Letter 10.6

What our friend Furnius said about your feelings toward the republic was extremely welcome to the Senate and warmly approved by the Roman people. But the letter of yours that was read in the Senate did not seem to agree with Furnius' report. You were urging peace while your distinguished colleague was actually being besieged by the most infamous outlaws. Such men ought to seek peace after laying down their arms; if they demand it while fighting, peace must be won by victory, not by bargain. How your letter about peace, and Lepidus' too, was received you will learn from your excellent brother and from Gaius Furnius. Still, my affection for you has made me anxious that, although you do not lack insight yourself and always have your brother's loyalty and judgment, as well as Furnius', at your side, some advice should also reach you under the authority of my name, given the many ties between us. Believe me, then, my dear Plancus: all the official distinctions you have gained so far, honorable as they are, will bring you only empty titles without the true marks of dignity unless you join yourself to the liberty of the Roman people and the authority of the Senate. At last, I beg you, separate yourself from those to whom you were bound not by your own deliberate judgment but by the chains of circumstance. In the confusion of public affairs, many men have received the title of consular. Not one of them is regarded as truly consular unless he has shown a consular spirit toward the state. That is the kind of man you must be: first, by withdrawing from association with disloyal citizens entirely unlike yourself; next, by offering yourself as supporter, champion, and leader of the Senate and of all loyal citizens; and finally, by resolving that peace does not consist merely in laying weapons aside, but in removing the fear of weapons and slavery. If that is your policy and those are your feelings, you will not merely be a consul and a consular; you will be a great consul and a great consular. If not, those splendid titles will contain not dignity but the deepest disgrace. Out of my warm feeling for you I write with unusual severity. You will find these words true if you test them in practice, the only test worthy of you.

DCCCXXIII (Fam. X, 6) TO L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS (IN GAUL) ROME, 20 MARCH: WHAT our friend Furnius reported as to your disposition towards the Republic was highly pleasing to the senate and most cordially approved of by the Roman people. But your despatch, which was read in the senate, did not seem at all to harmonize with the verbal report of Furnius . For you are for peace, though that illustrious man your colleague is being actually besieged by the most abandoned outlaws, who ought to beg for peace after laying down their arms; or if they demand it with arms in their hands, we must attain that peace by victory, not by making terms. But how your despatch about peace, or that of Lepidus , has been received you will be able to learn from that honourable man your brother, and from Gaius Furnius . However, my affection for you has made me anxious that, although you are not yourself wanting in sagacity, and although you have the goodwill and loyal wisdom of your brother and Furnius ever at your side, yet, Considering the many ties between us, some injunction should reach you with the cachet of my authority also. Well then believe me, my dear Plancus , that all the steps in official promotion which you have hitherto attained — and they are of the most honourable nature-will convey nothing but the empty titles of office without the true marks of dignity, unless you throw in your lot with the liberty of the Roman people and the authority of the senate. Separate yourself, I beseech you, at length from those to whom you have been bound, not by your own deliberate judgment, but by the chains of circumstance. Many in the confusion of public affairs have received the title of consulars, not one of whom is regarded as really a consular, unless he has shown the true spirit of a consular towards the state. This is the sort of man that you are bound to be, first in withdrawing yourself from association with disloyal citizens extremely unlike yourself; next in giving your services as supporter, champion, leader to the senate and the whole loyalist party; and lastly in making up your mind that peace does not consist in merely laying aside arms, but in dispelling the fear of arms and slavery. If this is your policy and these your sentiments, you will not only be a consul and a consular, but also a great consul and a great consular. If not, in these splendid titles of office there will not only be no dignity, there will be the extremity of dishonour. Under the influence of my warm feeling for you I write these words with somewhat unusual gravity. But you will find them to be true, if you put them to the test of practice — the only method worthy of you. 20 March.

VI. Scr. Romae XIII. Kal. Apriles a.u.c. 711. CICERO PLANCO. Quae locutus est Furnius noster de animo tuo in rem publicam, ea gratissima fuerunt senatui, populo Romano probatissima; quae autem recitatae litterae sunt in senatu, nequaquam consentire cum Furnii oratione visae sunt; pacis enim auctor eras, cum collega tuus, vir clarissimus, a foedissimis latronibus obsideretur, qui aut positis armis pacem petere debent aut, si pugnantes eam postulant, victoria pax, non pactione parienda est. Sed, de pace litterae vel Lepidi vel tuae quam in partem acceptae sint, ex viro optimo, fratre tuo, et ex C. Furnio poteris cognoscere. Me autem impulit tui caritas, ut, quamquam nec tibi ipsi consilium deesset et fratris Furniique benevolentia fidelisque prudentia tibi praesto esset futura, vellem tamen meae quoque auctoritatis pro plurimis nostris necessitudinibus praeceptum ad te aliquod pervenire. Crede igitur mihi, Plance, omnes, quos adhuc gradus dignitatis consecutus sis—es autem adeptus amplissimos—, eos honorum vocabula habituros, non dignitatis insignia, nisi te cum libertate populi Romani et cum senatus auctoritate coniunxeris. Seiunge te, quaeso, aliquando ab iis, cum quibus te non tuum iudicium, sed temporum vincla coniunxerunt. Complures in perturbatione rei publicae consulares dicti, quorum nemo consularis habitus est nisi qui animo exstitit in rem publicam consulari. Talem igitur te esse oportet, qui primum te ab impiorum civium tui dissimillimorum societate seiungas, deinde te senatui bonisque omnibus auctorem, principem, ducem praebeas, postremo ut pacem esse iudices non in armis positis, sed in abiecto armorum et servitutis metu. Haec si et ages et senties, tum eris non modo consul et consularis, sed magnus etiam consul et consularis; sin aliter, tum in istis amplissimis nominibus honorum non modo dignitas nulla erit, sed erit summa deformitas. Haec impulsus benevolentia scripsi paullo severius, quae tu in experiendo ea ratione, quae te digna est, vera esse cognosces. D. XIII. Kal. Apr.