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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
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What more? What if it is even absolutely impossible for there to be any real
peace at all? For what sort of peace is that in which nothing can be granted to
the man with whom one is making peace? Antonius has been invited to peace by us
by many circumstances; but he has preferred war. Ambassadors were sent. I
opposed it, indeed, but still they were sent. Commands were taken to him: he did
not obey them. He was ordered not to besiege Brutus, and to retire from before
Mutina. He attacked that town
even more vigorously. And shall we send an embassy to treat of peace to a man
who has rejected ambassadors of peace? Do we suppose that when we talk to him
face to face he will be more moderate in his demands than he was when he sent
commands to the senate! But at that time he demanded things which appeared
indeed unreasonable, but still such as it might have been possible to concede;
he had not at that time been branded by such heavy and such numerous decisions
and condemnations of yours. At present he is demanding things which we can not
by any possibility grant, unless we are willing first to confess ourselves
defeated in war.
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