[3]
For this is not what the Roman people is expecting from you, nor
what it can be contented with,—namely, for a man to be condemned who
refuses to appear, and for you to act with resolution in the case of a man whom
nobody has dared to defend. Aye, let him appear, let him reply; let him be defended
with the utmost influence and the utmost zeal of the most powerful men, let my
diligence have to contend with the covetousness of all of them, your integrity with
his riches, the consistency of the witnesses with the threats and power of his
patrons. Then indeed those things will be seen to be overcome when they have come to
the contest and to the struggle. But if he had been condemned in his absence, he
would have appeared not so much to have consulted his own advantage as to have
grudged you your credit.
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