Cicero, Letters 16.12
From Tully to Tiro.
My safety is in doubt along with that of all honest people and the whole republic, a thing you can see from the way we have left our homes and the capitol city itself to theft and fire. We have come to a place we won’t survive unless some god or an accident preserves us.
From the moment I came to the city, I didn’t think, say, or do anything that didn’t aim towards peace. But a strange madness filled the air. It wasn’t just scoundrels who lusted for war, but it was those alleged decent men too even as I lamented that civil conflict is the most terrible affliction. Pushed on by some foolishness, Caesar, forgetful of his name and honors, captured Ariminium, Pisarum, Ancona and Arretium. Then we abandoned Rome–and there’s no profit now in arguing whether this was wise or brave.”
TULLIUS S. D. TIRONI SUO
Quo in discrimine versetur salus mea et bonorum omnium atque universae rei publicae ex eo scire potes quod domos nostras et patriam ipsam vel diripiendam vel inflammandam reliquimus. in eum locum res deducta est ut, nisi qui deus vel casus aliquis subvenerit, salvi esse nequeamus.
Equidem, ut veni ad urbem, non destiti omnia et sentire et dicere et facere quae ad concordiam pertinerent. sed mirus invaserat furor non solum improbis sed etiam iis qui boni habentur, ut pugnare cuperent, me clamante nihil esse bello civili miserius. itaque, cum Caesar amentia quadam raperetur et oblitus nominis atque honorum suorum Ariminum, Pisaurum, Anconam, Arretium occupavisset, urbem reliquimus, quam sapienter aut quam fortiter nihil attinet disputari.
