Chapter 43

110 And you are devoted to Caesar’s memory? You love him now he is dead? What greater honor had he attained than a sacred couch, a cult image, a pediment, a priest? So, just as Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus have their priests, is Marcus Antony the priest of the divine Julius? Why, then, do you delay? Why are you not inaugurated? Choose a day; find someone to inaugurate you. We are colleagues: no one will refuse. Detestable man, whether because you are a tyrant’s priest or because you are a dead man’s! Next I ask: do you not know what day today is? Are you unaware that the Roman Games in the Circus reached their fourth day yesterday? And that your own proposal to the people granted a fifth day to Caesar? Why are we not wearing our purple-bordered togas? Why do we allow the honor granted Caesar by your law to be neglected? Or did you allow the rites of thanksgiving to be polluted by adding a day, but refuse to let the sacred couches be polluted? Either abolish the religious observance everywhere or uphold it in every particular.

111 You ask whether I approve of a sacred couch, a pediment, a priest. I approve of none of them. But you, who defend Caesar’s acts—what reason can you give for defending some and neglecting others? Unless, perhaps, you mean to admit that you measure everything by your own profit, not his dignity. Well, what is your answer? I am waiting for your eloquence. I knew your grandfather as a most eloquent man, but you are even more open in your speaking. He never addressed an assembly naked; we have seen your candid, simple-hearted breast. Will you answer these charges? Will you dare open your mouth at all? In this long speech of mine, can you find anything you are confident you can answer? But let us leave the past aside.

110 And you take such care of Caesar’s memory? You love him now he’s dead? What greater honor had he ever received? He had a sacred couch, a statue, a temple-style gable, and a priest. So Antony is priest to the divine Julius? Just as Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus have theirs? Then why are you hanging back? Why haven’t you been installed? Pick a day. Find someone to perform your installation. We’re fellow augurs. No one will refuse. What a disgusting man you are, whether you’re a tyrant’s priest or a dead man’s! Now I’ll ask whether you know what day today is. Don’t you know yesterday was the fourth day of the Roman Games in the Circus? You yourself asked the people to add a fifth day for Caesar. Why aren’t we wearing our purple-bordered togas? Why are we neglecting the honor your law gave Caesar? Or were you willing to pollute our thanksgiving rites by adding a day? But not the gods’ couches? Either abolish these religious rites altogether, or keep them all.

111 You ask whether I approve of the sacred couch, temple-style gable, and priest. I don’t approve of any of them. But you defend Caesar’s acts. What reason can you give for defending some and ignoring others? Unless you’re willing to admit how you measure everything. You look to your own profit, not his standing. What do you say to that, then? I’m waiting to hear your skill with words. I knew your grandfather as a truly gifted speaker. But you’re even more open when you speak. He never addressed a public meeting naked. We’ve seen your bare chest, you straightforward fellow. Will you answer these charges? Will you even dare open your mouth? Can you find anything in my long speech you feel able to answer? But let’s leave the past aside.