1. If D. Brutus were safe, we might well lay aside the military garb. But until his safety is assured such rejoicing would be a mockery. The war is not ended until he is relieved from siege.
si, with cognovissem (1.5), prot. cont. to fact, with censerem (1.7) as its apod. ut, correl. with sic (1.3). ex litteris, i.e. despatches from the seat of war. hostium, i.e. Antony's forces. id quod, namely D. Brutum egressum . . . esse (1.4). Brutum: D. Brutus, one of Caesar's murderers, had been assigned by him to the government of Cisalpine Gaul, and took possession of the province after Caesar's death. In the summer, Antony procured the passage of a law transferring this province to himself. Brutus, supported by the Senate, refused to give it up, and upon this issue hostilities broke out. Brutus was at this time besieged in Mutina (Modena), and the consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, had moved to raise the siege. ad saga, etc., as we should say figuratively "to arms." The sagum (Fig. 51) was a simple woollen cloak, fastened over one shoulder with a clasp or buckle (fibula), while the toga had no fastening but was wound in elaborate folds about the body. It was put on instead of the toga (the garment of peace: see note on p. 125, l. 17) in the city when there was war near home, as a sign that the citizens were called to arms. issemus, subj. of subord. clause in indir. disc. redeundum, etc.: to return to the ordinary garb of peace, the toga, would, under the circumstances, be a sign of rejoicing. ea res, i.e. the liberation of D. Brutus from siege. pugnae: the victory of Hirtius and Pansa at Bononia (see Introd., p.241 of text).
ista sententia, that proposition (one proposed by the Senator P. Servilius, and opposed by Cicero in this oration). id agamus ut, etc., let us do so with the intention to retain it. hoc, referring to discedere (1.18). The point is that it would not be pleasing to the gods for the citizens to assume the garb of rejoicing merely for a day, and then, since their main prayer had not been granted, to return ad saga.
redierimus, sc. ad vestitum. ne . . . prodatur, i.e. if they change their attire for this one day, it will appear that it was not on account of Brutus that the change was made, for he is not yet safe. tollite hanc, set aside this motive: a kind of protasis; ยง 521, b (310, b); B. 305, 2; G. 593, 4; H. 560, 4, N. (487, 3); H.-B. 497, 2. conservate, etc., maintain your dignity (by sustaining Brutus).
