DCCCXXIX (F X, 7)
L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS TO CICERO (AT
ROME)
GALLIA COMATA (23 MARCH)
I would have written you a longer letter about
my plans and given you an account of all my
movements in greater detail, to convince you more
fully that I have done every-thing for the
Republic which your exhortation first suggested to
me, and which I took upon myself to
perform—for I always wished for your
approval as much as for your love, and did not so
much secure you as my defender in case of
committing a fault, as wish for you as a trumpeter
of my services—but two circumstances
make me more brief. The first is that I have fully
stated everything in my public despatch. The
second is that I have ordered Marcus Varisidius, a
Roman knight and my intimate friend, to go home in
person and visit you: so that from him you might
learn every particular. I can assure you on my
honour that I have been feeling very considerable
vexation at seeing others anticipating me in the
winning of reputation; but I have put a restraint
upon myself until I could succeed in doing
something worthy both of my consulship and of what
you and your friends expect of me. And, if fortune
does not play me false, I hope I shall succeed in
making men feel now and remember hereafter that I
have been a very great protection to the
constitution. I beg you to give firm support to my
position, and to make me still more energetic in
the future by the actual fruition of those
advantages, by the hope of which you inspired me
to aim at glory. I feel convinced that your power
is as great as your will. See that you keep well
and return my affection.
GALLIA COMATA (23 MARCH)
