Letter 127

I truly have nothing to write to you. You know all my news, and I have nothing to expect from you just now. So let us at least keep up our old custom and not let anyone going your way leave without a letter. I am deeply afraid for public affairs. So far I have found hardly anyone who does not think we should concede what Caesar asks rather than fight it out. The demand is shameless, yes, but stronger than we had thought. Why should we start resisting him only now? There was no greater evil here than when we prolonged his command for five more years, or when we voted to allow his candidacy in absence - unless perhaps we gave him those weapons then so that we could fight him now when he was fully armed. You will say, "What will your opinion be?" Not what I really think. I shall think that everything should be done to avoid a decision by arms; I shall say what Pompey says, and I shall not do it from any servile spirit. Yet this is a very great misfortune for the republic, and for me in particular it is in a way improper to differ from Pompey on matters of such importance.

I have positively no news: all mine is known to you; and there is none that I can look for from you. Only let me preserve my old ceremony of letting no visitor go to you without a letter. My fears as to the political situation are great. And so far I have found hardly a man who would not yield to Caesar's demand sooner than fight. That demand, it is true, is shameless, but stronger than we thought. But why should we choose this occasion to begin resisting? "No greater evil threatens now" than when we prolonged his office for another five years; or when we agreed to let him stand as a candidate in his absence. But perhaps we were then giving him these weapons to turn against us now. You will say; "What then will your view be?" My view will not be what I shall say; for my view will be that every step should be taken to avoid a conflict; but I shall say the same as Pompey, nor shall I be actuated by subserviency. But again it is a very great calamity to the state, and in a way improper to me beyond others to differ from Pompey in matters of such importance.

plane deest quod ad te scribam; nota omnia tibi sunt, nec ipse habeo a te quod exspectem. tantum igitur nostrum illud sollemne servemus ut ne quem istuc euntem sine litteris dimittamus. [2] de re publica valde timeo nec adhuc fere inveni qui non concedendum putaret Caesari quod postularet potius quam depugnandum. est illa quidem impudens postulatio, opinione valentior cur autem nunc primum ei resistamus? ou gar de tode meizon epi kakon quam cum quinquennium prorogabamus aut cum ut absentis ratio haberetur ferebamus, nisi forte haec illi tum arma dedimus ut nunc cum bene parato pugnaremus. dices, 'quid tu igitur sensurus es?' non idem quod dicturus; sentiam enim omnia facienda ne armis decertetur dicam idem quod Pompeius neque id faciam humili animo. sed rursus hoc permagnum rei publicae malum est et quodam modo mihi praeter ceteros non rectum me in tantis rebus a Pompeio dissidere.