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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
[36]
And, indeed, you have both of you had many judgments delivered respecting you by
the Roman people, by which I am greatly concerned that you are not sufficiently
influenced. For what was the meaning of the shouts of the innumerable crowd of
citizens collected at the gladiatorial games? or of the verses made by the
people? or of the extraordinary applause at the sight of the statue of Pompeius?
and at that sight of the two tribunes of the people who are opposed to you? Are
these things a feeble indication of the incredible unanimity of the entire Roman
people? What more? Did the applause at the games of Apollo, or, I should rather
say, testimony and judgment there given by the Roman people, appear to you of
small importance? Oh! happy are those men who, though they themselves were
unable to be present on account of the violence of arms, still were present in
spirit. and had a place in the breasts and hearts of the Roman
people. Unless, perhaps, you think that it was Accius who was applauded on that
occasion, and who bore off the palm sixty years after his first appearance, and
not Brutus, who was absent from the games which he himself was exhibiting, while
at that most splendid spectacle the Roman people showed their zeal in his favour
though he was absent, and soothed their own regret for their deliverer by
uninterrupted applause and clamour.
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