[123]
But who is ignorant with what arrogance he
behaved? how he disregarded every one of a low condition, how he despised them, how
he did not account the poor to be free men at all? Publius Trebonius made many
virtuous and honourable men his heirs; and among them his own freedman. He had had a
brother, Aulus Trebonius, a proscribed man. As he wished to make provision for him,
he put down in his will, that his heirs should take an oath to manage that not less
than half of each man's share should come to Aulus Trebonius, that proscribed
brother of his. The freedman takes the oath; the other heirs go to Verres, and point
out to him that they ought not to take such an oath; that they should be doing what
was contrary to the Cornelian law, which
forbids a proscribed man to be assisted. They obtain from him authority to refuse
the oath. He gives them possession; that I do not find fault with. Certainly it was
a scandalous thing for any part of his brother's property to be given to a man who
was proscribed and in want. But that freedman thought that he should be committing a
wickedness if he did not take the oath in obedience to the will of his patron.
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