Marcus Caelius Rufus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
Would that I had been in Spain at that time rather than at Formiae, when you set out for Pompey! If only Appius Claudius had been on that side instead of Gaius Curio, whose friendship gradually drew me into this ruinous cause; for I realize that anger and passion have robbed me of good judgment. And you, when I came to you at Ariminum by night as you were setting out, while you gave me messages of peace for Caesar and played the marvelous patriot, you neglected the duty of a friend and did not look out for me. I do not say this because I lack confidence in this cause, but, believe me, it is better to perish than to see these people. If there were no fear of your side's cruelty, we would have been driven out of here long ago. For at this point, aside from a few moneylenders, there is neither a man nor an order here that is not Pompeian. I have already brought it about that the common people and those who were formerly our populace are now very largely yours. "Why this?" you say. No, just wait for the rest: I shall have forced you to win against your will. Think of me as an Arruntian Cato. You are sleeping, and you do not yet seem to me to understand where we are exposed and how weak we are. And I shall do this with no hope of reward, but driven by grief and indignation, which usually have the most weight with me. What are you doing over there? Are you waiting for a battle, which is the strongest thing you have? I do not know your forces; our men are very accustomed to fighting hard and easily bearing cold and hunger.
CDVI (Fam. VIII, 17) M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO (IN EPIRUS) ROME (FEBRUARY OR MARCH) To think that I was in Spain rather than at Formiae when you started to join Pompey I Oh that Appius Claudius had been on our side, or Gaius Curio on yours! 55 It was my friendship for the latter that gradually edged me on to this infernal party — for I feel that my good sense was destroyed between anger and affection. You too-when, being on the point of starting for Ariminum , 56 I came at night to visit you — in the midst of your giving me messages for Caesar about peace, and playing your role of fine citizen, you quite forgot your duty as a friend and took no thought of my interests. And I am not saying this because I have lost confidence in this cause, but, believe me, I'd rather die than see these fellows here. 57 Why, if people were not afraid of your men being bloodthirsty, we should long ago have been driven out of Rome . For here, with the exception of a few moneylenders, there is not a man or a class that is not Pompeian. Personally, I have brought it about that the masses above all, and — what was formerly ours — the main body of citizens should be now on your side."Why did I do so?" quoth you. Nay, wait for what is to come: I'll make you conquer in spite of yourselves. You shall see me play the part of a second Cato . You are asleep, and do not appear to me as yet to understand where we are open to attack, and what our weak point is. And I shall act thus from no hope of reward, but, what is ever the strongest motive with me, from indignation and a feeling of having been wronged. What are you doing over there? Are you Waiting for a battle? That's Caesar 's strongest point. I don't know about your forces; ours have become thoroughly accustomed to fighting battles and making light of cold and hunger. 60
XVII. Scr. Romae mense Martio a.u.c. 706. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
Ergo me potius in Hispania fuisse tum quam Formiis, cum tu profectus es ad Pompeium! quod utinam aut Appius Claudius in ista parte C. Curio, cuius amicitia me paullatim in hanc perditam causam imposuit; nam mihi sentio bonam mentem iracundia et amore ablatam. Tu porro, cum ad te proficiscens Arimino noctu venissem, dum mihi pacis mandata das ad Caesarem et mirificum civem agis, amici officium neglexisti neque mihi consuluisti. Neque haec dico, quod diffidam huic causae, sed, crede mihi, perire satius est quam hos videre. Quod si timor vestrae crudelitatis non esset, eiecti iampridem hinc essemus; nam hic nunc praeter feneratores paucos nec homo nec ordo quisquam est nisi Pompeianus. Equidem iam effeci, ut maxime plebs et qui antea noster fuit populus vester esset. "Cur hoc?" inquis. Immo reliqua exspectate: vos invitos vincere coegero. Arruntanum me Catonem: vos dormitis, nec haec adhuc mihi videmini intelligere, qua nos pateamus et quam simus imbecilli. Atque hoc nullius praemii spe faciam, sed, quod apud me plurimum solet valere, doloris atque indignitatis causa. Quid istic facitis? proelium exspectatis, quod firmissimum haec? vestras copias non novi: nostri valde depugnare et facile algere et esurire consuerunt. Cicero
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Would that I had been in Spain at that time rather than at Formiae, when you set out for Pompey! If only Appius Claudius had been on that side instead of Gaius Curio, whose friendship gradually drew me into this ruinous cause; for I realize that anger and passion have robbed me of good judgment. And you, when I came to you at Ariminum by night as you were setting out, while you gave me messages of peace for Caesar and played the marvelous patriot, you neglected the duty of a friend and did not look out for me. I do not say this because I lack confidence in this cause, but, believe me, it is better to perish than to see these people. If there were no fear of your side's cruelty, we would have been driven out of here long ago. For at this point, aside from a few moneylenders, there is neither a man nor an order here that is not Pompeian. I have already brought it about that the common people and those who were formerly our populace are now very largely yours. "Why this?" you say. No, just wait for the rest: I shall have forced you to win against your will. Think of me as an Arruntian Cato. You are sleeping, and you do not yet seem to me to understand where we are exposed and how weak we are. And I shall do this with no hope of reward, but driven by grief and indignation, which usually have the most weight with me. What are you doing over there? Are you waiting for a battle, which is the strongest thing you have? I do not know your forces; our men are very accustomed to fighting hard and easily bearing cold and hunger.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XVII. Scr. Romae mense Martio a.u.c. 706. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
Ergo me potius in Hispania fuisse tum quam Formiis, cum tu profectus es ad Pompeium! quod utinam aut Appius Claudius in ista parte C. Curio, cuius amicitia me paullatim in hanc perditam causam imposuit; nam mihi sentio bonam mentem iracundia et amore ablatam. Tu porro, cum ad te proficiscens Arimino noctu venissem, dum mihi pacis mandata das ad Caesarem et mirificum civem agis, amici officium neglexisti neque mihi consuluisti. Neque haec dico, quod diffidam huic causae, sed, crede mihi, perire satius est quam hos videre. Quod si timor vestrae crudelitatis non esset, eiecti iampridem hinc essemus; nam hic nunc praeter feneratores paucos nec homo nec ordo quisquam est nisi Pompeianus. Equidem iam effeci, ut maxime plebs et qui antea noster fuit populus vester esset. "Cur hoc?" inquis. Immo reliqua exspectate: vos invitos vincere coegero. Arruntanum me Catonem: vos dormitis, nec haec adhuc mihi videmini intelligere, qua nos pateamus et quam simus imbecilli. Atque hoc nullius praemii spe faciam, sed, quod apud me plurimum solet valere, doloris atque indignitatis causa. Quid istic facitis? proelium exspectatis, quod firmissimum haec? vestras copias non novi: nostri valde depugnare et facile algere et esurire consuerunt. Cicero