[53]
Was there ever, O judges, a dragnet of such a sort as this in that province? People
have sometimes during their year of office diverted some part of the public property
to their own use, in the most secret manner; sometimes they even secretly plundered
some private citizen of something; and still they were condemned. And if you ask me,
though I am detracting somewhat from my own credit by saying so, I think those were
the real accusers, who traced the robberies of such men as this by scent, or by some
lightly imprinted footsteps; for what is it that we are doing in respect of Verres,
who has wallowed in the mud till we can find him out by the traces of his whole
body? Is it a great undertaking to say anything against a man, who while he was
passing by a place, having his litter put down to rest for a little time, plundered
a whole city, house by house; without condescending to any pretences, openly, by his
own authority, and by an absolute command? But still, that he might be able to say
that he had bought them, he orders Archagathus to give those men, to whom the plate
had belonged, some little money, just for form's sake. Archagathus found a few who
would accept the money, and those he paid. And still Verres never paid Archagathus
that money. Archagathus intended to claim it at Rome; but Cnaeus Lentulus Marcellinus demanded him, as you heard him
state himself. Read the evidence of Archagathus, and of Lentulus,—
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