THE SPEECHES OF MARCUS
for, I take it, all that is good has not vanished utterly from among men, but there still remains among us a vestige of pristine virtue. But if any be incredulous, the greater even on that account is my desire that he should with his own eyes see actually done that which no man would believe could be done. For this would be the only gain I could get from my present troubles, if I were able to bring the matter to an honourable conclusion,[1] and show to all the world that even civil war can be dealt with on right principles."[2]
From a Speech of Marcus Antoninus (sent to the Senate).
"In return, then, for your congratulations on our victory, Conscript Fathers, you have as consul my son-in-law Pompeianus,[3] whose mature years should long ago have been rewarded with a consulship had not other brave men had prior claims for recognition from the state. Now with regard to the rebellion of Cassius, I beg and beseech you, Conscript Fathers, to lay aside all thoughts of severity and safeguard my or rather your humanity and clemency, and let no single person be put to death by the Senate. Let no Senator be punished, the blood of no man of noble birth be spilt; let the exiles return, the proscribed recover their goods. Would that I could recall the condemned also from the Shades! For revenge for his own wrongs never sits well on an emperor; the more it is deserved, the more severe it seems. So you must pardon the sons of Avidius Cassius, and his son-in-law, and his wife. But why do I say "pardon," since they have done no wrong? Let them live, then, in security, knowing that they live under Marcus. Let them live on their patrimony proportionately divided;[4] let them enjoy their gold, their silver, their raiment;
- ↑ cp. Medit. vi. 2.
- ↑ Or, made a right use of.
- ↑ Incorrect. This Pompeianus was consul in 173. In 176 Claud. Pompeianus Quintianus, who married the daughter of Verus and Lucilla (see Dio 72. 4, 4), was cons. suff. As for the victory, there had been no battle, but Cassius after "a three months dream, of empire" was assassinated by one of his own soldiers.
- ↑ Capit. Vit. Marc. xxvi. 11, 12: filii Cassii et amplius media parte acceperunt paterni patrimonii et auro atque argento adiuti.
