[-16-] “Why should one follow this line of refutation further?  Turning now to the fact that he goes about with such a tragic air, and has but this moment said in the course of his remarks that Antony rendered the sight of the master of the horse most oppressive by using everywhere and under all circumstances the sword, the purple, the lictors, and the soldiers at once, let him tell me clearly how and in what respect we have been wronged by this.  He will have no statement to make; for if he had had, he would have sputtered it out before anything else.  Quite the reverse of his charge is true.  Those who were quarreling at that time and causing all the trouble were Trebellius and Dolabella:  Antony did no wrong and was active in every way in our behalf, so much so that he was entrusted by us with guarding the city against those very men, and not only did this remarkable orator not oppose it (he was there) but even approved it.  Else let him show what syllable he uttered on seeing the licentious and accursed fellow (to quote from his abuse), besides doing nothing that the occasion required, securing also so great authority from you.  He will have nothing to show.  So it looks as if not a word of what he now shouts aloud was ventured at that time by this great and patriotic orator, who is everywhere and always saying and repeating:  ’I alone am contending for freedom, I alone speak freely for the democracy; I cannot be restrained by favor of friends or fear of enemies from looking out for your advantage; I, even if it should be my lot to die in speaking in your behalf, will perish very gladly.’  And his silence was very natural, for it occurred to him to reflect that Antony possessed the lictors and the purple-bordered vesture in accordance with the customs of our ancestors in regard to masters of horse, and that he was using the sword and the soldiers perforce against the rebels.  For what most excessive outrages would they not have committed but for his being hedged about with these protections, when some of them so despised him as it was?

[-17-] “That these and all his other acts were correct and most thoroughly in accord with Caesar’s intention the facts themselves show.  The rebellion went no further, and Antony, far from paying a penalty for his course, was subsequently appointed consul.  Notice, I beg of you, how he administered this office of his.  You will find, if you scrutinize the matter minutely, that its tenure proved of great value to the city.  His traducer, knowing this, could not endure his jealousy but dared to slander him for those deeds which he would have longed to do himself.  That is why he introduced the matter of his stripping and anointing and those ancient fables, not because there was any pertinence in them now, but in order to obscure by external noise his opponent’s consummate skill and success.  Yet this same Antony, O thou earth, and ye gods (I shall call louder than you and invoke them with greater justice), saw that the city