[192]
But now what can Hortensius do? Can he argue against the charges of avarice by
panegyrics on his client's economy? He is defending a man thoroughly profligate,
thoroughly licentious, thoroughly wicked. Can he lead your attention away from this
infamy and profligacy of his, and turn them into some other direction by a mention
of his bravery? But a man more inactive, more lazy, one who is more a man among
women, a debauched woman among men, cannot be found.—But his manners are
affable. Who is more obstinate more rude? more arrogant?—But still all
this is without any injury to any one. Who has ever been more furious, more
treacherous, and more cruel? With such a defendant and such a cause, what could all
the Crassus's and Antonius's in the world do? This is all they would do, as I think,
O Hortensius; they would have nothing to do with the cause at all, lest by contact
with the impudence of another they might lose their own characters for virtue. For
they come to plead causes free and unshackled, so as not, if they did not choose to
act shamelessly in defending people, to be thought ungrateful for abandoning
them.
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