CN. MAGNUS PROCOS. S. D. M. CICERONI IMP.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Canusi X K. Mart. a. 705_]
S. V. B. Tuas litteras libenter legi. Recognovi enim tuam pristinam virtutem etiam in salute communi. Consules ad eum exercitum, quem in Apulia habui, venerunt. Magno opere te hortor pro tuo singulari perpetuoque studio in rem publicam, ut te ad nos conferas, ut communi consilio rei publicae adflictae opem atque auxilium feramus. Censeo, via Appia iter facias et celeriter Brundisium venias.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Formiis III K. Mart. a. 705_]
Cum ad te litteras misissem, quae tibi Canusi redditae sunt, suspicionem nullam habebam te rei publicae
At the present moment I do not know what are your ideas and plan of campaign. If you think that this coast should be held--and Capua has a good position and is an important town, not to speak of its loyal inhabitants, and to my mind tenable--a commander is wanted. If your plan is concentration, I will come to you at once without hesitation. Nothing would delight me more, and I told you so on the day of our departure from Rome. I do not trouble about criticisms of inactivity from anyone but yourself. If, as I foresee, war is inevitable, I feel I can easily satisfy every criticism. I have sent my relative M. Tullius in case you may wish to send a reply.
CN. MAGNUS PROCONSUL SENDS GREETINGS TO CICERO IMPERATOR.
[Sidenote: _Canusium, Febr. 20_, B.C. _49_]
I hope you are well. I was glad to read your letter, for once again I recognized your tried courage in the interests of public safety. The consuls have joined my army in Apulia. I beg you earnestly in the name of your exceptional and continued zeal for the state to join me as well, so that we may plan together to benefit and assist the state in her sore straits. I hold that you should travel by the Appian road and come with speed to Brundisium.
M. CICERO IMPERATOR SENDS GREETINGS TO CN. MAGNUS, PROCONSUL.
[Sidenote: _Formiae, Febr. 27_, B.C. _49_]
When I sent you the letter which was delivered to you at Canusium, I had no idea that the state's
causa mare transiturum eramque in spe magna fore ut in Italia possemus aut concordiam constituere qua mihi nihil utilius videbatur, aut rem publicam summa cum dignitate defendere. Interim nondum meis litteris ad te perlatis ex iis mandatis, quae D. Laelio ad consules dederas, certior tui consilii factus non exspectavi, dum mihi a te litterae redderentur, confestimque cum Quinto fratre et cum liberis nostris iter ad te in Apuliam facere coepi. Cum Teanum Sidicinum venissem, C. Messius, familiaris tuus, mihi dixit aliique complures Caesarem iter habere Capuam et eo ipso die mansurum esse Aeserniae, Sane sum commotus, quod, si ita esset, non modo iter meum interclusum, sed me ipsum plane exceptum putabam. Itaque tum Cales processi, ut ibi potissimum consisterem, dum certum nobis ab Aesernia de eo, quod audieram, referretur.
