APPENDIX IV. APPIAN'S CIVIL WARS, 1578. Extract from the Second Book, p. 152. THE Counsell being thus broken vp, there were some that perswaded Lucius Piso, to whome Cæsar had left his Testamente, that it should neyther be brought forthe, nor his body buryed openly, least it mighte breede some newe tumult in the Citie. He being otherwise minded, was threatned to be called to aunswer, for that he defrauded the people of such substance due to the common treasure, once agayne making signification of Tyrannie. Then Piso cryed as lowde as he could, praying the Consuls that were yet present to goe to counsell againe, and sayde: They that haue affirmed that one Tyrant is taken away, they in steede of that one be all Tyrants vnto vs, forbidding me to bury an holy Priest, and threaten me if I bring forth his last will. They make confiscation of his goodes, as of a Tirant. His actes that maketh for them they ratifie, but those that he hath left for himselfe they reuoke, not Brutus and Cassius, but they that did incense them to this mischiefe. Of his Sepulture be you Lordes, of his Testament I will be, and shall not suffer him to be deceyued in my trust of faith, before some man taketh away my breath. Much stirre and businesse did rise of this among them all, and specially by them that supposed to get somewhat by his Testament: therefore it was thought conuenient that his Testament should be brought abroade, and that his body shoulde be buryed openly, and so the Councell rose. Brutus and Cassius vnderstanding of this, did send to the multitude to call them to the Capitoll, and when many came running thither with greate hast, Brutus sayd thus :-"Nowe, O Citizens, we be heere with you that yesterday were in the common court, not as men fleeyng to the Temple that haue done amisse, nor as to a fort, haning committed all wee haue to you, but the sharpe & strange mishap of Cinna haue compelled vs thus to do. We haue herd what hath bin obiected against vs of oure enimies touching the oth, and touching cause of doubt that in peace can be no suretie. What we haue to say herein with you, O Citizens, we will conferre with whome we haue to do concerning other common matters. When Caius Cæsar from France inuaded his Countrey with enimies armes, and Pompey, a singulare fauourer of the people, had suffered, as I [p. 153] euery man1 knoweth, after hym a number of good Citizens wente into Iberia & Libya & were destroyed. We at his desire gaue him security, and as it should seeme afrayde of himselfe, seking to make his Tyranny sure, we sware vnto it. If he had required vs to swere not only to confirme the things past, but also to haue bene hys slaues in time to come, what woulde they then haue done that nowe lie in wayte for our liues? I suppose verye Romaines indeede wyll rather choose certaine death, as they haue oft done, than by an othe to abyde willing seruitude. If Cæsar hitherto haue gone aboute nothing to make vs seruile, we confesse we haue broken our othe: but if neyther offices in the Citie, nor prouinces in the country, nor armies, nor dignities of the church, nor assigning of inhabitance, nor other honours be left to vs, or had the consent of the Senate, or the allowance of the people, but did all by his owne commaundement; if his ambition was never satiate, as Syllas was, who, when he had overthrown his enemies, restored to vs the common wealth; if he, making another armye for a long time, toke awaye our election for fiue yeares, what libertie was this, when no hope coulde appeare? What should we say of the peoples chiefe officers, Sesetius and Marullus; were they not with contumely thrust from the sacred & inuiolate offices? and where the lawe and othe of our auncestours do not suffer any action to be made against the Tribunes, yet Caesar banished them and shewed no cause whither then haue offended against the holy Tribunes, we, or Cæsar being a sacred and inuiolate man, to whom, not willingly, but of necessitie, we graunted these things, nor before he came agaynst his country in armour and had killed so many noble Citizens. The office of the Tribunes cannot be holy nor inuiolated, to the whiche our fathers in time of common welth dyd sweare without compulsion, with intent to haue it euerlasting. The reuenewe and accompt of the Empire, where became it? who brake open the Treasure house against our wills? who caught the money vntouched and vnremouable? who thretned death to the Tribune that resisted him? but what oth (saye they) shall be sufficient to preserue peace? if ['p. 154] there be no Tyranne there needes no oth: our1 forefathers neuer had neede of anye. But if any other wil aspire to tyrannie, there is no fayth, no not with an othe, between the Romaines and a Tiranne. Thus we speake now in perill, and will euer speake it for our country, for being in honoure and safety with Caesar, we preferred the honour of our countrey before our owne. Wel they vse calumniation againste vs, and stirre you for the habitations. If here be any present, eyther that hath, or shalbe appointed to those inhabitance, I pray you do so much at my request as giue a token of your selues." Many dyd so then sayde he, "Oh, well done (good men) that you become to do as other do, and it is conuenient that you which indifferentlye doe trauayle and laboure for youre countrey, shoulde receyue equal reward of the same. The people of Rome did appoint you to Caesar againste the English and French men: it is therefore reason, that hauing done good seruice, you receyue as good rewards. But he bound you with oths and vnwillingly led you against the Citie: he led you likewise against the beste Citizens in Libya: likewise against your wils. If your trauayle had ben only in this, paraduenture you would haue bin ashamed to aske recompence: but the service that you did in France and England, no enuie, no time, no obliuion of man, can put out of memorie: and for these, the beste recompence which the people was wont to giue to the old souldiers,— not taking away mens landes or houses that had not offended, nor giuing to one that was an others, nor thinking they ought to recompence with iniustice, nor when they had conquered their enimies, to take away all their land, but made a particion, and appointed some of their souldiers to dwel there as a garrison for the conquered places; and many times when the Land that was won wold not suffise, they eyther diuided of the common, or bought more of newe: So did the people place you without any others displeasure. But Sylla and Caesar, who inuaded their countrey as enimyes, hauing need of garde & garison vpon theyr countrey, dyd neyther send you to liue in any of your owne countryes, nor bought any land for you, nor bestowed that vpon you that they had got from other, nor vpon composition re ['p. 155] stored the ho1nours on them from whome they were taken, although they had the treasure and conquered lande, but toke from Italy, that had not offended nor done any thing amisse, by lawe of warre, or rather of robbery, lands, houses, Sepulchres, and Temples, which we would not take from our greatest strange enimyes, only setting a taxe of the tenth part vpon them: but they haue made diuition to you of that which was your owne countreymens, and them that sente you to serue Cæsar in the Frenche wars, and made many vowes for your victories, and appointed you by companies to conuenient dwelling places, with ensignes and discipline of souldiours: so as you can neyther enioye peace nor be sure of them that be thrust out, for who so euer is put out and spoyled of hys owne, he will remaine to spie a time for to be euen with you. This was the cause why the Tirannes would not let you haue any land which mighte haue bene giuen you by other meanes, that, hauing euer enimies that laye in wayte, you shoulde be sure kepers of their power, whiche by iniustice did continewe yours. For the good will that Tirans haue of their garde is that they be as far in doing wrong and feare as themselues. And this they (O God) do cal a cohabitation, whereby lament of countreymen mighte be made, and insurrection of them that haue done no wrong; & they for this purpose haue made vs enimies to our own countreyfolke for their singular profit, & we, whom now the chiefe officers of the countrey do say they saue vs for mercies sake, do confirme presently, & herafter wil confirme the same to be bond to you for euer, of the which we take god to witnesse that ye haue & shal haue al you haue had, & that none shall take it from you: not Brutus, not Cassius, not they that for your liberties haue put al their selues in peril; & we that be only accused in this matter will saue our selues, and be to you & to your allied friends a special comfort, and that that is most pleasant to you to heare. At the first occasion that shal be offered we wil giue you the price for the land that is taken from other of the common reuenew, that you shall not onely haue your setting setled, but also voyde of all encombraunce." |
