[38]
But why am I arguing against statements which it would seem to me might be
uttered with truth, if the people of Gades were speaking against me? for, if they were to demand
back Lucius Cornelius, I should reply, that the Roman people had enacted a
law with respect to giving the freedom of the city; and that there was no
occasion, nor was it usual for the entire people to ratify laws of this
sort; that Cnaeus Pompeius, in accordance with the advice of his council,
had given the freedom of the city to this man, and that the people of
Gades had no single law
whatever of the Roman people in their favour. Therefore, that nothing had
been sanctified by any peculiar solemnity, which appeared to be excepted
against by the law; that if there were, still there had been no provision
made in the treaty respecting anything but peace. That this clause also was
added, that they were bound to preserve our majesty unimpaired; which
certainly would be diminished, if it was unlawful either for us to avail
ourselves of the citizens of those nations as assistants in our wars, or if
we were to have no power whatever of rewarding them.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1891.
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