[3]
But still I wish to explain the principles of my conduct to those men who
thought that I was carried away yesterday by my indignation, and that, out
of passion, I made a wider digression than the deliberate calmness of a
philosopher allowed. I did nothing in anger nothing from not being able to
restrain my temper nothing which I had not maturely considered and
determined on a long time before. For I, O conscript fathers, have always
professed myself an enemy to those two men who were bound to have defended
and were able to have preserved both me and the republic; and
who though they were called to the performance of their duty as consuls by
the very ensigns of their office, and to the preservation of my safety, not
only by your authority but even by your prayers, first of all deserted, then
betrayed, and last of all opposed me; and, having received the rewards of
their nefarious covenant, wished utterly to overwhelm and destroy me
together with the republic; and who, during the time of their magistracy and
command, bloody and fatal that it was, were neither able to defend the walls
of our allies from chastisement, nor to inflict chastisement on the cities
of the enemy; but who bore along into all my houses and lands, razing, and
conflagration, and destruction, and depopulation, and devastation, to the
great enriching of themselves with my plunder.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1891.
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