DCCCXLV (F X, II)
L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS TO CICERO (AT
ROME)
GALLIA NARBONENSIS (APRIL)
I GIVE you undying thanks, and shall do so as
long as I live: since I cannot promise to repay
you. For I do not think that I can possibly make a
return for such great services as yours, unless by
chance, as you remarked in such eloquent and
impressive words in your letter, you will consider
me to have repaid you as long as I remember them.
If it had been a question of your own son's
position, you could not have acted at any rate
more affectionately. Your first
motions in the senate proposing unlimited rewards
for me, your later ones made to square with
circumstances and the wishes of my friends, your
constant and formal speeches about me, and your
wordy-warfare on my behalf with my
detractors-these are all most thoroughly known to
me. I must be more than commonly careful to shew
myself as a citizen worthy of your praise, mindful
and grateful as your friend. For the future see
that your bounty is not wasted; and if by results
and facts you find that I am the man you wished me
to be, defend me and take up my cause. Having
crossed the Rhone with my troops, and having sent
forward my brother with 3,000 cavalry, while I was
myself on the march for Mutina, I was told on the
road of the battle that had taken place, and of
Brutus and Mutina being relieved. I saw that
Antony and the remains of his force had no other
place of retreat except in this district, and that
he had two hopes in view-one of Lepidus himself;
the other of his army. As a certain fraction of my
army is as infatuated as those who were with
Antony, I recalled my cavalry. I halted in the
country of the Allobroges myself; that I might be
as completely prepared for every eventuality as
the situation required. If Antony comes into this
district without forces, I think I am strong
enough by myself to resist him, and to carry on
the business of the country in accordance with the
judgment of your house, even though he be admitted
by the army of Lepidus. But if he brings some of
his forces with him, and if the tenth veteran
legion, which, having been recalled to its duty by
my exertion, is now with the others, relapses into
its old mad conduct, nevertheless I will do my
best to prevent any loss; and I hope I shall
prevent it, provided that forces from Rome are
sent across, and by forming a junction with me
find it easier to crush these abandoned men. This
much I will promise you, my dear Cicero, that no
vigour or careful attention shall be wanting on my
part. I would to heaven there was no anxiety left,
but if there is, I will not fall short of any
man's loyalty or perseverance on behalf of you
all. I am indeed doing my best to induce Lepidus
to share this policy with me, and I am promising
to defer to him in every way, if he will only
consent to regard the interests of the Republic. I
am employing as coadjutors and go-betweens in this
negotiation my brother, and
Laterensis, and our friend Furnius. I will not be
stopped by private quarrels from coming to an
understanding with my bitterest foe on behalf of
the safety of the Republic. But if I am
unsuccessful, nevertheless I will do what you wish
with the greatest determination, and perhaps with
some addition of reputation to myself. Take care
of your health, and give me love for love.
GALLIA NARBONENSIS (APRIL)
