[68]
But why should I seek out every separate transaction and cause in the trials which
took place on capital charges? Out of many, which are all nearly alike, I will
select those which seem to go beyond all the others in rascality. There was a man of
Halicya, named Sopater, among the first men of his state for riches and high
character. He, having been accused by his enemies before Caius Sacerdos the praetor,
on a capital charge, was easily acquitted. The same enemies again accused this same
Sopater on the same charge before Caius Verres when he had come as successor to
Sacerdos. The matter appeared trifling to Sopater, both because he was innocent, and
because he thought that Verres would never dare to overturn the decision of
Sacerdos. The defendant is cited to appear. The cause is heard at Syracuse. Those changes are brought forward by
the accusers which had been already previously extinguished, not only by the
defence, but also by the decision.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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