29 May 43 BCE: To Cicero (at Rome) from Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther (at Perge)

A very long update on Dolabella and the situation in Asia

From Lentulus to his friend Cicero, many greetings.

After I met our friend Brutus and realised that he would be late to arrive in Asia, I returned to Asia to finish up my business and send the money to Rome as soon as possible.¹ Meanwhile, I found out that Dolabella’s fleet was in Lycia, and that he had more than a hundred transport ships that he could board his army onto, and that Dolabella was mentally prepared, if his hopes for Syria fell through, to set out with his ships and make for Italy, to join up with Antony and those other thugs.

I was so alarmed by this situation that I abandoned all other business and tried to engage him with an inferior force of lesser vessels. If the Rhodians had not interfered, perhaps the whole situation would be over. Still, a great part of it is finished, since fear of my arrival scattered his fleet; the soldiers and their leaders fled, and we captured every single one of the transports.

I really feel like I have dealt with what alarmed me the most, which was that Dolabella not be able to reach Italy and reinforce his allies, which would make business more difficult for you. You will find out how much the Rhodians spurned me and the Republic from the official letter I have sent. In fact, I have written much more sparingly than I found their madness deserved. 

Don’t be surprised that I wrote about them at all—the way they have lost their minds is surprising. I have not been influenced by any personal injury; I found that their hearts set against our safety, their love for the other side, and their continuous disrespect for loyal men were intolerable. 

Still, I do not think they are all desperate and awful men. But that same set of them who refused to receive my father when he was fleeing, as well as Lucius Lentulus, Pompey, and other very famous men²—it is that set who, as if it is somehow fated, now either hold magistracies or have power over the magistrates. And so they behave with the same arrogant depravity. It is not only of use to the Republic, but it is even a necessity that we stamp out their wickedness and do not allow it to increase with impunity.

Please take care of my position whenever you have the opportunity, as always, and support anything that honours me both in the Senate and anywhere else. Since Asia has been given by decree to the consuls,³ and they have been permitted to delegate the administration to the men who currently hold the province until they arrive, please ask them to bestow this honour on me before anyone else, and to let me administer the province so I can maintain it until one of them arrives. 

They have no reason to rush here during their magistracy or to send an army. For Dolabella is in Syria, and as you have foreseen and foretold with your divine understanding, Cassius will crush him while the consuls are still on their way. Dolabella has been shut out of Antioch, and had a bad time of it when he tried to storm the place. He didn’t trust any other city, and so went to Laodicea, which is in Syria on the coast. I hope that he will soon get what he deserves. He has nowhere to flee to, nor can he hold out there for long against an army as large as Cassius’. I even hope that Dolabella has already been crushed and finished off.

For these reasons, I don’t think Hirtius and Pansa will hurry to the provinces during their consulship; but rather they will conduct their consulships in Rome. And so, if you ask them to delegate the administration of Asia to me in the meantime, I hope you will be successful. In the meantime, Hirtius and Pansa have promised me in person, and put it in writing while I was away, and Pansa has confirmed to my friend Verrius, that they would work hard to ensure that no-one was sent to succeed me during their consulship.

Then again, by the god of truth,⁴ I do not want my period in office extended out of desire for the province; for I have found that the province is full of difficulties, danger, and detriment. I am very anxious not to have endured all this in vain, nor to be forced to give it up before I have got the remaining results of my hard work. 

For if I could have sent all the money I raised, I would ask to be relieved. As it is, I want to raise and replace the amount that I gave to Cassius, and the amount lost due to the death of Trebonius, or even due to Dolabella’s cruelty and the treachery of those who did not keep their promises to me or the Republic. This cannot be done unless I have more time. Please ensure, as you so often do, that I have your help in achieving this.

I think my service to the Republic merits my expectation that I receive not only the reward of this province, but as much as Cassius and the two Bruti got, not only because of my association with that great and dangerous deed,⁵ but also because of my devotion and courage in the current situation. 

For I was first to break Antony’s laws, first to bring Dolabella’s cavalry to the Republic’s side and hand them over to Cassius,⁶ first to levy troops for our collective safety from the most wicked of conspiracies. I alone brought Syria and the armies there to Cassius and the Republic’s side; for if I had not given so much money and so many reinforcements to Cassius so quickly, he would not even have dared to enter Syria, and the Republic would now be threatened by as much danger from Dolabella as from Antony.

And I have done all this even though I was Dolabella’s companion and very close friend, and very closely related by blood to the Antonii,⁷ and in possession of the province due to their favour. But ‘loving my country more,’⁸ I was first to declare war on the men who were my friends.

Although I am aware that I have not yet profited from my great efforts, still, I have hope, and nor shall I grow tired of persevering not only in my devotion for freedom, but also in labour and dangers. And still, if I am encouraged by some justified and deserved glory through the courtesy of the Senate and loyal men, I shall have greater authority among others, and be able to provide more for the Republic.

I was not able to see your son when I visited Brutus because he had already set out for winter quarters with the cavalry. But by the god of truth, I am very pleased by the reputation he has, for your sake and his, and especially for my own. For as he is your son and worthy of you, he is like a brother to me.

Written May 29th, at Perge.

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Latin text of ad Familiares 12.14 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE

1. Lentulus had gone to Asia in 44 BCE as Trebonius’ quaestor. Dolabella had thrown him out of the province after murdering Trebonius early in 43 BCE.

2. This would have been after the battle of Pharsalus.

3. The news that both consuls had died hadn’t reached Lentulus yet.

4. me dius fidius (by the god of truth) is a common interjection or oath. Dius Fidius might be associated with Jupiter.

5. Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Lentulus was one of several who, though not party to the plot against Caesar, joined the assassins immediately and claimed to have been of their number.’

6. Another footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘According to Dio (XLVII.21.3, 26.1), the money and horsemen were supplied by Trebonius. How far his subordinate was entitlted to claim the credit we have no way of judging.’

7. One final footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘Chance provides information of an affar in 47 between Dolabella and Lentulus’ wife Metella, whom he divorced in 45 (A. V, 291). The blood relationship with the Antonii may have been through Lentulus’ mother, whose name is unknown. Their mother Julia married a Lentulus (Sura, Catiline’s associate) after the death of her former husband, M. Antonius Creticus.’

8. Part of the line ‘I love my children, but I love my homeland more’ from Euripides’ lost play Erechtheus.