[51]
“Oh, but the son of
Caius Cornelius accuses him, and that ought to have the same weight as if his father had given
information against him.” O wise Cornelius,—the father; I
mean—who left all the reward which is usually given for information, but has got all
the discredit which a confession can involve, through the accusation brought by his son!
However; what is it that Cornelius gives information of by the mouth of that boy? If it is a
part of the business which is unknown to me, but which has been communicated to Hortensius,
let Hortensius reply. If as you say, his statement concerns that crew of Autronius and
Catiline, when they intended to commit a massacre in the Campus Martius, at the consular
comitia, which were held by me; we saw Autronius that day in the
Campus. And why do I say we saw? I myself saw him (for you at that time, O judges, had no
anxiety, no suspicions; I, protected by a firm guard of friends at that time, checked the
forces and the endeavours of Catiline and Autronius).
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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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