[139]
But when
you were praetor, how could the censor either fear the law, by which he was not
bound, since he had not been created by the law; or fear your reproof for having
sold what he had bought of you? Let Metellus now detain my witnesses—let
him compel others to praise him, as he has attempted in many instances; only let him
do what he is doing. For whoever was treated by any one with such insult, with so
much ignominy? Every fifth year a census is taken of all Sicily. A census was taken when Peducaeus was
praetor. When the five years had elapsed in your praetorship, a census was taken
again. The next year Lucius Metellus forbids any mention to be made of your census;
he says that censors must be created afresh; and in the meantime he orders the
census of Peducaeus to be attended to. If an enemy of yours had done this to you,
although the province would have borne it with great equanimity, still it would have
seemed the severe decision of an enemy. A new friend, a voluntary relation did it.
For he could not do otherwise, if he wished to retain the province in its
allegiance, if he wished to live himself in safety in the province
This text is part of:
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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