letters of cicero-第23部分

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　us　look　at　other　points。　I　proposed　honours　to　Decimus　Brutus；　and　also　to　Lucius　Plancus。　Those　indeed　are　noble　spirits　whose　spur　to　action　is　glory：　but　the　senate　also　is　wise　to　avail　itself　of　any　meansprovided　that　they　are　honourableby　which　it　thinks　that　a　particular　man　can　be　induced　to　support　the　Republic。　Butyou　sayI　am　blamed　in　regard　to　Lepidus：　for；　having　placed　his　statue　on　the　rostra；　I　also　voted　for　its　removal。　I　tried　by　paying　him　a　compliment　to　recall　him　from　his　insane　policy。　The　infatuation　of　that　most　unstable　of　men　rendered　my　prudence　futile。　Yet　all　the　same　more　good　was　done　by　demolishing　the　statue　of　Lepidus；　than　harm　by　putting　it　up。

Enough　about　honours；　now　I　must　say　a　few　words　about　penalties。　For　I　have　gathered　from　frequent　expressions　in　your　letters　that　in　regard　to　those　whom　you　have　conquered　in　war；　you　desire　that　your　clemency　should　be　praised。　I　hold；　indeed；　that　you　do　and　say　nothing　but　what　becomes　a　philosopher。　But　to　omit　the　punishment　of　a　crimefor　that　is　what　〃pardoning〃　amounts　toeven　if　it　is　endurable　in　other　cases；　is　mischievous　in　a　war　like　this。　For　there　has　been　no　civil　war；　of　all　that　have　occurred　in　the　state　within　my　memory；　in　which　there　was　not　certain　to　be　some　form　of　constitution　remaining；　whichever　of　the　two　sides　prevailed。　In　this　war；　if　we　are　victorious；　I　should　not　find　it　easy　to　affirm　what　kind　of　constitution　we　are　likely　to　have；　if　we　are　conquered；　there　will　certainly　never　be　any。　1　therefore　proposed　severe　measures　against　Antony；　and　severe　ones　also　against　Lepidus；　and　not　so　much　out　of　revenge　as　in　order　that　I　might　for　the　present　prevent　unprincipled　men　by　this　terror　from　attacking　their　country；　and　might　for　the　future　establish　a　warning　for　all　who　were　minded　to　imitate　their　infatuation。

However；　this　proposal　was　not　mine　more　than　it　was　everybody's。　The　point　in　it　which　had　the　appearance　of　cruelty　was　that　the　penalty　extended　to　the　children　who　did　not　deserve　any。　But　that　is　a　thing　of　long　standing　and　characteristic　of　all　states。　For　instance；　the　children　of　Themistocles　were　in　poverty。　And　if　the　same　penalty　attaches　to　citizens　legally　condemned　in　court；　how　could　we　be　more　indulgent　to　public　enemies？　What；　moreover；　can　anyone　say　against　me　when　he　must　confess　that；　had　that　man　conquered；　he　would　have　been　still　more　revengeful　towards　me？

Here　you　have　the　principles　which　dictated　my　senatorial　proposals；　at　any　rate　in　regard　to　this　class　of　honours　and　penalties。　For；　in　regard　to　other　matters；　I　think　you　have　been　told　what　opinions　I　have　expressed　and　what　votes　I　have　given。　But　all　this　is　not　so　very　pressing。　What　is　really　pressing；　Brutus；　is　that　you　should　come　to　Italy　with　your　army　as　soon　as　possible。　There　is　the　greatest　anxiety　for　your　arrival。　Directly　you　reach　Italy　all　classes　will　flock　to　you。　For　whether　we　win　the　victoryand　we　had　in　fact　won　a　most　glorious　one；　only　that　Lepidus　set　his　heart　on　ruining　everything　and　perishing　himself　with　all　his　friendsthere　will　be　need　of　your　counsel　in　establishing　some　form　of　constitution。　And　even　if　there　is　still　some　fighting　left　to　be　done；　our　greatest　hope　is　both　in　your　personal　influence　and　in　the　material　strength　of　your　army。　But　make　haste；　in　God's　name！　You　know　the　importance　of　seizing　the　right　moment；　and　of　rapidity。　What　pains　I　am　taking　in　the　interests　of　your　sister's　children；　I　hope　you　know　from　the　letters　of　your　mother　and　sister。　In　undertaking　their　cause　I　shew　more　regard　to　your　affection；　which　is　very　precious　to　me；　than；　as　some　think；　to　my　own　consistency。　But　there　is　nothing　in　which　I　more　wish　to　be　and　to　seem　consistent　than　in　loving　you。





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