DCCLXIV (A XVI, 16 a)
TO L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS (AT ROME)
(ARPINUM BEFORE 6TH OF JULY)
MARCUS Cicero greets Lucius Munatius Plancus,
praetor-designate. I know you are fond of our
friend Atticus, while for my society you show so
much taste that upon my word I think I have few
friends so attentive and affectionate. For to our
ancestral ties—so close, old, and
legitimate—a great additional force has
been added by your personal kind feeling towards me and an equal and mutual one on
my part towards you. Now you are acquainted with
the case of the Buthrotians, for I have often
pleaded it and clearly set it forth in your
hearing. Its history is as follows. As soon as we
observed that the territory of Buthrotum was
declared confiscate, Atticus in great alarm drew
up a petition. He put that in my hands to present
to Caesar: for I happened to be going to dine with
him on that day. I presented that petition to
Caesar. He approved of the plea and wrote in
answer to Atticus saying that his demand was fair.
He, however, warned him that the Buthrotians must
pay their arrears to the day. Atticus in his eager
desire for the preservation of the state paid the
money out of his own pocket. That being done I
approached Caesar, stated the Buthrotian case, and
obtained a decree of the most generous nature,
which was countersigned by men of the highest
rank. In these circumstances I own that I used to
be surprised at Caesar allowing a number of men
who had cast greedy eyes on the Buthrotian
territory to hold meetings; and that he not only
allowed that, but even put you at the head of the
land-commission. Accordingly, on my remonstrating
with him, and indeed so often that I incurred a
rebuke from him for not trusting his fidelity to
his word, he told both Marcus Messalla and Atticus
himself not to be alarmed, and made no concealment
of the fact that he did not wish—for he
was fond of popularity, as you know—to
hurt the feelings of those who were in possession;
but since they had already crossed the sea, he
would see to their being removed to some other
land. This is what happened while he was alive.
Well, after Caesar's death, as soon as the consuls
in accordance with a decree of the senate began
hearing cases, what I have just told you was laid
before them. They admitted the plea without any
hesitation and said that they would send you a
despatch. However, my dear Plancus, though I did
not doubt that a senatorial decree, a law, and the
decision and despatch of the consuls would have
the greatest weight with you, and although I quite
understood that you wished to please Atticus
himself, yet in view of our friendship and mutual
goodwill I have ventured to beg of you, what your
own unique kindness and exquisite goodness of
heart would be sure to obtain from you. It is
that, what I feel sure you will do of
your own accord, you should out of compliment to
me do with heartiness, completeness, and speed. No
one is a warmer, more charming, or dearer friend
than Atticus is to me. Formerly it was only his
money, and that a very large sum, that was at
stake: now it concerns his credit also, that he
should by your assistance maintain what he had
secured by the exertion of great industry and
influence both in Caesar's lifetime and after it.
If I obtain this favour from you, I should wish
you to consider that I shall construe your
liberality as a personal benefit of the highest
kind to myself. I will attend with zeal and
diligence to whatever I may think is your wish or
to your interest. Take care of your health.
(ARPINUM BEFORE 6TH OF JULY)
