Marcus Tullius Cicero→Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Mutina|AI-assisted
Your letter was extremely welcome to me, but even more welcome was the fact that, in the middle of all your business, you asked your colleague Plancus to excuse you to me by letter. He did so carefully. Nothing, to me, could be more pleasing than your kindness and attentiveness.
Your union with your colleague, and the harmony between you that was shown in your joint letter, were deeply welcome to the Senate and the Roman people.
For the rest, keep going, my dear Brutus. From now on, compete not with others but with yourself. I ought not write more, especially to you, since I plan to use you as my teacher in brevity. I am eagerly waiting for a letter from you, and especially the kind I most hope for.
CM (Fam. XI, 15) TO DECIMUS BRUTUS (AT CULARO?) ROME (JUNE) THOUGH your letter was most gratifying to me, yet it was still more gratifying that in the midst of your great stress of business you commissioned your colleague Plancus to write and make your excuses to me; which he did with due care. But to me nothing can be more touching than your politeness and Careful attention. Your junction with your Colleague and your harmonious relations announced in your joint despatch were gladly welcomed by the senate and Roman people. For the rest, go on, my dear Brutus , and henceforth vie, not with others, but with yourself. I need write no more, especially to you, whose teaching I follow in being brief. I anxiously await a letter from you, and above all such a one as I hope and pray for.
XV. Scr. Romae mense Iunio (post Id.) a.u.c. 711. M. CICERO D. BRUTO COS. DESIG. S. D.
Etsi mihi tuae litterae iucundissimae sunt, tamen iucundius fuit, quod in summa occupatione tua Planco collegae mandasti, ut te mihi per litteras excusaret; quod fecit ille diligenter. Mihi autem nihil amabilius officio tuo et diligentia. Coniunctio tua cum collega concordiaque vestra, quae litteris communibus declarata est, senatui populoque Romano gratissima accidit. Quod superest, perge, mi Brute, et iam non cum aliis, sed tecum ipse certa. Plura scribere non debeo, praesertim ad te, quo magistro brevitatis uti cogito. Litteras tuas vehementer exspecto et quidem tales, quales maxime opto.
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Your letter was extremely welcome to me, but even more welcome was the fact that, in the middle of all your business, you asked your colleague Plancus to excuse you to me by letter. He did so carefully. Nothing, to me, could be more pleasing than your kindness and attentiveness.
Your union with your colleague, and the harmony between you that was shown in your joint letter, were deeply welcome to the Senate and the Roman people.
For the rest, keep going, my dear Brutus. From now on, compete not with others but with yourself. I ought not write more, especially to you, since I plan to use you as my teacher in brevity. I am eagerly waiting for a letter from you, and especially the kind I most hope for.
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
XV. Scr. Romae mense Iunio (post Id.) a.u.c. 711. M. CICERO D. BRUTO COS. DESIG. S. D.
Etsi mihi tuae litterae iucundissimae sunt, tamen iucundius fuit, quod in summa occupatione tua Planco collegae mandasti, ut te mihi per litteras excusaret; quod fecit ille diligenter. Mihi autem nihil amabilius officio tuo et diligentia. Coniunctio tua cum collega concordiaque vestra, quae litteris communibus declarata est, senatui populoque Romano gratissima accidit. Quod superest, perge, mi Brute, et iam non cum aliis, sed tecum ipse certa. Plura scribere non debeo, praesertim ad te, quo magistro brevitatis uti cogito. Litteras tuas vehementer exspecto et quidem tales, quales maxime opto.