[20]
For what is there that is especially to be guarded against in the establishment of
colonies? If it be luxury—Capua
corrupted Hannibal himself. If it be pride—that appears from the general arrogance
of the Campanians to be innate there. If we want a bulwark for the state—then I
say, that Capua is not placed in front of this
city as an outwork, but is opposed to it as an enemy. But how is it armed? O ye immortal
gods! For in the Punic war all the power that Capua had, it had from its unassisted resources; but now, all the cities which
are around Capua will be occupied by colonists, by
the order of these same decemvirs. For, for this reason, the law itself allows,
“that the decemvirs may lead whoever they please as settlers to every town which
they choose.” And it orders the Campanian district, and that of Stella, to be divided among these colonists.
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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