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And if, O judges, it is fit for me and you to be considered
foreigners by the rest of the patricians, still nothing ought to be said about this blot by
Torquatus. For he himself is on his mother's side, a citizen of a municipal town; a man of a
most honourable and noble family, but still he comes from Asculum. Either let him, then, show
that the Picentians alone are not foreigners, or else let him congratulate himself that I do
not put my family before his. So do not for the future call me a foreigner, lest you meet with
a sterner refutation; and do not call me a king, lest you be laughed at. Unless,
indeed, it appears to be the conduct of a king to live in such a manner as not to be slave not
only to any man, but not even to any passion; to despise all capricious desires; to covet
neither gold nor silver, nor anything else; to form one's opinions in the senate with freedom;
to consider the real interests of the people, rather than their inclinations; to yield to no
one, to oppose many men. If you think that this is the conduct of a king, then I confess that
I am a king. If my power, if my sway, it lastly, any arrogant or haughty expression of mine
moves your indignation, then you should rather allege that, than stoop to raise odium against
me by a name, and to employ mere abuse and insult.
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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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