Orations |
Translator: C. D. Yonge
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| 379 |
Postremo —erumpat enim aliquando vera et me digna vox !—si veteranorum nutu mentes huius ordinis gubernabuntur omniaque ad eorum voluntatem nostra dicta facta referentur , optanda mors est , quae civibus Romanis semper fuit servitute potior . Omnis est misera servitus ; sed fuerit quaedam necessaria : ecquodnam principium optatius libertatis capessendae ? An , cum illum necessarium et fatalem paene casum non tulerimus , hunc feremus voluntarium ? Tota Italia desiderio libertatis exarsit ; servire diutius non potest civitas ; serius populo Romano hunc vestitum atque arma dedimus quam ab eo flagitati sumus .
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Lastly (let me at last say one true word, one word worthy of myself!)—if the inclinations of this order are governed by the nod of the veterans, and if all our words and actions are to be referred to their will, death is what we should wish for, which has always, in the minds of Roman citizens, been preferable to slavery. All slavery is miserable; but some may have been unavoidable. Do you think, then, that there is never to be a beginning of our endeavors to recover our freedom? Or, when we would not bear that fortune which was unavoidable, and which seemed almost as if appointed by destiny, shall we tolerate the voluntary bondage! All Italy is burning with a desire for freedom. The city can not endure slavery any longer We have given this warlike attire and these arms to the Roman people much later than they have been demanded of us by them. |
| 380 |
Magna quidem nos spe et prope explorata libertatis causam suscepimus ; sed ut concedam incertos exitus esse belli Martemque communem , tamen pro libertate vitae periculo decertandum est . Non enim in spiritu vita est , sed ea nulla est omnino servienti . Omnes nationes servitutem ferre possunt : nostra civitas non potest , nec ullam aliam ob causam nisi quod illae laborem doloremque fugiunt , quibus ut careant omnia perpeti possunt , nos ita a maioribus instituti atque imbuti sumus ut omnia consilia atque facta ad dignitatem et ad virtutem referremus . Ita praeclara est recuperatio libertatis ut ne mors quidem sit in repetenda libertate fugienda . Quod si immortalitas consequeretur praesentis periculi fugam , tamen eo magis ea fugienda videretur quo diuturnior servitus esset . Cum vero dies et noctes omnia nos undique fata circumstent , non est viri minimeque Romani dubitare eum spiritum quem naturae debeat patriae reddere .
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We have, indeed, undertaken our present course of action with a great and almost certain hope of liberty. But even if I allow that the events of war are uncertain, and that the chances of Mars are common to both sides, still it is worth while to fight for freedom at the peril of one's life. For life does not consist wholly in breathing; there is literally no life at all for one who is a slave. All nations can endure slavery. Our state can not. Nor is there any other reason for this, except that those nations shrink from toil and pain, and are willing to endure any thing so long as they may be free from those evils; but we have been trained and bred up by our forefathers in such a manner, as to measure all our designs and all our actions by the standard of dignity and virtue. The recovery of freedom is so splendid a thing that we must not shun even death when seeking to recover it. But if immortality were to be the result of our avoidance of present danger, still slavery would appear still more worthy of being avoided, in proportion as it is of longer duration. But as all sorts of death surround us on all sides night and day, it does not become a man, and least of all a Roman, to hesitate to give up to his country that breath which he owes to nature. |
| 381 |
Concurritur undique ad commune incendium restinguendum ; veterani quidem primi Caesaris auctoritatem secuti conatum Antoni reppulerunt ; post eiusdem furorem Martia legio fregit , quarta adflixit . Sic a suis legionibus condemnatus inrupit in Galliam , quam sibi armis animisque infestam inimicamque cognovit . Hunc A . Hirti , C . Caesaris exercitus insecuti sunt ; post Pansae dilectus urbem totamque Italiam erexit ; unus omnium est hostis . Quamquam habet secum L . fratrem , carissimum populo Romano civem , cuius desiderium ferre diutius civitas non potest .
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Men flock together from all quarters to extinguish a general conflagration. The veterans were the first to follow the authority of Caesar and to repel the attempts of Antonius; afterward the Martial legion checked his frenzy; the fourth legion crushed it. Being thus condemned by his own legions, he burst into Gaul which he knew to be adverse and hostile to him both in word and deed. The armies of Aulus Hirtius and Caius Caesar pursued him, and afterward the levies of Pansa roused the city and all Italy. He is the one enemy of all men. Although he has with him Lucius his brother, a citizen very much beloved by the Roman people, the regret for whose absence the city is unable to endure any longer! |
| 382 |
Quid illa taetrius belua , quid immanius ? qui ob eam causam natus videtur ne omnium mortalium turpissimus esset M . Antonius . Est una Trebellius , qui iam cum tabulis novis redit in gratiam ; T . Plancus et ceteri pares : qui id pugnant , id agunt ut contra rem publicam restituti esse videantur . Et sollicitant homines imperitos Saxae et Cafones , ipsi rustici atque agrestes , qui hanc rem publicam nec viderunt umquam nec videre constitutam volunt , qui non Caesaris , sed Antoni acta defendunt , quos avertit agri Campani infinita possessio , cuius eos non pudere demiror , cum videant se mimos et mimas habere vicinos .
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What can be more foul than that beast? what more savage? who appears born for the express purpose of preventing Marcus Antonius from being the basest of all mortals. They have with them Trebellius, who, now that all debts are canceled, is become reconciled to them; and Titus Plancus, and other like them; who are striving with all their hearts, and whose sole object is to appear to have been restored against the will of the republic. Saxa and Capho, themselves rustic and clownish men, men who never have seen and who never wish to see this republic firmly established, are tampering with the ignorant classes; men who are not upholding the acts of Caesar but those of Antonius; who are led away by the unlimited occupation of the Campanian district; and who I marvel are not somewhat ashamed when they see that they have actors and actresses for their neighbors. |
| 383 |
Ad has pestis opprimendas cur moleste feramus quod M . Bruti accessit exercitus ? immoderati , credo , hominis et turbulenti : videte ne nimium paene patientis . Etsi in illius viri consiliis atque factis nihil nec nimium nec parum umquam fuit . Omnis voluntas M . Bruti , patres conscripti , omnis cogitatio , tota mens auctoritatem senatus , libertatem populi Romani intuetur : haec habet proposita , haec tueri volt . Temptavit quid patientia perficere posset : nihil cum proficeret , vi contra vim experiendum putavit . Cui quidem , patres conscripti , vos idem hoc tempore tribuere debetis quod a . d . xiii . Kalendas Ian . D . Bruto C . Caesari me auctore tribuistis : quorum privatum de re publica consilium et factum auctoritate vestra est comprobatum atque laudatum .
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Why then should we be displeased that the army of Marcus Brutus is thrown into the scale to assist us in overwhelming these pests of the commonwealth? It is the army, I suppose, of an intemperate and turbulent man. I am more afraid of his being too patient; although in all the counsels and actions of that man there never has been any thing either too much or too little. The whole inclinations of Marcus Brutus, O conscript fathers, the whole of his thoughts, the whole of his ideas, are directed toward the authority of the senate and the freedom of the Roman people. These are the objects which he proposes to himself; these are what he desires to uphold. He has tried what he could do by patience; as he did nothing, he has thought it necessary to encounter force by force. And, O conscript fathers, you ought at this time to grant him the same honors which on the nineteenth of December you conferred by my advice on Decimus Brutus and Caius Caesar, whose designs and conduct in regard to the republic, while they also were but private individuals, was approved of and praised by your authority. |
| 384 |
Quod idem in M . Bruto facere debetis , a quo insperatum et repentinum rei publicae praesidium legionum , equitatus , auxiliorum magnae et firmae copiae comparatae sunt . Adiungendus est Q . Hortensius qui , cum Macedoniam obtineret , adiutorem se Bruto ad comparandum exercitum fidissimum et constantissimum praebuit . Nam de M . Apuleio separatim censeo referendum , cui testis est per litteras M . Brutus , eum principem fuisse ad conatum exercitus comparandi . Quae cum ita sint , quod C .
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And you ought to do the same now with respect to Marcus Brutus, by whom an unhoped for and sudden reinforcement of legions and cavalry, and numerous and trusty bands of allies, have been provided for the republic. Quintus Hortensius also ought to have a share of your praise, who, being governor of Macedonia, joined Brutus as a most faithful and untiring assistant in collecting that army. For I think that a separate motion ought to be made respecting Marcus Appuleius, to whom Brutus bears witness in his letters that he has been a prime assistant to him in his endeavors to get together and equip his army. |
| 385 |
Pansa consul verba fecit de litteris quae a Q . Caepione Bruto pro consule adlatae et in hoc ordine recitatae sunt , de ea re ita censeo : ‘cum Q . Caepionis Bruti pro consule opera , consilio , industria , virtute difficillimo rei publicae tempore provincia Macedonia et Illyricum et cuncta Graecia et legiones , exercitus , equitatus in consulum , senatus populique Romani potestate sint , id Q . Caepionem Brutum pro consule bene et e re publica pro sua maiorumque suorum dignitate consuetudineque rei publicae bene gerendae fecisse ; eam rem senatui populoque Romano gratam esse et fore ; utique Q .
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And since this is the case, “As Caius Pansa the consul has addressed to us a speech concerning the letters which have been received from Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, and have been read in this assembly, I give my vote in this matter thus: “Since, by the exertions and wisdom and industry and valor of Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, at a most critical period of the republic, the province of Macedonia, and Illyricum, and all Greece, and the legions and armies and cavalry, have been preserved in obedience to the consuls and senate and people of Rome; Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, has acted well, and in a manner advantageous to the republic, and suitable to his own dignity and to that of his ancestors, and to the principles according to which alone the affairs of the republic can be properly managed; and that conduct is and will be grateful to the senate and people of Rome. |
| 386 |
Caepio Brutus pro consule provinciam Macedoniam , Illyricum cunctamque Graeciam tueatur , defendat , custodiat incolumemque conservet , eique exercitui quem ipse constituit , comparavit , praesit , pecuniamque ad rem militarem , si qua opus sit , quae publica sit et exigi possit , exigat , utatur , pecuniasque a quibus videatur ad rem militarem mutuas sumat , frumentumque imperet operamque det ut cum suis copiis quam proxime Italiam sit ; cumque ex litteris Q . Caepionis Bruti pro consule intellectum sit , Q . Hortensi pro consule opera et virtute vehementer rem publicam adiutam omniaque eius consilia cum consiliis Q . Caepionis Bruti pro consule coniuncta fuisse , eamque rem magno usui rei publicae fuisse , Q . Hortensium pro consule recte et ordine exque re publica fecisse , senatuique placere Q . Hortensium pro consule cum quaestore prove quaestore et legatis suis provinciam Macedoniam obtinere quoad ei ex senatus consulto successum sit . '
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“And moreover, as Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, is occupying and defending and protecting the province of Macedonia, and Illyricum, and all Greece, and is preserving them in safety; and as he is in command of an army which he himself has levied and collected, he is at liberty if he has need of any, to exact money for the use of the military service, which belongs to the public, and can lawfully be exacted, and to use it, and to borrow money for the exigencies of the war from whomsoever he thinks fit, and to exact corn, and to endeavor to approach Italy as near as he can with his forces. And as it has been understood from the letters of Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, that the republic has been greatly benefited by the energy and valor of Quintus Hortensius, proconsul, and that all his counsels have been in harmony with those of Quintus Caepio Brutus, proconsul, and that that harmony has been of the greatest service to the republic; Quintus Hortensius has acted well and becomingly, and in a manner advantageous to the republic. And the senate decrees that Quintus Hortensius, proconsul, shall occupy the province of Macedonia with his quaestors, or proquaestors and lieutenants, until he shall have a successor regularly appointed by a resolution of the senate.” |
| 387 |
IN M . ANTONIVM ORATIO PHILIPPICA VNDECIMA Magno in dolore , patres conscripti , vel maerore potius quem ex crudeli et miserabili morte C . Treboni , optimi civis moderatissimique hominis , accepimus , inest tamen aliquid quod rei publicae profuturum putem . Perspeximus enim quanta in eis qui contra patriam scelerata arma ceperunt inesset immanitas . Nam duo haec capita nata sunt post homines natos taeterrima et spurcissima , Dolabella et Antonius : quorum alter effecit quod optarat , de altero patefactum est quid cogitaret . L . Cinna crudelis , C . Marius in iracundia perseverans , L . Sulla vehemens ; neque ullius horum in ulciscendo acerbitas progressa ultra mortem est ; quae tamen poena in civis nimis crudelis putabatur .
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THE ELEVENTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE ELEVENTH PHILIPPIC. Amid the great grief, O conscript fathers, or rather misery which we have suffered at the cruel and melancholy death of Caius Trebonius, a most virtuous citizen and a most moderate man, there is still a circumstance or two in the case which I think will turn out beneficial to the republic. For we have now thoroughly seen what great barbarity these men are capable of who have taken up wicked arms against their country. For these two, Dolabella and Antonius, are the very blackest and foulest monsters that have ever lived since the birth of man; one of whom has now done what he wished; and as to the other, it has been plainly shown what he intended. Lucius. Cinna was cruel; Caius Marius was unrelenting in his anger; Lucius Sulla was fierce; but still the inhumanity of none of these men ever Went beyond death; and that punishment indeed was thought too cruel to be inflicted on citizens. |
| 388 |
Ecce tibi geminum in scelere par , invisitatum , inauditum , ferum , barbarum . Itaque quorum summum quondam inter ipsos odium bellumque meministis , eosdem postea singulari inter se consensu et amore devinxit improbissimae naturae et turpissimae vitae similitudo . Ergo id quod fecit Dolabella in quo potuit multis idem minatur Antonius . Sed ille cum procul esset a consulibus exercitibusque nostris neque dum senatum cum populo Romano conspirasse sensisset , fretus Antoni copiis ea scelera suscepit quae Romae iam suscepta arbitrabatur a socio furoris sui .
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Here now you have a pair equal in wickedness; unprecedented, unheard of, savage, barbarous. Therefore those men whose vehement mutual hatred and quarrel you recollect a short time ago, have now been united in singular unanimity and mutual attachment by the singularity of their wicked natures and most infamous lives. Therefore, that which Dolabella has now done in a case in which he had the power, Antonius threatens many with. But the former, as he was a long way from our counsels and armies, and as he was not yet aware that the senate had united with the Roman people, relying on the forces of Antonius, has committed those wicked actions which he thought were already put in practice at Rome by his accomplice in wickedness. |
| 389 |
Quid ergo hunc aliud moliri , quid optare censetis aut quam omnino causam esse belli ? Omnis , qui libere de re publica sensimus , qui dignas nobis sententias diximus , qui populum Romanum liberum esse voluimus , statuit ille quidem non inimicos , sed hostis : maiora tamen in nos quam in hostem supplicia meditatur : mortem naturae poenam putat esse , iracundiae tormenta atque cruciatum . Qualis igitur hostis habendus est is a quo victore , si cruciatus absit , mors in benefici parte numeretur ?
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What else then do you think that this man is contriving or wishing, or what other object do you think he has in the war? All of us who have either entertained the thoughts of freemen concerning the republic, or have given utterance to opinions worthy of ourselves, he decides to be not merely opposed to him, but actual enemies. And he plans inflicting bitterer punishments on us than on the enemy; he thinks death a punishment imposed by nature, but torments and tortures the proper inflictions of anger. What sort of enemy then must we consider that man who, if he be victorious, requires one to think death a kindness if he spares one the tortures with which it is in his power to accompany it? |
| 390 |
Quam ob rem , patres conscripti , quamquam hortatore non egetis —ipsi enim vestra sponte exarsistis ad libertatis recuperandae cupiditatem — tamen eo maiore animo studioque libertatem defendite quo maiora proposita victis supplicia servitutis videtis . In Galliam invasit Antonius , in Asiam Dolabella , in alienam uterque provinciam . Alteri se Brutus obiecit impetumque furentis atque omnia divexare ac diripere cupientis vitae suae periculo conligavit , progressu arcuit , a reditu refrenavit , obsideri se passus ex utraque parte constrinxit Antonium . Alter in Asiam inrupit . Cur ? Si ut in Syriam , patebat via et certa neque longa ; sin ut ad Trebonium , quid opus fuit cum legione ? Praemisso Marso nescio quo Octavio , scelerato latrone atque egenti , qui popularetur agros , vexaret urbis non ad spem constituendae rei familiaris , quam tenere eum posse negant qui norunt —mihi enim hic senator ignotus est —sed ad praesentem pastum mendicitatis suae , consecutus est Dolabella .
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Wherefore, O conscript fathers, although you do not need any one to exhort you (for you yourself have of your own accord warmed up with the desire of recovering your freedom), still defend, I warn you, your freedom with so much the more zeal and courage, in proportion as the punishments of slavery with which you see the conquered are threatened are more terrible. Antonius has invaded Gaul; Dolabella, Asia; each a province with which he had no business whatever. Brutus has opposed himself to the one, and at the peril of his own life has checked the onset of that frantic man wishing to harass and plunder every thing, has prevented his farther progress, and has cut him off from his return. By allowing himself to be besieged he has hemmed in Antonius on each side. The other has forced his way into Asia. With what object! If it was merely to proceed into Syria, he had a road open to him which was sure, and was not long. What was the need of sending forward some Marsian, they call him Octavius, with a legion; a wicked and necessitous robber; a man to lay waste the lands, to harass the cities, not from any hope of acquiring any permanent property, which they who know him say that he is unable to keep (for I have not the honor of being acquainted with this senator myself), but just as present food to satisfy his indigence? |
| 391 |
Nulla suspicione belli —quis enim id putaret ?—secutae conlocutiones familiarissimae cum Trebonio ; complexus summae benevolentiae falsi indices exstiterunt in amore simulato ; dexterae quae fidei testes esse solebant sunt perfidia et scelere violatae : nocturnus introitus Zmyrnam quasi in hostium urbem , quae est fidissimorum antiquissimorumque sociorum ; oppressus Trebonius , si ut ab eo qui aperte hostis esset , incautus ; si ut ab eo qui civis etiam tum speciem haberet , miser . Ex quo nimirum documentum nos capere fortuna voluit quid esset victis extimescendum . Consularem hominem consulari imperio provinciam Asiam obtinentem Samiario exsuli tradidit : interficere captum statim noluit , ne nimis , credo , in victoria liberalis videretur . Cum verborum contumeliis optimum virum incesto ore lacerasset , tum verberibus ac tormentis quaestionem habuit pecuniae publicae , idque per biduum . Post cervicibus fractis caput abscidit , idque adfixum gestari iussit in pilo ; reliquum corpus tractum atque laniatum abiecit in mare .
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Dolabella followed him, without any one having any suspicion of war. For how could any one think of such a thing? Very friendly conferences with Trebonius ensued; embraces, false tokens of the greatest good-will, were there full of simulated affection; the pledge of the right hand, which used to be a witness of good faith, was violated by treachery and wickedness; then came the nocturnal entry into Smyrna, as if into an enemy's city— Smyrna, which is a city of our most faithful and most ancient allies; then the surprise of Trebonius, who, if he were surprised by one who was an open enemy, was very careless; if by one who up to that moment maintained the appearance of a citizen, was miserable. And by his example fortune wished us to take a lesson of what the conquered party had to fear. He handed over a man of consular rank, governing the province of Asia with consular authority, to an exiled armorer; he would not slay him the moment that he had taken him, fearing, I suppose, that his victory might appear too merciful; but after having attacked that most excellent man with insulting words from his impious mouth, then he examined him with scourges and tortures. Concerning the public money, and that for two days together. Afterward he cut off his head, and ordered it to be fixed on a javelin and carried about; and the rest of his body, having been dragged through the street and town, he threw into the sea. |
| 392 |
Cum hoc hoste bellandum est cuius taeterrima crudelitate omnis barbaria superata est . Quid loquar de caede civium Romanorum , de direptione fanorum ? Quis est qui pro rerum atrocitate deplorare tantas calamitates queat ? Et nunc tota Asia vagatur , volitat ut rex ; nos alio bello distineri putat : quasi vero non idem unumque bellum sit contra hoc iugum impiorum nefarium .
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We, then, have to war against this enemy by whose most foul cruelty all the savageness of barbarous nations is surpassed. Why need I speak of the massacre of Roman citizens! of the plunder of temples? Who is there who can possibly deplore such circumstances as their atrocity deserves? And now he is ranging all over Asia, he is triumphing about as a king, he thinks that we are occupied in another quarter by another war, as if it were not one and the same war against this outrageous pair of impious men. |
| 393 |
Imaginem M . Antoni crudelitatis in Dolabella cernitis : ex hoc illa efficta est ; ab hoc Dolabellae scelerum praecepta sunt tradita . Num leniorem quam in Asia Dolabella fuit in Italia , si liceat , fore putatis Antonium ? Mihi quidem et ille pervenisse videtur quoad progredi potuerit feri hominis amentia , neque Antonius ullius supplici adhibendi , si potestatem habeat , ullam esse partem relicturus . Ponite igitur ante oculos , patres conscripti , miseram illam quidem et flebilem speciem , sed ad incitandos nostros animos necessariam : nocturnum impetum in urbem Asiae clarissimam , inruptionem armatorum in Treboni domum , cum miser ille prius latronum gladios videret quam quae res esset audisset ; furentis introitum Dolabellae , vocem impuram atque os illud infame , vincla , verbera , eculeum , tortorem carnificemque Samiarium : quae tulisse illum fortiter et patienter ferunt . Magna laus meoque iudicio omnium maxima . Est enim sapientis , quicquid homini accidere possit , id praemeditari ferendum modice esse , si evenerit . Maioris omnino est consili providere ne quid tale accidat , animi non minoris fortiter ferre .
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You see now an image of the cruelty of Marcus Antonius in Dolabella; this conduct of his is formed on the model of the other. It is by him that the lessons of wickedness have been taught to Dolabella. Do you think that Antonius, if he had the power, would be more merciful in Italy than Dolabella has proved in Asia? To me, indeed, this latter appears to have gone as far as the insanity of a savage man could go; nor do I believe that Antonius either would omit any description of punishment, if he had only the power to inflict it. Place then before your eyes, O conscript fathers, that spectacle, miserable indeed, and tearful, but still indispensable to rouse your minds properly: the nocturnal attack upon the most beautiful city in Asia; the irruption of armed men into Trebonius's house, when that unhappy man saw the swords of the robbers before he heard what was the matter; the entrance of Dolabella, raging,—his ill-omened voice, and infamous countenance,—the chains, the scourges, the rack, the armorer who was both torturer and executioner; all which they say that the unhappy Trebonius endured with great fortitude. A great praise, and in my opinion indeed the greatest of all, for it is the part of a wise man to resolve beforehand that whatever can happen to a brave man is to be endured with patience if it should happen. It is indeed a proof of altogether greater wisdom to act with such foresight as to prevent any such thing from happening; but it is a token of no less courage to bear it bravely if it should befall one. |
| 394 |
Ac Dolabella quidem tam fuit immemor humanitatis —quamquam eius numquam particeps fuit —ut suam insatiabilem crudelitatem exercuerit non solum in vivo , sed etiam in mortuo ; atque in eius corpore lacerando atque vexando , cum animum satiare non posset , oculos paverit suos .
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And Dolabella was indeed so wholly forgetful of the claims of humanity (although, indeed, he never had any particular recollection of it), as to vent his insatiable cruelty, not only on the living man, but also on the dead carcass, and, as he could not sufficiently glut his hatred, to feed his eyes also on the lacerations inflicted, and the insults offered to his corpse. |
| 395 |
O multo miserior Dolabella quam ille quem tu miserrimum esse voluisti ! ‘Dolores Trebonius pertulit magnos .’ Multi ex morbi gravitate maiores , quos tamen non miseros , sed laboriosos solemus dicere . ‘Longus fuit dolor .’ Bidui , at compluribus annorum saepe multorum . Nec vero graviora sunt carnificum cruciamenta quam interdum tormenta morborum . Alia sunt , alia , inquam , o perditissimi homines et amentissimi , multo miseriora . Nam quo maior vis est animi quam corporis , hoc sunt graviora ea quae concipiuntur animo quam illa quae corpore . Miserior igitur qui suscipit in se scelus quam is qui alterius facinus subire cogitur . Cruciatus est a Dolabella Trebonius : et quidem a Carthaginiensibus Regulus . Qua re cum crudelissimi Poeni iudicati sint in hoste , quid in cive de Dolabella iudicandum est ? An vero hoc conferendum est aut dubitandum uter miserior sit , isne cuius mortem senatus populusque Romanus ulcisci cupit , an is qui cunctis senatus sententiis hostis est iudicatus ? Nam ceteris quidem vitae partibus quis est qui possit sine Treboni maxima contumelia conferre vitam Treboni cum Dolabellae ? Alterius consilium , ingenium , humanitatem , innocentiam , magnitudinem animi in patria liberanda quis ignorat ? Alteri a puero pro deliciis crudelitas fuit ; deinde ea libidinum turpitudo ut in hoc sit semper ipse laetatus , quod ea faceret quae sibi obici ne ab inimico quidem possent verecundo .
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O Dolabella, much more wretched than he whom you intended to be the most wretched of all men! Trebonius endured great agonies; many men have endured greater still, from severe disease, whom, however, we are in the habit of calling not miserable, but afflicted. His sufferings, which lasted two days, were long; but many men have had sufferings lasting many years; nor are the tortures inflicted by executioners more terrible than those caused by disease are sometimes. There are other tortures,—others, I tell you, O you most abandoned and insane man, which are far more miserable. For in proportion as the vigor of the mind exceeds that of the body, so also are the sufferings which rack the mind more terrible than those which are endured by the body. He, therefore, who commits a wicked action is more wretched than he who is compelled to endure the wickedness of another. Trebonius was tortured by Dolabella; and so, indeed, was Regulus by the Carthaginians. If on that account the Carthaginians were considered very cruel for such behavior to an enemy, what must we think of Dolabella, who treated a citizen in such a manner? Is there any comparison? or can we doubt which of the two is most miserable? he whose death the senate and Roman people wish to avenge, or he who has been adjudged an enemy by the unanimous vote of the senate? For in every other particular of their lives, who could possibly, without the greatest insult to Trebonius, compare the life of Trebonius to that of Dolabella? Who is ignorant of the wisdom, and genius, and humanity, and innocence of the one, and of his greatness of mind as displayed in his exertions for the freedom of his country? The other, from his very childhood, has taken delight in cruelty; and, moreover, such has been the shameful nature of his lusts, that he has always delighted in the very fact of doing those things which he could not even be reproached with by a modest enemy. |
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Et hic , di immortales ! aliquando fuit meus . Occulta enim erant vitia non inquirenti . Neque nunc fortasse alienus ab eo essem , nisi ille nobis , nisi moenibus patriae , nisi huic urbi , nisi dis penatibus , nisi aris et focis omnium nostrum , nisi denique naturae et humanitati inventus esset inimicus . A quo admoniti diligentius et vigilantius caveamus Antonium .
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And this man, O ye immortal gods, was once my relation! For his vices were unknown to one who did not inquire into such things: nor perhaps should I now be alienated from him if he had not been discovered to be an enemy to you, to the walls of his country, to this city, to our household gods, to the altars and hearths of all of us,—in short, to human nature and to common humanity. But now, having received this lesson from him, let us be the more diligent and vigilant in being on our guard against Antonius. |