|
|
Marcus' answer concerning Avidius Cassius: "I have read your letter, which is that of a disquieted man rather than that of a general, and one not worthy of our times. 2 For if the empire is divinely decreed to be his, we cannot slay him even should we so desire. Remember what your great-grandfather7 used to say, 'No one ever kills his successor'. And if this is not the case, he will of himself fall into the toils of fate without any act of cruelty on our part. 3 Add that we cannot judge a man guilty whom no one has accused, and whom, as you say yourself, the soldiers love. 4 Furthermore, p237in cases of treason it is inevitable that even those who have been proved guilty seem to suffer injustice. 5 ºFor you know yourself what your grandfather Hadrian said, 'Unhappy is the lot of emperors, who are never believed when they accuse anyone of pretending to the throne, until after they are slain'. 6 I have preferred, moreover, to quote this as his, rather than as Domitian's,8 who is reported to have said it first, for good sayings when uttered by tyrants have not as much weight as they deserve. 7 So let Cassius keep his own ways, especially as he is an able general and a stern and brave man, and since the state has need of him. 8 And as for your statement that I should take heed for my children by killing him, by all means let my children perish, if Avidius be more deserving of love than they and if it profit the state for Cassius to live rather than the children of Marcus."
|
|
|
1 rescriptum Marci de Avidio Cassio: "Epistulam tuam legi, sollicitam potius quam8 imperatoriam et non nostri temporis. 2 nam si ei divinitus debetur imperium, non poterimus interficere, etiamsi velimus. scis enim proavi tui dictum: 'successorem suum nullus occidit'. sin minus, ipse sponte sine nostra crudelitate fatales laqueos inciderit. 3 adde quod non possumus reum facere, quem et nullus accusat et, ut ipse dicis, milites p236amant. 4 deinde in causis maiestatis haec natura est ut videantur vim pati etiam quibus probatur. 5 scis enim ipse quid avus tuus Hadrianus dixerit: 'misera condicio imperatorum, quibus de adfectata9 tyrannide nisi occisis non potest credi'. 6 eum autem exemplum ponere malui10 quam Domitiani, qui hoc primus dixisse fertur. tyrannorum enim etiam bona dicta non habent tantum auctoritatis quantum debent. 7 sibi ergo habeat suos mores, maxime cum bonus dux sit et severus et fortis et rei publicae necessarius. 8 nam quod dicis, liberis meis cavendum esse morte illius; plane liberi mei pereant, si magis amari merebitur Avidius quam illi, et si rei publicae expediet, Cassium vivere quam liberos Marci." haec de Cassio Verus, haec Marcus.
|
