Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -58 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
On the Ides of January nothing was accomplished in the senate, because the day was largely consumed by a dispute between the consul Lentulus and the tribune of the plebs Caninius. On that day I too spoke at length, and I seemed especially to move the senate by recalling your goodwill toward that body. Accordingly, the next day it was decided that we should state our views briefly, for the senate's goodwill appeared to have been restored to us, which I had perceived both through speaking and through approaching and soliciting individual senators. And so, when the first motion of Bibulus had been announced—that three envoys should restore the king—the second of Hortensius, that you should restore him without an army—the third of Volcatius, that Pompey should restore him—a demand was made that Bibulus's motion be divided. Insofar as he spoke concerning the religious question, which indeed could no longer be resisted, the senate agreed with Bibulus; on the matter of three envoys, the majority went against him on every point. The next motion was that of Hortensius, when Lupus, tribune of the plebs, because he himself had introduced a motion concerning Pompey, began to insist that he ought to call a division before the consulars. His argument was vigorously shouted down by everyone, for it was both unfair and unprecedented. The consuls neither conceded nor strongly resisted; they wanted the day to be consumed—which is what happened—for they perceived that far more senators would support Hortensius's motion, even though they openly favored Volcatius. Many were being canvassed, and this not against the consuls' wishes, for they had wanted Bibulus's motion to prevail. With this controversy dragged out until nightfall, the senate was dismissed. That day I happened to dine with Pompey, and having found a more favorable moment than ever before—since, after your departure, that day had been our most honorable in the senate—I spoke with him in such a way that I seemed to draw the man's mind away from every other consideration toward defending your dignity. When I listen to the man himself, I entirely acquit him of any suspicion of self-interest; but when I see his close associates of every rank, I perceive what is now obvious to all: that this whole affair has long since been corrupted by certain men, not without the king himself and his advisers being willing. I have written this on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of February, before dawn; the senate was to meet on that day. In the senate I shall, as I hope, maintain my dignity, so far as is possible amid such great treachery and injustice among men. As regards the popular course, I seem to have achieved this much: that nothing can be transacted with the people either with the auspices intact, or with the laws intact, or indeed without violence. On these matters, the day before I wrote this, a most weighty decree of the senate was passed, which, although Cato and Caninius vetoed it, was nevertheless recorded in writing. I believe it has been sent to you. On all other matters, whatever is transacted, I shall write to you, and I shall see to it with all my care, effort, diligence, and influence that things are conducted as rightly as possible.
II. Scr. Romae a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Idibus Ianuariis in senatu nihil est confectum, propterea quod dies magna ex parte consumptus est altercatione Lentuli consulis et Caninii tribuni pl. Eo die nos quoque multa verba fecimus maximeque visi sumus senatum commemoratione tuae voluntatis erga illum ordinem permovere. Itaque postridie placuit ut breviter sententiam diceremus; videbatur enim reconciliata nobis voluntas esse senatus, quod cum dicendo, tum singulis appellandis rogandisque perspexeram; itaque, cum sententia prima Bibuli pronuntiata esset, ut tres legati regem reducerent, secunda Hortensii, ut tu sine exercitu reduceres, tertia Volcatii, ut Pompeius reduceret, postulatum est, ut Bibuli sententia divideretur: quatenus de religione dicebat, cui quidem rei iam obsisti non poterat, Bibulo assensum est; de tribus legatis frequentes ierunt in alia omnia. Proxima erat Hortensii sententia, cum Lupus, tribunus pl., quod ipse de Pompeio retulisset, intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consulares. eius orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est, erat enim et iniqua et nova; consules neque concedebant neque valde repugnabant, diem consumi volebant—id quod est factum—, perspiciebant enim in Hortensii sententiam multis partibus plures ituros, quamquam aperte Volcatio assentirentur; multi rogabantur, atque id ipsum consulibus non invitis, nam ei Bibuli sententiam valere cupierant. Hac controversia usque ad noctem ducta senatus dimissus est. Ego eo die casu apud Pompeium coenavi nactusque tempus hoc magis idoneum quam umquam antea, quod post tuum discessum is dies honestissimus nobis fuerat in senatu, ita sum cum illo locutus, ut mihi viderer animum hominis ab omni alia cogitatione ad tuam dignitatem tuendam traducere: quem ego ipsum cum audio, prorsus eum libero omni suspicione cupiditatis; cum autem eius familiares omnium ordinum video, perspicio, id quod iam omnibus est apertum, totam rem istam iam pridem a certis hominibus non invito rege ipso consiliariisque eius esse corruptam. Haec scripsi a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias ante lucem: eo die senatus erat futurus. Nos in senatu, quemadmodum spero, dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tanta hominum perfidia et iniquitate, retinebimus; quod ad popularem rationem attinet, hoc videmur esse consecuti, ut ne quid agi cum populo aut salvis auspiciis aut salvis legibus aut denique sine vi posset. De his rebus pridie, quam haec scripsi, senatus auctoritas gravissima intercessit, cui cum Cato et Caninius intercessissent, tamen est perscripta; eam ad te missam esse arbitror: de ceteris rebus, quidquid erit actum, scribam ad te et, ut quam rectissime agatur, omni mea cura opera, diligentia gratia providebo.
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On the Ides of January nothing was accomplished in the senate, because the day was largely consumed by a dispute between the consul Lentulus and the tribune of the plebs Caninius. On that day I too spoke at length, and I seemed especially to move the senate by recalling your goodwill toward that body. Accordingly, the next day it was decided that we should state our views briefly, for the senate's goodwill appeared to have been restored to us, which I had perceived both through speaking and through approaching and soliciting individual senators. And so, when the first motion of Bibulus had been announced—that three envoys should restore the king—the second of Hortensius, that you should restore him without an army—the third of Volcatius, that Pompey should restore him—a demand was made that Bibulus's motion be divided. Insofar as he spoke concerning the religious question, which indeed could no longer be resisted, the senate agreed with Bibulus; on the matter of three envoys, the majority went against him on every point. The next motion was that of Hortensius, when Lupus, tribune of the plebs, because he himself had introduced a motion concerning Pompey, began to insist that he ought to call a division before the consulars. His argument was vigorously shouted down by everyone, for it was both unfair and unprecedented. The consuls neither conceded nor strongly resisted; they wanted the day to be consumed—which is what happened—for they perceived that far more senators would support Hortensius's motion, even though they openly favored Volcatius. Many were being canvassed, and this not against the consuls' wishes, for they had wanted Bibulus's motion to prevail. With this controversy dragged out until nightfall, the senate was dismissed. That day I happened to dine with Pompey, and having found a more favorable moment than ever before—since, after your departure, that day had been our most honorable in the senate—I spoke with him in such a way that I seemed to draw the man's mind away from every other consideration toward defending your dignity. When I listen to the man himself, I entirely acquit him of any suspicion of self-interest; but when I see his close associates of every rank, I perceive what is now obvious to all: that this whole affair has long since been corrupted by certain men, not without the king himself and his advisers being willing. I have written this on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of February, before dawn; the senate was to meet on that day. In the senate I shall, as I hope, maintain my dignity, so far as is possible amid such great treachery and injustice among men. As regards the popular course, I seem to have achieved this much: that nothing can be transacted with the people either with the auspices intact, or with the laws intact, or indeed without violence. On these matters, the day before I wrote this, a most weighty decree of the senate was passed, which, although Cato and Caninius vetoed it, was nevertheless recorded in writing. I believe it has been sent to you. On all other matters, whatever is transacted, I shall write to you, and I shall see to it with all my care, effort, diligence, and influence that things are conducted as rightly as possible.
Latin / Greek Original
II. Scr. Romae a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Idibus Ianuariis in senatu nihil est confectum, propterea quod dies magna ex parte consumptus est altercatione Lentuli consulis et Caninii tribuni pl. Eo die nos quoque multa verba fecimus maximeque visi sumus senatum commemoratione tuae voluntatis erga illum ordinem permovere. Itaque postridie placuit ut breviter sententiam diceremus; videbatur enim reconciliata nobis voluntas esse senatus, quod cum dicendo, tum singulis appellandis rogandisque perspexeram; itaque, cum sententia prima Bibuli pronuntiata esset, ut tres legati regem reducerent, secunda Hortensii, ut tu sine exercitu reduceres, tertia Volcatii, ut Pompeius reduceret, postulatum est, ut Bibuli sententia divideretur: quatenus de religione dicebat, cui quidem rei iam obsisti non poterat, Bibulo assensum est; de tribus legatis frequentes ierunt in alia omnia. Proxima erat Hortensii sententia, cum Lupus, tribunus pl., quod ipse de Pompeio retulisset, intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consulares. eius orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est, erat enim et iniqua et nova; consules neque concedebant neque valde repugnabant, diem consumi volebant—id quod est factum—, perspiciebant enim in Hortensii sententiam multis partibus plures ituros, quamquam aperte Volcatio assentirentur; multi rogabantur, atque id ipsum consulibus non invitis, nam ei Bibuli sententiam valere cupierant. Hac controversia usque ad noctem ducta senatus dimissus est. Ego eo die casu apud Pompeium coenavi nactusque tempus hoc magis idoneum quam umquam antea, quod post tuum discessum is dies honestissimus nobis fuerat in senatu, ita sum cum illo locutus, ut mihi viderer animum hominis ab omni alia cogitatione ad tuam dignitatem tuendam traducere: quem ego ipsum cum audio, prorsus eum libero omni suspicione cupiditatis; cum autem eius familiares omnium ordinum video, perspicio, id quod iam omnibus est apertum, totam rem istam iam pridem a certis hominibus non invito rege ipso consiliariisque eius esse corruptam. Haec scripsi a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias ante lucem: eo die senatus erat futurus. Nos in senatu, quemadmodum spero, dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tanta hominum perfidia et iniquitate, retinebimus; quod ad popularem rationem attinet, hoc videmur esse consecuti, ut ne quid agi cum populo aut salvis auspiciis aut salvis legibus aut denique sine vi posset. De his rebus pridie, quam haec scripsi, senatus auctoritas gravissima intercessit, cui cum Cato et Caninius intercessissent, tamen est perscripta; eam ad te missam esse arbitror: de ceteris rebus, quidquid erit actum, scribam ad te et, ut quam rectissime agatur, omni mea cura opera, diligentia gratia providebo.