[64]
But how destitute of all proof is the whole of the story of this poetess and
inventress of many fables! How totally without any conceivable object or
result is it! For what does she say? Why did so numerous a body of men, (for it is clear enough it was not a small number, as it was
requisite that Licinius should be arrested with ease, and that the
transaction should be more completely proved by the eyewitness of many
witnesses,) why, I say, did so numerous a body of men let Licinius escape
from their hands? For why was Licinius less liable to be apprehended when he
had drawn back in order not to deliver up the box than he would have been if
he had delivered it up? For those men had been placed on purpose to arrest
Licinius in order that Licinius might be caught in the very fact either of
having just delivered up the poison, or of still having it in his
possession. This was the whole plan of the woman. This was the part allotted
to those men who were asked to undertake it but why it is that they sprung
forth so precipitately and prematurely as you say, I do not find stated.
They had been invited for this express purpose they had been placed with this
especial object in order to effect the undeniable detection of the poison,
of the plot, and of every particular of the crime.
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