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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
[27]
I can recollect
conferences with most bitter enemies, and with citizens in a state of the most
bitter disagreement.
Cnaeus Pompeius, the son of Sextus, being consul, in my presence, when I was
serving my first campaign in his army, had a conference with Publius Vettius
Scato, the general of the Marsians, between the camps. And I recollect that
Sextus Pompeius, the brother of the consul, a very learned and wise man, came
thither from Rome to the conference.
And when Scato had saluted him, “What,” said he,
“am I to call you?”—“Call me,”
said he, “one who is by inclination a friend, by necessity an
enemy.” That conference was conducted with fairness: there was no
fear, no suspicion, even their mutual hatred was not great, for the allies were
not seeking to take our city from us, but to be themselves admitted to share the
privileges of it. Sulla and Scipio, one attended by the flower of the nobility,
the other by the allies, had a conference between Cales and Teanum, respecting the authority of the senate, the
suffrages of the people, and the privileges of citizenship; and agreed upon
conditions and stipulations. Good faith was not strictly observed at that
conference; but still there was no violence used, and no danger incurred.
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