[79]
Therefore, I confess, (for I may now make the confession with impunity, especially in this
place,) that not only the habits of life of Oppianicus, but that even his name was unknown to
the people before that trial. Moreover that, as it did seem a most scandalous thing for an
innocent man to have been crushed by the influence of money; and as the general profligacy of
Stalenus, and the baseness of some others of the judges who resembled him, increased this
suspicion; and as Lucius Quinctius pleaded his cause, a man not only of the greatest
influence, but also of exceeding skill in arousing the feelings of the multitude; by these
circumstances a very great degree of suspicion was excited against, and a very great degree of
odium attached to that tribunal. And I recollect, that Caius Junius who had presided over that trial, was thrown, as it were, into the fresh
fire; and that he, a man of aedilitian rank, who was already praetor in the universal opinion
of all men, was driven out of the forum and even out of the city, not by any regular
discussion, but by the outcry raised against him by all men.