Letter 11.18

From the instructions you gave Galba and Volumnius for the Senate, we had some idea what danger you feared. Even so, those instructions seemed more timid than was worthy of your victory and the Roman people's. The Senate, my dear Brutus, is brave, and it has brave leaders. It was therefore hurt to be judged timid and spiritless by you, whom it judges the bravest of all men. When you were shut in, while Antony was flourishing, everyone placed the greatest hope in your courage. Who, then, could fear anything after Antony was beaten and you were free? Nor were we afraid of Lepidus. Who could think him so mad that, after saying in the middle of a terrible war that he wanted peace, he would declare war on the republic once the peace everyone longed for had been won? I do not doubt that you look further ahead than we do. Still, so soon after the thanksgiving we offered in your name at every temple of the gods, this renewal of fear caused great distress. So my own wish, as I hope, is that Antony has been utterly cast down and broken. But if by chance he has gathered some strength, he will learn that the Senate has not lost its judgment, the Roman people has not lost its courage, and the republic, while you live, has not lost a general. May 19.

DCCCLXVII (Fam. XI, 18) TO DECIMUS BRUTUS (NEAR VERCELLAE) ROME, 19 MAY: THOUGH from the message which you gave to Galba and Volumnius for the senate I have a good guess as to what you thought was the danger ahead, yet the message seemed to me to be less confident than suited the victory gained by yourself and the Roman people. The senate, however, my dear Brutus , is resolute and has resolute leaders. It was therefore somewhat hurt that it should be considered timid and spiritless by you, whom it considered the bravest of men. For considering that even when you were invested everybody retained the most confident hope in your valour, though Antony was in full vigour, who could be afraid of anything after he had been defeated and you released? Nor, indeed, are we afraid of Lepidus . For who in the world could expect him to be such a madman as, after saying in the midst of a most formidable war that he desired peace, to proclaim war against the Republic after the ardently desired peace had been obtained? And I do not doubt your seeing farther ahead than we can. But nevertheless a renewal of alarm so soon after the thanksgiving which we offered at all the temples in your name does cause bitter disappointment. Therefore, for my part, my wish is — as it is my hope — that Antony has been entirely ruined and crushed: but if he has by chance collected some forces, he shall feel that the senate is not without wisdom, nor the Roman people without valour, nor the Republic — as long as you are alive — without a general. 19 May.

XVIII. Scr. Romae XIIII. Kal. Iun. a.u.c. 711. M. CICERO S. D. D. BRUTO IMP. COS. DESIG. Etsi ex mandatis, quae Galbae Volumnioque ad senatum dedisti, quid timendum putares, suspicabamur, tamen timidiora mandata videbantur, quam erat dignum tua populique Romani victoria. Senatus autem, mi Brute, fortis est et habet fortes duces: itaque moleste ferebat se a te, quem omnium quicumque fuissent, fortissimum iudicaret, timidum atque ignavum iudicari. Etenim, cum te incluso spem maximam omnes habuissent in tua virtute florente Antonio, quis erat, qui quidquam timeret profligato illo, te liberato? Nec vero Lepidum timebamus; quis enim esset, qui illum tam furiosum arbitraretur, ut, qui in maximo bello pacem velle se dixisset, is in optatissima pace bellum rei publicae indiceret? Nec dubito, quin tu plus provideas; sed tamen tam recenti gratulatione, quam tuo nomine ad omnia deorum templa fecimus, renovatio timoris magnam molestiam afferebat. Quare velim equidem, id quod spero, ut plane abiectus et fractus sit Antonius; sin aliquid virium forte collegerit, sentiet nec senatui consilium nec populo Romano virtutem deesse nec rei publicae te vivo imperatorem. XIIII. Kal. Iun.