6 July 43 BCE: To Appius Claudius Pulcher (in exile) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero tries to help a former (?) ally of Antony
From Cicero to Appius, greetings.
I think you know from your friends’ letters how devoted I am to your return to safety and good condition;1 I am sure that your friends are quite satisfied with this, but I don’t think it true that they are any more committed to your safety than I am, although their feeling towards you is remarkably kind. But they must admit that I have more power to help you than they do at the moment; and in fact I have not stopped working towards this, nor shall I stop—and I have already done so in a very consequential situation, and have laid the foundations for your return to safety.
Keep your spirits high and have courage, and trust that I shall not fail you in any way.
July 6th.
Latin text of ad Familiares 10.29 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
Appius had sided with Antony after the death of Caesar. He may have been having second thoughts after Antony and his followers were declared public enemies following the battle of Mutina—in part because Cicero argued that they should be. Cicero seems to have been working to restore Appius’ civic rights.