[96]
Let us then offer a sacrifice
to Lentulus, let us make atonement to Cethegus, let us recall the exiles, let us in our turn,
if you, O judges, think fit, suffer the punishment due to too great piety, and to the greatest
possible affection towards our country. At this moment we are being mentioned by name by the
informers; accusations are being invented against us; dangers are being prepared for us. And
if they did these things by the instrumentality of others,—if, in short, by using
the name of the people, they had excited a mob of ignorant citizens, we could bear it with
more equanimity.
But this can never be borne, that they should think that, by means of senators and knights
of Rome, who have done all these things with a view to the safety of all the citizens, by
their common decision, animated with one idea, and inspired with one and the same virtue, the
prime movers, and leaders, and chief actors in these transactions, can be deprived of all
their fortunes, and be expelled from the city. In truth, they are acquainted with the feelings
and inclinations of the Roman people; by every means which it is master of, the Roman people
indicates what are its opinions and feelings; there is no diversity of opinion, or of
inclination, or of language.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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