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[46]
‘“Lastly, this is the sum of my opinion and
determination; I will bear with the insults offered me by my friends, if
they themselves are willing to forget that they have offered them; or if
they are prepared to unite with me in avenging Caesar a
death.”’
Now that they know this resolution of Antonius, do you think that Aulus Hirtius
and Caius Pansa, the consuls, can hesitate to pass over to Antonius? to besiege
Brutus? to be eager to attack Mutina? Why do I say Hirtius and Pansa? Will Caesar, that young man
of singular piety, be able to restrain himself from seeking to avenge the
injuries of his father in the blood of Decimus Brutus? Therefore, as soon as
they had read his letter, the course which they adopted was to approach nearer
to the fortifications. And on this account we ought to consider Caesar a still
more admirable young man; and that a still greater kindness of the immortal gods
which gave him to the republic, as he has never been misled by the specious use
of his father's name; nor by any false idea of piety and affection. He sees
clearly that the greatest piety consists in the salvation of one's country.
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