Lucius Munatius Plancus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Gaul|To Rome|AI-assisted
After writing my last letter, I thought it mattered to the republic that you should know what happened next. My diligence has, I hope, borne fruit both for me and for the republic. Through constant messages I worked on Lepidus: he should lay aside every dispute, restore friendly relations with me, and join in a common plan to help the republic. He should think more of himself, his children, and the city than of one ruined and worthless outlaw. If he did this, I told him, he could make full use of my cooperation in every matter.
I made progress. Through Laterensis, our intermediary, Lepidus gave me his word that if he could not keep Antony out of his province, he would pursue him by war. He asked me to come and join forces with him, all the more because Antony was said to be strong in cavalry, while Lepidus had not even a moderate cavalry force. Indeed, from the small number he had, ten of the best horsemen had come over to me only a few days earlier.
Once I learned this, I did not hesitate. I thought Lepidus should be helped while he was running in the course of sound policy. I saw what my arrival could accomplish: with my cavalry I could pursue Antony and overwhelm his cavalry, or, by the presence of my army, I could correct and restrain that part of Lepidus' army which had been corrupted and alienated from the republic.
So on May 12 I built a bridge in one day over the Isara, a very large river on the borders of the Allobroges, and led my army across. When I was told that Lucius Antonius had been sent ahead with cavalry and cohorts and had reached Forum Julii, I sent my brother on May 11 with four thousand cavalry to meet him. I myself will follow by forced marches with four light-equipped legions and the rest of the cavalry.
If even moderate good fortune helps the republic, we shall find here the end both of these ruined men's audacity and of our own anxiety. But if that outlaw learns of our approach in advance and starts back into Italy, it will be Brutus' duty to meet him; I know Brutus will lack neither judgment nor courage. Still, if that happens, I will send my brother after him with the cavalry to defend Italy from devastation. Take care of your health, and return my affection.
DCCCLVI (Fam. X, 15) L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) CULARO [later Gratianopolis , Grenoble], 13 MAY: What has happened since my last letter was written I thought it for the public service that you should know. My persevering attention has, I hope, borne some fruit both for myself and the Republic. For by a continual interchange of messages I urged Lepidus , laying aside all controversies and admitting a reconciliation between us, to join me in coming to the rescue of the Republic; to have regard for himself; his children, and the city, as more precious than one abandoned and humiliated outlaw: and I promised him that he should find me thoroughly at his command in every undertaking if he did so. I have made some way with him; and accordingly he has by our intermediary Laterensis pledged his word to me that he will make war on Antony , if he fails to prevent his entrance into his province. He has asked me to join him and combine our forces. He is the more urgent on that point because Antony for his part is said to be strong in cavalry, while Lepidus himself is not even moderately equipped in that respect. For even from the small number that he did possess, ten of the best a few days ago had deserted to my camp. When I was informed of these facts I did not delay: I thought that Lepidus was to be encouraged in the path of loyalty. I saw what my arrival was likely to effect, either because I could, as I reckoned, pursue and crush his cavalry with mine, or because I might, I thought, by bringing my army up, reform and put pressure upon that part of Lepidus 's army which was disaffected and disloyal to the state. Accordingly, having made a bridge in a single day across the Isara — a very large river which bounds the territory of the Allobroges — I got my army across on the 12th of May. Having, however, received information that Lucius Antonius with cavalry and some cohorts had been sent in advance and had arrived at Forum Iulii , I sent my brother with 4,000 cavalry on the 13th of May to meet him. I am going to follow him with four legions in fighting order and the rest of my cavalry as quickly as I can march. If the good fortune of the Republic aids us even to a moderate degree, we shall here find an end to the presumption of a set of ruffians and to our own anxiety. But if that outlaw gets timely warning of our approach and retreats into Italy , it will be the business of Brutus to meet him, who will not, I know, lack either strategy or courage. However, if that happens, I shall send my brother with the cavalry in pursuit of him, to protect Italy from being looted. Take care of your health and return my affection.
XV. Scr. in Allobrogibus mense Maio (pr. aut III. Id.) a.u.c. 711. PLANCUS CICERONI.
His litteris scriptis, quae postea accidissent, scire te ad rem publicam putavi pertinere. Sedulitas mea, ut spero, et mihi et rei publicae tulit fructum: namque assiduis internuntiis cum Lepido egi, ut omissa omni contentione reconcilataque voluntate nostra communi consilio rei publicae succurreret, se, liberos urbemque pluris quam unum perditum abiectumque latronem putaret obsequioque meo, si ita faceret, ad omnes res abuteretur. Profeci: itaque per Laterensem internuntium fidem mihi dedit se Antonium, si prohibere provincia sua non potuisset, bello persecuturum, me, ut venirem copiasque coniungerem, rogavit, eoque magis, quod et Antonius ab equitatu firmus esse dicebatur et Lepidus ne mediocrem quidem equitatum habebat; nam etiam ex paucitate eius non multis ante diebus decem, qui optimi fuerant, ad me transierunt. Quibus rebus ego cognitis cunctatus non sum: in cursu bonorum consiliorum Lepidum adiuvandum putavi. Adventus meus quid profecturus esset, vidi, vel quod equitatu meo persequi Antonium atque opprimere equitatum eius possem, vel quod exercitus Lepidi eam partem, quae corrupta est et ab re publica alienata, et corrigere et coercere praesentia mei exercitus possem. Itaque in Isara, flumine maximo, quod in finibus est Allobrogum, ponte uno die facto exercitum a. d. IIII. Idus Maias traduxi. Cum vero mihi nuntiatum esset L. Antonium praemissum cum equitibus et cohortibus ad Forum Iulii venisse, fratrem cum equitum quattuor milibus, ut occurreret ei, misi a. d. V. Idus Maias; ipse maximis itineribus cum quattuor legionibus expeditis et reliquo equitatu subsequar. Si nos mediocris modo fortuna rei publicae adiuverit, et audaciae perditorum et nostrae sollicitudinis hic finem reperiemus; quod si latro praecognito nostro adventu rursus in Italiam se recipere coeperit, Bruti erit officium occurrere ei, cui scio nec consilium nec animum defuturum; ego tamen, si id acciderit, fratrem cum equitatu mittam, qui sequatur, ut Italiam a vastatione defendat. Fac valeas meque mutuo diligas.
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After writing my last letter, I thought it mattered to the republic that you should know what happened next. My diligence has, I hope, borne fruit both for me and for the republic. Through constant messages I worked on Lepidus: he should lay aside every dispute, restore friendly relations with me, and join in a common plan to help the republic. He should think more of himself, his children, and the city than of one ruined and worthless outlaw. If he did this, I told him, he could make full use of my cooperation in every matter.
I made progress. Through Laterensis, our intermediary, Lepidus gave me his word that if he could not keep Antony out of his province, he would pursue him by war. He asked me to come and join forces with him, all the more because Antony was said to be strong in cavalry, while Lepidus had not even a moderate cavalry force. Indeed, from the small number he had, ten of the best horsemen had come over to me only a few days earlier.
Once I learned this, I did not hesitate. I thought Lepidus should be helped while he was running in the course of sound policy. I saw what my arrival could accomplish: with my cavalry I could pursue Antony and overwhelm his cavalry, or, by the presence of my army, I could correct and restrain that part of Lepidus' army which had been corrupted and alienated from the republic.
So on May 12 I built a bridge in one day over the Isara, a very large river on the borders of the Allobroges, and led my army across. When I was told that Lucius Antonius had been sent ahead with cavalry and cohorts and had reached Forum Julii, I sent my brother on May 11 with four thousand cavalry to meet him. I myself will follow by forced marches with four light-equipped legions and the rest of the cavalry.
If even moderate good fortune helps the republic, we shall find here the end both of these ruined men's audacity and of our own anxiety. But if that outlaw learns of our approach in advance and starts back into Italy, it will be Brutus' duty to meet him; I know Brutus will lack neither judgment nor courage. Still, if that happens, I will send my brother after him with the cavalry to defend Italy from devastation. Take care of your health, and return my affection.
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
XV. Scr. in Allobrogibus mense Maio (pr. aut III. Id.) a.u.c. 711. PLANCUS CICERONI.
His litteris scriptis, quae postea accidissent, scire te ad rem publicam putavi pertinere. Sedulitas mea, ut spero, et mihi et rei publicae tulit fructum: namque assiduis internuntiis cum Lepido egi, ut omissa omni contentione reconcilataque voluntate nostra communi consilio rei publicae succurreret, se, liberos urbemque pluris quam unum perditum abiectumque latronem putaret obsequioque meo, si ita faceret, ad omnes res abuteretur. Profeci: itaque per Laterensem internuntium fidem mihi dedit se Antonium, si prohibere provincia sua non potuisset, bello persecuturum, me, ut venirem copiasque coniungerem, rogavit, eoque magis, quod et Antonius ab equitatu firmus esse dicebatur et Lepidus ne mediocrem quidem equitatum habebat; nam etiam ex paucitate eius non multis ante diebus decem, qui optimi fuerant, ad me transierunt. Quibus rebus ego cognitis cunctatus non sum: in cursu bonorum consiliorum Lepidum adiuvandum putavi. Adventus meus quid profecturus esset, vidi, vel quod equitatu meo persequi Antonium atque opprimere equitatum eius possem, vel quod exercitus Lepidi eam partem, quae corrupta est et ab re publica alienata, et corrigere et coercere praesentia mei exercitus possem. Itaque in Isara, flumine maximo, quod in finibus est Allobrogum, ponte uno die facto exercitum a. d. IIII. Idus Maias traduxi. Cum vero mihi nuntiatum esset L. Antonium praemissum cum equitibus et cohortibus ad Forum Iulii venisse, fratrem cum equitum quattuor milibus, ut occurreret ei, misi a. d. V. Idus Maias; ipse maximis itineribus cum quattuor legionibus expeditis et reliquo equitatu subsequar. Si nos mediocris modo fortuna rei publicae adiuverit, et audaciae perditorum et nostrae sollicitudinis hic finem reperiemus; quod si latro praecognito nostro adventu rursus in Italiam se recipere coeperit, Bruti erit officium occurrere ei, cui scio nec consilium nec animum defuturum; ego tamen, si id acciderit, fratrem cum equitatu mittam, qui sequatur, ut Italiam a vastatione defendat. Fac valeas meque mutuo diligas.