Letter 6: Brutus writes to Cicero from Dyrrhachium to Rome in 7 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
politicsmilitaryrepublican-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.
Written at Dyrrachium, the third day before the Ides of May, in the year 711 [from the founding of Rome, i.e. 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
It is easier for you to imagine than for me to write what great joy I felt on learning of the successes of our Brutus [Decimus Brutus] and of the consuls. While there is much that I praise and rejoice has happened, I am especially glad that Brutus's sortie was not only the saving of himself but also the very greatest aid toward the victory.
[2] As to what you write me, that the case of the three Antonii is one and the same, and that it is for me to judge what I think: I establish nothing except this, that the judgment concerning those citizens who have fought and not perished belongs to the senate or the Roman people. "But this very thing," you will say, "you do unjustly, in that you call men citizens who are of a hostile disposition toward the commonwealth [res publica]." On the contrary, I act with the strictest justice. For what the senate has not yet decreed nor the Roman people commanded, that I do not arrogantly prejudge, nor do I recall it to my own arbitration. This indeed I do not change: that from the man whom circumstances did not compel me to kill, I have neither wrenched anything in cruelty nor remitted anything through laxity, and I have kept him in my power for as long as the war lasted. For my part I judge it far more honorable, and a thing the commonwealth could more readily concede, not to persecute the fortune of the wretched than to grant without limit to the powerful those things which can inflame greed and arrogance.
[3] In this matter, Cicero, best and bravest of men, and one most dear to me deservedly both in my own name and in that of the commonwealth, you seem to me to trust your hopes too much, and at once, as soon as anyone has done something rightly, to give and allow him everything, as though it were not possible for a mind corrupted by lavish gifts to be led over to evil counsels. Such is your kindliness that you will allow yourself to be admonished with an even temper, especially concerning the common safety; yet you will do what shall seem best to you. I too, when you have instructed me [...]
§ Brut.1.4 DCCCLIII (Brut. I, 4) M. IUNIUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) DYRRACHIUM (7 MAY) MY joy at hearing of the success of our friend Decimus Brutus and the Consuls it is easier for you to imagine than for me to write. I have nothing but praise and pleasure for everything that has occurred, but especially for the fact that the sortie of Brutus not only proved his own salvation, but also a very great assistance to the victory. You remark that all the three Antonies stand on one and the same ground, and that it rests with me to decide what view I take. Well, my only conclusion is that the decision in regard to those citizens who have fought and not been killed rests with the senate or the Roman people. “Ah, but,” you will say, “you are wrong to begin with in calling men citizens whose feelings to the state are those of enemies.” On the contrary, I am acting with the strictest justice. For that which the senate has not yet voted, nor the Roman people ordained — that I do not take upon myself to prejudge, nor do I claim to decide it on my own authority. From this position I do not budge-from the man, whom circumstances did not compel me to put to death, I have not wrested anything in a spirit of cruelty, nor have I given him any indulgence from mere weakness; but I have retained him in my power until the end of the war. I consider it much the more honourable course, and one which the Republic can with more safety concede, not to press heavily on the unfortunate, rather than to indulge men of influence in what is calculated to inflame their ambition and arrogance. In this matter, Cicero, you — who have done the most splendid and gallant services, and are most deeply beloved by all on private and public grounds alike-seem to me too ready to believe what you hope; and the moment anyone has done anything well, to be ready to give and concede everything to him. As though it were not quite possible that a mind should be corrupted by bribery and perverted to evil. You are so good-natured that you won't be angry at receiving this hint, especially as it concerns the common safety. You will act, however, as it may seem best to you. Even I, when you have admonished me...
[IV] Scr. Dyrrachi iii antprid. id. Mai. a. 711 (43).
BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
quanta sim laetitia adfectus cognitis rebus Bruti nostri et consulum facilius est tibi existimare quam mihi scribere. Cum alia laudo et gaudeo accidisse, tum quod Bruti eruptio non solum ipsi salutaris fuit sed etiam maximo ad victoriam adiumento. [2] quod scribis mihi trium Antoniorum unam atque eandem causam esse, quid ego sentiam mei iudici esse: statuo nihil nisi hoc, senatus aut populi Romani iudicium esse de iis civibus qui pugnantes non interierint. 'at hoc ipsum' inquies 'inique facis qui hostilis animi in rem publicam homines civis appelles.' immo iustissime. quod enim nondum senatus censuit nec populus Romanus iussit, id adroganter non praeiudico neque revoco ad arbitrium meum. illud quidem non muto, quod ei quem me occidere res non coegit neque crudeliter quicquam eripui neque dissolute quicquam remisi habuique in mea potestate quoad bellum fuit. multo equidem honestius iudico magisque quod concedere possit res publica miscrorum fortunam non inscctari quam infinite tribucre potentibus quac cupiditatem et adrogantiam incendere possint. [3] qua in re, Cicero, vir optime atque fortissime mihique merito et meo nomine et rei publicae carissime, nimis credere videris spei tuae statimque, ut quisque aliquid recte fecerit, omnia dare ac permittere, quasi non liceat traduci ad mala consilia corruptum largitionibus animum. quae tua est humanitas, aequo animo te moneri patieris, praesertim de communi salute; facies tamen quod tibi visum fuerit; etiam ego, cum me docueris * *
◆
Written at Dyrrachium, the third day before the Ides of May, in the year 711 [from the founding of Rome, i.e. 43 BC].
Brutus to Cicero, greetings.
It is easier for you to imagine than for me to write what great joy I felt on learning of the successes of our Brutus [Decimus Brutus] and of the consuls. While there is much that I praise and rejoice has happened, I am especially glad that Brutus's sortie was not only the saving of himself but also the very greatest aid toward the victory.
[2] As to what you write me, that the case of the three Antonii is one and the same, and that it is for me to judge what I think: I establish nothing except this, that the judgment concerning those citizens who have fought and not perished belongs to the senate or the Roman people. "But this very thing," you will say, "you do unjustly, in that you call men citizens who are of a hostile disposition toward the commonwealth [res publica]." On the contrary, I act with the strictest justice. For what the senate has not yet decreed nor the Roman people commanded, that I do not arrogantly prejudge, nor do I recall it to my own arbitration. This indeed I do not change: that from the man whom circumstances did not compel me to kill, I have neither wrenched anything in cruelty nor remitted anything through laxity, and I have kept him in my power for as long as the war lasted. For my part I judge it far more honorable, and a thing the commonwealth could more readily concede, not to persecute the fortune of the wretched than to grant without limit to the powerful those things which can inflame greed and arrogance.
[3] In this matter, Cicero, best and bravest of men, and one most dear to me deservedly both in my own name and in that of the commonwealth, you seem to me to trust your hopes too much, and at once, as soon as anyone has done something rightly, to give and allow him everything, as though it were not possible for a mind corrupted by lavish gifts to be led over to evil counsels. Such is your kindliness that you will allow yourself to be admonished with an even temper, especially concerning the common safety; yet you will do what shall seem best to you. I too, when you have instructed 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
[IV] Scr. Dyrrachi iii antprid. id. Mai. a. 711 (43). BRVTVS CICERONI SAL.
quanta sim laetitia adfectus cognitis rebus Bruti nostri et consulum facilius est tibi existimare quam mihi scribere. Cum alia laudo et gaudeo accidisse, tum quod Bruti eruptio non solum ipsi salutaris fuit sed etiam maximo ad victoriam adiumento. [2] quod scribis mihi trium Antoniorum unam atque eandem causam esse, quid ego sentiam mei iudici esse: statuo nihil nisi hoc, senatus aut populi Romani iudicium esse de iis civibus qui pugnantes non interierint. 'at hoc ipsum' inquies 'inique facis qui hostilis animi in rem publicam homines civis appelles.' immo iustissime. quod enim nondum senatus censuit nec populus Romanus iussit, id adroganter non praeiudico neque revoco ad arbitrium meum. illud quidem non muto, quod ei quem me occidere res non coegit neque crudeliter quicquam eripui neque dissolute quicquam remisi habuique in mea potestate quoad bellum fuit. multo equidem honestius iudico magisque quod concedere possit res publica miscrorum fortunam non inscctari quam infinite tribucre potentibus quac cupiditatem et adrogantiam incendere possint. [3] qua in re, Cicero, vir optime atque fortissime mihique merito et meo nomine et rei publicae carissime, nimis credere videris spei tuae statimque, ut quisque aliquid recte fecerit, omnia dare ac permittere, quasi non liceat traduci ad mala consilia corruptum largitionibus animum. quae tua est humanitas, aequo animo te moneri patieris, praesertim de communi salute; facies tamen quod tibi visum fuerit; etiam ego, cum me docueris * *