[44]
Now, in the first place, shall decemvirs give a decision about the inheritance of the Roman
people, when you require centumvirs to judge in the case of private inheritances? In the next
place, who is to plead the cause of the Roman people? Where is the cause to be tried? Who are
those decemvirs whom we think likely to adjudge the kingdom of Alexandria to Ptolemy for nothing? But, if Alexandria was the object, why did not they at this
time proceed by the same course which they adopted in the consulship of Lucius Cotta and
Lucius Torquatus? Why did they not proceed openly, as they did before? Why did they not act
as they did when they before sought that country, in a straightforward and open manner? Did
they, who, when they had a fair wind, could not hold their course straight on to the kingdom
they coveted, think that they could reach Alexandria amid foul mists and darkness? 1
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