That which I requested in my prayers of the all-good and all-powerful Jupiter, and the rest
of the immortal gods, O Romans, at the time when I devoted myself and my fortunes in defence
of your safety, and tranquillity, and concord,—namely, that if I had at any time
preferred my own interests to your safety, I might find that punishment, which I was then
encountering of my own accord, everlasting; but that if I had done those things which I had
done out of an honest desire to preserve the state, and if I had undertaken that miserable
journey on which I was then setting out for the sake of ensuring your safety, in order that
the hatred which wicked and audacious men had long since conceived and entertained against the
republic and against all good men, might break upon me alone, rather than on every virtuous
man, and on the entire republic—if I say these were my feelings towards you and
towards your children, that in that case, a recollection of me, a pity and regret for me
should, at some time or other come upon you and the conscript fathers, and all Italy, I now
rejoice above all things that that request is heard that I am bound to perform all that I then
vowed, by the judgment of the immortal gods,—by the testimony of the senate by the
unanimous consent of all Italy,—by the confession of my enemies,—by your
godlike and never-to-be-forgotten kindness, O citizens of Rome.
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