28 or 29 April 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Puteoli)
Cicero has mixed feelings about the results of the Ides of March, while Antony is planning something
‘Tell me the story once again!’1 Our Quintus, wearing a garland at the Parilia!2 And alone? But you mention Lamia as well, which I really wonder at. I would like to know who the others were, although I know well enough that they were all reprobates. So please explain it to me more clearly.
It chanced that just as I had sent you a quite wordy letter on the 26th, around three hours later I received one from you, which was a weighty one. There is no need for me to reply with how your jokes and witticisms about the Vestorian school of philosophy and the Puteolean custom of [...] made me laugh.3 But I will move on to the more political subjects.
You defend both Bruti4 and Cassius as if I blame them—when I can’t praise them enough. I tallied up the faults of the situation, not the men. For I see that although the tyrant has been taken out, the tyranny remains. Things are happening which Caesar would not have done, as in the case of Cloelius; I know for certain he not only would not have done it himself, but he would not have allowed it to be done either. Next will be Vestorius’ Rufio,5 and Victor, who Caesar never wrote about, and the rest—who won’t be included? We could not bear to be Caesar’s slaves, but we obey his notebooks.
As for the Liberalia,6 who was able to not attend the senate? Suppose that it was somehow possible; then since we had come, could we have given our opinions freely? Was it not vital to fend off the veterans, who were there in arms, while we had no defence? You are witness to the fact that I did not approve of that session on the Capitol. So, what is it? Is what happened the fault of the Bruti? No, it was not theirs at all—it was those other brutes, who think themselves cautious and wise. It is enough for them to rejoice, and for some of them to offer congratulations; but none of them stand firm.
But let us leave that in the past; let us protect those men with all care and every defence possible, and, as you advise, let us be content with the Ides of March, which gave our friends, those divine men, a way up to heaven, but did not give freedom to the Roman people. Recall what you said. Do you not remember how you shouted that all would be lost, if he were allowed a funeral? You spoke wisely, and you see what has resulted from it.
You write that on the 1st of June, Antony will bring forwards a motion about the provinces; that he should have both Gauls for himself, and that the term for each should be extended.7 Will we be allowed to vote freely? If it is allowed, I will rejoice that liberty has been restored. If it is not allowed, what will that exchange of masters have brought me, beyond joy at taking in the sight of the just destruction of a tyrant? You write also that plundering is taking place at the temple of Ops, and I saw it myself at the time. Truly, we have been freed by outstanding men—but we are not free. The praise is theirs, and the blame ours.
And you encourage me to write history, and to tally up the terrible crimes of the men who beset us even now! Shall I have the option not to praise the men who invited you to act as witness to their wills? And by Hercules, I am unmoved by the little amount of money in it, but it is painful to attack well-wishing men with invective, whatever they are like.
But about all my plans, as you write, I suppose we can decide with more certainty on the 1st of June. I shall be in attendance, and shall strive with all my power and care—and of course with help from your authority and influence, and the great justice of the case—to have the Senate pass a decree about the Buthrotians, of the type you write about.
On the matter you insist I think through, of course I will think it through, although I have already passed it to you to think about in my last letter. You return your Massilian neighbours their own as if the Republic were restored already.8 Perhaps these things can be restored by force of arms (though I don’t know how strong we are on that front), but not through authority.
The short letter that you added as a postscript, about Brutus’ letters to Antony, and Antony’s to you, I found very pleasant. It seems possible that things will get better than they have been thus far. But I must see to where I should be, and where I should go now.
Read Ad Atticum 14.14 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
A line from Pacuvius’ tragedy Iliona, quoted several times by Cicero.
The Parilia was the festival of the pastoral deity Pales, celebrated on April 21st. It was recently described in Ovid Daily!
Cicero had recently mentioned that Vestorius was not knowledgeable about philosophy.
Marcus and Decimus Brutus.
‘Rufio’ is Gaius Sempronius Rufus, and is only called Vestorius’ because they had previously had some legal dispute. One of Caelius’ letters to Cicero contains the story of how was indicted for a crime by Gaius Tuccius, tried to defend himself by counter-accusing Tuccius, was dramatically exposed by Caelius, convicted, and maybe exiled.
i.e. the Senate meeting on the 17th, the day of the Liberalia festival, when the Senate voted to ratify Caesar’s acts.
Antony had previously been allocated Macedonia as his proconsular provinces, for a term of two years. The two Gauls were Gallia Cisalpina and Gallia Comata.
Atticus seems to have promised something (or wanted to?) to unknown Massilians. Massilia had lost various rights after being forced to surrender to Caesar in the civil war.
“Although the tyrant has been taken out, the tyranny remains...” Reminds me of AOC’s comments after TFG lost.