[152]
Nor is there any other object aimed at now, (believe me,
O judges, and provide for what you must provide for,) except the bringing the whole equestrian
body within the danger of this law. Not that this is the object of every one, but of a few.
For those senators who easily keep themselves in integrity and innocence, such as (I will
speak the truth,) you yourselves are, and those others who have lived free from covetousness
are anxious that the knights, as they are next to the senatorial body in rank, should also be
most closely united to them by community of feeling. But those who wish to engross all power
to themselves, and to prevent any from existing in any other man, or in any other rank, think
that by holding this single fear over them, they will be able to bring the Roman knights under
their power, if it is once established that investigations of this sort can be held upon those
men who have acted as judges. For they see that the authority of this order is strengthened,
they see that its judicial decisions are approved; but if this fear be suspended over you they
feel confident that they shall be able to pluck the sting out of your severity.
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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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