The Senate Against Antonius

Abstract HE Senate met on December 20th, convened by tribunes on the specious pretext of taking precautions in advance for the personal safety of the new consuls on the first day of the year, when momentous transactions were announced-as though any individual or party wished to strike down that worthy and innocuous pair, Hirtius and Pansa. The true cause was robably an urgent dispatch from the governor of Cisalpine Gau. Though nothing could be done while Antonius was still consul, Cicero seized the chance to develop a programme for future action. Octavianus had no standing at all before the law, and Brutus was insecure. Antonius was patently in the right when summoning him to surrender the province. That point Cicero could not dispute. He therefore had resort to the most impudent sophistries, delivering a solemn and patriotic panegyric upon treason.1 He demonstrated that if a private army was raised against Antonius, if his troops were mutinous and seditious, Antonius could be no true consul of the Roman People. On the other hand, the adversaries of Antonius deserved full recognition, the soldiery recompense in land and money.