25 October 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Puteoli)

Cicero shares rumours and a new speech with Atticus

I received two letters from you on the 25th. So I shall reply to the first of them first. I agree with you that I should neither lead nor bring up the rear, but I should still show my support.

I have sent you a speech.¹ It is your decision how long to keep hold of it and when to publish it. But when do you think the day will come when it should be published? I do not think the truce you write of is likely to happen.² Not answering him at all is better, and I suppose that is what I’ll do. You write that two legions have arrived at Brundisium—you hear everything first. So please write to me with whatever you hear.

I am waiting for Varro’s dialogue. I don’t disapprove of something Herakleidian, especially when you are so pleased with such a work; but I would like to know what sort of thing you want.³ As I wrote to you before (or even ‘previously,’ as you would rather have it),⁴ to tell the truth, you have made me more eager to write. For to your own opinion, which I already knew, you have added Peducaeus’ authority, which holds an especially great deal of weight to me. So I shall try to make sure that you see the results of my effort and attentiveness.

I am fostering a friendship with Vettienus, as you write, and with Faberius. I don’t think Cloelius has done anything maliciously; although—but he will do as he likes. About retaining one’s liberty—nothing can be sweeter—I agree with you. Really, about Caninius Gallus? What a worthless man!⁵ What else can I call him? Marcellus is cautious. As am I—although not as cautious as I could be.

I have replied to your longer and earlier letter. Now, how can I reply to your shorter and later letter, except by saying that it was truly delightful? The situation in Spain is very good, so long as I see little Balbus remains unharmed, to support me in my old age.⁶ The same is true of Annianus, since Visellia holds me in high esteem. But such is life.

You say that you know nothing about Brutus, but Servilia says that Marcus Scaptius has arrived, without his usual pomp. He will visit her in secret, and then I shall know everything—and I shall let you know at once. Meanwhile, she tells me that a slave of Bassus arrived, who announced that the Alexandrian legions are up in arms, Bassus summoned, Cassius expected.⁷ In short, it seems like the Republic is recovering her rights. But I shouldn’t speak too soon. You know what mindless and experienced villains those men are.

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Read Ad Atticum 15.13 in Latin here | Check the glossary here

1. The Second Philippic. Written in response to Antony’s speech against Cicero in the Senate on 19th September, and published in written form (rather than spoken as an oration) by early December 44 BCE. Cicero left it up to Atticus to decide when to publish it, and I think it fits Atticus’ control over his absent half of the correspondence for him to not let you read it until then.

2. A potential truce between Cicero and Antony, who had verbally attacked one another in the Senate. Cicero’s was considering avoiding more conflict by just not responding to Antony.

3. Cicero had been promising to write Atticus ‘something Herakleidian’ since May, and then again twice in July.

4. Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Atticus had evidently taken exception to Cicero’s use of antea [before] = prius [previously], common in his letters and not peculiar to them.’

5. It’s unclear what Cicero means without knowing what he was replying to in Atticus’ letter. Shackleton Bailey thinks that the ‘worthless man’ could be Cicero’s nephew Quintus.

6. Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Cicero refers [with the diminutive ‘Balbillus’], not to an unknown Balbilius (the very name is unheard of in republican times), but to L. Cornelius Balbus the younger—Balbus minor, probably Balbinus of 13.21.3. He was in Spain at this time as Pollio’s quaestor, and may be assumed to have taken part with his chief in the unsuccessful struggle against Sex. Pompeius to which Cicero here alludes. The irony is in keeping with Cicero’s attitude towards both Balbi.’

7. Caecilius Bassus had continued to resist a Caesarian siege at Apamea in Syria even after the assassination of Caesar. Cassius had previously been allocated the governorship of Syria for the year 43 by Caesar, but Antony had replaced this with a commission to buy grain, and then with the governorship of Cyrene. But the legions in the area still expected Cassius to arrive as the new governor of Syria.