Pro S. Roscio Amerino

PBO SEX. Koscio, §§ 89—93. 33
everjtliing into disorder : and I am astonislied tliey did
not bum up even the benches, so as to leave no trace of
the law-courts : for they removed botli tlie accusers and
the jurytnen. It is an advantage that they Hved in such
a way that they could not kill every witness if they wanted
to ; for so long as the hunian race exists, there will not be
wanting some one to accuse them : so long as the constitution
lasts, trials will be held. But, as I began to say, if
Erucius also had in his case the arguments I have mentioned
at length, he would be able to go on stating them
as long as he liked, and I, gentlemen, am able to do so,
but my intention is, as I said before, to pass over them
lightly and merely to glance at each detail singly, that the
world may know I am making my accusation not from
inclination but at the demands of duty.
92. Well then, I see that there are many motives which
might have urged him on. Let us now see whether he had
any opportunity of committing the crime. Where was
Sextus Eoscius murdered ? At Eome. Why ? Where
were you at that time, Eoscius ? At Eome. But how
does that bear upon the question ? Many others were
there too. As if the question now at issue were who out
of this great population committed the murder, and we
were not inquiring precisely this, whether it is more
probable that the man who was murdered at Eome was
murdered by the man who at that time was continually at
Eome, or by the man who for many years has altogether
abstained from coming to Eome.
93. Come, now let us think over his other opportunities
besides. At that time there was a vast number of assassins
abroad, as Erucius has told you, and men were murdered
with impunity. Again, of whom did that vast number
consist ? I suppose either of those who did business in
property or of those who were hired by them to murder
some one. If you think they were men who were seeking
after other people's property, you are in that category, for
you are enriched by our money ; but if you think they are
men whom those who use the gentler name call " stabbers,"
ask in whose service and imder whose patronage
they are, and you will, I assure you, find a certain member
CIC. ROSC. 14