M. Tullius Cicero, Philippicae, 1

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

← Previous Next →

If, O conscript fathers, while I learned from the letters which have been read that the army of our most wicked enemies had been defeated and routed, I had also learned what we all wish for above all things, and which we do suppose has resulted from that victory which has been achieved,—namely, that Decimus Brutus had already quitted Mutina ,—then I should without any hesitation give my vote for our returning to our usual dress out of joy at the safety of that citizen on account of whose danger it was that we adopted the robe of war, But before any news of that event which the city looks for with the greatest eagerness arrives, we have sufficient reason indeed for joy at this most important and most illustrious battle; but reserve, I beg you, your return to your usual dress for the time of complete victory. But the completion of this war is the safety of Decimus Brutus. 2

But what is the meaning of this proposal that our dress shall be changed just for today, and that tomorrow we should again come forth in the garb of war? Rather when we have once turned to that dress which we wish and desire to assume, let us strive to retain it forever; for this is not only discreditable, but it is displeasing also to the immortal gods, to leave their altars, which we have approached in the attire of peace, for the purpose of assuming the garb of war. 3 And I notice, O conscript fathers, that there are some who favor this proposal: whose intention and design is, as they see that that will be a most glorious day for Decimus Brutus on which we return to our usual dress out of joy for his safety, to deprive him of this great reward, so that it may not be handed down to the recollection of posterity that the Roman people had recourse to the garb of war on account of the danger of one single citizen, and then returned to their gowns of pence on account of his safety. Take away this reason, and you will find no other for so absurd a proposal. But do you, O conscript fathers, preserve your authority, adhere to your own opinions, preserve in your recollection what you have often declared, that the whole result of this entire war depends on the life of one most brave and excellent man.

Philippicae. M. Tullius Cicero. London. 1903.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by National Endowment For The Humanities (NEH).

Current edition Perseus

Philippics (English) (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Vol. 4. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.)

Editions (1)

Philippicae Perseus (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Vol. 6. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1918.) — 1 focus

[1] 1 si, ut¹ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque² cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex³ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁴ cognossem⁵, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁶ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁷.

[1] 1 si, ut⁸ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁹ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex¹⁰ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse¹¹ cognossem¹², propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui¹³ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate¹⁴.

[1] 1 si, ut¹⁵ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque¹⁶ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex¹⁷ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse¹⁸ cognossem¹⁹, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui²⁰ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate²¹.

[1] 1 si, ut²² ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque²³ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex²⁴ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse²⁵ cognossem²⁶, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui²⁷ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate²⁸.

[1] 1 si, ut²⁹ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque³⁰ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex³¹ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse³² cognossem³³, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui³⁴ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate³⁵.

[1] 1 si, ut³⁶ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque³⁷ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex³⁸ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse³⁹ cognossem⁴⁰, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁴¹ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁴².

[1] 1 si, ut⁴³ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁴⁴ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁴⁵ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁴⁶ cognossem⁴⁷, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁴⁸ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁴⁹.

[1] 1 si, ut⁵⁰ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁵¹ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁵² ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁵³ cognossem⁵⁴, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁵⁵ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁵⁶.

[1] 1 si, ut⁵⁷ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁵⁸ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁵⁹ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁶⁰ cognossem⁶¹, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁶² satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁶³.

[1] 1 si, ut⁶⁴ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁶⁵ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁶⁶ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁶⁷ cognossem⁶⁸, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁶⁹ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁷⁰.

[1] 1 si, ut⁷¹ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁷² cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁷³ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁷⁴ cognossem⁷⁵, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁷⁶ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁷⁷.

[1] 1 si, ut⁷⁸ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁷⁹ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁸⁰ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁸¹ cognossem⁸², propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁸³ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁸⁴.

[1] 1 si, ut⁸⁵ ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁸⁶ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁸⁷ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁸⁸ cognossem⁸⁹, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁹⁰ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁹¹.

[1] 1 si, ut⁹² ex litteris quae recitatae sunt, patres conscripti, sceleratissimorum hostium exercitum caesum fusumque⁹³ cognovi, sic, id quod et omnes maxime optamus et ex⁹⁴ ea victoria quae parta est consecutum arbitramur, D. Brutum egressum iam Mutina esse⁹⁵ cognossem⁹⁶, propter cuius periculum ad saga issemus, propter eiusdem salutem redeundum ad pristinum vestitum sine ulla dubitatione censerem. ante vero quam sit ea res quam avidissime civitas exspectat adlata, laetitia frui⁹⁷ satis est maximae praeclarissimaeque pugnae; reditum ad vestitum confectae victoriae reservate⁹⁸.

Commentary

Commentary on The Fourteenth Philippic (Select Orations of Cicero (Allen and Greenough's Edition). Greenough, James Bradstreet; Kittredge, George Lyman, editors. Boston, London: Ginn & Company, 1897.) focus

si , with cognovissem (1.5), prot. cont. to fact, with censerem (1.7) as its apod.

ut , correl. with

sic (1.3).

ex litteris , i.e. despatches from the seat of war. 242.2

hostium , i.e. Antony's forces. 242.3

id quod , namely

D. Brutum egressum . . . esse (1.4). 242.4

Brutum : D. Brutus, one of Caesar's murderers, had been assigned by him to the government of Cisalpine Gaul, and took possession of the province after Caesar's death. In the summer, Antony procured the passage of a law transferring this province to himself. Brutus, supported by the Senate, refused to give it up, and upon this issue hostilities broke out. Brutus was at this time besieged in Mutina (Modena), and the consuls, Hirtius and Pansa, had moved to raise the siege. 242.6

ad saga , etc., as we should say figuratively "to arms." The sagum (Fig. 51) was a simple woollen cloak, fastened over one shoulder with a clasp or buckle ( fibula), while the toga had no fastening but was wound in elaborate folds about the body. It was put on instead of the toga (the garment of peace: see note on p. 125, l. 17 ) in the city when there was war near home, as a sign that the citizens were called to arms.

issemus , subj. of subord. clause in indir. disc.

redeundum , etc.: to return to the ordinary garb of peace, the toga, would, under the circumstances, be a sign of rejoicing. 242.8

ea res , i.e. the liberation of D. Brutus from siege. 242.10

pugnae : the victory of Hirtius and Pansa at Bononia (see Introd., p.241 of text).

ista sententia , that proposition (one proposed by the Senator P. Servilius, and opposed by Cicero in this oration). 242.15

id agamus ut , etc., let us do so with the intention to retain it. 242.16

hoc , referring to discedere (1.18). The point is that it would not be pleasing to the gods for the citizens to assume the garb of rejoicing merely for a day, and then, since their main prayer had not been granted, to return ad saga.

redierimus , sc. ad vestitum. 242.22

ne . . . prodatur , i.e. if they change their attire for this one day, it will appear that it was not on account of Brutus that the change was made, for he is not yet safe. 243.2

tollite hanc , set aside this motive: a kind of protasis; § 521 , b (310, b); B. 305, 2; G. 593, 4; H. 560, 4, N. (487, 3); H.-B. 497, 2. 243.3

conservate , etc., maintain your dignity (by sustaining Brutus). 2

M. Tullius Cicero Philippicae 1

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Commentary

Stable identifiers