1 April 43 BCE: To Cicero (at Rome) from Brutus (at Dyrrachium)
News from Brutus: 'Things are going well. But also, help!'
I am waiting eagerly for the letter you will have written after you received news of my actions and of the death of Trebonius.1 For I have no doubt that you will explain your plan for me. Through a shameful crime we have lost a loyal citizen and been driven out from a province2—which will not be easy to recover, nor will the matter be any less ugly and scandalous if it is able to be recovered.
Antonius3 is still with me, but by the god of truth,4 I am both moved by the man’s prayers, and I fear that he will be carried off by certain men’s fury. I am very worried about it. If I knew what you thought, I would have no anxiety; for I would be persuaded that it was best. So let me know what you think as soon as possible.
Our dear Cassius holds Syria and the Syrian legions, and in fact was invited by Murcus and Marcius and the army itself.5 I have written to my sister Tertia6 and to my mother7 to say that they should not publicise this wonderful and very fortunate act of Cassius’ until you have advised them of your view.
I have read your two orations, one given on January 1st, and the other concerning my letter, which you delivered against Calenus.8 Now, undoubtedly, you are waiting for me to praise them. I don’t know whether I should praise you more for your courage or your genius in these little books. I now grant that they should be called Philippics, as you joked in one of your letters.9
There are two things I need, Cicero: money and reinforcements.10 Of these, you can provide the latter by sending me a number of soldiers from Italy, either through a secret meeting with Pansa, or through action in the Senate. The former is especially necessary, and no less for my army than it is for the others; and so it pains me even more that we have lost Asia. I hear that the province is being harassed by Dolabella to the extent that the killing of Trebonius no longer appears to be his cruellest deed. Antistius Vetus, however, has helped me financially.11
Your son Cicero wins my approval through his industry, patience, hard work, and unselfish heart—in short, through every kind of service.12 Certainly, he seems never to forget whose son he is. Therefore, since I cannot make you value someone so very dear to you any more highly, defer to my judgement and trust that he will not need to exploit your reputation to win the same honours as his father.13
Written April 1st at Dyrrachium.
Latin text of Cic. ad Brut. 2.3 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
Trebonius was killed by Dolabella in late January. Brutus’ letter arrived in Rome in mid February, and prompted Cicero’s Tenth Philippic.
The province of Asia, which was now held by Dolabella.
Mark Antony’s brother, Gaius Antonius. Brutus had taken him prisoner after taking control of Macedonia.
me dius fidius (by the god of truth) is a common interjection or oath. Dius Fidius might be associated with Jupiter.
The army of Quintus Caecilius Bassus, which defected to Cassius against its general’s wishes.
Tertia was married to Cassius.
Servilia.
The Fifth Philippic, delivered on January 1st, and the Tenth Philippic, delivered in mid February.
The Philippics took the name from a series of speeches by Demosthenes, delivered against Philip II of Macedon.
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘According to Appian, B.C. iv.75, Brutus had received the enormous sum of 16,000 talents (= c. HS 384,000,000) from the Quaestor (actually Proquaestor) Apuleius (cf. 20 (15).2) and other sums from other Quaestors; see Botermann, Soldaten, 94, who conjectures that Brutus needed yet more money for bounties to his troops to match those offered by Octavian and Antony to theirs.’
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘C. Antistius Vetus had been in charge of Syria until succeeded by Staius Murcus. Probably in late 44 he entered into Brutus’ service, handing over the tribute money which he was taking back to Rome.’
Cicero’s son was evidently no longer studying philosophy in Athens.
From Seneca, de Beneficiis 4.30 trans. Aubrey Stewart, written about 100 years later: ‘I shall not deny that sometimes I would give even to the unworthy, out of respect for others; as, for instance, in competition for public offices, some of the basest of men are preferred on account of their noble birth, to industrious men of no family, and that for good reasons; for the memory of great virtues is sacred, and more men will take pleasure in being good, if the respect felt for good men does not cease with their lives. What made Cicero's son a consul, except his father?’