4.
He now, by your instrumentality, in order that he may himself have what be has not got
wishes to establish those titles which at present are doubtful. And as he is more covetous
than Sulla himself, I am accused of defending the actions of Sulla which I am resisting.
[14]
My father-in-law, says he, has some hitherto deserted and
distant fields. By my law he will be able to sell them at his own price. He holds them at
present by an uncertain title; in fact he has no right at all to them: they will be confirmed
to him by the best possible title. He has them as public property; I will make them private
property. Lastly, he shall possess, without having the slightest anxiety about them for the
future, those farms which be has procured (by the proscription of their former owners) to be
joined to the admirable and productive estate which be had in the district of Casinum, being contiguous to it before; so as to make all
the different farms into one uninterrupted estate as far as the eye can reach; and respecting
which at present he is not without apprehension.
[15]
And since I have shown for what reason and for whose sake be has proposed this, let him
show whether I am defending any particular proprietor, while I resist this agrarian law. You
are selling the Scantian wood. The Roman people is in possession of it. I am defending the
Roman people. You are dividing the district of Campania It is you, O Romans, who are now its
proprietors. I will not give it up. In the next place, I see possessions in Italy and in Sicily,
and in the other provinces, put up for sale and advertised. The farms are yours, the
possessions are yours, O Romans. I will resist and oppose such a measure; and I will not
permit the Roman people to be ousted from its possessions by any one, while I am consul.
Especially when no advantage is sought for you by the proceeding.
[16]
For you ought no longer to lie under this mistake. Is any one of you a man
inclined to violence, or atrocity, or murder? Not one. And, believe me, it is for such a race
of men as that that the district of Campania and
that beautiful Capua is reserved. It is against
you, against your liberty, against Cnaeus Pompeius that an army is being raised. Capua is being got ready in opposition to this city; bands
of audacious men are being equipped against you; ten generals are being appointed to
counterbalance Cnaeus Pompeius. Let them meet me face to face, and since they have summoned
me to this assembly of yours, at your request let them here argue the case with me.
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