Orations |
Translator: C. D. Yonge
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| 289 |
Quamquam nos ab ineunte illius aetate usus , consuetudo , studiorum etiam honestissimorum societas similitudoque devinxit , eiusdemque cura incredibilis in asperrimis belli civilis periculis perspecta docuit non modo salutis sed etiam dignitatis meae fuisse fautorem , tamen eundem , ut dixi , nisi talis consul esset , negare esse consulem auderem : idem non modo consulem esse dico sed memoria mea praestantissimum atque optimum consulem , non quin pari virtute et voluntate alii fuerint , sed tantam causam non habuerunt in qua et voluntatem suam et virtutem declararent .
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Although long acquaintance, and habit, and a fellowship and resemblance in the most honorable pursuits, has bound us together from his first entrance into life; and his incredible diligence, proved at the time of the most formidable dangers of the civil war, showed that he was a favorer not only of my safety, but also of my dignity; still as I said before if he were not such a consul as I have described, I should venture to deny that he was a consul at all. But now I call him not only a consul but the most excellent and virtuous consul within my recollection; not but that there have been others of equal virtue and equal inclination, but still they have not had an equal opportunity of displaying the virtue and inclination. |
| 290 |
Huius magnitudini animi , gravitati , sapientiae tempestas est oblata formidolosissimi temporis . Tum autem inlustratur consulatus , cum gubernat rem publicam , si non optabili , at necessario tempore . Magis autem necessarium , patres conscripti , nullum tempus umquam fuit .
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But the opportunity of a time of most formidable change has been afforded to his magnanimity and dignity and wisdom. And that is the time when the consulship is displayed to the greatest advantage when it governs the republic during a time which if not desirable is at all events critical and momentous. And a more critical time than the present, O conscript father, never was. |
| 291 |
Itaque ego ille qui semper pacis auctor fui , cuique pax , praesertim civilis , quamquam omnibus bonis , tamen in primis fuit optabilis —omne enim curriculum industriae nostrae in foro , in curia , in amicorum periculis propulsandis elaboratum est ; hinc honores amplissimos , hinc mediocris opes , hinc dignitatem si quam habemus consecuti sumus — ego igitur pacis , ut ita dicam , alumnus qui quantuscumque sum —nihil enim mihi adrogo —sine pace civili certe non fuissem —periculose dico : quem ad modum accepturi , patres conscripti , sitis , horreo , sed pro mea perpetua cupiditate vestrae dignitatis retinendae et augendae quaeso oroque vos , patres conscripti , ut primo , etsi erit vel acerbum auditu vel incredibile a M . Cicerone esse dictum , accipiatis sine offensione quod dixero , neve id prius quam quale sit explicaro repudietis —ego ille , dicam saepius , pacis semper laudator , semper auctor , pacem cum M . Antonio esse nolo . Magna spe ingredior in reliquam orationem , patres conscripti , quoniam periculosissimum locum silentio sum praetervectus .
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Therefore I who have been at all times an adviser of peace, and who, though all good men was considered peace and especially internal peace, desirable, have considered it more than all of them;—for the whole of career of my industry has been passed in the forum and in the senate-house and in warding off dangers from my friends. It is by this course that I have arrived at the highest honors, at moderate wealth, and at any dignity which we may be thought to have: I therefore, a nursling of peace, as I may call myself, I who, whatever I am (for I arrogate nothing to myself), should undoubtedly not have been such without internal peace: I am speaking in peril: I shudder to think how you will receive it, O conscript fathers; but still, out of regard for my unceasing desire to support and increase your dignity, I beg and entreat you, O conscript fathers, although it may be a bitter thing to hear, or an incredible thing that it should be said by Marcus Cicero, still to receive at first, without offense, what I am going to say, and not to reject it before I have fully explained what it is. I, who, I will say so over and over again, have always been a panegyrist, have always been an adviser of peace, do not wish to have peace with Marcus Antonius. I approach the rest of my speech with great hope, O conscript fathers, since I have now passed by that perilous point amid your silence. |
| 292 |
Cur igitur pacem nolo ? Quia turpis est , quia periculosa , quia esse non potest . Quae tria dum explico , peto a vobis , patres conscripti , ut eadem benignitate qua soletis mea verba audiatis . Quid est inconstantia , levitate , mobilitate cum singulis hominibus , tum vero universo senatui turpius ? quid porro inconstantius quam quem modo hostem non verbo sed re multis decretis iudicaritis ,
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Why then do I not wish for peace? Because it would be shameful; because it would be dangerous; because it can not possibly be real. And while I explain these three points to you, I beg of you, O conscript fathers, to listen to my words with the same kindness which you usually show to me. What is more shameful than inconsistency, fickleness, and levity, both to individuals, and also to the entire senate? Moreover, what can be more inconsistent than on a sudden to be willing to be united in peace with a man whom you have lately adjudged to be an enemy, not by words, but by actions and by many formal decrees? |
| 293 |
cum hoc subito pacem velle coniungi ? Nisi vero , cum C . Caesari meritos illi quidem honores et debitos , sed tamen singularis et immortalis decrevistis , unam ob causam quod contra M . Antonium exercitum comparavisset , non hostem tum Antonium iudicavistis , nec tum hostis est a vobis iudicatus Antonius cum laudati auctoritate vestra veterani milites qui C . Caesarem secuti essent , nec tum hostem Antonium iudicastis cum fortissimis legionibus , quod illum qui consul appellabatur cum esset hostis , reliquissent , vacationes , pecunias , agros spopondistis .
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Unless, indeed, when you were decreeing honors to Caius Caesar, well deserved indeed by and fairly due to him, but still unprecedented and never to be forgotten, for one single reason,—because he had levied an army against Marcus Antonius,—you were not judging Marcus Antonius to be an enemy; and unless. Antonius was not pronounced an enemy by you, when the veteran soldiers were praised by your authority, for having followed Caesar; and unless you did not declare Antonius an enemy when you promised exemptions and money and lands to those brave legions, because they had deserted him who was consul while he was an enemy. |
| 294 |
Quid ? cum Brutum omine quodam illius generis et nominis natum ad rem publicam liberandam exercitumque eius pro libertate populi Romani bellum gerentem cum Antonio provinciamque fidelissimam atque optimam , Galliam , laudibus amplissimis adfecistis , tum non hostem iudicastis Antonium ? Quid ? cum decrevistis ut consules , alter ambove , ad bellum proficiscerentur , quod erat bellum , si hostis Antonius non erat ?
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What? when you distinguished with the highest praises Brutus, a man born under some omen, as it were, of his race and name, for the deliverance of the republic, and his army which was waging war against Antonius on behalf of the liberty of the Roman people, and the most loyal and admirable province of Gaul, did you not then pronounce Antonius an enemy? What? when you decreed that the consuls, one or both of them, should go to the war, what war was there if Antonius was not an enemy? |
| 295 |
Quid igitur profectus est vir fortissimus , meus conlega et familiaris , A . Hirtius consul ? at qua imbecillitate , qua macie ! Sed animi viris corporis infirmitas non retardavit . Aequum , credo , putavit vitam quam populi Romani votis retinuisset pro libertate populi Romani in discrimen adducere .
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Why then was it that most gallant man, my own colleague and intimate friend, Aulus Hirtius the consul, has set out? And in what delicate health he is; how wasted away! But the weak state of his body could not repress the vigor of his mind. He thought it fair, I suppose, to expose to danger in defense of the Roman people that life which had been preserved to him by their prayers. |
| 296 |
Quid ? cum dilectus haberi tota Italia iussistis , cum vacationes omnis sustulistis , tum ille hostis non est iudicatus ? Armorum officinas in urbe videtis ; milites cum gladiis sequuntur consulem ; praesidio sunt specie consuli , re et veritate nobis ; omnes sine ulla recusatione , summo etiam cum studio nomina dant , parent auctoritati vestrae : non est iudicatus hostis Antonius ?
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What? when you ordered levies of troops to be made throughout all Italy, when you suspended all exemptions from service, was he not by those steps declared to be an enemy? You see manufactories of arms in the city; soldiers, sword in hand, are following the consul; they are in appearance a guard to the consul, but in fact and reality to us; all men are giving in their names, not only without any shirking, but with the greatest eagerness; they are acting in obedience to your authority. Has not Antonius been declared an enemy by such acts? |
| 297 |
At legatos misimus . Heu , me miserum ! cur senatum cogor , quem laudavi semper , reprehendere ? Quid ? vos censetis , patres conscripti , legatorum missionem populo Romano vos probavisse ? non intellegitis , non auditis meam sententiam flagitari ? cui cum pridie frequentes essetis adsensi , postridie ad spem estis inanem pacis devoluti . Quam turpe porro legiones ad senatum legatos mittere , senatum ad Antonium ! Quamquam illa legatio non est , denuntiatio est paratum illi exitium , nisi paruerit huic ordini . Quid refert ? tamen opinio est gravis . Missos enim legatos omnes vident ; decreti nostri non omnes verba noverunt .
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“Oh, but we have sent ambassadors to him.” Alas, wretched that I am! why am I compelled to find fault with the senate whom I have always praised? Why? Do you think, O conscript fathers that you have induced the Roman people to approve of the sending ambassadors? Do you not perceive, do you not hear that the adoption of my opinion is demanded by them? that opinion which you, in a full house, agreed to the day before, though the day after you allowed yourselves to be brought down to a groundless hope of peace. Moreover, how shameful it is for the legions to send out ambassadors to the senate, and the senate to Antonius! Although that is not an embassy; it is a denunciation that destruction is prepared for him if he does not submit to this order. What is the difference? At all events, men's opinions are unfavorable to the measure; for all men see that ambassadors have been sent, but it is not all who are acquainted with the terms of your decree. |
| 298 |
Retinenda est igitur nobis constantia , gravitas , perseverantia ; repetenda vetus illa severitas , si quidem auctoritas senatus decus , honestatem , laudem dignitatemque desiderat , quibus rebus hic ordo caruit nimium diu . Sed erat tunc excusatio oppressis , misera illa quidem , sed tamen iusta : nunc nulla est . Liberati regio dominatu videbamur : multo postea gravius urgebamur armis domesticis . Ea ipsa depulimus nos quidem : extorquenda sunt . Quod si non possumus facere —dicam quod dignum est et senatore et Romano homine —moriamur . Quanta enim illa erit rei publicae turpitudo , quantum dedecus , quanta labes , dicere in hoc ordine sententiam M . Antonium consulari loco ! cuius ut omittam innumerabilia scelera urbani consulatus , in quo pecuniam publicam maximam dissipavit , exsules sine lege restituit , vectigalia divendidit , provincias de populi Romani imperio sustulit , regna addixit pecunia , leges civitati per vim imposuit , armis aut obsedit aut exclusit senatum : ut haec , inquam , omittam , ne hoc quidem cogitatis , eum qui Mutinam , coloniam populi Romani firmissimam , oppugnarit , imperatorem populi Romani , consulem designatum , obsederit , depopulatus agros sit , hunc in eum ordinem recipi a quo totiens ob has ipsas causas hostis iudicatus sit quam foedum flagitiosumque sit ?
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You must, therefore, preserve your consistency, your wisdom, your firmness, your perseverance. You must go back to the old-fashioned severity, if at least the authority of the senate is anxious to establish its credit, its honor, its renown, and its dignity, things which this order has been too long deprived of. But there was some time ago some excuse for it, as being oppressed; a miserable excuse indeed, but still a fair one; now there is none. We appeared to have been delivered from kingly tyranny; and afterward we were oppressed much more severely by domestic enemies. We did indeed turn their arms aside; we must now wrest them from their hands. And if we can not do so (I will say what it becomes one who is both a senator and a Roman to say), let us die. For how just will be the shame, how great will be the disgrace, how great the infamy to the republic, if Marcus Antonius can deliver his opinion in this assembly from the consular bench. For, to say nothing of the countless acts of wickedness committed by him while consul in the city, during which time he has squandered a vast amount of public money, restored exiles without any law, sold our revenues to all sorts of people, removed provinces from the empire of the Roman people, given men kingdoms for bribes, imposed laws on the city by violence, besieged the senate, and, at other times, excluded it from the senate-house by force of arms;—to say nothing, I say, of all this, do you not consider this, that he who has attacked Mutina, a most powerful colony of the Roman people—who has besieged a general of the Roman people, who is consul elect—who has laid waste the lands,—do you not consider, I say, how shameful and iniquitous a thing it would be for that man to be received into this order, by which he has been so repeatedly pronounced an enemy for these very reasons? |
| 299 |
Satis multa de turpitudine . Dicam deinceps , ut proposui , de periculo : quod etsi minus est fugiendum quam turpitudo , tamen offendit animos maioris partis hominum magis .
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I have said enough of the shamefulness of such a proceeding; I will now speak next, as I proposed, of the danger of it; which, although it is not so important to avoid as shame, still offends the minds of the greater part of mankind even more. |
| 300 |
Poteritis igitur exploratam habere pacem , cum in civitate Antonium videbitis vel potius Antonios ? Nisi forte contemnitis Lucium : ego ne Gaium quidem . Sed , ut video , dominabitur Lucius . Est enim patronus quinque et triginta tribuum , quarum sua lege qua cum C . Caesare magistratus partitus est suffragium sustulit ; patronus centuriarum equitum Romanorum quas item sine suffragio esse voluit , patronus eorum qui tribuni militares fuerunt , patronus Iani medii . Quis huius potentiam poterit sustinere ? praesertim cum eosdem in agros etiam deduxerit . Quis umquam omnis tribus , quis equites Romanos , quis tribunos militaris ? Gracchorum potentiam maiorem fuisse arbitramini quam huius gladiatoris futura sit ? quem gladiatorem non ita appellavi ut interdum etiam M . Antonius gladiator appellari solet , sed ut appellant ei qui plane et Latine loquuntur . Myrmillo in Asia depugnavit . Cum ornasset Thraecidicis comitem et familiarem suum , illum miserum fugientem iugulavit , luculentam tamen ipse plagam accepit , ut declarat cicatrix .
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Will it then be possible for you to rely on the certainty of any peace, when you see Antonius, or rather the Antonii, in the city? Unless, indeed, you despise Lucius: I do not despise even Caius. But, as I think, Lucius will be the dominant spirit,—for he is the patron of the five-and-thirty tribes, whose votes he took away by his law, by which he divided the magistracies in conjunction with Caius Caesar. He is the patron of the centuries of the Roman knights, which also he thought fit to deprive of the suffrages: he is the patron of the men who have been military tribunes; he is the patron of the middle of Janus. O ye gods! who will he able to support this man's power? especially when he has brought all his dependents into the lands. Who ever was the patron of all the tribes? and of the Roman knights? and of the military tribunes? Do you think that the power of even the Gracchi was greater than that of this gladiator will be? whom I have called gladiator, not in the sense in which sometimes Marcus. Antonius too is called gladiator, but as men call him who are speaking plain Latin. He has fought in Asia as a mirmillo. After having equipped his own companion and intimate friend in the armor of a Thracian, he slew the miserable man as he was flying; but he himself received a palpable wound, as the scar proves. |
| 301 |
Qui familiarem iugularit , quid is occasione data faciet inimico ? et qui illud animi causa fecerit , hunc praedae causa quid facturum putatis ? Non rursus improbos decuriabit , non sollicitabit rursus agrarios , non queretur expulsos ? M . vero Antonius non is erit ad quem omni motu concursus fiat civium perditorum ? Vt nemo sit alius nisi ei qui una sunt , et ei qui hic ei nunc aperte favent , parumne erunt multi ? praesertim cum bonorum praesidia discesserint , illi parati sint ad nutum futuri ? Ego vero metuo , si hoc tempore consilio lapsi erimus , ne illi brevi tempore nimis multi nobis esse videantur .
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What will the man who murdered his friend in this way, when he has an opportunity, do to an enemy? and if he did such a thing as this for the fun of the thing, what do you think he will do when tempted by the hope of plunder? Will he not again meet wicked men in the decuries? will he not again tamper with those men who have received lands? will he not again seek those who have been banished? will he not, in short, be Marcus Antonius; to whom, on the occasion of every commotion, there will be a rush of all profligate citizens? Even if there be no one else except those who are with him now, and these who in this body now openly speak in his favor, will they be too small in number? especially when all the protection which we might have had from good men is lost, and when those men are prepared to obey his nod? But I am afraid, if at this time we fail to adopt wise counsels, that that party will in a short time appear too numerous for us. |
| 302 |
Nec ego pacem nolo , sed pacis nomine bellum involutum reformido . Qua re si pace frui volumus , bellum gerendum est ; si bellum omittimus , pace numquam fruemur .
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Nor have I any dislike to peace; only I do dread war disguised under the name of peace. Wherefore, if we wish to enjoy peace we must first wage war. If we shrink from war, peace we shall never have. |
| 303 |
Est autem vestri consili , patres conscripti , in posterum quam longissime providere . Idcirco in hac custodia et tamquam specula conlocati sumus uti vacuum metu populum Romanum nostra vigilia et prospicientia redderemus . Turpe est summo consilio orbis terrae , praesertim in re tam perspicua , consilium intellegi defuisse . Eos consules habemus , eam populi Romani alacritatem , eum consensum Italiae , eos duces , eos exercitus , ut nullam calamitatem res publica accipere possit sine culpa senatus . Equidem non deero : monebo , praedicam , denuntiabo , testabor semper deos hominesque quid sentiam , nec solum fidem meam , quod fortasse videatur satis esse , sed in principe civi non est satis : curam , consilium vigilantiamque praestabo .
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But it becomes your prudence, O conscript fathers, to provide as far forward as possible for posterity. That is the object for which we were placed in this garrison, and as it were on this watch-tower; that by our vigilance and foresight we might keep the Roman people free from fear. It would be a shameful thing, especially in so clear a case as this, for it to be notorious that wisdom was wanting to the chief council of the whole world. We have such consuls, there is such eagerness on the part of the Roman people, we have such a unanimous feeling of all Italy in our favor, such generals, and such armies, that the republic cannot possibly suffer any disaster without the senate being in fault. I, for my part, will not be wanting. I will warn you, I will forewarn you, I will give you notice, I will call gods and men to witness what I do really believe. Nor will I display my good faith alone, which perhaps may seem to be enough, but which in a chief citizen is not enough; I will exert all my care, and prudence, and vigilance. I have spoken about danger. I will now proceed to prove to you that it is not possible for peace to be firmly cemented; for of the propositions which I promised to establish this is the last. |
| 304 |
Dixi de periculo : docebo ne coagmentari quidem posse pacem ; de tribus enim quae proposui hoc extremum est . Quae potest pax esse M . Antonio primum cum senatu ? quo ore vos ille poterit , quibus vicissim vos illum oculis intueri ? quis vestrum illum , quem ille vestrum non oderit ? Age , vos ille solum et vos illum ? quid ? ei qui Mutinam circumsedent , qui in Gallia dilectus habent , qui in vestras fortunas imminent , amici umquam vobis erunt aut vos illis ? An equites Romanos amplectetur ? Occulta enim fuit eorum voluntas iudiciumque de Antonio . Qui frequentissimi in gradibus Concordiae steterunt , qui nos ad libertatem recuperandam excitaverunt , arma , saga , bellum flagitaverunt , me una cum populo Romano in contionem vocaverunt , hi Antonium diligent et cum his pacem servabit Antonius ?
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What peace can there be between Marcus Antonius and (in the first, place) the senate? with what face will he be able to look upon you, and with what eyes will you, in turn, look upon him? Which of you does not hate him? which of you does not he hate? Come, are you the only people who hate him, and whom he hates? What? what do you think of those men who are besieging Mutina, who are levying troops in Gaul, who are threatening your fortunes? will they ever be friends to you, or you to them? will he embrace the Roman knights? For, suppose their inclinations respecting, and their opinions of Antonius were very much concealed, when they stood in crowds on the steps of the temple of Concord, when they stimulated you to endeavor to recover your liberty, when they demanded arms, the robe of war, and war, and who, with the Roman people, invited me to meet in the assembly of the people, will these men ever become friends to Antonius? will Antonius ever maintain peace with them? |
| 305 |
Nam quid ego de universo populo Romano dicam ? qui pleno ac referto foro bis me una mente atque voce in contionem vocavit declaravitque maximam libertatis recuperandae cupiditatem . Ita , quod erat optabile antea ut populum Romanum comitem haberemus , nunc habemus ducem . Quae est igitur spes , qui Mutinam circumsedent , imperatorem populi Romani exercitumque oppugnant , eis pacem cum populo Romano esse posse ?
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For why should I speak of the whole Roman people? which, in a full and crowded forum, twice, with one heart and one voice, summoned me into the assembly, and plainly showed their excessive eagerness for the recovery of their liberty. So, desirable as it was before to have the Roman people for our comrade, we now have it for our leader. What hope then is there that there ever can be peace between the Roman people and the men who are besieging Mutina and attacking a general and army of the Roman people? |
| 306 |
An cum municipiis pax erit quorum tanta studia cognoscuntur in decretis faciendis , militibus dandis , pecuniis pollicendis , ut in singulis oppidis curiam populi Romani non desideretis ? Laudandi sunt ex huius ordinis sententia Firmani qui principes pecuniae pollicendae fuerunt ; respondendum honorifice est Marrucinis qui ignominia notandos censuerunt eos si qui militiam subterfugissent . Haec iam tota Italia fient . Magna pax Antonio cum eis , his item cum illo . Quae potest esse maior discordia ? In discordia autem pax civilis esse nullo pacto potest .
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Will there be peace with the municipal towns, whose great zeal is shown by the decrees which they pass, by the soldiers whom they furnish, by the sums which they promise, so that in each town there is such a spirit as leaves no one room to wish for a senate of the Roman people? The men of Firmium deserve to be praised by a resolution of our order, who set the first example of promising money; we ought to return a complimentary answer to the Marrucini, who have passed a vote that all who evade military service are to be branded with infamy. These measures are adopted all over Italy. There is great peace between Antonius and these men, and between them and him! What greater discord can there possibly be? And in discord civil peace can not by any possibility exist. |