Letter 10.8

If anyone thinks I have kept people's expectations, and the republic's hopes about my intentions, hanging too long in suspense, I believe I should first explain myself before I promise anyone anything about my next duty. I do not want to seem to have made up for a past fault. I want to announce, at the proper time, plans that have long belonged to a loyal mind. I knew that in such public anxiety and in such a disturbed condition of the state, an open profession of loyal feeling would be highly profitable. I saw that several men had gained great honors by doing exactly that. But fortune had put me in a position where I had to choose. If I promised too soon, I would create serious obstacles for myself in actually achieving anything. If I restrained myself, I would have greater opportunities to help. I chose the road that seemed more useful for the common safety than for my own praise. In the position I hold, with the life people know me to have lived and with the hopes I now have in my hands, who could endure anything shameful or desire anything destructive? Still, I needed some time, heavy labor, and considerable expense, so that what I promised to the republic and all loyal citizens I could also deliver in practice. I did not want to come to my country's aid naked, with nothing but goodwill, but with real resources. I had to strengthen my army. It had often been tempted by large rewards, and it needed to hope for moderate rewards from the republic rather than unlimited ones from a single man. I had to secure many communities that had been bound the previous year by gifts and grants, so that they would judge those promises empty and look for the same benefits from better authorities. I also had to draw in the goodwill of the other men who command neighboring provinces and armies, so that we might enter a partnership with many others to defend liberty, rather than share with a few men a victory fatal to the whole world. I also had to protect myself, increasing my army and multiplying my auxiliaries, so that when I openly set out my real feelings it would not be dangerous, even against some men's wishes, for everyone to know what I meant to defend. So I will never deny that, to bring these plans to completion, I both pretended unwillingly and concealed painfully. From my colleague's case I could see how dangerous a premature declaration could be from a loyal citizen who was not yet prepared. For this reason I gave my legate Gaius Furnius, a brave and energetic man, even more instructions orally than in writing, both so that they might reach you more secretly and so that I might be safer. I explained to him what was needed to strengthen the common safety and to arm myself properly. From this you can understand that the defense of the republic's highest interests has long been awake in me. Now, by the gods' kindness, I am better prepared in every respect, and I want people not merely to hope well of me, but to judge me with certainty. I have five legions under standards, bound very closely to the republic by their own loyalty and courage, and obedient to me because of my generosity. I have a province fully prepared by the unanimous agreement of all its communities, each competing eagerly in loyal service. I have as much cavalry and auxiliary strength as these peoples can raise for the defense of their own safety and liberty. As for me, I am ready in spirit either to defend my province, or to go wherever the republic calls, or to hand over my army, auxiliaries, and province. I would not even refuse to turn the whole force of the war upon myself, if by my own disaster I could secure my country's safety or delay its danger. If I promise these things only when everything has already been settled and the state is calm, I shall gladly lose praise for myself if the republic gains by it. But if I am joining a partnership in very real and very great dangers, I commend my policy to fair judges against the attacks of envious men. For myself, the safety of the republic is reward enough for my services. But those who followed my authority, and still more your honor, and could not be deceived by any hope or frightened by any fear, ought, I think, to be commended to your care.

DCCCXXX (Fam. X, 8) L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS TO THE MAGISTRATES AND SENATE GALLIA COMATA (23 MARCH) PLANCUS, imperator, consul-designate, greets the Consuls, praetors, tribunes of the plebs, the senate, the people and commons of Rome . In case anyone thinks that I have kept public expectation and the hopes of the state as to my disposition too long in suspense, I think I must offer an explanation to such a man before proceeding to promise anything to anybody as to my future services. For I do not wish to have the appearance of having made up for a previous error, but to be delivering in the fullness of time the long-cherished sentiments of a loyal heart. It did not escape me that at a time of such profound public anxiety and such great political confusion the profession of loyal sentiments is a most profitable thing to make, and I saw that a considerable number of people had secured high honours by that means. But since fortune had brought me to such a pass as to force me to choose between making premature promises, and thereby of my own act raising up formidable obstacles to the accomplishment of any useful service, or putting a restraint upon myself in that respect, and thereby having better opportunities of rendering aid, I chose a course better calculated to secure the public safety than my own reputation. For who is there that in the high position I at present enjoy, and after a life such as I think the world knows mine to have been, and with the prospects which I actually possess, could submit to anything degrading or set his heart upon anything likely to be mischievous? But I required a considerable time, heavy labours, and great expense in order finally to make good my promises to the Republic and all loyal citizens, and in order not to approach the task of aiding my country with no equipment except good intentions, but with the requisite resources. I had to secure the loyalty of my army, which had been often tampered with by the offer of great bounties, and to persuade it to look to the state for moderate rewards, rather than to a single person for unlimited ones. The loyalty also of numerous tribes had to be secured, which in the previous year had been laid under obligations by bounties and grants of compensations; and they had to be convinced that such rewards were shadowy, and that they must try to obtain the same privileges from more constitutional sources. I had also to sound the intentions of the other commanders of neighbouring provinces and armies, and induce them to join me in championing freedom in conjunction with the majority,' rather than that we should share with the minority a victory disastrous to the world at large. Moreover, I had to take precautions for my own safety by increasing my army and multiplying the number of my auxiliaries, in order that, while making no secret of my sentiments, I might yet incur no danger by its being publicly known, even though some objected, which side I meant to embrace. Accordingly, I shall never deny that, in order to arrive at the accomplishment of these designs, I have, contrary to my inclinations, pretended to feelings that I did not entertain, and with pain dissembled those that I did. For I saw from what had befallen my colleague the danger of a premature revelation of intentions by a loyal but unprepared citizen. On this account I have given my legate Gaius Furnius — a gallant and energetic officer-still fuller instructions by word of mouth than are contained in this despatch, to the end that they might reach you with greater secrecy, and I might remain in greater security. And I have instructed him as to what is required for strengthening the public safety and properly equipping myself. And from this it may be understood that the care of the defence of our country's highest interests has not for long past been suffered to sleep in my breast. By the blessing of heaven we are now in a better state of preparation in every particular, and we wish all the world not merely to have good hopes, but to feel certain, of us. I have five legions under colours, united by their own loyalty and excellence to the Republic with the most absolute fidelity, and at 'the same time devoted to me in response to my liberal treatment of them. I have a province in the best possible state from the unanimous consent of all its tribes, and inspired by the keenest emulation in its display of loyalty. My cavalry and auxiliary, forces are as numerous as the tribes in this country can raise in defence of their own safety and liberty. For myself I am fully prepared either to defend my province, or to go wheresoever the Republic calls me, or to hand over army, auxiliaries, and province. Or I would not even decline to bear the whole brunt of the war in my own person, provided that by my own disaster I might secure the safety of my country or delay its danger. I am making these promises when all difficulties have been already solved, and the political crisis is over, I shall rejoice in the benefit to my country, though I thereby lose my chance of earning reputation. But if I am to find myself involved in a share of dangers still at their most unabated height, I commend the defence of my policy to, impartial judges against the detraction of the envious. As for the reward of my own services, that is sufficiently secured in the safety of the state. Yet I think I ought to ask you to regard as commended to your consideration those who have followed my lead, and still more their duty to you, and have been proof against the deception of any promises or the terror of any threats.

VIII. Scr. in Gallia Transalpina mense Martio a.u.c. 711. PLANCUS IMP. COS. DESIG. S. D. COSS. PR. TR. PL. SENATUI POPULO PLEBIQUE ROMANAE. Si cui forte videor diutius et hominum exspectationem et spem rei publicae de mea voluntate tenuisse suspensam, huic prius excusandum me esse arbitror quam de insequenti officio quidquam ulli pollicendum; non enim praeteritam culpam videri volo redemisse, sed optimae mentis cogitata iampridem maturo tempore enuntiare. Non me praeteribat in tanta sollicitudine hominum et tam perturbato statu civitatis fructuosissimam esse professionem bonae voluntatis, magnosque honores ex ea re complures consecutos videbam; sed, cum in eum casum me fortuna demisisset, ut aut celeriter pollicendo magna mihi ipse ad proficiendum impedimenta opponerem aut, si in eo mihi temperavissem, maiores occasiones ad opitulandum haberem, expeditius iter communis salutis quam meae laudis esse volui. Nam quis in ea fortuna, quae mea est, et ab ea vita, quam in me cognitam hominibus arbitror, et cum ea spe, quam in manibus habeo, aut sordidum quidquam pati aut perniciosum concupiscere potest? Sed aliquantum nobis temporis et magni labores et multae impensae opus fuerunt, ut, quae rei publicae bonisque omnibus polliceremur, exitu praestaremus neque ad auxilium patriae nudi cum bona voluntate, sed cum facultatibus accederemus. Confirmandus erat exercitus nobis, magnis saepe praemiis sollicitatus, ut ab re publica potius moderata quam ab uno infinita speraret; confirmandae complures civitates, quae superiore anno largitionibus concessionibusque praemiorum erant obligatae, ut et illa vana putarent et eadem a melioribus auctoribus petenda existimarent; alliciendae etiam voluntates reliquorum, qui finitimis provinciis exercitibusque praesunt, ut potius cum pluribus societatem defendendae libertatis iniremus, quam cum paucioribus funestam orbi terrarum victoriam partiremur. Muniendi vero nosmet ipsi fuimus aucto exercitu auxiliisque multiplicatis, ut, cum praeferremus sensus aperte, tum, etiam invitis quibusdam, sciri, quid defensuri essemus, non esset periculosum. Ita numquam diffitebor multa me, ut ad effectum horum consiliorum pervenirem, et simulasse invitum et dissimulasse cum dolore, quod, praematura denuntiatio boni civis imparati quam periculosa esset, ex casu collegae videbam. Quo nomine etiam C. Furnio legato, viro forti atque strenuo, plura etiam verbo quam scriptura mandata dedimus, ut et tectius ad vos perferrentur et nos essemus tutiores, quibusque rebus et communem salutem muniri et nos armari conveniret praecepimus. Ex quo intelligi potest curam rei publicae summae defendundae iampridem apud nos excubare. Nunc, cum deum benignitate ab omni re sumus paratiores, non solum bene sperare de nobis homines, sed explorate iudicare volumus: legiones habeo quinque sub signis et sua fide virtuteque rei publicae coniunctissimas et nostra liberalitate nobis obsequentes, provinciam omnium civitatium consensu paratissimam et summa contentione ad officia certantem, equitatus auxiliorumque tantas copias, quantas hae gentes ad defendendam suam salutem libertatemque conficere possunt; ipse ita sum animo paratus vel provinciam tueri vel ire, quo res publica vocet, vel tradere exercitum, auxilia provinciamque, ut vel omnem impetum belli in me convertere non recusem, si modo meo casu aut confirmare patriae salutem aut periculum possim morari. Haec si iam expeditis omnibus rebus tranquilloque statu civitatis polliceor, in damno meae laudis rei publicae commodo laetabor; sin ad societatem integerrimorum et maximorum periculorum accedam, consilia mea aequis iudicibus ab obtrectatione invidorum defendenda commendo. Mihi quidem ipsi fructus meritorum meorum in rei publicae incolumitate satis magnus est paratus; eos vero, qui meam auctoritatem et multo magis vestram fidem secuti nec ulla spe decipi nec ullo metu terreri potuerunt, ut commendatos vobis habeatis, petendum videtur.