4 or 5 July 44 BCE: To Lucius Plautius Plancus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Arpinum)
Finally, An Explanation Of The Buthrotum Situation
[This is the first of two letters from July 4th or 5th.]
Marcus Cicero greets Lucius Plancus, praetor designate.
I know how very fond you are of our dear Atticus, and how much you desire my company, to the point that I think (by Hercules!) I have very few friends who are as attentive and loving. The equal and mutual goodwill we have towards one another has greatly increased our inherited friendship—which was already strong, as well as long-established and proper.
You are well aware of the case of the Buthrotians. I have often made the case to you, and laid out the entire situation. This is what happened: when we first saw that the Buthrotian land had been confiscated, Atticus was worried, and wrote a petition. He gave it to me to give to Caesar—for I was going to have dinner with him that day. I gave Caesar the petition. He approved the case, and replied to Atticus that the demands were fair, but he warned him that the Buthrotians had to pay the remaining money on the appointed day. Atticus, who wished to save the community, paid the money out of his own pocket. When that was done, we went to Caesar; we spoke on behalf of the Buthrotians, and obtained a very generous decree, which was signed by very distinguished men.
Since these things were accomplished, I often wondered that Caesar allowed men who coveted the Buthrotian land to hold meetings, and not only allowed this but even put you in charge of the business. I therefore spoke with him about it, and quite often too, until he even accused me of not having enough trust in his constancy. He also said to both Marcus Messalla and Atticus himself that he shouldn’t worry, and he made it very clear that he did not want to offend the feelings of people here (he was a popular figure, as you know), but that once they had crossed the sea, he would see to it that they were diverted to some other land.
This was while he was alive. But after the death of Caesar, when the consuls first began to go over cases, in accordance with a senatorial decree, that which I have written to you about here was brought before them. They approved the case with no hesitation, and said that they would send you a letter. But I, my Plancus, although I do not doubt that a senatorial decree and a law and a decree and letter from the consuls would have a very great influence on you, and although I have understood that you want to help Atticus—still, because of the closeness and goodwill between us, I have assumed that I may ask for that which your remarkable kindness and most agreeable character would no doubt grant; which is—and I am sure you would do this out of your own volition—that out of respect for me, you would take action willingly, wholeheartedly, and quickly.
No-one is a closer or warmer or dearer friend to me than Atticus. Previously, only his money (and a large amount at that) was at stake. But now his reputation is involved as well, so that with your help he retains what he gained through great industry and influence, both while Caesar was alive and after his death. If you grant this, please believe that I shall consider your generosity as conferring the highest possible favour upon me. For my part, I shall devotedly and carefully attend to whatever I judge your desire or concern.
Take care of your health.
Read Ad Atticum 16.16a in Latin here | Check the glossary here