DCCCLV (F XI, 13, §§ 1-4)
DECIMUS BRUTUS TO CICERO (AT
ROME)
POLLENTIA (12 MAY)
I am not going to thank you any more; for when
one can make a man no return in deeds, it is
impossible to satisfy his just claims by mere
words. I want you to notice what I have on my
hands. For your insight is so great that you will
take in the whole situation, if you read my letter
with care. I was unable, my dear Cicero, to pursue
Antony at once for the following reasons. I had no
cavalry, no transport animals; I did not know that
Hirtius was dead; I did not know that Aquila was
dead; I couldn't put any confidence in Caesar
without first visiting and holding a conversation
with him. So passed the first day. Next day early
I was summoned by Pansa to Bononia. While I was on
the way news was brought to me that he was dead. I
hurried back to my poor little force—for
I can call it so with truth. It was most woefully
reduced and in the very worst condition from want
of every kind of necessary. Antony thus got two
days start of me. He made much longer marches, as
being in retreat, than I could in pursuit. For he
marched in loose order, I in close.
Wherever he came he broke open the slave-barracks
and forcibly requisitioned the men. He never made
any halt anywhere till he reached Vada. 1 I would
like you to know about this place. It lies between
the Apennines and the Alps, very difficult to
reach by a march. When I was thirty miles from it,
and when Ventidius had already effected a junction
with him, a public speech delivered by Antony was
reported to me, in which he began entreating his
men to follow him across the Alps, telling them
that he had an understanding with Marcus Lepidus.
There was some murmuring, and from a good many of
Ventidius's men—for Antony has very few
of his own—that it was their duty to
perish or conquer in Italy; and they began begging
him to allow them to march to Pollentia. Not being
able to withstand them, he arranged to begin his
march the next day. When I received this
intelligence I at once sent forward five cohorts
to Pollentia and directed my march to that place.
My advanced guard arrived at Pollentia an hour
before Trebellius with his cavalry. 2 I was greatly delighted: for I think
that this constitutes a victory. ... 3
POLLENTIA (12 MAY)
