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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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In truth, O conscript fathers, now we have begun to entertain hopes of liberty
again, after a period of six years, during which we have been deprived of it,
having endured slavery longer than prudent and industrious prisoners usually do,
what watchfulness, what anxiety, what exertions ought we to shrink from, for the
sake of delivering the Roman people? In truth, O conscript fathers, though men
who have had the honors conferred on them that we have, usually wear their
gowns, while the rest of the city is in the robe of war, still I decided that at
such a momentous crisis, and when the whole republic was in so disturbed a
state, we would not differ in our dress from you and the rest of the citizens.
For we men of consular rank are not in this war conducting ourselves in such a
manner that the Roman people will be likely to look with equanimity on the
ensigns of our honor, when some of us are so cowardly as to have cast away all
recollection of the kindnesses which they have received from the Roman people;
some are so disaffected to the republic that they openly allege that they favor
this enemy, and easily bear having our ambassadors despised and insulted by
Antonius, while they wish to support the ambassador sent by Antonius. For they
said that he ought not to be prevented from returning to Antonius, and they
proposed an amendment to my proposition of not receiving him. Well, I will
submit to them. Let Varius return to his general, but on condition that he never
returns to Rome. And as to the others,
if they abandon their errors, and return to their duty to the republic, I think
they may he pardoned and left unpunished.
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