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7.
Would that those great men were still alive, who, after my consulship, when I
myself was willing to yield to them, were themselves desirous to see me in the
post of leader. But at the present moment, when there is such a dearth of wise
and fearless men of consular rank, how great do you not suppose must be my grief
and indignation, when I see some men absolutely disaffected to the republic,
others wholly indifferent to every thing, others incapable of persevering with
any firmness in the cause which they have espoused; and regulating their
opinions not always by the advantage of the republic, but sometimes by hope, and
sometimes by fear.
[18]
But if any one is anxious
and inclined to struggle for the leadership—though struggle there
ought to be none—he acts very foolishly, if he proposes to combat
virtue with vices. For as speed is only outstripped by speed, so among brave men
virtue is only surpassed by virtue. Will you, if I am full of excellent
sentiments with respect to the republic, adopt the worst possible sentiments
yourself for the purpose of excelling me? Or if you see a race taking place for
the acquisition of honors, will you summon all the wicked men you can find to
your banner? I should be sorry for you to do so; first of all, for the sake of
the republic, and secondly, for that of your own dignity. But if the leadership
of the state were at stake, which I have never coveted, what could be more
desirable for me than such conduct on your part?
[19]
For it is impossible that I should be defeated by wicked
sentiments and measures,—by good ones perhaps I might be, and I
willingly would be.
Some people are vexed that the Roman people should see, and take notice of, and
form their opinion on these matters. Was it possible for men not to form their
opinion of each individual as he deserved? For as the Roman people form a most
correct judgment of the entire senate, thinking that at no period in the history
of the republic was this order ever more firm or more courageous; so also they
all inquire diligently concerning every individual among us; and especially in
the case of those among us who deliver our sentiments at length in this place,
they are anxious to know what those sentiments are; and in that way they judge
of each one of us, as they think that he deserves.
[20]
They recollect that on the nineteenth of December I was the
main cause of recovering our freedom; that from the first of January to this
hour I have never ceased watching over the republic; that day and night my house
and my ears have been open to the instruction and admonition of everyone; that
it has been by my letters, and my messengers, and my exhortations, that all men
in every part of the empire have been roused to the protection of our country;
that it is owing to the open declaration of my opinion ever since the first of
January, that no ambassadors have been ever sent to Antonius; that I have always
called him a public enemy, and this a war; so that I, who on every occasion have
been the adviser of genuine peace, have been a determined enemy to this pretense
of fatal peace.
[21]
Have not I also at all times pronounced Ventidius an enemy, when others wished to
call him a tribune of the people? If the consuls had chosen to divide the senate
on my opinion, their arms would long since have been wrested from the hands of
all those robbers by the positive authority of the senate.
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