Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Cassius Longinus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Syria|AI-assisted
I suppose winter has so far kept us from having certain news about what you are doing, and especially where you are. Everyone was saying, though, I think because they wanted it to be true, that you are in Syria and have forces. That was believed more easily because it seemed likely.
Our Brutus has won extraordinary praise. He has done things so great and so unexpected that, welcome as they were in themselves, they were made still more splendid by their speed.
If you hold the positions we think you hold, the republic has been supported by powerful reinforcements. From the nearest shore of Greece all the way to Egypt, we shall be defended by the commands and armies of the best citizens.
Still, unless I was mistaken, the whole decision of the war seemed to rest on Decimus Brutus. If, as we hoped, he broke out from Mutina, there seemed likely to be no war left. He was being besieged by very small forces, because Antony was holding Bononia with a large garrison. Our Hirtius was at Claterna, Caesar at Forum Cornelium, each with a strong army, and Pansa was raising large forces at Rome from the levy in Italy.
Winter had so far prevented action. Hirtius seemed likely to do nothing without careful preparation, as he tells me in frequent letters. Apart from Bononia, Regium Lepidi, and Parma, we held all Gaul most devoted to the republic. We also had your clients north of the Po wonderfully attached to the cause.
The Senate was very firm, except for the former consuls. Among them Lucius Caesar alone is firm and upright. With the death of Servius Sulpicius we lost a great support. The rest are partly inactive, partly disloyal. Some envy the reputation of those whom they see approved in public life. But the agreement of the Roman people and all Italy is astonishing.
This is about what I wanted you to know. Now I hope that the light of your courage will shine out from that part of the East.
Farewell.
DCCCXVIII (Fam. XII, 5) TO GAIUS CASSUS LONGINUS (IN SYRIA) ROME (FEBRUARY) I SUPPOSE that the winter has as yet prevented us from getting any certain news from you, as to what you are doing, and above all where you are. Nevertheless, it is the general talk — the wish, no doubt, is father to the thought — that you are in Syria and in possession of forces. That statement finds the readier belief that it seems likely in itself. Our friend Brutus for his part has gained a brilliant reputation: for his achievements have been so great and unexpected that, while welcome in themselves, their distinction was enhanced by their rapidity. But if you command the extent of territory which we suppose, the Republic has gained very strong supports. For from the nearest shore of Greece as far as Egypt we shall have been put under the protection of the authority and forces of the most loyal citizens. However, unless I am mistaken, as the situation now stands, the ultimate decision of the whole war seems to rest with Decimus Brutus . If he, as we hope, breaks cut from Mutina , I think there will be a complete collapse of the war. The forces at present besieging him are very small, because Antony is occupying Bononia with a large army. Our friend Hirtius , moreover, is at Claterna , Caesar at Forum Cornelium , both with a strong army; while Pansa has collected large forces at Rome from the levy in Italy . Winter has at present prevented any movement. Hirtius seems likely to do nothing, as he tells me in frequent letters, without careful preparation. Except Bononia , Regium Lepidi , and Parma , we have the whole of Gaul devoted heart and soul to the constitution. Even your clients the Transpadani we find attached to the cause with surprising unanimity. The senate, with the exception of the consulars, is most resolute, but of the consulars Lucius Caesar alone is loyal and honest. By the death of Servius Sulpicius we have lost a great support For the rest, some are inactive and some disloyal A certain number are envious of the reputation of those whom they see to be held in honour in the Republic. But the unanimity of the Roman people and the whole of Italy is wonderful. This is pretty well all which I wanted you to know. My present hope and prayer is that the sun of your valour may shine forth from those regions of the East.
V. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Hiemem credo adhuc prohibuisse, quo minus de te certum haberemus, quid ageres maximeque ubi esses; loquebantur omnes tamen—credo, quod volebant—in Syria te esse, habere copias; id autem eo facilius credebatur, quia simile veri videbatur. Brutus quidem noster egregiam laudem est consecutus; res enim tantas gessit tamque inopinatas, ut eae quum per se gratae essent, tum ornatiores propter celeritatem. Quod si tu ea tenes, quae putamus, magnis subsidiis fulta res publica est; a prima enim ora Graeciae usque ad Aegyptum optimorum civium imperiis muniti erimus et copiis: quamquam, nisi me fallebat, res se sic habebat, ut totius belli omne discrimen in D. Bruto positum videretur, qui si, ut sperabamus, erupisset Mutina, nihil belli reliqui fore videbatur. Parvis omnino iam copiis obsidebatur, quod magno praesidio Bononiam tenebat Antonius; erat autem Claternae noster Hirtius, ad Forum Cornelium Caesar, uterque cum firmo exercitu, magnasque Romae Pansa copias ex delectu Italiae comparat. Hiems adhuc rem geri prohibuerat; Hirtius nihil nisi considerate, ut mihi crebris litteris significat, acturus videbatur; praeter Bononiam, Regium Lepidi, Parmam totam Galliam tenebamus studiosissimam rei publicae; tuos etiam clientes Transpadanos mirifice coniunctos cum causa habebamus; erat firmissimus senatus exceptis consularibus, ex quibus unus L. Caesar firmus est et rectus; Ser. Sulpicii morte magnum praesidium amisimus; reliqui partim inertes, partim improbi; nonnulli invident eorum laudi, quos in re publica probari vident; populi vero Romani totiusque Italiae mira consensio est. Haec erant fere, quae tibi nota esse vellem; nunc autem opto, ut ab istis Orientis partibus virtutis tuae lumen eluceat. Vale.
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I suppose winter has so far kept us from having certain news about what you are doing, and especially where you are. Everyone was saying, though, I think because they wanted it to be true, that you are in Syria and have forces. That was believed more easily because it seemed likely.
Our Brutus has won extraordinary praise. He has done things so great and so unexpected that, welcome as they were in themselves, they were made still more splendid by their speed.
If you hold the positions we think you hold, the republic has been supported by powerful reinforcements. From the nearest shore of Greece all the way to Egypt, we shall be defended by the commands and armies of the best citizens.
Still, unless I was mistaken, the whole decision of the war seemed to rest on Decimus Brutus. If, as we hoped, he broke out from Mutina, there seemed likely to be no war left. He was being besieged by very small forces, because Antony was holding Bononia with a large garrison. Our Hirtius was at Claterna, Caesar at Forum Cornelium, each with a strong army, and Pansa was raising large forces at Rome from the levy in Italy.
Winter had so far prevented action. Hirtius seemed likely to do nothing without careful preparation, as he tells me in frequent letters. Apart from Bononia, Regium Lepidi, and Parma, we held all Gaul most devoted to the republic. We also had your clients north of the Po wonderfully attached to the cause.
The Senate was very firm, except for the former consuls. Among them Lucius Caesar alone is firm and upright. With the death of Servius Sulpicius we lost a great support. The rest are partly inactive, partly disloyal. Some envy the reputation of those whom they see approved in public life. But the agreement of the Roman people and all Italy is astonishing.
This is about what I wanted you to know. Now I hope that the light of your courage will shine out from that part of the East.
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
V. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 711. CICERO CASSIO SAL.
Hiemem credo adhuc prohibuisse, quo minus de te certum haberemus, quid ageres maximeque ubi esses; loquebantur omnes tamen—credo, quod volebant—in Syria te esse, habere copias; id autem eo facilius credebatur, quia simile veri videbatur. Brutus quidem noster egregiam laudem est consecutus; res enim tantas gessit tamque inopinatas, ut eae quum per se gratae essent, tum ornatiores propter celeritatem. Quod si tu ea tenes, quae putamus, magnis subsidiis fulta res publica est; a prima enim ora Graeciae usque ad Aegyptum optimorum civium imperiis muniti erimus et copiis: quamquam, nisi me fallebat, res se sic habebat, ut totius belli omne discrimen in D. Bruto positum videretur, qui si, ut sperabamus, erupisset Mutina, nihil belli reliqui fore videbatur. Parvis omnino iam copiis obsidebatur, quod magno praesidio Bononiam tenebat Antonius; erat autem Claternae noster Hirtius, ad Forum Cornelium Caesar, uterque cum firmo exercitu, magnasque Romae Pansa copias ex delectu Italiae comparat. Hiems adhuc rem geri prohibuerat; Hirtius nihil nisi considerate, ut mihi crebris litteris significat, acturus videbatur; praeter Bononiam, Regium Lepidi, Parmam totam Galliam tenebamus studiosissimam rei publicae; tuos etiam clientes Transpadanos mirifice coniunctos cum causa habebamus; erat firmissimus senatus exceptis consularibus, ex quibus unus L. Caesar firmus est et rectus; Ser. Sulpicii morte magnum praesidium amisimus; reliqui partim inertes, partim improbi; nonnulli invident eorum laudi, quos in re publica probari vident; populi vero Romani totiusque Italiae mira consensio est. Haec erant fere, quae tibi nota esse vellem; nunc autem opto, ut ab istis Orientis partibus virtutis tuae lumen eluceat. Vale.