[25]
I admit that I was of a different opinion
to Caesar with respect to the affairs of the republic, and that I agreed
with all of you: but now I am agreeing also with you with whom I felt in
common before. For you,—to whom Lucius Piso does not venture to
send letters respecting his exploits,—you who have condemned the
letters of Gabinius with a most remarkable stigma, and an unprecedented mark
of disgrace have decreed supplications to Caius Caesar in such number, as
were never decreed before to any one in one war, and with such attending
circumstances of honour as were never voted to any one at all. Why, then,
need I wait for any man to act as a mediator between us, in order to
reconcile me to him? This most honourable order has mediated between us;
that order which is the instigator and the leader both of the
public counsels and of all my own designs. I am following you, O conscript
fathers, I am obeying you, I am adopting your opinions;—yours, I
say, who, as long as you had no very favourable opinion of the designs of
Caius Caesar with respect to the republic saw that I too was very little
connected with him; since you changed your opinions and inclinations on
account of his great achievements you have seen me also not only the sharer
of your sentiments but also the panegyrist and advocate of them.
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