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

Cicero to Caius Cassius. Epist. 5.

I Suppose, that hitherto the winter hath beene some hinderance, that we could not heare certainely, what you did; and least of all, where you were: neuerthelesse, euerie one affirmed, (out of their desire, as I suppose) that you were in Syria, and had forces. Which, was the more easily beleeued, in that it seemed probable. Our Brutus hath made ••urchase of singular praise: hauing performed such great ma••ters, and so far beyond the opinion of all men; tha••, besides their being acceptable of themselues; they are, for the expedition vsed therein, much more welcome. Wherefore, if those places bee in your power, which wee suppose; the Com∣mon-wealth is fortified with great de∣fences. For, euen from the first limits of Greece, as far as Aegypt, wee shall be assisted, by excellent Citizens, that go∣uerne those quarters; and by their peo∣ple. Although (in my opinion) matters were at that passe; that all the danger of the warre seemed to bee in Decimus Brutus: and we hoped, that hee would free himselfe from the asseige, by which hee is inuironed; and valiantly come out into the field; which, if it fall out,

the war will be thought ended. Howso∣euer, he was now at length beleaguered but by a few men. For, Antonius had a great garrison in Bononia; and at Cla∣terna, was our Hirtius; and Caesar, at F••rum Cornelium, both of them with a great Armie: and Pa••sa had in Rome, leuied many men, which were raised in Italie by choice. The winter was an impediment, that as yet, the enterprise was not attempted. Hirtius made shew, as by frequent letters hee signifies to me; that hee would doe nothing, but deliberately. Except Bononia, Regium in Lombardie, and Parma, we had Gaul•• wholly deuoted to the Common-wealth. And the Transpadani, your Clients, stood wonderfully for vs. The [whole] Senate, (besides the Consula∣res,) was most resolued: of whom, there is onely Lucius Caesar, that is most constant, and who aimes directly at the publique good. Wee haue lost a great stay, ••y the death of Seruius Sulpitius•• The others, are partly hollow-hearted, and in part maleuolent: Some enuie their praise, whom they see commen∣ded in the Common-wealth. But the people of Rome, and all Italie, are won∣derfully vnited. These breefly were the matters, with which I desired you might bee acquainted. Now I desire, that from those Easterne parts, the light of your valor may be resplendent. Fare∣well.