18.
[47]
You have now seen how many things and what valuable things the decemvirs are likely to sell
with the sanction of the law. That is not enough. When they have sated themselves with the
blood of the allies, and of foreign nations, and of kings, they will then cut the sinews of
the Roman people; they will lay hands on your revenues; they will break into your treasury.
For a clause follows, in which he is not content with permitting, if by chance any money
should be wanting, (which, however, can be amassed in such quantities from the effect of the
previous clauses, that it ought not to be wanting,) but which actually (as if that was likely
to be the salvation of you all) orders and compels the decemvirs to sell all your revenues,
naming each item separately.
[48]
And do you now read to me in
regular order, the catalogue of the property of the Roman people which is for sale according
to the written provisions of this law. A catalogue which I think, in truth, will be miserable
and grievous to the very crier himself. He is as prodigal a spendthrift with regard to the
property of the republic, as a private individual is with regard to his own estate, who sells
his woods, before he sells his vineyards. You hare gone all through Italy, now go on into Sicily. There is nothing in that province which your ancestors have left to you
as your own property, either in the towns, or in the fields, which he does not order to be
sold.
[49]
All that property, which, having been gained by
their recent victory, your ancestors left to you in the cities and territories of the allies,
as both a bond of peace and a monument of war, will you now, though you received it from
them, sell it at this man's instigation? Here for a moment I seem, O Romans, to move your
feelings, while I make plain to you the plots when they think have escaped every one's
notice, as having been laid by them against the dignity of Cnaeus Pompeius. And, I beseech
you, pardon me if I am forced to make frequent mention of that man's name. You, O Romans,
imposed this character on me, two years ago, in this very same place, and bound me to share
with you in the protection of his dignity during his absence, in whatever manner I could. I
have hitherto done all that I could, not because I was persuaded to it by my intimacy with
him, nor from any hope of honour; or of any most honourable dignity; which I have gained by
your means, in his absence, though no doubt with his perfect goodwill.
[50]
Wherefore, when I perceive that nearly the whole of this law is made ready,
as if it were an engine, for the object of overthrowing his power, I will both resist the
designs of the men who have contrived it, and I will enable you not only to perceive, but to
be entire masters of the whole plot which I now see in preparation.
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