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Therefore I, the same person who have seemed to
be vehement against some men, inexorable towards the rest of the conspirators, (I paid my
country what I owed seemed to be vehement against some men, inexorable towards I heard of
nothing. Therefore I, the same person who have seemed to be vehement against some men,
inexorable towards the rest of the conspirators, (I paid my country what I owed her; what I am
now doing is due to my own invariable habits and natural disposition,) am as merciful, O
judges, as you yourselves. I am as gentle as the most soft-hearted among you. As far as I was
vehement in union with you, I did nothing except what I was compelled to do: I came to the
assistance of the republic when in great danger; I raised my sinking country; influenced by
pity for the whole body of citizens, we were then as severe as was necessary. The safety of
all men would have been lost for ever in one night, if that severity had not been exercised;
but as I was led on to the punishment of wicked men by my attachment to the republic, so now I
am led to secure the safety of the innocent by my own inclination.
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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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