[120]
Now I will return to Marcellus, that I may not appear to have entered into this
statement without any reason. He, when with his powerful army he had taken this
splendid city, did not think it for the credit of the Roman people to destroy and
extinguish this splendour, especially as no danger could possibly arise from it, and
therefore he spared all the buildings, public as well as private, sacred as well as
ordinary, as if he had come with his army for the purpose of defending them, not of
taking them by storm. With respect to the decorations of the city, he had a regard
to his own victory, and a regard to humanity, he thought it was due to his victory
to transport man, things to Rome which
might be an ornament to this city, and due to humanity not utterly to strip the
city, especially as it was one which he was anxious to preserve.
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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