24.
[53]
But to return to that point which is the one which I have particularly
proposed to myself to establish in this speech; namely, that the republic
was afflicted and oppressed by every sort of calamity that year owing to the
wickedness of the consuls. First of all, on that very day which was fatal to
me and grievous to all good men, when I had torn myself from the embrace of
my country and from your sight, O fellow-citizens, and when from fear of
danger to you, not to myself, I had yielded to the frenzy, and wickedness,
and treachery, and arms, and threats of one man, and had abandoned my
country, which was the dearest of all things to me, out of affection for my
country herself; when not only men but the very houses and temples of the
city were lamenting that misfortune which befell
me,—so horrible, so lamentable, and so sudden; when no one of you
could bear the sight of the forum, or of the senate house, or of the light
of day; on that very day, do I say? at that very hour, at that very same
moment, at that very instant of ruin to me and to the republic, their
provinces were decreed to Gabinius and to Piso. O ye immortal gods,
guardians and preservers of this city and empire, what monsters of
wickedness, what crimes have you beheld in the republic! That citizen was
expelled who, in compliance with the authority of the senate, had defended
the republic with the cooperation of all good men and he was expelled, not
because of any other charge being brought against him, but expressly because
he had done so. And he was expelled without any trial, by violence, by
stones, by arms, by bodies of slaves excited to sedition. A law was passed
after the forum had been desolated and abandoned, and given over to
assassins and to slaves; a law to prevent the passing of which the senate
had changed its dress and gone into mourning.
[54]
The city being in this state of confusion, the consuls
did not allow even one night to elapse between my misfortune and their
acquisition of plunder. Instantly, the moment that I was struck down, they
flew to drink my blood, and, while the republic was still breathing, to
carry off and divide my spoils. I say nothing of their mutual
congratulations, of their banquets, of their division of the treasury, of
their liberality, of their hopes, of their promises, of their booty of the
joy of a few amid the universal mourning. My wife was attacked, my children
sought for in order to be murdered, my son-in-law,—yes, my
son-in-law, Piso, was rejected as a suppliant by Piso the consul after he
had thrown himself at his feet; my property was plundered and carried off to
the houses of the consuls; my house was burnt on the Palatine Hill; the consuls passed the time
in revels and joy. But even if they were rejoiced at my distress, they ought
to have been moved at the dangers of the city.
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