Orations |
Translator: C. D. Yonge
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| 181 |
Quae vero profectio postea , quod iter paludati , quae vitatio oculorum , lucis , urbis , fori , quam misera fuga , quam foeda , quam turpis ! Praeclara tamen senatus consulta illo ipso die vespertina , provinciarum religiosa sortitio , divina vero opportunitas ut , quae cuique apta esset , ea cuique obveniret . Praeclare igitur facitis , tribuni plebis , qui de praesidio consulum senatusque referatis , meritoque vestro maximas vobis gratias omnes et agere et habere debemus . Qui enim periculo carere possumus in tanta hominum cupiditate et audacia ? Ille autem homo adflictus et perditus quae de se exspectat iudicia graviora quam amicorum suorum ? Familiarissimus eius , mihi homo coniunctus , L . Lentulus , et P . Naso , omni carens cupiditate , nullam se habere provinciam , nullam Antoni sortitionem fuisse iudicaverunt . Quod idem fecit L . Philippus , vir patre , avo maioribusque suis dignissimus ; in eadem sententia fuit homo summa integritate atque innocentia , C . Turranius ; idem fecit Sp . Oppius ; ipsi etiam qui amicitiam M . Antoni veriti plus ei tribuerunt quam fortasse vellent , M . Piso , necessarius meus , et vir et civis egregius , parique innocentia M . Vehilius , senatus auctoritati se obtemperaturos esse dixerunt .
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But what a setting out was his after this! what a journey when he was in his robe as a general! How did he shun all eyes, and the light of day, and the city, and the forum! How miserable was his flight! how shameful! how infamous! Splendid, too, were the decrees of the senate passed on the evening of that very day; very religiously solemn was the allotment of the provinces; and heavenly indeed was the opportunity, when every one got exactly what he thought most desirable. You are acting admirably, therefore, O tribunes of the people, in bringing forward a motion about the protection of the senate and consuls; and most deservedly are we all bound to feel and to prove to you the greatest gratitude for your conduct. For how can we be free from fear and danger while menaced by such covetousness and audacity? And as for that ruined and desperate man, what more hostile decision can be passed upon him than has already been passed by his own friends? His most intimate friend, a man connected with me too, Lucius Lentulus, and also Publius Naso, a man destitute of covetousness, have shown that they think that they have no provinces assigned them, and that the allotments of Antonius are invalid. Lucius. Philippus, a man thoroughly worthy of his father and grandfather and ancestors, has done the same. The same is the opinion of Marcus Turanius, a man of the greatest integrity and purity of life. The same is the conduct of Publius Oppius and those very men,—who, influenced by their friendship for Marcus Antonius, have attributed to him more power than they would perhaps really approve of,—Marcus Piso, my own connection, a most admirable man and virtuous citizen, and Marcus Vehilius, a man of equal respectability, have both declared that they would obey the authority of the senate. |
| 182 |
Quid ego de L . Cinna loquar ? cuius spectata multis magnisque rebus singularis integritas minus admirabilem facit huius honestissimi facti gloriam , qui omnino provinciam neglexit , quam item magno animo et constanti C . Cestius repudiavit . Qui sunt igitur reliqui quos sors divina delectet ? T . Annius , M . Gallius . O felicem utrumque ! nihil enim maluerunt . C . Antonius Macedoniam . Hunc quoque felicem ! hanc enim habebat semper in ore provinciam . C . Calvisius Africam . Nihil felicius ! modo enim ex Africa decesserat et quasi divinans se rediturum duos legatos Vticae reliquerat . Deinde M . Cusini Sicilia , Q . Cassi Hispania . Non habeo quid suspicer : duarum credo provinciarum sortis minus divinas fuisse .
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Why should I speak of Lucius. Cinna? whose extraordinary integrity, proved under many trying circumstances, makes the glory of his present admirable conduct less remarkable; he has altogether disregarded the province assigned to him; and so has Caius Cestius, a man of great and firm mind. Who are there left then to be delighted with this heaven-sent allotment? Lucius Antonius and Marcus Antonius! O happy pair! for there is nothing that they wished for more. Caius. Antonius has Macedonia. Happy, too, is he! For he was constantly talking about this province. Caius Calvisius has Africa. Nothing could be more fortunate, for he had only just departed from Africa, and, as if he had divined that he should return, he left two lieutenants at Utica. Then Marcus Iccius has Sicily, and Quintus Cassius Spain. I do not know what to suspect. I fancy the lots which assigned these two provinces, were not quite so carefully attended to by the gods. |
| 183 |
O C . Caesar —adulescentem appello —quam tu salutem rei publicae attulisti , quam improvisam , quam repentinam ! Qui enim haec fugiens fecit , quid faceret insequens ? Etenim in contione dixerat se custodem fore urbis , seque usque ad Kalendas Maias ad urbem exercitum habiturum . O praeclarum custodem ovium , ut aiunt , lupum ! Custosne urbis an direptor et vexator esset Antonius ? Et quidem se introiturum in urbem dixit exiturumque cum vellet . Quid illud ? nonne audiente populo sedens pro aede Castoris dixit , nisi qui vicisset , victurum neminem ?
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O Caius Caesar (I am speaking of the young man), what safety have you brought to the republic! How unforeseen has it been! how sudden! for if he did these things when flying, what would he have done when he was pursuing? In truth, he had said in a harangue that he would be the guardian of the city; and that he would keep his army at the gates of the city till the first of May. What a fine guardian (as the proverb goes) is the wolf of the sheep! Would Antonius have been a guardian of the city, or its plunderer and destroyer? And he said too that he would come into the city and go out as he pleased. What more need I say? Did he not say, in the hearing of all the people, while sitting in front of the temple of Castor, that no one should remain alive but the conqueror? |
| 184 |
Hodierno die primum , patres conscripti , longo intervallo in possessionem libertatis pedem ponimus : cuius quidem ego quoad potui non modo defensor sed etiam conservator fui . Cum autem id facere non possem , quievi , nec abiecte nec sine aliqua dignitate casum illum temporum et dolorem tuli . Hanc vero taeterrimam beluam quis ferre potest aut quo modo ? Quid est in Antonio praeter libidinem , crudelitatem , petulantiam , audaciam ? Ex his totus vitiis conglutinatus est . Nihil apparet in eo ingenuum , nihil moderatum , nihil pudens , nihil pudicum .
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On this day, O conscript fathers, for the first time after a long interval do we plant our foot and take possession of liberty. Liberty, of which, as long as I could be, I was not only the defender, but even the savior. But when I could not be so, I rested; and I bore the misfortunes and misery of that period without abjectness, and not without some dignity. But as for this most foul monster, who could endure him, or how could any one endure him? What is there in Antonius except lust, and cruelty, and wantonness, and audacity? Of these materials he is wholly made up. There is in him nothing virtuous, nothing moderate, nothing modest, nothing virtuous. |
| 185 |
Quapropter , quoniam res in id discrimen adducta est utrum ille poenas rei publicae luat an nos serviamus , aliquando , per deos immortalis , patres conscripti , patrium animum virtutemque capiamus , ut aut libertatem propriam Romani et generis et nominis recuperemus aut mortem servituti anteponamus . Multa quae in libera civitate ferenda non essent tulimus et perpessi sumus , alii spe forsitan recuperandae libertatis , alii vivendi nimia cupiditate : sed , si illa tulimus quae nos necessitas ferre coegit , quae vis quaedam paene fatalis —quae tamen ipsa non tulimus —etiamne huius impuri latronis feremus taeterrimum crudelissimumque dominatum .
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Wherefore, since the matter has come to such a crisis that the question is whether he is to make atonement to the republic for his crimes, or we are to become slaves, let us at last, I beseech you, by the immortal gods. O conscript fathers, adopt our fathers' courage, and our fathers' virtue so as either to recover the liberty belonging to the Roman name and race, or else to prefer death to slavery. We have borne and endured many things which ought not to be endured in a free city: some of us out of a hope of recovering our freedom, some from too great a fondness for life. But if we have submitted to these things, which necessity and a sort of forcer which may seem almost to have been put on us by destiny, have compelled us to endure; though, in point of fact, we have not endured them; are we also to bear with the most shameful and inhuman tyranny of this profligate robber? |
| 186 |
Quid hic faciet , si poterit , iratus qui , cum suscensere nemini posset , omnibus bonis fuerit inimicus ? quid hic victor non audebit qui nullam adeptus victoriam tanta scelera post Caesaris interitum fecerit , refertam eius domum exhauserit , hortos compilaverit , ad se ex eis omnia ornamenta transtulerit , caedis et incendiorum causam quaesierit ex funere , duobus aut tribus senatus consultis bene et e re publica factis reliquas res ad lucrum praedamque revocaverit , vendiderit immunitates , civitates liberaverit , provincias universas ex imperi populi Romani iure sustulerit , exsules reduxerit , falsas leges C . Caesaris nomine et falsa decreta in aes incidenda et in Capitolio figenda curaverit , earumque rerum omnium domesticum mercatum instituerit , populo Romano leges imposuerit , armis et praesidiis populum et magistratus foro excluserit , senatum stiparit armatis , armatos in cella Concordiae , cum senatum haberet , incluserit , ad legiones Brundisium cucurrerit , ex eis optime sentientis centuriones iugulaverit , cum exercitu Romam sit ad interitum nostrum et ad dispertitionem urbis venire conatus ?
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What will he do in his passion, if ever he has the power, who, when he is not able to show his anger against any one, has been the enemy of all good men? What will he not dare to do when victorious, who, without having gained any victory, has committed such crimes as these since the death of Caesar? has emptied his well-filled house? has pillaged his gardens? has transferred to his own mansion all their ornaments? has sought to make his death a pretext for slaughter and conflagration? who, while he has carried two or three resolutions of the senate which have been advantageous to the republic, has made every thing else subservient to his own acquisition of gain and plunder? who has put up exemptions and annuities to sale? who has released cities from obligations? who has removed whole provinces from subjection to the Roman empire? who has restored exiles? who has passed forged laws in the name of Caesar, and has continued to have forged decrees engraved on brass and fixed up in the Capitol, and has set up in his own house a domestic market for all things of that sort? who has imposed laws on the Roman people? and who, with armed troops and guards, has excluded both the people and the magistrates from the forum? who has filled the senate with armed men? and has introduced armed men into the temple of Concord when he was holding a senate there? who ran down to Brundusium to meet the legions, and then murdered all the centurions in them who were well affected to the republic? who endeavored to come to Rome with his army to accomplish our massacre and the utter destruction of the city? |
| 187 |
Atque is ab hoc impetu abstractus consilio et copiis Caesaris , consensu veteranorum , virtute legionum , ne fortuna quidem fractus minuit audaciam nec ruere demens nec furere desinit . In Galliam mutilatum ducit exercitum ; cum una legione et ea vacillante L . fratrem exspectat , quo neminem reperire potest sui similiorem . Ille autem ex myrmillone dux , ex gladiatore imperator quas effecit strages , ubicumque posuit vestigium ! Fundit apothecas , caedit greges armentorum reliquique pecoris quodcumque nactus est ; epulantur milites ; ipse autem se , ut fratrem imitetur , obruit vino ; vastantur agri , diripiuntur villae , matres familiae , virgines , pueri ingenui abripiuntur , militibus traduntur . Haec eadem , quacumque exercitum duxit , fecit M . Antonius .
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And he, now that he has been prevented from succeeding in this attempt by the wisdom and forces of Caesar, and the unanimity of the veterans, and the valor of the legions, even now that his fortunes are desperate, does not diminish his audacity, nor, mad that he is, does he cease proceeding in his headlong career of fury. He is leading his mutilated army into Gaul; with one legion, and that too wavering in its fidelity to him, he is waiting for his brother Lucius, as he can not find any one more nearly like himself than him. But now what slaughter is this man, who has thus become a captain instead of a matador, a general instead of a gladiator, making, wherever he sets his foot! He destroys stores, he slays the flocks and herds, and all the cattle, wherever he finds them; his soldiers revel in their spoil; and he himself, in order to irritate his brother, drowns himself in wine. Fields are laid waste; villas are plundered; matrons, virgins, well-horn boys are carried off and given up to the soldiery; and Marcus Antonius has done exactly the same wherever he has led his army. |
| 188 |
His vos taeterrimis fratribus portas aperietis , hos umquam in urbem recipietis ? non tempore oblato , ducibus paratis , animis militum incitatis , populo Romano conspirante , Italia tota ad libertatem recuperandam excitata , deorum immortalium beneficio utemini ? Nullum erit tempus hoc amisso . A tergo , fronte , lateribus tenebitur , si in Galliam venerit . Nec ille armis solum sed etiam decretis nostris urgendus est . Magna vis est , magnum numen unum et idem sentientis senatus . Videtisne refertum forum , populumque Romanum ad spem recuperandae libertatis erectum ? qui longo intervallo cum frequentis hic videt nos , tum sperat etiam liberos convenisse .
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Will you open your gates to these most infamous brothers? will you ever admit them into the city? will you not rather, now that the opportunity is offered to you, now that you have generals ready, and the minds of the soldiers eager for the service, and all the Roman people unanimous; and all Italy excited with the desire to recover its liberty,—will you not, I say, avail yourself of the kindness of the immortal gods? You will never have an opportunity if you neglect this one. He will be hemmed in in the rear, in the front, and in flank, if he once enters Gaul. Nor must he be attacked by arms alone, but by our decrees also. Mighty is the authority, mighty is the name of the senate when all its members are inspired by one and the same resolution. Do you not see how the forum is crowded? how the Roman people is on tiptoe with the hope of recovering its liberty? which now, beholding us, after a long interval, meeting here in numbers, hopes too that we are also met in freedom. |
| 189 |
Hunc ego diem exspectans M . Antoni scelerata arma vitavi , tum cum ille in me absentem invehens non intellegebat ad quod tempus me et meas viris reservarem . Si enim tum illi caedis a me initium quaerenti respondere voluissem , nunc rei publicae consulere non possem . Hanc vero nactus facultatem , nullum tempus , patres conscripti , dimittam neque diurnum neque nocturnum quin de libertate populi Romani et dignitate vestra quod cogitandum sit cogitem , quod agendum atque faciendum , id non modo non recusem sed etiam appetam atque deposcam . Hoc feci dum licuit ; intermisi quoad non licuit . Iam non solum licet sed etiam necesse est , nisi servire malumus quam ne serviamus animis armisque decernere .
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It was in expectation of this day that I avoided the wicked army of Marcus. Antonius, at a time when he, while inveighing against me, was not aware for what an occasion I was reserving myself and my strength. If at that time I had chosen to reply to him, while he was seeking to begin the massacre with me, I should nor now be able to consult the welfare of the republic. But now that I have this opportunity, I will never, O conscript fathers, neither by day nor by night, cease considering what ought to be thought concerning the liberty of the Roman people, and concerning your dignity. And whatever ought to be planned or done, I not only will never shrink from, but I will offer myself for, and beg to have entrusted to me. This is what I did before while it was in my power; when it was no longer in my power to do so, I did nothing. But now it is not only in my power, but it is absolutely necessary for me, unless we prefer being slaves to fighting with all our strength and courage to avoid being slaves. |
| 190 |
Di immortales nobis haec praesidia dederunt : urbi Caesarem , Brutum Galliae . Si enim ille urbem opprimere potuisset , statim , si Galliam tenere , paulo post optimo cuique pereundum , reliquis serviendum .
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The immortal gods have given us these protectors, Caesar for the city, Brutus for Gaul. For if he had been able to oppress the city we must have become slaves at once; if he had been able to get possession of Gaul, then it would not have been long before every good man must have perished and all the rest have been enslaved. |
| 191 |
Hanc igitur occasionem oblatam tenete , per deos immortalis , patres conscripti , et amplissimi orbis terrae consili principes vos esse aliquando recordamini . Signum date populo Romano consilium vestrum non deesse rei publicae , quoniam ille virtutem suam non defuturam esse profitetur . Nihil est quod moneam vos . Nemo est tam stultus qui non intellegat , si indormierimus huic tempori , non modo crudelem superbamque dominationem nobis sed ignominiosam etiam et flagitiosam ferendam esse . Nostis insolentiam Antoni , nostis amicos , nostis totam domum . Libidinosis , petulantibus , impuris , impudicis , aleatoribus , ebriis servire , ea summa miseria est summo dedecore coniuncta . Quod si iam —quod di omen avertant !—fatum extremum rei publicae venit , quod gladiatores nobiles faciunt ut honeste decumbant , faciamus nos , principes orbis terrarum gentiumque omnium , ut cum dignitate potius cadamus quam cum ignominia serviamus .
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Now then that this opportunity is afforded to you, O conscript fathers, I entreat you in the name of the immortal gods, seize upon it; and recollect at last that you are the chief men of the most honorable council on the whole face of the earth. Give a token to the Roman people that your wisdom shall not fail the republic, since that too professes that its valor shall never desert it either. There is no need for my warning you: there is no one so foolish as not to perceive that if we go to sleep over this opportunity we shall have to endure a tyranny which will be not only cruel and haughty, but also ignominious and flagitious. You know the insolence of Antonius; you know his friends, you know his whole household. To be slaves to lustful, wanton, debauched, profligate, drunken gamblers, is the extremity of misery combined with the extremity of infamy. And if now (but may the immortal gods avert the omen!) that worst of fates shall befall the republic, then, as brave gladiators take care to perish with honor, let us too, who are the chief men of all countries and nations, take care to fall with dignity rather than to live as slaves with ignominy. |
| 192 |
Nihil est detestabilius dedecore , nihil foedius servitute . Ad decus et ad libertatem nati sumus : aut haec teneamus aut cum dignitate moriamur . Nimium diu teximus quid sentiremus ; nunc iam apertum est ; omnes patefaciunt in utramque partem quid sentiant , quid velint . Sunt impii cives —pro caritate rei publicae nimium multi , sed contra multitudinem bene sentientium admodum pauci —quorum opprimendorum di immortales incredibilem rei publicae potestatem et fortunam dederunt . Ad ea enim praesidia quae habemus iam accedent consules summa prudentia , virtute , concordia , multos mensis de populi Romani libertate commentati atque meditati . His auctoribus et ducibus , dis iuvantibus , nobis vigilantibus et multum in posterum providentibus , populo Romano consentiente , erimus profecto liberi brevi tempore . Iucundiorem autem faciet libertatem servitutis recordatio .
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There is nothing more detestable than disgrace; nothing more shameful than slavery. We have been born to glory and to liberty; let us either preserve them or die with dignity. Too long have we concealed what we have felt: now at length it is revealed: every one has plainly shown what are his feelings to both sides, and what are his inclinations. There are impious citizens, measured by the love I bear my country, too many; but in proportion to the multitude of well-affected ones, very few; and the immortal gods have given the republic an incredible opportunity and chance for destroying them. For, in addition to the defenses which we already have, there will soon be added consuls of consummate prudence, and virtue, and concord, who have already deliberated and pondered for many months on the freedom of the Roman people. With these men for our advisers and leaders, with the gods assisting us, with ourselves using all vigilance and taking great precautions for the future, and with the Roman people acting with unanimity, we shall indeed be free in a short time, and the recollection of our present slavery will make liberty sweeter. |
| 193 |
Quas ob res , quod tribuni plebis verba fecerunt uti senatus Kalendis Ianuariis tuto haberi sententiaeque de summa re publica libere dici possint , de ea re ita censeo uti C . Pansa A . Hirtius , consules designati , dent operam uti senatus Kalendis Ianuariis tuto haberi possit . Quodque edictum D . Bruti , imperatoris , consulis designati , propositum sit , senatum existimare D . Brutum , imperatorem , consulem designatum , optime de re publica mereri , cum senatus auctoritatem populique Romani libertatem imperiumque defendat ;
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Moved by these considerations, since the tribunes of the people have brought forward a motion to insure that the senate shall be able to meet in safety on the first of January, and that we may be able to deliver our sentiments on the general welfare of the state with freedom, I give my vote that Caius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius, the consuls elect, do take care that the senate be enabled to meet in safety on the first of January; and, as an edict has been published by Decimus Brutus, imperator and consul elect, I vote that the senate thinks that Decimus Brutus, imperator and consul, deserves excellently well of the republic, inasmuch as he is upholding the authority of the senate, and the freedom and empire of the Roman people; |
| 194 |
quodque provinciam Galliam citeriorem , optimorum et fortissimorum amicissimorumque rei publicae civium , exercitumque in senatus potestate retineat , id eum exercitumque eius , municipia , colonias provinciae Galliae recte atque ordine exque re publica fecisse et facere . Senatum ad summam rem publicam pertinere arbitrari a D . Bruto et L . Planco imperatoribus , consulibus designatis itemque a ceteris qui provincias obtinent obtineri ex lege Iulia , quoad ex senatus consulto cuique eorum successum sit , eosque dare operam ut eae provinciae eique exercitus in senati populique Romani potestate praesidioque rei publicae sint . Cumque opera , virtute , consilio C . Caesaris summoque consensu militum veteranorum , qui eius auctoritatem secuti rei publicae praesidio sunt et fuerunt , a gravissimis periculis populus Romanus defensus sit et hoc tempore defendatur ;
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and as he is also retaining the province of Gallia Citerior, a province full of most virtuous and brave men, and of citizens most devoted to the republic, and his army, in obedience to the senate, I vote that the senate judges that he, and his army, and the municipalities and colonies of the province of Gaul, have acted and are acting properly, and regularly, and in a manner advantageous to the republic. And the senate thinks that it will be for the general interests of the republic that the provinces which are at present occupied by Decimus Brutus and by Lucius Plancus, both imperators, and consuls elect, and also by the officers who are in command of provinces, shall continue to be held by them in accordance with the provisions of the Julian law, until each of these officers has a successor appointed by a resolution of the senate; and that they shall take care to maintain those provinces and armies in obedience to the senate and people of Rome, and as a defense to the republic. And since, by the exertions and valor and wisdom of Caius Caesar, and by the admirable unanimity of the veteran soldiers, who, obeying his authority, have been and are a protection to the republic, the Roman people has been defended, and is at this present time being defended, from the most serious dangers. |
| 195 |
cumque legio Martia Albae constiterit , in municipio fidelissimo et fortissimo , seseque ad senatus auctoritatem populique Romani libertatem contulerit ; et quod pari consilio eademque virtute legio quarta usa , L . Egnatuleio duce quaestore optimo , civi egregio , senatus auctoritatem populique Romani libertatem defendat ac defenderit , senatui magnae curae esse ac fore ut pro tantis eorum in rem publicam meritis honores eis habeantur gratiaeque referantur . Senatui placere uti C . Pansa A . Hirtius , consules designati , cum magistratum inissent , si eis videretur , primo quoque tempore de his rebus ad hunc ordinem referrent , ita uti e re publica fideque sua videretur .
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And as the Martial legion has encamped at Alba, in a municipal town of the greatest loyalty and courage, and has devoted itself to the support of the authority of the senate, and of the freedom of the Roman people; and as the fourth legion, behaving with equal wisdom and with the same virtue, under the command of Lucius Egnatuleius the quaestor, an illustrious citizen, has defended and is still defending the authority of the senate and the freedom of the Roman people; I give my vote, That it is and shall be an object of anxious care to the senate to pay due honor and to show due gratitude to them for their exceeding services to the republic: and that the senate hereby orders that when Caius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius, the consuls elect, have entered on their office, they take the earliest opportunity of consulting this body on these matters, as shall seem to them expedient for the republic, and worthy of their own integrity, and loyalty. |
| 196 |
IN M . ANTONIVM ORATIO PHILIPPICA QVARTA Frequentia vestrum incredibilis , Quirites , contioque tanta quantam meminisse non videor et alacritatem mihi summam defendendae rei publicae adfert et spem recuperandae . Quamquam animus mihi quidem numquam defuit : tempora defuerunt , quae simul ac primum aliquid lucis ostendere visa sunt , princeps vestrae libertatis defendendae fui . Quod si id ante facere conatus essem , nunc facere non possem . Hodierno enim die , Quirites , ne mediocrem rem actam arbitremini , fundamenta iacta sunt reliquarum actionum . Nam est hostis a senatu nondum verbo appellatus , sed re iam iudicatus Antonius .
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THE FOURTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE FOURTH PHILIPPIC. The great numbers in which you are here met this day, O Romans, and this assembly, greater than, it seems to me, I ever remember, inspires me with both an exceeding eagerness to defend the republic, and with a great hope of reestablishing it. Although my courage indeed has never failed; what has been unfavorable is the time; and the moment that that has appeared to show any dawn of light, I at once have been the leader in the defense of your liberty. And if I had attempted to have done so before, I should not be able to do so now. For this day, O Romans (that you may not think it is but a trifling business in which we have been engaged), the foundations have been laid for future actions. For the senate has no longer been content with styling Antonius an enemy in words, but it has shown by actions that it thinks him one. |
| 197 |
Nunc vero multo sum erectior quod vos quoque illum hostem esse tanto consensu tantoque clamore approbavistis . Neque enim , Quirites , fieri potest ut non aut ei sint impii qui contra consulem exercitus comparaverunt , aut ille hostis contra quem iure arma sumpta sunt . Hanc igitur dubitationem , quamquam nulla erat , tamen ne qua posset esse senatus hodierno die sustulit . C . Caesar qui rem publicam libertatemque vestram suo studio , consilio , patrimonio denique tutatus est et tutatur maximis senatus laudibus ornatus est .
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And now I am much more elated still, because you too with such great unanimity and with such a clamor have sanctioned our declaration that he is an enemy. And indeed, O Romans, it is impossible but that either the men must be impious who have levied armies against the consul, or else that he must be an enemy against whom they have rightly taken arms. And this doubt the senate has this day removed—not indeed that there really was any; but it has prevented the possibility of there being any. Caius Caesar, who has upheld and who is still upholding the republic and your freedom by his zeal and wisdom, and at the expense of his patrimonial estate, has been complimented with the highest praises of the senate. |
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Laudo , laudo vos , Quirites , quod gratissimis animis prosequimini nomen clarissimi adulescentis vel pueri potius ; sunt enim facta eius immortalitatis , nomen aetatis . Multa memini , multa audivi , multa legi , Quirites : nihil ex omnium saeculorum memoria tale cognovi : qui cum servitute premeremur , in dies malum cresceret , praesidi nihil haberemus , capitalem et pestiferum a Brundisio tum M . Antoni reditum timeremus , hoc insperatum omnibus consilium , incognitum certe ceperit , ut exercitum invictum ex paternis militibus conficeret Antonique furorem crudelissimis consiliis incitatum a pernicie rei publicae averteret .
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I praise you,—yes, I praise you greatly, O Romans, when you follow with the most grateful minds the name of that most illustrious youth, or rather boy; for his actions belong to immortality, the name of youth only to his age. I can recollect many things; I have heard of many things; I have read of many things; but in the whole history of the whole world I have never known any thing like this. For, when we were weighed down with slavery, when the evil was daily increasing, when we had no defense, while we were in dread of the pernicious and fatal return of Marcus Antonius from Brundusium, this young man adopted the design which none of us had ventured to hope for, which beyond all question none of us were acquainted with, of raising an invincible army of his father's soldiers, and so hindering the frenzy of Antonius, spurred on as it was by the most inhuman counsels, from the power of doing mischief to the republic. |