer now, you wished to discuss what duty required of each of us. If only, Servius, while affairs were still safe, for that is the word we must use, we could have spoken together. We would surely have brought some help to the falling republic. Even while I was away I had learned that you saw these disasters long before they came and were a defender of peace both during and after your consulship. I approved your policy and felt the same myself, but I achieved nothing. I had come late; I was alone; I seemed inexperienced in the case; I had fallen among men mad for war. Now, since we seem unable to help the republic, if there is anything by which we can look after ourselves, not to keep any part of our former position, but to grieve with as much honor as possible, there is no one with whom I would rather consult than you. You have not forgotten the examples of the most distinguished men, whom we ought to resemble, nor the teachings of the wisest philosophers, whom you have always honored. I would have written to you earlier to warn you that going to the Senate, or rather to the gathering of senators, would achieve nothing, but I was afraid of offending the man who was urging me to imitate you. When he asked me to attend the Senate, I made it clear that I would say exactly what you had said about peace and the Spanish provinces. You see the situation. The whole world is divided among men with military command and is burning with war. The city, without laws, courts, justice, or credit, has been abandoned to plunder and fire. So nothing occurs to me, not something to hope for, hardly even something to wish. Still, if in your exceptional wisdom you think a conversation would help, I am thinking of going even farther from the city, whose very name I now dislike hearing, but I will come nearer. I have told Trebatius not to refuse to bring me any message you want to send. I would like you either to do that or send one of your own trusted friends, so that you do not have to leave the city and I do not have to approach it. I pay you the same compliment I perhaps claim for myself: I am sure that whatever we agree on together will have everyone's approval. Farewell.

CCCLXXXVI (Fam. IV, 1) TO SERVIUS SULPICIUS RUFUS (AT ROME) CUMAE, APRIL (TOWARDS THE END) Mv intimate friend Gaius Trebatius has written to me to say that you have inquired of him where I was, and that you regretted that, owing to the state of your health, you had not seen me after my arrival at the city walls, and that at the present time you wished, if I came nearer, to consult with me on what was the duty of us both. Oh that it had been possible, Servius , for us to converse before the ruin — that is the word! — had been completed. We should surely have contributed some assistance to the falling Republic. For I am fully informed, though absent myself, that, foreseeing these disasters long before, you were the supporter of peace both during and after your consulship. I, however, though approving your policy and holding the same opinion myself, was unable to do any good. For I arrived late in the day; I was isolated; I was regarded as imperfectly acquainted with the facts: I had suddenly plunged into a scene of mad passion for war. Now, since it seems impossible for us to furnish any support to the Republic, if there is any measure within our power to take in our own particular interests — I don't mean to maintain our old position, but to express our grief in the manner most honourable to ourselves-there is no one in the world with whom I should think it proper to confer in preference to yourself. For you do not forget the examples of the most illustrious men — whom we ought to resemble — nor the maxims of the greatest philosophers, whom you have always worshipped. And, in fact, I should myself have written to you before to warn you that your going to the senate — or rather to the convention of senators — would have no result, had I not been afraid of annoying the man who was urging me to imitate you. Him indeed I gave clearly to understand, when he asked me to attend the senate, that I should say precisely what you said about peace, and about the Spains. You see how the matter stands: the whole world is parcelled out among men in military command, and is ablaze with war: the city, without laws, law courts, justice, or credit, has been abandoned to plunder and fire. Accordingly, nothing occurs to me, I don't say to hope, but scarcely even to venture to wish. If, however, you, in your supreme wisdom, think it of any advantage that we should have a discussion, though I am thinking of going still farther from the city, the very name of which I do not now like to hear mentioned, I will yet come nearer; and I have instructed Trebatius not to decline to bring any message you wished to send me: and I should like you to do so, or to send me any of your own friends that you can trust, so that you may not be obliged to leave the city, or I to approach it. I pay you the same high compliment as I perhaps claim for myself, in feeling sure that whatever we mutually agree upon, will have the approbation of all the world. Farewell.

I. Scr. in Cumano exeunte mense Aprili a.u.c. 705. M. CICERO S. D. SER. SULPICIO. C. Trebatius, familiaris meus, ad me scripsit te ex se quaesisse, quibus in locis essem, molesteque te ferre, quod me propter valetudinem tuam, cum ad urbem accessissem, non vidisses, et hoc tempore velle te mecum, si propius accessissem, de officio utriusque nostrum communicare. Utinam, Servi, salvis rebus—sic enim est dicendum—colloqui potuissemus inter nos! profecto aliquid opis occidenti rei publicae tulissemus: cognoram enim iam absens te haec mala multo ante providentem defensorem pacis et in consulatu tuo et post consulatum fuisse; ego autem, cum consilium tuum probarem et idem ipse sentirem, nihil proficiebam, sero enim veneram, solus eram, rudis esse videbar in causa, incideram in hominum pugnandi cupidorum insanias. Nunc, quoniam nihil iam videmur opitulari posse rei publicae, si quid est, in quo nobismet ipsis consulere possimus, non ut aliquid ex pristino statu nostro retineamus, sed ut quam honestissime lugeamus, nemo est omnium, quicum potius mihi quam tecum communicandum putem; nec enim clarissimorum virorum, quorum similes esse debemus, exempla neque doctissimorum, quos semper coluisti, praecepta te fugiunt. Atque ipse antea ad te scripsissem te frustra in senatum sive potius in conventum senatorum esse venturum, ni veritus essem, ne eius animum offenderem, qui a me, ut te imitarer, petebat: cui quidem ego, cum me rogaret, ut adessem in senatu, eadem omnia, quae a te de pace et de Hispaniis dicta sunt, ostendi me esse dicturum. Res vides quomodo se habeat: orbem terrarum imperiis distributis ardere bello; urbem sine legibus, sine iudiciis, sine iure, sine fide relictam direptioni et incendiis: itaque mihi venire in mentem nihil potest non modo, quod sperem, sed vix, iam quod audeam optare; sin autem tibi, homini prudentissimo, videtur utile esse nos colloqui, quamquam longius etiam cogitabam ab urbe discedere, cuius iam etiam nomen invitus audio, tamen propius accedam, Trebatioque mandavi, ut, si quid tu eum velles ad me mittere, ne recusaret, idque ut facias velim aut si quem tuorum fidelium voles, ad me mittas, ne aut tibi exire ex urbe necesse sit aut mihi accedere. Ego tantum tibi tribuo, quantum mihi fortasse arrogo, ut exploratum habeam, quidquid nos communi sententia statuerimus, id omnes homines probaturos. Vale.