Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Toranius|c. 48 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
Although, when I wrote this to you, the end of this most calamitous war seemed either to be approaching or something already to have been done and finished, yet every day I kept recalling that you alone in so great an army had agreed with me, and I with you, and that we alone had seen how much evil there was in that war, in which, with the hope of peace shut out, victory itself would be most bitter -- bringing either destruction if you were defeated, or slavery if you won. And so I, whom those brave and wise men, the Domitii and the Lentuli, used to call timid -- and I was indeed; for I feared that those things which came to pass would happen -- the same man now fears nothing and is prepared for every outcome. When something could be guarded against, then I grieved that it was neglected; but now, with everything overturned and nothing able to be accomplished by counsel, the one course seems to be to bear with moderation whatever happens, especially since death is the final end of all things, and I am conscious that I looked after the dignity of the republic as long as it was permitted, and when that was lost, wished to preserve my life. I have written these things not to speak about myself, but so that you, who were most closely joined with me both in opinion and in purpose, might reflect on the same things. For it is a great consolation, when you recall, even if things have turned out otherwise, that you nevertheless thought and judged rightly. And would that we might sometime be permitted to enjoy some condition of the republic and share with each other the anxieties we endured when we were thought timid because we said those things would happen which have happened. As for your affairs, I assure you there is nothing for you to fear except the universal destruction of the republic. As for me, I would have you judge that, as far as I am able, I shall always stand ready with the greatest zeal for your interests, your safety, and that of your children. Farewell.
DLXXII (Fam. VI, 21) TO C. TORANIUS (IN CORCYRA) (ROME? MARCH?) Although at the moment of my writing this letter, the end of this most disastrous war appears to be approaching, and already some decisive blow to have been struck, yet I daily mention that you were the one man in that immense army who agreed with me and I with you, and that we two alone saw what terrible evil was involved in that war. For when all hope of peace was shut out, victory itself was likely to be calamitous in its results, since it meant death if you were on the losing, and slavery if on the winning, side. Accordingly I, whom at the time those brave and wise men the Domitii and Lentuli declared to be frightened — and I was so without doubt, for I feared that what actually happened would occur — am now in my turn afraid of nothing, and am prepared for anything that may happen. So long as any precaution seemed possible, I was grieved at its being neglected. Now, however, when all is ruined, when no good can be done by wise policy, the only plan seems to be to bear with resignation whatever occurs: especially as death ends all, and my conscience tells me that, as long as I was able to do so, I consulted for the dignity of the republic and, when that was lost, determined to save its existence. I have written thus much, not with the object of talking about myself, but that you, who have been most closely united with me in sentiment and purpose, might entertain the same thoughts: for it is a great consolation to remember, even when there has been a disaster, that your presentiments were after all right and true. And I only hope we may eventually enjoy some form of constitution, and may live to compare the anxieties which we endured at the time when we were looked upon as timid, because we said that what has actually happened would do so. For your own fortunes I assure you that you have nothing to fear beyond the destruction affecting the republic in general; and of me I would have you think as of one who, to the best of his ability, will ever be ready with the utmost zeal to support your safety and that of your children. Good-bye.
XXI. Scr. Asturae mense Aprili a.u.c. 709. CICERO TORANIO
Etsi, cum haec ad te scribebam, aut appropinquare exitus huius calamitosissimi belli aut iam aliquid actum et confectum videbatur, tamen quotidie commemorabam te unum in tanto exercitu mihi fuisse assensorem et me tibi solosque nos vidisse, quantum esset in eo bello mali, in quo spe pacis exclusa ipsa victoria futura esset acerbissima, quae aut interitum allatura esset, si victus esses, aut, si vicisses, servitutem. Itaque ego, quem tum fortes illi viri et sapientes, Domitii et Lentuli, timidum esse dicebant—eram plane; timebam enim, ne evenirent ea, quae acciderunt—, idem nunc nihil timeo et ad omnem eventum paratus sum: cum aliquid videbatur caveri posse, tum id negligi dolebam; nunc vero eversis omnibus rebus, cum consilio profici nihil possit, una ratio videtur, quidquid evenerit, ferre moderate, praesertim cum omnium rerum mors sit extremum et mihi sim conscius me, quoad licuerit, dignitati rei publicae consuluisse et hac amissa salutem retinere voluisse. Haec scripsi, non ut de me ipse dicerem, sed ut tu, qui coniunctissima fuisti mecum et sententia et voluntate, eadem cogitares; magna enim consolatio est, cum recordare, etiamsi secus acciderit, te tamen recte vereque sensisse. Atque utinam liceat aliquando aliquo rei publicae statu nos frui inter nosque conferre sollicitudines nostras, quas pertulimus tum, cum timidi putabamur, quia dicebamus ea futura, quae facta sunt. De tuis rebus nihil esse, quod timeas, praeter universae rei publicae interitum tibi confirmo; de me autem sic velim iudices, quantum ego possim, me tibi, saluti tuae liberisque tuis summo cum studio praesto semper futurum. Vale.
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Although, when I wrote this to you, the end of this most calamitous war seemed either to be approaching or something already to have been done and finished, yet every day I kept recalling that you alone in so great an army had agreed with me, and I with you, and that we alone had seen how much evil there was in that war, in which, with the hope of peace shut out, victory itself would be most bitter -- bringing either destruction if you were defeated, or slavery if you won. And so I, whom those brave and wise men, the Domitii and the Lentuli, used to call timid -- and I was indeed; for I feared that those things which came to pass would happen -- the same man now fears nothing and is prepared for every outcome. When something could be guarded against, then I grieved that it was neglected; but now, with everything overturned and nothing able to be accomplished by counsel, the one course seems to be to bear with moderation whatever happens, especially since death is the final end of all things, and I am conscious that I looked after the dignity of the republic as long as it was permitted, and when that was lost, wished to preserve my life. I have written these things not to speak about myself, but so that you, who were most closely joined with me both in opinion and in purpose, might reflect on the same things. For it is a great consolation, when you recall, even if things have turned out otherwise, that you nevertheless thought and judged rightly. And would that we might sometime be permitted to enjoy some condition of the republic and share with each other the anxieties we endured when we were thought timid because we said those things would happen which have happened. As for your affairs, I assure you there is nothing for you to fear except the universal destruction of the republic. As for me, I would have you judge that, as far as I am able, I shall always stand ready with the greatest zeal for your interests, your safety, and that of your children. Farewell.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XXI. Scr. Asturae mense Aprili a.u.c. 709. CICERO TORANIO
Etsi, cum haec ad te scribebam, aut appropinquare exitus huius calamitosissimi belli aut iam aliquid actum et confectum videbatur, tamen quotidie commemorabam te unum in tanto exercitu mihi fuisse assensorem et me tibi solosque nos vidisse, quantum esset in eo bello mali, in quo spe pacis exclusa ipsa victoria futura esset acerbissima, quae aut interitum allatura esset, si victus esses, aut, si vicisses, servitutem. Itaque ego, quem tum fortes illi viri et sapientes, Domitii et Lentuli, timidum esse dicebant—eram plane; timebam enim, ne evenirent ea, quae acciderunt—, idem nunc nihil timeo et ad omnem eventum paratus sum: cum aliquid videbatur caveri posse, tum id negligi dolebam; nunc vero eversis omnibus rebus, cum consilio profici nihil possit, una ratio videtur, quidquid evenerit, ferre moderate, praesertim cum omnium rerum mors sit extremum et mihi sim conscius me, quoad licuerit, dignitati rei publicae consuluisse et hac amissa salutem retinere voluisse. Haec scripsi, non ut de me ipse dicerem, sed ut tu, qui coniunctissima fuisti mecum et sententia et voluntate, eadem cogitares; magna enim consolatio est, cum recordare, etiamsi secus acciderit, te tamen recte vereque sensisse. Atque utinam liceat aliquando aliquo rei publicae statu nos frui inter nosque conferre sollicitudines nostras, quas pertulimus tum, cum timidi putabamur, quia dicebamus ea futura, quae facta sunt. De tuis rebus nihil esse, quod timeas, praeter universae rei publicae interitum tibi confirmo; de me autem sic velim iudices, quantum ego possim, me tibi, saluti tuae liberisque tuis summo cum studio praesto semper futurum. Vale.