True action lies in restoring the Republic

Fellow Senators and Romans:

I am well aware of the consequences as leader of the liberators. I foresaw that some of you would view my hand in slaying a tyrant as rash, as impetuous. I have said it before, and I will repeat myself: I will not step down from this office until the wisdom of the Senate declares it so. I am not of an irrational disposition. If I was, how, indeed, gentlemen, would I have been able to be appointed by you men of the Senate to so many important public offices prior to this praetorship? How would I have successfully led many of Pompey's military campaigns during the civil war? How did I curry so much respect from Caesar himself and cultivate such a friendship with the man? So much respect did I gain from that man, that he granted clemency even to Cassius on my behalf, saying that anyone with my will and gravity of character must be obeyed. I have never in my life given in to the flattery of men and tyrants, and always exercised moderation and rationality to the utmost extreme in all of my endeavors. So much so that I knew it was my duty to overlook my friendship with a truly great ruler for the good of the Republic. I ask you to find another man among you who has not made a greater sacrifice for the good of Rome. You do not know the countless sleepless nights I endured because of what had to be done; before the Liberation I spent all hours weighing the options and decided that even though I may sacrifice myself and my reputation (for I see this has almost nearly been accomplished) it is for a worthy cause. Afterwards I slept better, I assure you, soothed by the tyrant's absence.

You call me impetuous and unfit to rule when I am the strongest advocate of the power of the Senate, and the most active in protecting against the rule of one man. Therefore I must humbly reject some of the criticism of my fellow Senators. Lepidus calls himself a man of action: what, then, does that make me and my fellow-liberators? Where was he then? Antony's stalling tactics last time were undermined as Lepidus demonstrated all undue haste to bury Caesar's body without the permission of the Senate. We must show the people that we are united in our cause to restore, Senators! In addition to the desire to lead Caesar's funerary proceedings, thereby rendering the safety of every single noble in Rome to an angry mob, Antony hoards Caesar's acta to himself and does not make privy to the very Senate who rightfully gives him authority what is in these documents. Stop trying to rally the plebs with Caesar's legacy and move on, Antony! Do you not have another leg to stand on? Surely these interests show you, supporters of Caesar's legacy, that Antony has no interest in the honor that your office of Senator commands, much less your own personal safety!

If I am "squabbling" with Antony, it is again due to the Senate's lack to immediately install the other rightful consul, elected by these very people. His unwillingness to do so is plainly outrageous! Antony, although a strong man possessing many honors, is but one man, while the men of the Senate who wish to restore the Republic (and let Caesar lie) are many. He makes a grave mistake when he ignores the pressing issue of Dolabella's consulship; this should not for a moment's time go uncriticized. He accuses Dolabella of such a petty thing as debt. I know that there are many great men in this room who have experienced this at one time or another, thereby making this issue irrelevant. Although many of you may question his character in dealing with financial matters, he was after all elected by the people. At least he does not use his current power in the Senate to request an army, as Caesar did in the year of his first consulship. As many of you know, Caesar waged an unjustified war against a peaceful province and slaughtered countless Spaniards, using the land of innocent people to repay his debts. What a beginning to an "illustrious" political career. Dolabella has done no such thing.

You speak of my inability to see clearly when many leading men in this country were blinded by the popularity of Caesar. If he was more persuasive with the people than you are today, then it is because he displayed an affinity toward the people that you denied during our last unproductive session. It is easier for the plebs to sway the mind of one man than an entire body of learned elders. Of course they loved him when he literally fed them out of his own purse!! You men know the power of the mob: this is the very reason that none of you who feared the growing power, fame, and wealth of Caesar would not dare put him on trial. You feared the loss of your own positions of power. Instead of a deserved trial, this body granted him extended campaigns, thereby making him unstoppable. A trial for such a man, while it would have been better, was unthinkable when so many men of influence were too busy flattering Caesar for their own ends.

I ask you, men of Rome, to stop flattering the people with images of this man, who made us forget who we were. Forget the plebs only to truly remember them, and the glorious Republic! We have much work to do!