Book 5 Letter 11 - The 3rd Philippic

 

Dear Cicero,

I was reading your first Philippic (brilliant, by the way...), and I found you make reference to a Roman playwright, Accius, and his play Atreus. The quote runs thus:

Let them hate, so that they fear

or, to put it another way

Let them hate me, so long as they fear me.

So, I began searching. I found that Suetonius makes reference to this play, claiming that Emperor Caligula loved the play, and that he often quoted this line self referentially. Digging deeper, I discovered that only fragments of the play survive, fragments which thankfully are published by LOEB Classics.

So, looking to purchase the book, (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674993471) my eye was drawn to a side-bar on the website, of recent blog articles published by LOEB scholars, relating to Pride Month. Following a link, I read about the Stonewall riot in New York in 1969, and the subsequent decades long dialogue about gay identity.

So, thank you Cicero, as always. In following you, I walk a path to further study, and sometimes unexpected delights find me on the way.

Tonight, I will read to you from your third Philippic against Marc Antony.

With gratitude and respect

Morgan.

 

 

Book 5, Letter 10 - Plutarch on Cicero

 

Dear Cicero,

The river is full with winter rain, and I find myself spending a great deal of time reading, sitting fireside and listening to the music of the sky opening itself upon the world, now green, now ready and grateful for the blessing.

If I were stuck on a deserted island and could have only one book, I would have to choose between Herodotus' Histories, and Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans. I think both authors succeed in inspiring a great love of further study, and in showing the way in which all things in history are connected, and that I, a lonesome scholar on the edge of the world, am connected as well.

It would be a mighty discussion, if you Cicero, could meet with Herodotus and Plutarch.

Today I will read to you from Plutarch's biography of your life, a paragraph that speaks not so much of you, as it does of your wife, Terentia, and her role during the rites of the Good Goddess.

With Gratitude and Respect.

Morgan.

 

 

Book 5 Letter 9 - Seutonius, on Caius Julius Caesar

 

Dear Cicero,

Seutonius is such a joy the read, like an ancient tabloid writer, or an exposé blog writer, repeating juicy gossip from among the hoi-polloi of the Roman elite. Some of what he writes is history, I suppose, but much of it is just plain, old fashioned good storytelling. It's plain that he has done his research, it's just that his research included gathering up all the rumours, prophecies, and legends about these famous Roman men, and blending them together with military, political and religious history. He is often ready to quote you, Cicero, and I am always pleased to see the marks you made upon your culture.

This little segment I will read you today, is evidence of the complex relationship you had with Caius Julius Caesar, as both an enemy and a friend. But we have talked about this before. I will not press you. Just enjoy your name being spoken by a scholar over a hundred years after your death, and give thanks to the infinite fortunate events that have preserved your works for over two thousand years.

With gratitude and respect

Morgan.

Book 5, Letter 8 - The Way

 

Dear Cicero,

I remarked to a friend recently that 'poetry is the only reason I get out of bed some days'.

What I mean is:

the need to live a poetic life,

to have experiences worthy of poetry,

to be in the world and to draw the magic of inspiration and transmutation

like a thread through my fingers,

and to weave a new kind of reality,

by making real in language,

the things I feel in my body,

my mind, my heart, my soul...

that is why I get out of bed in the morning.

I offer you this, dear Cicero,

with gratitude and respect

Morgan.

 

 

Book 5, Letter 7 - Aristotle: on torture

 

Dear Cicero,

I have been delighted to read Aristotle, I know you are a big fan of his work. In my study of rhetoric and oratory, his book on the subject has been an excellent foundation. He just lays down the principles in such a clear manner and strikes me as having a rather dispassionate way of assessing human nature. He's not disappointed by our weakness, and not really impressed by our strengths. He's scientific in his methods, and I've learned a lot already, though I am only a few chapters in.

I look forward to reading his book on Poetics next.

Today though, I'm reading to you on the unreliability of confessions extracted by torture, a subject being debated, 2,500 years later.

With gratitude and respect.

Morgan

 

 

Book 5 Letter 6 - The New New

 

Dear Cicero,

Tonight I'm reading you one of my poems, The New New.

If you want to understand the present

you have to understand the future

Every day we live through change. We balance upon a dynamic wave of cultural evolution. Nothing is static, all life is passing from one state to another. It was true in your day, and it's true in mine.

I have recently begun the editing and selection process for the publication of my first book of poetry. I have about 250 pages of work to collate from the last 8 years, and a few dozen illustrations for inclusion. I intend to make it a book worthy of our friendship, inspired as I am by your eloquence, Cicero.

with gratitude and respect

Morgan

Book 5 Letter 5 - Seneca: on Harmful Prayers

 

                                                                            SENECA

Dear Cicero,

Some days, only Seneca will do.

To remind me that we are all human.

To remind me that happiness and confusion and wisdom and anger 

are all part of the same story.

Thank you Cicero, for being a part of that.

with gratitude and respect,

Morgan.