Quintus Pedius on Marc Antony's Trial

I myself do not believe that Antony forged the acta. My opinion is based on his character and it is based on lack of evidence. Antony is a smart and noble man. And the little evidence against him shows this.

The evidence that some have brought up as proof that Antony forged the acta is weak. The letters that Lepidus says Antony wrote to him warning him about the acta, do not prove that Antony forged the acta. Perhaps Antony heard from a trusted friends rumors about the acta and believed these rumors to be true based on pure trust. This proves only that Antony was trying to warn you Lepidus, to give you a heads up. It proves that Antony was trying to do the right thing. The fact that he sent you another letter telling you new information shows that he was trying to be completely honest with you and not trying to hide anything from you. Why else would he send it? The only thing Marc Antony is guilty of is trusting people too much. For a man who brings in personal letters from a friend to be read in front of the entire Senate is not trustworthy at all.

The other thing that leads me to believe in Antony’s innocence is the discrepancy between Caesar’s acta and Caesar’s will. Why would he forge one and not the other? Yes he voted for the acta to be passed without being read first, but he knew that eventually the acta would be read so the laws could be put into action. He knew that it wouldn’t be kept a secret forever. So why would he forge the acta? He knew that the will and acta would be compared and he would then look suspicious. He could still be put on trial and the acta could be made void.

Think about these two things when you decide your vote. And think clearly. Do not vote that Antony is guilty just because you want him to be guilty because you personally do not like him. Cast your vote based on the evidence presented.