9.
Listen now to the facts relating to the charge about wine, which they meant to be the most
odious, and the most important charge. The charge, O judges, has been thus stated by
Plaetorius: that it had not occurred to Fonteius for the first time when he was in Gaul to establish a transit duty on wine, but that he had
thought of the plan in Italy, before he departed from
Rome. Accordingly, that Titurius had exacted at
Tolosa fourteen denarii for every amphora 1 of wine, under the name of transit duty; that Portius and Numius
at Crodunum had exacted three victoriati; that Serveus at Vulchalo had exacted two victoriati;
and in those districts they believe that transit duty was exacted by these men at Vulchalo, in
case of any one turning aside to Cobiamachus, which is a small town between Tolosa and Narbo, and
not wishing to proceed so far as Tolosa. Elesiodulus
exacted only six denarii from those who were taking wine to the enemy. 2
[20]
I see, O judges, that this is a charge, important both from
the sort of crime imputed, (for a tax is said to have been imposed on our produce, and I
confess that a very large sum of money might have been amassed by that means,) and from its
unpopular nature; for our adversaries have endeavoured to make this charge as widely known as
possible, by making it the subject of their conversation. But I think that the more serious a
charge is, which is proved to be false, the greater is the wickedness of that man who invented
it; for he wishes by the magnitude of the accusation to prejudice the minds of those who hear
it, so that the truth may afterwards find a difficult entrance into them.
***** [Everything relating to the charge about the wine, to the war with the Vocontii, and the arrangement of winter quarters, is wanting.]
***** [Everything relating to the charge about the wine, to the war with the Vocontii, and the arrangement of winter quarters, is wanting.]
