be saved must take up every sort of arms against that pestilence.  What? does, I should like to know, does the opinion of Decimus Brutus, O Romans, which you can gather from his edict, which has this day reached us, appear to any one deserving of being lightly esteemed?  Rightly and truly do you say No, O Romans.  For the family and name of Brutus has been by some especial kindness and liberality of the immortal gods given to the republic, for the purpose of at one time establishing, and at another of recovering, the liberty of the Roman people.  What then has been the opinion which Decimus Brutus has formed of Marcus Antonius?  He excludes him from his province.  He opposes him with his army.  He rouses all Gaul to war, which is already used of its own accord, and in consequence of the judgment which it has itself formed.  If Antonius be consul, Brutus is an enemy.  Can we then doubt which of these alternatives is the fact?

IV.  And just as you now with one mind and one voice affirm that you entertain no doubt, so did the senate just now decree that Decimus Brutus deserved excellently well of the republic, inasmuch as he was defending the authority of the senate and the liberty and empire of the Roman people.  Defending it against whom?  Why, against an enemy.  For what other sort of defence deserves praise?  In the next place the province of Gaul is praised, and is deservedly complimented in most honourable language by the senate for resisting Antonius.  But if that province considered him the consul, and still refused to receive him, it would be guilty of great wickedness.  For all the provinces belong to the consul of right, and are bound to obey him.  Decimus Brutus, imperator and consul elect, a citizen born for the republic, denies that he is consul; Gaul denies it; all Italy denies it; the senate denies it; you deny it.  Who then think that he is consul except a few robbers?  Although even they themselves do not believe what they say; nor is it possible that they should differ from the judgment of all men, impious and desperate men though they be.  But the hope of plunder and booty blinds their minds; men whom no gifts of money, no allotment of land, nor even that interminable auction has satisfied; who have proposed to themselves the city, the properties and fortunes of all the citizens as their booty; and who, as long as there is something for them to seize and carry off, think that nothing will be wanting to them; among whom Marcus Antonius (O ye immortal gods, avert, I pray you, and efface this omen,) has promised to divide this city.  May things rather happen, O Romans, as you pray that they should, and may the chastisement of this frenzy fall on him and on his friend.  And, indeed, I feel sure that it will be so.  For I think that at present not only men but the immortal gods have all united together to preserve this republic.  For if the immortal gods foreshow us the future, by means of portents and prodigies, then it has been openly revealed to us that punishment is near at hand to him, and liberty to us.  Or if it was impossible for such unanimity on the part of all men to exist without the inspiration of the gods, in either case how can we doubt as to the inclinations of the heavenly deities?  It only remains, O Romans, for you to persevere in the sentiments which you at present display.