Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §10.34.1-10.34.2

Lepidus to Cicero on Confronting Antony's Forces

Passage 234 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Lepidus reports to Cicero that he has moved his army to confront Antony's forces entering his province, describing the enemy's situation and his handling of defectors.

§10.34.1S. v. b. e. e. v.
If you are well, it is well; I am well.
Cum audissem M. Antonium cum suis copiis praemisso L. Antonio cum parte equitatus in provinciam meam venire, cum exercitu meo ab confluente Rhodam castra movi ac contra eos venire institui.
When I had heard that Marcus Antony with his forces was coming into my province, Lucius Antony having been sent ahead with a part of the cavalry, I moved my camp with my army from the confluence of the Rhone and resolved to march against them.
itaque continuis itineribus ad forum Voconi veni et ultra castra ad flumen Argenteum contra Antonios feci.
Therefore, by continuous marches I came to Forum Voconii and pitched my camp against the Antonies beyond the river Argenteus.
P. Ventidius suas legiones 4ris coniunxit cum eo et ultra me castra posuit.
Publius Ventidius joined his four legions with him and pitched camp beyond me.
habebat antea legionem v et ex reliquis legionibus magnam multitudinem sed inermorum.
He previously had the fifth legion and a large multitude from the remaining legions, but of unarmed men.
equitatum habet magnum; nam omnis ex proelio integer discessit ita ut sint amplius equitum milia quinque.
He has a large cavalry; for all of it withdrew from the battle untouched, so that there are more than five thousand cavalry.
ad me complures milites et equites ab eo transierunt et in dies singulos eius copiae minuuntur.
Many soldiers and horsemen have gone over from him to me, and day by day his forces are decreasing.
§10.34.2Silanus et Culleo ab eo discesserunt.
Silanus and Culleo have departed from him.
nos etsi graviter ab iis laesi eramus, quod contra nostram voluntatem ad Antonium ierant, tamen nostrae humanitatis et necessitudinis. causa eorum salutis rationem habuimus nec tamen eorum opera utimur neque in castris habemus neque ulli negotio praefecimus.
Although we had been grievously offended by them, because they had gone to Antony against our will, yet for the sake of our humanity and close relationship we took account of their safety, but nevertheless we do not use their services, nor do we keep them in camp, nor have we put them in charge of any business.
quod ad bellum hoc attinet, nec senatui nec rei p. derimus.
As far as this war is concerned, we shall not fail either the senate or the republic.
quae postea egerimus faciam te certiorem.
What we do hereafter, I will make you informed of.

Notes

  1. §10.34.1S. v. b. e. e. v. — An abbreviation of the traditional greeting used at the beginning of letters, meaning "Si vales, bene est; ego valeo" (If you are well, it is well; I am well).
  2. §10.34.1praemisso L. Antonio cum parte equitatus — An ablative absolute construction with "praemisso L. Antonio" (Lucius Antony having been sent ahead) acting as the subject-predicate equivalent, accompanied by "cum parte equitatus" (with a part of the cavalry).
  3. §10.34.1feci — Here, supplied from the context of the preceding sentence, it is understood as an ellipsis of the noun in the phrase "castra feci" (I pitched camp).
  4. §10.34.2derimus — A spelling variant or contraction of "deerimus", the first-person plural future active indicative of the verb "desum" (to be wanting, fail, desert), expressing future resolve.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §10.34.1-10.34.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:10.34.1-10.34.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.