Ad Familiares 11.26
Ad Familiares 11.26
Headnote
D. Brutus to Cicero, from camp on the march to Cularo on 3 June 43 BC — Perseus dateline Scr. in castris in itinere Cularonem iii Non. Iun. a. 711 (43). A very short dispatch, written in transit toward Cularo (modern Grenoble) as Brutus pushes north-west to link up with Plancus. By now the news of Lepidus’s defection on 30~May has reached him, and the field-dispatch register has gone hard: brought-up legions, money or its decree, good faith and speed in the messengers — everything quartermasterly, nothing rhetorical. The ista quae acciderunt that he had foreseen is Lepidus.
In the midst of my deepest distress I take what comfort I can in this: men now see I was not without reason in fearing what has come to pass. Let them deliberate whether or not to bring the legions across from Africa and from Sardinia, whether or not to send for Brutus, and whether they will grant me pay or only decree it. I have sent letters to the Senate. Believe me, unless every one of these things is done in just the way I write, we are all heading into very great peril. Look, I beg you, to the kind of men you put in charge of bringing the legions to me. Both good faith and speed are needed. 3 June, from the camp.
maximo meo dolore hoc solacio utor, quod intellegunt homines non sine causa me timuisse ista quae acciderunt. deliberent utrum traiciant legiones ex Africa necne et ex Sardinia, et Brutum accersant necne, et mihi stipendium dent an decernant. ad senatum litteras misi. crede mihi, nisi ista omnia ita fiant quem ad modum scribo, magnum nos omnis adituros periculum. rogo te, videte quibus hominibus negotium detis qui ad me legiones adducant. et fide opus est et celeritate. iii Non. Iun. ex castris.