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3.
[5]
Do you not recollect, in the name of the immortal gods! what resolutions you have
given utterance to against those men? You have repealed the acts of Marcus
Antonius; you have taken down his laws; you have voted that they were carried by
violence, and with a disregard of the auspices; you have called out the levies
throughout all Italy; you have
pronounced that colleague and ally of all wickedness a public enemy. What peace
can there be with this man? Even if he were a foreign enemy, still, after such
actions as have taken place, it would be scarcely possible, by any means
whatever, to have peace. Though seas and mountains, and vast regions lay between
you, still you would hate such a man without seeing him. But these men will
stick to your eyes, and when they can, to your very throats; for what fences
will be strong enough for us to restrain savage beasts?—Oh, but the
result of war is uncertain. It is at all events in the power of brave men, such
as you ought to be, to display your valour (for certainly brave men can do
that), and not to fear the caprice of fortune.
[6]
But since it is not only courage but wisdom also which is expected from this
order (although these qualities appear scarcely possible to be separated, still
let us separate them here), courage bids us fight, inflames our just hatred,
urges us to the conflict, summons us to danger. What says wisdom? She uses more
cautious counsels, she is provident for the future, she is in every respect more
on the defensive. What then does she think? for we must obey her, and we are
bound to consider that the best thing which is arranged in the most prudent
manner. If she enjoins me to think nothing of more consequence than my life, not
to fight at the risk of my life, but to avoid all danger, I will then ask her
whether I am also to become a slave when I have obeyed all these injunction? If
she says, yes; I for one will not listen to that Wisdom, however learned she may
be; but if the answer is, Preserve your life and your safety, Preserve your
fortune, “Preserve your estate, still, however, considering all these
things of less value than liberty; therefore enjoy these things if you can do so
consistently with the freedom of the republic, and do not abandon liberty for
them, but sacrifice them for liberty, as proofs of the injury you have
sustained;”—then I shall think that I really am listening to
the voice of Wisdom, and I will obey her as a god.
[7]
Therefore, if when we have received those men we can still
be free, let us subdue our hatred to them, and endure peace; but if there can be
no tranquillity while those men are in safety, then let us rejoice that an
opportunity of fighting them is put in our power. For so, either (these men
being conquered) we shall enjoy the republic victorious, or, if we be defeated,
(but may Jupiter avert that disaster),
we shall live, if not with an actual breath, at all events in the renown of our
valor.
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