the victors never tire. Besides, Caesar did not always achieve his victories with ease. He sometimes saw victory sway towards his enemies, he was ready to announce defeat, but his strength always led them to switch sides. The tale of the Nervii is an eloquent example: all the Romans were nearly defeated, and it was but a small margin that the enemies did not become masters of the battlefield, when Caesar, alone among the adversaries, brandished his sword and a shield on his left arm, hastily gaining upperhand over those preparing to conquer his own. Subsequently, he was the first to cross the Rhine and sail the Atlantic Ocean with an army. He conquered England, whose existence was previously unknown, and he brought the arms and glory of Rome to lands never visited by the Romans. The infamous siege of Alesia is not one of Caesar's minor feats: he faced an army of three hundred thousand men to break the siege. But with as much prudence as courage, he divided his troops and acted with such skill that the Romans who remained in front of Alesia did not know that powerful reinforcements were coming to their aid. The Gauls did not know they were fighting formidable enemies until Caesar defeated them and Vercingetorix surrendered to the general. Following this, I have no doubt that history will one day proclaim that he has unseated all other heroes.

Yes, Lepidus, anyone willing to compare his qualities to those of other heroic figures will find he surpasses them. The Fabii, the Scipios, the Metelli, and even those of his time, such as Sulla, Marius, the two Lucullus, and Pompey, are inferior to him in many respects. He surpasses Sulla in the difficulty of the territories he reclaimed; Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus in the extent of nations he has subjugated to Roman rule and the pride of the peoples he had to confront, overcome and educate simultaneously; Marius in the number of enemies he defeated; Pompey in his kindness, clemency, and humanity towards those he had vanquished; and Lucius Licinius Lucullus in his magnificence and generosity towards those who fought under his command. Collectively, he outdoes them all in the number of battles won, the number of foes triumphed over and the number of human virtues practiced. Behold, Lepidus, these are victories the Romans cannot dispute with Caesar. They owe him for all the blood he shed in the numerous battles in which he participated. He fought, risked his life, won, and conquered many territories for them. And yet, there is no one, up to the crossing of the Rubicon that Caesar passed through to reach Rome and confront his tyrant, there is no one who acknowledges that the Republic owes a great deal to Caesar.

Now, Lepidus, I will show you the other victories won by Caesar that the Romans are most thankful for. I want to show you that Caesar has never demonstrated his passion for liberty and hatred of tyranny as clearly as when he fought and defeated Pompey. But to vindicate Caesar and show that one has always expressed his support for freedom, while the other always has, we must condemn Pompey.