CMVII (F XI, 22)
TO DECIMUS BRUTUS (AT CULARO?)
ROME, 6 JULY
I have a friendship with Appius Claudius, son
of Gaius, founded on many good services on his
part and correspond ing ones on
mine. I ask you with more than usual earnestness,
for the sake either of your own kindness or for
mine, that you determine that his safety shall be
secured by your influence. I wish you, as you are
known to be the most gallant of men, to be
considered also the most merciful. It will be a
great feather in your cap that a young man of the
highest rank has been restored by your favour. His
claim ought to be all the stronger from the fact
that it was from filial feeling that he joined
Antony in gratitude for his father's restitution.
wherefore, though you will have an excuse to plead
that is not entirely sound, yet you will be able
to bring one forward that at 'east is plausible.
Your nod can retain in the fu;l rights of
citizenship a man of the highest birth, of the
greatest ability, and one besides who is full of
kindness and gratitude. I ask you to do this with
a heartfelt earnest-ness beyond which I cannot go
in making any request.
ROME, 6 JULY
