Letter 23: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Macedonia in 11 April 43 BC.
Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Junius Brutus|c. 43 BC|Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus|From Rome|To Macedonia|AI-assisted
politicssenaterepublican-crisis
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 at Rome, on the third day before the Ides of April, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 11 April 43 BC].
Cicero to Brutus, greetings.
The outstanding loyalty of Plancus toward the Republic, his legions, auxiliaries, and forces you have been able to perceive, I believe, from his letter, a copy of which I think has been sent to you. As for the fickleness and inconstancy of Lepidus, your kinsman, who, next after his brother, regards as his deadliest enemies those bound to him by marriage, and his disposition forever hostile to the Republic, I believe you have by now perceived it from the letters of your family.
It is suspense that torments us, suspense that is now wholly brought to its final crisis. For all our hope rests in extricating Brutus [Decimus Brutus, besieged at Mutina], about whom we were in grave fear.
Here I have trouble enough on my hands with a madman, Servilius; I bore with him longer than my standing allowed, but I bore with him for the sake of the Republic, so as not to give ruined citizens a man to rally around-one who, granted, is hardly sane, yet is nonetheless of noble rank-which they do all the same; but I did not think he ought to be estranged from the Republic. I have put an end to enduring him. For he had begun to be of such insolence that he reckoned no one a free man. But in the case of Plancus he blazed up with incredible resentment and contended with me so fiercely over two days, and was so broken down by me, that I hope he will be more restrained for good. And in the very midst of this struggle, just when the matter was most at issue, on the fifth day before the Ides of April [9 April] a letter was delivered to me in the senate from our friend Lentulus, concerning Cassius, concerning the legions, concerning Syria. When I had read it aloud at once, Servilius was crushed, and several others besides; for there are a good number of notable men who hold the most disloyal sentiments. But Servilius took it most bitterly that the senate had assented to my motion about Plancus. That is a great monstrosity in the Republic, but to what end [...]
§ Brut.2.2 DCCCXXXVI (Brut. II, 2) TO MARCUS IUNIUS BRUTUS (IN MACEDONIA) ROME, 11 APRIL: You have had the opportunity of learning Plancus 's splendid loyalty to the Republic, his legions, auxiliaries, and forces from his own letter, a copy of which I think has been sent to you. The fickleness and inconstancy of your relative Lepidus, who, next to his own brother, holds his relations by marriage as his deadliest foes, and his feelings perpetually hostile to the constitution, I think you have clearly perceived from the letters of your family. As for me, I am restlessly waiting for news. The decisive hour is upon us: for our whole hope depends on relieving Decimus Brutus, for whom I am greatly alarmed. Here in Rome I have my tribune Titius. Cicero wishes to make Plancus look upon it as unimportant. It probably, however, contributed to confirm his intention of joining Antony, as he eventually did. hands full with that madman Servilius. I have endured him longer than is consistent with my position, but I have done so for the sake of the Republic, for fear of giving unprincipled citizens some one — who, lunatic as he is, is yet a man of rank-round whom to rally. They are doing so none the less, and I do not think that he is a man who ought to be wholly alienated from the Republic. But I have come to the end of my tolerance of him. For he has begun giving himself such airs, that he regards no one as free. In the case of Plancus, however, he flamed up with extraordinary anger, and for two days maintained so fierce a controversy with me, and was so crushed by me, that I hope I have permanently brought him to a more reasonable frame of mind. In the midst of this controversy too, on the 9th of April, a letter was handed to me in the senate from our friend Lentulus, telling me about Cassius, about his legions, and about Syria. I immediately read it aloud, whereupon Servilius and several besides looked somewhat small. For there are a good many distinguished men who cherish the most disloyal sentiments: but what annoyed Servilius most bitterly was that the senate agreed to my motion about Plancus. It is a portentous thing in the Republic, but to what end...
[II] Scr. Romae iii Id. Apr. a. 711 (43).
CICERO BRVTO SAL.
Planci animum in rem publicam egregium, legiones, auxilia, copias ex litteris eius quarum exemplum tibi missum arbitror perspicere potuisti. Lepidi, tui necessari, qui secundum fratrem adfinis habet quos oderit proximos, levitatem et inconstantiam animumque semper inimicum rei publicae iam credo tibi ex tuorum litteris esse perspectum. [2] nos exspectatio sollicitat, +quae+ est omnis iam in extremum adducta discrimen. est enim spes omnis in Bruto expediendo, de quo vehementer timebamus. [3] ego hic cum homine furioso satis habeo negoti, Servilio; quem tuli diutius quam dignitas mea patiebatur, sed tuli rei publicae causa, ne darem perditis civibus hominem parum sanum illum quidem sed tamen nobilem quo concurrerent, quod faciunt nihilo minus; sed eum alienandum a re publica non putabam. finem feci eius ferendi. coeperat enim esse tanta insolentia ut neminem liberum duceret. in Planci vero causa exarsit incredibili dolore mecumque per biduum ita contendit et a me ita fractus est ut eum in perpetuum modestiorem sperem fore. atque in hac contentione ipsa, cum maxime res ageretur, a. d. v Idus Aprilis litterae mihi in senatu redditae sunt a Lentulo nostro de Cassio, de legionibus, de Syria. quas statim cum recitavissem, cecidit Servilius, complures praeterea; sunt enim insignes aliquot qui improbissime sentiunt. sed acerbissime tulit Servilius adsensum esse mihi de Planco. Magnum illud monstrum in re publica est, sed quo * * *.
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Written at Rome, on the third day before the Ides of April, in the year 711 [from the founding of the city, i.e. 11 April 43 BC].
Cicero to Brutus, greetings.
The outstanding loyalty of Plancus toward the Republic, his legions, auxiliaries, and forces you have been able to perceive, I believe, from his letter, a copy of which I think has been sent to you. As for the fickleness and inconstancy of Lepidus, your kinsman, who, next after his brother, regards as his deadliest enemies those bound to him by marriage, and his disposition forever hostile to the Republic, I believe you have by now perceived it from the letters of your family.
It is suspense that torments us, suspense that is now wholly brought to its final crisis. For all our hope rests in extricating Brutus [Decimus Brutus, besieged at Mutina], about whom we were in grave fear.
Here I have trouble enough on my hands with a madman, Servilius; I bore with him longer than my standing allowed, but I bore with him for the sake of the Republic, so as not to give ruined citizens a man to rally around-one who, granted, is hardly sane, yet is nonetheless of noble rank-which they do all the same; but I did not think he ought to be estranged from the Republic. I have put an end to enduring him. For he had begun to be of such insolence that he reckoned no one a free man. But in the case of Plancus he blazed up with incredible resentment and contended with me so fiercely over two days, and was so broken down by me, that I hope he will be more restrained for good. And in the very midst of this struggle, just when the matter was most at issue, on the fifth day before the Ides of April [9 April] a letter was delivered to me in the senate from our friend Lentulus, concerning Cassius, concerning the legions, concerning Syria. When I had read it aloud at once, Servilius was crushed, and several others besides; for there are a good number of notable men who hold the most disloyal sentiments. But Servilius took it most bitterly that the senate had assented to my motion about Plancus. That is a great monstrosity in the Republic, but to what end [...]
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
[II] Scr. Romae iii Id. Apr. a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL.
Planci animum in rem publicam egregium, legiones, auxilia, copias ex litteris eius quarum exemplum tibi missum arbitror perspicere potuisti. Lepidi, tui necessari, qui secundum fratrem adfinis habet quos oderit proximos, levitatem et inconstantiam animumque semper inimicum rei publicae iam credo tibi ex tuorum litteris esse perspectum. [2] nos exspectatio sollicitat, +quae+ est omnis iam in extremum adducta discrimen. est enim spes omnis in Bruto expediendo, de quo vehementer timebamus. [3] ego hic cum homine furioso satis habeo negoti, Servilio; quem tuli diutius quam dignitas mea patiebatur, sed tuli rei publicae causa, ne darem perditis civibus hominem parum sanum illum quidem sed tamen nobilem quo concurrerent, quod faciunt nihilo minus; sed eum alienandum a re publica non putabam. finem feci eius ferendi. coeperat enim esse tanta insolentia ut neminem liberum duceret. in Planci vero causa exarsit incredibili dolore mecumque per biduum ita contendit et a me ita fractus est ut eum in perpetuum modestiorem sperem fore. atque in hac contentione ipsa, cum maxime res ageretur, a. d. v Idus Aprilis litterae mihi in senatu redditae sunt a Lentulo nostro de Cassio, de legionibus, de Syria. quas statim cum recitavissem, cecidit Servilius, complures praeterea; sunt enim insignes aliquot qui improbissime sentiunt. sed acerbissime tulit Servilius adsensum esse mihi de Planco. Magnum illud monstrum in re publica est, sed quo * * *.