Letter coll=F:book=6:letter=15 Letter LXXXV: ad familiares 6.15
Rome, probably Mar. 15, 44 B.C.
With these words Cicero salutes L. Minucius Basilus, one of Caesar's murderers, on the day of the assassination and after its occurrence. Basilus had been praetor in 45 B.C.
, and actuated by chagrin at not obtaining a province from Caesar for the next year, joined the conspirators. For an account of his death, see Appian, B. C. 3.98. Cicero was perhaps a witness of Caesar's murder (cf. Phil. 2.28; Att. 14.14.4), but he had no previous knowledge of the plan (cf. Fam. 12.2.1; 12.4.1).
quid agas quidque agatur: the inquiry here indicates that this note of congratulation was written before Cicero's visit to the Capitol, where the conspirators took refuge after the assassination. Cf. Intr. 36.