Letter 26: Cicero writes to Quintus in Gaul from Rome in November 54 BC.
Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Tullius Cicero|c. 54 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Gaul|AI-assisted
familypoliticsadministration
Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation with Latin text paired from The Latin Library.
Written at Rome, at the close of November, 700 from the founding of the city [54 BC].
Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetings.
1. To your earlier letter there is nothing for me to answer, since it is full of vexation and complaints; and you write that you handed another of the same kind to Labienus the day before, though he has not yet arrived. For your more recent letter has wiped away all my annoyance. I only urge and ask you this one thing: that amid these vexations and labors and longings you call to mind what our plan was in your setting out [to join Caesar in Gaul]. For we were not pursuing certain small and middling advantages; for what was there that we should think worth purchasing at the price of our separation? We were seeking the firmest possible safeguard, drawn from the goodwill of a man of the highest character and the greatest power, for the whole standing of our rank and dignity. More is placed in our hope than in what we are now asking for: let the rest be set aside as insurance against loss. And so, if you frequently turn your mind back to the reasoning of both our old plan and our hope, you will more easily bear those labors of military service and the other things that offend you; and yet you may lay them down whenever you wish. But the ripe moment for that has not yet come, and yet it is already drawing near.
2. I also give you this warning: do not entrust to any letter anything that, if it were made public, we would find distressing. There are many things that I would rather not know than be informed of at some risk. I will write to you at greater length with an untroubled mind when, as I hope, my dear son Cicero [the writer's young son, Marcus Cicero the younger] is doing well. I should like you to see to it that I know to whom we ought to give the letters that we will next send to you - to Caesar's carriers, or to Labienus's; for where those Nervii [a Gallic people] of yours are, and how far off they are, I do not know.
3. From your letter I received great pleasure at the virtue and steadiness of Caesar, which he showed in his deepest grief [at the death of his daughter Julia]. As for your bidding me finish the poem I had begun in his honor - although I am pulled in many directions, both by my work and still more in my feelings, yet, since Caesar has learned from the letter I had sent to you that I had made a beginning at something, I will return to the undertaking and will finish it in these idle days of the public thanksgivings, during which I am heartily glad that our friend Messalla and the rest are now relieved of their worry. And in counting him a certain consul together with Domitius, you do not differ at all from my own opinion. I will vouch for Messalla to Caesar. But Memmius places his hope in Caesar's arrival, in which I think he is mistaken; here, at any rate, he is left out in the cold, while Scaurus was long since thrown over by Pompey.
4. Matters have been postponed; the elections have been brought to the point of an interregnum; the rumor of a dictator is unwelcome to the loyalists [the optimates, the conservative aristocracy], and to me even more so are the things they are saying - but the whole affair is both feared and cooling off. Pompey flatly declares he does not want it; before this, he did not personally deny it to me. Hirrus seems likely to be the proposer: ye gods, what a fool! how in love with himself, with no rival! He, through me, scared off Crassus Junianus, a man devoted to me. Whether Pompey wishes it or not is hard to know; yet, with Hirrus pressing the matter forward, he will not prove that he does not want it. At this time they were talking of nothing else in public affairs; at any rate, certainly nothing was being done.
5. The funeral of the son of Serranus Domesticus was most mournful, on the eighth day before the Kalends of December [24 November]; the father delivered the eulogy, which I had composed.
6. Now about Milo. Pompey grants him nothing, gives everything to Gutta, and says he will bring it about that Caesar throws his weight against Milo. At this Milo shudders, and not without reason, and if Pompey is made dictator he is almost in despair. If he should assist with his own band and bodyguard a man who vetoes the dictatorship, he fears Pompey as an enemy; if he does not assist, he fears the proposal will be carried through by force. He is preparing the most magnificent games - so magnificent, I tell you, that no one has put on more lavish ones: foolishly so, on two or three counts, since they were not even demanded, whether because he had already given a magnificent show, or because the means were not there, or because he might have regarded himself as an executor of an estate, not an aedile. I have written nearly everything. Take care, my dearest brother, to keep well.
The earlier of your two letters is full of irritability and complainings, and you say you gave another of the same sort the day before to Labienus, who has not yet arrived—but I have nothing to say in answer to it, for your more recent letter has obliterated all trace of vexation from my mind. I will only give you this hint and make this request, that in the midst of your vexations and labours you should recall what our notion was as to your going to Caesar. For our object was not the acquisition of certain small and unimportant gains. For what was there of that kind which we should have thought worth the price of our separation? What we sought was the strongest possible security for the maintenance of our entire political position by the countenance of a man of the highest character and most commanding influence. Our interest is not so much in the acquisition of sums of money, as in the realization of this hope: all else that you get is to be regarded only as a security against actual loss. Wherefore, if you will frequently turn your thoughts back upon what we originally proposed to ourselves and hoped to do, you will bear with less impatience the labours of military service of which you speak and the other things which annoy you, and, nevertheless, will resign them whenever you choose. But the right moment for that step is not yet come, though it is now not far off. Furthermore, I give you this hint—don't commit anything at all to writing, the publication of which would be annoying to us. There are many things that I would rather not know than learn at some risk. I shall write at greater length to you with a mind less preoccupied, when my boy Cicero is, as I hope he will be, in a good state of health. Pray be careful to let me know to whom I should give the letter which I shall then send you—to Caesar's letter-carriers, for him to forward them direct to you, or to those of Labienus? For where your Nervii dwell, and how far off, I have no idea. I derived great pleasure from your letter describing the courage and dignity displayed (as you say) by Caesar in his extreme sorrow. You bid me finish the poem in his honour which I had begun; and although I have been diverted from it by business, and still more by my feelings, yet, since Caesar knows that I did begin something, I will return to my design, and will complete in these leisure days of the "supplications," during which I greatly rejoice that our friend Messalla and the rest are at last relieved from worry. In reckoning on him as certain to be consul with Domitius, you are quite in agreement with my own opinion. I will guarantee Messalla to Caesar: but Memmius Cherishes a hope, founded on Caesar's return to Italy, in which I think he is under a mistake. He is, indeed, quite out of it here. Scaurus, again, has been long ago thrown over by Pompey. The business has been put off: the comitia postponed and postponed, till we may expect an interregnum. The rumour of a dictator is not pleasing to the aristocrats; for myself, I like still less what they say. But the proposal, as a whole, is looked upon with alarm, and grows unpopular. Pompey says outright that he doesn't wish it: to me previously he used not personally to deny the wish. Hirrus seems likely to be the proposer. Ye gods! what folly! How in love with himself and without—a rival! He has commissioned me to choke off Caelius Vinicianus, a man much attached to me. Whether Pompey wishes it or not, it is difficult to be sure. However, if it is Hirrus who makes the proposal, he will not convince people that he does not wish it. There is nothing else being talked about in politics just now; at any rate, nothing else is being done. The funeral of the son of Serranus Domesticus took place in very melancholy circumstances on the 23rd of November. His father delivered the funeral Oration which I composed for him. Now about Milo. Pompey gives him no support, and is all for Gutta, saying also that he will secure Caesar on his side. Milo is alarmed at this, and no wonder, and almost gives up hope if Pompey is created dictator. If he assists anyone who vetoes the dictatorship by his troop and bodyguard, he fears he may excite Pompey's enmity: if he doesn't do so, he fears the proposal may be carried by force. He is preparing games on a most magnificent scale, at a cost, I assure you, that no one has ever exceeded. It is foolish, on two or even three accounts, to give games that were not demanded—he has already given a magnificent show of gladiators: he cannot afford it: he is only an executor, and might have reflected that he is now an executor, not an aedile. That is about all I had to write. Take care of yourself, dearest brother.
VIII. Scr. Romae exeunte mense Novembri a.u.c. 700.
MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Superiori epistulae quod respondeam, nihil est, quae plena stomachi et querelarum est, quo in genere alteram quoque te scribis pridie Labieno dedisse, qui adhuc non venerat; delevit enim mihi omnem molestiam recentior epistula. Tantum te et moneo et rogo, ut in istis molestiis et laboribus et desideriis recordere, consilium nostrum quod fuerit profectionis tuae; non enim commoda quaedam sequebamur parva ac mediocria, quid enim erat, quod discessu nostro emendum putaremus? praesidium firmissimum petebamus ex optimi et potentissimi viri benevolentia ad omnem statum nostrae dignitatis. Plura ponuntur in spe, quam petimus: reliqua ad iacturam reserventur. Quare, si crebro referes animum tuum ad rationem et veteris consilii nostri et spei, facilius istos militiae labores ceteraque, quae te offendunt, feres, et tamen, cum voles, depones, sed eius rei maturitas nequedum venit et tamen iam appropinquat. 2. Etiam illud te admoneo, ne quid ullis litteris committas, quod si prolatum sit, moleste feramus: multa sunt, quae ego nescire malo quam cum aliquo periculo fieri certior. Plura ad te vacuo animo scribam, cum, ut spero, se Cicero meus belle habebit. Tu velim cures, ut sciam, quibus nos dare oporteat eas, quas ad te deinde litteras mittemus, an Labieni; ubi enim isti sint Nervii et quam longe absint, nescio. 3. De virtute et gravitate Caesaris, quam in summo dolore adhibuisset, magnam ex epistula tua accepi voluptatem. Quod me institutum ad illum poema iubes perficere, etsi distentus cum opera, tum animo sumo multo magis, tamen, quoniam ex epistula, quam ad te miseram, cognovit Caesar me aliquid esse exorsum, revertar ad institutum idque perficiam his supplicationum otiosis diebus, quibus Messallam iam nostrum reliquosque molestia levatos vehementer gaudeo, eumque quod certum consulem cum Domitio numeratis, nihil a nostra opinione dissentitis. Ego Messallam Caesari praestabo. Sed Memmius in adventu Caesaris habet spem, in quo illum puto errare; hic quidem friget, Scaurum autem iampridem Pompeius abiecit. 4. Res prolatae; ad interregnum comitia adducta; rumor dictatoris iniucundus bonis, mihi etiam magis, quae loquuntur, sed tota res et timetur et refrigescit. Pompeius plane se negat velle; antea mihi ipse non negabat. Hirrus auctor fore videtur: o di, quam ineptus! quam se ipse amans sine rivali! Crassum Iunianum, hominem mihi deditum, per me deterruit. Velit nolit, scire difficile est; Hirro tamen agente nolle se non probabit. Aliud hoc tempore de re publica nihil loquebantur; agebatur quidem certe nihil. 5. Serrani Domestici filii funus perluctuosum fuit a. d. VIII. Kal. Decembr.: laudavit pater scripto meo. 6. Nunc de Milone. Pompeius ei nihil tribuit, omnia Guttae dicitque se perfecturum, ut in illum Caesar incumbat: hoc horret Milo, nec iniuria, et, si ille dictator factus sit, paene diffidit. Intercessorem dictaturae si iuverit manu et praesidio suo, Pompeium metuit inimicum; si non iuverit, timet, ne per vim perferatur. Ludos apparat magnificentissimos, sic, inquam, ut nemo sumptuosiores: stulte bis terque non postulatos, vel quia munus magnificum dederat, vel quia facultates non erant, vel quia potuerat magistrum se, non aedilem putare. Omnia fere scripsi. Cura, mi carissime frater, ut valeas.
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Written at Rome, at the close of November, 700 from the founding of the city [54 BC].
Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetings.
1. To your earlier letter there is nothing for me to answer, since it is full of vexation and complaints; and you write that you handed another of the same kind to Labienus the day before, though he has not yet arrived. For your more recent letter has wiped away all my annoyance. I only urge and ask you this one thing: that amid these vexations and labors and longings you call to mind what our plan was in your setting out [to join Caesar in Gaul]. For we were not pursuing certain small and middling advantages; for what was there that we should think worth purchasing at the price of our separation? We were seeking the firmest possible safeguard, drawn from the goodwill of a man of the highest character and the greatest power, for the whole standing of our rank and dignity. More is placed in our hope than in what we are now asking for: let the rest be set aside as insurance against loss. And so, if you frequently turn your mind back to the reasoning of both our old plan and our hope, you will more easily bear those labors of military service and the other things that offend you; and yet you may lay them down whenever you wish. But the ripe moment for that has not yet come, and yet it is already drawing near.
2. I also give you this warning: do not entrust to any letter anything that, if it were made public, we would find distressing. There are many things that I would rather not know than be informed of at some risk. I will write to you at greater length with an untroubled mind when, as I hope, my dear son Cicero [the writer's young son, Marcus Cicero the younger] is doing well. I should like you to see to it that I know to whom we ought to give the letters that we will next send to you - to Caesar's carriers, or to Labienus's; for where those Nervii [a Gallic people] of yours are, and how far off they are, I do not know.
3. From your letter I received great pleasure at the virtue and steadiness of Caesar, which he showed in his deepest grief [at the death of his daughter Julia]. As for your bidding me finish the poem I had begun in his honor - although I am pulled in many directions, both by my work and still more in my feelings, yet, since Caesar has learned from the letter I had sent to you that I had made a beginning at something, I will return to the undertaking and will finish it in these idle days of the public thanksgivings, during which I am heartily glad that our friend Messalla and the rest are now relieved of their worry. And in counting him a certain consul together with Domitius, you do not differ at all from my own opinion. I will vouch for Messalla to Caesar. But Memmius places his hope in Caesar's arrival, in which I think he is mistaken; here, at any rate, he is left out in the cold, while Scaurus was long since thrown over by Pompey.
4. Matters have been postponed; the elections have been brought to the point of an interregnum; the rumor of a dictator is unwelcome to the loyalists [the optimates, the conservative aristocracy], and to me even more so are the things they are saying - but the whole affair is both feared and cooling off. Pompey flatly declares he does not want it; before this, he did not personally deny it to me. Hirrus seems likely to be the proposer: ye gods, what a fool! how in love with himself, with no rival! He, through me, scared off Crassus Junianus, a man devoted to me. Whether Pompey wishes it or not is hard to know; yet, with Hirrus pressing the matter forward, he will not prove that he does not want it. At this time they were talking of nothing else in public affairs; at any rate, certainly nothing was being done.
5. The funeral of the son of Serranus Domesticus was most mournful, on the eighth day before the Kalends of December [24 November]; the father delivered the eulogy, which I had composed.
6. Now about Milo. Pompey grants him nothing, gives everything to Gutta, and says he will bring it about that Caesar throws his weight against Milo. At this Milo shudders, and not without reason, and if Pompey is made dictator he is almost in despair. If he should assist with his own band and bodyguard a man who vetoes the dictatorship, he fears Pompey as an enemy; if he does not assist, he fears the proposal will be carried through by force. He is preparing the most magnificent games - so magnificent, I tell you, that no one has put on more lavish ones: foolishly so, on two or three counts, since they were not even demanded, whether because he had already given a magnificent show, or because the means were not there, or because he might have regarded himself as an executor of an estate, not an aedile. I have written nearly everything. Take care, my dearest brother, to keep well.
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
VIII. Scr. Romae exeunte mense Novembri a.u.c. 700. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Superiori epistulae quod respondeam, nihil est, quae plena stomachi et querelarum est, quo in genere alteram quoque te scribis pridie Labieno dedisse, qui adhuc non venerat; delevit enim mihi omnem molestiam recentior epistula. Tantum te et moneo et rogo, ut in istis molestiis et laboribus et desideriis recordere, consilium nostrum quod fuerit profectionis tuae; non enim commoda quaedam sequebamur parva ac mediocria, quid enim erat, quod discessu nostro emendum putaremus? praesidium firmissimum petebamus ex optimi et potentissimi viri benevolentia ad omnem statum nostrae dignitatis. Plura ponuntur in spe, quam petimus: reliqua ad iacturam reserventur. Quare, si crebro referes animum tuum ad rationem et veteris consilii nostri et spei, facilius istos militiae labores ceteraque, quae te offendunt, feres, et tamen, cum voles, depones, sed eius rei maturitas nequedum venit et tamen iam appropinquat. 2. Etiam illud te admoneo, ne quid ullis litteris committas, quod si prolatum sit, moleste feramus: multa sunt, quae ego nescire malo quam cum aliquo periculo fieri certior. Plura ad te vacuo animo scribam, cum, ut spero, se Cicero meus belle habebit. Tu velim cures, ut sciam, quibus nos dare oporteat eas, quas ad te deinde litteras mittemus, an Labieni; ubi enim isti sint Nervii et quam longe absint, nescio. 3. De virtute et gravitate Caesaris, quam in summo dolore adhibuisset, magnam ex epistula tua accepi voluptatem. Quod me institutum ad illum poema iubes perficere, etsi distentus cum opera, tum animo sumo multo magis, tamen, quoniam ex epistula, quam ad te miseram, cognovit Caesar me aliquid esse exorsum, revertar ad institutum idque perficiam his supplicationum otiosis diebus, quibus Messallam iam nostrum reliquosque molestia levatos vehementer gaudeo, eumque quod certum consulem cum Domitio numeratis, nihil a nostra opinione dissentitis. Ego Messallam Caesari praestabo. Sed Memmius in adventu Caesaris habet spem, in quo illum puto errare; hic quidem friget, Scaurum autem iampridem Pompeius abiecit. 4. Res prolatae; ad interregnum comitia adducta; rumor dictatoris iniucundus bonis, mihi etiam magis, quae loquuntur, sed tota res et timetur et refrigescit. Pompeius plane se negat velle; antea mihi ipse non negabat. Hirrus auctor fore videtur: o di, quam ineptus! quam se ipse amans sine rivali! Crassum Iunianum, hominem mihi deditum, per me deterruit. Velit nolit, scire difficile est; Hirro tamen agente nolle se non probabit. Aliud hoc tempore de re publica nihil loquebantur; agebatur quidem certe nihil. 5. Serrani Domestici filii funus perluctuosum fuit a. d. VIII. Kal. Decembr.: laudavit pater scripto meo. 6. Nunc de Milone. Pompeius ei nihil tribuit, omnia Guttae dicitque se perfecturum, ut in illum Caesar incumbat: hoc horret Milo, nec iniuria, et, si ille dictator factus sit, paene diffidit. Intercessorem dictaturae si iuverit manu et praesidio suo, Pompeium metuit inimicum; si non iuverit, timet, ne per vim perferatur. Ludos apparat magnificentissimos, sic, inquam, ut nemo sumptuosiores: stulte bis terque non postulatos, vel quia munus magnificum dederat, vel quia facultates non erant, vel quia potuerat magistrum se, non aedilem putare. Omnia fere scripsi. Cura, mi carissime frater, ut valeas.