After 11 July 44 BCE: To Gaius Ateius Capito (in Epirus) from Cicero (at Puteoli)
Cicero asks more people for help with Buthrotum
I never thought that I would come to entreat something of you; but by Hercules, I am not sorry to have been given the opportunity to put your love to the test. You know how important Atticus is to me. I’ll love you for it if you do this for me also—forget, for my sake, that he once wanted legal support for his friend, who was opposing you, when his friend’s reputation was at stake. Firstly, your sense of fairness should lead you to forgive this; for everyone ought to protect their friends. Secondly, if you have any love for me—forget Atticus—do this just for your friend Cicero (since you often make it known how important he is to you), so that I can now see clearly what I have always believed—that you really love me.
When Caesar released the Buthrotians through a decree which I myself signed, along with many distinguished men, and had made it clear that when the settlers had crossed the sea, he would send a letter about which other land they should be diverted to, it so happened that he died suddenly.1 Then, as you know (for you were involved yourself), when the consuls were obligated by a senatorial decree to review Caesar’s acts, they postponed the matter until June 1st. In addition to the senatorial decree, a law was passed on June 2nd, which gave the consuls the power to review the things Caesar ‘had decided on, decreed, and acted on.’ The case of the Buthrotians was brought before the consuls. Caesar’s decree was read out, and many other things Caesar had written were produced. The consuls, in agreement with their assessors, judged in favour of the Buthrotians, and sent a letter to Plancus.
Now, my Capito, for I know how much influence you always have with the people whose company you keep, and all the more with so easy-going and kind a man as Plancus—do everything you can; put some sweat into it, or rather, sweet-talk Plancus until his feelings towards us, which I hope are very good, are made even better through your help. Of course, I feel that just from the nature of the facts, Plancus, due to his own character and good sense, and not from any other influence, would not hesitate to uphold a decree of the consuls, since they were enabled by both a law and a senatorial decree to review and judge the case. This is especially true since undermining this type of review would seem to call the acts of Caesar into doubt—when their confirmation is desired not only by those whose interests are affected, but even by those who do not approve of the acts, but want them confirmed for the sake of peace. Since this is the case, it still matters to us that Plancus does this in a willing and generous mindset—as he certainly will, if you employ the energy I have often recognised in you, and the charm in which no-one equals you. I ask this as an urgent and pressing favour.
Read Ad Atticum 16.16c in Latin here | Check the glossary here
That’s definitely one way of describing it.
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"That's one way of describing it."