Brutus on the Treatment of the Liberators

Senators, I come to speak before you, again in a time of turmoil. Our people are in mourning. Many of you have claimed that I and my fellow men are the source of such sorrow. While they may believe they mourn the death of Caesar, truly it is their sourls that mourn the slow death of this republic. And What is the cause of this death? There are those who have claimed that it is the death of Caesar, but this is not so. For the death of the Republic did not begin with Caesar's death, but with the Civil war between himself and Pompey.
Indulge me, Senators, as I bring forth from our memories the truth of our current situation. Recall when Caesar crossed the Rubicon, his claim was that the senate was taking away the rightful powers of duly elected officials. You may recall that these "officials" that he claimed were losing their powers was really one official, who now sits in this room: Marc Antoni. For he, as you may recall, oh Senators, was at that time a Tribune of the Plebs. And also recall that at that very time, while the senate was attempting to pass decrees, intended to protect the commonwealth and safety of the republic, when many of you had entreated upon him to not cause the destruction of the republic, that he not once, but many times, vetoed those decrees meant for the protection of the republic. So that the only response the senate had was to pass the Senatus Consultum Ultimum against you as it would pass against an enemy. This stripped you of your powers, and instead of receiving your punishment as a man should, you feld to hid behind Caesar's toga, like a child hiding behind his mother's dress, and sad to say Senators, it was not the first time. For this Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and fashioned himself to be a king. So you must see, that truly, this death of the republic is the fault of Marc Antoni.
One of Caesar's great gifts was distraction and persuasion. He convinced you to forget these acts of Antoni; he bought the pople with bread and circuses, and truly, you Senators, were bought with forgivesness and positions. Even I was a subject to this charm. See the light with me, Oh Senators. See with me that Antoni is still an enemy to this republic, it is easier now without Caesar here to hide his debacherous ways.
But I am not here to attack Marc Antoni. I am here, Senators, to remind you that both Caesar and Antoni were bringers of death to this republic, not I. And even though I became entranced by Caesar's charms, promises, and gifts, remember that I came to the truth. I remembered the heart of my oath's, which first go to this republic before any man. And remember that Caesar's death was a consequence of this oath to the republic, and that truly I liberated us all. Treat me justly Senators, for that is your oath to this republic.