[26]
Say now, if you dare, that Roscius begged of you to appoint his own intimate friend
arbitrator. He did not beg you to. Say that he made a covenant in order to procure his
acquittal. He made no covenant. Ask why then he was acquitted? Because he was a man of
the most perfect innocence and integrity. For what happened? You came of your own accord
to the house of Roscius; you apologised to him; you begged him to announce to the judge
that you had acted hastily, and to pardon you; you said that you would not appear
against him; you said loudly that he owed you nothing on account of the partnership. He
gave notice to the judge; he was acquitted. And still do you dare to mention dishonesty
and theft? He persists in his impudence. I did all this, says he, for he had made a
covenant with me. Yes, I suppose to procure his acquittal. What reason had he to fear
that he would be condemned?
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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