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10.
Now what peace, O Marcus Lepidus, can exist with this man? when it does not seem
that there is even any punishment which the Roman people can think adequate to
his crimes?
[22]
But if any one has hitherto been able to doubt the fact, that there can be
nothing whatever in common between this order and the Roman people and that most
detestable beast, let him at least cease to entertain such a doubt, when he
becomes acquainted with this letter which I have just received, it having been
sent to me by Hirtius the consul. While I read it, and while I briefly discuss
each paragraph, I beg, O conscript fathers, that you will listen to me most
attentively, as you have hitherto done.
‘“Antonius to Hirtius and
Caesar.”’
He does not call himself imperator, nor Hirtius
consul, nor Caesar propraetor. This is cunningly done enough. He preferred
laying aside a title to which he had no right himself, to giving them their
proper style.
‘“When I heard of the death of Caius Trebonius,
I was not more rejoiced than grieved.”’
Take notice why he says he rejoiced, why he says that he was grieved; and then
you will be more easily able to decide the question of peace.
‘“It was a matter of proper rejoicing that a
wicked man had paid the penalty due to the bones and ashes of a most
illustrious man, and that the divine power of the gods had shown itself
before the end of the current year, by showing the chastisement of that
parricide already inflicted in some cases, and impending in
others.”’
O you Spartacus! for what name is more fit for you? you whose abominable
wickedness is such as to make even Catiline seem tolerable. Have you dared to
write that it is a matter of rejoicing that Trebonius has suffered punishment?
that Trebonius was wicked? What was his crime, except that on the ides of March
he withdrew you from the destruction which you had deserved? Come;
[23]
you rejoice at this; let us see what it is that
excites your indignation.
‘“That Dolabella should at this time have been
pronounced a public enemy because he has slain an assassin; and that the son
of a buffoon should appear dearer to the Roman people than Caius Caesar, the
father of his country, are circumstances to be lamented.”’
Why should you be sad because Dolabella has been pronounced a public enemy? Why?
Are you not aware that you yourself—by the fact of an enlistment
having taken place all over Italy, and
of the consuls being sent forth to war, and of Caesar having received great
honors, and of the garb of war having been assumed—have also been
pronounced an enemy? And what reason is there, O you wicked man, for lamenting
that Dolabella has been declared an enemy by the senate? a body which you indeed
think of no consequence at all; but you make it your main object in waging war
utterly to destroy the senate, and to make all the rest of those who are either
virtuous or wealthy follow the fate of the highest order of all. But he calls
him the son of a buffoon. As if that noble Roman knight the father of Trebonius
were unknown to us. And does he venture to look down on any one because of the
meanness of his birth, when he has himself children by Fadia?
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