Letter 14: Brutus writes to Cicero from Dyrrhachium to Rome in May 43 BC.
Marcus Junius Brutus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus|From Dyrrhachium|To Rome|AI-assisted
politicspatronagerepublican-crisis
Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation on ToposText, paired with The Latin Library Latin. The local ref preserves Latin Library a-letter distinctions where ToposText repeats a traditional label.
[XI] Written in camp at the end of June, in the year 711 (43 BC).
BRUTUS TO CICERO, GREETINGS.
Vetus Antistius [Gaius Antistius Vetus] is a man of such spirit toward the Republic that I have no doubt he would have shown himself, in the cases of both Caesar and Antony, a most zealous champion of our common liberty, had he been able to seize the opportunity. For the man who, when he encountered Dolabella in Achaia while Dolabella had infantry and cavalry, chose rather to face any danger whatever from the ambushes of a bandit ready for anything, than to seem either to have been compelled to give money or to have given it willingly to so worthless and wicked a man—this man has of his own accord both promised and given us 2,000 sesterces out of his own money, and, what is far more precious, has offered and attached himself to us in person. [2] We are eager to persuade him to remain in camp as commander and to defend the Republic. He has decided that this [is not allowed to him *], since he had disbanded his army. He did, however, assure us that he would return to us at once, having undertaken a legation, unless the consuls intended to hold the elections for the praetors; for with a man of such political convictions I strongly urged that he not put off the time of his own candidacy. His conduct ought to be welcome to everyone who has judged this army to be useful to the Republic, and all the more welcome to you in proportion as you defend our liberty with greater spirit and glory, and, if the outcome we hope for attends our counsels, will enjoy a higher standing. I too, my dear Cicero, ask you personally and as a friend to cherish Vetus and to wish him to attain the highest possible distinction; for although he can be deterred from his purpose by nothing, he can nonetheless be roused by your praises and goodwill to embrace and uphold his own conviction all the more firmly. This will be most gratifying to me.
§ Brut.1.11 DCCCXLVI (Brut. I, 11) M. IUNIUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) DYRRACHIUM (MAY) ANTISTIUS VETUS is so devoted to the Republic that I feel no doubt of his showing himself in the case both of Caesar and Antony a most determined champion of the common liberty, if he ever gets the opportunity. For the man who, meeting P. Dolabella in Achaia in possession of infantry and cavalry, preferred incurring any danger from the treachery of an utterly unscrupulous outlaw to being thought either to have been compelled to give money, or to have given it voluntarily to a most abandoned and unprincipled man-he, I say, has not only promised but has paid us 2,000 Sestertia out of his own pocket, and, what is much more valuable, has presented himself in person and has joined us. I have been desirous to persuade him to remain in my camp in military command and to support the Republic. But he has made up his mind that he is bound to go home after having dismissed his army. He assured us, however, that he would return promptly in the position of legatus, unless the consuls intended holding the praetorian elections; for with a man of his political views, I was urgent that he should not postpone the time of his canvass. What this man has done ought to be approved by everybody, at any rate by those who believe that this army is of great moment to the state, by you all the more so in proportion as you defend our liberty with greater spirit and fame, and are sure to enjoy a higher position if the result of our plans is what we desire it to be. I also ask you, my dear Cicero, as a personal favour, and with the confidence of a friend, to love Vetus and to desire the highest promotion for him. For though nothing can turn him from his purpose, he will yet be capable of being incited by your praises and kindness still more to embrace and hold fast your principles. I shall be very grateful if it is so.
[XI] Scr. in castris ex. m. Iun., a. 711 (43).
BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
veteris Antisti talis animus est in rem publicam ut non dubitem quin et in Caesare et in Antonio se praestaturus fuerit acerrimum propugnatorem communis libertatis, si occasioni potuisset occurrere. nam qui in Achaia congressus lt;cum> Dolabella milites atque equites habente quodvis adire periculum ex insidiis paratissimi ad omnia latronis maluerit quam videri aut coactus esse pecuniam dare aut libenter dedisse homini nequissimo atque improbissimo, is nobis ultro et pollicitus est et dedit HS xx ex sua pecunia et, quod multo carius est, se ipsum obtulit et coniunxit. [2] huic persuadere cupimus, ut imperator in castris remaneret remque publicam defenderet. statuit id sibi * *, quoniam exercitum dimisisset. statim vero rediturum ad nos confirmavit legatione suscepta, nisi praetorum comitia habituri essent consules. nam illi ita sentienti de re publica magno opere auctor fui ne differret tempus petitionis suae. cuius factum omnibus gratum esse debet qui modo iudicarint hunc exercitum esse utilem rei publicae, tibi tanto gratius quanto maiore et animo gloriaque libertatem nostram defendis et dignitate, si contigerit nostris consiliis exitus quem optamus, perfuncturus es. ego etiam, mi Cicero, proprie familiariterque te rogo ut veterem ames velisque esse quam amplissimum; qui etsi nulla re deterreri a proposito potest, tamen excitari tuis laudibus indulgentiaque potent quo magis amplexetur ac tueatur iudicium suum. id mihi gratissimum erit.
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[XI] Written in camp at the end of June, in the year 711 (43 BC).
BRUTUS TO CICERO, GREETINGS.
Vetus Antistius [Gaius Antistius Vetus] is a man of such spirit toward the Republic that I have no doubt he would have shown himself, in the cases of both Caesar and Antony, a most zealous champion of our common liberty, had he been able to seize the opportunity. For the man who, when he encountered Dolabella in Achaia while Dolabella had infantry and cavalry, chose rather to face any danger whatever from the ambushes of a bandit ready for anything, than to seem either to have been compelled to give money or to have given it willingly to so worthless and wicked a man—this man has of his own accord both promised and given us 2,000 sesterces out of his own money, and, what is far more precious, has offered and attached himself to us in person. [2] We are eager to persuade him to remain in camp as commander and to defend the Republic. He has decided that this [is not allowed to him *], since he had disbanded his army. He did, however, assure us that he would return to us at once, having undertaken a legation, unless the consuls intended to hold the elections for the praetors; for with a man of such political convictions I strongly urged that he not put off the time of his own candidacy. His conduct ought to be welcome to everyone who has judged this army to be useful to the Republic, and all the more welcome to you in proportion as you defend our liberty with greater spirit and glory, and, if the outcome we hope for attends our counsels, will enjoy a higher standing. I too, my dear Cicero, ask you personally and as a friend to cherish Vetus and to wish him to attain the highest possible distinction; for although he can be deterred from his purpose by nothing, he can nonetheless be roused by your praises and goodwill to embrace and uphold his own conviction all the more firmly. This will be most gratifying to me.
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
[XI] Scr. in castris ex. m. Iun., a. 711 (43). BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
veteris Antisti talis animus est in rem publicam ut non dubitem quin et in Caesare et in Antonio se praestaturus fuerit acerrimum propugnatorem communis libertatis, si occasioni potuisset occurrere. nam qui in Achaia congressus lt;cum> Dolabella milites atque equites habente quodvis adire periculum ex insidiis paratissimi ad omnia latronis maluerit quam videri aut coactus esse pecuniam dare aut libenter dedisse homini nequissimo atque improbissimo, is nobis ultro et pollicitus est et dedit HS xx ex sua pecunia et, quod multo carius est, se ipsum obtulit et coniunxit. [2] huic persuadere cupimus, ut imperator in castris remaneret remque publicam defenderet. statuit id sibi * *, quoniam exercitum dimisisset. statim vero rediturum ad nos confirmavit legatione suscepta, nisi praetorum comitia habituri essent consules. nam illi ita sentienti de re publica magno opere auctor fui ne differret tempus petitionis suae. cuius factum omnibus gratum esse debet qui modo iudicarint hunc exercitum esse utilem rei publicae, tibi tanto gratius quanto maiore et animo gloriaque libertatem nostram defendis et dignitate, si contigerit nostris consiliis exitus quem optamus, perfuncturus es. ego etiam, mi Cicero, proprie familiariterque te rogo ut veterem ames velisque esse quam amplissimum; qui etsi nulla re deterreri a proposito potest, tamen excitari tuis laudibus indulgentiaque potent quo magis amplexetur ac tueatur iudicium suum. id mihi gratissimum erit.