26 April 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Puteoli)
Cicero complains to Atticus about Antony's 'licentiously,' 'repulsively,' 'perniciously' written letter
[This is the second of two letters from April 26th.]
I received your letter from the 19th on the 25th. In it you ask me—and you reckon that I don’t know the answer myself—whether I am more charmed by the hills and the view, or by the walk along the shore. By Hercules, it is as you say; both places are so pleasant that I’m not sure which I prefer.
But it's not the flowing feast
that is on our minds now—no, a stark disaster,
too much to bear, Achilles bred by the gods,
that is what we are staring in the face
and we are afraid. All hangs in the balance now…1
Although you have written to me with important and agreeable news about Decimus Brutus reaching his legions (in which I see our greatest hope), nevertheless, if a civil war is coming (and it certainly will if Sextus remains in arms—and I am certain he will remain in arms) I don’t know what we should do. This time it will not be allowed, as was allowed in Caesar’s war, for one to be on neither side. For anyone that this party of wastrels thinks rejoiced at Caesar’s death (and we all showed our joy very openly) will be numbered among their enemies—which would mean widespread slaughter. All that remains is to go over to Sextus’ camp, or perhaps Brutus’;2 which would be distasteful and incongruous with our age—and the issue of the war is still uncertain—and somehow I might say to you, and you to me:
Fighting is not for you, my child, the works of war.
See to the works of… speech.3
But this is up to chance, which in these matters has more weight than reason. Let us look to that which should be within our own power—that we bear whatever happens with courage and wisdom, and remember that we are mortal. And let us find much consolation in literature, and even more in the Ides of March.
Now consider the deliberation which worries me: so many things come to mind on each side of the argument. If I set out for Greece as a legate, as I had decided to, I feel I would be avoiding at least some of the danger of imminent massacre, but would come under scrutiny for abandoning the Republic in such a serious situation. But if I remain here, I feel I would definitely be in a critical situation, but I suspect I might have the chance to be of service to the Republic. There are also my personal considerations. I feel that it would be very helpful in encouraging my son, if I visited him; and when I thought of taking up the position of legate from Caesar I had no other reason besides that. So please reflect on the matter in its entirety, as you usually do about anything you think concerns me.
I return now to your letter. You write that there are rumours that I am going to sell the property I have on the lake, or at any rate, to give Quintus the tiny little villa, and even at an excessive price, so that he can bring in—as young Quintus has told you—the richly endowed Aquilia. In truth, I have not thought at all about selling it, unless I come across something I like even more. And Quintus cares nothing about buying at the moment; he is tormented enough by needing to repay his dowry.4 In this matter he is extraordinarily thankful to Egnatius. He is so averse to marriage that he says there is nothing more agreeable than having a bed to himself. But that is enough about these things as well.
For I return to our wretched—or rather, non-existent—Republic. Mark Antony has written to me about recalling Sextus Cloelius from exile. You will see how respectfully his letter is written (as pertains to myself) from the letter itself (I have sent you a copy of it)—how licentiously, how repulsively, how perniciously, so that sometimes one longs for Caesar again, you will judge with ease. Things that Caesar never did, nor would have done, nor would have allowed, are now being ‘discovered’ among his fake papers. But I presented myself as very easy-going to Antony. As a matter of fact, once he had decided that he can do whatever he wants, he would have done it all the same without my consent. So I have sent you a copy of my response as well.
Read Ad Atticum 14.13 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
Hom. Il. 9.228-30 trans. Fagles.
Decimus Brutus, not Marcus Brutus.
Cicero’s brother Quintus had recently divorced Atticus’ sister Pomponia.