[5]
For he has not done anything
against me out of hatred to me, but out of hatred to strictness, out of
hatred to dignity, out of hatred to the republic. He has not insulted me
more than he has the senate, or the Roman knights, or all good men, or the
whole of Italy. Lastly, he has not
behaved more wickedly towards me than he has towards the immortal gods. In
truth, he has polluted those gods with his impiety whom no one
before ever did. Towards me his disposition has been the same as that of his
dear friend Catiline would have been, if he had been victorious. Therefore,
I never thought it necessary for me to prosecute him, any more than that
blockhead, whose very nation we should be ignorant of if he did not himself
say that he was a Ligurian. For why should I pursue this animal, this beast,
bribed by the food and acorns thrown him by my enemy? a fellow, who, if he
had only sense to know to what wickedness he has bound himself, would be, I
doubt not, most wretched; but if he is not aware of it there is some danger
lest he may save himself by the excuse of stupidity.
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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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