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3.
For what, in the name of the immortal gods! what good can our embassy do to the
republic? What good, do I say? What will you say if it will even do us harm?
Will do us harm? What if it already has done us harm? Do you suppose that that
most energetic and fearless desire shown by the Roman people for recovery of
their liberty has been dampened and weakened by hearing of this embassy for
peace? What do you think the municipal towns feel? and the colonies! What do you
think will be the feelings of all Italy! Do you suppose that it will continue to glow with the same
zeal with which it burned before to extinguish this common conflagration? Do we
not suppose that those men will repent of having professed and displayed so much
hatred to Antonius, who promised us money and arms; who devoted themselves
wholly, body, heart, and soul, to the safety of the republic! How will
Capua, which at the present time
feels like a second Rome, approve of
this design of yours? That city pronounced them impious citizens, cast them out,
and kept them out. Antonius was barely saved from the hands of that city, which
made a most gallant attempt to crush him.
[8]
Need
I say more? Are we not by these proceedings cutting the sinews of our own
legions; for what man can engage with ardor in a war, when the hope of peace is
suggested to him? Even that godlike and divine Martial legion will grow languid
at and be cowed by the receipt of this news, and will lose that most noble title
of Martial; their swords will fall to the ground; their weapons will drop from
their hands. For, following the senate, it will not consider itself bound to
feel more bitter hatred against Antonius than the senate.
I am ashamed for this legion, I am ashamed for the fourth legion, which,
approving of our authority with equal virtue, abandoned Antonius, not looking
upon him as their consul and general, but as an enemy and attacker of their
country. I am ashamed for that admirable army which is made up of two armies;
which has now been reviewed, and which has started for Mutina, and which, if it hears a word of
peace, that is to say, of our fear, even if it does not return, will at all
events halt. For who, when the senate recalls him and sounds a retreat, will be
eager to engage in battle?1
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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