Letter 15: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Macedonia in early July 43 BC.

Although I was about to give a letter to Messalla Corvinus right away, I still did not want our old friend [Vetus] to come to you without a letter from me. The Republic, Brutus, is caught in the gravest crisis, and we who have won are forced once again to fight it out. This has happened through the crime and madness of Marcus Lepidus. At a time when I was bearing many things heavily on account of the concern I have undertaken on behalf of the Republic, nothing weighed on me more heavily than my inability to yield to the entreaties of your mother and your sister; for as to you yourself—which counts for most with me—I judged that I would easily give you satisfaction. For Lepidus's case could in no way be distinguished from Antony's, and in everyone's judgment it was even harder, because, after Lepidus had been honored by the Senate with the most ample distinctions, and even, a few days before, had sent a splendid dispatch to the Senate, he suddenly not only took in the remnants of the enemy but is waging war most fiercely on land and sea; what its outcome will be is uncertain. So when we are asked to grant mercy to his children, nothing is brought forward to prevent us from having to undergo the most extreme punishments, if (may Jupiter avert the omen!) the boys' father should prove victorious. [2] Nor indeed does it escape me how bitter it is that the crimes of parents should be paid for by the punishments of their sons; but this has been splendidly provided for by the laws, that affection for one's children should make parents more loyal to the Republic. And so it is Lepidus who is cruel toward his children, not the one who judges Lepidus a public enemy. And if he had laid down his arms and been condemned for violence—a trial in which he certainly would have no defense—his children would undergo the same calamity through the confiscation of his property. And yet, what your mother and sister plead against in the case of the boys, that very thing and many other, more cruel things are what Lepidus, Antony, and the rest of the enemies threaten against us all. And so at this time we place our greatest hope in you and your army. It bears strongly, both upon the highest interest of the Republic and upon your own glory and standing, that you come into Italy as soon as possible, as I wrote before; for the Republic is in urgent need both of your forces and also of your counsel. [3] In keeping with his goodwill toward you and his exceptional devotion, I have gladly embraced our old friend [Vetus] on the basis of your letter, and I have found him most zealous and most loving both of you and of the Republic. My dear Cicero [Cicero's son, also Marcus] I hope to see before long; for I am confident that he will come quickly into Italy together with you.

§ Brut.1.12 CMIV (Brut. I, 12) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (IN MACEDONIA) ROME (BEGINNING OF JULY) Though I am immediately about to give a letter to Messalla Corvinus, yet I could not let our friend Vetus reach you without a letter from me. The Republic, Brutus, is in the most imminent peril, and though victorious we are forced to begin the struggle once more. This is the result of the crime and infatuation of M. Lepidus. At such a time, while many things afflict me owing to the anxiety I feel for the Republic, yet nothing has given me greater vexation than to be unable to grant the petitions of your mother and sister: for as to yourself — which is of the greatest importance in my eyes — I think that I shall have no difficulty in satisfying you. The fact is that the position of Lepidus cannot on any consideration be separated from that of Antony, and in the judgment of all is even a worse one, both because he had been complimented by the senate with the most splendid honours, and had even sent an excellent despatch to the senate a few days before. Suddenly he not only receives the remnants of the enemy, but begins a war by land and sea with the greatest ferocity, the result of which is still in the balance. Therefore, while we are asked to show consideration to his children, no guarantee is offered that we shall not undergo the most extreme penalties, if their father — which God forbid — is victorious. Not indeed that I fail to consider how cruel it is that the crimes of parents should be expiated by the punishment of sons. But it is an excellent doctrine in law that affection for children should make parents more loyal to the Republic: therefore it is Lepidus that is Cruel to his children, not he who declares Lepidus a public enemy. Nay, even if he laid down his arms and was condemned for vis — a prosecution in which he would have no defence to offer-his sons would have met with the same disaster by the confiscation of his property. However, what your mother and sister deprecate in the case of his children, that very thing and measures more cruel still are what Lepidus, Antony, and the rest denounce against us. Therefore our chief hope at this time is in you and your army. It is of very great importance both to the highest interests of the Republic and to your own glory and political position that — as I wrote to say before-you should come to Italy at the earliest possible opportunity: for the Republic stands sorely in need both of your material forces and of your counsel. I have gladly, in pursuance of what you said in your letter, opened my arms to Vetus as his affection and his extreme loyalty to you deserved, and I have found him most zealous and devoted both to yourself and the Republic. My son I hope shortly to see: for I feel confident that he will promptly come to Italy in your train.

[XII] Scr. Romae in. m. Quint, a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL. etsi daturus eram Messalae Corvino continuo litteras, tamen veterem nostrum ad te sine litteris meis venire nolui. maximo in discrimine res publica, Brute, versatur victoresque rursus decertare cogimur. id accidit M. Lepidi scelere et amentia. quo tempore cum multa propter eam curam quam pro re publica suscepi graviter ferrem, tum nihil tuli gravius quam me non posse matris tuae precibus cedere, non sororis; nam tibi, quod mihi plurimi est, facile me satis facturum arbitrabar. nullo enim modo poterat causa Lepidi distingui ab Antonio omniumque iudicio etiam durior erat quod, cum honoribus amplissimis a senatu esset Lepidus ornatus tum etiam paucis ante diebus praeclaras litteras ad senatum misisset, repente non solum recepit reliquias hostium sed bellum acerrime terra marique gerit; cuius exitus qui futurus sit incertum est. ita cum rogamur ut misericordiam liberis eius impertiamus, nihil adfertur quo minus summa supplicia, si (quod Iuppiter omen avertat!) pater puerorum vicerit, subeunda nobis sint. [2] nec vero me fugit quam sit acerbum parentum scelera filiorum poenis lui; sed hoc praeclare legibus comparatum est, ut caritas liberorum amiciores parentis rei publicae redderet. itaque Lepidus crudelis in liberos, non is qui Lepidum hostem iudicat. atque ille si armis positis de vi damnatus esset, quo in iudicio certe defensionem non haberet, eandem calamitatem subirent liberi bonis publicatis. quamquam quod tua mater et soror deprecatur pro pueris, id ipsum et multa alia crudeliora nobis omnibus Lepidus, Antonius et reliqui hostes denuntiant. itaque maximam spem hoc tempore habemus in te atque exercitu tuo. Cum ad rei publicae summam tum ad gloriam et dignitatem tuam vehementer pertinet te, ut ante scripsi, in Italiam venire quam primum. eget enim vehementer cum viribus tuis tum etiam consilio res publica. [3] veterem pro eius erga te benevolentia singularique officio libenter ex tuis litteris complexus sum eumque cum tui tum rei publicae studiosissimum amantissimumque cognovi. Ciceronem meum propediem, ut spero, videbo. tecum enim illum [et te] in Italiam celeriter esse venturum confido.