Letter 10: Brutus writes to Cicero from Macedonia to Rome in late May 43 BC.
Marcus Junius Brutus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus|From Macedonia|To Rome|AI-assisted
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Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation on ToposText, paired with The Latin Library Latin. The local ref preserves Latin Library a-letter distinctions where ToposText repeats a traditional label.
Written in camp around the ninth day before the Kalends of Quintilis, in the year 711 [of the founding of the city, i.e. 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
No one can judge better than you how dear Lucius Bibulus ought to be to me, you whose own exertions and anxieties on behalf of the Republic have been so great. And so either his own merit or our close connection ought to commend him to you, which is why I think I need to write at no great length. For my own wish ought to move you, provided only that it is just or is undertaken in fulfillment of a necessary obligation. He has resolved to seek the place of Pansa [the consular vacancy left by Pansa's death]. We ask this nomination of you. You can grant the favor to no one more closely attached to you than we are, nor can you nominate anyone more deserving than Bibulus. [2] As for Domitius and Apuleius, what point is there in my writing, since they are most warmly recommended to you by their own merits? Apuleius in particular you ought to support with your authority. But Apuleius will be honored in his own letter. Do not let Bibulus go from your embrace, for he is already a man of such stature that, believe me, he can grow into one who lives up to the praises of you select few.
§ Brut.1.7 DCCCLXIV (Brut. I, 7) M. IUNIUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) (MACEDONIA, LATTER PART OF MAY) No one can better judge than you how dear Lucius Bibulus ought to be to me, considering his great struggles and anxieties on behalf of the Republic. Accordingly, his own excellence as well as our intimacy ought to make him your friend. I think myself therefore obliged to write at the less length: for a wish of mine ought to influence you, provided that it is equitable and is conceived in fulfilment of a necessary duty. He has resolved to stand for the place of Pansa. I beg you therefore to nominate him. You cannot do a favour to any man more closely attached than we are to you, nor can you nominate a more deserving man than Bibulus. What need to write about Domitius and Appuleius, seeing that they are most warmly recommended to you by their own merits? To Appuleius certainly you are bound to lend the protection of your influence — but Appuleius 's praises shall be sung in the special letter he brings with him. Do not fail to take Bibulus to your bosom — a man, believe me, who may develop into the sort of character to deserve your most select praises.
[VII] Scr. in castris circ. ix K. Quint, a. 711 (43).
BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
L. Bibulus quam carus mihi esse debeat, nemo melius iudicare potest quam tu cuius tantae pro re publica contentiones sollicitudinesque fuerunt. itaque vel ipsius virtus vel nostra necessitudo debet conciliare te illi. quo minus multa mihi scribenda esse arbitror. voluntas enim te movere debet nostra, si modo iusta est aut pro officio necessario suscipitur. is Pansae locum petere constituit. eam nominationem a te petimus. neque coniunctiori dare beneficium quam nos tibi sumus neque digniorem nominare potes quam Bibulum. [2] de Domitio et Apuleio quid attinet me scribere, cum ipsi per se tibi commendatissimi sint? Apuleium vero tu tua auctoritate sustinere debes. sed Apuleius in sua epistula celebrabitur. Bibulum noli dimittere e sinu tuo, tantum iam virum ex quanto, crede mihi, potest evadere qui vestris paucorum respondeat laudibus.
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Written in camp around the ninth day before the Kalends of Quintilis, in the year 711 [of the founding of the city, i.e. 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
No one can judge better than you how dear Lucius Bibulus ought to be to me, you whose own exertions and anxieties on behalf of the Republic have been so great. And so either his own merit or our close connection ought to commend him to you, which is why I think I need to write at no great length. For my own wish ought to move you, provided only that it is just or is undertaken in fulfillment of a necessary obligation. He has resolved to seek the place of Pansa [the consular vacancy left by Pansa's death]. We ask this nomination of you. You can grant the favor to no one more closely attached to you than we are, nor can you nominate anyone more deserving than Bibulus. [2] As for Domitius and Apuleius, what point is there in my writing, since they are most warmly recommended to you by their own merits? Apuleius in particular you ought to support with your authority. But Apuleius will be honored in his own letter. Do not let Bibulus go from your embrace, for he is already a man of such stature that, believe me, he can grow into one who lives up to the praises of you select few.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
[VII] Scr. in castris circ. ix K. Quint, a. 711 (43). BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
L. Bibulus quam carus mihi esse debeat, nemo melius iudicare potest quam tu cuius tantae pro re publica contentiones sollicitudinesque fuerunt. itaque vel ipsius virtus vel nostra necessitudo debet conciliare te illi. quo minus multa mihi scribenda esse arbitror. voluntas enim te movere debet nostra, si modo iusta est aut pro officio necessario suscipitur. is Pansae locum petere constituit. eam nominationem a te petimus. neque coniunctiori dare beneficium quam nos tibi sumus neque digniorem nominare potes quam Bibulum. [2] de Domitio et Apuleio quid attinet me scribere, cum ipsi per se tibi commendatissimi sint? Apuleium vero tu tua auctoritate sustinere debes. sed Apuleius in sua epistula celebrabitur. Bibulum noli dimittere e sinu tuo, tantum iam virum ex quanto, crede mihi, potest evadere qui vestris paucorum respondeat laudibus.