Chapter 10

23 As for what you dared to say at such length—that my efforts broke Pompey’s friendship with Caesar and that the civil war therefore began through my fault—your error lay not in the whole story, but in its most important element: the dates. During the consulship of Marcus Bibulus, an outstanding citizen, I left nothing undone, so far as effort and exertion could achieve it, to draw Pompey away from his alliance with Caesar. Caesar was more successful: he broke Pompey’s friendship with me. But once Pompey had surrendered himself wholly to Caesar, why should I have tried to tear him away? To hope for it would have been foolish; to urge it, presumptuous.

24 There were, however, two occasions when I urged Pompey to oppose Caesar. Condemn them if you can. First, I urged him not to extend Caesar’s command for five years; second, not to allow a measure permitting Caesar’s candidacy to be considered in his absence. Had I persuaded him of either, we would never have fallen into these miseries. And when Pompey had already transferred all his own power and the Roman people’s to Caesar, when he began too late to perceive what I had foreseen long before, and I saw an impious war being brought upon our country, I never ceased to urge peace, harmony and a settlement. Many know my words: “Gnaeus Pompey, if only you had either never entered an alliance with Gaius Caesar, or never broken it!” The first course would have shown your firmness, the second your prudence. Such, Marcus Antony, was always my counsel concerning Pompey and the republic. Had it prevailed, the republic would stand, and you would have fallen under the weight of your own disgraces, poverty and infamy.

23 You also dared make another claim, at great length. You said I broke up Pompey’s friendship with Caesar. That made the civil war my fault, you said. Your mistake wasn’t about the whole story. But you got the most important thing wrong: the timing. During Marcus Bibulus’s consulship—he was an outstanding citizen—I left nothing untried. I did everything I could to pull Pompey away from his alliance with Caesar. Caesar had more success. He himself broke up Pompey’s friendship with me. But once Pompey had given himself completely to Caesar, why would I try to separate them? Hoping for that would’ve been foolish. Urging it would’ve been shameless.

24 Still, there were two occasions when I advised Pompey against Caesar. Criticize those, if you can. First, I told him not to extend Caesar’s command for five years. Second, I told him not to let a proposal pass allowing Caesar to stand for office while away. If I’d persuaded him on either point, we’d never have fallen into this misery. Later, Pompey handed Caesar all his own power and the Roman people’s too. He began, too late, to understand what I’d foreseen long before. I saw a wicked war being brought against our country. Even then, I kept urging peace, agreement, and a settlement. Many people know what I said: “Gnaeus Pompey, I wish you’d either never joined Caesar or never broken with him!” Staying apart would’ve shown your firmness. Staying together would’ve shown your good judgment. Antony, that was always my advice about Pompey and the republic. If it had prevailed, the republic would still stand. You would’ve collapsed under your own disgraceful behavior, poverty, and shame.