Chapter 42

107 Why should I recount those threats and insults with which he assailed the Sidicini and harassed the people of Puteoli because they had adopted Gaius Cassius and the Brutuses as their patrons? They did so with great enthusiasm, considered judgment, goodwill, and affection—not by force of arms, as people adopted you and Basilus, and others like you, whom no one would want as clients, much less want to be their client. Meanwhile, while you were away, what a day your colleague had when he tore down that funeral monument in the Forum which you used to worship! When the news reached you, you collapsed: everyone who was with you agreed on that. What happened afterward I do not know—fear and armed force prevailed, I suppose. At any rate, you dragged your colleague down from heaven and made him, not yet like yourself, but certainly unlike himself.

108 And then, what a return to Rome! What turmoil throughout the city! We remembered Cinna’s excessive power, then Sulla’s domination; only recently we had seen Caesar reigning. There may have been swords, but they were concealed, and not so many. But this—what barbarism, and on what a scale! Men follow in a square battle formation with swords; we see litterloads of shields being carried. And by now, senators, these things are so entrenched that habit has hardened us to them. On the first of June, when we intended to come to the Senate as agreed, we were suddenly terrified into scattering.

109 But this man, who had no need of a Senate, missed no one. Indeed, he rejoiced at our departure, and at once accomplished those astonishing crimes. The man who had defended Caesar’s handwritten orders for his own profit overturned Caesar’s laws—and excellent laws they were—to shake the republic. He extended the number of years assigned to provincial commands. Though he ought to have been the defender of Caesar’s acts, this same man annulled those acts in both public and private affairs. In public affairs nothing has more authority than a law; in private affairs nothing is more binding than a will. Some laws he abolished without prior publication; for others he published proposals for their repeal. He invalidated a will, something that has always been upheld even for citizens of the lowest standing. The statues and paintings Caesar left to the people along with his gardens—this man carried some off to Pompey’s gardens, others to Scipio’s villa.

107 Why mention his threats and insults against the Sidicini? Why mention how he harassed the people of Puteoli? They’d chosen Gaius Cassius and the Brutuses as patrons. They chose with real enthusiasm, judgment, goodwill, and love. They weren’t forced by armed violence, as with you, Basilus, and your kind. Nobody would want such men as clients, much less become their client. Meanwhile, what a day your fellow consul had while you were away! He tore down that funeral monument in the Forum you used to worship. The news reached you, and you collapsed. The people who were there agreed about that. I don’t know what happened afterward. I suppose fear and weapons did their work. You certainly dragged your colleague down from heaven. You haven’t yet made him like yourself. But you’ve certainly made him unlike himself.

108 And then you came back to Rome! What an upheaval you caused throughout the city! We remembered Cinna having far too much power. After him, we’d seen Sulla as our master. Recently, we’d seen Caesar ruling as king. There may have been swords, but they were hidden. And there weren’t so many. But this—what tremendous savagery! Men follow you with swords in square battle formation. We see shields being carried in litters. By now, Senators, this has become an old story. We’ve grown numb through habit. On June 1, we wanted to enter the Senate as arranged. Instead, terror suddenly sent us running in every direction.

109 But this man didn’t need a senate. He didn’t miss anyone. In fact, he was delighted we’d left. He immediately pulled off those amazing crimes. He’d defended Caesar’s handwritten papers for his own profit. Now he overturned Caesar’s laws, excellent laws at that. He wanted to shake the republic to its foundations. He lengthened the terms of provincial commands. He was supposed to defend Caesar’s acts. Instead, he canceled them in public and private matters alike. In public affairs, nothing carries more weight than law. In private affairs, nothing stands firmer than a will. He abolished some laws without public notice. For others, he announced proposals to repeal them. He invalidated a will, something always upheld even for the humblest citizens. Caesar left statues and paintings to the people, along with his gardens. This man moved some to Pompey’s gardens. He moved others to Scipio’s villa.