11 April 43 BCE: To Brutus (in Macedonia) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero complains to Brutus about two of Brutus' brothers-in-law
From Cicero to Brutus, greetings.
You can find out about Plancus’ outstanding feeling towards the Republic, and his legions, auxiliaries, and forces from his letter1—I think a copy has been sent to you. I believe you have found out from your family’s letters about the fickleness and inconstancy and feelings forever hostile to the Republic of your relation Lepidus,2 who hates his relatives by marriage3 only slightly less than he hates his brother.4
I am anxiously awaiting [news from Mutina] where it has all now reached a crisis point. All hope rests on Decimus Brutus being set free5—I am very afraid for him.
Here in Rome I have enough work with that madman Servilius; I have tolerated him for longer than a man of my dignity should have allowed. But I tolerated him for the sake of the Republic, so that I wouldn’t give reckless citizens a man—not entirely sane, but still of noble birth—to rally around. They are doing so nonetheless. But I did not think he needed to be estranged from the Republic.
My tolerance of him is at an end; for he has started to behave so insolently that he acts as if no-one is free. In fact, in the case of Plancus, he became enflamed with unbelievable indignation and for two days fought so hard against me (and was smashed so thoroughly) that I hope he will be more restrained from now on.
And in this same struggle, while the argument was at its most intense, on April 9th a letter was delivered to me in the Senate by our dear Lentulus—about Cassius, about his legions, about Syria.6 I read it out immediately, and Servilius fell down, and many others besides; for there are a number of distinguished men whose feelings are wicked and disloyal. But Servilius was very bitter that the Senate took my side about Plancus. He is a monster in our Republic, but believe me, he will not last long.
Written April 11th.
Latin text of Cic. ad Brut. 2.2 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
Lepidus was married to Brutus’ sister Junia Secunda.
Cassius was married to one of Brutus’ other sisters, Junia Tertia. Publius Servilius Isauricus who appears later in this letter was married to yet another sister, Junia Prima.
Lepidus’ older brother was Lucius Aemilius Paullus, the consul of 50 BCE.
Cicero hoped the armies of Hirtius, Pansa, and Octavian, would be able to lift Antony’s siege on Decimus Brutus at Mutina.
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Nothing is said of Lentulus Spinther’s despatch (not extant) in the letter to Plancus, who as a Caesarian could not be expected to rejoice in the successes of Cassius.’