12.
[29]
But if it is lawful for a Roman citizen to become a citizen of Gades, either by exile, or by a return to
his original city, or by a discarding of his rights of citizenship here, (to
come now to the treaty, which, however, in fact has nothing to do with the
cause in hand; for what we are discussing is the right of citizenship, and
not the treaties,) what reason is there why a citizen of Gades may not be allowed to become a
citizen of this city? My opinion, indeed, goes quite the other way. For as
there is a path from all cities to our city, and as the road to all other
cities is open to our citizens, so also, in proportion as each city is more
closely united with us in alliance and friendship, by agreement, and
covenant, and treaty, the more does that state appear to me to be entitled
to a participation in our kindness and in our rewards.
* * * But all other cities would without any hesitation receive our men into the rights of citizenship with them if we also had the same laws that other nations have. But we cannot he citizens of this city and of any other city at the same time though in all other cities this is allowed. [30] Therefore in the Greek cities we see that Rhodians and Lacedaemonians and men from all quarters are enrolled among the citizens of Athens, and that the same individuals are citizens of many cities at the same time. And I have seen some ignorant men, citizens of ours, led by this mistake, sitting at Athens among the judges and members of the Areopagus, in a regular tribe and class of Athenian citizens, being ignorant that it they acquired the rights of citizenship there they lost their rights here, unless they recovered them by a subsequent return to their rights here, and a renunciation of the others. But no one who had any acquaintance with our laws or our customs, who wished to retain his rights as a citizen of Rome, ever dedicated himself to another city.
* * * But all other cities would without any hesitation receive our men into the rights of citizenship with them if we also had the same laws that other nations have. But we cannot he citizens of this city and of any other city at the same time though in all other cities this is allowed. [30] Therefore in the Greek cities we see that Rhodians and Lacedaemonians and men from all quarters are enrolled among the citizens of Athens, and that the same individuals are citizens of many cities at the same time. And I have seen some ignorant men, citizens of ours, led by this mistake, sitting at Athens among the judges and members of the Areopagus, in a regular tribe and class of Athenian citizens, being ignorant that it they acquired the rights of citizenship there they lost their rights here, unless they recovered them by a subsequent return to their rights here, and a renunciation of the others. But no one who had any acquaintance with our laws or our customs, who wished to retain his rights as a citizen of Rome, ever dedicated himself to another city.