Ciceronova Druga Filipika – Per contra, izgovorena beseda: pro et contra
Cicero’s Second Philippic – Per contra, Undelivered Speech: pro et contra

Summary/Abstract: It is a generally accepted view that Cicero, just as the orator in the Fifth Philippic stated, did not speak the Second Philippic, an invective against Mark Antony in response to Antony’s invective against Cicero, in the Senate, on September 19 44. Nevertheless, Steven Cerutti has tried to refute this opinion relying on his own interpretation of a few passages from Cicero’s letters, as well as on a brief excerpt from the Second Philippic. The main sources regarding Cerutti’s stance are the excerpts taken from three letters of Cicero to Atticus, written in the period between October 25" and November 5. However, his interpretation of these excerpts is somewhat arbitrary and unconvincingly substantiated. The reason for the fictional setting of the date, Cicero’s desire to show the situation as more dramatic, and his response to Antony as a more prompt one, Cerutti justifies only if the case was that Cicero actually spoke the Second Philippic, in the Senate at that, and before the same audience that had listened to Antony’s speech. Such an interpretation disregards not only Cicero’s desire to once again impress the audience, this time the reading audience, the influence of Demosthenes, especially his Oratio De Corona, but also the complex situation in which the orator found himself, as his determination to fight for the Republic intertwined with the legitimate fear of the possible consequences. Also, the view that Cicero did speak the Second Philippic poses many questions that have not been given valid answers to, or any answers whatsoever. In accordance with the above mentioned, we will support the opinion of many scholars that the Second Philippic is a political pamphlet, which is skillfully written owing to Cicero’s rhetorical education, oratorical gift and experience, and his ability to deviate sometimes from the established rules of rhetoric with the aim of arousing emotions and evoking credibility, as well as concealing a justified fear for his safety.

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