Letter 416

When I know what day I shall arrive, I will let you know. I must wait for my heavy baggage, which is coming from Anagnia, and there is illness in my household. On the evening of the 1st I got a letter from Octavian. He is setting about a heavy task. He has brought over the veterans, who are at Casilinum and Calatia, to his views; and no wonder, when he is giving them £20 apiece. He thinks of visiting the other colonies. Obviously his idea is a war with Antony under his leadership. So I see that before long we shall be in arms. But whom are we to follow? Look at his name, and at his age. And his first request of me is that I should meet him secretly at Capua or somewhere near Capua. That is quite childish, if he thinks it can be done secretly. I have told him by letter that there is no necessity for it and no possibility of it. He sent me one Caecina of Volaterra, an intimate friend of his, who brought this news, that Antony is making for Rome with the legion Alauda, raising a forced contribution from towns, and marching with his soldiers under colours. He asked my advice about setting out for Rome with 3,000 veterans or holding Capua and intercepting Antony's advance, or going to the three Macedonian legions, which are making for the northern Adriatic. Those he hopes are on his side; they refused to take Antony's bounty, or so he says, heaped insults on him and left him still haranguing. Of course, he offers himself as our leader, and thinks we ought not to fail nec nos sibi putat deesse oportere. Equidem suasi, ut Romam pergeret. Videtur enim mihi et plebeculam urbanam, et, si fidem fecerit, etiam bonos viros secum habiturus. O Brute, ubi es? quantam εὐκαιρίαν amittis! Non equidem hoc divinavi, sed aliquid tale putavi fore. Nunc tuum consilium exquiro. Romamne venio an hic maneo an Arpinum (ἀσφάλειαν habet is locus) fugiam? Romam, ne desideremur, si quid actum videbitur. Hoc igitur explica. Numquam in maiore ἀπορίᾳ fui.

cum sciam quo die venturus sim, faciam ut scias. impedimenta exspectanda sunt quae Anaunia veniunt et familia aegra est. Kal. vesperi litterae mihi ab Octaviano. Magna molitur. veteranos qui <sunt> Casilini et Calatiae perduxit ad suam sententiam. nec mirum, quingenos denarios dat. cogitat reliquas colonias obire. plane hoc spectat ut se duce bellum geratur cum Antonio. itaque video paucis diebus nos in armis fore. quem autem sequamur? vide nomen, vide aetatem. atque a me postulat primum ut clam conloquatur mecum vel Capuae vel non longe a Capua. puerile hoc quidem, si id putat clam fieri posse. docui per litteras id nec opus esse nec fieri posse. [2] misit ad me Caecinam quendam Volaterranum familiarem suum; qui haec pertulit, Antonium cum legione alaudarum ad urbem pergere, pecunias municipiis imperare, legionem sub signis ducere. consultabat utrum Romam cum ci[c] ci[c] ci[c] veteranorum proficisceretur an Capuam teneret et Antonium venientem excluderet an iret ad tris legiones Macedonicas quae iter secundum mare superum faciunt; quas sperat suas esse. eae congiarium ab Antonio accipere noluerunt, ut hic quidem narrat, et ei convicium grave fecerunt contionantemque reliquerunt. quid quaeris? ducem se profitetur nec nos sibi putat deesse oportere. equidem suasi ut Romam pergeret. videtur enim mihi et plebeculam urbanam et, si fidem fecerit, etiam bonos viros secum habiturus. O Brute, ubi es? quantam eu)kairi/an amittis! non equidem hoc divinavi sed aliquid tale putavi fore. nunc tuum consilium exquiro. Romamne venio an hic maneo an Arpinum ( a)sfa/leian habet is locus) fugiam? Romam, ne desideremur si quid actum videbitur. hoc igitur explica. numquam in maiore a)pori/a? fui.