[30]
A law which even to private individuals seemed to be no law at all, having
been framed by slaves, posted up by violence, carried by piratical fury when
the senate was driven away when all virtuous men had been frightened from
the forum when the republic had been taken by storm in violation of all laws
whatever, and which was drawn up in violation of every precedent; were men
who said that they were afraid of that law, consuls? could, I will not say
the minds of men, but could any records or annals even style them such? For
even if you did not consider that a law, which was contrary to all law,
being the proscription by the mere power of a tribune of a citizen who had
never been condemned, and the deprivation of his rights and the confiscation
of his property, but nevertheless were held fast by the agreement which you
had made; who would consider you to have been then, not only consuls, but
even free men at all, when your minds were hampered by a bribe, your tongues
padlocked by wages? But if, on the other hand, you, being the only people in
the state who did so, did consider that a law; can any one think that you
were consuls then, or that you are men of consular rank now, you who are
ignorant of the laws, and principles, and usages, and rights of that state
in which you wish to be accounted some of the chief citizens?
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