by the reputation of my complete victory.  For who ought to benefit people more and more abundantly than he who has the greatest power.  Who ought to err less than he who is the strongest?  Who should use the gifts of Heaven more sensibly than he who has received the greatest from that source?  Who ought to handle present blessings more uprightly than he who has the most of them and is most afraid of their being lost?  Good fortune, joined with temperance, continues:  and authority, if it maintains moderation, preserves all that has been gained.  Above all, as is seldom the case with those persons that succeed without virtue, they make it possible for rulers while alive to be loved unfeignedly, and when, dead to receive genuine praise.  But the man who without restraint absolutely applies his power to everything finds for himself neither real good-will nor certain safety, but though accorded a false flattery in public [is secretly cursed][86].  For the whole world, besides those who associate with him most, both suspect and fear a ruler who is not master of his own authority.

[-17-] “Again, these words that I have spoken are no mere quibbles, and I have tried to make you understand that they have not fallen into my head for ostentation or by mere chance on the present occasion:  on the contrary, from the outset I realized that this course was both suitable and advantageous for me; that is why I both think and speak thus.  Consequently you may be not only of good courage with reference to the present, but hopeful as regards the future, reflecting (if you think I used any pretence), that I would not be deferring my projects, but would have made them known this very day.

“However, I was never otherwise minded in times past, as my works themselves, indeed, doubtless prove and now I shall feel far more eagerness with all order and decency not,—­forbid it, Jupiter!—­not to be your master, but your head man, not your tyrant, but your leader.  In the matter of accomplishing for you everything else that must be done, I will be both consul and dictator, but in the matter of injuring any one, a private citizen.  That possibility I do not think should be even mentioned.  Why should I put any one of you to death, who have done me no harm, when I destroyed none of my adversaries, even if with the utmost zeal they had taken[87] part with various enemies against me, but I took pity on all those that had withstood me but once, saving many alive of those that fought on the opposing side a second time?  How should I bear malice toward any, seeing that without reading or making excerpts I immediately burned all the documents that were found among the private papers both in Pompey’s and in Scipio’s tents?  So then, let us, Conscript Fathers, boldly unite our interests, forgetting all past events as brought to pass simply by some supernatural Force, and beginning to love each the other without suspicion as though we were some new citizens.  In this way you may behave yourselves toward me as toward a father, enjoying the fore-thought and solicitude which I shall give you and fearing no vexation, and I may have charge of you as of children, praying that all noblest deeds may be ever! accomplished by your exertions, and enduring perforce human limitations, exalting the excellent by fitting honors and correcting the rest so far as is feasible.