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

Cicero to Decemus Brutus Imperator. Ep. 18.

THough by the commissions, which Galba, and Volumnius did on your behalfe expose vnto the Senate, wee conceiu'd, of what you thought wee should be fearefull, and suspitious: yet they appeared ••o bee more timerous commissions, then beseemed your victorie, and the Romane people. And you must vnderstand, my Brutus, that the Senate is resolute; and so are they that gouerne it•• and therefore, they tooke it ill, to bee reputed sl••cke, and timerous; by you, whom aboue all o∣thers they iudged to haue beene m••g∣nanimious. For euery one, when you were s••u•• vp, conceiuing wonderfull hopes of your valor, Antonius being then in his very Flower; who was he, that fear'd any thing when he was de∣fea••ed, and you deliuered? neither did they feare Lepidus. For who would iudge him so foolish, that hauing affir∣med he affected peace, in a time when the warre was at the hottest; now, that there is that peace which he desired, he should make warre against the Com∣monwealth? Neither doe I doubt but you are quicker sighted. But, the festiuitie being so fresh in memorie,

which by vs in your name, through all the temples of the gods was celebra∣ted; the renouation of feare, brought great disturbance. And therefore, I could wish, as I hope it will succeed; that Antonius were wholly abandoned and ouerthrowne: but if by misfor∣tune, he hath recouered any force; that he might be made to perceiue; That, neither the Senate wants counsell, nor the people of Rome courage; nor, (while you liue,) the Commonwealth a Generall. The xix. of May. Fare∣well.