Pro S. Roscio Amerino

18 CICERO
and greatest prosperity. For they busied themselves in
tilling their own lands, and did not covetously lianker
after otlier people's : and by tbese means tbey added lands
and cities and uations to tlie commonwealth and the
empire and the great name of the Eoman people.
51. And I do not bring forward tliese instances on the
ground that the instances about wliich we are now inquiring
are fit to be compared witli them, but in order that
you may imderstand that, inasmuch as among OTir ancestors
distinguished and famous men, who were caUed
upon from time to time to sit at the hielm of the state,
nevertheless devoted also some time and pains to the
cultivation of their lands, you ought to pardon a man wlio
confesses that he is a country man because lie lias always
led a busy life in tbe country ; especially as tbere could
be nothing which he could do to give more pleasure to liis
father, or more gratification or indeed more honour to
himself.
52. So it is a very bitter batred on the part of the
fatber towards his son that is proved, methinks, Erucius,
from the fact that he allowed him to reside in the country,
Is there anything else ? " Tes, indeed there is," says he ;
"for he intended to disinherit him." I will listen to that:
now you say something to the point ; for even you admit
this cbarge is frivolous and worthless :— " He did not go to
festive gatherings with his father." Of course uot, as he
did not even come to town except on very rare occasions.
" Hardly any one asked the defendaut home to dinner."
Thafs not surprisiug, since he did not live in Rome, and
was not in a positiou to return their invitation.
However, you yourself know that all this is mere trifling
let us look at the statement we began with (and a surer
proof of hatred cannot by any possible means be found) :
(53) " The father iutended to disiuherit the son." I refrain
from asking his motive : I ask how you know it ;—though
you ought to have declared and enumerated every motive,
and though it was assuredly the duty of an accuser who
charged a man with so heinous a crime to state at length
all the faults and offences of the son which could have so
kindled a father's wrath as to make it possible for him to