As to the former, Cicero himself alludes to such a report as being common in Macedonia, and as having been used by Antony himself as an excuse for increased rapine.

But this has been felt to be incredible, and has been allowed to fall to the ground because of the second accusation.

But in support of that there is no word of evidence,[219] whereas the tenor of the story as told by Cicero himself is against it.

Is it likely, would it be possible, that Cicero should have begun his letter to Atticus by complaining that he could not get from Antony money wanted for a peculiar purpose--it was wanted for his new house--and have gone on in the same letter to say that this might be as well, after all, as he did not intend to perform the service for which the money was to be paid?
The reader will remember that the accusation is based solely on Cicero's own statement that Antony was negligent in paying to him money that had been promised.

In all these accusations the evidence against Cicero, such as it is, is brought exclusively from Cicero's own words.