Chapter 6
Original Latin
13 sed quoniam illis quos nominavi tot et talibus viris res publica orbata est, veniamus ad vivos qui duo de consularium numero reliqui sunt. L. Cotta, vir summo ingenio summaque prudentia, rebus eis gestis quas tu reprehendis supplicationem decrevit verbis amplissimis, eique illi ipsi quos modo nominavi consulares senatusque cunctus adsensus est; qui honos post conditam hanc urbem habitus est togato ante me nemini.
14 L. Caesar, avunculus tuus, qua oratione, qua constantia, qua gravitate sententiam dixit in sororis suae virum, vitricum tuum! hunc tu cum auctorem et praeceptorem omnium consiliorum totiusque vitae debuisses habere, vitrici te similem quam avunculi maluisti. huius ego alienus consiliis consul usus sum: tu, sororis filius, ecquid ad eum umquam de re publica rettulisti? at ad quos refert? di immortales! ad eos scilicet quorum nobis etiam dies natales audiendi sunt. hodie non descendit Antonius.
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Latin in separate source-only tasks; all 46 chapters and 119 sections retained. Source-language model review is recorded with the raw witness. Latin transcription: Perseus Project, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0; this adaptation uses the same license.
13 But since the republic has been bereaved of the many great men I have named, let us turn to the living: the two former consuls who alone remain. Lucius Cotta, a man of the highest ability and judgment, proposed a public thanksgiving in the most generous terms for the very achievements you condemn. The former consuls I have just named, and the entire senate, assented. Since this city’s foundation, no civilian before me had received that honor.
14 And Lucius Caesar, your uncle—with what eloquence, what firmness, what gravity he pronounced judgment on his sister’s husband, your stepfather! You ought to have made him the guide and teacher of all your counsels and your whole life; instead, you preferred to resemble your stepfather rather than your uncle. I, unrelated to him, followed his advice as consul. Have you, his sister’s son, ever consulted him at all about the republic? Whom, then, does he consult? Immortal gods! Men whose birthdays, apparently, we too must hear about. Antony has not come down to the Forum today.
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Latin in separate source-only tasks, not from the Musean edition or a historical English translation; all 46 chapters and 119 sections retained. Latin transcription: Perseus Project, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0; this adaptation uses the same license.
13 But the republic has lost all those outstanding men I’ve named. Let’s turn to the living. Two of that group of former consuls remain. Lucius Cotta has outstanding ability and judgment. He proposed a public thanksgiving for the very actions you attack, using the highest terms of praise. The former consuls I just named agreed with him. So did the entire Senate. Since this city’s founding, no man in a civilian toga had received that honor before me.
14 Your uncle Lucius Caesar gave his verdict against his sister’s husband, your stepfather. What a speech he gave! What firmness! What seriousness! He should have been your guide and teacher in every decision, throughout your life. You preferred to take after your stepfather, not your uncle. I wasn’t related to him, but I followed his advice as consul. You’re his sister’s son. Did you ever ask him about the republic? But who does he consult? Immortal gods! Why, the men whose birthdays we even have to hear about! Antony hasn’t come down today.
About this section
Chapter 6 is part of Second Philippic by Marcus Tullius Cicero. This page sets the Latin original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is chapter 6 of 46 in the work, which is kept in the Roman tradition.
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