Though Porcia was glad to have her opinion being regarded, a sensation that she never really got with her father’s demanding presence, she found a certain aversion to being the exact center of attention and was typically more content to observe, and to judge as an outsider. That, however, would be no option for her. She took a delicate sip of her wine, as she was careful to remember her family history with the liquid and replied,

“The reason his career is at a standstill is because he finds his personal freedom at standstill. Unlike some patricians, he does not have enough money and is not content to sit idly by and watch Caesar gobble up all the powers of Rome. His only way to distinguish himself is through men more powerful than himself who are able to recognize his merits underneath his bizarre demeanor. Because Caesar is no candidate for this, Caesar is not his man and therefore his enemy.” Porcia was concerned she made Cassius sound to cutthroat and that she may have insulted the whole of the Roman aristocracy, but she was in private and was permitted to speak her mind. She was careful to note that the tone which made her father so infamous did not enter her voice. “However, his hatred of Caesar is not so bureaucratic as it seems. When Cassius was a young man he was very firm friends with the dearly departed Crassus. Cassius always blamed Caesar for betraying Crassus and also for betraying you, socer, by declaring himself five year dictator upon your election to the consulship with Crassus. He has always wanted to confront Caesar for this betrayal, but has never had the opportunity to do so. Additionally, he was of the view that Caesar trapped him in idleness during the exile in the east, this brought on one of the darkest periods of his life and to this he holds Caesar personally responsible. If you let him act against Caesar, even indirectly, he would be happy to join your cause.” Porcia then finished her explanation and hoped it would satisfy her new family, she was not used to being asked for her opinion in any great detail or at all.


note: socer is the latin word for father in law.