Late September 44 BCE: To Gaius Cassius Longinus (near Puteoli) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero complains to Cassius about Antony and the situation in Rome
I am very glad that you approve of my motion and my speech.1 If I could do that more often, it would be nothing to recover liberty and the Republic! But that desperate madman,2 much more wicked than the man you said was the most wicked man to ever be killed,3 is seeking a starting-point for a massacre, and for no reason other than that, is accusing me of authoring the plot to kill Caesar—so that the veterans will be incensed against me. I am not very afraid of this danger, so long as he associates the glory of your act with my reputation. And so, neither Piso, who first denounced him (with no support), nor myself, who did the same a month later, nor Publius Servilius, who followed me, can come to the Senate safely.
That gladiator is seeking a massacre, and he thought to make me his starting-point on September 19th.4 He came prepared, since he had studied his speech in advance for several days, in Metellus’ villa.5 But how could he study, amid the wine and debauchery? And so, as I wrote to you before, everyone thought he seemed to be throwing up—as is his habit—not speaking.
And so—you write that you trust that my authority and eloquence can achieve something—it’s not nothing that’s been accomplished, in such a terrible situation. The Roman people understand that there are three consulars6 who, because they felt loyal to the Republic and spoke freely, cannot safely come to the Senate. And you shouldn’t expect more than that. For your relative7 is delighted with his new marriage-connection, and so is no longer fond of the Games, and is ready to explode at the endless applause for your brother.8 Your other relative9 has been mollified by Caesar’s new papers. But these things are tolerable. What is unbearable is the man who expects his son to be consul in your and Brutus’ year,10 and to this end, declares that he is the devoted servant of that thug.11
My friend Lucius Cotta, from ‘some fatal desperation’ (as he calls it) comes less often to the Senate; Lucius Caesar, that best and bravest citizen, is held back by illness; Servius Sulpicius, who has a lot of authority and is loyal in sentiment, is not here. The rest, except for the consuls-designate—forgive me, but I wouldn’t count them as consulars. These are the men guiding the course of the Republic. A pitiful few, even in good times.12 What do you think of them in this desperate situation?
And so all our hope rests with you both.13 On that account, if you are staying away for your own safety, there is no hope in you either. But if you are planning something worthy of your glory, I hope I am alive to see it; but if I am not, still, the Republic will soon recover its legal rights through your actions.
I am looking out for your friends, and I shall continue to look out for them. If they come to me for anything (or if they don’t), my friendship and good-will will be there for them.
Goodbye.
Read Ad Familiares 12.2 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
i.e. the First Philippic.
Mark Antony.
Caesar.
Antony had responded to the First Philippic with an aggressive speech on September 19th, for which Cicero was not present.
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Cornelianus Scipio Nasica’s villa at Tibur, which Antony obtained after the Civil War.
‘Consulars’ were ex-consuls, and were expected to have more authority in Senate meetings.
Lucius Aemilius Paullus, whose brother Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was married to Cassius’ wife’s sister. Lepidus’ son had just been engaged to or married Antony’s daughter.
Cassius’ brother Lucius Cassius was applauded earlier in the year. He had sided with Caesar in the civil war, but joined the side of the Liberatores at some point after the assassination of Caesar.
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘C. Marcellus (cos. 50), whose mother was a Junia (cf. 99 (xv.7) n.), perhaps sister of D. Junius Silanus. If so, he and Cassius' wife were cousins. [Relative] might refer to a connexion with Antony, but the only one traceable is extremely remote. Antony's mother Julia (sister of L. Caesar) was a distant relative of the Dictator, whose great-niece Octavia was Marcellus' wife. Of the other three suggested identifications, Paulus has already been disposed of and neither Dolabella nor Cassius' brother-in-law M. Junius Silanus were Consulars. Marcellus must have received some benefit from Antony, allegedly authorized in Caesar's memoranda.’
Another footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘L. Marcius Philippus, Consul in 56. His son of the same name was praetor in 44, and so would be eligible for the Consulate in 41, which would be the earliest possible year for M. Brutus and Cassius.’
Antony.
Yet another footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘There were eight Consulars on the spot and in good standing, if Servilius is included. The corresponding number at the outbreak of ‘Caesar’s War’ was at least seventeen (and two Consuls).’
Cassius and Brutus.
marce tulli stop saying you might be dead by then...