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[7]
Even Cotyla would not
venture to say that. For what does not apply to him? A man who, while he says
that he is defending the acts of another, perverts all those laws of his which
we might most properly praise. Caesar wished to drain the marshes: this man has
given all Italy to that moderate man
Lucius Antonius to distribute.—What? has the Roman people adopted this
law?—What? could it be passed with a proper regard for the auspices?
But this conscientious augur acts in reference to the auspices without his
colleagues. Although those auspices do not require any
interpretation—for who is there who is ignorant that it is impious to
submit any motion to the people while it is thundering? The tribunes of the
people carried laws respecting the provinces in opposition to the acts of
Caesar; Caesar had extended the provisions of his law over two years; Antonius
over six years. Has then the Roman people adopted this law? What? was it ever
regularly promulgated? What? was it not passed before it was even drawn up? Did
we not see the deed done before we even suspected that it was going to be done?
Where is the Caecilian and Didian law?
M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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