Letter coll=A:book=9:letter=11a Letter XLIX: ad Atticum 9.11a
Formiae, March 19 (or 20), 49 B.C.
Cicero's reply to Ep. XLVII. A copy of it was forwarded to Atticus with Att. 9.11 (cf. Att. 9.11, end). Cicero still cherishes the hope that he may be able to effect a reconciliation between Caesar and Pompey, and with that object in view, and perhaps also to present himself in a favorable light before Caesar, he emphasizes the neutrality of his course thus far, and condemns the radical steps taken by the Pompeians. Caesar's definite request that Cicero should come to Rome and assist him in restoring public order is not answered categorically. This letter was published, and called forth some unfavorable criticism. For Cicero's own interpretation of certain parts of it, cf. Att. 8.9.1f.
[sect. 1]
consilio: in the letter to Atticus accompanying this epistle Cicero writes : huic289 ego in multo sermone epistulam ad me Caesaris ostendi, eam, cuius exemplum ad te antea misi, rogavique ut interpretaretur quid esset quod ille scriberet, consilio meo se uti velle gratia dignitate ope rerum omnium. Respondit se non dubitare quin et opem et gratiam meam ille ad pacificationem quaereret, Att. 9.11.2; cf. also Att. 9.16.1.
admirabili: for Cicero's explanation of his use of this adj., cf. Att. 8.9.1.
de pace: Caesar, after his return to Rome from Brundisium, proposed to negotiate with Pompey, and the senate approved the plan, but no one was willing to act as envoy (cf. Caes. B. C. 1.32, 33).
naturam: sc. as a man of peace, and not inclined to extremes in politics.
