8.
In fact, if we look round to survey everything which is; pleasant and acceptable to the
people, we shall find that nothing is so popular as peace, and concord, and ease. You have
given up to me a city made anxious with suspicion, in suspense from fear, harassed to death
by your proposed laws, and assemblies, and seditions. You have inflamed the hopes of the
wicked; you have filled the virtuous with alarms; you have banished good faith from the
forum, and dignity from the republic.
[24]
Amid all this
commotion and agitation of minds and circumstances, when the voice and authority of the
consul has suddenly, from amid such great darkness, dawned on the Roman people; when it has
shown that nothing need be feared; that no regular army, no band of extempore ruffians, no
colony, no sale of the revenues, no new of command, no reign of decemvirs, no new Rome or opposition seat of empire, will be allowed to exist
while we are consuls; that the greatest tranquillity of peace and ease will be secured; then,
no doubt, we shall have much reason to ear that this beautiful agrarian law of yours will
appear popular.
[25]
But when I have displayed the wickedness
of your counsels, the dishonesty of your law, and the treachery which is planned by those
popular tribunes of the people against the Roman people; then, I suppose, I shall have reason
to fear that I shall not be allowed to appear in the assembly, for the purpose of opposing
you; especially when I have determined and resolved so to conduct myself in my consulship,
(and the duties of the consulship cannot be discharged with dignity and freedom, in any other
manner,) as neither to desire any province, nor honour, nor dignity nor advantage nor
anything whatever which can have any hindrance thrown in its way by any tribune of the
people.
[26]
The consul states, in full senate, on the calends
of January, that if the present condition of the republic continues, and if no new event
arises, on account of which he cannot with honour avoid it, he will not go to any province.
By that means I shall be able, O conscript fathers, so to behave myself in this magistracy,
as to be able to restrain any tribune of the people who is hostile to the
republic,—to despise any one who is hostile to myself.
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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