1.
[2]
It is in accordance with the customs and established usages
of our ancestors, O Romans, that those who, by your kindness, have overtaken the images of
their family,1 should, the first time that they hold an assembly of the people,
take an opportunity of uniting thanks to you for your kindness with a panegyric on their
ancestors, and in the speech then made, some men are, on some occasions, found worthy of the
rank of their ancestors. But most men only accomplish this,—namely, to make it seem
that so vast a debt is due to their ancestors, that there is something still left to be paid
to their posterity.
[3]
I, indeed, have no opportunity of
speaking before you of my ancestors, not because they were not such men as you see me also to
be, who am born of their blood, and educated in their principles, but because they had never
any share of popular praise, or of the light of honours conferred by you. And of myself I
fear lest it may look like arrogance to speak, and yet like ingratitude to be silent.
[2]
For it is a very troublesome thing for me myself to
enumerate to you the pursuits by which I have earned this dignity; and, on the other hand, I
cannot possibly be silent about your great kindnesses to me. Wherefore I will employ a
reasonable moderation in speaking, so as to mention the kindness which I have received from
you. I will speak slightly of the reasons why I am thought to have deserved the greatest
honour you can confer, and your singularly favourable judgment of me.
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[3] After a very long interval, almost beyond the memory of our times, you have for the first time made me, a new man, consul; and you have opened that rank which the nobles have held strengthened by guards, and fenced round in every possible manner, in my instance first, and have resolved that it should in future be open to virtue. Nor have you only made me consul, though that is of itself a most honourable thing, but you have made me so in such a way as very few nobles in this city have ever been made consuls before in, and no new man whatever before me.
