Weeks pasted after the letter from Gnaeus Pompeius reached Marcus Cicero, on his house on the Clivus Victorie of the Palatine Hill. And for weeks Marcus Cicero hovered back and forth between sending a reply and forgetting the entire affair. As the days went by and the anxiety of Pompey’s cause for a secret meeting grew, Marcus Cicero finally settled down with his decision. At least, he would give the old man a chance to speak his mind; if the plan was good – which he doubted – he would at least think about it. Pulling a chair, Marcus Cicero sat on his desk, in an empty study. Pulling a piece of paper and a pen, he began writing the letter to Gnaeus Pompey.

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M. Tullius Cicero, son of Marcus, greets Cn. Pompeius Magnus, son of Cnaeus.

If you and your family are well I am a happy man. I read with the liveliest satisfaction that you have collected the daughter of Cato Uticensis. From your writings I gather that private life is harmonious –or at least maintains the façade of harmony – between your women. I am pleased to hear that being so.
I received your letter weeks before I decided to sit and write back, not due to some wavering sentiment from my part towards you but due to prudence. I understand that you are planning to meet several senators when you are situated back in the City and for that reason, I thought it soundest to delay in my reply in order to avoid rousing any suspicion from certain parties in Rome, that could hurt your initiative. From your private dispatch I gathered that you are already on your way back to the City. I am glad if that is so and moreover, I am obliged to inform you that I have not seen any peculiar movement or action from the part of Caesar; I guess that the man expects to see first the nature of your move and then devise his plans. For that reason, I find it reasonable to advice you to keep yourself low and away of any action of public display or private act of self gratification prior the end of your proposed meeting, unless you are set on revealing your intentions to Caesar, but not your plans altogether.

On the matter of those you are resolved on meeting, I advise you as a friend to let me sway Brutus over. Pure as your intentions may be, I doubt that the young man has forgotten the death of his Father in your hands several years back; and unless you want the great-nephew-in-law of Caesar to be upset by a sudden dispatch bearing your seal –and thus driven by anger to reveal the ploy to Caesar-, I suggest that you let me talk to him and find out his heart before any approaching moves are carried out. That being said, I also see sense on approaching Gaius Cassius, Brutus’ friend, if you haven’t already done that. From what I know of him, he’s not particularly fond of Caesar either; an antipathy not escaped the man – as you must know, he sent Gaius Cassius to war without the lightest purse, I think on hopes of tying down his chances of success. Moreover, I deem appropriate that I meet with Caius Julius Caesar prior to our meeting, and while being there, try and discover his own designs – private of public. I think that intelligence of Caesar’s actions with your arrival still impending will be most useful to your cause. These actions, I take without the slightest protest in the name of our previous friendship and association; but I do not pledge myself on anything, unless I know more about your desired actions.

With amity,
Marcus Tullius Cicero