[47]
His frequent visits to the home of
Publius Mucius assisted young Publius Rutilius to
gain a reputation for integrity of character and for
ability as a jurisconsult. Not so, however, Lucius
Crassus; for, though he was a mere boy, he looked to
no one else for assistance, but by his own unaided
ability he won for himself in that brilliant and
famous prosecution1 a splendid reputation as an
orator. And at an age when young men are accustomed with their school exercises to win applause as
students of oratory, this Roman Demosthenes, Lucius
Crassus, was already proving himself in the law-courts
a master of the art which he might even then have
been studying at home with credit to himself.
1 At the age of 21 Crassus conducted the case against Gaius Papirius Carbo, a former supporter of the Gracchi. The prosecution was so ably conducted that Carbo committed suicide to escape certain condemnation.
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