Translation:Letters to Friends/6.14

To Q. Ligarius

Rome, November 46 BC

Cicero to Ligarius

Know that I am spending every toil of mine, every effort, concern, endeavor in your safety. For not only have I always liked you very much, but the excellent loyalty of your brothers, whom I've embraced with as much kindness as I have you, and brotherly love allow me to neglect no performance or opportunity of duty and zeal toward you. But what I'm doing and have done for you, I prefer you to learn from their letters rather than from mine. However, what I hope for, or feel confident about and consider known, concerning your safety, I want this to be shown to you by myself.

For if anyone is fearful in great and dangerous matters and always fearing unfavorable outcomes of matters more than favorable ones, I am that man and, if this is a fault, I confess I'm not without it. Nevertheless, on the fifth day before the Kalends of the first intercalary month, when I had come in the morning at the request of your brothers to Caesar and had endured the indignity and trouble of approaching and meeting with him, when your brothers and relatives threw themselves at his feet and I had said what the case, what your situation demanded, I left with this belief, not only from Caesar's language, which was certainly pleasant and courteous, but also from his eyes and face, in addition from many signs which I could more easily observe than write, that to me your safety was not in doubt.

For this reason, make sure you're of a great and strong mind and, if you bore the most chaotic matters wisely, that you bear calmer ones happily. I will, however, stand by your affairs as if they are the most difficult, and with the most pleasure will implore not only Caesar but all his friends as well, whom I know are very friendly to me, for you, just as I have done thus far.

Goodbye.