II.  For who is there who does not see clearly that, if Caesar had not prepared an army, the return of Antonius must have been accompanied by our destruction?  For, in truth, he returned in such a state of mind, burning with hatred of you all, stained with the blood of the Roman citizens, whom he had murdered at Suessa and at Brundusium, that he thought of nothing but the utter destruction of the republic.  And what protection could have been found for your safety and for your liberty if the army of Caius Caesar had not been composed of the bravest of his father’s soldiers?  And with respect to his praises and honours,—­and he is entitled to divine and everlasting honours for his godlike and undying services,—­the senate has just consented to my proposals, and has decreed that a motion be submitted to it at the very earliest opportunity.

Now who is there who does not see that by this decree Antonius has been adjudged to be an enemy?  For what else can we call him, when the senate decides that extraordinary honours are to be devised for those men who are leading armies against him?  What? did not the Martial legion (which appears to me by some divine permission to have derived its name from that god from whom we have heard that the Roman people descended) decide by its resolutions that Antonius was an enemy before the senate had come to any resolution?  For if he be not an enemy, we must inevitably decide that those men who have deserted the consul are enemies.  Admirably and seasonably, O Romans, have you by your cries sanctioned the noble conduct of the men of the Martial legion, who have come over to the authority of the senate, to your liberty, and to the whole republic; and have abandoned that enemy and robber and parricide of his country.  Nor did they display only their spirit and courage in doing this, but their caution and wisdom also.  They encamped at Alba, in a city convenient, fortified, near, full of brave men and loyal and virtuous citizens.  The fourth legion imitating the virtue of this Martial legion, under the leadership of Lucius Egnatuleius, whom the senate deservedly praised a little while ago, has also joined the army of Caius Caesar.

III.  What more adverse decisions, O Marcus Antonius, can you want?  Caesar, who has levied an army against you, is extolled to the skies.  The legions are praised in the most complimentary language, which have abandoned you, which were sent for into Italy by you; and which, if you had chosen to be a consul rather than an enemy, were wholly devoted to you.  And the fearless and honest decision of those legions is confirmed by the senate, is approved of by the whole Roman people,—­unless, indeed, you to-day, O Romans, decide that Antonius is a consul and not an enemy.  I thought, O Romans, that you did think as you show you do.  What? do you suppose that the municipal towns, and the colonies, and the prefectures have any other opinion?  All men are agreed with one mind; so that every one who wishes the state to