vived the drooping spirits of that oppressed assembly, and awakened in them all their former vigour. It was owing to the ardour with which I thus contended in the debates of this day, that the people of Rome first conceived a hope of recovering their liberties: and to this great point all my thoughts and all my actions have ever since been perpetually directed. Thus important, however, as my occupations are, I would enter into a full detail of our proceedings, if I did not imagine that public transactions of every kind are transmitted to you by other hands. From them, therefore, you will receive a more particular information; whilst I content myself with giving you a short and general sketch of our present circumstances and situation. I must inform you, then, we have a senate that acts with spirit; but that as to those of consular dignity, part of them want the courage to exert themselves in the manner they ought, and the rest are ill-affected to the republic. The death of Servius' is a great loss Lucius Cæsar', though he is altogether in to us. 'Servius Sulpicius, to whom several letters, in the foregoing part of this collection, are addressed. He was one, and the most considerable, of the three consulars whom the senate had lately deputed to Antony; but, very unfortunately for that embassy, he died just as he arrived in Antony's camp. Phil. ix. 1. 2 See rem. 5. p. 94. of this vol. in the interest of liberty, yet in tenderness to his nephew3, does not concur in any very vigorous measure. The consuls, in the mean time, deserve the highest commendations: I must mention Decimus Brutus, likewise, with much applause. The conduct of young Cæsar also is equally laudable; and I persuade myself that we have reason to hope he will complete the work he has begun. This, at least, is certain, that if he had not been so extremely expeditious in raising the veteran forces, and if two legions had not deserted to him from Antony's army, there is nothing so cruel or so flagitious which the latter would not have committed. But as these are articles which I suppose you are already apprised of, I only just mention them in order to confirm them, You shall hear farther from me, whenever I can find a more leisure moment. Farewel. LETTER 3.Antony. Hirtius and Pansa. See rem. 7. p. 162. of this vol. LETTER VIII. [A. U. 710.] To CAIUS CASSIUS. Ir is owing, I imagine, to the difficulty of forwarding any dispatches during the winter season, that we have yet received no certain intelligence of what you are doing, nor even know in what part of the world you are you are placed. It is universally reported, however, (though more, I believe, from what people wish, than from what they have sufficient grounds to assert that you have raised an army, and are actually in Syria; a report which the more easily gains credit, as it appears to be extremely probable. Our friend Brutus has acquired great honour by his late glorious and unexpected achievements; not only as being in themselves extremely desirable to the friends of liberty, but from the wonderful expedition, likewise, with which he performed them. If it be true, therefore, that you are in possession of those provinces we imagine, the republic is very power fully 5 He had lately sent an account to the senate of his success against Caius, the brother of Mark Antony; having forced him to retire, with a few cohorts, to Apollonia, and secured Macedonia, Illyricum, and, Greece, together with the several armies in those countries, to the interest of the republic. Vid. Philip. x. fully supported; as that whole tract of country, which extends from the nearest coast of Greece as far as Egypt, is, upon this supposition, in the hands of two the most faithful friends of the commonwealth. Nevertheless, if my judgment does not deceive me, the event of this war depends entirely upon Decimus Brutus: for if he should be able to force his way out of Mutina, (as we have reason to hope) it will, in all probability, be totally at an end.--There are now, indeed, but few troops employed in carrying on that siege; as Antony has sent a large detachment to keep possession of Bononia. In the mean while, our friend Hirtius is posted at Claterna', and Cæsar at Forum Corneliis, each of them at the head of a very considerable army; at the same time that Pansa is raising at Rome a large body of Italian troops. But the season of the year has hitherto prevented their entering upon action; and, indeed, Hirtius appears, by the several letters I have received from him, to be determined to take all his measures with the utmost precaution. Both the Gauls, excepting only the cities of Bononia, Regium, and Parma, are zealously affected to the republic; as are also your clients on the other side the Po. The senate likewise is firm in the cause of liberty; but when I say the senate, I must exclude all of consular rank, except Lucius Cæsar, who, indeed, is faithfully attached to the interest of the commonwealth. The death of Servius Sulpicius has deprived us of a very powerful associate. As for the rest of the consulars, part of them are ill affected to the republic, others want spirit to support its cause, and some there are who look with envy on those patriot citizens whose conduct they see distinguished by the public applause. The populace, however, both in Rome, and throughout all Italy, are wonderfully unanimous in the common cause.---I have nothing farther, I think, to add, but my wishes that your heroic virtues may shine out upon us from yon eastern regions, in all their enlivening warmth and lustre. Farewel. I LETTER IX. TO LUCIUS PAPIRIUS PETUS7. HAVE received a second letter from you, concerning your friend Rufus: and since you interest yourself thus warmly in his behalf, you might depend upon my utmost assistance, even See rem. 1. p. 15. vol. ii. if |