1 May 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Puteoli)
Dolabella has been executing people. Cicero feels hopeful!
Oh my marvellous Dolabella! For I can call him mine now. Before, believe me, I had some hesitation. The matter gained a lot of attention: execution off the rock, upon the cross, the column removed, the whole place contracted to be paved over!1 What more can you ask for? It’s heroic. He seems to me to have cast away his pretence at regret about Caesar, which had been creeping in day by day, that I feared would be dangerous to our tyrant-killers if it endured. Now I agree with your letter entirely, and hope for better things.
Although, I can’t bear those men who pretend to want peace, while defending unspeakable actions. But we can’t have everything at once. The situation is beginning to go better than I had thought. And I shall not leave here until you think I can do so honourably. Certainly, I shall not abandon my dear Brutus in any way, and even if I had no particular connection with him, I would have done the same, due to his singular, incredible virtue.
I hand over the whole villa, and everything in the villa, to our dear Pilia, and am myself setting out for Pompeii on May 1st. How I wish you would convince Brutus to stay at Astura.
Read Ad Atticum 14.15 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
Referring to Dolabella’s punishment of the people who had raised an altar and a column dedicated to Caesar at the site of his spontaneous cremation in the forum. Dolabella also removed the column. The rock would have been the Tarpeian Rock.