The Oration of L. Philippus against Lepidus.

THere is nothing which I more eagerly desire, Conscript Fathers, then the Tranquillity of the Common-wealth; or that it should be de∣fended when in danger, by the Stoutest and most forward of its Members. In a word I heartily wish, that all wicked enterprizes may prove the ruin of the Contrivers. On the other side, all the whole Frame of Government is unhing'd by Factions; and these Factions encourag'd by those whom it rather became to endeavour their total Suppression and Extirpation: and what the Page  305 worst and most extravagant of Mens decree, the most vertuous and most prudent are oblig'd to execute. A War at present you believe unrea∣sonable, yet you must take Arms, because for∣sooth, tis Lepidus's pleasure; but perhaps there may be some that love Peace best, yet can endure War. Good Gods! that Men should rule this City, yet lay aside all Care of Governing. M. AEmilius, of all Fla∣gitious Caitiffs the most wicked, and whether more Villain or more Coward cannot well be determin'd, has got an Army to oppress your Liberty, and he that was contemn'd has made himself more formidable while you sit whispering together, and regardless of the sayings and the Prophesies of the Sybills, seem rather to wish for Peace then to defend it: not understanding, that by the Lenity of your De∣crees you lessen your own Authority, and ren∣der him exempt from fear. And that deservedly: since he has obtain'd the Consulship by Rapine, and a Province together with an Army, to carry on Sedition and Faction. What would he have receiv'd for his good Services, whose vile misdeeds ye have so liberally rewarded? It was perhaps, because that they who even to the last, gave up their Votes for Legates, Peace, Concord and the like, were favour'd and promoted by him. No; for They, despis'd, and thought unworthy of the Common-wealth, were lookt upon as only fit to be made Booty of; as suing again for Peace with the same fears which they had about 'em when they lost it. Truly at the very beginning, when I saw Hetruria in Rebellion, the proscrib'd Per∣sons recall'd, and the Republic rent and torn with Bribes and Pensions, I thought it high time to hasten, and with some few others follow'd the advice of Catulus. But they who extoll'd the Page  306 Aemilian Family for their good Services, and mag∣nify'd the Roman People for augmenting their Gran∣deur by Pardoning and Clemency, never discern'd that Lpidus also was a Branch of the same Stock: when he took up Arms as a private Person to subvert their Liberty, every one labouring after wealth, or the Protections of great Personages, destroy'd the Public Interest. And then was Lepidus a meer Robber surrounded with Camp-Boys, and some few Ruffianly Bravoe's: among whom there was not one that did not value a days wages above his life. Now he is a Proconsul in high Command, not purchas'd; but conferr'd upon him by your selves, with Leiutenants as yet Legally obedient: and to him resorted Men of all Degrees the most corrupt and vicious; inflam'd with lust and want: whirl'd to and fro with the Guilt of their Crimes: people never at rest but in Sedition; in peace most turbulent: sowing Tumult upon Tumult, and War upon War; the Pensioners of Saturninus formerly, afterwards of Sulpitius; then of Marius and Damasippus, and now of Lepidus. Besides Hetruria up in Arms, and all the Embers of extinguish'd Wars now breaking forth again: Both Spains Sollicited to Insurrection, Mithridates the next Neighbour to our Tributaries, by whom we are as yet sup∣ported, watches round about an Opportunity for Invasion: so that there is nothing but a proper Captain wanting to subvert the whole Body of the Empire. Which I beseech and implore ye, Con∣script Fathers, to consider; and that you will not suffer Licentious Villany like a pestilence, by con∣tagion to infect the sound. For when Rewards attend the wicked, there's no man easily will ad∣dict himself to vertue gratis. Do ye think it fit to Page  307 wait till with a new embody'd Army they once more invade the City with Fire and Sword? Which seems much more like and nearer to its pre∣sent Condition, then from Civil War to Peace and Concord. A War which he has inflam'd in contempt of all things both Divine and Human; not for any wrong done either to himself or at least as he pretends to others, but for the Subversion of our Laws and Liberties. For he is tortur'd and harrass'd in his mind with Ambition, and dread of ill success, void of Counsel and Restless; Try∣ing this, attempting that, he fears Tranquillity, hates War, foresees a Curb upon his Luxury and Licentiousness, and in the mean time makes an Abusive Advantage of your Remissness. Which I know not what to call, whether Fear, or Sloath or Madness. While every one singly seems to pray that the threatning mischief, may not like Lightning dart upon himself, but no man stirs an inch to prevent the gathering Cloud. I be∣seech ye consider how the Natural Order of things is ranvers'd. Formerly public Contrivances of mischief against the State were secretly carry`d on; the Remedies openly provided; and by that means good Men had the Advantage of the Wicked: Now Peace and Concord are openly disturb'd, but secretly defended. They who de∣light in War and public Calamity are up in Arms, and you in fear and Consternation. What are your Hopes? unless perhaps you are asham`d, or look upon it as an irksome Toyl to do your Duty. Do the Commands of Lepidus, appease your Indignation? Who tells ye, `tis his pleasure that every Man should have his own, yet has no∣thing but what belongs to other Men: who would have all Claims of War cancell`d, yet all the Page  308 while compels by force of Arms: who desires the Freedom of the City to be confirm'd, yet de∣nies the Citizens their Franchises of which they were depriv'd; who for Concords sake would have the Tribunitian Power restor'd to the Com∣mons, from maintenance of which all our Discords have deriv'd their Original. Most villanous and impudent of all Mankind, canst thou be thought to mind the wants, the grievances and lamentations of thy Fellow Citizens, who canst call nothing thy own, unless what forcibly thou hast gain'd by Plun∣der and Rapine? Thou standest for a second Con∣sulship, as if thou hadst resign'd the First. Thou seek'st for Peace by that same very War, by which it was disturb'd when fairly once obtain'd: Traytor to Us, faithless to Them; the Enemy of all good People; regardless both of Gods and Men whose Laws Divine and Humane thou hast viola∣ted by Treason and Perjury. Who being what Thou art, I advise thee to continue thy Resoluti∣ons, and not to quit thy Arms; nor to keep Us in continual Cares and Anxieties, thy self so restless when Seditions are delay'd. Neither Provinces nor Laws nor Houshold Gods allow thee for a Ci∣tizen? Go on then, as thou hast begun, that so thou mayst the sooner meet with thy Reward. But as for You, Conscript Fathers, how long will you by tedious lingring suffer the Commonweath to be in jeopardy, and only talk of taking Arms in its Defence? Souldiers are dayly listed against ye; vast sums both publickly and privately extorted: The Laws commanded to be serviceable to Ambi∣tion, Will and Pleasure, while you sit voting Lieutenants, and considering what Decrees to make. And upon my word, the more earnestly you sue for Peace, so much the sharper the War Page  309 will be, when he finds himself more strongly suported by your fears, then by the Justice of his Cause. For they that tell ye they abominate Tu∣mults, and the Slaughter of their Fellow Citizens, and for that reason detain ye unarm'd from oppo∣sing Lepidus in Arms, believe you will more readily, suffer what the vanquish'd must endure, when ye so loosely brook what might be in your power to chastise. Thus they disswade him from Peace with you, and you from War with him. If these things please ye; if such a Lethargy benum your Sences, that forgetful of Cinna's Devastations, up∣on whose return to the City, all Majesty and De∣grees of Dignity were trampl'd under foot, you will nevertheless surrender up your selves, your Wives and Children to Lepidus, what need of more Decrees? to what Purpose the Assistance of Catu∣lus? in vain both he and all good men take care to support the Commonwealth. Do as you think fit; sue to Cethegus and other Traytors for their Pro∣tections, that long to glut themselves with new Rapines and Conflagrations, and to brandish once more their naked Swords against their Houshold Gods. But if Liberty and Justice be more accep∣table; Let your Decrees become your Grandeur; and fortify the Commonwealth with men of Ver∣tue and Courage. There is a new rais'd Army at hand; moreover Colonies of Veterane Souldiers, all the Nobility, most expert Commanders, and Fortune ready to attend the Best. In a short while the Forces already muster'd together will disband and melt away through our Remissness. Where∣fore it is my Opinion clearly, since Lepidus of his own head is Marching to the City with an Army compos'd of Russians and Enemies to the Common-wealth, in contempt of the Authority of this Senate. Page  310 that Appius Claudius, as * King pro tempore toge∣ther with Q. Catulus, and others that are at present in Com∣mand, be appointed to guard the City, and to take care that no Detriment befall the Commonwealth.