CCXXV (F VIII, 10)
M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO (IN
CILICIA)
ROME, 15 NOVEMBER
I have been much disturbed by the despatches
of C. Cassius and Deiotarus For Cassius has
written to say that the forces of the Parthians
are across the Euphrates: Deiotarus that they
started for our province by way of Commagene. For
my part, my chief alarm has been on your account,
knowing as I do what your state of preparation in
the way of an army is, lest this inroad should in
any way endanger your prestige. For I should have
had some fear for your life, even if you had had a
more adequate army: as it is, the slenderness of
your forces made me forbode a retreat, not a
battle, on your part. What view people would take
of that, and how far what you were compelled to do
would be likely to be considered
satisfactory—about this I am still
feeling anxious, and shall not cease to be alarmed
till I hear of your having reached Italy. But the
news of the passage of the Parthians has given
rise to various suggestions. One man is for
sending Pompey, another against Pompey's removal
from the city, another for sending Caesar with his
own army, another the consuls; no one, however, is
for sending any who are in Rome without office by
a senatorial decree. 1 The consuls, moreover, for fear of this
decree being passed for their leaving Rome in
military uniform, or of the business being
transferred to some one else, which would involve
a slight upon themselves as having been passed
over, are so unwilling to have any meeting of the
senate at all, that they are getting a reputation
for a want of energy in public business. But
whether it is carelessness, or slackness, or the
fear which I have suggested, behind this pretence
of moderation there is concealed a disinclination
to a province. No despatch has arrived from you,
and had not that of Deiotarus followed his, it was
beginning to be believed that Cassius, in order to
represent devastation caused by himself as the
work of the Parthians, invented 'the war, sent
some Arabs into the province, and told the senate
that they were Parthians. Wherefore I advise you
to describe minutely and cautiously the state of
things in your part of the world, whatever it is,
that you may not be said either to have been
filling some particular person's sails, or to have
kept back what it was important to know. We have
now come to the last period of the year: for I
write this letter on the 15th of November. I see
plainly that nothing can be done before the 1st of
January. You know how slow and ineffective
Marcellus is, and how dilatory Servius. What sort
of men do you suppose they are, or how can they
possibly do what is against their inclination,
when things which they so wish they yet carry on
so languidly as to give the impression of not
wishing them? Again, when the new magistrates come
into office, if there is a Parthian war, this
question will take up their first months. But if;
on the other hand, there turns out to be no war,
or only one such as you or Your successors can
manage with a small reinforcement, I Perceive that
Curio will bestir himself with two objects: first,
to take something away from Caesar; and, secondly,
to bestow something on Pompey, however
insignificant and valueless the contribution may
be. Moreover, Paullus talks about the province
with irrational violence. His intemperance will be
resisted by our friend Furnius: about several
others I cannot form an opinion. This is all I
know: other possible events I cannot yet decipher.
I know that time brings many
developments and upsets many arrangements: but
whatever is going to happen will be confined
within these limits. I have this addition to make
to the proceedings of Curio—his proposal
as to the Campanian land: as to which they say
that Caesar is indifferent, but that Pompey is
much opposed, lest it should be unoccupied and at
Caesar's disposal when he returns. As to your
leaving your province, I cannot promise to take
treasures to get a successor appointed: but I will
at least pledge myself that your time is not
prolonged. It is for you to consider whether, if
the state of affairs, if the senate urge you to
stay, if a refusal on our part cannot decently be
made, you choose to persevere in your
determination. My only business is to remember
with what solemnity at your departure you laid the
injunction on me not to allow of its happening.
ROME, 15 NOVEMBER
