[62]
But as Pompeius's feelings will be these, that he will think it becomes him
to bear whatever seems fitting to you; on the other hand, if there be anything which you
cannot bear, he will take care that you are not long compelled to bear it against your will.
But the law makes a provision that, “if any money is received from any new source
of revenue after our consulship, the decemvirs are to be allowed to use it.”
Moreover, he sees that the new sources of revenue will be those which Pompeius has added to
the republic. And so, he lets off his spoils, but thinks that it is right for him to reap the
benefit of all the revenues acquired by his valour. Let then, O Romans, all the money which
there is in the world conic into the hands of the dictators; let nothing be omitted; let
every city, every district, every kingdom, and lastly even your own revenues be sold by them;
let the spoils won by your generals be added to the heap. You see now what enormous, what
incredible riches are sought to be acquired by your decemvirs by such extensive sales, by so
many decisions which they have the power to make, and by such unlimited authority over
everything.
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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