19 April 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Cumae)
Cicero wishes the aftermath of the Ides of March had gone differently
Is it true? Is this all that our beloved Brutus has managed? That he should remain at Lanuvium, that Trebonius should set out for his province by out-of-way roads? That Caesar’s acts, writings, words, promises, and thoughts should have more influence than if he was still alive? Do you remember how on that first day on the Capitol I shouted that the praetors should call a meeting of the Senate there?1 Immortal gods, think how much could have been accomplished while all the good men—and even those good enough—rejoiced, while those villains were crushed! You blame the Liberalia.2 But what could have been done? By that point, we had been dead for a long time already.
Do you remember how you shouted that the cause would be lost, if he were allowed a funeral? But what’s more, he was cremated in the forum, and given a wretched funeral oration, and slaves and the destitute were set against our houses with torches. What next? They dare to ask: ‘Are you against the will of Caesar?’ I cannot bear these things and their like, and so am thinking of ‘going from land to land.’3 But your land is too much in the wind.
Has your nausea gone completely? It seemed like it, judging by your letters. I return to the subject of the Tebassi, the Scaevas, the Fangos.4 Do you think they have any confidence that they will retain what they have gained while we are still standing? They thought we had more courage than we showed. They, of course, are lovers of peace, not authors of villainy. But when I wrote to you about Curtilius, and about Sextilius’ farm, I was also writing about Censorinus, and Messalla, and Plancus, and Postumus, and about that whole type. It would have been better to have died when Caesar was killed, which would never have happened, than to see these things.
Octavius reached Naples on the 18th. Balbus met him there the next morning, and then was with me in Cumae the same day: he says that he is going to accept the inheritance. But, as you write, [...] a great [...] with Antony.5 Your business at Buthrotum will be my responsibility, as it ought to be. You ask if Cluvius’ property is reaching 100,000 a year yet—it seems to be getting there. But in the first year I have made 80,000.
The elder Quintus writes to me, gravely, about his son, because he is now yielding to his mother, when before, she was entitled to this, but he was unfriendly to her. He sent me a letter raging against him. But if you know what the younger Quintus is doing, and have not yet set out from Rome, please write to me—and by Hercules, about anything else too. I am truly delighted by your letters.
Read Ad Atticum 14.10 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
The praetors in question were Brutus and Cassius.
i.e. the Senate meeting on the 17th, the day of the Liberalia festival. This was when the Senate voted to ratify Caesar’s acts.
Aesch. PB. 682, from Io’s story of being chased by the gadfly.
‘Tebassi’ is either a textual corruption or completely unknown. Scaeva and Fango had both profited from association with Caesar.
If you can untangle what †ῥιξόθεμιν† is supposed to say then I am clapping and cheering for you.