Pro S. Roscio Amerino

PKO SEX. Eoscio, §§ 61 66. 23
should exist a being of human face and mien, vho so far
snrpasses brute beasts in savageness as to have most shame-
fully robbed of the light of day those to whom he owes it
that he ever looked upon the pleasant light around us ; for
tlie bearing and rearing of offspring, ay, and Nature herself
teaches wild beasts to be at peace with one another.
64. Not so very many years ago, according to all accounts,
a certain Titus Caelius of Tarracina, a well-known man,
after diniug retired to rest in the same chamber as his two
young sons, and was found murdered in tbe morning. As
no slave or free man was found to whom any suspicion
could attacli itself , while bis two sons, of the age ^ I have
stated, who were lying quite close, declared that they had
not even seen the culprit, the sons were brougbt to trial
for parricide. Wbat could be so suspicious ? What ?
neither of them saw hira ? "What ? did any one dare to
venture into tliat chamber, tlien of all times, when tbere
were two young sons on the spot, who could easily see
them and defeud him ?
65. Moreover, there was no one on whom suspicion could
fairly be thrown. Nevertheless, when it has been proved
to tlie satisfaction of the jury that they had been found
asleep with the door open, the young men were acquitted
by the court and freed from all suspicion. For no one
could believe that there existed a man who, aft^r polluting
all laws human and divine by an atrocious crime, could
have immediately gone to sleep ; inasmuch as af ter committing
so terrible a deed, so far from being able to enjoy
rest, men cannot even draw breatli without fear.
68. Do you see how those whom the poets have fabled
to have exacted retribution from a mother to avenge a
father, even though they are said to have done the deed in
obedience to the behests and the oracles of the immortal
gods, how, I say, they are for all that chased by Furies
and not suffered to find any abiding-place, because they
fould not even do their duty without guilt ? Thus stands
the matter, gentlemen of the Jury. Tliere is in a father's
and a mother's blood a great power, a strongtie of kinship,
and a high sanctity : and if any stain is contracted therefrom,
it cannot be washed out, nay more, it penetrates so