[41]
What will become of
Alexandria, and of all Egypt? How much it is out of sight! how completely is it
hidden! how stealthily is it abandoned entirely to the decemvirs! For who is there among you
who is ignorant that that kingdom has become the property of the Roman people by the will of
king Alexander? Here now I, the consul of the Roman people, not only give no decision, but I
do not even express my opinion. For it appears to me a most important matter not merely to
decide oil, but even to speak of. I see a man who assures me that the will was certainly
made; I know that there is a resolution of the senate extant to the effect that it accepted
the inheritance; which was passed when, after the death of Alexander, we sent ambassadors to
Tyre, to recover for the people money which had
been deposited there by him.
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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