Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Cassius Longinus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Syria|AI-assisted
Cicero to Cassius, greetings.
What the state of affairs was at the moment I handed over this letter, you will be able to learn from Gaius Titius Strabo, a man of good character and most excellent in his sentiments toward the Republic; for why should I call him "most devoted to you," when he has left his home and his fortunes behind and set out to join you in preference to anyone else? And so I do not even commend him to you: his very arrival before you will commend him sufficiently. I should like you to judge thus, and to convince yourself, that the entire refuge of loyal men rests upon you and Brutus [Marcus Junius Brutus], if—which I would not wish—any adversity should befall us. The situation, as I was writing this, had been brought to the most extreme crisis; for Brutus [here Decimus Brutus] was now scarcely holding out at Mutina [modern Modena]: if he is preserved, we have won; but if not—may the gods avert that omen!—the whole course of everyone runs toward you. Accordingly, see to it that you possess as much spirit, and as much preparation, as is needed for the recovery of the Republic in its entirety. Farewell.
The political situation at the time of my writing these lines you will learn from Gaius Titius Strabo, a man of character and of the most excellent political sentiments : I need not add " and very desirous of your company," for he has left the country to join you in preference to everyone else, abandoning house and fortune. His own arrival will be a sufficient recom- mendation of him in your eyes. I would have you realize the fact and have no doubt about it, that the only chance of finding refuge left for loyalists depends on you and Brutus, in the case — which I hope may not occur— of any reverse being sustained. At the moment of my writing the decisive moment has arrived. For Decimus Brutus is at his last gasp at Mutina : if he has been relieved, the vic- tory is ours. But if not — which God forbid ! — we shall all of us hurry with one accord to you. Therefore be prepared in courage and material forces for the great task of recover- ing the constitution in its full completeness. Good-bye. F xii, i ; brut, ii, i TO MARCUS IUNIUS BRUTUS 203
VI. Scr. Romae mense Aprili (ante XVI. Kal. Maias) a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Qui status rerum fuerit tum, quum has litteras dedi, scire poteris ex C. Titio Strabone, viro bono et optime de re publica sentiente; nam quid dicam "cupidissimo tui," qui domo et fortunis relictis ad te potissimum profectus sit? itaque eum tibi ne commendo quidem; adventus ipsius ad te satis eum commendabit. Tu velim sic existimes tibique persuadeas, omne perfugium bonorum in te et Bruto esse positum, si, quod nolim, adversi quid evenerit. Res, quum haec scribebam, erat in extremum adducta discrimen; Brutus enim Mutinae vix iam sustinebat: qui si conservatus erit, vicimus; sin—quod di omen avertant!—, omnis omnium cursus est ad vos. Proinde fac animum tantum habeas tantumque apparatum, quanto opus est ad universam rem publicam recuperandam. Vale.
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Cicero to Cassius, greetings.
What the state of affairs was at the moment I handed over this letter, you will be able to learn from Gaius Titius Strabo, a man of good character and most excellent in his sentiments toward the Republic; for why should I call him "most devoted to you," when he has left his home and his fortunes behind and set out to join you in preference to anyone else? And so I do not even commend him to you: his very arrival before you will commend him sufficiently. I should like you to judge thus, and to convince yourself, that the entire refuge of loyal men rests upon you and Brutus [Marcus Junius Brutus], if—which I would not wish—any adversity should befall us. The situation, as I was writing this, had been brought to the most extreme crisis; for Brutus [here Decimus Brutus] was now scarcely holding out at Mutina [modern Modena]: if he is preserved, we have won; but if not—may the gods avert that omen!—the whole course of everyone runs toward you. Accordingly, see to it that you possess as much spirit, and as much preparation, as is needed for the recovery of the Republic in its entirety. Farewell.
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
VI. Scr. Romae mense Aprili (ante XVI. Kal. Maias) a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Qui status rerum fuerit tum, quum has litteras dedi, scire poteris ex C. Titio Strabone, viro bono et optime de re publica sentiente; nam quid dicam "cupidissimo tui," qui domo et fortunis relictis ad te potissimum profectus sit? itaque eum tibi ne commendo quidem; adventus ipsius ad te satis eum commendabit. Tu velim sic existimes tibique persuadeas, omne perfugium bonorum in te et Bruto esse positum, si, quod nolim, adversi quid evenerit. Res, quum haec scribebam, erat in extremum adducta discrimen; Brutus enim Mutinae vix iam sustinebat: qui si conservatus erit, vicimus; sin—quod di omen avertant!—, omnis omnium cursus est ad vos. Proinde fac animum tantum habeas tantumque apparatum, quanto opus est ad universam rem publicam recuperandam. Vale.