[73]
Why need I speak of the other virtues of his life? of his dignity? of his
liberality? of his moderation in his own private affairs? of his splendour on public
occasions? For, though in these points he has been crippled by fortune, yet the good
foundations laid by nature are visible. What a house was his! what crowds frequented it daily!
How great was the dignity of his behaviour to his friends! How great was their attachment to
him! What a multitude of friends had he of every order of the people! These things which had
been built up by long time and much labour, one single hour deprived him of; Publius Sulla, O
judges, received a terrible and a mortal wound; but still it was an injury of such a sort as
his way of life and his natural disposition might seem liable to be exposed to. He was judged
to have too great a desire for honour and dignity. If no one else was supposed to have such
desires in standing for the consulship, then he was judged to be more covetous than the rest.
But if this desire for the consulship has existed in some other men also, then, perhaps,
fortune was a little more unfavourable to him than to others.
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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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