Cicero to C. Cassius Longinus, written from the field near the Altars of Alexander in the Amanus range, around the middle of October 51 BC (Perseus: in castris ad Aras Alexandri \ med. ut Oct. a. 703). The opening salutation — M. Cicero imp. s. d. C. Cassio proq. — fixes the political shape of the moment. Cicero is now imperator, acclaimed by his troops after the campaign he is about to bring to its head at Pindenissus; Cassius, who as Crassus’s quaestor in 53 had held the broken Roman position in Syria after the disaster at Carrhae, is still proquaestor and has just left his province in good odour, with the dispersal of the Parthian incursion to his credit. The letter accordingly knits two strands together: routine business of recommendation, and the machinery of two men in command across the East congratulating each other and exchanging political requests.

The structure is laid out openly — four items, taken in order. §1–2 dispatch the recommendation of M. Fadius, with the courteous form-of-art Cicero brings to such letters: he makes no profit from being asked, since Fadius is already in his debt-book, but the recommendation has earned its keep by revealing Fadius’s regard for Cassius. §3 is the congratulation that could not be paid in person. §4 is the political advice: Cassius should hurry back to Rome, if his own household burdens allow; the arrival of a victorious proquaestor at Rome will be brilliantly received. §5 is the substantive request — the standard refrain of Cicero’s Cilician correspondence of these months: that nothing be done to extend the term of his command beyond the year the Senate and people set for it. Paullus, Curio, and Furnius are named as allies on the ground at Rome. §6 is the closing courtesy: the friendship is old, was reinforced in Cicero’s worst days, and has lately extended to Cassius’s brother Brutus; it asks only for letters, continuously now and frequently when Cassius is back in the city.