Marcus Tullius Cicero→Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther|c. 58 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Cilicia|AI-assisted
Nothing was settled in the Senate on January 13, because most of the day was spent in a clash between the consul Lentulus and the tribune Caninius. I also spoke at some length that day, and I think I moved the Senate especially by recalling your goodwill toward that order.
So on the following day we decided to state our opinions briefly. I had seen, both from my speech and from approaching and appealing to individual senators, that the Senate's feeling had been won back to us. Accordingly, when Bibulus's motion was announced first, that three envoys should restore the king, Hortensius's second, that you should restore him without an army, and Volcatius's third, that Pompey should restore him, a demand was made to divide Bibulus's motion. On the religious point, which could no longer be resisted, Bibulus was accepted. On the three envoys, a large majority went the other way.
Hortensius's motion was next. Then Lupus, the tribune, because he himself had brought forward a motion about Pompey, began insisting that he ought to call a division before the former consuls did. Everyone shouted him down. His claim was both unfair and unprecedented. The consuls neither yielded nor resisted with any force. Their purpose was to waste the day, and they succeeded, since they saw clearly that many more senators would vote for Hortensius's motion, although they openly professed agreement with Volcatius.
Many senators were called on for opinions, even with the consuls' consent, because they wanted Bibulus's motion carried. The dispute dragged on until night, and the Senate was dismissed.
That day I happened to dine with Pompey. I seized the best opportunity I have had, since your departure I have never held a more honorable position in the Senate than I did that day, and I spoke to him in such a way that I think I persuaded him to drop every other idea and decide to support your claim. Indeed, when I hear him speak in person, I acquit him entirely of any suspicion of ambition. But when I look at his intimates of every rank, I see what everyone sees: this whole business has long been manipulated by a certain circle through bribery, not without the king's own consent and that of his advisers.
I write this on January 15 before daybreak. Today the Senate will meet. I hope we will maintain our position there as far as one can in an age so treacherous and unfair. As for an appeal to the people, I think we have made sure that no proposal can be put before them without ignoring the auspices, breaking the laws, or using outright violence. The day before I wrote this, a very serious senatorial resolution on these matters was passed; although Cato and Caninius vetoed it, it was still written out. I suppose it has been sent to you.
On all other matters I will write and tell you whatever happens. I will see that everything is carried out with complete fairness, as far as my caution, work, close attention, and influence can secure it.
XCV (Fam. I, 2) TO P. LENTULUS SPINTHER (IN CILICIA) ROME, 15 JANUARY: NOTHING was done on the 13th of January in the senate, because the day was to a great extent spent in an altercation between the consul Lentulus and the tribune Caninius . On that day I also spoke at considerable length, and thought that I made a very great impression on the senate by dwelling on your affection for the house. Accordingly, next day we resolved that we would deliver our Opinions briefly: for it appeared to us that the feelings of the senate had been softened towards us — the result not only of my speech, but of my personal appeal and application to individual senators. Accordingly, the first proposition, that of Bibulus , having been delivered, that three legates should restore the king: the second, that of Hortensius , that you should restore him without an army: the third, that of Volcatius , that Pompey should do it, a demand was made that the proposal of Bibulus should be taken in two parts. As far as he dealt with the religious difficulty — a point which was now past being opposed — his motion was carried; his proposition as to three legates was defeated by a large majority. The next was the proposition of Hortensius . Thereupon the tribune Lupus, on the ground that he had himself made a proposal about Pompey , starts the contention that he ought to divide the house before the consuls. His speech was received on all sides by loud cries of “No”: for it was both unfair and unprecedented. The consuls would not give in, and yet did not oppose with any vigour. Their object was to waste the day, and in that they succeeded for they saw very well that many times the number would vote for the proposal of Hortensius , although they openly professed their agreement with Volcatius . Large numbers were called upon for their opinion, and that, too, with the assent of the consuls: for they wanted the proposal of Bibulus carried. This dispute was protracted till nightfall, and the senate was dismissed. I happened to be dining with Pompey on that day, and I seized the opportunity — the best I have ever had, for since your departure I have never occupied a more honourable position in the senate than I had on that day — of talking to him in such a way, that I think I induced him to give up every other idea and resolve to support your claims. And, indeed, when I actually hear him talk, I acquit him entirely of all suspicion of personal ambition: but when I regard his intimates of every rank, I perceive, what is no secret to anybody, that this whole business has been long ago corruptly manipulated by a certain coterie, not without the king's own consent and that of his advisers. I write this on the 15th of January, before daybreak. Today there is to be a meeting of the senate. We shall maintain, as I hope, our position in the senate as far as it is possible to do so in such an age of perfidy and unfair dealing. As to an appeal to the people on the subject, we have, I think, secured that no proposition can be brought before them without neglect of the auspices or breach of the laws, or, in fine, without downright violence. The day before my writing these words a resolution of the senate on these matters of the most serious character was passed, and though Cato and Caninius vetoed it, it was nevertheless written out. I suppose it has been sent to you. On all other matters I will write and tell you what has been done, whatever it is, and I will see that everything is carried out with the most scrupulous fairness as far as my caution, labour, attention to details, and influence can secure it.
II. Scr. Romae a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Idibus Ianuariis in senatu nihil est confectum, propterea quod dies magna ex parte consumptus est altercatione Lentuli consulis et Caninii tribuni pl. Eo die nos quoque multa verba fecimus maximeque visi sumus senatum commemoratione tuae voluntatis erga illum ordinem permovere. Itaque postridie placuit ut breviter sententiam diceremus; videbatur enim reconciliata nobis voluntas esse senatus, quod cum dicendo, tum singulis appellandis rogandisque perspexeram; itaque, cum sententia prima Bibuli pronuntiata esset, ut tres legati regem reducerent, secunda Hortensii, ut tu sine exercitu reduceres, tertia Volcatii, ut Pompeius reduceret, postulatum est, ut Bibuli sententia divideretur: quatenus de religione dicebat, cui quidem rei iam obsisti non poterat, Bibulo assensum est; de tribus legatis frequentes ierunt in alia omnia. Proxima erat Hortensii sententia, cum Lupus, tribunus pl., quod ipse de Pompeio retulisset, intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consulares. eius orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est, erat enim et iniqua et nova; consules neque concedebant neque valde repugnabant, diem consumi volebant—id quod est factum—, perspiciebant enim in Hortensii sententiam multis partibus plures ituros, quamquam aperte Volcatio assentirentur; multi rogabantur, atque id ipsum consulibus non invitis, nam ei Bibuli sententiam valere cupierant. Hac controversia usque ad noctem ducta senatus dimissus est. Ego eo die casu apud Pompeium coenavi nactusque tempus hoc magis idoneum quam umquam antea, quod post tuum discessum is dies honestissimus nobis fuerat in senatu, ita sum cum illo locutus, ut mihi viderer animum hominis ab omni alia cogitatione ad tuam dignitatem tuendam traducere: quem ego ipsum cum audio, prorsus eum libero omni suspicione cupiditatis; cum autem eius familiares omnium ordinum video, perspicio, id quod iam omnibus est apertum, totam rem istam iam pridem a certis hominibus non invito rege ipso consiliariisque eius esse corruptam. Haec scripsi a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias ante lucem: eo die senatus erat futurus. Nos in senatu, quemadmodum spero, dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tanta hominum perfidia et iniquitate, retinebimus; quod ad popularem rationem attinet, hoc videmur esse consecuti, ut ne quid agi cum populo aut salvis auspiciis aut salvis legibus aut denique sine vi posset. De his rebus pridie, quam haec scripsi, senatus auctoritas gravissima intercessit, cui cum Cato et Caninius intercessissent, tamen est perscripta; eam ad te missam esse arbitror: de ceteris rebus, quidquid erit actum, scribam ad te et, ut quam rectissime agatur, omni mea cura opera, diligentia gratia providebo.
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Nothing was settled in the Senate on January 13, because most of the day was spent in a clash between the consul Lentulus and the tribune Caninius. I also spoke at some length that day, and I think I moved the Senate especially by recalling your goodwill toward that order.
So on the following day we decided to state our opinions briefly. I had seen, both from my speech and from approaching and appealing to individual senators, that the Senate's feeling had been won back to us. Accordingly, when Bibulus's motion was announced first, that three envoys should restore the king, Hortensius's second, that you should restore him without an army, and Volcatius's third, that Pompey should restore him, a demand was made to divide Bibulus's motion. On the religious point, which could no longer be resisted, Bibulus was accepted. On the three envoys, a large majority went the other way.
Hortensius's motion was next. Then Lupus, the tribune, because he himself had brought forward a motion about Pompey, began insisting that he ought to call a division before the former consuls did. Everyone shouted him down. His claim was both unfair and unprecedented. The consuls neither yielded nor resisted with any force. Their purpose was to waste the day, and they succeeded, since they saw clearly that many more senators would vote for Hortensius's motion, although they openly professed agreement with Volcatius.
Many senators were called on for opinions, even with the consuls' consent, because they wanted Bibulus's motion carried. The dispute dragged on until night, and the Senate was dismissed.
That day I happened to dine with Pompey. I seized the best opportunity I have had, since your departure I have never held a more honorable position in the Senate than I did that day, and I spoke to him in such a way that I think I persuaded him to drop every other idea and decide to support your claim. Indeed, when I hear him speak in person, I acquit him entirely of any suspicion of ambition. But when I look at his intimates of every rank, I see what everyone sees: this whole business has long been manipulated by a certain circle through bribery, not without the king's own consent and that of his advisers.
I write this on January 15 before daybreak. Today the Senate will meet. I hope we will maintain our position there as far as one can in an age so treacherous and unfair. As for an appeal to the people, I think we have made sure that no proposal can be put before them without ignoring the auspices, breaking the laws, or using outright violence. The day before I wrote this, a very serious senatorial resolution on these matters was passed; although Cato and Caninius vetoed it, it was still written out. I suppose it has been sent to you.
On all other matters I will write and tell you whatever happens. I will see that everything is carried out with complete fairness, as far as my caution, work, close attention, and influence can secure it.
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
II. Scr. Romae a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Idibus Ianuariis in senatu nihil est confectum, propterea quod dies magna ex parte consumptus est altercatione Lentuli consulis et Caninii tribuni pl. Eo die nos quoque multa verba fecimus maximeque visi sumus senatum commemoratione tuae voluntatis erga illum ordinem permovere. Itaque postridie placuit ut breviter sententiam diceremus; videbatur enim reconciliata nobis voluntas esse senatus, quod cum dicendo, tum singulis appellandis rogandisque perspexeram; itaque, cum sententia prima Bibuli pronuntiata esset, ut tres legati regem reducerent, secunda Hortensii, ut tu sine exercitu reduceres, tertia Volcatii, ut Pompeius reduceret, postulatum est, ut Bibuli sententia divideretur: quatenus de religione dicebat, cui quidem rei iam obsisti non poterat, Bibulo assensum est; de tribus legatis frequentes ierunt in alia omnia. Proxima erat Hortensii sententia, cum Lupus, tribunus pl., quod ipse de Pompeio retulisset, intendere coepit ante se oportere discessionem facere quam consulares. eius orationi vehementer ab omnibus reclamatum est, erat enim et iniqua et nova; consules neque concedebant neque valde repugnabant, diem consumi volebant—id quod est factum—, perspiciebant enim in Hortensii sententiam multis partibus plures ituros, quamquam aperte Volcatio assentirentur; multi rogabantur, atque id ipsum consulibus non invitis, nam ei Bibuli sententiam valere cupierant. Hac controversia usque ad noctem ducta senatus dimissus est. Ego eo die casu apud Pompeium coenavi nactusque tempus hoc magis idoneum quam umquam antea, quod post tuum discessum is dies honestissimus nobis fuerat in senatu, ita sum cum illo locutus, ut mihi viderer animum hominis ab omni alia cogitatione ad tuam dignitatem tuendam traducere: quem ego ipsum cum audio, prorsus eum libero omni suspicione cupiditatis; cum autem eius familiares omnium ordinum video, perspicio, id quod iam omnibus est apertum, totam rem istam iam pridem a certis hominibus non invito rege ipso consiliariisque eius esse corruptam. Haec scripsi a.d. XVI. Kal. Februarias ante lucem: eo die senatus erat futurus. Nos in senatu, quemadmodum spero, dignitatem nostram, ut potest in tanta hominum perfidia et iniquitate, retinebimus; quod ad popularem rationem attinet, hoc videmur esse consecuti, ut ne quid agi cum populo aut salvis auspiciis aut salvis legibus aut denique sine vi posset. De his rebus pridie, quam haec scripsi, senatus auctoritas gravissima intercessit, cui cum Cato et Caninius intercessissent, tamen est perscripta; eam ad te missam esse arbitror: de ceteris rebus, quidquid erit actum, scribam ad te et, ut quam rectissime agatur, omni mea cura opera, diligentia gratia providebo.