Pro S. Roscio Amerino
Pro S. Roscio Amerino
Pro S. Roscio Amerino
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INTRODTTCTION. 9<br />
Tlie property tlius remaiued in tlie hands of Chrysogonus<br />
and his allies ; but they could not feel themselves seciu-e in<br />
the possession of it till Roscius had been removed from<br />
their path, since at any time the swing of the political<br />
pendulum might enable the sons of the proscribed to<br />
recover their estates. Hence plots were formed against the<br />
life of Eoscius, and by the advice of his friends he left<br />
Ameria, where he had resided during these events, and<br />
found shelter at Eome in the house of Caecilia, a noble<br />
lady belonging to the family of the Metelli, who had been<br />
on friendly terms with his iather.<br />
Sextus Eoscius was now no longer an unknown, friendless<br />
countryman who could be persecuted with impunity.<br />
Q. Caecilius<br />
The Metelli were staunch adherents of Sulla ;<br />
Metellus was the colleague of SuUa in the consulsliip in the<br />
year of Eoscius' trial ; SuUa had also married a Metella.<br />
Eoscius' influential friends might well be expected to draw<br />
Sulla's attention to the real state of affairs, and Chrysogonus<br />
would theh be forced to give up his ill-gotten gains.<br />
Thus the position of the three conspirators had become<br />
very insecure. The Eoscii now pointed out to Chrysogonus<br />
a way of escape from their embarrassing position. They<br />
suggested that Eoscius himself should be charged with<br />
his father's murder. In this way the very crime by means<br />
of which the father had been got out of the way could be<br />
used for the purpose of ridding themselves of the son.<br />
§ 4. Character of the Accusation. Conduct of the Case.<br />
Tlie Accusation. This inspired suggestion of the Eoscii<br />
was eagerly adopted by Chrysogonus. He relied on the<br />
following considerations. The relations between father<br />
and son had been distant, if not actually strained; and<br />
the difference could be easily exaggerated so as to make it<br />
appear that the two were on bad terms with each other.<br />
The murderers of Eoscius still remained undetected ; the<br />
two slaves who had accompanied him on the night of the<br />
crime, and who alone could throw light on the matter, were<br />
now the property of Chrysogonus, and their new master's<br />
permission was necessary before they could be put under<br />
examination. It was moreover a long time since a trial