[87]
Milo, as tribune of the people, entered on the
administration of the affairs of the republic: and I will dilate yet further
in his praise; not because he is more anxious to be praised than to be
respected, or because I have any particular wish to give him this reward of
praise in his presence, especially as I cannot find words equal to his
exploits; but because I think that if I prove that the conduct of Milo has been approved of by the voice of
the prosecutor, you will think with reference to this accusation, that the
cause of Sestius stands on the same ground. Titus Annius, then, entered on
the administration of the affairs of the republic with the feeling that he
wished to restore to his country a citizen who had been undeservedly driven
from it. The case was a plain one; his conduct was consistent supported by
the unanimous consent and concord of every one. He had his colleagues for
assistants, the greatest possible zeal in his favour of one of the consuls, and the disposition of the other was nearly friendly.
Of the praetors, one was unfavourable; the enthusiasm of the senate in the
cause was extraordinary, the feelings of all the Roman knights were roused
to further it, Italy was on the
tiptoe of expectation. There were only two enemies who had been brought over
to create obstacles; and if those despicable and contemptible men could not
support the weight of so important a business, he saw that he should not be
able by any means to accomplish the object which he had undertaken to
effect. He laboured with all his influence, with all his
prudence,—he laboured by means of the cooperation of the highest
order in the state he laboured exciting others by the example of the
virtuous and brave citizens,—he meditated with incessant diligence
on what conduct was worthy of the republic and of himself, on his own
station and character, on what hopes he ought to entertain on what return he
ought to make to his ancestors for what he had received from them.
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