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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
28.
When you behold those beaks of ships in the vestibule, and those warlike
trophies, do you fancy that you are entering into a house which belongs to you?
It is impossible. Although you are devoid of all sense and all
feeling,—a in truth you are,—still you are acquainted with
yourself, and with your trophies, and with your friends. Nor do I believe that
you, either waking or sleeping, can ever act with quiet sense. It is impossible
but that, were you ever so drunk an frantic,—as in truth you
are,—when the recollection of the appearance of that illustrious man
comes across you, you should be roused from sleep by your fears, and often
stirred up to madness if awake.
[69]
I pity even
the walls and the room. For what had that house ever beheld except what was
modest, except what proceeded from the purest principles and from the most
virtuous practice? For that man was, O conscript fathers, as you yourselves
know, not only illustrious abroad, but also admirable at home; and not more
praiseworthy for his exploits in foreign countries, than for his domestic
arrangements. Now in his house every bedchamber is a brothel, and every
diningroom a cookshop. Although he denies this:—Do not, do not make
inquiries. He is become economic. He desired that mistress of his to take
possession of whatever belonged to her, according to the laws of the Twelve
Tables. He has taken his keys from her, and turned her out of doors. What a
well-tried citizen! of what proved virtue is he! the most honorable passage in
whose life is the one when he divorced himself from this actress.
[70]
But how constantly does he harp on the expression “the consul
Antonius!” This amounts to say “that most debauched
consul,” “that most worthless of men, the consul.”
For what else is. Antonius? For if any dignity were implied the name, then, I
imagine, your grandfather would sometime have called himself “the
consul Antonius.” But he never did. My colleague too, your own uncle,
would have call himself so. Unless you are the only Antonius. But I pass over
those offenses which have no peculiar connection with the part you took in
harassing the republic; I return to that in which you bore so principal a
share,—that is, to the civil war; and it is mainly owing to you that
that was originated, and brought to a head, and carried on.
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