Orations |
Translator: C. D. Yonge
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| 541 |
Quam ob rem maximum quidem solacium erit propinquorum eodem monumento declarari et virtutem suorum et populi Romani pietatem et senatus fidem et crudelissimi memoriam belli : in quo nisi tanta militum virtus exstitisset , parricidio M . Antoni nomen populi Romani occidisset . Atque etiam censeo , patres conscripti , quae praemia militibus promisimus nos re publica recuperata tributuros , ea vivis victoribusque cumulate , cum tempus venerit , persolvenda ; qui autem ex eis quibus illa promissa sunt pro patria occiderunt , eorum parentibus , liberis , coniugibus , fratribus eadem tribuenda censeo .
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Wherefore it will be the greatest possible comfort to their relations, that by the same monument are clearly displayed the valor of their kinsmen, and also their piety, and the good faith of the senate, and the memory of this most inhuman war, in which, if the valor of the soldiers had been less conspicuous, the very name of the Roman people would have perished by the parricidal treason of Marcus. Antonius. And I think also, O conscript fathers, that those rewards which we promised to bestow on the soldiers when we had recovered the republic, we should give with abundant usury to those who are alive and victorious when the time comes; and that in the case of the men to whom those rewards were promised, but who have died in the defense of their country, I think those same rewards should be given to their parents or children, or wives or brothers. |
| 542 |
Sed ut aliquando sententiam complectar , ita censeo : cum C . Pansa consul , imperator , initium cum hostibus confligendi fecerit , quo proelio legio Martia admirabili incredibilique virtute libertatem populi Romani defenderit , quod idem legiones tironum fecerint ; ipseque C . Pansa consul , imperator , cum inter media hostium tela versaretur , volnera acceperit , cumque A . Hirtius consul , imperator , proelio audito , re cognita , fortissimo praestantissimoque animo exercitum castris eduxerit impetumque in M . Antonium exercitumque hostium fecerit eiusque copias occidione occiderit , suo exercitu ita incolumi ut ne unum quidem militem desiderarit , cumque C .
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But that I may reduce my sentiments into a formal motion, I give my vote that, “As Caius Pansa, consul, imperator, set the example of fighting with the enemy in a battle in which the Martial legion defended the freedom of the Roman people with admirable and incredible valor, and the legions of the recruits behaved equally well; and as Caius Pansa, consul, imperator, while engaged in the middle of the ranks of the enemy received wounds; and as Aulus Hirtius, consul, imperator, the moment that he heard of the battle, and knew what was going on, with a most gallant and loyal soul, led his army out of his camp and attacked Marcus Antonius and his army, and put his troops to the sword, with so little injury to his own army that he did not lose one single man; |
| 543 |
Caesar pro praetore , imperator , consilio diligentiaque sua castra feliciter defenderit copiasque hostium quae ad castra accesserant profligarit , occiderit : ob eas res senatum existimare et iudicare eorum trium imperatorum virtute , imperio , consilio , gravitate , constantia , magnitudine animi , felicitate populum Romanum foedissima crudelissimaque servitute liberatum , cumque rem publicam , urbem , templa deorum immortalium , bona fortunasque omnium liberosque conservarint dimicatione et periculo vitae suae , uti ob eas res bene , fortiter feliciterque gestas C . Pansa A . Hirtius consules , imperatores , alter ambove , aut si aberunt , M . Cornutus , praetor urbanus , supplicationes per dies quinquaginta ad omnia pulvinaria constituat :
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and as Caius Caesar, propraetor, imperator, with great prudence and energy defended the camp successfully, and routed and put to the sword the forces of the enemy which had come near the camp: “On these accounts the senate thinks and declares that the Roman people has been released from the most disgraceful and cruel slavery by the valor, and military skill, and prudence, and firmness, and perseverance, and greatness of mind and good fortune of these their generals. And decrees that, as they have preserved the republic, the city, the temples of the immortal gods, the property and fortunes and families of all the citizens, by their own exertions in battle, and at the risk of their own lives; on account of these virtuous and gallant and successful achievements, Caius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius, the consuls, imperators, one or both of them, or, in their absence, Marcus Cornutus, the city praetor, shall appoint a supplication at all the altars for fifty days. |
| 544 |
cumque virtus legionum digna clarissimis imperatoribus exstiterit , senatum , quae sit antea pollicitus legionibus exercitibusque nostris , ea summo studio re publica recuperata persoluturum , cumque legio Martia princeps cum hostibus conflixerit , atque ita cum maiore numero hostium contenderit ut plurimos caederent caderent non nulli , cumque sine ulla retractatione pro patria vitam profuderint ; cumque simili virtute reliquarum legionum milites pro salute et libertate populi Romani mortem oppetiverint , senatui placere ut C . Pansa A . Hirtius consules , imperatores , alter ambove , si eis videatur , eis qui sanguinem pro vita , libertate , fortunis populi Romani , pro urbe , templis deorum immortalium profudissent monumentum quam amplissimum locandum faciendumque curent : quaestoresque urbanos ad eam rem pecuniam dare , attribuere , solvere iubeant , ut testetur ad memoriam posteritatis sempiternam scelus crudelissimorum hostium militumque divinam virtutem , utique , quae praemia senatus militibus ante constituit , ea solvantur eorum qui hoc bello pro patria occiderunt parentibus , liberis , coniugibus , fratribus : eisque tribuantur quae militibus ipsis tribui oporteret , si vivi vicissent qui morte vicerunt .
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And as the valor of the legions has shown itself worthy of their most illustrious generals, the senate will with great eagerness, now that the republic is recovered, bestow on our legions and armies all the rewards which it formerly promised them. And as the Martial legion was the first to engage with the enemy, and fought in such a manner against superior numbers as to slay many and take some prisoners; and as they shed their blood for their country without any shrinking; and as the soldiers of the other legions encountered death with similar valor in defense of the safety and freedom of the Roman people;—the senate does decree that Caius Pansa and Aulus Hirtius, the consuls, imperators, one or both of them if it seems good to them, shall see to the issuing of a contract for, and to the erecting, the most honorable possible monument to those men who shed their blood for the lives and liberties and fortunes of the Roman people, and for the city and temples of the immortal gods; that for that purpose they shall order the city quaestors to furnish and pay money, in order that it may be witness for the everlasting recollection of posterity of the wickedness of our most cruel enemies, and the godlike valor of our soldiers. And that the rewards which the senate previously appointed for the soldiers, be paid to the parents or children or wives or brothers of those men who in this war have fallen in defence of their country; and that all honours be bestowed on them which should have been bestowed on the soldiers themselves if those men had lived who gained the victory then by death.” |