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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
3.
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.
[7]
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.
[8]
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.
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