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Epistulae ad Familiares, V. iv.-v.

pray of you, as earnestly as I may without straining your courtesy, to save your kinsfolk by saving me also, rather than be induced to attack me on account of the arrogance and ruthlessness of your kinsfolk.^[1] You have won a victory over yourself so far as to lay aside certain private enmities^[2] of your own in the interests of the state; will you ever be prompted to countenance the enmities of others to the prejudice of the state?

But if, with your usual clemency, you now give me your help, I assure you that I shall be in all respects wholly at your service; if, however, owing to that system of violence which has triumphed over me and the state together, the magistracy, the Senate, and the people are alike forbidden to come to my aid, then, I say, beware lest, if at any time you should desire to recall this opportunity of saving us all, you may not be able to do so, because there will be nobody left to save.

V

To Gaius Antonius^[3] in Macedonia

Rome, January, 61 B.C.

¹ I had certainly resolved to send you no letters except letters of introduction—not that I gathered that even these had as much weight with you as I should like, but so as not to give those who asked me for them reason to suspect any loosening of the ties which bind us. Now that Pomponius, however, a man who knows better than anybody all the energy

↑ Especially P. Clodius, who was still closely connected with Nepos through his sister Claudius, mentioned in Ep. ii., now the widow of his brother, Metellus Celer, who died in 59.
↑ Notably his quarrel with Cicero (cf. Ep. ii.).
↑ Uncle of the triumvir, and Cicero’s colleague as consul in 63. He was a Catilinarian, but deserted that cause on Cicero’s resigning to him the province of Macedonia. He commanded an army against Catilina, but on the day of battle delegated his command to M. Petreius. Returning to Rome in 59, he was accused both of complicity with Catillna, and of extortion as Governor of Macedonia. Though defended by Cicero he was condemned and retired to Cephallenia.

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[1] Especially P. Clodius, who was still closely connected with Nepos through his sister Claudius, mentioned in Ep. ii., now the widow of his brother, Metellus Celer, who died in 59.

[2] Notably his quarrel with Cicero (cf. Ep. ii.).

[3] Uncle of the triumvir, and Cicero’s colleague as consul in 63. He was a Catilinarian, but deserted that cause on Cicero’s resigning to him the province of Macedonia. He commanded an army against Catilina, but on the day of battle delegated his command to M. Petreius. Returning to Rome in 59, he was accused both of complicity with Catillna, and of extortion as Governor of Macedonia. Though defended by Cicero he was condemned and retired to Cephallenia.

[1]

[2]

[3]