1.
We all, O Pansa, ought both to feel and to show the greatest gratitude to you,
who,—though we did not expect that you would hold any senate
today,—the moment that you received the letters of Marcus
Brutus, that most excellent citizen, did not
interpose even the slightest delay to our enjoying the most excessive delight
and mutual congratulation at the earliest opportunity. And not only ought this
action of yours to be grateful to us all, but also the speech which you
addressed to us after the letters had been read. For you showed plainly, that
that was true which I have always felt to be so, that no one envied the virtue
of another who was confident of his own.
[
2]
Therefore I, who have been connected with
Brutus by many mutual good offices and by the greatest
intimacy, need not say so much concerning him; for the part that I had marked
out for myself your speech has anticipated me in. But, O conscript fathers, the
opinion delivered by the man who was asked for his vote before me, has imposed
upon me the necessity of saying rather more than I otherwise should have said;
and I differ from him so repeatedly at present, that I am afraid (what certainly
ought not to be the case) that our continual disagreement may appear to diminish
our friendship.
[3]
What can be the meaning of this argument of
yours, O Calenus? what can be your intention? How is it that you have never once
since the first of January been of the same opinion with him who asks you your
opinion first? How is it that the senate has never yet been so full as to enable
you to find one single person to agree with your sentiments? Why are you always
defending men who in no point resemble you? why, when both your life and your
fortune invite you to tranquillity and dignity, do you approve of those
measures, and defend those measures, and declare those sentiments, which are
adverse both to the general tranquillity and to your own individual dignity?
