Marcus Caelius Rufus→Marcus Tullius Cicero|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|AI-assisted
We were deeply disturbed by the letters of Gaius Cassius and Deiotarus. Cassius wrote that Parthian forces were this side of the Euphrates; Deiotarus wrote that they had set out through Commagene into our province.
My chief fear, as it concerned you, came from knowing how unprepared you are in troops. I feared this disturbance might endanger your standing. If your army had been better prepared, I would have feared for your life. As things are, your small forces made me foresee retreat rather than battle. I still fear how people would receive that, and how acceptable the necessity would seem. I will not stop being afraid until I hear that you have touched Italy.
The reports of the Parthian crossing have stirred up various proposals. One man says Pompey should be sent; another says Pompey should not be removed from the city; another says Caesar should go with his army; another says the consuls. No one, however, proposes private citizens by decree of the senate.
The consuls, fearing that a decree might order them to leave in military dress, or that the matter might be transferred insultingly past them to someone else, do not want the senate held at all. They go so far that they seem insufficiently diligent in public affairs. Yet whether it is negligence, inertia, or the fear I mentioned, the thing hides respectably under the reputation of moderation: they do not want a province.
No letter has come from you. If Deiotarus's letter had not followed Cassius's, people were beginning to think that Cassius had invented the war, sent Arabs into the province, and reported them to the senate as Parthians, so that what he himself had plundered would seem to have been devastated by the enemy.
So I advise you, whatever the state of things there, to write carefully and cautiously, so that you are not said either to have trimmed someone's sails or to have kept silent about something important to know.
Now we are at the end of the year; I write this on November 15. I see plainly that nothing can be done before January 1. You know how slow and ineffective Marcellus is, and how hesitant Servius is. What do you suppose such men are like, and how can they accomplish what they do not want, when even the things they do want they pursue so coldly that people think they do not want them?
When the new magistrates take office, if there is a Parthian war, this issue will occupy the first months. But if there is no war there, or if the war is only such that you or your successors can sustain it with small reinforcements, I see Curio making a double display: first, to take something away from Caesar; then, to give something to Pompey, any little gift however thin.
Paullus, moreover, speaks about the province with no kindness. Our Furnius will stand against his eagerness. I cannot suspect many others. This is what I know; I cannot see the other things that may happen. I know time brings many things and changes what has been prepared, but whatever happens will move within these limits.
I add this about Gaius Curio's actions: the Campanian land. They say Caesar is not troubled by it, but Pompey very much wants it not to lie open and empty for Caesar when he arrives.
As for your leaving the province, I cannot promise to secure a successor for you. I can certainly guarantee that your term is not extended further. It is for your judgment whether, if the timing, the senate, and a situation in which we cannot honorably refuse compel you, you want to persist. It is my duty to remember the solemn charge you gave me as you left: not to allow it to happen.
CCXXV (Fam. VIII, 10) M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO (IN CILICIA) ROME, 15 NOVEMBER: I have been much disturbed by the despatches of C. Cassius and Deiotarus For Cassius has written to say that the forces of the Parthians are across the Euphrates : Deiotarus that they started for our province by way of Commagene . For my part, my chief alarm has been on your account, knowing as I do what your state of preparation in the way of an army is, lest this inroad should in any way endanger your prestige. For I should have had some fear for your life, even if you had had a more adequate army: as it is, the slenderness of your forces made me forbode a retreat, not a battle, on your part. What view people would take of that, and how far what you were compelled to do would be likely to be considered satisfactory — about this I am still feeling anxious, and shall not cease to be alarmed till I hear of your having reached Italy . But the news of the passage of the Parthians has given rise to various suggestions. One man is for sending Pompey , another against Pompey 's removal from the city, another for sending Caesar with his own army, another the consuls; no one, however, is for sending any who are in Rome without office by a senatorial decree. The consuls, moreover, for fear of this decree being passed for their leaving Rome in military uniform, or of the business being transferred to some one else, which would involve a slight upon themselves as having been passed over, are so unwilling to have any meeting of the senate at all, that they are getting a reputation for a want of energy in public business. But whether it is carelessness, or slackness, or the fear which I have suggested, behind this pretence of moderation there is concealed a disinclination to a province. No despatch has arrived from you, and had not that of Deiotarus followed his, it was beginning to be believed that Cassius , in order to represent devastation caused by himself as the work of the Parthians , invented 'the war, sent some Arabs into the province, and told the senate that they were Parthians . Wherefore I advise you to describe minutely and cautiously the state of things in your part of the world, whatever it is, that you may not be said either to have been filling some particular person's sails, or to have kept back what it was important to know. We have now come to the last period of the year: for I write this letter on the 15th of November. I see plainly that nothing can be done before the 1st of January. You know how slow and ineffective Marcellus is, and how dilatory Servius . What sort of men do you suppose they are, or how can they possibly do what is against their inclination, when things which they so wish they yet carry on so languidly as to give the impression of not wishing them? Again, when the new magistrates come into office, if there is a Parthian war, this question will take up their first months. But if; on the other hand, there turns out to be no war, or only one such as you or Your successors can manage with a small reinforcement, I Perceive that Curio will bestir himself with two objects: first, to take something away from Caesar ; and, secondly, to bestow something on Pompey , however insignificant and valueless the contribution may be. Moreover, Paullus talks about the province with irrational violence. His intemperance will be resisted by our friend Furnius : about several others I cannot form an opinion. This is all I know: other possible events I cannot yet decipher. I know that time brings many developments and upsets many arrangements: but whatever is going to happen will be confined within these limits. I have this addition to make to the proceedings of Curio — his proposal as to the Campanian land: as to which they say that Caesar is indifferent, but that Pompey is much opposed, lest it should be unoccupied and at Caesar 's disposal when he returns. As to your leaving your province, I cannot promise to take treasures to get a successor appointed: but I will at least pledge myself that your time is not prolonged. It is for you to consider whether, if the state of affairs, if the senate urge you to stay, if a refusal on our part cannot decently be made, you choose to persevere in your determination. My only business is to remember with what solemnity at your departure you laid the injunction on me not to allow of its happening.
X. Scr. Romae a. d. XIIII. Kal. Decembres a.u.c. 703. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
Sane quam litteris C. Cassii et Deiotari sumus commoti; nam Cassius cis Euphraten copias Parthorum esse scripsit, Deiotarus profectas per Commagenen in provinciam nostram. Ego quidem praecipuum metum, quod ad te attinebat, habui, qui scirem, quam paratus ab exercitu esses, ne quod hic tumultus dignitati tuae periculum afferret: nam de vita, si paratior ab exercitu esses, timuissem; nunc haec exiguitas copiarum recessum, non dimicationem mihi tuam praesagiebat; hoc quomodo acciperent homines, quam probabilis necessitas futura esset, vereor etiam nunc, neque prius desinam formidare, quam tetigisse te Italiam audiero. Sed de Parthorum transitu nuntii varios sermones excitarunt: alius enim Pompeium mittendum, alius ab urbe Pompeium non removendum, alius Caesarem cum suo exercitu, alius consules, nemo tamen ex senatus consulto privatos. Consules autem, quia verentur, ne illud senatus consultum fiat, ut paludati exeant et contumeliose praeter eos ad alium res transferatur, omnino senatum haberi nolunt, usque eo, ut parum diligentes in re publica videantur; sed honeste, sive negligentia sive inertia est sive ille, quem proposui, metus, latet sub hac temperantiae existimatione, nolle provinciam. A te litterae non venerunt, et, nisi Deiotari subsecutae essent, in eam opinionem Cassius veniat, quae diripuisset ipse, ut viderentur ab hoste vastata, finxisse bellum et Arabas in provinciam immisisse eosque Parthos esse senatui renuntiasse: quare tibi suadeo, quicumque est istic status rerum, diligenter et caute perscribas, ne aut velificatus alicui dicaris aut aliquid, quod referret scire, reticuisse. Nunc exitus est anni; nam ego has litteras a. d. XIIII. Kal. Decembres scripsi. Plane nihil video ante Kal. Ianuarias agi posse: nosti Marcellum, quam tardus et parum efficax sit, itemque Servius quam cunctator; cuiusmodi putas hos esse aut quam id, quod nolint, conficere posse, qui, quae cupiunt, tamen ita frigide agunt, ut nolle existimentur? Novis magistratibus autem, si Parthicum bellum erit, haec causa primos menses occupabit; sin aut sit aut non erit istic bellum aut tantum erit, ut vos aut successores parvis additis copiis sustinere possint, Curionem video se dupliciter iactaturum: primum, ut aliquid Caesari adimat; inde, ut aliquid Pompeio tribuat, quodvis quamlibet tenue munusculum. Paullus porro non humane de provincia loquitur: huius cupiditati occursurus est Furnius noster; plures suspicari non possum. Haec novi: alia, quae possunt accidere, non cerno. Multa tempus afferre et praeparata mutare scio; sed intra fines hos, quaecumque acciderint, vertentur. Illud addo ad actiones C. Curionis, de agro Campano; de quo negant Caesarem laborare, sed Pompeium valde velle, ne vacuus advenienti Caesari pateat. Quod ad tuum decessum attinet, illud tibi non possum polliceri, me curaturum, ut tibi succedatur; illud certe praestabo, ne amplius prorogetur. Tui consilii est, si tempus, si senatus coget, si honeste a nobis recusari non poterit, velisne perseverare: mei officii est meminisse, qua obtestatione discedens mihi, ne paterer fieri, mandaris.
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We were deeply disturbed by the letters of Gaius Cassius and Deiotarus. Cassius wrote that Parthian forces were this side of the Euphrates; Deiotarus wrote that they had set out through Commagene into our province.
My chief fear, as it concerned you, came from knowing how unprepared you are in troops. I feared this disturbance might endanger your standing. If your army had been better prepared, I would have feared for your life. As things are, your small forces made me foresee retreat rather than battle. I still fear how people would receive that, and how acceptable the necessity would seem. I will not stop being afraid until I hear that you have touched Italy.
The reports of the Parthian crossing have stirred up various proposals. One man says Pompey should be sent; another says Pompey should not be removed from the city; another says Caesar should go with his army; another says the consuls. No one, however, proposes private citizens by decree of the senate.
The consuls, fearing that a decree might order them to leave in military dress, or that the matter might be transferred insultingly past them to someone else, do not want the senate held at all. They go so far that they seem insufficiently diligent in public affairs. Yet whether it is negligence, inertia, or the fear I mentioned, the thing hides respectably under the reputation of moderation: they do not want a province.
No letter has come from you. If Deiotarus's letter had not followed Cassius's, people were beginning to think that Cassius had invented the war, sent Arabs into the province, and reported them to the senate as Parthians, so that what he himself had plundered would seem to have been devastated by the enemy.
So I advise you, whatever the state of things there, to write carefully and cautiously, so that you are not said either to have trimmed someone's sails or to have kept silent about something important to know.
Now we are at the end of the year; I write this on November 15. I see plainly that nothing can be done before January 1. You know how slow and ineffective Marcellus is, and how hesitant Servius is. What do you suppose such men are like, and how can they accomplish what they do not want, when even the things they do want they pursue so coldly that people think they do not want them?
When the new magistrates take office, if there is a Parthian war, this issue will occupy the first months. But if there is no war there, or if the war is only such that you or your successors can sustain it with small reinforcements, I see Curio making a double display: first, to take something away from Caesar; then, to give something to Pompey, any little gift however thin.
Paullus, moreover, speaks about the province with no kindness. Our Furnius will stand against his eagerness. I cannot suspect many others. This is what I know; I cannot see the other things that may happen. I know time brings many things and changes what has been prepared, but whatever happens will move within these limits.
I add this about Gaius Curio's actions: the Campanian land. They say Caesar is not troubled by it, but Pompey very much wants it not to lie open and empty for Caesar when he arrives.
As for your leaving the province, I cannot promise to secure a successor for you. I can certainly guarantee that your term is not extended further. It is for your judgment whether, if the timing, the senate, and a situation in which we cannot honorably refuse compel you, you want to persist. It is my duty to remember the solemn charge you gave me as you left: not to allow it to happen.
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
X. Scr. Romae a. d. XIIII. Kal. Decembres a.u.c. 703. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL.
Sane quam litteris C. Cassii et Deiotari sumus commoti; nam Cassius cis Euphraten copias Parthorum esse scripsit, Deiotarus profectas per Commagenen in provinciam nostram. Ego quidem praecipuum metum, quod ad te attinebat, habui, qui scirem, quam paratus ab exercitu esses, ne quod hic tumultus dignitati tuae periculum afferret: nam de vita, si paratior ab exercitu esses, timuissem; nunc haec exiguitas copiarum recessum, non dimicationem mihi tuam praesagiebat; hoc quomodo acciperent homines, quam probabilis necessitas futura esset, vereor etiam nunc, neque prius desinam formidare, quam tetigisse te Italiam audiero. Sed de Parthorum transitu nuntii varios sermones excitarunt: alius enim Pompeium mittendum, alius ab urbe Pompeium non removendum, alius Caesarem cum suo exercitu, alius consules, nemo tamen ex senatus consulto privatos. Consules autem, quia verentur, ne illud senatus consultum fiat, ut paludati exeant et contumeliose praeter eos ad alium res transferatur, omnino senatum haberi nolunt, usque eo, ut parum diligentes in re publica videantur; sed honeste, sive negligentia sive inertia est sive ille, quem proposui, metus, latet sub hac temperantiae existimatione, nolle provinciam. A te litterae non venerunt, et, nisi Deiotari subsecutae essent, in eam opinionem Cassius veniat, quae diripuisset ipse, ut viderentur ab hoste vastata, finxisse bellum et Arabas in provinciam immisisse eosque Parthos esse senatui renuntiasse: quare tibi suadeo, quicumque est istic status rerum, diligenter et caute perscribas, ne aut velificatus alicui dicaris aut aliquid, quod referret scire, reticuisse. Nunc exitus est anni; nam ego has litteras a. d. XIIII. Kal. Decembres scripsi. Plane nihil video ante Kal. Ianuarias agi posse: nosti Marcellum, quam tardus et parum efficax sit, itemque Servius quam cunctator; cuiusmodi putas hos esse aut quam id, quod nolint, conficere posse, qui, quae cupiunt, tamen ita frigide agunt, ut nolle existimentur? Novis magistratibus autem, si Parthicum bellum erit, haec causa primos menses occupabit; sin aut sit aut non erit istic bellum aut tantum erit, ut vos aut successores parvis additis copiis sustinere possint, Curionem video se dupliciter iactaturum: primum, ut aliquid Caesari adimat; inde, ut aliquid Pompeio tribuat, quodvis quamlibet tenue munusculum. Paullus porro non humane de provincia loquitur: huius cupiditati occursurus est Furnius noster; plures suspicari non possum. Haec novi: alia, quae possunt accidere, non cerno. Multa tempus afferre et praeparata mutare scio; sed intra fines hos, quaecumque acciderint, vertentur. Illud addo ad actiones C. Curionis, de agro Campano; de quo negant Caesarem laborare, sed Pompeium valde velle, ne vacuus advenienti Caesari pateat. Quod ad tuum decessum attinet, illud tibi non possum polliceri, me curaturum, ut tibi succedatur; illud certe praestabo, ne amplius prorogetur. Tui consilii est, si tempus, si senatus coget, si honeste a nobis recusari non poterit, velisne perseverare: mei officii est meminisse, qua obtestatione discedens mihi, ne paterer fieri, mandaris.