[152]
The avarice, then, and covetousness of this man, his wickedness, and dishonesty,
and audacity, are proved, O judges, are proved most incontestably. What more shall I
say What if his own friends and defenders have formed the same opinion that I have?
What can you have more? On the arrival of Lucius Metellus the praetor, when Verres
had made all his retinue friends of this also by that sovereign medicine of his,
money, men applied to Metellus; Apronius was brought before him; his accuser was a
man of the highest consideration, Caius Gallius, a senator. He demanded of Metellus
to give him a right of action according to the terms of his edict against Apronius,
“for having taken away property by force or by fear,” which
formula of Octavius, Metellus had both adopted at Rome, and now imported into the province. He does not succeed; as
Metellus said that he did not wish by means of such a trial to prejudge the case of
Verres himself in a matter affecting his condition as a free citizen. The whole
retinue of Metellus, grateful men, stood by Apronius. Caius Gallius, a man of our
order, cannot obtain from Lucius Metellus, his most intimate friend, a trial in
accordance with his own edict.
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