While I was waiting for a letter from you, today our dear Lupus announced that I should write to you if I wanted anything. But for my part, although I did not have anything to write—for I know that the official records of the Senate are being send to you, and I heard that you find letters full of empty conversation unpleasant—I have followed your teachings and aimed for brevity.
So please understand that all hope lies in you and your colleague.1 About Brutus, there is still nothing certain; for my part, as you advise me to, in my private letters to him I never stop calling on him to join the war we are all taking part in. I wish he was here already!2 We would have less cause to fear the evil in the guts of the city, which is not insignificant.3
But what am I doing? I am not imitating your Spartan way with words; I’m already starting another page.
Be well—and win!
Written June 18th.
Latin text of ad Familiares 11.25 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
i.e. Plancus, with whom Decimus Brutus was designated to be consul in 42 BCE. Cicero also wrote to Cassius that he was lying when he said things depended on Decimus Brutus and Plancus.
Marcus Brutus would never return to Italy.
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Perhaps intrigues to obtain a Consulship for Octavian were already on foot (so Manutius). Cf. 425 (XII.10).4 sunt enim permulta quibus erit medendum.’