The familiar epistles of M.T. Cicero Englished and conferred with the: French Italian and other translations

Decimus Brutus, Imperator, ele∣c••ed Consull, to Cicero. Epist. 13.

FRom this time forward, it will not be fit, that I should thanke you with words. For, if I can hardly with effects, returne you equall merit; how should I thinke with words, euer to be able to requite you? I pray you consider well, how matters now stand: for, being wise, as you are; reading diligently my letters, you shall vnderstand euerie thing: I could not, my Cicero, pursue presently Antoniu••, for the reasons I shall alledge vnto you. I was without horse; without beasts for carriage; I knew not that Hirtius was slaine; I

could not bee confident of Caesar, be∣fore I came vnto him, and had talked with him; The first day passed after this manner. The day following I was by Pansa called earely to Bononi••. Be∣ing on the way, newes came, that hee was dead. I posted presently to my poore companies; for, so I may truely terme them. They are wondrous bare, and through want of all things, in mar∣uellous ill condition. Antonius got two daies iourney before me, making much more way in his flight, then I, in his pursuite: for, he fled at randome, and I followed in warlike ordinance. Wheresoeuer he passed, he set slaues at libertie, and tooke by force, whomso∣euer he could: hee staid in no place, till he came to Vada: which place I wil discypher vnto you. It lies between the Appennine and the Alpes, and is almost impassable. I being some 30. miles off him, and he hauing alreadie combined his forces, with those of Ventidius, an oration of his was brought vnto mee: wherein hee began to entreat the soul∣diers, that they would follow him be∣yond the Alpes, by reason he held cor∣respondencie with Lepidus. At this, shouts were raised, and principallie by Ventidius souldiers, (for, of his owne, he hath verie few) that they were resol∣ued to die, or vanquish in Italy. And moreouer, they began to importune

him, that hee would goe towards Pol∣lentia. He, not being able to withhold them, gaue order for his going thither, the day following. When I heard this newes, I presentlie sent fiue cohorts to Pollentia, before they should arriue there, and tooke mine owne way thi∣therwards. Trabellius arriuing with his horse at Pollentia, found my men, which I sent to defend it, there, an howre be∣fore: whereat I much reioyced. For, herein I thinke, consists the victorie. They conceiued some good hopes: for, they neither supposed, that Plancus fowre Legions, were equall to all their forces: neither did they thinke, that an Armie could so speedilie be condu∣cted out of Italy. Against whom the Townes-men hitherto, ioyned with the horse I sent before, haue of them∣selues couragiously resisted: and at my arriuall, I hope they will yet more va∣liantlie oppose themselues. But if per∣aduenture Antonius should passe the ri∣uer Isara, wee will labour with all our power, to make such defence, that hee may doe no hurt to the Common-wealth. Be of great courage, and good hopes, about the interests of the Com∣mon-wealth, seeing, that both we, and our Armies, vnited with singular con∣cord, are prepared for all enterprizes, in your behalfe, and seruice. Neuer∣thelesse, you must vse your wonted di∣ligence,

and procure, that there want neither men, nor anie other thing, which the necessitie of war requireth, to the end, that with better confidence, we may fight for your safetie, against this impious conspiracie of our ene∣mies: who, on a sudden, haue turned those forces against their Countrey, which in long time, vnder colour of the Common-wealth, they had collected. Farewell.