Publius Cornelius Dolabella Regarding Caesar's Body

Oh enlisted fathers, I come before you today with a saddened heart. For our own Caesar has been murdered. His blood was shed near this very hall by the most base of men who he unknowingly called his friends and who now dare to call themselves “liberators”.But let us not speak of such acts now. I wish to move on to more important topics such as to the fate of Caesar’s waiting corpse.

The people of Rome carry fear in their eyes since the death of our own Caesar. Most even fear to walk the streets in this confusing and uncertain time. Therefore, I propose that the body of Caesar be displayed for the public’s benefit and to promote stability. Let them see that their hero, the man who conquered the Gaul’s, who fought bravely in Hispania and shouted victory in Egypt, is honored as he rightfully should be. Furthermore, I propose that a great procession should take place as befitting the body of Caesar, whose great deeds I have previously mentioned call for and surely as the Roman people call for. A eulogy of eloquence should be given to honor our own Caesar. I cannot say defiantly who should give this honored speech. Perhaps it should be some Octavius whom Caesar himself was often found to call heir. I will not say myself even though Caesar had proclaimed me to be his successor and desired me to carry on in his place as consul and perhaps this is enough to show Caesar’s favor. But I yield to the will of Caesar if he should mention who he wants to speak over his honored body. For I believe it is important to carry out the wishes of Caesar as they were given.

As to the ultimate resting place of our own Caesar’s honored corpse, I propose that a pyre be erected for the purpose. Give honor upon the body of Caesar as it is due and as the citizens of Rome wish for it. For those who desire for a colder and less honorable burial due to the acts of Caesar that they deemed unjust, consider this, that perhaps Caesar should be pardoned by you, those who believe he has done wrong though I cannot imagine who that might be, for is it not so that Caesar himself was a great man of pardon. After the war against Pompey, our own Caesar, ignoring those who cried for bloodshed of Pompey’s supports, granted clemency instead. I am mentioning this because many of you benefited from this pardon. Therefore, let us carry out these honors as they should be carried out and proceed to lay out the body for viewing, then after a week, a time befitting a man of such prominence, let us move to the procession and speech to end at one of the sides of the honored pyre.