CMV (F XII, 10)
TO GAIUS CASSIUS LONGINUS (IN
SYRIA)
ROME (BEGINNING OF JULY)
LEPIDUS, your marriage relation, and my
friend, was on the 30th of June declared a public
enemy by a unanimous vote of the senate, as well
as all who with him deserted the Republic. To
them, however, a chance of returning to their
right minds was given up to the 1st of September.
The senate was very resolute, but chiefly in
reliance on your aid There is, in
fact, a very grave war in progress at the moment
of my writing this, owing to the crime and
instability of Lepidus. We daily hear satisfactory
intelligence about Dolabella, but as yet by mere
rumour-without definite source or confirmation.
But though that is the case, still the letter
which I have received from you dated from camp on
the 7th of May has persuaded the whole city to
believe that he has already been crushed, and that
you are on your way to Italy with an army, so
that, if affairs in these parts are settled as we
wish, we may rely on your counsel and influence;
and if there is any mishap—as will occur
in war—we may rely on your army. This
army, indeed, I will compliment by all the means
in my power. The time for that will be when it has
begun to be known what amount of aid it is likely
to give to the Republic, or what amount it has
already given. For at present we are only told of
attempts-excellent indeed and most
glorious—but we wait to hear of some
decisive action: which for my own part I feel sure
has taken place or is near doing so. Nothing can
be more glorious than your valour and high spirit.
Therefore we long to see you as soon as possible
in Italy. We shall think that we have the
Republic, if we have you. We had gained a splendid
victory, had not Lepidus received Antony when he
was without provisions or arms and in flight.
1
Therefore Antony was never such an object of
dislike to the state as Lepidus is now. For the
former stirred up war when the Republic was in a
revolutionary state, the latter when victory had
been crowned by peace. Opposed to this war we have
the consuls-designate. 2 In them we have indeed
high hopes, but owing to the uncertainty of the
results of battles, we are in all the anxiety of
suspense. Assure yourself; therefore, that
everything depends on you and Marcus Brutus, and
that you are both anxiously expected, Brutus
indeed now momentarily. And if; as I hope, your
arrival finds our enemies conquered, yet your
authority will enable the Republic to raise its head and once more to stand on some
tolerable foundation. For there will be many
things demanding reform, even if the Republic
shall seem fairly well released from the criminal
attempts of its enemies.
ROME (BEGINNING OF JULY)
