But I see now what it is they mean:  nor, in truth, do they use much disguise.  They say that they are afraid how the veterans may endure the idea of Brutus having an army.  As if there were any difference between the troops of Aulus Hirtius, of Caius Pansa, of Decimus Brutus, of Caius Caesar, and this army of Marcus Brutus.  For if these four armies which I have mentioned are praised because they have taken up arms for the sake of the liberty of the Roman people, what reason is there why this army of Marcus Brutus should not be classed under the same head?  Oh, but the very name of Marcus Brutus is unpopular among the veterans.—­More than that of Decimus Brutus?—­I think not; for although the action is common to both the Bruti, and although their share in the glory is equal, still those men who were indignant at that deed were more angry with Decimus Brutus, because they said, that it was more improper for it to be executed by him.  What now are all those armies labouring at, except to effect the release of Decimus Brutus from a siege?  And who are the commanders of those armies?  Those men, I suppose, who wish the acts of Caius Caesar to be overturned, and the cause of the veterans to be betrayed.

VIII.  If Caesar himself were alive, could he, do you imagine, defend his own acts more vigorously than that most gallant man Hirtius defends them? or, is it possible that any one should be found more friendly to the cause than his son?  But the one of these, though not long recovered from a very long attack of a most severe disease, has applied all the energy and influence which he had to defending the liberty of those men by whose prayers he considered that he himself had been recalled from death; the other, stronger in the strength of his virtue than in that of his age, has set out with those very veterans to deliver Decimus Brutus.  Therefore, those men who are both the most certain and at the same time the most energetic defenders of the acts of Caesar, are waging war for the safety of Decimus Brutus; and they are followed by the veterans.  For they see that they must fight to the uttermost for the freedom of the Roman people, not for their own advantages.  What reason, then, is there why the army of Marcus Brutus should be an object of suspicion to those men who with the whole of their energies desire the preservation of Decimus Brutus?

But, moreover, if there were anything which were to be feared from Marcus Brutus, would not Pansa perceive it?  Or if he did perceive it, would not he, too, be anxious about it?  Who is either more acute in his conjectures of the future, or more diligent in warding off danger?  But you have already seen his zeal for, and inclination towards Marcus Brutus.  He has already told us in his speech what we ought to decree, and how we ought to feel with respect to Marcus Brutus.  And he was so far from thinking the army of Marcus Brutus dangerous to the republic, that he considered it the most important and the most trusty bulwark of the republic.  Either, then, Pansa does not perceive this (no doubt he is a man of dull intellect), or he disregards it.  For he is clearly not anxious that the acts which Caesar executed should be ratified,—­he, who in compliance with our recommendation is going to bring forward a bill at the comitia centuriata for sanctioning and confirming them.