[27]
But even then, O you impious Caesoninus, you did not emerge from the
miserable vileness of your nature, when after a time the reawakened virtue
of a most illustrious man quickly demanded the restoration of one who was
his own true friend, and a citizen who had deserved well of the state, and
of the ancient customs and principles of the republic. Nor would that great
man permit the pestilence of your wickedness to remain any longer in that
republic, which he himself had embellished and whose power he had extended.
But when that Gabinius, such as he is, a man who is surpassed
in infamy by you alone, recollected himself,—with difficulty,
indeed, but still he did recollect himself,—he contended against
his dear friend Clodius, at first only feignedly, then very unwillingly, but
at last with genuine ardour and vehemence, in support of Cnaeus Pompeius.
And in that spectacle the impartiality of the Roman people was very
admirable. It looked on like a master of gladiators, and whichever of them
perished, it thought would he an equal advantage to itself; but if both
fell, that indeed would be a most heavenly blessing.
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