CCCXLV (A VIII, 15 a)
L. CORNELIUS BALBUS TO CICERO (AT
FORMIAE)
ROME, FEBRUARY
I entreat you, my dear Cicero, to undertake a
task and a project in the highest degree worthy of
your high character—to recall Caesar and
Pompey to their former cordiality,
who have been alienated by the treachery of
others. Believe me, Caesar will not only put
himself in your hands, but will also consider
himself under the deepest obligation to you, if
you throw yourself into this task. I wish Pompey
would do the same, but that he Can at this time of
day be induced to accept any terms is rather a
matter for wishes than hopes. But when he has
recovered from his agitation and alarm, I shall
begin to have some hope that your influence with
him may prove to be of the greatest avail. In
having expressed a wish that my friend the consul
Lentulus should remain at Rome you have obliged
Caesar, and, believe me, myself also in the
highest degree. For I value him so greatly, that
he holds as high a place in my regard as Caesar
himself: and if he had only allowed me to talk
with him as usual, and had not again and again
shewed himself wholly averse from conversation
with me, I should have been less unhappy than I
am. For you must not suppose that anyone at this
crisis is more painfully affected than I am by
seeing a man, whom I love more than myself,
resolved in his consulship to be anything in the
world rather than a consul. If he will only deign
to take your advice and to believe us in regard to
Caesar, and to serve the rest of his consulship at
Rome, I shall even begin to hope that by the
advice of the senate— acting at your
suggestion, and with him to bring the matter
formally before it—Pompey and Caesar may
be reconciled. If that is done, I shall think that
I have not lived in vain. I feel sure that you
will entirely approve of what Caesar did about
Corfinium. Considering the circumstances, nothing
better could have occurred than a settlement being
made without a drop of blood. I am much gratified
by the pleasure you express at the visit of my
dear (and your dear) Balbus. Whatever Balbus has
told you about Caesar, and whatever Caesar has
written, I am sure the latter will convince you by
his acts—whatever measure of success he
may have—that he has written with the
most absolute sincerity.
ROME, FEBRUARY
