B.C. 47, ÆT. 59 "I am no less anxious for my brother Quintus than for myself: but I do not venture in such a position as mine to recommend him to you. Yet this at least I will venture to ask of you—thus much I can do—I beg you not to think that he did anything to diminish the constancy of my service, or lessen my affection to you. Believe rather that he always advised our union; and was the companion, not the leader, of my journey. Wherefore in other matters pray give him all the credit that your own kindness and your mutual friendship demand. I earnestly and repeatedly entreat you not to let me stand in his light with you."
Wherefore if I ever do meet Cæsar—though I have no doubt of his being lenient to Quintus, and that he has already made his intention clear—I after all shall be consistent with myself. But, as far as I can see, my anxiety must be much more in regard to Africa, which, in fact, you say is growing daily stronger, though rather in a way to make one hope for conditions of peace than victory. Would to heaven it were so! But my view of the facts is far different, and I think that you yourself agree with me, but write in a different sense, not to deceive but to encourage me, especially now that Spain[1] is also joined to Africa. You advise me to write to Antony and the rest. If you think anything of the sort necessary, please do as you have often done:[2] for nothing occurs to me as needing to be written. You have been told that I am in better spirits—what can you think when you see added to my other causes of uneasiness these fine doings of my son-in-law.[3] However, don't cease doing what you can in that direction-—namely,
- ↑ Cæsar had, after his Spanish victory of B.C. 49, left Q. Cassius Longinus (the tribune who had with Antony vetoed the proposal for his recall) as governor of Farther Spain, Bætica. His harsh and grasping administration had caused a rebellion. Though this was eventually put down in B.C. 47, he had been obliged to leave the country, which was thoroughly prepared to take the Pompeian side, as was soon shewn by the expulsion of the next Cæsarian governor, C. Trebonius. It is the news of this disturbance that makes Cicero speak of Spain, by which he means Southern Spain, as lost to Cæsar.
- ↑ Write in Cicero's name. As such letters were no doubt written by an amanuensis, there would be nothing to shew (except style!) that they were not dictated by Cicero himself. See pp. 4, 9, 20.
- ↑ Dolabella's extravagant proposals as tribune, and the consequent riots. See ante, p. 27.
