Around July 1 43 BCE: To Cassius (in Syria) from Cicero (at Rome)

Cicero's last surviving letter to Cassius

From Cicero to Cassius, greetings.

Lepidus—your relative,¹ my friend—was declared a public enemy by a unanimous vote of the Senate on June 30th. So were the rest of those who defected from the Republic; they at least have been given the opportunity to come to their senses by September 1st. Of course, the Senate is strong, but you are our greatest hope of reinforcement. As I write this, we are in fact involved in a great war because of Lepidus’ crime and fickleness.

Every day we hear the kinds of things we want to about Dolabella, but the reports are still rumours with no source, no authority. But although that is the case, still, the letter I received from you dated from camp on May 7th² has had such a persuasive effect on the state that everyone thinks that Dolabella has already been crushed and that you are arriving in Italy with your army, so that if things turn out the way we want, we can rely on your advice and authority—or on your army, if we falter at all, as happens in war. 

For my part, I shall honour that army every way I can. The time for that will come when we begin to find out how much this army will help the Republic, or how much it has already helped. So far, all we hear about are things that have been attempted. These things really are excellent and very noble, but we expect action. I trust that this has either already taken place, or is about to.

Nothing can be more noble than your virtue and greatness of spirit. And so we pray that we shall see you in Italy as soon as possible. We shall believe that we have the Republic again, if we have both of you.³

We had won a noble victory—if Lepidus had not taken in Antony when he was ruined, unarmed, in flight. Antony was never the object of as much hatred from the state as Lepidus is now. Antony stirred up war when the Republic was in chaos, but Lepidus has done so in a time of victory and peace. We have the consuls-designate standing against him,⁴ and we have placed great hope in them, but we are anxious and in suspense over the uncertain outcome of any battles.

So believe that everything depends on you and Brutus. We are waiting for you both, and for Brutus at this very moment. But if, as I hope, you arrive when our enemies have already been defeated, still, the Republic will recover and remain in some tolerable state under the authority of you both. There are many things that must be remedied, even if the Republic seems to be liberated well enough from the crimes of its enemies. 

Goodbye.

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Latin text of ad Familiares 12.10 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE

1. Lepidus was married to Cassius’ wife’s sister.

2. Cic. Fam. 12.12.

3. i.e. Cassius and Brutus.

4. Plancus and Decimus Brutus were consuls-designate for 42 BCE.