CCCXXIX (A VIII, 12 d)
POMPEY TO L. DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS (IN
CORFINIUM)
LUCERIA, 17 FEBRUARY
I RECEIVED a despatch from you on the 17th of
February, in which you say that Caesar has pitched
his camp near Corfinium. What I thought and warned
you of is now taking place, namely, that at
present he would not give you battle, and yet
would hem you in by concentrating all his forces,
to prevent the road to me being open to you, and
your being able to unite your troops, formed of
the strongest loyalists, with the legions of whose
fidelity we are doubtful. I am therefore all the
more disturbed by your letter. For I am not
sufficiently confident in the good disposition of
the soldiers, whom I now have with me, to risk a
battle involving the safety of the state, nor have
the levies made by the consuls as yet come in.
Wherefore do your best, if it is still by any
means possible, to extricate yourself, and Come here as soon as you can, before our
opponent is joined by all his forces. For it is
neither possible for the new levies to arrive here
quickly, nor, if they had arrived, can it escape
your observation how impossible it is to trust
men, who are not even acquainted with each other,
against veteran legions. 1
LUCERIA, 17 FEBRUARY
