Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 33
to throw on me all the blame for that period, and to say I was so
bitter an enemy that I would not even take an office from him. How much
more will this annoy him! Why, as much more as this honour is greater
than that, and he himself is stronger. As for your remark that you
have no doubt I am in bad odour with Pompey at this present time, I
see no reason why it should be so, especially at this time. Pompey did
not tell me his plans till after the loss of Corfinium, and he cannot
complain of my not going to Brundisium, when Caesar was between me and
Brundisium. Besides he knows that complaint on his part is stopped.
He is of opinion that I saw clearer than he did about the weakness of
the municipal towns, the levies, peace, the city, the public funds,
occupying Pisenum. If however I do not go to him, when I can, he will
certainly be angry. From that I shrink--not for fear of harm he may do
me (for what can he do? And who
"Would be a slave but he who fears to die?"[83])
but because I shrink from being charged with ingratitude. So I trust
my arrival will be, as you say, welcome to him, whenever I go. As for
your remark "If Caesar's conduct be more temperate, you will weigh your
advice more carefully," how can Caesar keep himself from a destructive
policy? It is forbidden by his character, his previous career, the
nature of his present enterprise, his associates, the material strength
or even the moral firmness of the loyalist party.
[83] From an unknown play of Euripides.
I had scarcely read your letter, when up comes Curtius Postumus
hurrying off to Caesar, talking of nothing but fleets and armies;
"Caesar is wresting
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tenebat Asiam, Siciliam, Africam, Sardiniam, confestim in Graeciam
persequebatur. Eundum igitur est, nec tam ut belli quam ut fugae socii
simus. Nec enim ferre potero sermones istorum, quicumque sunt; non sunt
enim certe, ut appellantur, boni. Sed tamen id ipsum scire cupio, quid
loquantur, idque ut exquiras meque certiorem facias, te vehementer
rogo. Nos adhuc, quid Brundisi actum esset, plane nesciebamus. Cum
sciemus, tum ex re et ex tempore consilium capiemus, sed utemur tuo.
III
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Formiis VII Id. Mart. a. 705_]
Domiti filius transiit Formias VIII Idus currens ad matrem Neapolim
mihique nuntiari iussit patrem ad urbem esse, cum de eo curiose
quaesisset servus noster Dionysius. Nos autem audieramus eum profectum
sive ad Pompeium sive in Hispaniam. Id cuius modi sit, scire sane
velim. Nam ad id, quod delibero, pertinet, si ille certe nusquam
discessit, intellegere Gnaeum non esse faciles nobis ex Italia exitus,
cum ea tota armis praesidiisque teneatur, hieme praesertim. Nam, si
commodius anni tempus esset, vel infero mari liceret uti. Nunc nihil
potest nisi supero tramitti, quo iter interclusum est. Quaeres igitur
et de Domitio et de Lentulo.
A Brundisio nulla adhuc fama venerat, et erat hic
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the Spains from Pompey, occupying Asia, Sicily, Africa, Sardinia, and
forthwith pursuing Pompey into Greece." So I must set out to take part
not so much in a war as in a flight. For I can never put up with the
talk of your friends, whoever they are, for certainly they are not what
they are called, loyalists. Still that is just what I want to know,
what they do say, and I beg you earnestly to inquire and inform me. So
far I know nothing of what has happened at Brundisium. When I know, I
shall form my plans according to circumstances and the moment; but I
shall use your advice.
III
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, March 9_, B.C. _49_]
The son of Domitius went through Formiae on the 8th of March hastening
to his mother at Naples, and, when my slave Dionysius inquired
particularly from him about his father, he sent me a message that he
was outside the city. But I had heard that he had gone either to Pompey
or to Spain. What the fact is, I should much like to know, for it has
a bearing on the point I am now considering: if it is certain that
Domitius has found no means of departure, Pompey may understand that my
own departure from Italy is difficult, seeing that it is now beset with
troops and garrisons, and especially in the winter season. For, were it
a more convenient time of year, one could even cross the southern sea.
Now there is no choice but the Adriatic, to which passage is barred. So
please inquire both about Domitius and about Lentulus.
From Brundisium no news has come yet, and to-day
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dies VII Idus, quo die suspicabamur aut pridie Brundisium venisse
Caesarem. Nam Kal. Arpis manserat. Sed, si Postumum audire velles,
persecuturus erat Gnaeum; transisse enim iam putabat coniectura
tempestatum ac dierum. Ego nautas eum non putabam habiturum, ille
confidebat, et eo magis, quod audita naviculariis hominis liberalitas
esset. Sed, tota res Brundisina quo modo habeat se, diutius nescire non
possum.
IV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Formiis IV Id. Mart. a. 705_]
Ego etsi tam diu requiesco, quam diu aut ad te scribo aut tuas litteras
lego, tamen et ipse egeo argumento epistularum et tibi idem accidere
certo scio. Quae enim soluto animo familiariter scribi solent, ea
temporibus his excluduntur, quae autem sunt horum temporum, ea iam
contrivimus. Sed tamen, ne me totum aegritudini dedam, sumpsi mihi
quasdam tamquam θέσεις, quae et πολιτικαὶ sunt et temporum horum, ut et
abducam animum ab querelis et in eo ipso, de quo agitur, exercear. Eae
sunt huius modi:
Εἰ μενετέον ἐν τῇ πατρίδι τυραννουμένης αὐτῆς. Εἰ παντὶ τρόπω
τυραννίδος κατάλυσιν πραγματευτέον, κἄν
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Page 187
is the 9th of March. I expect Caesar reached Brundisium to-day or
yesterday. He stayed at Arpi on the 1st. If you choose to listen to
Postumus, Caesar meant to pursue Pompey; for, by calculating the state
of the weather and the days, he concluded that Pompey had crossed the
sea. I thought that Caesar would be unable to get crews, but Postumus
was quite sure about that, and the more so because ship-owners had
heard of Caesar's liberality. But it cannot be long now before I hear
the full story of what has happened at Brundisium.
IV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, March 12_, B.C. _49_]
Though now I rest only so long as I am writing to you or reading your
letters, still I am in want of subject matter, and feel sure that
you are in the same position, for the present crisis debars us from
the free and easy topics of friendly correspondence, and the topics
connected with the present crisis we have already exhausted. However,
not to succumb entirely to low spirits, I have taken for myself
certain theses, so to speak, which deal with _la haute politique_ and
are applicable to the present crisis, so that I may keep myself from
querulous thoughts and may practise the subject. Here are some:
Whether one should remain in one's country, even under a tyranny.
Whether any means are lawful to
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