Next, to justify the sincerity of his intentions and prove that his victory was not a whim of fate, but the fulfillment of the will of the gods, he remained victorious in all other initiatives he undertook. The wars of Egypt and Armenia, about which he wrote to Rome that he had come, he had seen, and he had conquered, bear sufficient witness. Then, in a single day, he seized three enemy camps, killed fifty thousand men, and lost only fifty soldiers. In your opinion, Lepidus, was it Caesar's arm thus fighting, or rather that of the gods? This victory did not make him merciless though. When he was told that Cato had taken his own life, he exclaimed: "Oh Cato, the gate of mourning opens for me on your death, as you have deprived me of the opportunity to save your life." Some may argue that if Cato had lived, Caesar would not have done what he said, but it is easy to imagine that he who had forgiven Brutus and Cicero, who had fought alongside Pompey, would have also forgiven Cato. But, Lepidus, I do not want Caesar to be judged through what I know of him, I do not want Caesar to be judged by what his friends say. I simply want him to be judged by the honors that all Romans bestowed upon him, during his life and after his death. The construction of the temple of mercy erected for him is a valid justification, for there was never a conqueror who had so perfectly practiced this quality in victory. But tell me, Lepidus, how is it possible that these Romans who, since the end of the war, have held no act of supreme sovereignty against Caesar, how is it possible that these same men who built this temple of mercy in recognition of his kindness, have been able to call him a tyrant? In history, there are examples of triumphal arches erected by tyrants for themselves. With their violence and orders, their statues were even placed on altars. But intentionally building temples to their glory and temples of mercy, this is not found at all times and this was not the case with Caesar.  For, after all, he was not an oppressor and he undoubtedly deserved more recognition than received.

       Do you not remember, Lepidus, that day when he had the statues of Pompey restored, and how Cicero declared that by raising them, he had secured his own? That action was deemed as admirable as it was. All Romans talked about it and agreed that Caesar was the greatest and most admirable of all heroes. On this occasion, Caesar was as fair as he was generous. As these statues had been erected for Pompey at a time when he served the Republic and was not destroying it, he did not want him to be deprived of a mark of honor that he had truly deserved. And then, tyrants are never secure. They fear everything and trust no one. They see themselves as deserving of a violent death, and by the precautions they take to avoid it, they show that they know they deserve it. But Caesar acted innocently, he trusted everyone. By delegating authority to Brutus and Cassius by appointing them magistrates, he did not.