CCCL (A IX, 7 a)
L. CORNELIUS BALBUS AND GAIUS
OPPIUS
TO CICERO (AT FORMIAE)
ROME, 3 MARCH To say nothing of humble people
like ourselves, even in the case of the most
important persons designs are generally judged by
the majority of mankind by their result, and not
their intention: yet, relying on your goodness of
heart, we will offer you, on the point as to which
you have written to us, the advice which seems to
us to be the soundest; and if it is not sensible
advice, yet it will at least proceed from absolute
good faith and good feeling. If we knew from his
own lips that Caesar—as in our judgment
we think he should do— would try
directly he arrived in Rome to effect a
reconciliation between himself and Pompey, we
should urge you to resolve upon taking part in the
negotiation, in order to facilitate and add an air
of dignity to the business through the ties which
bind you to both parties. Or if, on the contrary,
we thought that Caesar would not do so, and if we
knew that he wished to go to war with Pompey, we
would never persuade you to bear arms against a
man who had done you very great services, just as
we have ever begged you not to engage in a war
against Caesar. But since, even now,
what Caesar intends doing is for us a matter of
opinion rather than of knowledge, all we can say
is this: we do not think it consistent with your
position or your universally acknowledged good
faith to bear arms against either one or the
other, considering your intimate connexions with
both; and we have no doubt that Caesar with his
usual kindness, will very warmly approve this
course. However, if you wish it, we will write to
Caesar, and ask to be informed what he means to do
in the circumstances. On receiving an answer from
him, we will at once write and tell you what our
sentiments are, and will convince you that we give
you the advice which seems to us to conduce most
to your own position, not to Caesar's policy. And
this we feel certain that Caesar, with his usual
liberality in making allowance for his friend,
will approve.
TO CICERO (AT FORMIAE)
