[154]
I come now to the cities of Sicily, in
which case it is exceedingly easy to form an opinion of their inclination. Did the
Sicilians also contribute against their will? It is not probable. In truth it is
evident that Caius Verres so conducted himself during his praetorship in Sicily, that, as he could not satisfy both parties,
both the Sicilians and the Romans, he considered rather his duty to our allies, than
his ambition, which might have prompted him to gratify the citizens. And therefore I
saw him called in an inscription at Syracuse, not only the patron of that island, but also the saviour of
it. What a great expression is this! so great that it cannot be expressed by any
single Latin word. He in truth is a saviour, who has given salvation. In his name
days of festival are kept—that fine Verrean festival—not as if
it was the festival of Marcellus, but instead of the Marcellean festival, which they
abolished at his command. His triumphal arch is in the forum at Syracuse, on which his son stands, naked; and
he himself from horseback looks down on the province which has been stripped bare by
himself. His statues are in every place; which seem to show this, that he very
nearly erected as many statues at Syracuse as he had taken away from it. And even at Rome we see an inscription in his honour carved at
the foot of the statues, in letters of the largest size, “that that were
given by the community of Sicily.” Why were they given? How can any one be induced to
believe that such great honours were paid to him by people against their will?
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