[15]
And, indeed, my sentiments in the
matter were not at all concealed; for in this assembly, before any decisive
steps were taken either way, I said many things in favour of peace, and even
while the war was going on I retained the same opinions, even at the risk of
my life.1 And from this fact, no one will form so unjust an opinion
as to doubt what Caesar's own inclination respecting the war was, when, the
moment that it was in his power, he declared his opinion in favour of saving
the advisers of peace, but showed his anger against the others. And,
perhaps, that was not very strange at a time when the event of the war was
still uncertain, and its fortune still undecided. But he who, when
victorious, attaches himself to the advisers of peace, plainly declares that
he would have preferred having no war at all even to conquering.
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1 Cicero was not present at the battle of Pharsalia, but remained at Dyrrachium, vexed at his advice being totally disregarded. Cato also remained at Dyrrachium. When Labienus brought them the news of Pompey's defeat, Cato offered Cicero the command, as the superior in dignity, and Plutarch relates, that on his refusal of it, young Pompey was so enraged, that he could have killed him on the spot if Cato had not prevented him. And this is what Middleton (who quotes the sentence in the text) thinks that Cicero is alluding to here.
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1891.
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