[8]
The chief of those men was Publius Lentulus, the parent and god of my life, and fortune, and
memory, and name. He thought that the best proof that he could give of his virtue, the best
indication that he could afford of his disposition, the greatest ornament with which he could
embellish his consulship would be the restoration of me to myself, to my friends, to you, and
to the republic. And as soon as ever he was appointed consul elect he never hesitated to
express an opinion concerning my safety worthy both of himself and of the republic. When the
veto was interposed by the tribune of the people,—when that admirable clause was
read: “That no one should make any motion before you that no one should propose any
decree to you that no one should raise any discussion, or make any speech or take any vote or
frame any law;” he thought all that as I have said before, a proscription and not a
law, by which a citizen who had deserved well of the republic was by name and without any
trial, taken from the senate and the republic at the same time. But as soon as he entered on
his office, I will not say what did he do before, but what else did he do at all, except
labour by my preservation to establish your authority and dignity on a firm
basis for the future?
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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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