[15]
Nor, O judges,
ought we to do anything else in the case of an unknown witness, except by argument and
conjecture, and by suspicion, inquire as well as we can, into the state and nature of the
circumstances to which he deposes. In truth, not only an African witness, (or indeed a
Sardinian one, if that is what they prefer being called,) but even more civilized and
scrupulous men than they, are liable to be prompted, or deterred, or guided, or diverted from
their purpose; and such a man is the master of his own inclination, and may, if he pleases,
lie with impunity.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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