Page:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/307

56 B.C.]

madman; if as I must, for a slave; if I hold my peace, am accounted as crushed and baffled, how bitter should be my grief? So indeed it is, and all the more bitter because I cannot even grieve without seeming ungrateful. Well, can I rest on my oars, and take refuge in a haven of peace? Nay, the only haven that waits for us is a camp and a battle-field. Well, then I must submit to be a servant, I who refused to be one of the masters. So it must be; for this, I see, is your decision, and would that I had always hearkened to your advice."

Cicero's first action in the Senate on these new lines related to certain votes in favour of Cæsar, which, though fully justified by the work which Cæsar was now doing for Rome, were awkwardly inconsistent with the attack which had been contemplated on his position. Cicero describes these measures in very reserved language to Lentulus Spinther: "You ask me about the political situation; there is much contention, but no struggle on equal terms. For those who have the advantage in resources, in arms and in power, seem to me through the folly and inconsistency of their opponents to have been given the advantage in argument as well. So with very faint opposition they have obtained through the Senate what they never expected to obtain even through the People without revolution. With little or no trouble pay has been voted for Cæsar's troops, ten lieutenants have been granted him, and in assigning