[51]
with what anxiety, O ye immortal gods! with what solicitude of mind! with
what fear! Indeed, I am always very nervous when I begin to speak. As often as I rise to
speak, so often do I think that I am myself on my trial, not only as to my ability, but also
as to my virtue and as to the discharge of my duty; lest I should either seem to have
undertaken what I am incapable of performing, which is an impudent act, or not to perform it
as well as I can, which is either a perfidious action or a careless one. But that time I was
so agitated, that I was afraid of everything. I was afraid, if I said nothing, of being
thought utterly devoid of eloquence, and, if I said much in such a case, of being considered
the most shameless of men.
This text is part of:
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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