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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
2.
[4]
And these men speak in this way, who on account of their trifling disposition
used to be considered friends of the people. From which it may be understood
that they in their hearts have at all times been disinclined to a good
constitution of the state, and they were not friends of the people from
inclination. For how comes it to pass that those men who were anxious to gratify
the people in evil things, now, on an occasion which above all others concerns
the people's interests, because the same thing would be also salutary for the
republic, now prefer being wicked to being friends of the people?
[5]
This noble cause of which I am the advocate has made
me popular, a man who (as you know) has always opposed the rashness of the
people. And those men are called, or rather they call themselves, consulars;
though no man is worthy of that name except those who can support so high an
honor. Will you favor an enemy? Will you let him send you letters about his
hopes of success? Will you be glad to produce them? to read them? Will you even
give them to wicked citizens to take copies of? Will you thus raise their
courage? Will you thus damp the hopes and valor of the good? And then will you
think yourself a consular, or a senator, or even a citizen! Caius Pansa, a most
fearless and virtuous consul, will take what I say in good part. For I will
speak with a disposition most friendly to him; but I should not consider him
himself a consul, though a man with whom I am most intimate, unless he was such
a consul as to devote all his vigilance, and cares, and thoughts to the safety
of the republic.
[6]
Although long acquaintance, and habit, and a fellowship and resemblance in the
most honorable pursuits, has bound us together from his first entrance into
life; and his incredible diligence, proved at the time of the most formidable
dangers of the civil war, showed that he was a favorer not only of my safety,
but also of my dignity; still as I said before if he were not such a consul as I
have described, I should venture to deny that he was a consul at all. But now I
call him not only a consul but the most excellent and virtuous consul within my
recollection; not but that there have been others of equal virtue and equal
inclination, but still they have not had an equal opportunity of displaying the
virtue and inclination.
[7]
But the opportunity of
a time of most formidable change has been afforded to his magnanimity and
dignity and wisdom. And that is the time when the consulship is displayed to the
greatest advantage when it governs the republic during a time which if not
desirable is at all events critical and momentous. And a more critical time than
the present, O conscript father, never was.
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