Letter 109

If you don’t happen to be in town, I wish to goodness you were. I have no positive news beyond your letter dated the 19th of July, in which you said you were going to Epirus about the 1st of August. But whether you are at Rome or in Epirus, the Parthians have crossed the Euphrates under the leadership of duce Pacoro, Orodis regis Parthorum filio, cunctis fere copiis. Bibulus nondum audiebatur esse in Syria; Cassius in oppido Antiochia est cum omni exercitu, nos in Cappadocia ad Taurum cum exercitu, ad Cybistra; hostis in Cyrrhestica, quae Syriae pars proxima est provinciae meae. His de rebus scripsi ad senatum, quas litteras, si Romae es, videbis putesne reddendas, et multa, immo omnia, quorum κεφάλαιον, ne quid inter caesa et porrecta, ut aiunt, oneris mihi addatur aut temporis. Nobis enim hac infirmitate exercitus, inopia sociorum, praesertim fidelium, certissimum subsidium est hiems. Ea si venerit, nec illi ante in meam provinciam transierint, unum vereor, ne senatus propter urbanarum rerum metum Pompeium nolit dimittere. Quodsi alium ad ver mittit, non laboro, nobis modo temporis ne quid prorogetur. Haec igitur, si es Romae; sin abes, aut etiam si ades, haec negotia sic se habent. Stamus animis et, quia consiliis, ut videmur, bonis utimur, speramus etiam manu. Tuto consedimus copioso a frumento, Ciliciam prope conspiciente, expedito ad mutandum loco parvo exercitu, sed, ut spero, ad benevolentiam erga nos consentiente. Quem nos Deiotari adventu cum suis omnibus copiis duplicaturi eramus. Sociis multo fidelioribus utimur, quam quisquam usus est; quibus incredibilis videtur nostra et mansuetudo et abstinentia. Dilectus habetur Pacorus, a son of the Parthian king Orodes, with nearly all their forces. There is no news of the presence of Bibulus in Syria: Cassius is in the town of Antioch with his whole army. I am in Cappadocia near the Taurus with my army close to Cybistra. The enemy is in Cyrrhestica, a district of Syria adjoining my province. I have sent a despatch to the Senate on the situation. If you are in Rome, please look at the despatch and say whether you think it ought to be delivered: and so for my other affairs, chief of which is lest there be, as the saying goes, any slip between the cup and the lip, I mean that I may not be burdened with an extension of office. Considering the weakness of my army, my want of allies, especially faithful allies, my most sure support is the winter weather. If winter comes and the enemy have not first crossed into my province, I am afraid the Senate may refuse to let Pompey leave Rome owing to fear of disturbance at home. But if it sends some one else by spring, I don’t care, provided that there be no extension of my term of office. Those are my commissions, if you are in town. If you are out of town, or even if you are not, the situation is this. I am in excellent spirits; and I hope, as my plans are well laid, that I am not too sanguine about my preparations. I have pitched camp in a safe spot, well supplied on the score of corn, almost within sight of Cilicia, convenient for change of quarters, with an army small but, I hope, very loyal to me, which will be doubled by the arrival of Deiotarus with all his forces. I have found our allies far more loyal than any of my predecessors have found them. They cannot understand my mildness and self-abnegation. A levy is civium Romanorum; frumentum ex agris in loca tuta comportatur. Si fuerit occasio, manu, si minus, locis nos defendemus. Quare bono animo es. Video enim te et, quasi coram adsis, ita cerno συμπάθειαν amoris tui. Sed te rogo, si ullo pacto fieri poterit, si integra in senatu nostra causa ad Kal. Ianuarias manserit, ut Romae sis mense Ianuario. Profecto nihil accipiam iniuriae, si tu aderis. Amicos consules habemus, nostrum tribunum pl. Furnium. Verum tua est opus adsiduitate, prudentia, gratia. Tempus est necessarium. Sed turpe est me pluribus verbis agere tecum. Cicerones nostri sunt apud Deiotarum, sed, si opus erit, deducentur Rhodum. Tu, si es Romae, ut soles, diligentissime, si in Epiro, mitte tamen ad nos de tuis aliquem tabellarium, ut et tu, quid nos agamus, et nos, quid tu agas quidque acturus sis, scire possimus. Ego tui Bruti rem sic ago, ut suam ipse non ageret. Sed iam exhibeo pupillum neque defendo; sunt enim negotia et lenta et inania. Faciam tamen satis tibi quidem, cui difficilius est quam ipsi; sed certe satis faciam utrique. being held of Roman citizens: corn is being brought from the country into safe strongholds. Should occasion arise, I should defend myself by force, but otherwise I shall depend on my position. So be of good cheer. You are always in my mind’s eye. and I understand your affectionate sympathy as if you were standing here. But I beseech you, if it can be arranged and supposing that my case is not debated in the House up to the first of January, to be in Rome during that month. I shall be treated fairly, if you are there. The consuls are my friends; Furnius the tribune of the people is devoted to me: but I want you with your ingratiating and skilful persistence. It is a critical time. But it would be a shame for me to press you further. My son and nephew are staying with Deiotarus. If necessary, they shall be sent to Rhodes. If you are in Rome, send me a message with your usual regularity. And even if you are in Epirus, send me one of your messengers, that you may know my proceedings, and I may know your present and future plans. I am managing your friend Brutus’ business better than he could himself. But I now hand my ward over to the creditors and refuse to set up any plea for him. They are an impracticable and impecunious lot. However I shall satisfy you, which is more difficult even than satisfying Brutus. Indeed I will satisfy you both.

quam vellem Romae esses, si forte non es! nihil enim certi habebamus nisi accepisse nos tuas litteras a. d. xiiii Kal. Sextil. datas, in quibus scriptum esset te in Epirum iturum circiter Kal. Sextil. sed sive Romae es sive in Epiro, Parthi Euphraten transierunt duce Pacoro, Orodis regis Parthorum filio, (cum) cunctis fere copiis. Bibulus nondum audiebatur esse in Syria; Cassius in oppido Antiochia est cum omni exercitu, nos in Cappadocia ad Taurum cum exercitu ad Cybistra; hostis in Cyrrhestica quae Syriae pars proxima est provinciae meae. his de rebus scripsi ad senatum, quas litteras, si Romae es, videbis putesne reddendas et multa, immo omnia, quorum kephalaion ne quid inter caesa et porrecta, ut aiunt, oneris mihi addatur aut temporis. nobis enim hac infirmitate exercitus inopia sociorum, praesertim fidelium, certissimum subsidium est hiems. ea si venerit nec illi ante in meam provinciam transierint, unum vereor ne senatus propter urbanarum rerum metum Pompeium nolit dimittere. quod si alium ad ver mittit, non laboro, nobis modo temporis ne quid prorogetur. [2] haec igitur, si es Romae; sin abes aut etiam si ades, haec negotia sic se habent. stamus animis et, quia consiliis, ut videmur, bonis utimur, speramus etiam manu. tuto consedimus copioso a frumento, Ciliciam prope conspiciente, expedito ad mutandum loco, parvo exercitu sed, ut spero, ad benevolentiam erga nos consentiente. quem nos Deiotari adventu cum suis omnibus copiis duplicaturi eramus. sociis multo fidelioribus utimur quam quisquam usus est; quibus incredibilis videtur nostra et mansuetudo et abstinentia. dilectus habetur civium Romanorum; frumentum ex agris in loca tuta comportatur. si fuerit occasio, manu, si minus, locis nos defendemus. [3] qua re bono animo es. video enim te et, quasi coram adsis, ita cerno sumpatheian amoris tui. sed te rogo, si ullo pacto fieri poterit, si integra in senatu nostra causa ad Kal. Ianuarias manserit, ut Romae sis mense Ianuario. profecto nihil accipiam iniuriae, si tu aderis. amicos consules habemus, nostrum tribunum pl. Furnium. verum tua est opus adsiduitate, prudentia, gratia. tempus est necessarium. sed turpe est me pluribus verbis agere tecum. [4] Cicerones nostri sunt apud Deiotarum sed, si opus erit, deducentur Rhodum. tu si es Romae, ut soles, diligentissime, si in Epiro, mitte tamen ad nos de tuis aliquem tabellarium, ut et (tu) quid nos agamus et nos quid tu agas quidque acturus sis scire possimus. ego tui Bruti rem sic ago ut suam ipse non ageret. sed iam exhibeo pupillum neque defendo; sunt enim negotia et lenta et inania. faciam tamen satis tibi quidem cui difficilius est quam ipsi; sed certe satis faciam utrique.