Chapter 7

15 Why? He is giving a birthday feast in his gardens. For whom? I shall name no one. Imagine some Phormio, some Gnatho, even some Ballio. What disgraceful filth in a man! What unbearable shamelessness, worthlessness and lust! With a senator of the highest rank, an exceptional citizen, so closely related to you, do you consult him about nothing in public affairs, but consult men who have no property of their own and exhaust yours? Evidently your consulship saves the state, while mine destroyed it. Have you lost shame together with chastity so completely that you dared say this in the very temple where I consulted the senate that once, in its greatness, presided over the world, while you have stationed the most desperate men with swords?

16 You even dared—and what would you not dare?—to say that in my consulship the Capitoline slope was crowded with armed slaves. I was coercing the senate, I suppose, to obtain those wicked decrees! Wretched man: whether you know nothing of these events—for you know nothing good—or know them and still speak so shamelessly before such men! What Roman knight, what young noble except you, what person of any rank who remembered he was a citizen was not on the Capitoline slope while the senate met in this temple? Who did not enroll? Yet the clerks could not keep pace, nor could the registers hold their names.

17 For when criminals confessed their plot to murder their country—compelled by their accomplices’ testimony, by their own handwriting, by the almost speaking voice of their letters—to an agreement to burn the city, slaughter its citizens, devastate Italy and destroy the republic, who would not rise to defend the common safety? Especially when the senate and Roman people had a leader such as, if they had one now, would have brought the same fate upon you that befell those men. He says I refused him his stepfather’s body for burial. Not even Publius Clodius ever said that. Although I had good reason to be his enemy, I grieve that you have now surpassed him in every vice.

15 Why? He’s giving a birthday dinner in his gardens. For whom? I won’t name anyone. Think of some Phormio, some Gnatho, even some Ballio. What filthy, disgraceful behavior! What shamelessness, wickedness, and unbearable lust! A leading senator is your close relative, an outstanding citizen. Yet you never ask his advice about public affairs. Instead, you ask men who have nothing themselves. They’re draining everything you have. Your consulship saves the country, apparently. Mine ruins it. Have you lost your shame along with your sexual decency? How could you dare say that in that temple? There I consulted the Senate, which once flourished and governed the world. There you stationed the worst criminals with swords.

16 You even dared say something else—but what wouldn’t you dare? You said the Capitoline slope was full of armed slaves during my consulship. Apparently I was forcing the Senate to pass those wicked decrees! You miserable man! Perhaps you don’t know what happened. You know nothing good, after all. Or perhaps you do know. Either way, how can you speak so shamelessly before these men? What Roman knight wasn’t on the Capitoline slope? What young nobleman, apart from you? What man of any rank who remembered his citizenship? The Senate was meeting in this temple. Who wasn’t there? Who didn’t put his name down? In fact, there weren’t enough clerks for the job. The lists couldn’t hold all their names.

17 Those criminals admitted they’d plotted to murder their country. Their accomplices’ evidence and their own handwriting forced their confession. Their letters almost spoke aloud against them. They’d agreed to burn the city and slaughter its citizens. They’d agreed to wreck Italy and destroy the republic. Who wouldn’t have rushed to protect everyone’s safety? Besides, the Senate and Roman people had a leader. If they had someone like him now, you’d have met the same fate as those men. He says I wouldn’t release his stepfather’s body for burial. Even Publius Clodius never said that. I had good reason to be Clodius’s enemy. Still, I’m sorry you’ve now outdone him in every vice.