DCCCXXXVII (BRUT. II, 4)
TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (AT
DYRRACHIUM)
ROME, 12 APRIL
AFTER I had given Scaptius a letter for you on
the morning of the 11th of April, I received one
from you in the evening of the same day, dated
from Dyracchium on the 1st of April. Accordingly,
on the morning of the 12th, having been informed
by Scaptius that the men to whom I had given the letter the day before had not started
and were going at once, I have dashed off this
brief note in the midst of the turmoil of my
morning levée. I am delighted with the
news about Cassius, and I congratulate the
Republic, and also myself, for having proposed in
the senate, in spite of Pansa's opposition and
anger, that Cassius should make war upon
Dolabella. 1 And indeed I
boldly maintained that he was already engaged in
that war without any decree of ours. About you
also I said on that occasion what I thought ought
to be said. This speech 2 shall be
transmitted to you, since I perceive that you like
my "Philippics." You ask my advice as to Gaius
Antonius: my opinion is that he should be kept
under arrest till we know the fate of Decimus
Brutus. From the letter you addressed to me it
appears that Dolabella is harassing Asia and
behaving in a most abominable manner there. You
have mentioned also to several people that
Dolabella has been prevented from landing by the
Rhodians. But if he has approached Rhodes, I think
he must have abandoned Asia. If that is so, I
think you should stay where you are. But if he
once gets a hold of that province, believe me it
will not be right for you to do so, but I think
you will have to go to Asia to attack him. As to
your saying that you are in want of two necessary
things-money and more men—it is
difficult to see what to suggest. For I can't
think of any resources upon which you can draw,
except those which the senate has assigned to you
by its decree—that you should raise
loans from the cities. As to more men also, I do
not see what can possibly be done. For so far from
Pansa sparing you any of his own
army or levy, he is even annoyed that so many are
going to you as volunteers: because, as I believe,
he thinks that he cannot have too great a force;
but, as many suspect, because he doesn't wish you
to be too strong either. But this is a suspicion
which I do not share. You say in your letter that
you have written to Tertia and your mother not to
disclose the achievements of Cassius until I think
it right. 3 I understand your motive to be a fear lest
the feelings of Caesar's party—as that
party is still called-should be violently
affected. But before your letter was received, the
facts had been heard and were quite public
property. Your letter-carriers also had brought
letters to many of your intimate friends.
Therefore there is no need to suppress the truth,
especially as it is impossible to do so. Besides,
even if it had been possible, I should have
thought that it should be spread broadcast rather
than be kept concealed. As to my son, if he has
all the good in him which you describe, I am of
course as delighted as I am bound to be, and if
you exaggerate it from affection for him, the mere
fact of your being attached to him rejoices me
more than I can say.
ROME, 12 APRIL
