Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Cassius Longinus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Syria|AI-assisted
I wish you had invited me to dinner on the Ides of March. There would have been nothing left over. As it is, your leftovers are giving me trouble, and more than anyone else.
We have excellent consuls, but shameful former consuls; a brave Senate, but the bravest men are those of the lowest rank. The people, and all Italy with them, could not be more courageous or better disposed.
Nothing, however, could be more disgraceful or more outrageous than Philippus and Piso as envoys. They were sent to deliver definite demands to Antony by the Senate's authority. When he obeyed none of them, they came back to us bringing unbearable demands from him instead. So people crowd to my house, and, by supporting a measure essential to safety, I have now become popular.
But I did not know what you were doing, what you intended to do, or even where you were. Rumor said that you were in Syria, but no one could confirm it. About Brutus, because he is nearer, the reports seem firmer.
Dolabella was being sharply criticized by men with some wit, because he was succeeding you so quickly, when you had scarcely been thirty days in Syria. So everyone agreed that he ought not to be admitted into Syria.
Your highest praise, and Brutus's too, is that you are thought to have raised an army beyond expectation. I would write more if I knew the facts and the real situation. As it is, I write what I write from common opinion and rumor.
I wait eagerly for a letter from you.
Farewell.
DCCCXV (Fam. XII, 4) TO C. CASSIUS LONGINUS (IN SYRIA) ROME, 2 FEBRUARY: I could wish that you had invited me to the banquet of the Ides of March: there would have been nothing left over! As it is, your leavings give me much trouble-yes, me more than anybody. Though our consuls are splendid, our consulars are utterly shameful. Though the senate is courageous, it is the lowest in rank that are most so. Nothing, indeed, can surpass the resolute bearing of the people, and of all Italy with one accord. Nothing, on the other hand, can well be more scandalous and unprincipled than our emissaries Philippus and Piso . For having been sent to deliver to Antony certain definite orders, in accordance with the vote of the senate, upon his refusing to comply with one of them, they have brought back to us some intolerable demands on his part. The result is that my house is thronged, and that though I am supporting a sound constitutional measure, I have now become a popular hero. But what you are doing or intending to do, even where you are, I do not know. Report will have it that you are in Syria . But there is no confirmation of it. About M. Brutus , as he is less remote, news seems more trustworthy. Dolabella is being soundly abused by the wits for being so prompt in relieving you before you had been full thirty days in Syria . So all are agreed that he ought not to be admitted into Syria . You and Brutus are both highly commended because you are thought to have collected an army beyond what was hoped. I would have written at greater length, had I known the facts and the real state of the case. As it is, what I write is founded on common opinion and rumour. I am anxiously longing for a letter from you. Good-bye.
IV. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Vellem Idibus Martiis me ad coenam invitasses: reliquiarum nihil fuisset. Nunc me reliquiae vestrae exercent, et quidem praeter ceteros me: quamquam egregios consules habemus, sed turpissimos consulares, senatum fortem, sed infimo quemque honore fortissimum; populo vero nihil fortius, nihil melius Italiaque universa. Nihil autem foedius Philippo et Pisone legatis, nihil flagitiosius; qui quum essent missi, ut Antonio ex senatus sententia certas res denuntiarent, quum ille earum rerum nulli paruisset, ultro ab illo ad nos intolerabilia postulata rettulerunt: itaque ad nos concurritur, factique iam in re salutari populares sumus. Sed, tu quid ageres, quid acturus, ubi denique esses, nesciebam: fama nuntiabat te esse in Syria; auctor erat nemo. De Bruto, quo propius est, eo firmiora videntur esse, quae nuntiantur. Dolabella valde vituperabatur ab hominibus non insulsis, quod tibi tam cito succederet, quum tu vixdum XXX dies in Syria fuisses; itaque constabat eum recipi in Syriam non oportere. Summa laus et tua et Bruti est, quod exercitum praeter spem existimamini comparasse. Scriberem plura, si rem causamque nossem: nunc, quae scribo, scribo ex opinione hominum atque fama. Tuas litteras avide exspecto. Vale.
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I wish you had invited me to dinner on the Ides of March. There would have been nothing left over. As it is, your leftovers are giving me trouble, and more than anyone else.
We have excellent consuls, but shameful former consuls; a brave Senate, but the bravest men are those of the lowest rank. The people, and all Italy with them, could not be more courageous or better disposed.
Nothing, however, could be more disgraceful or more outrageous than Philippus and Piso as envoys. They were sent to deliver definite demands to Antony by the Senate's authority. When he obeyed none of them, they came back to us bringing unbearable demands from him instead. So people crowd to my house, and, by supporting a measure essential to safety, I have now become popular.
But I did not know what you were doing, what you intended to do, or even where you were. Rumor said that you were in Syria, but no one could confirm it. About Brutus, because he is nearer, the reports seem firmer.
Dolabella was being sharply criticized by men with some wit, because he was succeeding you so quickly, when you had scarcely been thirty days in Syria. So everyone agreed that he ought not to be admitted into Syria.
Your highest praise, and Brutus's too, is that you are thought to have raised an army beyond expectation. I would write more if I knew the facts and the real situation. As it is, I write what I write from common opinion and rumor.
I wait eagerly for a letter from you.
Farewell.
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
IV. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Vellem Idibus Martiis me ad coenam invitasses: reliquiarum nihil fuisset. Nunc me reliquiae vestrae exercent, et quidem praeter ceteros me: quamquam egregios consules habemus, sed turpissimos consulares, senatum fortem, sed infimo quemque honore fortissimum; populo vero nihil fortius, nihil melius Italiaque universa. Nihil autem foedius Philippo et Pisone legatis, nihil flagitiosius; qui quum essent missi, ut Antonio ex senatus sententia certas res denuntiarent, quum ille earum rerum nulli paruisset, ultro ab illo ad nos intolerabilia postulata rettulerunt: itaque ad nos concurritur, factique iam in re salutari populares sumus. Sed, tu quid ageres, quid acturus, ubi denique esses, nesciebam: fama nuntiabat te esse in Syria; auctor erat nemo. De Bruto, quo propius est, eo firmiora videntur esse, quae nuntiantur. Dolabella valde vituperabatur ab hominibus non insulsis, quod tibi tam cito succederet, quum tu vixdum XXX dies in Syria fuisses; itaque constabat eum recipi in Syriam non oportere. Summa laus et tua et Bruti est, quod exercitum praeter spem existimamini comparasse. Scriberem plura, si rem causamque nossem: nunc, quae scribo, scribo ex opinione hominum atque fama. Tuas litteras avide exspecto. Vale.