Letter 10.1

First, I was out of Rome, on my way to Greece. Then, after the voice of the republic called me back from the middle of my journey, Marcus Antonius has never left me in peace. His vice is not mere arrogance, which is common enough, but a savage tyranny: he cannot bear anyone's voice, or even anyone's face, to be free. So my greatest anxiety is not for my own life. I have done enough for that, whether one considers my age, my public service, or, if it matters, my reputation. What troubles me is my country, and above all, my dear Plancus, the long wait for your consulship. It is so far off that one scarcely dares hope the republic can stay alive until then. What hope is there for a state in which everything is crushed under the weapons of the most violent and reckless men, where neither the Senate nor the people has any power, where there are no laws, no courts, not even a shadow or trace of a constitution? I assume you are receiving a full account of public affairs, so I need not go through every detail. But the affection I formed for you when you were a boy, and have not merely kept but strengthened, seemed to require me to warn and urge you to devote yourself wholly to the service of the republic. If the republic survives until your term, everything will be straightforward. But for it to survive that long will require great vigilance and care from you, and also great good fortune. First, I hope, we shall have you with us well before that day. Second, quite apart from the duty I owe the republic, I have so completely committed myself to supporting your standing that every skill, zeal, loyalty, effort, labor, and attention I possess is directed toward advancing your honor. In doing that, I believe I can best serve both the republic, which I love above everything, and our friendship, which I consider it a most sacred duty to preserve. I am not surprised that you value our friend Furnius as highly as his kindness and character deserve. I am glad of it, and I want you to believe that every sign of trust and favor you give him I regard as given to me.

DCCLXXXIV (Fam. X, 1) TO L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS (IN GALLIA COMATA) ROME (SEPTEMBER) In the first place I have been out of town intending to embark for Greece: and in the next place, having been recalled by the voice of the Republic from the very midst Of my journey, I have never been let alone by Marcus Antonius , whose — I won't call it insolence, for that is a mere everyday fault — but whose brutal tyranny is such that he cannot endure not only any man's voice, but even any man's look to be free. Therefore I am exceedingly anxious-not about my life indeed, for I have nothing left to do for that, whether you regard my age or my achievements or (if that, too, is to the purpose) my glory — but it is for my country that I am uneasy, and first and foremost about the time that we have to wait for your consulship, my dear Plancus , which is so long that one scarcely ventures to hope to be able to keep undergraduate life at Athens . It, however, labours under the disadvantage of being a report sent home by the young man himself rather than by his tutors — an arrangement that would suit many students in all universities. The account of his reformation is therefore perhaps a little too rosy. alive up to that point in the history of the Republic. For what hope can there be in a state in which everything is held down by the arms of the most violent and headstrong of men: in which neither senate nor people has any power of control: in which there are neither laws nor law courts — in fact, no shadow or trace even of a constitution. But as I suppose a complete gazette of public affairs is transmitted to you, there is no reason why I should enter into details. However, the affection which I conceived for you when you were a boy, and have not only maintained but have even increased, seemed to demand that I should admonish and exhort you to devote yourself heart and soul to the service of the Republic. If it survives till your term of office, all will be plain sailing. But that it should so survive demands not only great assiduity and care on your part, but also great good fortune. But to begin with we shall have you with us, I hope, a considerable time before that day: and in the next place — over and above the consideration which I am bound to have for the interests of the Republic — I also so completely give myself up to supporting your dignity, that I direct all the skill, zeal, devotion, exertion, labour, and attention of which I am capable to the promotion of your high position. It is thus, I am convinced, that I shall most readily do my duty both to the Republic, which I love above everything, and to our friendship, which I think it my most sacred duty to foster. I am not surprised that our friend Furnius is valued by you as highly as his own kindness and worth deserve. I rejoice that it is so, and I would have you believe that whatever mark of confidence and favour you bestow on him, I regard as having been bestowed by you upon myself.

I. Scr. Romae post K. Sept. et ante XIV. K. Oct. a.u.c. 710. CICERO PLANCO. Et afui proficiscens in Graeciam et postea, quam de medio cursu rei publicae sum voce revocatus, numquam per M. Antonium quietus fui, cuius tanta est, non insolentia—nam id quidem vulgare vitium est—, sed immanitas, non modo ut vocem, sed ne vultum quidem liberum possit ferre cuiusquam. Itaque mihi maximae curae est, non de mea quidem vita, cui satisfeci vel aetate vel factis vel, si quid etiam hoc ad rem pertinet, gloria, sed me patria sollicitat in primisque, mi Plance, exspectatio consulatus tui, quae ita longa est, ut optandum sit, ut possimus ad id tempus rei publicae spiritum ducere; quae potest enim spes esse in ea re publica, in qua hominis impotentissimi atque intemperantissimi armis oppressa sunt omnia et in qua nec senatus nec populus vim habet ullam nec leges ullae sunt nec iudicia nec omnino simulacrum aliquod ac vestigium civitatis? Sed, quoniam acta omnia mitti ad te arbitrabar, nihil erat, quod singulis de rebus scriberem; illud autem erat amoris mei, quem a tua pueritia susceptum non servavi solum, sed etiam auxi, monere te atque hortari, ut in rem publicam omni cogitatione curaque incumberes: quae si ad tuum tempus perducitur, facilis gubernatio est; ut perducatur autem, magnae cum diligentiae est, tum etiam fortunae. Sed et te aliquanto ante, ut spero, habebimus et, praeterquam quod rei publicae consulere debemus, etiam tuae dignitati ita favemus, ut omne nostrum consilium studium, officium operam, laborem diligentiam ad amplitudinem tuam conferamus: ita facillime et rei publicae, quae mihi carissima est, et amicitiae nostrae, quam sanctissime nobis colendam puto, me intelligo satisfacturum. Furnium nostrum tanti a te fieri, quantum ipsius humanitas et dignitas postulat, nec miror et gaudeo teque hoc existimare volo, quidquid in eum iudicii officiique contuleris, id ita me accipere, ut in me ipsum te putem contulisse.