The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 4 | Page 4

I was so much pleased that,
after I had read it, I began for the first time to think of returning. And
not long afterwards the edict of Brutus and Cassius is brought to me;

which (perhaps because I love those men, even more for the sake of the
republic than of my own friendship for them) appeared to me, indeed,
to be full of equity. They added besides, (for it is a very common thing
for those who are desirous of bringing good news to invent something
to make the news which they bring seem more joyful,) that parties were
coming to an agreement; that the senate was to meet on the first of
August; that Antonius having discarded all evil counsellors, and having
given up the provinces of Gaul, was about to return to submission to
the authority of the senate.
IV. But on this I was inflamed with such eagerness to return, that no
oars or winds could be fast enough for me; not that I thought that I
should not arrive in time, but lest I should be later than I wished in
congratulating the republic; and I quickly arrived at Velia, where I saw
Brutus; how grieved I was, I cannot express. For it seemed to be a
discreditable thing for me myself, that I should venture to return into
that city from which Brutus was departing, and that I should be willing
to live safely in a place where he could not. But he himself was not
agitated in the same manner that I was; for, being elevated with the
consciousness of his great and glorious exploit, he had no complaints to
make of what had befallen him, though he lamented your fate
exceedingly. And it was from him that I first heard what had been the
language of Lucius Piso, in the senate of August; who, although he was
but little assisted (for that I heard from Brutus himself) by those who
ought to have seconded him, still according to the testimony of Brutus,
(and what evidence can be more trustworthy?) and to the avowal of
every one whom I saw afterwards, appeared to me to have gained great
credit. I hastened hither, therefore, in order that as those who were
present had not seconded him, I might do so; not with the hope of
doing any good, for I neither hoped for that, nor did I well see how it
was possible; but in order that if anything happened to me, (and many
things appeared to be threatening me out of the regular course of nature,
and even of destiny,) I might still leave my speech on this day as a
witness to the republic of my everlasting attachment to its interests.
Since, then, O conscript fathers, I trust that the reason of my adopting
each determination appears praiseworthy to you, before I begin to
speak of the republic, I will make a brief complaint of the injury which
Marcus Antonius did me yesterday, to whom I am friendly, and I have

at all times admitted having received some services from him which
make it my duty to be so.
V. What reason had he then for endeavouring, with such bitter hostility,
to force me into the senate yesterday? Was I the only person who was
absent? Have you not repeatedly had thinner houses than yesterday? Or
was a matter of such importance under discussion, that it was desirable
for even sick men to be brought down? Hannibal, I suppose, was at the
gates, or there was to be a debate about peace with Pyrrhus, on which
occasion it is related that even the great Appius, old and blind as he
was, was brought down to the senate-house. There was a motion being
made about some supplications, a kind of measure when senators are
not usually wanting, for they are under the compulsion, not of pledges,
but of the influence of those men whose honour is being complimented,
and the case is the same when the motion has reference to a triumph.
The consuls are so free from anxiety at these times, that it is almost
entirely free for a senator to absent himself if he pleases. And as the
general custom of our body was well known to me, and as I was hardly
recovered from the fatigue of my journey, and was vexed with myself, I
sent a man to him, out of regard for my friendship to him, to tell him
that I should not be there. But he, in the hearing of you all, declared
that he would come with masons to my house; this was said with too
much passion and very intemperately. For, for what crime is there such
a heavy punishment appointed as that, that any one