Marcus Tullius Cicero→Lucius Munatius Plancus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Gaul|AI-assisted
I have never, in living memory, seen anything more glorious, more welcome, or more perfectly timed than your letter, Plancus. It was delivered to Cornutus in a crowded Senate just after he had read a very cold and wavering letter from Lepidus. Yours was read immediately afterward, and not without loud applause. It was deeply welcome for the facts themselves, and for the zeal and services to the republic that it showed; but it was also weighty in its language and judgment.
The Senate began demanding that Cornutus put a motion at once about your letter. He said he wanted time to consider. When the whole Senate shouted him down, five tribunes of the plebs brought the matter forward. Servilius, when asked his opinion, postponed the issue. I then gave the opinion to which every single senator agreed. You will learn what it was from the decree itself.
As for you, though you do not lack judgment, indeed you have more than enough, you must hold this attitude: refer nothing back here, and do not think that in events so sudden and so urgent you must ask the Senate for advice. Be your own Senate. Follow wherever the republic's interest leads you. See to it that we hear you have already done something brilliant before we had even imagined it was about to happen.
I promise you this: whatever you do, the Senate will approve it not merely as loyally done, but as wisely done.
DCCCLXXVII (Fam. X, 16) TO L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS (AT CULARO) ROME (27 MAY) Never within living memory have I seen anything happen, Plancus , more glorious, more welcome, or more exactly in the nick of time, than your despatch. For it was delivered to Cornutus in a full meeting of the senate just after he had read aloud the cold and shuffling despatch of Lepidus . Immediately after it yours was read and was received with loud cheers. For it was not only most welcome for the actual news it contained and the zeal and good services to the state which it implied, but its language and sentiments were also most impressive. Cries were raised that Cornutus should at once bring forward a motion arising from your despatch. He said that he wished time for consideration. When this had brought down on him a severe remonstrance from the whole senate, five of the tribunes brought forward a motion. Servilius being called upon voted for postponing the business. I then delivered an opinion with which they all agreed to a man. What it was you will learn from the decree itself. As for you, though you are in no want of prudence, or rather have enough and to spare, you ought yet to resolve to refer nothing here, nor in the midst of such sudden and pressing emergencies to think yourself bound to ask advice from the senate. Be your own senate, and follow wherever the interest of the public service shall lead you. Let it be your object that we hear of some brilliant operation by you before we thought that it was going to happen. I pledge my word to you that whatever you achieve the senate will accept as having been done not merely with loyal intention, but also with wisdom.
XVI. Scr. Romae mense Iunio (circ. Nonas) a.u.c. 711. CICERO PLANCO.
Nihil post hominum memoriam gloriosius, nihil gratius, ne tempore quidem ipso opportunius accidere vidi quam tuas, Plance, litteras; redditae sunt enim frequenti senatu Cornuto, cum is frigidas sane et inconstantes recitasset litteras Lepidi; sub eas statim recitatae sunt tuae, non sine magnis quidem clamoribus; cum rebus enim ipsis essent et studiis beneficiisque in rem publicam gratissimae, tum erant gravissimis verbis ac sententiis. Flagitare senatus institit Cornutum, ut referret statim de tuis litteris; ille se considerare velle. Cum ei magnum convicium fieret cuncto a senatu, quinque tribuni plebi rettulerunt. Servilius rogatus rem distulit; ego eam sententiam dixi, cui sunt assensi omnes ad unum: ea quae fuerit, ex senatus consulto cognosces. Tu. quamquam consilio non eges vel abundas potius, tamen hoc animo esse debes, ut nihil huc reiicias neve in rebus tam subitis tamque angustis a senatu consilium petendum putes, ipse tibi sis senatus, quocumque te ratio rei publicae ducet, sequare, cures, ut ante factum aliquid a te egregium audiamus, quam futurum putarimus. Illud tibi promitto, quidquid erit a te factum, id senatum non modo ut fideliter, sed etiam ut sapienter factum comprobaturum.
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I have never, in living memory, seen anything more glorious, more welcome, or more perfectly timed than your letter, Plancus. It was delivered to Cornutus in a crowded Senate just after he had read a very cold and wavering letter from Lepidus. Yours was read immediately afterward, and not without loud applause. It was deeply welcome for the facts themselves, and for the zeal and services to the republic that it showed; but it was also weighty in its language and judgment.
The Senate began demanding that Cornutus put a motion at once about your letter. He said he wanted time to consider. When the whole Senate shouted him down, five tribunes of the plebs brought the matter forward. Servilius, when asked his opinion, postponed the issue. I then gave the opinion to which every single senator agreed. You will learn what it was from the decree itself.
As for you, though you do not lack judgment, indeed you have more than enough, you must hold this attitude: refer nothing back here, and do not think that in events so sudden and so urgent you must ask the Senate for advice. Be your own Senate. Follow wherever the republic's interest leads you. See to it that we hear you have already done something brilliant before we had even imagined it was about to happen.
I promise you this: whatever you do, the Senate will approve it not merely as loyally done, but as wisely done.
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
XVI. Scr. Romae mense Iunio (circ. Nonas) a.u.c. 711. CICERO PLANCO.
Nihil post hominum memoriam gloriosius, nihil gratius, ne tempore quidem ipso opportunius accidere vidi quam tuas, Plance, litteras; redditae sunt enim frequenti senatu Cornuto, cum is frigidas sane et inconstantes recitasset litteras Lepidi; sub eas statim recitatae sunt tuae, non sine magnis quidem clamoribus; cum rebus enim ipsis essent et studiis beneficiisque in rem publicam gratissimae, tum erant gravissimis verbis ac sententiis. Flagitare senatus institit Cornutum, ut referret statim de tuis litteris; ille se considerare velle. Cum ei magnum convicium fieret cuncto a senatu, quinque tribuni plebi rettulerunt. Servilius rogatus rem distulit; ego eam sententiam dixi, cui sunt assensi omnes ad unum: ea quae fuerit, ex senatus consulto cognosces. Tu. quamquam consilio non eges vel abundas potius, tamen hoc animo esse debes, ut nihil huc reiicias neve in rebus tam subitis tamque angustis a senatu consilium petendum putes, ipse tibi sis senatus, quocumque te ratio rei publicae ducet, sequare, cures, ut ante factum aliquid a te egregium audiamus, quam futurum putarimus. Illud tibi promitto, quidquid erit a te factum, id senatum non modo ut fideliter, sed etiam ut sapienter factum comprobaturum.