We are well here, and we shall work to be better. Lepidus seems to us to be reasonably well disposed. With every fear set aside, we ought to take thought for the republic freely.
Even if everything else were hostile, with three such great armies, all belonging to the republic and all strong, you ought to have a great spirit. You have always had it, and now, with fortune helping, you can increase it.
What I wrote to you in my own hand in my previous letter is something men are saying to frighten you. Once you bite the bit, may I die if all of them together will be able to endure you when you begin to speak.
As I wrote to you before, I shall stay in Italy until a letter from you reaches me.
May 25, at Eporedia.
DCCCLXXIV (Fam. XI, 23) DECIMUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) EPOREDIA, 25 MAY: WE are all well here, and I shall do my best to make us better. Lepidus seems to us to be fairly well disposed. Having got rid of every fear, we ought to consult for the interests of the state with freedom. But if everything else went wrong, yet with three such great armies devoted to the service of the Republic in full force, you ought to have the high courage which you have always kept, and can now by the blessing of fortune increase. As to what I told you under my hand in my previous letter — it is all mere talk meant to bluff you. If you once get the bit between your teeth, may I die if all of them put together will be able to stand against you when you start speaking. As I told you in my last letter, I shall remain in Italy till a letter from you reaches me. 25 May, Eporedia .
XXIII. Scr. Eporediae VIII. Kal. Iunias. a.u.c. 711. D. BRUTUS S. D. M. CICERONI.
Nos hic valemus recte et, quo melius valeamus, operam dabimus. Lepidus commode nobis sentire videtur: omni timore deposito debemus libere rei publicae consulere. Quod si omnia essent aliena, tamen tribus tantis exercitibus, propriis rei publicae, valentibus magnum animum habere debebas, quem et semper habuisti et nunc fortuna adiuvante augere potes. Quae tibi superioribus litteris mea manu scripsi, terrendi tui causa homines loquumtur: si frenum momorderis, peream, si te omnes, quotquot sunt, conantem loqui ferre poterunt. Ego, tibi ut antea scripsi, dum mihi a te litterae veniant, in Italia morabor. VIII. Kal. Iunias Eporedia.
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We are well here, and we shall work to be better. Lepidus seems to us to be reasonably well disposed. With every fear set aside, we ought to take thought for the republic freely.
Even if everything else were hostile, with three such great armies, all belonging to the republic and all strong, you ought to have a great spirit. You have always had it, and now, with fortune helping, you can increase it.
What I wrote to you in my own hand in my previous letter is something men are saying to frighten you. Once you bite the bit, may I die if all of them together will be able to endure you when you begin to speak.
As I wrote to you before, I shall stay in Italy until a letter from you reaches me.
May 25, at Eporedia.
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
XXIII. Scr. Eporediae VIII. Kal. Iunias. a.u.c. 711. D. BRUTUS S. D. M. CICERONI.
Nos hic valemus recte et, quo melius valeamus, operam dabimus. Lepidus commode nobis sentire videtur: omni timore deposito debemus libere rei publicae consulere. Quod si omnia essent aliena, tamen tribus tantis exercitibus, propriis rei publicae, valentibus magnum animum habere debebas, quem et semper habuisti et nunc fortuna adiuvante augere potes. Quae tibi superioribus litteris mea manu scripsi, terrendi tui causa homines loquumtur: si frenum momorderis, peream, si te omnes, quotquot sunt, conantem loqui ferre poterunt. Ego, tibi ut antea scripsi, dum mihi a te litterae veniant, in Italia morabor. VIII. Kal. Iunias Eporedia.