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they thought exactly applicable to myself—that I was likely to be dejected! And that, too, when the Republic was inspiring me with a greater courage than I had ever possessed, by having made it clearly evident that the one citizen she could not do without was myself, and when, while Metellus's recall hung on the motion of a single tribune,^[1] my own recall was acclaimed with one voice by the whole Republic, with the Senate giving the lead, and all Italy following suit, with eight tribunes proposing the motion, with you as consul putting it to the vote at a meeting of the Centuries, with every class and every member of it energetically promoting the measure—using, in a word, all the forces at her disposal.

¹⁷ And yet from that day to this I have made no particular claim of any kind which could reasonably offend any man be he ever so maliciously disposed. My one earnest endeavour is not to be found wanting in service, advice, or practical assistance, either to my friends, or even to those who have a less immediate claim upon me.

That such is the tenour of my public life is perhaps a cause of offence to those who, dazzled by its glitter and display, fail to discern its anxieties and troubles; but in one thing they make no secret of their complaints—that in any opinions I express which do honour to Caesar, I am, as it were, guilty of defection from my old party. Now I am influenced not only by what I put before you a little while ago, but also, and by no means least, by what I had begun to explain to you; and that is, my dear Lentulus, that you will not find the political sentiments of loyal citizens the same as you left behind you. Those