2 February 43 BCE: To Cassius (in Syria) from Cicero (at Rome)
I only wish that you had invited me to dinner on the Ides of March—certainly, there would have been no leftovers!
I only wish that you had invited me to dinner on the Ides of March—certainly, there would have been no leftovers!1 As it is, your leftovers2 are keeping me busy, and indeed, me more than anyone else. Yes, we have an outstanding pair of consuls, but the consulars are utterly disgraceful; the Senate has courage, but those with the most courage have the lowest position. Nothing comes close to how courageous and loyal the people are, along with Italy as a whole—but nothing comes close to how disgustingly the envoys Philippus and Piso have behaved, how scandalously!3
They were sent to Antony to deliver certain messages, as was the opinion of the Senate. When that man obeyed not a single one of those messages, they chose to return to us with his intolerable demands.4 And so people are gathering around me, and I have now become a popular favourite in an advantageous cause.
But I don’t know what you are doing, or what you will do, or even where you are. Rumour has it that you are in Syria—no one says this with any authority. About Brutus, who is much nearer, the news seems more certain.
Dolabella is being completely ridiculed by people with any taste, for trying to succeed you so quickly, when you had only been in Syria for scarcely thirty days.5 And so it is agreed that he should not be allowed into Syria. You and Brutus receive the highest praise, because you are thought to have raised an army beyond what was hoped for.
I would have written more if I knew the facts of the matter. As it is, what I write is based on people’s opinion, and rumour. I am waiting eagerly for a letter from you.
Goodbye.
Latin text of Ad Familiares 12.4 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
‘If you had included me in the plot to kill Caesar, Mark Antony would not still be alive.’
i.e. Antony.
Cicero doesn’t group Servius Sulpicius Rufus with the other envoys because he died during the envoys’ mission to Antony.
Footnote borrowed from E.S. Shuckburgh: ‘This is the subject of the eighth Philippic delivered on the 3rd of February. Antony's postulata are discussed in §§ 25-58. They included: (1) amnesty for all proceedings of the past year; (2) confirmation of his consular acta; (3) lands for his soldiers; (4) no inquiry as to the money taken from the temple of Ops; (5) the amnesty to include all his agents and friends; (6) the governorship of Gallia Comata for five years with six legions. In return he will give up Gallia Cisalpina.’
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘[Dolabella] had left to take over Syria, assigned to him in April 44 (Broughton, 317), early in Novemeber (cf. 350 (XVI.24).2n.). Thirty days was the period during which under the lex Cornelia a governor might remain in his province after the arrival of his successor (cf. 69 (III.6).3); not ‘before his successor took up the reins of government’ (T.-P.). Cassius, it seemed, was not to be allowed thirty days in office from the start of his tenure. The main point of the joke (which Nardo thinks was Cicero’s own) seems, however, to lie in the fact that Cassius had in reality no legal claim to Syria (cf. Phil. XI.28 cum est in Syriam profectus, alienam provinciam; despite App. B.C. III.2).
he's so cunty