DCCCVI (F XI, 5)
TO DECIMUS BRUTUS (IN CISALPINE
GAUL)
ROME (DECEMBER)
MARCUS CICERO to Decimus Brutus, imperator,
consul-designate. At the time that our common
friend Lupus reached Rome, and during his few
days' residence there, I was in the part of the
country in which I thought I should be safest.
That was the reason of Lupus returning to you
without a letter from me, though he had
nevertheless seen to yours being conveyed to me. I
arrived at Rome, however, on the 9th of December,
and my first object was an immediate visit to
Pansa. His report of you was everything I could
desire. Wherefore you require no encouragement,
since in the execution of that great deed-surely
the greatest known to history-you required none.
Yet I think I ought briefly to point out that the
Roman people looks entirely to you, and places on
you its whole hope of eventually recovering its
liberty. If you—as I am sure is the
case-remember day and night how great a deed you
have done, you certainly will not forget what
great ones remain for you to do. For if the man
now gets hold of your province—a man
with whom I was always on friendly terms till I
found that he was not only openly at war with the
Republic, but glad to be so—I can see no
hope of safety left. Wherefore I join my prayers
to those of the people and senate of Rome,
beseeching you to free the Republic from a
tyrannical despotism, in order that you may end as
you began. This is your task, this the part you
have to play. It is from you that the state or
rather all nations of the world-not only expect
this, but even demand it. Since, however, as I
said above, you do not need encouragement, I will
not waste many words upon it. I will do no more
than promise you—as in duty
bound—all my services, zeal, care, and
thought, which will henceforth be devoted to
enhancing your fame and glory. Therefore pray
convince yourself of this: not only for the sake
of the Republic, which is dearer to
me than life itself, but also because I am devoted
to you personally and desire the farther
improvement of your political position, I will
nowhere fail to support your loyal policy, your
greatness, or your glory.
ROME (DECEMBER)