Late January 43 BCE: To Decimus Brutus (at Mutina) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero hopes for a victorious alliance between Decimus Brutus and Octavian
Your wife Polla sent me a note telling me to pass on to her any letters I wanted to send to you—but I have nothing to write to you at this time. Everything is in a state of suspense, because we are waiting for the envoys.1 Nothing about their activities has been announced yet.
Still, I thought I should write to tell you that the Senate and People of Rome are extremely worried about you—not only for their safety’s sake, but for that of your position too. It is remarkable how well-regarded your name is by every citizen, as well as the singular love they have for you. And so they hope and trust that, as you once freed the Republic from a tyrant, you will now free it from a tyranny.2
A levy is being held in Rome and across all of Italy—if it should be called a levy—everyone is volunteering themselves freely.3 People’s spirits burn so hotly with desire for freedom and hatred of lasting slavery.
On other matters, we should be expecting a letter from you soon about your own actions, and those of our friend Hirtius, and my dear Caesar.4 I hope in a short time they will both be united with you in a victorious alliance.
All that is left for me to write about myself is that which I hope and would prefer that you find out from your family’s letters—that I am not failing in any way, and nor shall I fail in any way, to support your position.
Latin text of Ad Familiares 11.8 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
Servius Sulpicius Rufus, Lucius Marcius Philippus, and Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, whom the Senate had sent as envoys to Mark Antony at the beginning of January, to tell him that if he did not stop besieging Mutina and leave Cisalpine Gaul with his army, the Senate would declare war on him.
i.e. Decimus should do to Antony what he did to Caesar on the Ides of March. Cicero wishing that the assassins had also killed Antony then will be something he mentions several times.
The levy of troops for the probable war against Antony was being overseen by Pansa.
Hirtius, now one of the two consuls, and Octavian (who Cicero calls Caesar here), now a member of the Senate with the rank of propraetor, were taking an army to Mutina to aid Decimus Brutus.