[74]
See the clemency, or rather the marvellous and unexampled
patience of the Roman people! Annius, a Roman knight, says that a Roman citizen was
put to death by the hand of the executioner. You say nothing. He says that the
captain of the pirates was not executed. You admit it. At that a groan and outcry
arises from all the assembly; though nevertheless the Roman people checked
themselves, and forbore to inflict present punishment on you, and left you in safety
for the present, being reserved for the severity of the judges. You, who knew that
you should be accused, how did you know it? how came you ever to suspect it? You had
no enemy. Even if you had, still you had not lived in such a way as to have any fear
of a court of justice before yourselves. Did conscience, as often happens, make you
timid and suspicious? Can you, then, who, when you were in command, were even then
in fear of tribunals and accusations, now that you are on your trial as a criminal,
and that the case is proved against you by so many witnesses, can you, I say, doubt
of your condemnation?
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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