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Cicero · Letters to Brutus §1.2a.1-1.2a.3

Objection to Brutus's Clemency toward the Antonii

Passage 3 of 30 · Latin

Summary

Cicero expresses his joy that Brutus has secured the support of the army, but strongly disputes Brutus's 'clemency' toward the Antonii, warning him that failing to take a strict stance will lead to the ruin of the Republic.

§1.2a.1te benevolentiam exercitus equitumque expertum vehementer gaudeo.
I vehemently rejoice that you have experienced the goodwill of the army and the cavalry.
de Dolabella, ut scribis, si quid habes novi, facies me certiorem; in quo delector me ante providisse, ut tuum iudicium liberum esset cum Dolabella belli gerendi.
Concerning Dolabella, as you write, if you have any news, you will keep me informed; in which matter I am delighted that I foresaw beforehand, so that your decision of waging war with Dolabella might be free.
id valde pertinuit, ut ego tum intellegebam, ad rem publicam, ut nunc iudico, ad dignitatem tuam.
This was of great importance, as I understood then, to the republic, and as I judge now, to your dignity.
§1.2a.2* * * quod scribis me maximo otio egisse ut insectarer Antonios idque laudas, credo ita videri tibi.
As to your writing that I acted with the greatest leisure to pursue the Antonii, and your praising this, I believe it seems so to you.
sed illam distinctionem tuam nullo pacto probo; scribis enim acrius prohibenda bella civilia esse quam in superatos iracundiam exercendam.
But that distinction of yours I by no means approve; for you write that civil wars are to be prevented more sharply than wrath is to be exercised against the conquered.
vehementer a te, Brute, dissentio nec clementiae tuae concedo, sed salutaris severitas vincit inanem speciem clementiae.
I vehemently dissent from you, Brutus, nor do I yield to your clemency, but a wholesome severity conquers the empty appearance of clemency.
quod si clementes esse volumus, numquam deerunt bella civilia.
But if we wish to be merciful, civil wars will never be lacking.
sed de hoc tu videris; de me possum idem quod Plautinus pater in Trinummo: " mi/hi quidem aetas a/cta ferme est; tu/a istuc refert ma/xime. " §1.2a.3opprimemini, mihi crede, Brute, nisi provideritis; neque enim populum semper eundem habebitis neque senatum neque senati ducem.
But as to this, you must see to it; as for myself, I can say the same as the Plautine father in the Trinummus: "For my part, my life is almost spent; that concerns yours most of all." You will be crushed, believe me, Brutus, unless you take precautions; for you will not always have the same people, nor the same senate, nor the same leader of the senate.
haec ex oraculo Apollinis Pythi edita tibi puta; nihil potest esse venus.
Consider these words as uttered to you from the oracle of Pythian Apollo; nothing can be truer.
xv K. Maias.
April 17th.

Notes

  1. 1.2a.1te benevolentiam exercitus equitumque expertum — The accusative and infinitive construction (expertum [esse]) functions as the object of gaudeo. expertum is a perfect participle with 'esse' omitted.
  2. 1.2a.1belli gerendi — The gerundive agreeing with belli in gender, number, and case, forming a genitive phrase modifying the noun iudicium ('decision of waging war').
  3. 1.2a.2tua istuc refert maxime — The impersonal verb refert (like interest) takes the feminine ablative singular of the possessive pronoun (tua) to indicate the person concerned. istuc is the neuter pronoun subject ('that matter').
  4. 1.2a.3senati — An archaic genitive singular of the fourth-declension noun senatus, using the second-declension ending -i instead of the classical form senatus.
  5. 1.2a.3venus — The manuscript reading 'venus' is universally regarded as a scribal error for the comparative adjective 'verius' (truer), completing the idiom 'nihil potest esse verius' (nothing can be truer).

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Brutus §1.2a.1-1.2a.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi059.humanitext-lat1:1.2a.1-1.2a.3

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