10 June 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Astura?)
Cicero hopes that Octavian's good disposition will last
By Hercules, that’s good news about Buthrotum! But because you ordered it, I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter. What harm can it do?
About our friends at Antium, I felt what I had written was clear enough that you should have no doubts that they intend to remain peaceful, and accept Antony’s insulting favour. Cassius scorned the grain commission; Servilia said she would have it removed from the senatorial decree.1 Our dear friend however said (very solemnly) that he would go to Asia, after he had agreed with me that he could not be safe in Rome; he prefers to hold the games in his absence.2 He said he would leave immediately after he had handed over the preparations for the games to the people who would be responsible for them. He is gathering ships; his mind is fixed on the journey. Until then, they will stay in the same place. Brutus even says he will stay at Astura.
Lucius Antonius graciously writes to me with orders not to worry. That’s one favour from him—perhaps there will be another if I go to Tusculum.3 What an unbearable situation! And still, we bear it. There is a Brutus to blame.4
Octavian, as I have perceived, has enough natural talent, and enough spirit, and he seems as well-inclined towards our heroes as we could wish.5 But how much we can trust his age, his name, his inheritance, his education, is an important matter of consideration. His stepfather at least thinks not at all—I saw him at Astura. But still, he must be cultivated, and if nothing else, separated from Antony. If Marcellus has recommended my writing, brilliant; Octavian certainly seemed to me to be devoted to him. But he did not trust Pansa or Hirtius much. A good disposition—if it lasts.
Read Ad Atticum 15.12 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
‘Cicero and everyone else takes it for granted that Servilia could do exactly what she said: get a senatorial decree altered. It is mentioned casually, as if it were a routine matter.’ (Susan Treggiari, Servilia and her Family.)
‘Our dear friend’ is of course Brutus.
This is probably an ironic comment about the potential attack on Cicero’s Tusculan villa, but it is unclear what Lucius Antonius’ ‘favour’ would be. The attack not occurring? Or Cicero not being killed in it?
Cicero is deliberately ambiguous as to whether he means Marcus or Decimus Brutus.
This is the first time Cicero refers to Octavian by that name. He had previously called him Octavius, as a way of subtly not recognising his adoption by Caesar.