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[112]
But this single day, this very day that now is, this very moment while I am
speaking, defend your conduct during this very moment, if you can. Why has the
senate been surrounded with a belt of armed men? Why are your satellites
listening to me sword in hand? Why are not the folding-doors of the temple of
Concord open? Why do you bring men of all nations the most barbarous, Ityrcans,
armed with arrows, into the forum? He says that he does so as a guard. Is it not
then better to perish a thousand times than to be unable to live in one's own
city without a guard of armed men? But believe me, there is no protection in
that;—a man must be defended by the affection and good will of his
fellow-citizens, not by arms.
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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