Late March 43 BCE: To Quintus Cornificius (in Africa) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero is very hopeful!
I agree with you that the men who you said in your letter are threatening Lilybaeum should have been punished then and there.1 But you feared, as you say, to seem too unrestrained in punishing injustice. You feared, therefore, to seem too authoritative a citizen, too brave, too worthy of yourself.
I am glad that you are renewing for yourself the alliance with me in protecting the Republic that you inherited from your father;2 that alliance, my Cornificius, will remain between us forever. I am also glad that you do not think I need to be thanked on your account; for there should be none of that between us.
The Senate would have been appealed to for what is due to your position more often, if not for that while the consuls are away,3 it is only convened in exceptional circumstances. And so at the moment nothing can be done through the Senate, neither about the 20,000 sesterces, nor about the 70,000 sesterces. But my view is that you should requisition the money on the basis of the Senatorial decree, or raise a loan.
I trust that you are aware of the political situation by the letters of those who should be sending detailed accounts of proceedings. I am very hopeful. I am not lacking in advice, careful consideration, and hard work. I position myself as the bitterest enemy of all those hostile to the Republic. And I do not think the current situation is that difficult—and it would have been easier, if not for the negligence of certain men.4
Latin text of Ad Familiares 12.28 | Glossary | Historia Civilis video overview of 44-43 BCE
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘‘It would appear that certain mercenaries of Antony had started from Africa and attempted to seize Lilybaeum; that Cornificius had captured them; but had dismissed them without inflicting any punishment’ (T.-P.). Nardo thinks that soldiers of T. Sextius in Africa Nova (cf. Broughton, 330) may have been involved. However, the present tense (minari) makes it highly improbably that the attempt on Lilybaeum had already been made. Sicily was now under Cicero’s friend Pompeius Bithynicus.’
Cornificius’ father had held the Catilinarian conspirator Cethegus under arrest in his house during Cicero’s consulship.
The consuls Hirtius and Pansa had both taken their armies to Mutina to try to help Decimus Brutus, who was still being besieged by Mark Antony.
Shackleton Bailey suggests that Cicero means Hirtius and Pansa.