[96]
See, now, the blackness of those
times. When the very island itself—I may almost
say—wished to come forward to meet me, that praetor, repeatedly
harassed as he was by the harangues and attacks of that same tribune of the
people, on account of his attachment to the republic, would not consent (I
will not use a stronger term) to my coming to Sicily. What shall I say? Shall I say that Caius Virgilius,
that that excellent citizen and man had forgotten his regard for me, the
recollection of the days of our companionship, and all regard for piety,
humanity, and good faith? Nothing of the sort, O judges, was the case; he
was only afraid that he might not be able by his own unassisted strength to
make a stand against that tempest which we even, when supported by you, had
been unable to encounter. Then, my plans being thus suddenly changed, I
determined to proceed by land from Vibo to Brundusium, for the severity of the
weather prevented any attempt at proceeding by sea.
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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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