[34]
You see what he suspected of Oppianicus; what his opinion of him was is
plain enough. For though he left his son his heir, he did not leave him guardian to his
children. Now, learn what Oppianicus did; and you will see that Magius, when dying, had an
accurate foresight of what was to happen. The money which had been left to her from her child
if any was born, that Oppianicus paid to her at once, though it was not due; if, indeed, it is
to be called a payment of a legacy, and not wages for procuring abortion; and she, having
received that sum, and many other presents besides, which were read out of the codicils of
Oppianicus's will, being subdued by avarice, sold to the wickedness of Oppianicus that hope
which she had in her womb, and which had been so commended to her care by her husband. It
would seem now that nothing could possibly be added to this wickedness: listen to the
end.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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