Chapter 30

75 At long last he did set out for Spain, but, he says, could not reach it safely. How, then, did Dolabella reach it? Either you should never have undertaken that cause, Antony, or, once you had, you should have defended it to the very end. Three times Caesar fought a decisive battle against his fellow citizens, in Thessaly, Africa, and Spain. Dolabella was present at all three battles; in Spain he was even wounded. If you ask my judgment, I wish he had not been there. Still, his original decision deserves censure, his constancy praise. But what are you? To begin with, Gnaeus Pompey’s sons were seeking to regain their country. Granted, their whole party shared that cause. But they were also seeking their ancestral gods, their altars and hearths, the guardian spirit of their own family home—all that you had invaded. When they sought by arms what belonged to them by law—though in circumstances so utterly unjust, what can be just?—still, who had the strongest obligation to fight against Gnaeus Pompey’s sons? Who? You, the buyer of their confiscated estate.

76 Was Dolabella to fight for you in Spain so that you could vomit over your hosts’ tables at Narbo?

And what a return from Narbo! He even asked why I had turned back so suddenly in the middle of my journey. I recently explained the reason for my return, senators. I wished, if I could, to be of service to the republic even before the first of January. As for your question about how I returned: first, in daylight, not in darkness; second, wearing formal shoes and a toga, without Gallic sandals or a traveling cloak. And you even glare at me—angrily, it seems. You would soon make your peace with me if you knew how ashamed I am of the depravity of which you yourself feel no shame. Of all the outrages committed by all men, I have seen nothing more disgraceful, I have heard of nothing more disgraceful. You, who thought yourself a former master of the horse, who were seeking—or rather begging for—the consulship for the coming year, raced about in Gallic sandals and a traveling cloak through the towns and colonies of Gaul, from which we used to seek support for the consulship in the days when men sought it rather than begged for it.

75 He finally left for Spain, at long last. But he says he couldn’t get there safely. Then how did Dolabella get there? Antony, you shouldn’t have taken that side at all. Or, once you took it, you should have fought for it to the end. Caesar fought his fellow citizens three times: in Thessaly, Africa, and Spain. Dolabella was at all three battles. He was even wounded in Spain. You ask what I think? I wish he hadn’t done it. Still, his original choice deserves blame, but his persistence deserves praise. But what about you? Gnaeus Pompey’s children were then making their first attempt to reclaim their country. All right, let’s say that was a cause their whole Pompeian side shared. But they were also reclaiming their ancestral gods, altars, hearths, and their family’s household god. You’d seized all of those. They were fighting to recover what belonged to them by law. Yes, in such deeply unjust circumstances, what justice was possible? Still, who had the clearest duty to fight Gnaeus Pompey’s children? Who? You, the buyer of the confiscated property.

76 Or was Dolabella supposed to fight for you in Spain so you could puke over your hosts’ tables in Narbo?

And what a trip back from Narbo! He even asked why I’d suddenly turned back in the middle of my journey. Senators, I recently explained why I came back. I wanted to help the republic even before January 1, if possible. As for how I came back—you asked about that—first, I came in daylight, not darkness. Second, I wore shoes and a toga. No Gallic sandals, no traveling cloak. You’re even staring at me, apparently angry. You’d make peace with me at once if you knew how ashamed I am of your disgusting behavior. You yourself aren’t ashamed of it. Of all the disgraceful acts of all people, I’ve never seen anything uglier. I’ve never heard of anything uglier. You considered yourself a former master of the cavalry. You were running for consul for the following year—or rather, begging for it. Yet you raced through Gaul’s towns and colonies in Gallic sandals and a traveling cloak. We used to seek the consulship from Gaul, back when people ran for it, not begged for it.