[53]
But to return to that point which is the one which I have particularly
proposed to myself to establish in this speech; namely, that the republic
was afflicted and oppressed by every sort of calamity that year owing to the
wickedness of the consuls. First of all, on that very day which was fatal to
me and grievous to all good men, when I had torn myself from the embrace of
my country and from your sight, O fellow-citizens, and when from fear of
danger to you, not to myself, I had yielded to the frenzy, and wickedness,
and treachery, and arms, and threats of one man, and had abandoned my
country, which was the dearest of all things to me, out of affection for my
country herself; when not only men but the very houses and temples of the
city were lamenting that misfortune which befell
me,—so horrible, so lamentable, and so sudden; when no one of you
could bear the sight of the forum, or of the senate house, or of the light
of day; on that very day, do I say? at that very hour, at that very same
moment, at that very instant of ruin to me and to the republic, their
provinces were decreed to Gabinius and to Piso. O ye immortal gods,
guardians and preservers of this city and empire, what monsters of
wickedness, what crimes have you beheld in the republic! That citizen was
expelled who, in compliance with the authority of the senate, had defended
the republic with the cooperation of all good men and he was expelled, not
because of any other charge being brought against him, but expressly because
he had done so. And he was expelled without any trial, by violence, by
stones, by arms, by bodies of slaves excited to sedition. A law was passed
after the forum had been desolated and abandoned, and given over to
assassins and to slaves; a law to prevent the passing of which the senate
had changed its dress and gone into mourning.
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