Marcus Caelius Rufus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|AI-assisted
"Is that how you treated Hirrus?" you will say. If only you knew how easy it was, how little even the smallest struggle there was, you would be ashamed that he ever dared to walk around as your rival.
After his defeat he has become amusing. He plays the good citizen and gives opinions against Caesar. He attacks delay. He even scolds Curio with no small force. Defeat has completely changed him. Besides, though he had never appeared in the forum and had not spent much time in the courts, he now pleads cases about free status - but rarely after midday.
I wrote to you that the matter of the provinces would be discussed on August 13. The trial of Marcellus, the consul-elect, interrupted it. The matter was put off until September 1; they could not even secure a full senate. I gave this letter on September 2, and by that day nothing had even been pushed toward completion.
As I see it, this whole case will be carried over untouched into next year, and, as far as I can divine, you will have to leave someone behind to hold the province. The succession is not being cleared up, since the Gallic provinces, which have vetoes attached to them, are being brought under the same condition as the rest. I have no doubt about this, and I have written all the more so that you may prepare yourself for this outcome.
In almost every letter I have written to you about the panthers. It will be a disgrace to you if Patiscus sent ten panthers to Curio and you do not send many times more. Curio has given me those very beasts and ten others from Africa, so that you should not think he only knows how to give country estates. If you only remember, send for the Cibyrans, and also send letters to Pamphylia - they say more are caught there - you will accomplish whatever you want. I am working harder at this now because I think I must prepare everything apart from my colleague.
Please lay this command on yourself. You usually like taking trouble, while I usually like taking none. In this business you need take no trouble except speaking - that is, giving orders and instructions. Once the animals are caught, you already have men to feed and transport them: the men I sent about Sittius's bond. I even think that, if you show me any hope in your letters, I will send others over there.
I commend to you Marcus Feridius, a Roman knight, the son of a friend of mine, a good and energetic young man who has come to your region on business of his own. I ask you to count him among your people. He wants the lands from which communities draw revenue to be exempt through your favor, which will be easy and honorable for you to do. You will put grateful and decent men under obligation to you.
Do not think Favonius was passed over by the men of the pavement; all the best people refused to vote for him. Your Pompey openly does not want Caesar both to keep his province with an army and to be consul. Yet Pompey's own opinion was that no decree should be made at this time. Scipio's was that the Gallic provinces should be discussed on March 1, and that nothing be joined with that matter. This opinion saddened Cornelius Balbus, and I know he complained to Scipio. Calidius was very eloquent in his defense, but rather cold in his prosecution.
CCX (Fam. VIII, 9) M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO (IN CILICIA) ROME, 2 SEPTEMBER: “Is that the way you have treated Hirrus ?” quoth you. Nay, if you only knew how easy it was, what an absence of even the shadow of a struggle, you would be ashamed that he ever ventured to come forward as a rival candidate with you. However, after his defeat, he keeps a smiling face, plays the honest citizen, and delivers his votes against Caesar ; blames the delay; attacks Curio , too, with considerable violence has quite changed his habits since his defeat. Besides, he who has hitherto never shown his face in the forum, and has had little to do with the law courts, now pleads cases of slaves claiming freedom, though seldom after midday. I told you in one of my letters that the business of the provinces was to be settled on the 13th of August: well, the trial of Marcellus , consul-designate, interfered with that. The matter was postponed till the 1st of September. They haven't even been able to make a house. I send this letter on the 2nd of September, up to which date nothing has been decided any more than before. As far as I can see this question will be transferred to next year unsettled, and, as well as I can guess, you will have to leave some one behind you to take charge of the province. For the appointment of a successor is not freed from difficulties, now that it is sought to put the Gauls , the assignment of which is vetoed, under the same category as the rest of the provinces. I have no doubt of this being the case: and it has made me the more determined to write to you, that you might prepare yourself for this eventuality. In nearly every letter I have mentioned the subject of the panthers to you. It will be a disgrace to you that Patiscus has sent ten panthers to Curio , and that you should not send many times more. And these very beasts, as well as ten more from Africa, Curio has presented to me, lest you should think that he does not know how to make any presents except landed estates. If you will only not forget, and send for some men of Cibyra , and also transmit a letter to Pamphylia — for it is there that they are said to be mostly captured — you will effect what you choose. I am all the more earnest about this now, because I think I shall have to furnish the exhibition entirely apart from my colleague. Pray lay this injunction upon yourself. It is your way to take much trouble willingly, as it is mine for the most part to take none. In this business you have nothing to do but speak — that is, to give an order and a commission. For as soon as the beasts have been captured, you have men to feed and transport them in those whom I have sent over on the affair of Sittius 's bond. I think also that, if you give me any hope in your letters, I shall send some more men across. I recommend to you M. Feridius, a Roman knight, a son of a friend of mine, a good and active young man, who is about to arrive in your province on business of his own, and I beg you to count him among the number of your friends. He wishes that certain lands, from which their townships draw revenue, should by your favour (which you can easily and honourably grant) be relieved from this burden: you will have obliged men who are both grateful and honest. I would not have you think that Favonius owed his defeat to the men of the pavement; all the most respectable men abstained from voting for him. Your friend Pompey plainly objects to Caesar keeping a province with an army, and being at the same time consul. However, the motion he himself made in the senate was that no decree ought to be passed at this time. Scipio 's was, that the question of Gallic provinces should be brought before the house on 1st March, and no other question combined with it. This motion made Cornelius Balbus pull a long face, and I know that he remonstrated with Scipio . Calidius , in conducting his defence, was very eloquent; in bringing his accusation, rather ineffective.
IX. Scr. Romae a. d. IV. Non. Septembres a.u.c. 703. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
"Sic tu," inquis, "Hirrum tractasti?" immo, si scias, quam facile, quam ne contentionis quidem minimae fuerit, pudeat te ausum illum umquam esse incedere tamquam tuum competitorem. Post repulsam vero risus facit: civem bonum ludit et contra Caesarem sententias dicit; exspectationem corripit; Curionem prorsus curionem non mediocriter obiurgatus ac repulsa se mutavit. Praeterea, qui numquam in foro apparuerit, non multum in iudiciis versatus sit, agit causas liberales, sed raro post meridiem. De provinciis quod tibi scripseram Idibus Sext. actum iri, interpellavit iudicium Marcelli, consulis designati: in Kal. reiecta res est; ne frequentiam quidem efficere potuerant. Has litteras a. d. IV. Non. Septembres dedi, cum ad eam diem ne profligatum quidem quidquam erat. Ut video, causa haec integra in proximum annum transferetur, et, quantum divino, relinquendus tibi erit, qui provinciam obtineat; nam non expeditur successio, quoniam Galliae, quae habent intercessorum, in eandem condicionem, quam ceterae provinciae, vocantur. Hoc mihi non est dubium; quo tibi magis scripsi, ut ad hunc eventum te parares. Fere litteris omnibus tibi de pantheris scripsi: turpe tibi erit Patiscum Curioni decem pantheras misisse, te non multis partibus plures; quas ipsas Curio mihi et alias Africanas decem donavit, ne putes illum tantum praedia rustica dare scire. Tu, si modo memoria tenueris et Cibyratas arcessieris itemque in Pamphyliam litteras miseris—nam ibi plures capi aiunt—, quod voles, efficies. Hoc vehementius laboro nunc, quod seorsus a collega puto mihi omnia paranda. Amabo te, impera tibi hoc. Curare soles libenter, ut ego maiorem partem nihil curare: in hoc negotio nulla tua nisi loquendi cura est, hoc est imperandi et mandandi; nam, simulatque erunt captae, qui alant eas et deportent, habes eos, quos ad Sittianam syngrapham misi; puto etiam, si ullam spem mihi litteris ostenderis, me isto missurum alios. M. Feridium, equitem Romanum, amici mei filium, bonum et strenuum adolescentem, qui ad suum negotium istuc venit, tibi commendo et te rogo, ut eum in tuorum numero habeas: agros, quos fructuarios habent civitates, vult tuo beneficio, quod tibi facile et honestum factu sit, immunes esse; gratos et bonos viros tibi obligaris. Nolo te putare Favonium a columnariis praeteritum: optimus quisque eum non fecit. Pompeius tuus aperte non vult Caesarem et provinciam tenere cum exercitu et consulem esse; ipse tamen hanc sententiam dixit, nullum hoc tempore senatus consultum faciendum, Scipio hanc, ut Kal. Martiis de provinciis Galliis, neu quid coniunctim referretur; contristavit haec sententia Balbum Cornelium, et scio eum quaestum esse cum Scipione. Calidus in defensione sua fuit disertissimus, in accusatione satis frigidus.
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"Is that how you treated Hirrus?" you will say. If only you knew how easy it was, how little even the smallest struggle there was, you would be ashamed that he ever dared to walk around as your rival.
After his defeat he has become amusing. He plays the good citizen and gives opinions against Caesar. He attacks delay. He even scolds Curio with no small force. Defeat has completely changed him. Besides, though he had never appeared in the forum and had not spent much time in the courts, he now pleads cases about free status - but rarely after midday.
I wrote to you that the matter of the provinces would be discussed on August 13. The trial of Marcellus, the consul-elect, interrupted it. The matter was put off until September 1; they could not even secure a full senate. I gave this letter on September 2, and by that day nothing had even been pushed toward completion.
As I see it, this whole case will be carried over untouched into next year, and, as far as I can divine, you will have to leave someone behind to hold the province. The succession is not being cleared up, since the Gallic provinces, which have vetoes attached to them, are being brought under the same condition as the rest. I have no doubt about this, and I have written all the more so that you may prepare yourself for this outcome.
In almost every letter I have written to you about the panthers. It will be a disgrace to you if Patiscus sent ten panthers to Curio and you do not send many times more. Curio has given me those very beasts and ten others from Africa, so that you should not think he only knows how to give country estates. If you only remember, send for the Cibyrans, and also send letters to Pamphylia - they say more are caught there - you will accomplish whatever you want. I am working harder at this now because I think I must prepare everything apart from my colleague.
Please lay this command on yourself. You usually like taking trouble, while I usually like taking none. In this business you need take no trouble except speaking - that is, giving orders and instructions. Once the animals are caught, you already have men to feed and transport them: the men I sent about Sittius's bond. I even think that, if you show me any hope in your letters, I will send others over there.
I commend to you Marcus Feridius, a Roman knight, the son of a friend of mine, a good and energetic young man who has come to your region on business of his own. I ask you to count him among your people. He wants the lands from which communities draw revenue to be exempt through your favor, which will be easy and honorable for you to do. You will put grateful and decent men under obligation to you.
Do not think Favonius was passed over by the men of the pavement; all the best people refused to vote for him. Your Pompey openly does not want Caesar both to keep his province with an army and to be consul. Yet Pompey's own opinion was that no decree should be made at this time. Scipio's was that the Gallic provinces should be discussed on March 1, and that nothing be joined with that matter. This opinion saddened Cornelius Balbus, and I know he complained to Scipio. Calidius was very eloquent in his defense, but rather cold in his prosecution.
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
IX. Scr. Romae a. d. IV. Non. Septembres a.u.c. 703. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
"Sic tu," inquis, "Hirrum tractasti?" immo, si scias, quam facile, quam ne contentionis quidem minimae fuerit, pudeat te ausum illum umquam esse incedere tamquam tuum competitorem. Post repulsam vero risus facit: civem bonum ludit et contra Caesarem sententias dicit; exspectationem corripit; Curionem prorsus curionem non mediocriter obiurgatus ac repulsa se mutavit. Praeterea, qui numquam in foro apparuerit, non multum in iudiciis versatus sit, agit causas liberales, sed raro post meridiem. De provinciis quod tibi scripseram Idibus Sext. actum iri, interpellavit iudicium Marcelli, consulis designati: in Kal. reiecta res est; ne frequentiam quidem efficere potuerant. Has litteras a. d. IV. Non. Septembres dedi, cum ad eam diem ne profligatum quidem quidquam erat. Ut video, causa haec integra in proximum annum transferetur, et, quantum divino, relinquendus tibi erit, qui provinciam obtineat; nam non expeditur successio, quoniam Galliae, quae habent intercessorum, in eandem condicionem, quam ceterae provinciae, vocantur. Hoc mihi non est dubium; quo tibi magis scripsi, ut ad hunc eventum te parares. Fere litteris omnibus tibi de pantheris scripsi: turpe tibi erit Patiscum Curioni decem pantheras misisse, te non multis partibus plures; quas ipsas Curio mihi et alias Africanas decem donavit, ne putes illum tantum praedia rustica dare scire. Tu, si modo memoria tenueris et Cibyratas arcessieris itemque in Pamphyliam litteras miseris—nam ibi plures capi aiunt—, quod voles, efficies. Hoc vehementius laboro nunc, quod seorsus a collega puto mihi omnia paranda. Amabo te, impera tibi hoc. Curare soles libenter, ut ego maiorem partem nihil curare: in hoc negotio nulla tua nisi loquendi cura est, hoc est imperandi et mandandi; nam, simulatque erunt captae, qui alant eas et deportent, habes eos, quos ad Sittianam syngrapham misi; puto etiam, si ullam spem mihi litteris ostenderis, me isto missurum alios. M. Feridium, equitem Romanum, amici mei filium, bonum et strenuum adolescentem, qui ad suum negotium istuc venit, tibi commendo et te rogo, ut eum in tuorum numero habeas: agros, quos fructuarios habent civitates, vult tuo beneficio, quod tibi facile et honestum factu sit, immunes esse; gratos et bonos viros tibi obligaris. Nolo te putare Favonium a columnariis praeteritum: optimus quisque eum non fecit. Pompeius tuus aperte non vult Caesarem et provinciam tenere cum exercitu et consulem esse; ipse tamen hanc sententiam dixit, nullum hoc tempore senatus consultum faciendum, Scipio hanc, ut Kal. Martiis de provinciis Galliis, neu quid coniunctim referretur; contristavit haec sententia Balbum Cornelium, et scio eum quaestum esse cum Scipione. Calidus in defensione sua fuit disertissimus, in accusatione satis frigidus.