2. But I call all the gods to witnesB, that I have been re- called from death by this single expression alone, that all men declared that a part of your life also was laid up in my life. I have therefore erred and acted wrongly; for if I had died, my death of itself would have been an ample proof of my love and affection for you; but I have teen the cause, that though I am alive, you are without me, and that while I am alive, yon are in need of the assistance of others; and that my voice b silent above all in our domestic dangers, after having often been a protection against perils which did not at all affect ourselves. For aa to the fact of slaves having come to you without aay letters, since you see it did not happen tirough anger, the cause was aeanredly indolence, and an infinite multitude of sorrows and miseries.
3. With what sorrow do you think that these very words are writtenJ with as much as I know that you read them. Can I ever cease to think of you, or ever think of you without tears? For when I regret your absence, is it a brother alone that I am regrettingl Nay, T rather regret one who is almost a contemporary in afiection;' a son in reverential ** TherEfore I preferred tbat be should hsEten to Rome, instBod of commg to cee me; and nt the bsjob tiitie, (for 1 will teU the plain truth, by which you will be ahleto see the grecdiBeB of m; distress,) I could not bring mynuiid to see him who is no greatly nttiOcbed to me in each tronble; nor to axhibit to hiru my own miaeiy and grief, and the utter ruin of my f ortuno; nor could I endure to be seen by him. And I fesTBd, too, what no doubt would hnve beon the rase, that ho would not be able to tear himself from me." This letter to Atticus hoara the eomo dote aa Hie one in the text to Quintua.
' Saacitttte prope aijualem. Cicero's meaning <if the text be na CSoara wrote it) seems to be, that hie bruther is almost his equal, not meraljr in length of life, but in length of affection. Marcus has loved ' u longer than Quintug haa lored Mnrcne, becanee Marcus lured » in bia infancy before Qaintus coold return his lore. In saying S Iiave come doubt whether I am giving the right sensa to evUuiT I I a father in wisdom. What has ever bcea agreeable to me without you, or to you without mcl Why need I add, that Bt the same time I regret the absence of my daughter) A maiden of what affection, -nhat modesty, what ability! tlie image of my own countenance and coaverBation and dispoai- tion. Why need I add, that I regret also my son, that moat graceful youth, and moat dearly loved by me! whom I, like a crue] aud hard-hearted man, dismissed firom my embrace^ a youth of greater wisdom than I could have wished; for the unhappy boy had sense to feel what was going on. Why too should I speak of your son, your omi image, whom my boy Cicero both loved as a brother and respected even as an elder brother] Why should I observe that I did not permit tliat moat miaerable woman, my moat faithful wife, to attend me in my eailc, in order that there might be socoe one to protect the relics left from our common calamity, our common children 1 4. But still, I did write you a letter, in Buch a way as I could, and gave it to Fhilogonus your freedman, aud I imagine that it was Bubsequently delivered to you; in which I continued to eihort and entreat you, a,s your slaves told you in the verbal meaaage which they gave you from me, to go straight to Rome, and to go with speed. For, in the first place, I wished you to be there to protect yourself, in casa there were still any enemies of ours whose cruelty was not yet satisfied with the calamities which had befallen me; and, in the second place, I dreaded tho lamentations which must have broken out at our meeting, and I could not have en- dured your departure; I feared too that very thing which you mention in your letter, that you would not have bi able to tear yourself Irom me. For these reasona, thia gr misfortune of not seeing you; at all, than which it does lu luaviCat or aqualii. But wa can hardly taka aqaaUa in t " equal," far Cicero Tpould havo offered poor praise to Ilia brother if im bad Baid to him, " Tou are cdnKist mf equal in taamtat." " Suavitos," Ea;a Maleepiua, "est inter amicoa." But tbe souudnees of the text is eitremelji doubtful. Tbe old editions have iuamlaU profe aqvaitm, prope fratrtnt; the modem edilocg omit propa fratrcm. Lambinua ■would read luavitatefralrmt, Btate prope fffuutem, which Qruter calla a frigid emecdEitioD, but wiuch would materially Improve the passago. ^loit, however, is by no nmang nacaBaary; for, if it ware omitted. a^aolii would Btill be taken in the sense of " equal in a%e."
rO HIS BUDTHGn QUINrUS.
Mem possible for any more painful and bitter grief to havo befollet] affectionate and devoted brothers, was loss bitter and lets distressing tiiau our meeting and our separatioa 'would have beeu.
fi. Now, if you can, do what I, who have always appeared to you to bo a man of fortitude, cannot; raise and stroBgthea yourself if there is any conteKt to be encountered. I hope, if my hope has any weight, that your own integrity, and the affection which the city bears you, and even pity for me, will bring you some protection. But if you find yourself free from that danger, you will do, I am sure, anything which, yon ahall think poBsible to be done in my behalf. On this subject many of my friends write me many letters, and show that they still entertain hopes; bnt I myself do not see clearly vrhat to hope, as my enemies have very great power; and of my friends, some have deserted me, and some havo even betrayed me, as they fear perhaps in my return a reproof to their own wickedness. But what is the real position of affairs in that respect, I should wish you to exacnine thoroughly, and to let me know, for myself, as long as it shall be of any use to you, if you shall see that there is danger to ba met, I wii! continue to live; longer than that I cannot exist: for no prudence and no learning has power enough to endure Euofa a weight of sorrow.
6. I know that there has been a more honourable and a more useful opportunity of dying, but I not only let that slip, but many other things too; but, if I chose to waste time in lamenting what is past, I should be doing nothing but increasing your sorrow, and eshibiting my own folly. What, however, neither ought to be done nor can be done, is for me to remain in so miserable and dishonourable an ex- istence as this any longer thau the chance of an opportunity of serving you or any well-grounded hope shall require; bo that I, who was formerly most happy in my brother, in my children, my wife, my resources, and even in respect of riches,^ and in dignity, authority, repute, and favour, not inferior to the greatest mea who have ever existed, now, in these cruabed and ruined circumstances, am no longer able even to lament myself and my friends.
' Gtnere ipyt jJteuniir. Paul Miuiutiafl would read, geiKrc ipto- ptcanid.
OIOGBOB tiETITEKa 7. Why, therefore, have you written, to me Rboul any bills of ejcbanget As if your resouroes did not now support mo, ju which very matter, miserable that I am, I both ace and feel how great an error I have committed: while you have to Bfttisfy those in whose debt you are, out of your own means and those of youi- son, I have squandered to no piu-- ipose money drawn out of the treasury in your name. But still, the eum which you mentioned in your letters hna beeo, paid to Mark Antony, and the same amount to Csapio. And what I have with rae is quite sufficient for the objects which I have in view; for whether I am restored, or whether I am forced to abandon all hope, I want nothing more here; and RH for you, if perchance any annoyance should arise, I advise you to apply to Crassus and to Calidius.
8. How much trust may be placed in HorteuBiuB I do not know. He treated me with the greatest poaeible dishonesty and treachery, though with the greatest pretences of affection, and with unremitting attention day after day, Arrins being also in league with him; and it was from being deceived by their advice, and promises, and rccomraendations, that I fell into this misfortune. But you will take no notice of this, that they may not injure you; only be on your guard on this point, (and with this view I would have you cultivate the friendship of Hortensins hiraaelf through the instru- mentality of PoraponiuB,)'^ that that verso^ which was quoted agMnst you with reference to the Aurolian law, when yoa were a candidate for the cedileship, may not be confirmed by false witness. For there is nothing that I am so much afraid of as that, when men find out how ninch pity for me, your prayers, and a regard for your safety, is likely to escite, they will oppose you with greater violence, 9. I believe that Messala is well affected towards you; and I think that even Pompey pretends to be so; but I wish that you may have no occasion to experience this. And I would pray to the gods that you might not, if they had not given ' Titua Pompomus AttieuB.
' Ciearo was afraid, I imagme, that his brother QnintuB might be aacBBed of bribeiy, becauBO. when he wis a cnndidate iat the lediliwhip. La bad given aviaj moaey contrary to the laive; on wbidh occaeion gome Terse had been quoted about ^'"1 in refarenoe to the Aurelian law, touching upon bnbery. We may auppoae that by the Aurnliaa hiw some provisiimB were made regarding bribery. — Pavl Uaivaliixs.
) HIS BflOIHEE (JUUJIL-a, ray that thej ■ ich have falleu f up attending to my prayere. But still, I do pray I may be eoutont witii the infinite misfortunea which ' upon me; in ■which, however, there is not only no dishonour fii)m wickedness, but my whole sorrow is that most Bevera punishments are inflicted upon the most Tirtnoua actions.
10. Why, inybrother,needI recommend to you my daughter and yours, and my little Cicero I One of my sorrows is that their orphaned state %viU cause you no less grief than it causes me. But, as long ae you are safe, they will not ba oipbaOB. As to the rest, bo may some safety bo granted me, and an opportunity of dying in my native land, an tears KuSSsr me to write no more, I would have you also take care of Terentia, and write me an answer with a fiill account of everything. Keep up your courage as far as the natura of circumBtanceB will allow.
Dated on the 13th of June at Tliessalonica.
P LETTER IV.
Marcue to his brother Qitintuf, greeting.
1. 1 KBTKEAT you, TOy brother, if you and all my friends are involved in my individual niiu, do not attribute it to any dishonesty or evil-doing of mine, but rather to my impru- dence and ill-fortune. There ia no error on my part, escepfc that I have believed those men, by whom I thouglit it would be impious for me to be deceived, or even for whose very intereata I did not think it would be advantageous. But every one of my most intimate friends — every oue most nearly connected with me, and moat dear to me, either feared for himself or envied me; and so, wretched that I ■was, I had nothing but the good iaith of my friende. • • • My own prudence was at faidt.
2. But if your own innocence, and the pity which mon feel, sufficiently protect you sit this moment from annoyance, you no doubt see clearly whether there is any hope of safety left fin: me. For Pomponiua and Sestiiis, and my friend Piso, have hilierto detained me at Thesaalonica, as they prevented. loe from departini; to a greater liiatance from tlie cVtg, *i'c^ account of I know not what changes; but I looked for somS reaiilt, more because of their lettera, thiin from any well- founded hope of my ovm. For what could I hope, with my ' enemy in ftill power, under the rule of my detractore, with my fnenda faithless, and numbers envious of me 1 3. Of the new tribunes of the people,' Sestius indeed is full of wishes to serve me, and so, as I hope, are Curius, Milo, Fadiua, andFabrioius; though Clodius is most bitter against a man who, even when out of office, will be able to eiert the same power to stir up the assembly: and then, some one will also ha prepared to interpose his veto.
4. These things were not Bet before me when I was leaving the city, but I was constantly told that I should be brought back in three days with the greatest honour. How did you act then? you will ask me. — How? Many things came together to disturb my mind; the sudden defection of Pompey, the alienation of the consuls, also that of the prtetors, the fears of the farmers ef the public revenues, the dread of civil war. The tears of my friends prevented me from going forth to encounter death; a course which cer- tainly would have been best suited to my honour, and the best calculated to afford me a refuge from my intolerable miseries. But on this subject I wrote to you in that letter which I gave to Pliaetlion. Now, since you too are sunk down into such grief and perplexity as no one else ever suffered, if the pity of men can afford any relief in oor common calamity, you will certainly gain an incredible advantage; hnt if we are utterly ruined (alas, me!) then I shail have been the destruction of all my friends, to whom. I was previously no disgrace.
5. But do yon, as I wrote to you before, examine the matter in all its bearings, and acquaint yourself with it thoroughly, and write me the exact truth, as the state of the time with reference to me, and not as your affection for me, dictates. I will cling to life as long as I shall think that it is for your advantage, or that it is possible to retain any hope; you will know Sestiua, who is most friendly to me; and I imagine you will wish, for your own sake, to know ' The election of tribunes took place in the miJdle of.lulj, and this letter waa npparBntly written aooa oTterwardB, ia the eamo year be the preceding one.
TO HIS BROTHEB QUINTUS. 3?
Lentulns, who is going to be consul; although facts are more stubborn things than words. You will see fully what is required, and what is the state of affairs; if no one shall despise your solitary condition and our common distress, something will be able to be effected by you, or else not by any means. But if your enemies begin to attack you, do not be idle; for against me they will not proceed with swords, but with lawHsuits. However, I trust that there may be nothing of this. I entreat you to write me full information of every- thing; and to think, if you please, that there is in me less courage or wisdom than before, but not less love and affection for you.
CICEBOS LEITEIW BOOK II.
LETTER I.
¥ I 'X'lua letter mu written at tlie end of the year 61...
Bhip of LcntuliiB Spintber and Metellus Nepoa. Cieero had neve, been formallj banisheil; for though Clodiufl had prevailed to inter- dict hinj from Sre and water, be yet did not propose any vote that he should be banished, nor did he attempt to have bis name removed from the roll of the Benate. He did indeed destroy his house, and dedicate the site to the (joddesa Liberty; and the conaulB seized hia Tinoulttn villa; but atill no legal sentence had ever been pro- nounced against Mm. At the end of the year 696, when hia enemy Piso, the Tate consul, was coming to Macedonia, nhich had beefi allotted to him as his province, Cicero moved to Djrrhachlum, in order to be nearer Italy, where hia brother, oad Pomponius Attieas (mentioned In the laat letter), were milking great exertions to render the people favourable to bis return. Pompey had become alienated from Clodius by hie violence and Insolence; and LenCulus, one of the consuls, wa< wholly devoted to Cicero. The consuls formally proposed that Cicero shoold be in*-itad to return. One of the tri- bunes, Sen'anus, prevented the formal adoption of any such measure for a time; but in August it was carried, and in September Cicero returned to Rome, where he was rec^elved vntb acclamations. He immediately began to cultivate the good-will of Pompey, by "pro- posing his appointment to an extraordinary commisBion for supplying the city, which was iu great distress from scarcity; and 'he hmiBelf accepted a subordinate conmuasi ooership. The site of his bouse on the Palatine bill was restored to him, it being declared to have been illegally and informally consecrated; and a sum of money wim voted to him to recompense him for hia other losses, though Cicero wajs net at bU satisGed with the amount of compensation. The consuls- elect for the ensuing year were Lentulus MaroelUnus, and Marcius I PhilippuB.
I MarcriB to hU brother QuitUus, greeting.
1. The letter which you read I had written in the morning, but Liciaius acted with kind consideration ia coming to me in the evening as soon as the senate was adjourned, in order that, if I chose, I might write you an account of all that had taken place. The senate waa more numerous than we TO nia BKOTHHB QUDTTL'S.
Lad thought it could possibly have been in the month December, close upon the festival days.^ Of the men of consular dignity, we were there ouraelves, and the two suls-elect; and Publiua Serviliua, and Marcus LuuuUub, and Lepidus, and Volcattus, and Glabrio, prsetora. We certainly were a very numerous assembly, in all about two hundred. Lupus had excited our expectations; he discussed the ques- tion of the Campaoian land with sufficient accuracy. He was listened to with profound sjlence. You are not ignorant of the subject He did not pass over a single one of our actions. Some sharp things were said against Cains Cojsar; some insulting observations were made on Gelliua; and some aipOBtulations addressed to Pooipey in his absence. When he had summed up the whole matter at a late hour, he said he would not ask us for our votes, lest he should lay on us the burden of incurring any one's enmity; from the reproaches which had been uttered on previous occasious, and from the present silence, he waa well aware what the feelings of the senate were. Immediately he began to adjourn the senate. Then Marcellinua said, " Do not. Lupus, from our silence attempt to judge what on this occasion wo either approve or disapprova; I, as far as 1 myself am concerned, and I believe that the same feelings iuBuence the rest, am silent, because I do not think that, as Pompey is absent, it is proper for the question of the Campanian land to be dis- cussed." Tlien he said that he had no wish to detain the senate any longer.
2. Baciiius rose, and began to make a motion with respect to the threatened impeachments. And, first of all, he asked Maroellinus's opinion. He, after having complained with great bitterness of the ctmSagrations, and murders, and stomingB perpetrated by Clodius, gave his opinion that he hiniself should assign the judges by lot with the assistauoe of the city prsetor; that when the business of assigning of the judges was finished, the comitia should be held; and that whoever ofiered any obstacle to the tribunals would act con- trary to the interests of the republic After his opinion had been received with great approbatioa, Caiua Cato spoke against * From the middle of December to the end of the year, the wLole &ne \ras taken up vdth the different feativalfi, — SatumaliB, C'palia, Angeronalia, Lorentinalja, imd JuTennlia.
It OICBHO 8 LETTERS it, and bo did Cassius, calling forth great acclamations from the senate, m he espi'cssed hia opinion that the comitia ought to take preoedenco of tho inipeachmentB, Philippus agreed with Leutulus.
3. Afterwards Racilins asked mo my opioioo, first of all the senators out of office. I made a long speech about the whole frenzy and piratical wickedness of Publiua Clodiuaj I accused him as if he had been on his trial, with incessant and favonr- abla murmurs of assent from the whole senate. Sevcrna AntistiuB praised my speech at tolerable length, and in Ian-- gu^e for from ineloquent; and he supported the cause of the courts of justice, and said that he should always consider it of the greatest importance. That opinion was adopted, Thea Ctodius, when he was asked his opinion, began to take up all the rest of the day with his speech; he declared in furious language, that he had beeti attacked by Kacilius ia a, most insulting and discoiirteoua manner. And then his factious mob on a sudden, in the space in front of the senate- house, and on the steps, r^sed a very great disturbance, being excited, I imagine, against Quiutus Sextilius, aud the friends of Milo. The fear of this uproar spreading abroad, we iin< mediately broke up, with great complaints from all parties.
You have an account of the transactions of one day. The rest of the business, I imagine, will be postponed till the month of January. Of the tribunes of the people, we find Eacilius by far the best. Antistius, too, seems likely to be friendly to lis. As for Plancius, be ia wholly devoted to us. If you love me, be very considerate and careful how you put the month of December.i LETTER II.
Mareoi to his brother Qmntui, greeting. 1. It is not from pressure of business, with which, hoi ever, I am pretty much hindered, but from a slight of weak eyes, that I am led to dictate this letter, instead g writing with my own hand, as I usually do to you. in the first place I excuse myself to you in the very par tioular in which I accuse you; for no one has ever yet asl me, "Whether I wished to send anything to Sardinia!" \.
3 BROIHEIt QUIHTUS.
3 BROIHEIt QUIHTUS.
I anppose you often find people ask you, " Whother yon wish to send anything to Rome f" As to what you wrote to me in the name of Lentuliis aud SestiuB, I Bpoke gu that matter with Cinciua, However the busiuess atauds, it is not a very easy one; but ia truth Sardinia ha£ something very well suited to recal to people's tuiud a circumatance which hod escaped tlieir recolle*:tiun. For as the great Gnic< cbiis, when he was augur, after ha arrived in that province, recollected what had happened to him contrary to the auBpieea, irhea holding the comitia in the Campus Martins tor the election of confiuia, so you, too, aeem to me, now that you are in Sardinia,^ to have reflected again at your leisure on the riiape of the house of Minucius, aad on the debt which you owe to Potnponiua. But as yet I have bought nothing. The auction of Oulleo'a ])roperty has token place. There was no one to purchase the property; if the terms should be very brourable, perhapa I may not let it aiip myselt ~j About your building, I do not ceaao To press Cyrus, oud e that he will attend to his duty; but everything is a K^ldow, because of the expectation which is entertaiuod of _ itic ffidileship.^ For the comitia aeem likely to take e without delay; they have been given out for tlie 22d of January. However, I would not wish you to be uneasy about them; every kind of caution shail be practised by ua.
3, A vote of the senate has been passed about the king of Alexandria,^ that it appeitrs dangerous to the republic for him to be restored with a multitude; and when there fol- lowed a contest in the senate, whether Lcntulua or Pomjiey should be appointed to restore him, Lentulus appeared to have the majority. In this transaction I satisfiad my sense of obligation to Lentolns to admiration, and that of good- will to Pompey with honour. But, by those who wished to 1 Quietus was in SBrdioia, as one of Fompey's commissioners to pioetm com for tlia city.
* ClodiuB was Btandiu); for the sdUeship.
* Tfai* waa Ptolemy Auletes. who- WEia now nt Rome, and wbo bod ptomred a vote to be pasaed that he shauld be restored to bin king- dom. The vote thnt he ebnuld not ba restored aith a multUtuIf, was euued by a, verse which Coins Cato, a tribune, profoBsed to huie feimd in the Sibylluie verHee, and which he interpreted to meun that ■D army ought not tu be employed in the matter; while one of the noloilB which mode ho maoy deaimua of the appointment to teal on. lum, wa% that it would furaiah a pretext for levying an armj.
brourabli H|Abo ■■pntic pEoe wit!
I I CICKIiO 8 LETTBBa B LentuJus, the matter was protracted by means of felse aeeusationa, Tbe days of the comitia followed, during which a senate could not be held. What will be the result of the bandit-like conduct of the tribxmea, I cannot conceive; but still I suspect that Caninius will carry his motion by force. What Pompey's wiBhes in that matter are, I do not clearly see; but every oce discerns what hia ftienda want: and the creditors of the king, without any disguise, furnish money to be used s^ainst Lentulus. Beyond all doubt, the matter now appears to be out of the reach of Lentulus, to my great sorrow, although he lias done many things for which, if it were proper, we might iairly feel angry Mfith i. I should wish you, if it is convenient, as soon as the weather is fine and setljed, to embark on board ship, and €Ome to me; for there are great numbers of things in which I waut you daily in every way. Your fomily and mine are wed. 19th January, LETTER in. ■ Marcui to hie brother Quintas, greetinij.
1. I mtOTK to you already what happened before; leam now what took place afterwards. The business of embassies was postponed from tiie 1st of February to the 13tL On that day the matter was not settled. On the 2d of February, Milo was present; and Pompey came to give him his coimte- nauce. Marcellua spoke, being asked by me. We came off Tery respectably. The day of trial was put off to the 6th of February. In the meantime, as the business of the embaS' eies waa postponed tiU the IStb^ a motion was made about the provinces of the quajstora, and about some compliments to be paid to the pnetors; hut, from the introduction of frequeut corijplaiats about the general state of afiairs, no business was transacted. Caius Cato pi-oposed. a law to taJte away hia command from Lentulus. His son clianged his 2, On the 6th of February Milo appeared; Pompey spoke, or rather, intended to Epcai; for as soon aa he was on his legs, the mob in Clodiua'a pay raised a disturbance, which lasted throughout hia whole speech; and in such a manner TO HIS BKOTHEB tJUlNTUS.
that he was hiudered from being heard, not merely by the Doiae, but by nsproiiches and abuee. When he bad Hummed Dp what he bad been eayiug, (for in that matter he behaved with covirnge enough; he was not deteiTed from proceeding; he said all that be meant to say; and, indeed, there wers momeats when be was heard in silence; and iie continued (a the end trith great authority; but when be had summed up,) up rose Clodius, when such a shout was raised ngainst him by our party, for we determined to pay him off, tliat he was master neither of bis senses, nor of his expressions, nor of bis couutentuioe. This scene was continued till two o'clock, Poiapey having scarcely finished his peroration at twelve, while every sort of abuse, and even the most obscene TBTBea, were uttered in the way of attack upon Clodius and Glodia. He, furious with passiuu, and pale with terror, amid the uproar, addressed questions to his mob: " Who was it that was killing the people with famine )" The mob replied, " Pompey." " Who was it that wanted to go to Aleiandriai" They replied again, '"Pompey." "Whom did they wish to go i" They answered, " Craasus," And he, on tbia occasion, was present with MUo; but with a disposition fiir from friendly. At about three o'clock, as if a si^ial had