to console myself, for I suffered less pain from these evil days than
from the idea I had acted wrongly and rashly. But I fancy I have not
done so, since my deeds and policy agree with your advice. You say that
I seem to owe Pompey so much more because I say so than because he
deserves it. You are right. I have always exaggerated
* * * * *
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magis, ne quid ille superiorum meminisse me putaret. Quae si maxime
meminissem, tamen illius temporis similitudinem iam sequi deberem.
Nihil me adiuvit, cum posset; sed postea fuit amicus, etiam valde,
nec, quam ob causam, plane scio. Ergo ego quoque illi. Quin etiam
illud par in utroque nostrum, quod ab eisdem illecti sumus. Sed utinam
tantum ego ei prodesse potuissem, quantum mihi ille potuit! Mihi tamen,
quod fecit, gratissimum. Nec ego nunc, eum iuvare qua re possim,
scio nec, si possem, cum tam pestiferum bellum pararet, adiuvandum
putarem. Tantum offendere animum eius hic manens nolo, nec mehercule
ista videre, quae tu potes iam animo providere, nec interesse istis
malis possem. Sed eo tardior ad discedendum fui, quod difficile est de
discessu voluntario sine ulla spe reditus cogitare. Nam ego hunc ita
paratum video peditatu, equitatu, classibus, auxiliis Gallorum, quos
Matius ἐλάπιζεν, ut puto, sed certe dicebat....[102] peditum, equitum
se polliceri sumptu suo annos decem. Sed sit hoc λάπισμα; magnas habet
certe copias et habebit non Italiae vectigal, sed civium bona. Adde
confidentiam hominis, adde imbecillitatem bonorum virorum, qui quidem,
quod illum sibi merito iratum putant, oderunt, ut tu scribis, ludum. Ac
vellem scripsisses, quisnam hoc significasset. Sed et iste, qui[103]
plus ostenderat, quam fecit, et vulgo illum, qui amarunt, non amant;
[102] CCIↃↃ peditum, equitum sex _Bosius_.
[103] _The reading is very uncertain. The MSS. have_ cc _for_ ac,
scribis _for_ scripsisses, hic _for_ hoc _and_ qui _for_ quia.
* * * * *
Page 247
his services for fear he might think I remembered the past. However
much I remembered it, I should feel bound to take the course he took
as an example for my behaviour now. He failed to help me when he
might; but afterwards he was my friend, my very good friend. I don't
quite know why; so I too will be his friend. There is this further
likeness between the two cases; both of us were inveigled by the same
persons. But would that I were able to help him as much as he was
able to help me! However, I am truly grateful for what he did. I do
not know in what way I may be able to help him now; nor, were I able,
should I think it proper to help him in his preparations for such a
disastrous war. Only I do not wish to hurt his feelings by staying
here. I declare I could not behold the days that you can foresee, nor
take part in such iniquity. But my departure was delayed, because
it is hard to think of voluntary departure when there is no hope of
return. For Caesar I see is so equipped with infantry, cavalry, fleet,
auxiliaries from Gaul--Matius may have exaggerated, but certainly
he said that ... infantry and cavalry have promised their services
for ten years at their own expense. However, granted that this was
_gasconnade_, great forces Caesar assuredly has, and he will have not
the inland revenue of Italy, but the property of her citizens. Add to
this the self-confidence of the man, the weakness of the loyalists,
who, thinking Pompey deservedly angry with them, as you say, detest the
game. I wish you had cited your authority. Domitius, who promised more
than he performed,[104] and Pompey's old lovers in general do
[104] Or as Boot, reading _sedet_, "Domitius, who etc., is doing
nothing."
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municipia vero et rustici Romani illum metuunt, hunc adhuc diligunt.
Quare ita paratus est, ut, etiamsi vincere non possit, quo modo tamen
vinci ipse possit, non videam. Ego autem non tam γοητείαν huius timeo
quam πειθανάγκην. "Αἱ γὰρ τῶν τυρᾶννων δεήσεις," inquit Πλάτων, "οἶσθ'
ὅτι μεμιγμέναι ἀνίγκαις."
Illa ἀλίμενα video tibi non probari. Quae ne mihi quidem placebant; sed
habebam in illis et occultationem et ὑπηρεσίαν fidelem. Quae si mihi
Brundisi suppeterent, mallem; sed ibi occultatio nulla est. Verum, ut
scribis, cum sciemus.
Viris bonis me non nimis excuso. Quas enim eos cenas et facere et obire
scripsit ad me Sextus, quam lautas, quam tempestivas! Sed sint quamvis
boni, non sunt meliores quam nos. Moverent me, si essent fortiores.
De Lanuvino Phameae erravi; Troianum somniaveram. Id ego volui Q, sed
pluris est. Istuc tamen mihi cuperem emeres, si ullam spem fruendi
viderem.
Nos quae monstra cotidie legamus, intelleges ex illo libello, qui in
epistulam coniectus est. Lentulus noster Puteolis est ἀδημονῶν is, ut
Caesius narrat, quid agat. Διατροπὴν Corfiniensem reformidat. Pompeio
nunc putat satis factum, beneficio Caesaris movetur, sed tamen movetur
magis prospecta re.
Tene haec posse ferre? Omnia misera, sed hoc
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not love him. The towns and rural population are afraid of Pompey and
so far worship Caesar. Caesar is so equipped that, even if he fail
to beat, I do not see in what way he can be beaten. I do not fear
his _finesse_ so much as his _force majeure_, for as Plato says, "a
tyrant's requests partake of the nature of mandates."[105]
[105] Plato, _Ep._ 7.
Places without harbours, I see, do not meet with your approval. Nor do
I like them, but the place has afforded me hiding and a trusty set of
attendants. If I could have had the same at Brundisium, I should have
preferred it. But there is no hiding place there. But, as you say, when
we know!
I am not going to excuse myself much to the loyalists. What dinners
according to Sextus they are giving and receiving, how lavish and how
early! They may be loyal, but they are not more loyal than I. They
would influence me more if they had shown more courage.
I was wrong about Phamea's estate at Lanuvium. I was dreaming about
the Trojan estate.[106] I wanted it for £4,500,[107] but the price is
higher. However, I should have liked you to buy that estate for me, if
I saw any hope of enjoying it.
[106] Apparently near Antium, cf. ix, 9.
[107] 500,000 sesterces.
What portentous news I read daily you may understand from the pamphlet
enclosed in this packet. Lentulus is at Puteoli, and, Caesius says, in
a quandary what to do. He dreads a fiasco like that at Corfinium. He
thinks he has done his duty by Pompey. He is influenced by Caesar's
kindness; but he is influenced more by future prospects.
To think that you can bear this! Everything is
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nihil miserius. Pompeius N. Magium de pace misit et tamen oppugnatur.
Quod ego non credebam, sed habeo a Balbo litteras, quarum ad te
exemplum misi. Lege, quaeso, et illud infimum caput ipsius Balbi
optimi, cui Gnaeus noster locum, ubi hortos aedificaret, dedit, quem
cui nostrum non saepe praetulit? Itaque miser torquetur. Sed, ne bis
eadem legas, ad ipsam te epistulam reicio. Spem autem pacis habeo
nullam. Dolabella suis litteris III Idus Mart. datis merum bellum
loquitur. Maneamus ergo in illa eadem sententia misera et desperata,
quando hoc miserius esse nihil potest.
XIIIa
BALBUS CICERONI IMP. SAL. DIC.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae circ. X K. Apr. 705._]
Caesar nobis litteras perbreves misit; quarum exemplum subscripsi.
Brevitate epistulae scire poteris eum valde esse distentum, qui tanta
de re tam breviter scripserit. Si quid praeterea novi fuerit, statim
tibi scribam.
"CAESAR OPPIO, CORNELIO SAL.
A. d. VII Idus Martias Brundisium veni, ad murum castra posui. Pompeius
est Brundisi. Misit ad me N. Magium de pace. Quae visa sunt, respondi.
Hoc vos statim scire volui. Cum in spem venero de compositione aliquid
me conficere, statim vos certiores faciam."
Quo modo me nunc putas, mi Cicero, torqueri, postquam rursus in spem
pacis veni, ne qua res eorum compositionem impediat? Namque, quod
absens
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wretched, but nothing more wretched than this. Pompey sent N. Magius to
speak of peace, and yet he is under siege. I did not believe it; but I
have a letter from Balbus of which I send you a copy. Read it, please,
and that clause at the end which contains the remarks of the good
Balbus himself, to whom Pompey gave a site for his estate and whom he
had often preferred to all of us. So he is in an agony of grief. But,
that you may not have to read the same, twice over, I refer you to the
letter. Of peace I have no hope. Dolabella in his letter of the 13th
of March speaks of war pure and simple. So let us stick to the same
opinion, that there is no hope, for nothing can be worse than all this.
XIIIa
BALBUS TO CICERO THE IMPERATOR, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, about March 23_, B.C. _49_]
Caesar has sent me a very short letter of which I subjoin a copy. From
the shortness of the letter you can infer that he is greatly occupied,
to write so briefly about a matter of such importance. If there is any
further news, I will write you immediately.
"CAESAR TO OPPIUS, CORNELIUS, GREETING.
"On the 9th of March I came to Brundisium, and under its walls pitched
my camp. Pompey is at Brundisium. He sent N. Magius to me to talk of
peace. I replied as I thought fit. I wanted you to know this at once.
When I have hopes of settled terms, I will inform you immediately."
My dear Cicero, you can imagine my torture, after I again had hopes
of peace, for fear anything should prevent an arrangement. I long for
peace. It is all I can do in my absence from the scene of action.
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facere possum, opto. Quodsi una essem, aliquid fortasse proficere
possem videri. Nunc exspectatione crucior.
XIV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Formiano VIII K. Apr. a. 705_]
Miseram ad te VIIII K. exemplum epistulae Balbi ad me et Caesaris ad
eum. Ecce tibi eodem die Capua litteras accepi ab Q. Pedio Caesarem ad
se pridie Idus Martias misisse hoc exemplo:
"Pompeius se oppido tenet. Nos ad portas castra habemus. Conamur opus
magnum et multorum dierum propter altitudinem maris. Sed tamen nihil
est, quod potius faciamus. Ab utroque portus cornu moles iacimus, ut
aut illum quam primum traicere, quod habet Brundisi copiarum, cogamus,
aut exitu prohibeamus."
Ubi est illa pax, de qua Balbus scripserat torqueri se? Ecquid,
acerbius ecquid crudelius? Atque eum loqui quidam αὐθεντικῶς narrabat
Cn. Carbonis, M. Bruti se poenas persequi, omniumque eorum, in quos
Sulla crudelis hoc socio fuisset; nihil Curionem se duce facere, quod
non hic Sulla duce fecisset; se ambire reditionem,[108] quibus exsilii
poena superioribus legibus non fuisset, ab illo patriae proditores de
[108] se ambire reditionem _Tyrrell and Purser_: ad ambitionem _MSS._
* * * * *
Page 253
If I were there, perhaps I might succeed in seeming to be of use. Now I
am tormented with waiting.
XIV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae March 25_, B.C. _49_]
I sent you on the 26th of March a copy of Balbus' letter to me and of
Caesar's letter to him. Then that very day from Capua I got a letter
from Q. Pedius saying that Caesar had written to him on the 14th in the
following terms:
"Pompey confines himself to the town. My camp is at the gates. I am
attempting a big job which will take many days on account of the depth
of the sea: yet I have no better course. From both wings of the harbour
I am building a mole, so that I may either compel him to transship the
forces he has here as soon as possible, or prevent him from getting out
at all."
Where is the peace about which Balbus wrote that he was tormenting
himself? Could anything be more bitter, more cruel? Moreover some one
told me with authority that Caesar said in conversation he was the
avenger of Cn. Carbo, M. Brutus,[109] and all those on whom Sulla with
Pompey to help him wreaked his cruelty: Curio under his leadership was
doing nothing but what Pompey had done under Sulla's leadership: what
he wanted was the restoration of those not punished with exile under
the earlier laws, while Pompey had restored those who had
[109] Carbo was put to death by Pompey in 82 or 81 B.C.; he was consul
for the third time with C. Marius the younger. Brutus, the father of
Caesar's murderer, was killed by Pompey in 77 or 76 B.C., and another
M. Brutus committed suicide sooner than fall into his hands.
* * * * *
Page 254
exsilio reductos esse; queri de Milone per vim expulso; neminem tamen
se violaturam, nisi qui arma contra. Haec Baebius quidam a Curione III
Id. profectus, homo non infans, sed qui de suo illa[110] non dicat.
Plane nescio, quid agam. Illim equidem Gnaeum profectum puto. Quicquid
est, biduo sciemus. A te nihil ne Anteros quidem litterarum; nec mirum.
Quid enim est, quod scribamus? Ego tamen nullum diem praetermitto.
[110] qui de suo illa _Tyrrell_: quis ulli _MSS._
Scripta epistula litterae mihi ante lucem a Lepta Capua redditae sunt
Idib. Mart. Pompeium a Brundisio conscendisse, at Caesarem a. d, VII
Kal. Apriles Capuae fore.
XV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Formiano VIII K. Apr a. 705_]
Cum dedissem ad te litteras, ut scires Caesarem Capuae VII Kal. fore,
allatae mihi Capua sunt et hic copiam mihi et[111] in Albano apud
Curionem V K. fore. Eum cum videro, Arpinum pergam. Si mihi veniam,
quam peto, dederit, utar illius condicione; si minus, impetrabo aliquid
a me ipso. Ille, ut ad me scripsit, legiones singulas posuit Brundisi,
Tarenti, Siponti. Claudere mihi videtur maritimos exitus et tamen ipse
Graeciam spectare potius quam Hispanias. Sed haec longius absunt. Me
nunc et congressus huius stimulat (is vero adest), et primas eius
actiones
[111] et hic copiam mihi et _Madvig_; et hoc mihi et _MSS._
* * * * *
Page 255
been traitors: he resents Pompey's violent banishment of Milo, but
would only harm those who bear arms against him. This tale was told me
by one Baebius, who came from Curio on the 13th, a man who is no fool,
but not smart enough to invent such a tale. I am quite at a loss what
to do. From Brundisium, I fancy Pompey must have set out. Whatever has
happened, we shall know in a few days. I haven't a letter from you not
even by Anteros, and no wonder. What is there to write about? Still I
do not omit one day.
When this was written a letter came to me before daylight from Lepta
dated Capua the 15th of March. Pompey has embarked from Brundisium.
Caesar is due at Capua on the 26th.
XV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, March 25_, B.C. _49_]
After I had sent you a letter informing you that Caesar would be at
Capua on the 26th, a letter reached me from Capua saying that Caesar
would see me either here or in Curio's place at Alba on the 28th.
When I have seen him, I shall go to Arpinum. If he should grant me
the privilege I ask, I shall put up with his terms. If not, then I
shall consult myself as to what to do. As Caesar wrote to me, he has
stationed one legion each at Brundisium, Tarentum and Sipontum. He
seems to me to be cutting off retreat by sea and yet himself to have
Greece in view rather than Spain. But these are remote considerations.
Now I am stirred by the thought of meeting him; for the meeting is
close at hand, and I am alarmed at the first steps he
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Page 256
horreo. Volet enim, credo, S. C. facere, volet augurum decretum
(rapiemur aut absentes vexabimur), vel ut consules roget praetor vel
ut dictatorem dicat; quorum neutrum ius est. Etsi, si Sulla potuit
efficere, ab interrege ut dictator diceretur[112] cur hic non possit?
Nihil expedio, nisi ut aut ab hoc tamquam Q. Mucius aut ab illo tamquam
L. Scipio.
[112] _After_ diceretur _most MSS. add_ et magister equitum.
Cum tu haec leges, ego illum fortasse convenero. Τέτλαθι. Κύντερον
ne illud quidem nostrum proprium. Erat enim spes propinqui reditus,
erat hominum querela. Nunc exire cupimus, qua spe reditus, mihi quidem
numquam in mentem venit. Non modo autem nulla querela est municipalium
hominum ac rusticorum, sed contra metuunt ut crudelem, iratum. Nec
tamen mihi quicquam est miserius quam remansisse nec optatius quam
evolare non tam ad belli quam ad fugae societatem. Sed tu, omnia qui
consilia differebas in id tempus, cum sciremus, quae Brundisi acta
essent. Scimus nempe; haeremus nihilo minus. Vix enim spero mihi hunc
veniam daturum, etsi multa adfero iusta ad impetrandum. Sed tibi omnem
illius meumque sermonem omnibus verbis expressum statim mittam. Tu nunc
omni amore enitere, ut nos cura tua et prudentia iuves. Ita subito
accurrit, ut ne T. Rebilum quidem,
* * * * *
Page 257
will take, for he will want, I am sure, a decree of the Senate and a
decree of the augurs (we shall be hurried off to Rome or harassed, if
we are absent), so that the praetor may hold an election of consuls or
name a dictator, both acts unconstitutional. Though, if Sulla could
arrange to be named dictator by an interrex, why should not Caesar? I
can see no solution of the problem except by meeting the fate of Mucius
at the hand of Caesar, or that of Scipio[113] at the hands of Pompey.
[113] L. Scipio was proscribed by Sulla. For Mucius cf. VIII, 3.
[Sidenote: Odyssey iii. 27]
When you read this, perhaps I shall have met the man. "Endure." My
own exile was no "unkinder cut";[114] for I had prospects of speedy
return and was consoled by the popular outcry. Now I long to go away
and it never strikes me that there is any chance of return. Not only
is there no outcry of any in town or country, but on the contrary all
are afraid of Pompey as cruel in his anger. Nothing causes me more
wretchedness than my having remained, and there is nothing that I want
more than to flee to him to share not his fighting but his flight. But
now what becomes of your counsel to put off decision till we knew how
things went at Brundisium? We do know, but are as badly stuck as ever.
I can scarcely hope that Caesar will give me privilege, though many
are the good reasons I can bring for granting it. But I will send you
immediately a report of our conversation word for word. Use all your
affection to help me with your careful advise. He is coming so fast
that I cannot see even T. Rebilus, as I had arranged. I
[114] Odyssey XX, 18, τέτλαθι δὴ, κραδίη, κὰι κύντερον ἄλλο ποτ' ἔτλης,
"endure, my heart, worse hast thou borne before."
* * * * *
Page 258
ut constitueram, possim videre; omnia nobis imparatis agenda. Sed tamen
ἄλλα μὲν αὐτός, ut ait ille, ἄλλα δὲ καὶ δαίμων ὑποθήσεται. Quicquid
egero, continuo scies. Mandata Caesaris ad consules et ad Pompeium,
quae rogas, nulla habeo descripta; quae attulit, illa e via[115] misi
ad te ante; e quibus mandata puto intellegi posse, Philippus Neapoli
est, Lentulus Puteolis. De Domitio, ut facis, sciscitare, ubi sit, quid
cogitet.
[115] habeo descripta; quae attulit illa e via _Wesenberg_: habeo et
descripta attulit illa e via _MSS._
Quod scribis asperius me, quam mei patiantur mores, de Dionysio
scripsisse, vide, quam sim antiquorum hominum. Te medius fidius hanc
rem gravius putavi laturum esse quam me. Nam, praeterquam quod te
moveri arbitror oportere iniuria, quae mihi a quoquam facta sit,
praeterea te ipsum quodam modo hic violavit, cum in me tam improbus
fuit. Sed, tu id quanti aestimes, tuum iudicium est; nec tamen in hoc
tibi quicquam oneris impono. Ego autem illum male sanum semper putavi,
nunc etiam impurum et sceleratum puto nec tamen mihi inimiciorem quam
sibi. Philargyro bene curasti. Causam certe habuisti et veram et bonam,
relictum esse me potius quam reliquisse.
Cum dedissem iam litteras a. d. VIII Kal., pueri, quos cum Matio et
Trebatio miseram, epistulam mihi attulerunt hoc exemplo:
"MATIUS ET TREBATIUS CICERONI IMP. SAL.
Cum Capua exissemus, in itinere audivimus Pompeium Brundisio a. d. XVI
K. Apriles cum omnibus
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Page 259
have to do everything impromptu. But nevertheless as the poet has it,
"Some things I'll venture and some things God will prompt." Whatever
I do you shall know forthwith. The demands Caesar sent to Pompey and
the consuls, for which you ask, are not with me. The copies that were
brought I sent on to you at once.[116] From them I think you can gather
what those demands were. Philippus is at Naples. Lentulus at Puteoli.
As to Domitius, go on inquiring where he is and what he intends to do.
[116] This doubtful passage probably refers to the document mentioned
in vii, 17.
You write that my remarks about Dionysius are more bitter than suits my
character. See how old-fashioned I am. Upon my honour I thought that
you would be more angered than I: for, apart from the fact that I think
you should be stirred by any injury done by anyone to me, this man in a
way outraged you in treating me so badly. But it is for you to decide
what weight you should give to the matter. I will not put anything upon
you. I always thought the fellow was not quite sane: now I think he is
an abandoned blackguard. But he is as much his own enemy as mine. You
did well with Philargyrus. You certainly had a good and true case in
contending that I had not abandoned but rather had been abandoned.
When I had dispatched my letter on the 25th, the servants I had sent to
Matius and Trebatius brought me a letter in the following terms:
"MATIUS AND TREBATIUS TO CICERO IMPERATOR,
GREETING.
"After leaving Capua we heard on the way that Pompey with all the
forces he had set out from
* * * * *
Page 260
copiis, quas habuit, profectum esse; Caesarem postero die in oppidum
introisse, contionatum esse, inde Romam contendisse, velle ante K.
esse ad urbem et pauculos dies ibi commorari, deinde in Hispanias
proficisci. Nobis non alienum visum est, quoniam de adventu Caesaris
pro certo habebamus, pueros tuos ad te remittere, ut id tu quam primum
scires. Mandata tua nobis curae sunt, eaque, ut tempus postularit,
agemus. Trebatius sedulo facit, ut antecedat.
Epistula conscripta nuntiatum est nobis Caesarem a. d. VIII K. April.
Beneventi mansurum, a. d. VII Capuae, a. d. VI Sinuessae. Hoc pro certo
putamus."
XVI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Formiano VII K. Apr. a. 705_]
Cum, quod scriberem ad te, nihil haberem, tamen, ne quem diem
intermitterem, has dedi litteras. A. d. VI K. Caesarem Sinuessae
mansurum nuntiabant. Ab eo mihi litterae redditae sunt a. d. VII K.,
quibus iam "opes" meas, non ut superioribus litteris "opem" exspectat.
Cum eius clementiam Corfiniensem illam per litteras collaudavissem,
rescripsit hoc exemplo:
"CAESAR IMP. CICERONI IMP. SAL. DIC.
Recte auguraris de me (bene enim tibi cognitus sum) nihil a me abesse
longius crudelitate. Atque ego cum ex ipsa re magnam capio voluptatem
tum meum factum probari abs te triumpho gaudio. Neque illud me movet,
quod ii, qui a me dimissi sunt,
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Page 261
Brundisium on the 17th of March: that Caesar on the next day entered
the town, made a speech and went off at full speed to Rome, meaning to
be at the city before the 1st of April, to remain there a few days and
then to set out for Spain. It seemed proper since we had sure news of
Caesar's approach to send your servants back to you to give information
as early as possible. Your charges have our attention, and we will act
as circumstances demand. Trebatius is trying hard to reach you before
Caesar.
"When this letter had been written, news came to us that Caesar would
stop on the 25th at Beneventum, at Capua on the 26th, on the 27th at
Sinuessa. This we consider certain."
XVI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, March 26_, B.C. _49_]
Though I have nothing to write to you, still, not to miss a day, I send
this letter. On the 27th of March Caesar will stop at Sinuessa, they
say. He sent me a letter dated the 26th, in which he looks forward to
my "resources," not as in the former letter to "my help." I had written
praising to the skies his kindness, his clemency at Corfinium. He
replied as follows:
"CAESAR IMPERATOR TO CICERO IMPERATOR, GREETING.
"You are right to infer of me (for I am well known to you) that there
is nothing further from my nature than cruelty. Whilst I take great
pleasure from that fact, I am proud indeed that my action wins your
approval. I am not moved because it is said that those,
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Page 262
discessisse dicuntur, ut mihi rursus bellum inferrent. Nihil enim
malo quam et me mei similem esse et illos sui. Tu velim mihi ad urbem
praesto sis, ut tuis consiliis atque opibus, ut consuevi, in omnibus
rebus utar. Dolabella tuo nihil scito mihi esse iucundius. Hanc adeo
habebo gratiam illi; neque enim aliter facere poterit. Tanta eius
humanitas, is sensus, ea in me est benevolentia."
XVII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Formiano VI K. Apr. a. 705_]
Trebatium VI Kal., quo die has litteras dedi, exspectabam. Ex eius
nuntio Matique litteris meditabor, quo modo cum illo loquar. O tempus
miserum! Nec dubito, quin a me contendat, ad urbem veniam. Senatum enim
Kalendis velle se frequentem adesse etiam Formiis proscribi iussit.
Ergo ei negandum est? Sed quid praeripio? Statim ad te perscribam
omnia. Ex illius sermone statuam, Arpinumne mihi eundum sit an quo
alio. Volo Ciceroni meo togam puram dare, istic puto. Tu, quaeso,
cogita, quid deinde. Nam me hebetem molestiae reddiderunt. A Curio
velim scire ecquid ad te scriptum sit de Tirone. Ad me enim ipse Tiro
ita scripsit, ut verear, quid agat. Qui autem veniunt inde, κινδυνώδη
nuntiant. Sane in magnis curis etiam haec me sollicitant. In hac enim
fortuna perutilis eius et opera et fidelitas esset.
* * * * *
Page 263
whom I let go, have departed to wage war on me again, for there is
nothing I like better than that I should be true to myself and they
to themselves. I could wish you to meet me at Rome that I may avail
myself of your advice and resources, as usual, in everything. You must
know that nothing pleases me more than the presence of your relative
Dolabella. This favour also I shall owe to him; for he will not be able
to do otherwise than arrange it, such is his kindness, his feeling and
goodwill towards me."
XVII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, March 27_, B.C. _49_]
I am awaiting Trebatius on March the 27th, the date of this letter.
From his tidings and Matius' letter I shall consider how to talk to
Caesar. What a wretched age this is! I have no doubt Caesar will urge
me to come to Rome. For he gave orders that notices should be posted
even at Formiae that he wanted a full house on the 1st. Must I refuse?
But why do I anticipate? I will write you all about it at once. From
Caesar's conversation I shall decide whether I ought to go to Arpinum
or elsewhere. I wish to celebrate my son's coming of age. Arpinum, I
think, will be the place. Please consider what I should do next, for
my troubles have made me stupid. From Curius I want to hear whether
you have had news about Tiro. For to me Tiro has written in such a way
that I am anxious to know how he is. Those two who come from his part
say that his condition is critical. In the midst of many great troubles
this also distresses me; for in our present straits his energy and
loyalty would be very serviceable.
* * * * *
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XVIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Arpini V K. Apra. 705_]
Utrumque ex tuo consilio; nam et oratio fuit ea nostra, ut bene potius
ille de nobis existimaret quam gratias ageret, et in eo mansimus,
ne ad urbem. Illa fefellerunt, facilem quod putaramus. Nihil vidi
minus. Damnari se nostro iudicio, tardiores fore reliquos, si nos non
veniremus, dicere. Ego dissimilem illorum esse causam. Cum multa,
"Veni igitur et age de pace." "Meone," inquam, "arbitratu?" "An tibi,"
inquit, "ego praescribam?" "Sic," inquam, "agam, senatui non placere
in Hispanias iri nec exercitus in Graeciam transportari, multaque,"
inquam, "de Gnaeo deplorabo." Tum ille: "Ego vero ista dici nolo." "Ita
putabam," inquam; "sed ego eo nolo adesse, quod aut sic mihi dicendum
est, multaque, quae nullo modo possem silere, si adessem, aut non
veniendum." Summa fuit, ut ille quasi exitum quaerens, ut deliberarem.
Non fuit negandum. Ita discessimus. Credo igitur hunc me non amare. At
ego me amavi, quod mihi iam pridem usu non venit.
Reliqua, o di! qui comitatus, quae, ut tu soles dicere, νέκυια! in
qua erat ἥρως Celer. O rem perditam! o copias desperatas! Quid, quod
Servi filius, quod Titini in iis castris fuerunt, quibus Pompeius
circumsederetur! Sex legiones; multum vigilat,
* * * * *
Page 265
XVIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Arpinum, March 28_, B.C. _49_]
In both respects I followed your advice. I spoke so as to gain Caesar's
respect rather than his gratitude; and I persisted in my resolve not to
go to Rome. We were mistaken in thinking he would be easy to manage. I
have never seen anyone less easy. He kept on saying that my decision
was a slur on him, and that others would be less likely to come, if I
did not come. I pointed out that my case was very unlike theirs. After
much talk he said, "Well, come and discuss peace." "On my own terms?"
I asked. "Need I dictate to you?" said he. "Well," said I, "I shall
contend that the Senate cannot sanction your invasion of Spain or your
going with an army into Greece, and," I added, "I shall lament Pompey's
fate." He replied, "That is not what I want." "So I fancied," said I:
"but I do not want to be in Rome, because either I must say that and
much else, on which I cannot keep silent, if I am present, or else I
cannot come." The upshot was that I was to think over the matter, as
Caesar suggested, with a view to closing our interview. I could not
refuse. So we parted. I am confident then he has no liking for me. But
I like myself, as I have not for a long time.
For the rest, ye gods what a following! What _âmes damnées_ in your
phrase! Celer is an hero to the rest. What an abandoned cause, and what
desperate gangs! What can one think of a son of Servius and a son of
Titinius being in an army which beset Pompey? Six legions! He is very
wide-awake and
* * * * *
Page 266
audet. Nullum video finem mali. Nunc certe promenda tibi sunt consilia.
Hoc fuerat extremum.
Illa tamen κατακλεὶς illius est odiosa, quam paene praeterii, si sibi
consiliis nostris uti non liceret, usurum, quorum posset, ad omniaqae
esse descensurum. "Vidisti igitur virum, ut scripseras? ingemuisti?"
Certe. "Cedo reliqua." Quid? Continuo ipse in Pedanum, ego Arpinum.
Inde exspecto equidem λαλαγεῦσαν[117] illam tuam. "Tu malim," inquies,
"actum ne agas." Etiam illum ipsum, quem sequimur, multa fefellerunt.
[117] λαλαγεῦσαν _Bosius_: ΑΛΑΤΕΛΓΑΝ _M._
Sed ego tuas litteras exspecto. Nihil est enim iam ut antea "Videamus,
hoc quorsum evadat." Extremum fuit de congressu nostro; quo quidem
non dubito quin istum offfenderim. Eo maturius agendum est. Amabo te,
epistulam et πολιτικήν! Valde tuas litteras nunc exspecto.
XIX
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Arpini prid. K. Apr. a. 705_]
Ego meo Ciceroni, quoniam Roma earemus, Arpini potissimum togam puram
dedi, idque municipibus nostris fuit gratum. Etsi omnes et illos, et
qua iter feci, maestos adflictosque vidi. Tam tristis et
* * * * *
Page 267
bold. I see no end to our evil days. Now assuredly you must produce
your advice. This was the limit we contemplated.
Caesar's _finale_, which I had almost forgotten, was hateful:--"If I
may not use your advice, I shall use the advice I can and go to any
length." You will say: "You have seen him to be as you have described
him: and did you heave a sigh?" Indeed I did. You ask for the rest of
our talk. What more is there to tell? He went straight to Pedum, I to
Arpinum. From thence I await the "twittering swallow"[118] you talk of.
You will say you prefer me not to dwell on past mistakes. Even Pompey,
our leader, has made many.
[118] A reference to _Anthology_ x, i, ὁ πλόος ὡραῖος καὶ γὰρ λαλαγεῦσα
χελιδὼν Ἤδη μέμβλωκεν χὠ χαριεὶς Ζέφυρος.
"Fair is the season for sailing: already the twittering swallow
Flitteth around, and soft bloweth the wind from the west." Cf. _Att._
ix, 7.
But I await a letter from you. There is no room now, as before, for
your "await the event." The limit we fixed was that interview; and I
have no doubt I annoyed Caesar; so I must act the more quickly. Please
send me a letter and deal with _la haute politique_. I await a letter
from you now very anxiously.
XIX
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Arpinum, March 31_, B.C. _49_]
Since Rome was out of bounds, I celebrated my son's coming of age at
Arpinum in preference to any other place, and so doing delighted my
fellow-townsmen. Though they were pleased, yet I must tell you they and
all others I have met are sad and sorry.
* * * * *
Page 268
tam atrox est ἀναθεώρησις huius ingentis mali. Dilectus habentur, in
hiberna deducuntur. Ea, quae, etiam cum a bonis viris, cum iusto in
bello, cum modeste fiunt, tamen ipsa per se molesta sunt, quam censes
acerba nunc esse, cum a perditis in civili nefario bello petulantissime
fiant! Cave autem putes quemquam hominem in Italia turpem esse, qui
hinc absit. Vidi ipse Formiis universos neque mehercule umquam homines
putavi, et noram omnes, sed numquam uno loco videram.
Pergamus igitur, quo placet, et nostra omnia relinquamus, proficiscamur
ad eum, cui gratior noster adventus erit, quam si una fuissemus. Tum
enim eramus in maxima spe, nunc ego quidem in nulla; nec praeter me
quisquam Italia cessit, nisi qui hunc inimicum sibi putaret. Nec
mehercule hoc facio rei publicae causa, quam funditus deletam puto, sed
ne quis me putet ingratum in eum, qui me levavit iis incommodis, quibus
idem adfecerat, et simul quod ea, quae fiunt, aut quae certe futura
sunt, videre non possum. Etiam equidem senatus consulta facta quaedam
iam puto, utinam in Volcaci sententiam! Sed quid refert? est enim una
sententia omnium. Sed erit immitissimus Servius, qui filium misit ad
effligendum Cn. Pompeium aut certe capiendum cum Pontio Titiniano. Etsi
hic quidem timoris causa, ille vero?
* * * * *
Page 269
So dark and direful is the _coup d'oeil_ of this vast calamity. Levies
are being made; troops are being drafted into winter quarters. These
measures are hardships in themselves even when taken by loyalists, when
the war is just, when there is some consideration. You can imagine how
bitter they are when taken quite tyrannically by desperadoes in wicked
civil war. But you must remember that every scoundrel in Italy is of
the party. I saw them all together at Formiae. I could hardly believe
them to be human. I knew every one of them, but I had never seen the
whole collection together.
Let us go then whither we please, and leave our all behind. Let us set
out to Pompey, who will be more gratified at our arrival than if we
had been with him all along. For then we had great hopes; but now I
at least have none: nor has anyone except myself departed from Italy,
unless he imagines Caesar to be his enemy. Heaven be my witness I do
not take this step for the sake of the Republic, which to my mind is
utterly destroyed, but for fear I may be charged with ingratitude
to one who relieved me from the inconveniences which he himself had
inflicted: and, at the same time, because I cannot endure the sight
of the horrors that are happening and are bound to happen. Moreover
I fancy that now decrees of the Senate have been passed, and my only
hope is that they will agree with Volcacius' proposal. But what does
it matter? There is only one proposal for everybody. But the most
implacable enemy will be Servius, who has sent his son with Pontius
Titinianus to destroy or at least to capture Gnaeus Pompey. Though
Titinianus has the excuse of fear, what excuse has Servius? But let us
cease
* * * * *
Page 270
Sed stomachari desinamus et aliquando sentiamus nihil nobis nisi, id
quod minime vellem, spiritum reliquum esse.
Nos, quoniam superum mare obsidetur, infero navigabimus, et, si
Puteolis erit difficile, Crotonem petemus aut Thurios et boni cives
amantes patriae mare infestum habebimus. Aliam rationem huius belli
gerendi nullam video. In Aegyptum nos abdemus. Exercitu pares esse non
possumus; pacis fides nulla est. Sed haec satis deplorata sunt.
Tu velim litteras Cephalioni des de omnibus rebus actis, denique etiam
de sermonibus hominum, nisi plane obmutuerunt. Ego tuis consiliis usus
sum maximeque, quod et gravitatem in congressu nostro tenui, quam
debui, et, ad urbem ut non accederem, perseveravi. Quod superest,
scribe, quaeso, quam accuratissime (iam enim extrema sunt), quid
placeat, quid censeas; etsi iam nulla dubitatio est. Tamen, si quid vel
potius quicquid veniet in mentem, scribas velim.
* * * * *
Page 271
from anger and let us reflect that there is nothing left us now except
what to me is least desirable--life.
As for me, since the Adriatic is beset, I shall sail by the lower sea,
and, if it be difficult to start from Puteoli, I shall seek Croton or
Thurii, and like a loyal and patriotic citizen play the pirate. Other
means of conducting this war I see none. We will go and bury ourselves
in Egypt. We cannot match Caesar on land, and we cannot rely on peace.
But enough of this outcry.
Please entrust a letter to Cephalio about all that has been done, and
even about people's talk, unless men have become quite dumb. I followed
your advice, especially when I maintained in our conversation a proper
dignity and persisted in my refusal to go to Rome. For the rest please
write to me in as much detail as possible (for the worst has come to
the worst) what you approve and what you think, though now there can be
no doubt. But yet, if anything comes into your mind, or rather whatever
comes into your mind, please write to me.
* * * * *
Page 272
M. TULLI CICERONIS EPISTULARUM AD ATTICUM LIBER DECIMUS
I
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Laterio Quinti fratis III Non. Apr. a. 705_]
III Nonas cum in Laterium fratris venissem, accepi litteras tuas et
paulum respiravi, quod post has ruinas mihi non acciderat. Per enim
magni aestimo tibi firmitudinem animi nostri et factum nostrum probari.
Sexto enim nostro quod scribis probari, ita laetor, ut me quasi patris
eius, cui semper uni plurimum tribui, iudicio comprobari putem. Qui
mihi, quod saepe soleo recordari, dixit olim Nonis illis Decembribus,
cum ego "Sexte, quidnam ergo?" "Μὴ μάν, inquit ille, ἀσπουδί γε καὶ
ἀκλειῶς ἀπολοίμην, ἀλλὰ μέγα ῥέξας τι καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι." Eius
igitur mihi vivit auctoritas, et simillimus eius filius eodem est apud
me pondere, quo fuit ille. Quem salvere velim iubeas plurimum.
Tu tuum consilium etsi non in longinquum tempus differs (iam enim illum
emptum pacificatorem perorasse puto, iam actum aliquid esse in consessu
senatorum; senatum enim non puto), tamen suspensum meum detines, sed
eo minus, quod non dubito, quid nobis agendum putes. Qui enim Flavio
legionem et Siciliam dari scribas, et id iam fieri, quae tu scelera
* * * * *
Page 273
CICERO'S LETTERS TO ATTICUS BOOK X
I
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Laterium, April 3_, B.C. _49_]
[Sidenote: Iliad XXII, 304]
On the third of April coming to my brother's house at Laterium, I got
your letter with some little relief, a thing which had not happened to
me since this disaster began. For I attach very great weight to your
approval of my firmness of mind and my action. As for your writing
that it meets with the approval of my friend Sextus, I am as glad as
if I fancied myself to have won the approval of his father, on whose
judgement I always set the very highest value. I often call to mind how
it was he who said to me on that famous December the 5th, when I asked
him what we were to do next: "Let me not die a coward and shameful
death, but greatly daring live in fame for aye." So his influence lives
for me, and his son, who is very like him, has the same weight as he.
Please give him my best compliments.
Your plan, it is true, you postpone for a very short time,--for I fancy
by now that that venal peace-maker must have wound up his speech, and
something must have been done in the session of Senators, for I don't
consider it a Senate,--still you keep mine in suspense, but the less so
because I have no doubt as to what you think we should do. For when you
write that Flavius is offered a legion and Sicily, and that the matter
is now in hand, just think what
* * * * *
Page 274
partim parari iam et cogitari, partim ex tempore futura censes? Ego
vero Solonis, popularis tui, ut puto, etiam mei, legem neglegam, qui
capite sanxit, si qui in seditione non alterius utrius partis fuisset,
et, nisi si tu aliter censes, et hinc abero et illim. Sed alterum mihi
est certius, nec praeripiam tamen. Exspectabo tuum consilium et eas
litteras, nisi alias iam dedisti, quas scripsi ut Cephalioni dares.
Quod scribis, non quo aliunde audieris, sed te ipsum putare me
attractum iri, si de pace agatur, mihi omnino non venit in mentem,
quae possit actio esse de pace, cum illi certissimum sit, si possit,
exspoliare exercitu et provincia Pompeium; nisi forte iste nummarius
ei potest persuadere, ut, dum oratores eant, redeant, quiescat. Nihil
video, quod sperem aut quod iam putem fieri posse. Sed tamen hominis
hoc ipsum probi est et magnum τι[119] τῶν πολιτικωτάτων σκεμμάτων,
veniendumne sit in consilium tyranni, si is aliqua de re bona
deliberaturus sit. Quare, si quid eius modi evenerit, ut arcessamur
(quod equidem non credo.[120] Quid enim essem de pace dicturus, dixi;
ipse valde repudiavit), sed tamen, si quid acciderit, quid censeas
mihi faciendum, utique scribito. Nihil enini mihi adhuc accidit, quod
maioris consilii esset.
[119] et magnum τι _Wesenberg_; magnum sit _MSS._
[120] credo _Boot_: curo _MSS._
Trebati, boni viri et civis, verbis te gaudeo delectatum, tuaque
ista crebra ἐκφώνησις ὑπέρευ me sola adhuc delectavit. Litteras tuas
vehementer
* * * * *
Page 275
iniquities are being prepared and meditated, some now and some in the
future? I shall certainly neglect the law of Solon, your countryman,
and I imagine mine too soon, who provided the death penalty for
anyone who should not take one side in a revolution, and, unless you
advise otherwise, I shall keep apart both from Caesar and Pompey. The
former course is quite certain: but I shall not forestall events. I
shall await your advice and the letter which I asked you to give to
Cephalio--unless you have now sent another.
You write, not on the authority of anyone, but as your own idea,
that I shall be drawn into any negotiations there may be for peace.
I cannot imagine that there can be such negotiations, since it is
Caesar's positive determination to rob Pompey, if possible, of army and
province, unless perhaps that hireling can induce him to keep quiet,
pending the passage to and fro of intermediaries. I see nothing that
I can hope for or even imagine is likely to happen. However this is
the very question for an honest man to decide and one of the great
questions of _la haute politique_, whether one may enter the council
of a tyrant, if the subject of debate is good. Therefore, if anything
should happen to cause me to be summoned--I don't in the least expect
anything will, for I have said all I can say about peace, and Caesar
was determined to repudiate it--still, if anything should happen, write
and tell me what you think I should do in any case. For so far nothing
has happened that demands greater deliberation.
I am glad you are pleased with the words of that loyal citizen
Trebatius, and your frequent bravos have so far been my sole pleasure.
Your letter I
* * * * *
Page 276
exspecto; quas quidem credo iam datas esse. Tu cum Sexto servasti
gravitatem eandem, quam mihi praecipis. Celer tuus disertus magis
est quam sapiens. De iuvenibus quae ex Tullia audisti, vera sunt.
Mucianum[121] istud, quod scribis, non mihi videtur tam re esse triste
quam verbo. Haec est ἄλη, in qua nunc sumus, mortis instar. Aut enim
mihi libere inter malos πολιτευτέον fuit aut vel periculose cum bonis.
Aut oportet temeritatem bonorum sequamur aut audaciam improborum
insectemur. Utrumque periculosum est, at hoc, quod agimus, turpe nec
tamen tutum.
[121] Mucianum _Reid_: Maconi _MSS._
Istum, qui filium Brundisium de pace misit (de pace idem sentio quod
tu, simulationem esse apertam, parari autem acerrime bellum), me
legatum iri non arbitror, cuius adhuc, ut optavi, mentio facta nulla
sit. Eo minus habeo necesse scribere aut etiam cogitare, quid sim
facturus, si acciderit, ut legarer.
II
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Arcano Quinti fr. postr. Non. Apr. a. 705_]
Ego cum accepissem tuas litteras Nonis Aprilibus, quas Cephalio
attulerat, essemque Menturnis postridie mansurus, ut inde protinus,
sustinui me in Arcano fratris, ut, dum aliquid certius adferretur,
occultiore in loco essemus, agerenturque nihilo minus, quae sine nobis
agi possunt.
* * * * *
Page 277
await eagerly. I expect it has been dispatched now. With Sextus you
have preserved the same dignity that you prescribe for me. Your friend
Celer has more wit than wisdom. What you heard from Tullia about the
boys is true. Mucius' ending,[122] which you mention, does not seem to
me so sad as it sounds. It is this distraction in which we now find
ourselves that is like death. For I have the alternative, either to
take part in politics with a free hand among the disloyal, or to side
with the loyal at all costs. I ought either to follow the loyalists in
their rashness or attack the other party in its daring. Either course
spells danger: but my present action brings shame without safety.
[122] Cf. ix, 12.
The man who sent his son to Brundisium to negotiate peace (my views
on peace are yours, that it is patent pretence, but that war is being
prosecuted with the utmost activity) that man I think and not I will be
chosen as commissioner. So far to my relief I have heard nothing. So
I fancy it less necessary to write or consider my possible course of
action, if I should happen to be chosen.
II
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Arcanum, April 6_, B.C. _49_]
I received your letter brought by Cephalio on the 5th of April. The
next day I intended to stop at Menturnae, and to return thence at once.
I halted at my brother's place at Arcanum in order that I might be in a
more retired place till I get certain news and that such preparations
for the journey, as did not need my presence, might be made.
* * * * *
Page 278
Λαλαγεῦσα iam adest, et animus ardet, neque est quicquam, quo et
qua. Sed haec nostra erit cura et peritorum. Tu tamen, quod poteris,
ut adhuc fecisti, nos consiliis iuvabis. Res sunt inexplicabiles.
Fortunae sunt committenda omnia. Sine spe conamur ulla. Melius si quid
acciderit, mirabimur. Dionysium nollem ad me profectum; de quo ad me
Tullia mea scripsit. Sed et tempus alienum est, et homini non amico
nostra incommoda, tanta praesertim, spectaculo esse nollem; cui te meo
nomine inimicum esse nolo.
III
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Arcano VII Id. Apr. a. 705_]
Cum, quod scriberem, plane nihil haberem, haec autem reliqua essent,
quae scire cuperem, profectusne esset, quo in statu urbem reliquisset,
in ipsa Italia quem cuique regioni aut negotio praefecisset, ecqui
essent ad Pompeium et ad consules ex senatus consulto de pace legati,
cum igitur haec scire cuperem, dedita opera has ad te litteras misi.
Feceris igitur commode mihique gratum, si me de his rebus, et si quid
erit aliud, quod scire opus sit, feceris certiorem. Ego in Arcano
opperior, dum ista cognosco.
* * * * *
Page 279
The "bird that twitters of flight"[123] is here and I am afire with
eagerness, though I have no idea of destination or route. But these
will be considered by me and by those who know. You however must assist
me with your advice, so far as possible, as you have before. The tangle
cannot be unravelled. Everything must be entrusted to fortune. We are
simply struggling without hope. If anything better happens, I shall
be surprised. I would rather Dionysius did not come to me: Tullia has
written to me about him. The time is unsuitable, and I should prefer
that discomforts as great as mine should not be seen by a man who is
not my friend. But I do not want you to be his enemy on my account.
[123] Cf. ix, 18.
III
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Arcanum, April 7_, B.C. _49_]
Though I have nothing at all to write about, yet these points remain,
which I want to know. Has Caesar started? In what condition has he
left Rome? In Italy itself whom has he placed in charge of each region
or department? Who were sent to Pompey and the consuls as peace
commissioners according to the decree of the Senate? To make these
inquiries I have taken the trouble to send this letter. So you will do
well and please me, if you inform me on these points and of anything
else which I ought to know. I stay in Arcanum till I get information.
* * * * *
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IIIa
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Arcano VII Id. Apr. a. 705_]
A. d. VII Idus alteram tibi eodem die hanc epistulam dictavi et pridie
dederam mea manu longiorem. Visum te aiunt in regia, nec reprehendo,
quippe cum ipse istam reprehensionem non fugerim. Sed exspecto tuas
litteras neque iam sane video, quid exspectem, sed tamen, etiamsi nihil
erit, id ipsum ad me velim scribas.
Caesar mihi ignoscit per litteras, quod non venerim, seseque in optimam
partem id accipere dicit. Facile patior, quod scribit, secum Titinium
et Servium questos esse, quia non idem sibi quod mihi remisisset.
Homines ridiculos! qui, cum filios misissent ad Cn. Pompeium
circumsedendum, ipsi in senatum venire dubitarint. Sed tamen exemplum
misi ad te Caesaris litterarum.
IV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano XVII K. Mai. a. 705_]
Multas a te accepi epistulas eodem die omnes diligenter scriptas, eam
vero, quae voluminis instar erat, saepe legendam, sicuti facio. In qua
non frustra laborem suscepisti, mihi quidem pergratum fecisti. Quare,
ut id, quoad licebit, id est quoad scies, ubi simus, quam saepissime
facias, te vehementer rogo. Ac deplorandi quidem, quod cotidie facimus,
sit iam nobis aut finis omnino, si potest, aut moderatio quaedam,
* * * * *
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IIIa
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Arcanum, April 7_, B.C. _49_]
On the 7th of April I dictate this letter, the second on the same day,
and yesterday I dispatched a longer one in my own handwriting. It is
said you have been seen in the Regia,[124] and I don't blame you, since
I laid myself open to the same blame. But I await a letter from you. I
don't see what news I can expect; but still, even if there is none, I
wish you would just tell me that.
[124] The official residence of Caesar as _Pontifex maximus_.
Caesar has written to excuse me for not coming to Rome, and says
that he takes it in good part. I am not concerned at his saying that
Titinius and Servius have complained to him for not allowing them the
same privilege as he did to me. What fools they are! They send their
sons to besiege Pompey, and themselves hesitate to enter the House.
However, I send you a copy of Caesar's letter.
IV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, April 14_, B.C. _49_]
I have received a lot of letters from you on the same day, all of them
written with care and one, which is as big as a book, worth reading
several times, as I am doing. Your labour has not been in vain: you
have gratified me very much. And so I beseech you continue to write as
often as you can, so long as it is possible, that is, so long as you
know where I am. And as for our daily lamentations let us make an end
of them once for all, if we can, or at
* * * * *
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quod profecto potest. Non enim iam, quam dignitatem, quos honores,
quem vitae statum amiserim, cogito, sed quid consecutus sim, quid
praestiterim, qua in laude vixerim, his denique in malis quid intersit
inter me et istos, quos propter omnia amisimus. Hi sunt, qui, nisi
me civitate expulissent, obtinere se non putaverant posse licentiam
cupiditatum suarum. Quorum societatis et sceleratae consensionis fides
quo eruperit, vides.
Alter ardet furore et scelere, nec remittit aliquid, sed in dies
ingravescit; modo Italia expulit, nunc alia ex parte persequi, ex
alia provincia exspoliare conatur, nec iam recusat, sed quodam modo
postulat, ut, quem ad modum est, sic etiam appelletur tyrannus. Alter,
is qui nos sibi quondam ad pedes stratos ne sublevabat quidem, qui se
nihil contra huius voluntatem facere posse, elapsus e soceri manibus
ac ferro bellum terra et mari comparat, non iniustum ille quidem, sed
cum pium tum etiam necessarium, suis tamen civibus exitiabile, nisi
vicerit, calamitosum, etiamsi vicerit. Horum ego summorum imperatoram
non modo res gestas non antepono meis, sed ne fortunam quidem ipsam;
qua illi florentissima, nos duriore conflictati videmur. Quis enim
potest aut deserta per se patria aut oppressa beatus esse? Et, si, ut
nos a te admonemur, recte in illis libris diximus nihil esse bonum,
nisi quod honestum, nihil malum, nisi
* * * * *
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any rate moderate them, which we certainly can. For I have given up
thinking of the dignity, the honours and the position I have lost:
I think of what I have attained, what I have done, the glory of my
career, in short what a difference there is even in our present straits
between me and those through whom I have lost all. They are the people
who thought they could not attain their extravagant desires without
expelling me from the State: and you see now what has come of their
coalition in a criminal conspiracy.
The one burns with a madman's lust for crime, which does not cool one
whit, but rather increases day by day. He has just driven Pompey from
Italy, now on one side of the world he is pursuing him, on the other he
is trying to rob him of his province: and he no longer refuses, nay,
he practically demands, to be called a tyrant, as he is. The other,
who once would not even give me a helping hand, when I threw myself at
his feet, declaring he could do nothing against Caesar's will, now,
having slipped from the grasp of his father-in-law's mailed hand, is
preparing war by land and sea. The war is not unjust on his part, nay,
it is even righteous and necessary; but, unless he conquers, it will
be fatal to his fellow-countrymen; and, even if he does conquer, it
will be disastrous. These are our great men; but I do not hold their
achievements one whit superior to mine, nor even their fortune, though
they may seem to have basked in fortune's smiles while I have met her
frowns. For who can be happy, when he has caused his country to be
deserted or enslaved? And if, as you admonish me, I was right in saying
in those books of mine that nothing is good, save
* * * * *
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quod turpe sit, certe uterque istorum est miserrimus, quorum utrique
semper patriae salus et dignitas posterior sua dominatione et
domesticis commodis fuit. Praeclara igitur conscientia sustentor, cum
cogito me de re publica aut meruisse optime, cum potuerim, aut certe
numquam nisi pie cogitasse, eaque ipsa tempestate eversam esse rem
publicam, quam ego XIIII annis ante prospexerim. Hac igitur conscientia
comite proficiscar magno equidem cum dolore nec tam id propter me
aut propter fratrem meum, quorum est iam acta aetas, quam propter
pueros, quibus interdum videmur praestare etiam rem publicam debuisse.
Quorum quidem alter non tam quia filius quam,[125] quia maiore pietate
est, me mirabiliter excruciat, alter (o rem miseram! nihil enim mihi
accidit in omni vita acerbius) indulgentia videlicet nostra depravatus
eo progressus est, quo non audeo dicere. Et exspecto tuas litteras;
scripsisti enim te scripturum esse plura, cum ipsum vidisses. Omne
meum obsequium in illum fuit cum multa severitate, neque unum eius
nec parvum, sed multa magna delicta compressi. Patris autem lenitas
amanda potius ab illo quam tam crudeliter neglegenda. Nam litteras
eius ad Caesarem missas ita graviter tulimus, ut te quidem celaremus,
sed ipsius videremur vitam insuavem reddidisse. Hoc vero eius iter
simulatioque pietatis qualis fuerit, non audeo dicere; tantum scio,
post Hirtium conventum
[125] quia filius quam _added by Malaspina_.
* * * * *
Page 285
what is honourable, and nothing bad, save what is dishonourable, then
certainly both of them are most miserable, since both of them have
thought less of their country's safety and dignity than of their own
high place and private interests. My conscience then is clear and helps
to support me, when I think that I have always rendered my country
good service, when I could, and assuredly have never harboured any but
loyal thoughts, and that the State has been wrecked by the very storm
which I foresaw fourteen years ago. With a clear conscience then I
shall depart, though the parting will cost me a bitter pang: nor shall
I go so much for my own sake or for my brother's--our day is done--as
for our children, to whom I think at times we ought to have secured
at least a free country. For one of them I feel the most poignant
grief--not so much because he is my son, as because he is exceedingly
dutiful--while the other unfortunately has turned out the bitterest
disappointment of my life. He has been spoiled, I suppose, by our
indulgence, and has gone to lengths that I dare not name. I am waiting
for your letter too; for you promised to write more fully when you
had seen him himself. All my humouring of him has been accompanied by
considerable strictness: and I have had to put my foot down not over
one fault of his or a small one, but over many grave faults. But his
father's kindness should surely have been repaid by affection rather
than by such cruel disregard. For we were more annoyed at his sending
letters to Caesar than we let you see, but I think we made his life a
burden to him. I dare not describe this recent journey of his and his
hypocritical pretence of filial duty: I only know that, after he met
Hirtius,
* * * * *
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arcessitum a Caesare, cum eo de meo animo a suis rationibus alienissimo
et consilio relinquendi Italiam; et haec ipsa timide. Sed nulla nostra
culpa est, natura metuenda est. Haec Curionem, haec Hortensi filium,
non patrum culpa corrupit.
Iacet in maerore meus frater neque tam de sua vita quam de mea metuit.
Huic tu huic tu malo adfer consolationes, si ullas potes; maxime quidem
illam velim, ea, quae ad nos delata sint, aut falsa esse aut minora.
Quae si vera sint, quid futurum sit in hac vita et fuga, nescio.
Nam, si haberemus rem publicam, consilium mihi non deesset nec ad
severitatem nec ad indulgentiam. Nunc haec sive iracundia sive dolore
sive metu permotus gravius scripsi, quam aut tuus in illum amor aut
meus postulabat, si vera sunt, ignosces, si falsa, me libente eripies
mihi hunc errorem. Quoquo modo vero se res habebit, nihil adsignabis
nec patruo nec patri.
Cum haec scripsissem, a Curione mihi nuntiatum est eum ad me venire.
Venerat enim is in Cumanum vesperi pridie, id est Idibus. Si quid
igitur eius modi sermo eius attulerit, quod ad te scribendum sit, id
his litteris adiungam.
Praeteriit villam meam Curio iussitque mihi nuntiari mox se venturum
cucurritque Puteolos, ut ibi contionaretur. Contionatus est, rediit,
fuit ad me sane diu. O rem foedam! Nosti hominem; nihil occultavit, in
primis nihil esse certius, quam ut
* * * * *
Page 287
he was summoned to Caesar's presence, and discussed the difference
between my views and his own and my plan of leaving Italy. Even
that I write with hesitation. But it is no fault of mine: it is his
disposition which must cause us anxiety. That is what corrupted Curio
and Hortensius' son, not their fathers' fault.
My brother is prostrate with grief, though he does not fear for his own
life so much as for mine. It is to him, to him more than me, I want you
to offer consolation, if you can. The best consolation would be that
what we have heard was false or exaggerated. If it was true, I fail to
see what will come of this runaway existence. For if the constitution
were still intact, I should know what to do both in the way of severity
and in the way of kindness. Now, under the sway of some passion, be it
wrath or sorrow or fear, I have written more bitterly than either your
affection for him or mine warrants. If what I have said is true, you
will pardon me: if it is false, I shall be only too glad to have the
error removed. However it may be, you must not blame his uncle or his
father.
When I had got so far, I received a message from Curio that he was
coming to see me. He came to his place here yesterday evening, that
is on the 13th. If any point worth mentioning to you occurs in our
conversation, I will add it to this letter.
Curio passed by my house, and sent a message saying he was coming very
soon. Then he hurried off to make a speech at Puteoli. He made his
speech, returned and stayed a very long time. How disgusting! You know
the sort of man he is: he hid nothing. In the first place he is quite
sure that all
* * * * *
Page 288
omnes, qui lege Pompeia condemnati essent, restituerentur. Itaque se in
Sicilia eorum opera usurum. De Hispaniis non dubitabat, quin Caesaris
essent. Inde ipsum cum exercitu, ubicumque Pompeius esset. Eius
interitum finem belli[126] fore. Propius factum esse nihil, nisi[127]
plane iracundia elatum voluisse Caesarem occidi Metellum tribunum
pl. Quod si esset factum, caedem magnam futuram fuisse. Permultos
hortatores esse caedis, ipsum autem non voluntate aut natura non esse
crudelem, sed quod popularem putaret esse clementiam. Quodsi populi
stadium amisisset, crudelem fore. Eumque perturbatum, quod intellegeret
se apud ipsam plebem offendisse de aerario. Itaque, ei cum certissimum
fuisset, antequam proficisceretur, contionem habere, ausum non esse
vehementerque animo perturbato profectum. Cum autem ex eo quaererem,
quid videret, quem eventum, quam rem publicam, plane fatebatur nullam
spem reliquam. Pompei classem timebat. Quae si exisset, se de Sicilia
abiturum. "Quid isti," inquam, "sex tui fasces? si a senatu, cur
laureati? si ab ipso, cur sex?" "Cupivi," inquit, "ex senatus consulto
surrupto; nam aliter non poterat. At ille impendio nunc magis odit
senatum. A me," inquit, "omnia proficiscentur,"
[126] belli _Manutius_; illi _MSS._
[127] nisi _Schmidt_; ei _MSS._
* * * * *
Page 289
those condemned by Pompey's law are going to be recalled: and so he is
going to make use of their services in Sicily. He had no doubt about
Caesar getting the two Spains and said he would start from them with
an army to wherever Pompey might be. Pompey's death would be the end
of the war. Caesar had been carried away by anger into wishing to have
the tribune Metellus killed and he had had a narrow shave. If it had
happened, there would have been an enormous massacre. Many had spoken
in favour of a massacre: and Caesar himself was not by nature and
inclination averse to cruelty, but he thought that mild measures would
win popularity. But, if he lost popular favour, he would be cruel. He
had been put out when he found that he had offended the populace itself
by seizing the treasury: and so, though he had fully made up his mind
to harangue the people before leaving, he had not ventured to do so,
and he had gone off in a very disturbed state of mind. But when I asked
Curio what he looked forward to, what end, and what constitution, he
confessed openly that there was no hope left. He was afraid of Pompey's
fleet, and, if it put to sea, he should desert Sicily. I asked, what
was the meaning of his six lictors, why their staves were laurelled,
if the Senate gave them to him, and why there were six, if Caesar gave
them. [128] He said, "I wanted to snatch a vote from the House for them
(for it could not be done openly): but Caesar hates the Senate like
poison, and declares that all such authority will
[128] Six lictors were the regular number for the propraetor of Sicily;
but their staves would not be laurelled as Curio had not won a victory
over a public enemy. If appointed a _legatus_ to Caesar he might have
had proconsular powers and twelve lictors.
* * * * *
Page 290
"Cur autem sex?" "Quia XII nolui; nam licebat." Tum ego "Quam vellem,"
inquam, "petisse ab eo, quod audio Philippum impetrasse! Sed veritus
sum, quia ille a me nihil impetrabat." "Libenter," inquit, "tibi
concessisset. Verum puta te impetrasse; ego enim ad eum scribam, ut
tu ipse voles, de ea re nos inter nos locutos. Quid autem illius
interest, quoniam in senatum non venis, ubi sis? Quin nunc ipsum
minime offendisses eius causam, si in Italia non fuisses." Ad quae ego
me recessum et solitudinem quaerere, maxime quod lictores haberem.
Laudavit consilium. "Quid ergo?" inquam; "nam mihi cursus in Graeciam
per tuam provinciam est, quoniam ad mare superum milites sunt." "Quid
mihi," inquit, "optatius?" Hoc loco multa perliberaliter. Ergo hoc
quidem est profectum, ut non modo tuto, verum etiam palam navigaremus.
Reliqua in posterum diem distulit; ex quibus scribam ad to si quid
erit epistula dignum. Sunt autem, quae praeterii, interregnumne
esset exspectaturus, an, quo modo dixerit ille quidem ad se deferri
consulatum, sed se nolle in proximum annum. Et alia sunt, quae
exquiram. Iurabat ad summam, quod nullo negotio facere solet,
amicissimum mihi Caesarem esse. "Dubito equidem," inquam. "Scripsit
ad me Dolabella." "Dic, quid?" Adfirmabat eum scripsisse, quod me
cuperet ad urbem venire, illum quidem gratias agere maximas et non modo
probare, sed etiam gaudere. Quid quaeris? acquievi, Levata
* * * * *
Page 291
proceed from him." "But why six?" "Because I didn't want twelve, though
I could have had them." I said: "I wish I had asked for what I hear
Philippus has got from him: but I was afraid to ask, as he got nothing
from me." He replied: "He would willingly have given you permission.
But take it that you did get it. I will write to him just as you wish,
and say we have spoken about the matter. What does it matter to him
where you are, as you do not attend the House? If you were not in Italy
at this very moment, it would not damage his cause in the least."
I responded that I was looking for a retired and solitary retreat,
especially because I still had my lictors in attendance. He agreed
with me. "How about this then," said I. "My way through to Greece lies
through your province, as the Adriatic is guarded." "There is nothing I
should like better," he said, and added many very handsome remarks. So
something has come of it: I could sail not only in safety, but openly.
The rest he put off for the next day: I will write and tell you if
there is anything worth mentioning. But there are some things I omitted
to ask: whether Caesar was going to wait for an interregnum, or what
he meant by saying that he had been offered the consulship but had
refused it for the next year. And there are other points I must ask
about. Finally he swore--though to be sure he makes no bones about
swearing--that Caesar was very friendly to me. I expressed my doubt. He
said he had heard from Dolabella. I asked what he said, and he declared
he said Caesar had thanked him warmly for wanting me to go to Rome, and
not only approved but showed pleasure. Of course I felt relieved.
* * * * *
Page 292
est enim suspicio illa domestici mali et sermonis Hirtiani. Quam cupio
illum dignum esse nobis, et quam ipse me invito, quae pro illo sint, ad
suspicandum! Sed opus fuit Hirtio convento? Est profecto nescio quid,
sed velim quam minimo. Et tamen eum nondum redisse miramur. Sed haec
videbimus.
Tu Oppios Terentiae delegabis.[129] Iam enim urbis unum periculum est.
Me tamen consilio iuva, pedibusne Regium an hinc statim in navem, et
cetera, quoniam commoror. Ego ad te statim habebo, quod scribam, simul
ut videro Curionem. De Tirone cura, quaeso, quod facis, ut sciam, quid
is agat.
[129] delegabis _Wesenberg_: dabis _MSS._
V
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano XV K. Mai. a. 705_]
De tota mea cogitatione scripsi ad te antea satis, ut mihi visus sum,
diligenter. De die nihil sane potest scribi certi praeter hoc, non ante
lunam novam. Curionis sermo postridie eandem habuit fere summam, nisi
quod apertius significavit se harum rerum exitum non videre.
Quod mihi mandas de Quinto regendo, Ἀρκαδίαν
* * * * *
Page 293
The suspicion of domestic treachery and of the talk with Hirtius has
been removed. How I hope young Quintus is worthy of his family, and how
I keep urging myself to note the points in his favour! But need he have
visited Hirtius? There is something in the tale, but I hope it may not
prove of much consequence. Still I wonder he is not back yet. But we
shall see about this.
Please introduce Terentia to the Oppii: for there is only one danger
in Rome now.[130] As for me, give me the benefit of your advice as to
whether I am to go to Regium on foot or to embark straight from here,
and on all the other points too, as I am staying here. I shall have
something to write as soon as I have seen Curio. Please keep me posted
up in news about Tiro's condition, as you have done.
[130] The Oppii were moneylenders, and, if the reading _unum_ is right,
Cicero must mean that lack of obtaining ready money was the only danger
in Rome.
V
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, April 16_, B.C. 49]
About the whole of my plans I have written to you before, as I think,
exactly. Of the day I can say no more for certain than this, that it
will not be before the new moon. Curio's conversation on the next day
had practically the same gist, except that he showed still more frankly
that he could not see an end to this state of things.
[Sidenote: 50,000 sesterces]
[Sidenote: 30,000 sesterces]
As for your commission about the control of Quintus, you are asking for
the moon.[131] However I
[131] Cf. the answer of the Delphic oracle to a Spartan envoy in
Herodotus I, 66, Ἀρκαδίαν μ'αἰτεῖς, μέγα μ'αἰτεῖς, οὖτοι δώσω. "Thou
askest for Arcadia. 'Tis much thou askest for. I will not give it."
* * * * *
Page 294
Tamen nihil praetermittam. Atque utinam tu ----, sed molestior non
ero. Epistulam ad Vestorium statim detuli, ac valde requirere solebat.
Commodius tecum Vettienus est locutus, quam ad me scripserat. Sed
mirari satis hominis neglegentiam non queo. Cum enim mihi Philotimus
dixisset se HS L̅ emere de Canuleio deversorium illud posse, minoris
etiam empturum, si Vettienum rogassem, rogavi, ut, si quid posset,
ex ea summa detraheret. Promisit. Ad me nuper se HS X̅X̅X̅ emisse;
ut scriberem, cui vellem addici; diem pecuniae Idus Novembr. esse.
Rescripsi ei stomachosius, cum ioco tamen familiari. Nunc, quoniam agit
liberaliter, nihil accuso hominem, scripsique ad eum me a te certiorem
esse factum. Tu, de tuo itinere quid et quando cogites, velim me
certiorem facias. A. d. XV K. Maias.
VI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano medio m. Apr. a. 705_]
Me adhuc nihil praeter tempestatem moratur. Astute nihil sum acturus.
Fiat in Hispania quidlibet; et tamen ire certum est.[132] Meas
cogitationes omnis explicavi tibi superioribus litteris. Quocirca hae
sunt breves, etiam[133] quia festinabam eramque occupatior.
[132] ire certum est _Wesenberg_: recitet et _MZ_ᵇ: reticeret _Z_ˡ.
[133] etiam _Malaspina_: et tamen _MSS._
De Quinto filio fit a me quidem sedulo; sed nosti
* * * * *
Page 295
shall be guilty of no omission and would that you----. But I will
not be too troublesome. The letter I forwarded at once to Vestorius;
he kept asking why it was not sent. Vettienus has spoken with you in
a tone more accommodating than his letter to me: but I am greatly
astonished at the man's carelessness. Philotimus informed me that he
could buy that lodge of Canuleius for 400 guineas, and could get it
even for less, if I asked Vettienus to act as purchaser. So I did ask
Vettienus to get a deduction from that sum, if he could. He promised.
Lately he has informed me that he bought it for about £250, and asked
me to inform him to whom I wished to convey it, adding that the day for
payment was the 13th of November. My reply was somewhat cross, but yet
in a familiar joking vein. Now, as he is acting handsomely, I have no
charge against him, and I have written to him that you have informed
me. Please let me know about your journey, what you intend to do and
when.
April 16.
VI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, April_, B.C. _49_]
So far nothing stops me beyond the weather. I am not going to play a
sharp game. Let what will happen in Spain, I have made up my mind to
go. My plans have all been unfolded to you in previous letters; so this
is a short one; also because I am in a hurry and rather busy.
As for young Quintus "surely I do my best,"[134] you
[134] Possibly a reference to Terence _Adelphi_ 44, "Fit sedulo, nihil
praetermitto, consuefacio."
* * * * *
Page 296
reliqua. Quod dein me mones, et amice et prudenter me mones, sed erunt
omnia facilia, si ab uno illo cavero. Magnum opus est, mirabilia multa,
nihil simplex, nihil sincerum. Vellem suscepisses iuvenem regendum;
pater enim nimis indulgens, quicquid ego adstrinxi, relaxat. Si sine
illo possem, regerem; quod tu potes. Sed ignosco; magnum, inquam, opus
est.
Pompeium pro certo habemus per Illyricum proficisci in Galliam. Ego
nunc, qua et quo, videbo.
VII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano circ. IX K. Mai. a. 705_]
Ego vero Apuliam et Sipontum et tergiversationem istam probo, nec tuam
rationem eandem esse duco quam meam, non quin in re publica rectum idem
sit utrique nostrum, sed ea non agitur. Regnandi contentio est, in
qua pulsus est modestior rex et probior et integrior et is, qui nisi
vincit, nomen populi Romani deleatur necesse est, sin autem vincit,
Sullano more exemploque vincet. Ergo hac in contentione neutrum tibi
palam sentiendum et tempori serviendum est. Mea causa autem alia est,
quod beneficio vinctus ingratus esse non possum, nec tamen in acie me,
sed Melitae aut alio in loco simili futurum puto. "Nihil," inquies,
"iuvas eum, in quem
* * * * *
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know the rest. You go on to advise me, and you advise me like a
prudent friend; but all will be simple, if I beware of the youngster.
It is a big business; he is full of oddities and has no simplicity or
sincerity. I wish you had undertaken his training; for his father is
too kind. If I tighten the rein, he loosens it. If I could act without
his father, I could manage the youngster, as you can do. But I excuse
you. It is, as I say, a big business.
Pompey, I am certain, is marching through Illyricum into Gaul. By what
route and whither I am now to travel, I shall see.
VII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, April 22(?)_, B.C. _49_]
Yes, I think you are right to hedge, and stay in Apulia and Sipontum:
nor do I consider that your case is the same as mine. Of course in the
matter of the constitution the right course is the same for both of us:
but the constitution is not now in question. It is a struggle between
two kings, in which defeat has overtaken the more moderate king, the
one who is more upright and honest, the one whose failure means that
the very name of the Roman people must be wiped out, though, if he wins
the victory, he will use it after the manner and example of Sulla.
Therefore in a contest like this you must not openly express your
sentiments for either side, but must await the event. My case however
is different. I am under the bond of an obligation, and cannot show
ingratitude. But yet I do not fancy that I shall be found in the line
of battle, but at Malta or some other similar place. You may say I
* * * * *
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ingratus esse non vis?" Immo minus fortasse voluisset. Sed de hoc
videbimus; exeamus modo. Quod ut meliore tempore possimus, facit
Adriano mari Dolabella, Fretensi Curio.
Iniecta autem mihi spes quaedam est velle mecum Ser. Sulpicium
conloqui. Ad eum misi Philotimum libertum cum litteris. Si vir esse
volet, praeclara συνοδία, sin autem ----, erimus nos, qui solemus.
Curio mecum vixit, iacere Caesarem putans offensione populari
Siciliaeque diffidens, si Pompeius navigare coepisset.
Quintum puerum accepi vehementer. Avaritiam video fuisse et spem magni
congiarii. Magnum hoc malum est, sed scelus illud, quod timueramus,
spero nullum fuisse. Hoc autem vitium puto te existimare non a nostra
indulgentia, sed a natura profectum. Quem tamen nos disciplina regemus.
De Oppiis Veliensibus quid placeat, cum Philotimo videbis. Epirum
nostram putabimus, sed alios cursus videbamur habituri.
VIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano VI Non. Mai. a. 705_]
Et res ipsa monebat, et tu ostenderas, et ego videbam de iis rebus,
quas intercipi periculosum esset, finem inter nos scribendi fieri
tempus esse. Sed, cum ad me saepe mea Tullia scribat orans, ut, quid in
Hispania geratur, exspectem, et semper
* * * * *
Page 299
do not help the man to whom I am loth to show ingratitude. No. Perhaps
he would have been glad if I had helped him less. But that we shall
see. Let me only get away. A fair opportunity is offered now that
Dolabella is in the Adriatic and Curio in the straits of Sicily.
I have conceived some hope that Servius Sulpicius wishes to see me. I
have dispatched Philotimus, my freedman, to him with a letter. If he
wishes to play the man, we shall have a fine time together. But if not,
well, I shall be my own old self. Curio stayed with me. He thinks that
Caesar is falling in popular esteem and he is mistrustful about going
to Sicily, if Pompey should begin a naval action.
The boy Quintus got it hot when he came. I see it was greed and the
hope of a large bounty. This is a great evil; but disloyalty, which I
feared, there was I hope none. But this flaw, I fancy you will gather,
did not proceed from my spoiling him, but from his own temperament.
Still, I must teach him discipline.
As to the Oppii of Velia, you will arrange with Philotimus as you think
fit. Your place in Epirus I shall regard as my own; but it seems I
shall go on another tack.
VIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, May 2_, B.C. _49_]
Circumstances advise, you have pointed out, and I see for myself, that
it is time there was an end to our correspondence on topics which it
is dangerous to have intercepted: but since my daughter often writes
beseeching me to await the issue in Spain and
* * * * *
Page 300
adscribat idem videri tibi, idque ipse etiam ex tuis litteris
intellexerim, non puto esse alienum me ad te, quid de ea re sentiam,
scribere.
Consilium istud tunc esset prudens, ut mihi videtur, si nostras
rationes ad Hispaniensem casum accommodaturi essemus; quod fieri non
debet.[135] Necesse est enim aut, id quod maxime velim, pelli istum
ab Hispania, aut trahi id bellum, aut istum, ut confidere videtur,
apprehendere Hispanias. Si pelletur, quam gratus aut quam honestus tum
erit ad Pompeium noster adventus, cum ipsum Curionem ad eum transiturum
putem? Si trahitur bellum, quid exspectem aut quam diu? Relinquitur,
ut, si vincimur in Hispania, quiescamus. Id ego contra puto. Istum
enim victorem magis relinquendum puto quam victum, et dubitantem
magis quam fidentem suis rebus. Nam caedem video, si vicerit, et
impetum in privatorum pecunias et exsulum reditum et tabulas novas et
turpissimorum honores et regnum non modo Romano homini, sed ne Persae
quidem cuiquam tolerabile. Tacita esse poterit indignitas nostra? pati
poterunt oculi me cum Gabinio sententiam dicere, et quidem illum rogari
prius? praesto esse clientem tuum Clodium, C. Atei Plaguleium, ceteros?
Sed cur inimicos conligo, qui meos necessarios a me defensos nec videre
in curia sine dolore nec versari inter eos sine dedecore potero? Quid,
si ne id quidem est exploratum fore ut mihi liceat? Scribunt enim ad me
amici eius me illi nullo modo satis
[135] non debet _is omitted by the best MSS. and is probably only
supplied by conjecture in P_.
* * * * *
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always adds that you think the same, and this is what I have gathered
myself from your letters, I think it is well for me to write to you
what I think about it.
The advice would be wise, it seems to me, only if I meant to shape my
course according to what happens in Spain. That is impossible. For
either, as I should much prefer, Caesar must be driven from Spain, or
the war will drag on, or Caesar will seize Spain, as he seems to be
confident. If Caesar is driven from Spain, you can imagine how pleasing
and honourable my arrival will seem to Pompey, when I suppose even
Curio will go over to him. If the war drags on, for what am I to wait
or how long? The remaining alternative is that I should keep neutral,
if we are beaten in Spain. I take the opposite view: for I think I am
more bound to desert Caesar as victor than as vanquished, and while
he is still doubtful rather than confident about his fortunes: for I
foresee a massacre, if he conquers, attack on the wealth of private
persons, the recall of exiles, repudiation of debts, high office for
the vilest men, and a tyranny intolerable to a Persian much more to a
Roman. Will my indignation be able to keep silence? Can my eyes endure
to see myself giving my vote along with Gabinius, or indeed Gabinius
being asked his opinion before me? Your client Clodius in waiting?
Plaguleius, the client of C. Ateius, and all the others? But why do I
make a list of opponents, when I shall be unable to see in the House
without pain friends whom I have defended or to mix with them without
shame? And what if even that may not be allowed to me, for all I know?
For Caesar's friends write me that he is not at all
* * * * *
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fecisse, quod in senatum non venerim. Tamenne dubitemus, an ei nos
etiam cum periculo venditemus, quicum coniuncti ne cum praemio quidem
voluimus esse? Deinde hoc vide, non esse iudicium de tota contentione
in Hispaniis, nisi forte iis amissis arma Pompeium abiecturum putas,
cuius omne consilium Themistocleum est. Existimat enim, qui mare
teneat, eum necesse esse rerum potiri. Itaque numquam id egit, ut
Hispaniae per se tenerentur, navalis apparatus ei semper antiquissima
cura fuit. Navigabit igitur, cum erit tempus, maximis classibus et
ad Italiam accedet. In qua nos sedentes quid erimus? nam medios esse
iam non licebit. Classibus adversabimur igitur? Quod maius scelus aut
tantum denique? quid turpius? anuival dehic in absentis[136] solus tuli
scelus, eiusdem cum Pompeio et cum reliquis principibus non feram?
Quodsi iam misso officio periculi ratio habenda est, ab illis est
periculum, si peccaro, ab hoc, si recte fecero, nec ullum in his malis
consilium periculo vacuum inveniri potest, ut non sit dubium, quin
turpiter facere cum periculo fugiamus, quod fugeremus etiam cum salute.
Non si[137] simul cum Pompeio mare transierimus? Omnino non potuimus.
Exstat ratio dierum. Sed tamen--fateamur enim, quod est: ne condimus
quidem--ut possimus, fefellit ea me res, quae fortasse non debuit, sed
fefellit. Pacem putavi fore. Quae si esset, iratum mihi Caesarem esse,
cum idem amicus
[136] _The text here is hopelessly corrupt and no satisfactory
emendation has been made. The translation gives the probable sense._
[137] si _added by Tyrrell_.
* * * * *
Page 303
satisfied because I did not come to the Senate. Am I still to hesitate
whether to sell myself to him at grave risk, when I refused to join
him even with a certainty of reward. Besides consider this that the
verdict on the whole contest does not depend on Spain; unless perhaps
you think that, if Spain is lost, Pompey will throw down his arms, when
his policy has always been that of Themistocles. He considers that the
master of the sea must be master of the empire: so he has never planned
to hold Spain for its own sake. The equipment of the fleet has always
been his first care. So he will take to the sea in due season with a
huge fleet and will come to Italy. What then will be the fate of us, if
we stay here idle? Neutrality will be impossible. Shall we then resist
the fleet? Could there be a crime deeper, greater or baser? Isolated I
ran risks: shall I hesitate with the help of Pompey and the rest of the
nobles. If now I am to take no account of duty but only of danger, it
is from Pompey's party I run risk, if I do wrong, from Caesar, if I do
right: and such is our evil plight that no plan is so free from danger
as to leave a doubt that I should avoid doing with disgrace as well
as danger what I should have avoided, if it had been safe. You will
say I might safely have crossed the sea with Pompey. It was altogether
impossible. It is easy to reckon the days: but nevertheless (for let
me confess the truth: I do not even sugar my confession) supposing I
could, I was mistaken over a point which perhaps ought not to have
misled me; but it did. I thought that peace might be made: and, if it
should be, I did not wish Caesar to be angry with me, when at the same
time he was
* * * * *
Page 304
esset Pompeio, nolui. Senseram enim, quam idem essent. Hoc verens in
hanc tarditatem incidi. Sed assequor omnia, si propero, si cunctor,
amitto. Et tamen, mi Attice, auguria quoque me incitant quadam spe non
dubia, nec haec collegii nostri ab Atto, sed illa Platonis de tyrannis.
Nullo enim modo posse video stare istum diutius, quin ipse per se etiam
languentibus nobis concidat, quippe qui florentissimus ac novus VI, VII
diebus ipsi illi egenti ac perditae multitudini in odium acerbissimum
venerit, qui duarum rerum simulationem tam cito amiserit, mansuetudinis
in Metello, divitiarum in aerario. Iam quibus utatur vel sociis vel
ministris? ii provincias, ii rem publicam regent, quorum nemo duo
menses potuit patrimonium suum gubernare?
Non sunt omnia colligenda, quae tu acutissime perspicis, sed tamen ea
pone ante oculos; iam intelleges id regnum vix semenstre esse posse.
Quod si me fefellerit, feram, sicut multi clarissimi homines in re
publica excellentes tulerunt, nisi forti me Sardanapalli vicem [in
suo lectulo][138] mori malle censueris quam exsilio Themistocleo. Qui
com fuisset, ut ait Thucydides, τῶν μὲν παρόντων δι' ἐλαχίστης βουλῆς
κράτιστος γνώμων, τῶν δὲ μελλόντων ἐς πλεῖστον τοῦ γενησομένου ἄριστος
εἰκαστής, tamen incidit in eos
[138] _The words in brackets are deleted by Nipperdey as a gloss._
* * * * *
Page 305
friendly with Pompey. For I had realized how exactly they were alike.
That fear of mine led me to delay. But I gain all now by haste, and, if
I delay, I lose all. Nevertheless, my friend, there are auguries which
urge me on, with hope not uncertain: I do not mean those of my own
college which came down from Attus Navius: but Plato's words about the
tyrant.[139] For I see that Caesar can in no way maintain his position
much longer, without causing his own fall, even if we are backward.
For in his first and flourishing days it did not take him a week to
incur the bitter hatred of the needy abandoned rabble, by letting slip
through his fingers so quickly his fictitious claim to two things,
clemency in the case of Metellus and ample wealth in the case of the
public money. Now what kind of associates and servants can he employ?
Are men to rule provinces and direct affairs not one of whom could
steer his own fortunes for two months?
[139] Probably _Republic_ VIII, 562.
I need not put all the points together; you see them clearly enough:
but put them before your eyes and you will understand that his reign
can hardly last for half a year. If I am mistaken, I will bear the
consequences, as many illustrious men, eminent in public life, have
borne them, unless perhaps you consider that I should prefer to die
like Sardanapalus [in his bed] rather than like Themistocles in exile.
For Thucydides tells us that though Themistocles was "the best judge of
current affairs on the shortest reflection, and the shrewdest to guess
at what would happen in the future," yet he fell into misfortunes,
which he would have escaped, had there been no
* * * * *
Page 306
casus, quos vitasset, si eum nihil fefellisset. Etsi is erat, ut ait
idem, qui τὸ ἄμεινον καὶ τὸ χεῖρον ἐν τῷ ἀφανεῖ ἔτι ἑώρα μάλιστα,
tamen non vidit, nec quo modo Lacedaemoniorum nec quo modo suorum
civium invidiam effugeret nec quid Artaxerxi polliceretur. Non fuisset
illa nox tam acerba Africano, sapientissimo viro, non tam dirus ille
dies Sullanus callidissimo viro, C. Mario, si nihil utrumque eorum
fefellisset. Nos tamen hoc confirmamus illo augurio, quo diximus,
nec nos fallit, nec aliter accidet. Corruat iste necesse est aut
per adversarios aut ipse per se, qui quidem sibi est adversarius
unus acerrimus. Id spero vivis nobis fore; quamquam tempus est nos
de illa perpetua iam, non de hac exigua vita cogitare. Sin quid
accident maturius, haud sane mea multum interfuerit, utrum factum
videam an futurum esse multo ante viderim. Quae cum ita sint, non
est committendum, ut iis paream, quos contra me senatus, ne quid res
publica detrimenti acciperet, armavit.
Tibi sunt omnia commendata, quae commendationis meae pro tuo in nos
amore non indigent. Nec hercule ego quidem reperio, quid scribam; sedeo
enim πλουδοκῶν. Etsi nihil umquam tam fuit scribendum quam nihil mihi
umquam ex plurimis tuis iucunditatibus
* * * * *
Page 307
error in his calculations. Though he was, as the same writer says, "a
clear-sighted judge of the better and the worse course in a doubtful
crisis,"[140] yet he failed to see how to avoid the hate of the
Spartans and his own fellow-citizens, nor what promise he ought to make
to Artaxerxes. Africanus would have been spared that cruel night,[141]
and that master of craft C. Marius the fateful day of Sulla's triumph,
if nothing had ever escaped their calculations. So I strengthen myself
by that prophetic remark of Plato: I am not deceived nor will it happen
otherwise. Caesar is bound to fall either through the agency of his
enemies or of himself, and he is his own worst enemy. I hope it will
be in our lifetime, though it is an occasion for us to consider the
lasting future and not our own narrow life. If anything happens to me
before that day, it will not have mattered to me much whether I see it
come about or foresee that it will happen long before. Since this is
so, I must not obey men against whom the Senate armed me with power to
see that the Republic took no harm.[142]
[140] Thucydides i, 138.
[141] P. Scipio Africanus the younger was found dead in his bed, and
was supposed to have been murdered at Carbo's instigation.
[142] Cf. _Ad Fam._ XVI, 11, where he states that the Senate gave
a general commission to all magistrates and ex-consuls "_ne quid
respublica detrimenti caperet_."
To you all my interests have been entrusted, though they need no
entrusting considering your great affection for me. I have nothing to
write, for I sit waiting to sail. Yet I never wanted so much to write
anything, as I want to tell you that of your
* * * * *
Page 308
gratius accidisse, quam quod meam Tulliam suavissime diligentissimeque
coluisti. Valde eo ipsa delectata est, ego autem non minus. Cuius
quidem virtus mirifica. Quo modo illa fert publicam cladem, quo modo
domesticas tricas! quantus autem animus in discessu nostro! Est στοργή,
est summa σύντηξις. Tamen nos recte facere et bene audire vult. Sed hac
super re ne nimis, ne meam ipse συμπάθειαν iam evocem.
Tu, si quid de Hispaniis certius et si quid aliud, dum adsumus,
scribes, et ego fortasse discedens dabo ad te aliquid, eo etiam magis,
quod Tullia te non putabat hoc tempore ex Italia. Cum Antonio item
est agendum ut cum Curione Melitae me velle esse, huic civili bello
nolle interesse. Eo velim tam facili uti possim et tam bono in me quam
Curione. Is ad Misenum VI Nonas venturus dicebatur, id est hodie. Sed
praemisit mihi odiosas litteras hoc exemplo:
VIIIa
"ANTONIUS TRIB. PL. PRO PR. CICERONI IMP. SAL.
Nisi te valde amarem, et multo quidem plus, quam tu putas, non
extimuissem rumorem, qui de te prolatus est, cum praesertim falsum esse
existimarem. Sed, quia te nimio plus diligo, non possum dissimulare
mihi famam quoque, quamvis sit falsa, magni esse. Te iturum esse[143]
trans mare credere non possum, cum tanti facias Dolabellam et Tulliam
tuam, feminam
[143] Te iturum esse _added by Baiter_.
* * * * *
Page 309
many kindnesses none has given me greater pleasure than your very
gracious and constant care of Tullia. She herself has been charmed and
I not less. She has shown admirable qualities, has borne the national
calamity and private worries with great fortitude and displayed it over
my departure. She loves me and sympathizes with me and yet wishes me to
act rightly and keep my good repute. But enough of this, lest I begin
to pity myself.
If you get more certain tidings about Spain or any other matter, pray
write and tell me while I am here, and perhaps at the time of going I
may send you news, the more so because Tullia fancies that you are not
leaving Italy at the present moment. I must explain to Antony as I did
to Curio that I want to stay in Malta and refuse to take part in this
civil war. I only hope that I may find him as easy and good to me as I
found Curio. He will come it is said to Misenum on the second, that is
to-day; but he has sent in advance a nasty letter of which I subjoin a
copy:
VIIIa
"ANTONIUS TRIBUNE PROPRAETOR GREETING TO CICERO IMPERATOR.
"Had I not a great affection for you, and much more than you think, I
should not have been alarmed at a report which has been spread about
you, especially as I thought it to be false. But, just because I like
you so very much, I cannot hide from myself that the report, although
it may be false, causes me great concern. That you are about to go over
seas I cannot believe, when you have such dear regard for Dolabella
* * * * *
Page 310
lectissimam, tantique ab omnibus nobis fias; quibus mehercule dignitas
amplitudoque tua paene carior est quam tibi ipsi. Sed tamen non sum
arbitratus esse amici non commoveri etiam improborum sermone, atque eo
feci studiosius, quod iudicabam duriores partes mihi impositas esse ob
offensione nostra, quac magis a ζηλοτυπίᾳ mea quam ab iniuria tua nata
est. Sic enim volo te tibi persuadere, mihi neminem esse cariorem te
excepto Caesare meo meque illud una indicare, Caesarem maxime in suis
M. Ciceronem reponere. Quare, mi Cicero, te rogo, ut tibi omina integra
serves, eius fidem improbes, qui tibi, ut beneficium daret, prius
iniuriam fecit, contra ne profugias, qui te, esti non amabit, quod
accidere non potest, tamen salvum amplissimumque esse cupiet.
Dedita opera ad te Calpurnium, familiarissimum meum, misi, ut mihi
magnae curae tuam vitam ac dignitatem esse scires."
Eodem die a Caesare Philotimus litteras attulit hoc exemplo:
VIIIb
"CAESAR IMP. SAL. D. CICERONI IMP.
Etsi te nihil temere, nihil imprudenter facturum iudicaram, tamen
permotus hominum fama scribendum ad te existimavi, et pro nostra
benevolentia petendum, ne quo progredereris proclinata iam re, quo
integra
* * * * *
Page 311
and your daughter Tullia, that queen among women, and you are rated so
highly by all of us, who, I dare swear, care almost more than you do
for your dignity and position. However, I considered that it was no
part of a friend to be unmoved even when scoundrels talked, and I have
been more particular, because I thought that a harder task was laid
upon me by our disagreement, which sprang more from jealousy on my part
than from wrong on yours; for I want you to convince yourself that no
one is dearer to me than you, except Caesar, and at the same time I am
positive that Caesar reckons M. Cicero highly among his friends. So my
dear Cicero I beg you not to commit yourself and not to rely on the
honour of a man, who for the sake of conferring a kindness first did
you a harm, and on the other hand not to flee from a man, who although
he will not love you, which is out of the question, will always wish
you to be safe and in high distinction.
"I have taken the trouble to send you Calpurnius, an intimate friend
of mine, that you may know I am greatly concerned for your life and
position."
On the same day Philotimus brought me a letter from Caesar of which
this is a copy:
VIIIb
"CAESAR IMPERATOR TO CICERO IMPERATOR, GREETING.
"Although I had concluded that you would do nothing rashly or
imprudently, nevertheless I have been so stirred by what people say
that I thought it best to write to you and ask you in the name of our
goodwill to each other not to go anywhere, now that fortune inclines my
way, where you did not think it
* * * * *
Page 312
etiam progrediendum tibi non existimasses. Namque et amicitiae
graviorem iniuriam feceris et tibi minus commode consulueris, si
non fortunae obsecutus videbere (omnia enim secundissima nobis,
adversissima illis accidisse videntur), nec causam secutus (eadem enim
tum fuit, cum ab eorum consiliis abesse iudicasti), sed meum aliquod
factum condemnavisse; quo mihi gravius abs te nil accidere potest. Quod
ne facias, pro iure nostrae amicitiae a te peto. Postremo quid viro
bono et quieto et bono civi magis convenit quam abesse a civilibus
controversiis? Quod non nulli cum probarent, periculi causa sequi non
potuerunt; tu explorato et vitae meae testimonio et amicitiae iudicio
neque tutius neque honestius reperies quicquam quam ab omni contentione
abesse.
XV Kal. Maias ex itinere."
IX
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano V Non. Mai. a. 705_]
Adventus Philotimi (at cuius hominis, quam insulsi et quam saepe
pro Pompeio mentientis!) exanimavit omnes, qui mecum erant;
nam ipse obdurui. Dubitabat nostrum nemo, quin Caesar itinera
repressisset--volare dicitur; Petreius cum Afranio coniunxisset
se--nihil adfert eius modi. Quid quaeris? etiam illud erat persuasum,
Pompeium cum magnis copiis iter in
* * * * *
Page 313
necessary to go before anything was certain. For you will have done a
serious injury to our friendship and consulted your own interest very
little, if you show that you are not following fortune (for everything
that has happened seems most favourable to me and most unfavourable
to Pompey), nor yet following the right cause (for the cause was the
same then, when you thought fit to hold aloof from it), but that you
have condemned some act of mine, the greatest harm you could do me.
Do not take such a step, I pray you by the right of our friendship.
Finally what better befits a good and peaceful man and a loyal citizen
than to keep out of civil disturbance. There are some who approved
such a course, but could not follow it because of the danger. But
you may examine the evidence of my life and the opinion given by my
friendship[144]; you will find no safer or more honourable course than
to keep quite clear of the quarrel.
[144] i.e. my decision to let you be neutral. It may, however, mean
"Your conviction of my friendship."
"April 16 on the march."
IX
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Cumae, May 3_, B.C. _49_]
The arrival of Philotimus (what a fellow he is! how stupid! how often
he lies on Pompey's behalf!) has frightened the rest of us to death.
For myself I am hardened. None of us doubted that Caesar had checked
Pompey's progress: Philotimus says he is simply flying. Nobody doubted
that Petreius had joined Afranius: he brings no such news. In fact we
have all been sure that Pompey had actually made
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Germaniam per Illyricum fecisse; id enim αὐθεντικῶς nuntiabatur,
Melitam igitur, opinor, capessamus, dum, quid in Hispania. Quod quidem
prope modum videor ex Caesaris litteris ipsius voluntate facere posse,
qui negat neque honestius neque tutius mihi quicquam esse quam ab omni
contentione abesse. Dices: "Ubi ille ergo tuus animus, quem proximis
litteris?" Adest et idem est; sed utinam meo solum capite decernerem!
Lacrimae meorum me interdum molliunt precantium ut de Hispaniis
exspectemus. M. Caeli quidem epistulam scriptam miserabiliter, cum hoc
idem obsecraret, ut exspectarem, ne fortunas meas, ne unicum filium,
ne meos omnes tam temere proderem non sine magno fletu legerunt pueri
nostri. Etsi meus quidem est fortior, eoque ipso vehementius commovet,
nec quicquam nisi de dignatione laborat.
Melitam igitur, deinde, quo videbitur. Tu tamen etiam nunc mihi aliquid
litterarum, et maxime, si quid ab Afranio. Ego, si cum Antonio locutus
ero, scribam ad te, quid actum sit. Ero tamen in credendo, ut mones,
cautus; nam occultandi ratio cum difficilis tum etiam periculosa est.
Servium exspecto ad Nonas, et adigit ita Postumia et Servius filius.
Quartanam leviorem esse gaudeo. Misi ad te Caeli etiam litterarum
exemplum.
IXa = ad fam. VIII 16.
CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Intimili XV K. Mai. a. 705_]
Exanimatus tuis litteris, quibus te nihil nisi triste cogitare
ostendisti, neque, id quid esset, perscripsisti,
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his way with large forces into Germany through Illyricum, for that was
the news _sans doute_. So I think I must make for Malta, until there
is news from Spain. This from Caesar's letter I almost think I may do
without annoying him, for he says there is no more honourable or safe
course open to me than to keep quite clear of the fight. You will say
"Where then is your courage which you showed in recent letters?" It is
there and the same; but would that I had only to decide for myself. The
tears of my family at times weaken me, when they beg me to wait for
news about Spain. The miserable tone of M. Caelius' letter making this
same request that I should wait, not to risk so rashly my fortunes, my
only son and all my family, moved our boys to weeping; although my own
son is made of stronger stuff, and for that very reason he affects me
more deeply, thinking only of my reputation.
So I shall go to Malta, thence where it seems good. Still even now send
me a line, especially if there is any news from Afranius. If I have an
interview with Antony, I will inform you of the result. However, as you
advise, I will take care how I trust him, for the policy of concealment
is hard and dangerous too. Servius Sulpicius I await till the 7th. Both
his wife Postumia and his son urge me to this. I rejoice that your ague
is better. I send you also a copy of Caelius' letter.
IXa
CAELIUS TO CICERO, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Intimile, Apr. 16_, B.C. _49_]
In my dismay at your letter, in which you show that your thoughts are
set on some unhappy act
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neque non tamen, quale esset, quod cogitates, aperuisti, has ad
te ilico litteras scripsi. Per fortunas tuas, Cicero, per liberos
te oro et obsecro, ne quid gravius de salute et incolumitate tua
consulas. Nam deos hominesque amicitiamque nostram testificor me tibi
praedixisse neque temere monuisse, sed, postquam Caesarem convenerim
sententiamque eius, qualis futura esset parta victoria, cognorim,
te certiorem fecisse. Si existimas eandem rationem fore Caesaris in
dimittendis adversariis et condicionibus ferendis, erras; nihil nisi
atrox et saevum cogitat atque etiam loquitur; iratus senatui exiit, his
intercessionibus plane incitatus est; non mehercules erit deprecationi
locus. Quare, si tibi tu, si filius unicus, si domus, si spes tuae
reliquae tibi carae sunt, si aliquid apud te nos, si vir optimus,
gener tuus, valemus, quorum fortunam non debes velle conturbare, noli
committere,[145] ut eam causam, in cuius victoria salus nostra est,
odisse aut relinquere cogamur, aut impiam cupiditatem contra salutem
tuam habeamus. Denique illud cogita, quod offensae fuerit in ista
cunctatione, te subisse. Nunc te contra victorem Caesarem facere,
quem dubiis rebus laedere noluisti, et ad eos fugatos accedere, quos
resistentes sequi nolueris, summae stultitiae est. Vide, ne, dum
pudet te parum optimatem esse, parum diligenter, quid optimum sit,
eligas. Quod si totum tibi persuadere non possum, saltem, dum, quid de
Hispaniis agamus, scitur,
[145] noli committere _added by Lehmann_.
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without saying exactly what it is, though you disclose sufficiently
what kind of an act it is, I write this on the spot. In the name of
your fortunes and your children, I beg and beseech you, Cicero, not to
take any step that may endanger your life and safety. For I call gods
and men and our friendship to witness that I told you before, and that
it was no casual warning that I gave you, but certain information,
after I had met Caesar and found out what his view would be, if he won
the victory. If you imagine that he will maintain his present policy of
letting his adversaries go and making peace, you are mistaken; he is
meditating and even proclaiming nothing but cruelty and severity. He
left Rome in anger with the Senate: these recent vetoes have clearly
provoked him: you may take my word for it there will be no chance
of begging off. Then, if you have any care for yourself, your only
son, your house and what hopes you have left, if I and your excellent
son-in-law have any influence with you--and you ought not to wish to
spoil our fortunes--then do not compel us to hate or relinquish a
cause, in whose victory our safety lies, or to harbour unnatural wishes
for your destruction. Finally consider this: any offence there may
have been in your hesitation, you have already given. Now it is the
height of folly to side against Caesar in his hour of victory, when you
refused to attack him while his fortunes were doubtful; and to join in
the flight of those, whom you would not follow when they stood their
ground. Beware lest for fear of showing too little zeal for the "better
party," you use too little care in choosing the better course. But, if
I cannot persuade you entirely, at least wait till it is known how we
get on in Spain,
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exspecta; quas tibi nuntio adventu Caesaris fore nostras. Quam isti
spem habeant amissis Hispaniis, nescio; quod porro tuum consilium sit
ad desperatos accedere, non medius fidius reperio.
Hoc, quod tu non dicendo mihi significasti, Caesar audierat, ac, simul
atque "have" mihi dixit, statim, quid de te audisset, exposuit. Negavi
me scire, sed tamen ab eo petivi, ut ad te litteras mitteret, quibus
maxime ad remanendum commoveri posses. Me secum in Hispaniam ducit.
Nam, nisi ita faceret, ego, priusquam ad urbem accederem, ubicumque
esses, ad te percucurrissem, et hoc a te praesens contendissem atque
omni vi te retinuissem. Etiam atque etiam, Cicero, cogita, ne te
tuosque omnis funditus evertas, ne te sciens prudensque eo demittas,
unde exitum vides nullum esse. Quodsi te aut voces optimatium
commovent, aut non nullorum hominum insolentiam et iactationem
ferre non potes, eligas censeo aliquod oppidum vacuum a bello, dum
haec decernuntur; quae iam erunt confecta. Id si feceris, et ego te
sapienter fecisse iudicabo, et Caesarem non offendes.
X
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano V Non. Mai. a. 705_]
Me caecum, qui haec ante non viderim! Misi ad te epistulam Antoni.
Ei cum ego saepissime scripsissem nihil me contra Caesaris rationes
cogitare, meminisse me generi mei, meminisse amicitiae, potuisse,
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which I assure you will be ours as soon as Caesar arrives. What your
friends' hopes are, when they have lost Spain, is more than I know; and
what your idea is in joining them, when they have no hopes, is more
than I can imagine.