[83]
And you say that a judicial decision was come to that you were injuriously besieged
for no reason at Lampsacus, because
Philodamus and his son were condemned. What if I show, if I make it evident, by the
evidence of a worthless man indeed, but still a competent witness in this
matter,—by the evidence of you yourself,—that you yourself
transferred the reason of this siege laid to you, and the blame of it, to others?
and that those whom you had accused were not punished? Then the decision of Nero
will do you but little good. Recite the letters which he sent to Nero. [The letter
of Caius Verres to Nero is read.] “Themistagoras and Thessalus.”
... You write that Themistagoras and Thessalus stirred up the people. What people?
They who besieged you; who endeavoured to burn you alive. Where do you prosecute
them? Where do you accuse them? Where do you defend the name and rights of a
lieutenant? Will you say that that was settled by the trial of Philodamus? Let me
have the evidence of Verres himself.
This text is part of:
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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