CCCXXXIX (A VIII, 9)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
FORMIAE, 25 FEBRUARY
YOU say my letter has been widely published:
well, I don't care. Nay, I myself allowed several
people to take a copy of it. For suchi s the
nature of events that have already happened and
are about to happen, that I wished my sentiments
as to keeping the peace to be put on record. Now,
while exhorting Caesar of all people to keep it, I
could see no better way of influencing him than by
saying that it was suitable to his wisdom. If I
called that wisdom "admirable," seeing that I was
urging him to the preservation of our country, I
am not afraid of being thought guilty of flattery,
when for such an object I would gladly have thrown
myself at his feet. Where, again, my expression is
"bestow some of your time"—that does not
refer to peace, but it is a request to him to
reflect in some degree on my own case and on my
obligations. As to my protesting that I have taken
no part in the war, though that has been proved by
facts, yet I mentioned it that my persuasions
might have the greater weight, and my expressing
approval of his claim has the same object. But
what is the use of discussing this now? I only
wish it had done any good! Nay, I should not
object to have the letter read in public meeting,
since Pompey himself, when also writing to Caesar,
put up for public perusal the despatch in which
are the words "Considering the extraordinary
brilliancy of your achievements." What! more
brilliant than his own, or those of Africanus?
"Circumstances made it necessary to say so." Well,
since two men of your character are going to meet
him at the fifth milestone, 1 pray, to what does he pledge
himself, what is he doing or going to do? With
what greater confidence will he rely
upon the merits of his case, when he sees you, and
men like you, not only in crowds, but with smiles
on your faces, and congratulations on your lips?
"Are we, then, doing wrong?" Not at all, as far as
you are concerned. Yet, nevertheless, there is an
end of all distinguishing between the signs of
genuine and pretended feeling. What decrees of the
senate do I foresee !-But I have spoken more
openly than I intended. I
mean to be at Arpinum on the 28th, then to go the
round of my country houses, which I have no hope
of ever seeing again. Your "frank"
policy—which is yet not without a spice
of caution to suit the times-has my warm
approbation. Lepidus, for his part—for
we spend almost every day together, much to his
gratification-never liked the idea of leaving
Italy, Tullus much less. For letters from him
frequently pass from others to me. But it is not
so much their opinions that move me: for they have
given much fewer pledges to the Republic than I
have: it is your influence, by Hercules, that has
the greatest weight with me; for it suggests a
means of retrieving the past and of securing the
present. But I appeal to you: what could be more
wretched than that the one gains applause in the
worst possible cause, the other nothing but anger
in the best? That the one is esteemed the
preserver of his enemies, the other the betrayer
of his friends? And, by heaven, however much I
love our Gnaeus, as I do and am bound to do, yet I
cannot commend him for failing to relieve such
men. For if it was fear, what could be more
cowardly? If, as some think, it was because he
thought that his own position would be improved by
their massacre, what could be more unfair? But a
truce to these reflexions: I only increase my
grief by recalling them. On the evening of the 24th Balbus the younger
called on me, hastening on a secret mission to the
consul Lentulus from Caesar, with a letter, a
message, and a promise of a province, to induce
him to return to Rome. I don't think he will be
persuaded except by a personal interview. Balbus
also told me that Caesar wished, above all things,
to catch up Pompey (I believe that much), and to
be reconciled to him. This latter I do not
believe, and I much fear that all this clemency is
only an elaborate preparation for a
Cinna-like massacre. The elder Balbus, indeed,
writes me word that Caesar would wish nothing
better than to live in safety, with Pompey as
chief citizen. You believe that, I suppose!
But while I am writing
these words (25th February), Pompey may have
reached Brundisium; for he started in light
marching order in advance of his legions on the
19th, from Luceria. But this portent is a man of
frightful vigilance, rapidity, and energy. I
haven't an idea what will happen.
FORMIAE, 25 FEBRUARY
