THE ARGUMENT

This speech, like those for Marcellus and Ligarius, was addressed to Caesar. Deiotarus was king of Galatia, and during Cicero’s proconsulship in Cilicia he had formed a friendship with him, and had been of great assistance to him in his campaign against Pacorus and the Parthians. Having been an adherent of Pompey, he had already been deprived of a considerable part of his dominions by Caesar, and he was now accused by his grandson, who was aware of Caesar’s inveterate dislike of him, of having formed a design against Caesar’s life four years before, when he entertained him in his palace on his return from Egypt. It is probable that Caesar was aware of the groundlessness of the charge, but countenanced it, and allowed it to be brought before him, in the hopes of finding a pretext for stripping the king of all the rest of his dominions. Brutus espoused Deiotarus’s cause very warmly, and went towards Spain to meet Caesar, and made him a most earnest address in favor of Deiotarus.

The present trial was held in Caesar’s house, and Cicero proved the king’s innocence so completely that Caesar was unable to condemn him; but, as he would not acquit him, he adjourned the further consideration of the matter till he himself could go into the East and investigate the affair on the spot. This speech was delivered in the year of Caesar’s fourth consulship; the year before he was killed.