Pro S. Roscio Amerino

PBO 8EX. ROSCIO, §§ 73 11. 21
76. While dealing witli tliis topic, I pass over a point
wliicli might liave served as a strong argument in establishing
my clienfs innocence:—that in country habits, in
meagre diet, in a rough and uncivilized mode of life,
crimes of the sort you describe do not generally find their
origin. Just as you would not be able to find every plant
or tree on every soil, so every crime does not arise in every
kind of life. In the metropoKs wanton extravagance is
produced ; from such extravagance rapacity necessarUy
arises ; from rapacity reckless daring breaks out ; thence
spring all sorts of iuiquities and crimes ; but this country
hfe, which you call boorish, is the teacher of economy,
industry, and fair deaUug.
76. But I pass over these points : I ask you this question
: Who were the men by whose agency that man, who,
as you yourself admit, never was much amoug meu, could
have got so heiuous a crime committed with such secrecy,
and that though he was not on the spot ? There ai-e many
false charges, gentlemen, which cau be brought so as to
arouse suspiciou ; but in the case of these allegations if
any ground for suspicion shall be fouud, I will admit that
there are grounds for blame. Sextus Eoscius was murdered
at Kome, when his son was iu the lands of Ameria: he
seut a letter, I suppose, to some murderer,—he who knew no
one at Eome. " He summoned some one." Whom and
when ? " He sent a messenyer." Whom aud to whom ?
" He persuaded some one by a bribe, by his influence, by
the hopes and promises he hekl out." Noue of these
charges can be even invented, and yet we have here a trial
for parricide.
77. It remains that he must have committed the crime
what by means of slaver. Ye gods immortal !
a lameutable
and disastrous tliing it is that Sextus Koscius is notallowed
to adopt a course which iri the case of a serious charge hke
this is generally the refuge of an iunoceut man, I mean to
of£er his slaves for examiuation by torture. Tou, who
accuse my client, have all his slaves in your possession
not one young skive to attend ou his daily needs has been
left to Sextus Eoscius from his numerous household. I
now caU upon you, Publius Scipio, on you, M. Metellus : it