Letter 21: Cicero writes to Brutus from Rome to Macedonia in 27 July 43 BC.

CICERO TO BRUTUS, GREETINGS. Although I had often urged you by letter to come to the aid of the Republic as soon as possible and to lead your army into Italy, and although I did not suppose that your own relatives had any doubt about this, I was asked by a most prudent and conscientious woman, your mother, whose every care is directed toward you and spent upon you, to come to her on the eighth day before the Kalends of August [24 July]. This I did at once, as was my duty. When I had arrived, Casca was present, and Labeo, and Scaptius. She raised the question and asked me what I thought: whether we should summon you, and whether we judged that this would be to your advantage, or whether it would be better for you to delay and remain where you are. [2] I answered what I felt to be true: that it would be most advantageous, both to your dignity and to your reputation, for you to bring help at the earliest possible moment to a Republic that is slipping and almost overthrown. For what evil do you suppose is lacking in a war in which the victorious armies have refused to pursue the fleeing enemy, and in which a commander, safe and sound, distinguished by the most ample honors and the greatest fortunes, with wife, with children, with you all as his relatives by marriage, has declared war upon the Republic? What am I to say about "so great a consensus of the Senate and the People," when so much evil sits lodged within our walls? [3] But as I was writing this, I was afflicted with the greatest grief, because, although the Republic had accepted me as surety on behalf of a very young man, almost a boy, I seemed scarcely able to make good what I had promised. And indeed an obligation undertaken for another's disposition and judgment, especially in matters of the greatest importance, is heavier and more difficult than one of money. For a money debt can be paid, and the loss to one's estate is bearable; but what you have pledged to the Republic, how are you to discharge it, unless the one on whose behalf you pledged readily allows it to be paid off? [4] And yet I shall keep hold of him too, as I hope, though many resist. For he seems to have natural ability, but his age is pliable, and there are many ready to corrupt him, who are confident that, by holding out before him the glitter of false honor, the keen edge of a good character can be dulled. And so to my remaining labors this one too has been added: that I should apply every device to keeping hold of the young man, lest I incur a reputation for recklessness. And yet what recklessness is there? For I bound the man on whose behalf I pledged more than I bound myself; nor can the Republic regret that I pledged myself on behalf of one who in the conduct of affairs proved more steadfast, both through his own character and through my promise. [5] But the greatest knot in the Republic, unless perhaps I am deceived, is the shortage of money. For good men grow more hardened daily at the mention of the tribute [a property tax levied for war]; and what has been collected from the one-percent levy, given the shameless self-assessments of the wealthy, is all consumed in the rewards for two legions. Yet boundless expenses loom over us, both for these armies by which we are now defended, and indeed for yours. For our friend Cassius seems able to come sufficiently well equipped. But about these matters and many others I long to speak in person, and that as soon as possible. [6] Concerning your sister's sons, Brutus, I did not wait for you to write. The very circumstances of the time (for the war will be drawn out) reserve the whole case for you intact. But from the very beginning, since I could not foresee how long the war would last, I pleaded the boys' cause in the Senate in such a way as I think you have been able to learn from your mother's letter; nor indeed will there ever be any matter in which I will not, even at the peril of my life, say and do those things which I judge you wish and which I judge concern your interest. The sixth day before the Kalends of August [27 July]. Cicero

§ Brut.1.18 CMX (Brut. I, 18) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (IN MACEDONIA) ROME, 27 JULY: AFTER I had often urged you by letter to come as soon as possible to the aid of the state, and to bring your army into Italy, and when I thought that your relatives had no doubt on that subject, I was asked by that most prudent and careful lady your mother — whose every thought and care are directed and devoted to you — to call on her on the 24th of July, which, as in duty bound, I at once did. On my arrival, I found Casca, Labeo, and Scaptius there. Well, she opened the subject and asked me my opinion, whether we should ask you to come to Italy, and whether we thought that to your advantage, or whether it were better that you should put it off and stay where you were. I answered — as was my real opinion — that it was of the highest advantage to your position and reputation to bring help at the first possible moment to the tottering and almost prostrate Republic. For what disaster do you think is wanting in a war, in which the victorious armies refuse to pursue a flying enemy, and in which an officer with imperium in full possession of his rights, enjoying the most splendid honours and the most ample fortune, with wife and children, with you and Cassius related to him by marriage, has yet proclaimed war on the Republic? How can I use the words “in such unanimity of senate and people,” when such fatal mischief abides within our very walls? But the bitterest sorrow which is affecting me as I write this is that, whereas the Republic accepted me as a surety for that youth, or, I might almost say, that boy, I seem scarcely able to make my promise good. Truly, a guarantee for another's feeling and sentiment, especially in affairs of the greatest importance, is more onerous and difficult than one for money. For money can be paid, and a loss of property is bearable. But how are you to make good what you have guaranteed to the state, unless he for whom you undertook the obligation is willing that it should be fulfilled? However, I shall retain even him, I hope, in spite of many adverse influences. For he seems to have a character of his own, though he is at the pliable time of life, and there are many prepared to corrupt him, who hope that, by holding out before him the glamour of false honour, the sight of a naturally good intelligence may be blinded. Accordingly, to my other labours has been added the task of applying every engine to the keeping of a hold upon the young man, that I may not incur a reputation for rashness. However, where is the rashness? I bound the man, for whom I gave the guarantee, more tightly than I did myself; nor can the state regret my having given a guarantee for one who in the actual campaign was rendered more resolute by my promise, as well as from his own disposition. But, unless I am mistaken, the greatest difficulty in the Republic is the want of money. For the loyalists grow daily more callous to the call for property tax. All that was collected by the one per cent. income tax, owing to the shameless returns made by the wealthy, is exhausted by the bounties given to two legions: whereas endless expenses are hanging over us, both for the armies now protecting us, and for yours — for our friend Cassius seems able to come home very well provided. But of this and many other things I desire to talk to you when we meet, and that as soon as possible. About your sister's sons, Brutus, I did not wait for you to write. As a matter of fact, the state of the times itself — for the war will be protracted-guarantees that the case will be left for you to decide. But from the very first, though I could not divine the long continuance of the war, I pleaded the cause of the boys in the senate, as I think you Can have learnt from your mother's letter. Nor will there ever arise any circumstance in which I shall not, even at the risk of my life, say and do whatever I think is your wish and to your interest.

[XVIII] Scr. Romae vi K. Sexi, a. 711 (43). CICERO BRVTO SAL. Cum saepe te litteris hortatus essem ut quam primum rei publicae subvenires in Italiamque exercitum adduceres neque id arbitrarer dubitare tuos necessarios, rogatus sum a prudentissima et diligentissima femina, matre tua, cuius omnes curae ad te referuntur et in te consumuntur ut venirem ad se a. d. VIII Kal. Sextilis. quod ego, ut debui, sine mora feci. Cum autem venissem, Casca aderat et Labeo et Scaptius. at illa rettulit quaesivitque quidnam mihi videretur, arcesseremusne te atque id tibi conducere putaremus an tardare et commorari te melius esset. [2] respondi id quod sentiebam, et dignitati et existimationi tuae maxime conducere te primo quoque tempore ferre praesidium labenti et inclinatae paene rei publicae. quid enim abesse censes mali in eo bello, in quo victores exercitus fugientem hostem persequi noluerint et in quo incolumis imperator honoribus amplissimis fortunisque maximis, coniuge, liberis, vobis adfinibus ornatus bellum rei publicae indixerit? quid dicam in tanto senatus populique consensu, cum tantum resideat intra muros mali? [3] maximo autem, cum haec scribebam, adficiebar dolore quod, cum me pro adulescentulo ac paene puero res publica accepisset vadem, vix videbar quod promiseram praestare posse. est autem gravior et difficilior animi et sententiae maximis praesertim in rebus pro altero quam pecuniae obligatio. haec enim solvi potest et est rei familiaris iactura tolerabilis; rei publicae quod spoponderis, quem ad modum solvas, nisi is dependi facile patitur pro quo spoponderis? [4] quamquam et hunc, ut spero, tenebo multis repugnantibus. videtur enim esse indoles, sed flexibilis aetas multique ad depravanduin parati; qui splendore falsi honoris obiecto aciem boni ingeni praestringi posse confidunt. itaque ad reliquos hic quoque labor mihi accessit ut omnis adhibeam machinas ad tenendum adulescentem ne famam subeam temeritatis. quamquam quae temeritas est? magis enim illum pro quo spopondi quam me ipsum obligavi; nec vero paenitere potest rem publicam me pro eo spopondisse, qui fuit in rebus gerendis cum suo ingenio tum mea promissione constantior. [5] maximus autem, nisi me forte fallit, in re publica nodus est inopia rei pecuniariae. obdurescunt enim magis cotidie boni viri ad vocem tributi; quod ex centesima conlatum impudenti censu locupletium in duarum legionum praemiis omne consumitur. impendent autem infiniti sumptus cum in hos exercitus quibus nunc defendimur tum vero in tuum. nam Cassius noster videtur posse satis ornatus venire. sed et haec et multa alia coram cupio idque quam primum. [6] de sororis tuae filiis non exspectavi, Brute, dum scriberes. omnino ipsa tempora (bellum enim ducetur) integram tibi causam reservant. sed ego a principio, cum divinare de belli diuturnitate non possem, ita causam egi puerorum in senatu ut te arbitror e matris litteris potuisse cognoscere; nec vero ulla res erit umquam in qua ego non vel vitae periculo ea dicam eaque faciam quae te velle quaeque ad te pertinere arbitrabor. vi Kal. Sextilis. Cicero The Latin Library The Classics Page