Senators, I am sure that there are those few among you who fear that my actions at our assembly overstepped my authority and duty to the republic. On the contrary, as the legitimate ranking member of the senate I felt compelled to assert my position to both uphold the law of Rome and my own respect for Caesar. Caesar’s burial and the good of Rome are my two motivating forces. Allow me to retrace and clarify my actions to explain why Caesar's burial is paramount, why I take issue with Dolabella’s appointment, and why the senate did not run smoothly.
Upon entering the senate I knew that few people planned to support M. A. Lepidus as magister equitem. I also came with the knowledge that those planning to attack Lepidus did so with the intention of postponing Caesar’s burial as long as possible. In order to forestall the inevitable time consuming attacks on M. A. Lepidus I chose to immediately assert my legitimacy. This brought us to the relatively quick choice to either acknowledge our former Magister Equitem or to remove him from his position. Clearly the will of the senate was definitive in this matter and my suspicions that Lepidus lacked support and legitimacy were confirmed. Despite your objection to his previous position I urge you to consider him for a new one. He is a good man and loyal to Rome.
I wished then to move immediately to address the issue closest to my heart, Caesar’s burial. Once we avoided the obvious objections to Lepidus I expected less trouble in discussing Caesar and the right course of action. I consider this not as only an emotional issue, but as a practical consideration as well. We must bury Caesar as a hero publicly and with public funds for two reasons. First, we must soothe the aching hearts of the people and ourselves. Second, we must realize that choosing to grant this funeral upholds the legitimacy of the current composition of the senate. If we do anything less than give Caesar his full honors then we effectively declare his time as dictator illegitimate. The consequence of this is that none of the magisters could continue to rightfully hold position, none of Caesar’s legislations would hold any sway, and many of you as appointees would lose your status in this assembly. This sort of confusion would destroy Rome in her current state of disorganization. The logistical problems in refusing Caesar his due overwhelm any objections based on idealistic wishes or personal grudges.
Unfortunately, my plan to quickly resolve the issues of the Magister Equitem and Caesar’s burial came to a halt at the instigation of Cicero and his cronies. Although I hoped to sate their ongoing lust for disorder with my legitimacy as consul, they attacked me just the same as they would Lepidus. I managed to do nothing but put myself in his place and assume the vindictive invectives designed for him. Their insistence forced the issue of Dolabella’s appointment, and I remind you that Caesar still lies unburied and unseen. Sadly, in my haste to respect Caesar and speed to his burial, I got caught in the webs of politicians.
I am not sure at this point if they fear my seat in the senate, or if they wish to continue forestalling Caesar’s honors, probably both. To these ends they raise the most distasteful Dolabella to affirm him as consul. This is secondary to the affirmation of our entire state and of our fallen hero. I burn to give myself and all the People of Rome a chance to contribute our grief to the body of our great Pater, our Caesar. There is no other way to commit this man to the after life than to use public funds for not just one man, but all of Rome mourns and it is only right that we offer this man who offered us so much a lavish final farewell.
As for Dolabella himself, why would you place such a notorious vagrant beside me as consul? You all must see that a man who lacks the sense to manage his own estate could never hope to manage the senate. He is not only fiscally bankrupt, but morally as well. Such a man will only burden Rome with his avarice as consul. In spite these obvious objections to him, I consider the will of Caesar and your objections to my singular consul ship. So many voices call to appoint him. So many voices, but I can see only one true beneficiary in the masses. How much does Dolabella owe you Cicero? How much does a consul cost these days? How far are you willing to compromise your values just to see your power restored in the senate?
I still can not ignore the voices of so many in Dolabella’s favor, especially the fading voice of Caesar. To preserve one of Caesar’s final decrees as well as the balance and peace in Rome, I am willing to accept Dolabella as coconsul. I insist that nothing good will come of this, but compromise is the key to a safe and restored Rome. All I am willing to do in order to secure Caesar’s rights, and each of our rights as senators and magisters. The senate will meet tomorrow to discuss both the burial of Caesar and the legitimacy of Dolabella, let us value wisdom and expediancy in these matters. May peace reign in Rome.
Marcus Antonius
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