Pro S. Roscio Amerino

PEO SEX. EOSCIO, §§ 46— 50. 17
you know that from lack of real groxuids for accusation
you liave turned Sextus Eoscius' chief claim to praise into
a fault and a disgrace. But it is not only at the wish of
their fathers that sons do this ; I have known—and unless
my imagination is misleading me, so have each of you
known—a great many men in whom there has been spontaueously
kindled a keen interest for agricultm-e, and who
consider this country life, which you think ought to be a
ground for reproach and accusation, to be most honourable
and pleasant.
49. What think you was the interest in and knowiedge
of the details of a country gentleman's life displayed by
my client Sextus Eoscius himself ? As I am told by his
relations, who ai-e very honourable gentlemen, you are not
more skilful in your profession as accuser than he in his.
However, I suppose, since this is Chrysogonus' pleasure,
and lie has left my client not a single estate, my client will
have the privilege of forgetting his craft and laying aside
his zeal. -Lnd altliougli this is a sliameful indignity, yet
he will bear it patiently, gentlemen, if he can by your help
presei-ve his Ufe and reputation. This however is indeed
beyond endurance, that he has not only fallen into tlds
disastrous situation owing to the excellence and number of
his estates, but the fact that he took an interest in cultivating
them is to be t\u-ned iuto the bitterest prejudice
against him, for fear that it were not shame enough for
him to have cultivated them for others instead of himseK,
without his having the fact that he cultivated them at all
made a ground for accusation.
50. Of a truth, Erucitis, you would have been a ridiculous
accuser had you been born in the days of old, when men
were summoned from the plough to be niade consuls. For
since you think it is a disgi-aceful occupation to superintend
the cultivation of the soil, you would of course set down
the famous Atilius, whom the envoys found sowing the
seed with his own hand, as a base and dishonourable man.
But be assured our ancestors set a far dil^erent value on
him and other men Kke him. And thus it was that they
raised this commonwealth from insignificance and poverty,
and bequeathed it to us as one of the highest importance
CIC. ROSC. 13