[143]
It is worth while to consider the words of the contract itself. You will say that
the same man drew it up who drew up that edict about inheritance. “The
contract for work to be done, which the minor Junius's....” Speak, I pray
you, a little more plainly. “Caius Verres, the praetor of the city, has
added....” The contracts of the censors are being amended. For what do
they say? I see in many old documents, “Cnaeus Domitius, Lucius Metellus,
Lucius Cassius, Cnaeus Servilius have added....” Caius Verres wants
something of the same sort. Read. What has he added? “Admit not as a
partner in this work any one who has taken a contract from Lucius Marcius and Marcus
Perperna the censors; give him no snare in it; and let him not contract for
it.” Why so? Is it that the work may not be faulty? But the inspection
afterwards belonged to you. Lest he should not have capital enough? But sufficient
security had been taken for the people's interest in bonds and sureties, and more
security still might have been had.
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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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