IX.  Even here, when I was in the city and at home, nevertheless many attempts were made against me, in a place where I have not only the fidelity of my friends but the eyes also of the entire city to guard me.  What do you think will be the case when I have gone on a journey, and that too a long one?  Do you think that I shall have no occasion to fear plots then?  There are three roads to Mutina, a place which my mind longs to see, in order that I may behold as speedily as possible that pledge of freedom of the Roman people Decimus Brutus, in whose embrace I would willingly yield up my parting breath, when all my actions for the last many months, and all my opinions and propositions have resulted in the end which I proposed to myself.  There are, as I have said, three roads, the Flaminian road, along the Adriatic, the Aurelian road, along the Mediterranean coast, the Midland road, which is called the Cassian.

Now, take notice, I beg of you, whether my suspicion of danger to myself is at variance with a reasonable conjecture.  The Cassian road goes through Etruria.  Do we not know then, O Pansa, over what places the authority of Lenti Caesennius, as a septemvir, prevails at present?  He certainly is not on our side either in mind or body.  But if he is at home, or not far from home, he is certainly in Etruria, that is, in my road.  Who, then, will undertake to me that Lenti will be content with exacting one life alone?  Tell me besides, O Pansa, where Ventidius is,—­a man to whom I have always been friendly before he became so openly an enemy to the republic and to all good men.  I may avoid the Cassian road, and take the Flaminian.  What if, as it is said, Ventidius has arrived at Ancona?  Shall I be able in that case to reach Ariminum in safety?  The Aurelian road remains and here too I shall find a, protector, for on that road are the possessions of Publius Clodius.  His whole household will come out to meet me, and will invite me to partake of their hospitality, on account of my notorious intimacy with their master?

X. Shall I then trust myself to those roads—­I who lately, on the day of the feast of Terminus, did not dare even to go into the suburbs and return by the same road on the same day?  I can scarcely defend myself within the walls of my own house without the protection of my friends; therefore I remain in the city; and if I am allowed to do so I will remain.  This is my proper place, this is my beat, this is my post as a sentinel, this is my station as a defender of the city.  Let others occupy camps and kingdoms, and engage in the conduct of the war; let them show the active hatred of the enemy; we, as we say, and as we have always hitherto done, will, in common with you, defend the city and the affairs of the city.  Nor do I shrink from this office; although I see the Roman people shrink from it for me.  No one is less timid than I am; no one more cautious.  The facts speak for themselves.  This is the twentieth