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THE SIXTH ORATION OF M. T. CICERO AGAINST MARCUS ANTONIUS. CALLED ALSO THE SIXTH PHILIPPIC. ADDRESSED TO THE PEOPLE.
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For just consider a little; and for a moment think of the business like a sober
man. I who, as I myself confess, am an intimate friend of those men, and, as you
accuse me, an accomplice of theirs, deny that there is any medium between these
alternatives. I confess that they, if they be not deliverers of the Roman people
and saviours of the republic, are worse than assassins, worse than homicides,
worse even than parricides: since it is a more atrocious thing to murder the
father of one's country, than one's own father. You wise and considerate man,
what do you say to this? If they are parricides, why are they always named by
you, both in this assembly and before the Roman people, with a view to do them
honour? Why has Marcus Brutus been, on your motion, excused from obedience to
the laws, and allowed to be absent from the city more than ten days?1 Why were the games of Apollo celebrated with incredible
honour to Marcus Brutus? why were provinces given to Brutus and Cassius? why
were quaestors assigned to them? why was the number of their lieutenants
augmented? And all these measures were owing to you. They are not homicides
then. It follows that in your opinion they are deliverers of their country,
since there can be no other alternative.
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