Lucius Munatius Plancus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Gaul|To Rome|AI-assisted
Antony reached Forum Julii with his first troops on May 15. Ventidius is two days' march from him. Lepidus is camped at Forum Voconii, twenty-four miles from Forum Julii, and has decided to wait for me there, as he himself wrote to me. If he and fortune keep everything intact for me, I promise you that I will quickly finish the business as you wish.
I wrote to you earlier that my brother had been seriously ill, worn out by constant labor and rushing about. Yet as soon as he could begin to walk, he thought he had recovered not for himself more than for the republic, and refused to stop being first into every danger. But I not only urged him, I forced him, to set out for Rome. In his condition he could wear himself out more than he could help me in camp, and I thought that the republic, stripped bare by the bitter deaths of the consuls, needed such a citizen, as praetor, for duties in the city. If any of you disapprove, let him know that I lacked prudence in planning, not that my brother lacked loyalty toward his country.
At last Lepidus did what I wanted: he sent Apella to me, so that I might have him as a hostage for Lepidus' good faith and partnership in managing the republic's cause. Lucius Gellius proved to me his zeal in the matter of the three Segavian brothers; I used him most recently as my interpreter with Lepidus. I believe I have found him to be a friend of the republic, and I am glad to testify on his behalf, as I will for all who serve well.
Take care of your health, return my affection, and protect my standing, if I deserve it, as you have done until now with singular goodwill.
DCCCLXVIII (Fam. X, 17) L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) NEAR FORUM VOCONII, 20 MAY: ON the 15th of May Antony reached Forum Julii with his advanced guard. Ventidius is two days' march behind him. Lepidus is encamped at Forum Voconii , which is twenty-four miles from Forum Julii , and has settled to await me there, as he has himself written to tell me. But if neither Lepidus himself nor fortune disappoints me in any way, I pledge myself to finish this business quickly in the manner in which you in the senate desire. I told you in a previous letter that my brother was ill, worn out by continuous work and rapid movements. Nevertheless, as soon as he could set foot to ground, considering that his restored health was not his own more than the state's, he was for leading the forlorn hope everywhere. But I have not merely urged, I have forced him to start for Rome — partly on the grounds that in his state of health he was more likely to wear himself to death than to assist me in camp, and partly because I thought that the Republic, having been left bare by the most regrettable death of the consuls, required the presence of such an eminent citizen as praetor for the conduct of city business. But if any of you at Rome disapprove, let it be known that it was I that lacked prudence in counsel, not he fidelity to his country. After all, Lepidus did what I wanted him to do — he sent me Apella to hold as a hostage of his good faith and of his co-operation in the public service. In that business I was well satisfied with the services of L. Gellius , whom I employed as my last emissary to Lepidus . I think that I ascertained him to be attached to the Republic, and it will give me pleasure to testify to him and to all who serve the state well. Take care of your health, return my affection for you, and defend my position, if I deserve it, as you have done up to this time with remarkable kindness.
XVII. Scr. in Allobrogibus mense Maio (post Idus) a.u.c. 711. PLANCUS CICERONI.
Antonius Id. Maiis ad Forum Iulii cum primis copiis venit; Ventidius bidui spatio abest ab eo; Lepidus ad Forum Voconii castra habet, qui locus a Foro Iulii quattuor et viginti milia passuum abest, ibique me exspectare constituit, quemadmodum ipse mihi scripsit. Quod si omnia mihi integra et ipse et fortuna servarit, recipio vobis celeriter me negotium ex sententia confecturum. Fratrem meum assiduis laboribus concursationibusque confectum graviter se habuisse antea tibi scripsi; sed tamen, cum primum posse ingredi coepit, non magis sibi quam rei publicae se convaluisse existimans ad omnia pericula princeps esse non recusabat; sed ego eum non solum hortatus sum, verum etiam coegi isto proficisci, quod et illa valetudine magis conficere se quam me iuvare posset in castris, et quod acerbissimo interitu consulum rem publicam nudatam tali cive praetore in urbanis officiis indigere existimabam; quod si qui vestrum non probabit, mihi prudentiam in consilio defuisse sciat, non illi erga patriam fidelitatem. Lepidus tandem, quod ego desiderabam, fecit, ut Apellam ad me mitteret, quo obside fidei illius et societatis in re publica administranda uterer. Studium mihi suum L. Gellius de tribus fratribus +Segaviano+ probavit, quo ego interprete novissime ad Lepidum sum usus; amicum eum rei publicae cognosse videor, libenterque ei sum testimonio et omnibus ero, qui bene merentur. Fac valeas meque mutuo diligas dignitatemque meam, si mereor, tuearis, sicut adhuc singulari cum benevolentia fecisti.
◆
Antony reached Forum Julii with his first troops on May 15. Ventidius is two days' march from him. Lepidus is camped at Forum Voconii, twenty-four miles from Forum Julii, and has decided to wait for me there, as he himself wrote to me. If he and fortune keep everything intact for me, I promise you that I will quickly finish the business as you wish.
I wrote to you earlier that my brother had been seriously ill, worn out by constant labor and rushing about. Yet as soon as he could begin to walk, he thought he had recovered not for himself more than for the republic, and refused to stop being first into every danger. But I not only urged him, I forced him, to set out for Rome. In his condition he could wear himself out more than he could help me in camp, and I thought that the republic, stripped bare by the bitter deaths of the consuls, needed such a citizen, as praetor, for duties in the city. If any of you disapprove, let him know that I lacked prudence in planning, not that my brother lacked loyalty toward his country.
At last Lepidus did what I wanted: he sent Apella to me, so that I might have him as a hostage for Lepidus' good faith and partnership in managing the republic's cause. Lucius Gellius proved to me his zeal in the matter of the three Segavian brothers; I used him most recently as my interpreter with Lepidus. I believe I have found him to be a friend of the republic, and I am glad to testify on his behalf, as I will for all who serve well.
Take care of your health, return my affection, and protect my standing, if I deserve it, as you have done until now with singular goodwill.
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
XVII. Scr. in Allobrogibus mense Maio (post Idus) a.u.c. 711. PLANCUS CICERONI.
Antonius Id. Maiis ad Forum Iulii cum primis copiis venit; Ventidius bidui spatio abest ab eo; Lepidus ad Forum Voconii castra habet, qui locus a Foro Iulii quattuor et viginti milia passuum abest, ibique me exspectare constituit, quemadmodum ipse mihi scripsit. Quod si omnia mihi integra et ipse et fortuna servarit, recipio vobis celeriter me negotium ex sententia confecturum. Fratrem meum assiduis laboribus concursationibusque confectum graviter se habuisse antea tibi scripsi; sed tamen, cum primum posse ingredi coepit, non magis sibi quam rei publicae se convaluisse existimans ad omnia pericula princeps esse non recusabat; sed ego eum non solum hortatus sum, verum etiam coegi isto proficisci, quod et illa valetudine magis conficere se quam me iuvare posset in castris, et quod acerbissimo interitu consulum rem publicam nudatam tali cive praetore in urbanis officiis indigere existimabam; quod si qui vestrum non probabit, mihi prudentiam in consilio defuisse sciat, non illi erga patriam fidelitatem. Lepidus tandem, quod ego desiderabam, fecit, ut Apellam ad me mitteret, quo obside fidei illius et societatis in re publica administranda uterer. Studium mihi suum L. Gellius de tribus fratribus +Segaviano+ probavit, quo ego interprete novissime ad Lepidum sum usus; amicum eum rei publicae cognosse videor, libenterque ei sum testimonio et omnibus ero, qui bene merentur. Fac valeas meque mutuo diligas dignitatemque meam, si mereor, tuearis, sicut adhuc singulari cum benevolentia fecisti.