XIV.  But if Fortune had not taken from us not only Servius Sulpicius, and before him, his colleague Marcus Marcellus,—­what citizens!  What men!  If the republic had been able to retain the two consuls, men most devoted to their country, who were driven together out of Italy; and Lucius Afranius, that consummate general; and Publius Lentulus, a citizen who displayed his extraordinary virtue on other occasions, and especially in the securing my safe return; and Bibulus, whose constant and firm attachment to the republic has at all times been deservedly praised; and Lucius Domitius, that most excellent citizen; and Appius Claudius, a man equally distinguished for nobleness of birth and for attachment to the state; and Publius Scipio, a most illustrious man, closely resembling his ancestors.  Certainly with these men of consular rank,[52] the senate which supported Pompeius was not to be despised.

Which, then, was more just, which was more advantageous for the republic, that Cnaeus Pompeius, or that Antonius the brother who bought all Pompeius’s property, should live?  And then what men of praetorian rank were there with us! the chief of whom was Marcus Cato, being indeed the chief man of any nation in the world for virtue.  Why need I speak of the other most illustrious men? you know them all.  I am more afraid lest you should think me tedious for enumerating so many, than ungrateful for passing over any one.  And what men of aedilitian rank! and of tribunitian rank! and of quaestorian rank!  Why need I make a long story of it, so great was the dignity of the senators of our party, so great too were their numbers, that those men have need of some very valid excuse who did not join that camp.  Now listen to the rest of the letter.

XV.  “You have the defeated Cicero for your general.”

I am the more glad to hear that word “general,” because he certainly uses it against his will, for as for his saying “defeated,” I do not mind that, for it is my fate that I can neither be victorious nor defeated without the republic being so at the same time.

“You are fortifying Macedonia with armies”.

Yes, indeed, and we have wrested one from your brother, who does not in the least degenerate from you.

“You have entrusted Africa to Varus, who has been twice taken prisoner”.

Here he thinks that he is making out a case against his own brother Lucius.

“You have sent Capius into Syria”.

Do you not see then, O Antonius, that the whole world is open to our party, but that you have no spot out of your own fortifications, where you can set your foot?

“You have allowed Casca to discharge the office of tribune”.

What then?  Were we to remove a man, as if he had been Marullus,[53] or Caesetius, to whom we own it, that this and many other things like this can never happen for the future?

“You have taken away from the Luperci the revenues which Julius Caesar assigned to them.”