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Epistulae ad Familiares, III. x.

X

To the same

Laodicea, early in May, 50 B.C.

¹ When news was brought me of the reckless behaviour of those who were making trouble for you,^[1] the first announcement of it seriously disturbed me, since nothing could have happened to cause me greater surprise; when I had pulled myself together, however, it seemed to me that the subsequent situation could be very easily dealt with, because I had absolute confidence in yourself, and a good deal in your friends, and many considerations occurred to me to justify my expectation that all this distress of yours would actually redound to your honour. What caused me profound annoyance, was that by this measure of theirs, those who are jealous of you, had robbed you, as I could see, of a very sure and well-deserved triumph. But if you attach no more importance to the matter than I have always been convinced should be attached to it, you will be acting wisely, and, with the victory on your side, will enjoy in the vexation of your enemies the most well-deserved of triumphs. For I clearly foresee, that you, with all your energy, resources, and wisdom, will make your enemies bitterly regret their foolhardiness. As regards myself, I call the gods of heaven to witness this my promise and assurance to you, that in the

↑ This refers to the impeachment of Appius for maiestas by P. Cornelius Dolabella, now the son-in-law of Cicero, whose daughter Tullia he married after divorcing his wife Fabia in 51 B.C. He was one of the most profligate men of his time, and the cause of constant uneasiness to Cicero. At Pharsalia, and afterwards in Africa and Spain, he fought on the side of Caesar, who in 44 B.C. raised him, despite the opposition of Antony, to the consulship. On Caesar's death, however, he joined the republican party, but when Antony gave him the province of Syria he became a fierce anti-republican. On his way to Syria in 43 B.C. he plundered the cities of Greece and Asia Minor, and at Smyrna murdered Trebonius, proconsul of Asia. He was declared a public enemy and Cassius besieged him in Laodicea, where, to avoid falling into the hands of his enemies, he ordered one of his own soldiers to kill him.

217

[1] This refers to the impeachment of Appius for maiestas by P. Cornelius Dolabella, now the son-in-law of Cicero, whose daughter Tullia he married after divorcing his wife Fabia in 51 B.C. He was one of the most profligate men of his time, and the cause of constant uneasiness to Cicero. At Pharsalia, and afterwards in Africa and Spain, he fought on the side of Caesar, who in 44 B.C. raised him, despite the opposition of Antony, to the consulship. On Caesar's death, however, he joined the republican party, but when Antony gave him the province of Syria he became a fierce anti-republican. On his way to Syria in 43 B.C. he plundered the cities of Greece and Asia Minor, and at Smyrna murdered Trebonius, proconsul of Asia. He was declared a public enemy and Cassius besieged him in Laodicea, where, to avoid falling into the hands of his enemies, he ordered one of his own soldiers to kill him.

[1]