Letter · 6 July 43 BC · Romae

Ad Familiares 10.29

Ad Familiares 10.29

Headnote

Cicero to Appius Claudius Pulcher, written from Rome on 6 July 43 BC — Perseus dateline Scr. Romae prid. Non. Quint. a. 711 (43). The recipient is the younger Appius, son of the consul of 54 to whom the long series of letters in Ad Familiares book 3 was addressed; this Appius is a Pompeian who had been proscribed (damnatus) by the Caesarians in 47, restored after Caesar’s death, and is now again in some kind of danger, perhaps in connection with the senatorial proceedings of the spring of 43.

The letter is the standard short reassurance to a client in trouble: I have done more for you than your own people could, I have laid the foundations of your safety, take heart and trust me. The dateline by Roman subscription is pridie Non. Quint., the day before the Nones of Quintilis (the month not yet renamed July) — 6 July 43 BC, six weeks after Mutina and four months before Cicero’s own proscription.

Of my zeal for your safety and survival I believe you have learned from the letters of your people; whom I am certain I have satisfied to the full — nor do I yield to them, though their goodwill toward you is singular, in wishing you safe. They for their part have no choice but to yield to me in this, that at the present moment I can do more for you than they themselves can; which indeed I have not ceased to do, nor shall I cease, and in the greatest matter I have done it already and laid the foundations of your safety. Be of good cheer and good courage, and persuade yourself that I shall fail you in nothing. 6 July.
de meo studio erga salutem et incolumitatem tuam credo te cognosse ex litteris tuorum; quibus me cumulatissime satis fecisse certo scio, nec iis concedo, quamquam sunt singulari in te benevolentia, ut te salvum malint quam ego. illi mihi necesse est concedant ut tibi plus quam ipsi hoc tempore prodesse possim; quod quidem nec destiti facere nec desistam et iam in maxima re feci et fundamenta ieci salutis tuae. tu fac bono animo magnoque sis meque tibi nulla re defuturum esse confidas. pridie non. Quintilis.

Cite this passage

Ad Familiares 10.29

Pick a format and click Copy. The permalink jumps any reader to this exact section.

Support this project

Free to read here. Buy the ebook to support the work.

Kindle