Pro S. Roscio Amerino

PRo SEx. Roscio, §§ 132—137. 49
gality do you think was practised day by day ? But what
was the character of those bauquets ? Honourable, of
course, in a house of that sort, if this is to be regarded as
a house rather than as a workshop of villainy and a common
resort for all iniquities.
135. Now you behold, gentlemen, how the great man
hiniself struts to and fro in the forum with his hair well
arranged and anointed, accompauied by a great throng of
men in civic garb, how he looks down upon the world, and
thinks no one even a human being as compared to himself,
how he believes that he alone is wealthy, that he alone is
powerful. But should I wish to narrate to you, gentlemen,
what he does and what he attempts to do, I am afraid
some one with imperfect information may think that I have
wished to damage the interests and the success of the aristocracy
; though I can by my own right find fault with
anything in this party that I disapjjrove of ; for I am not
afraid of any one thinking that I have harboured sentimeuts
that ai-e averse to the interests of the aristocracy.
136. Those who know me are well aware that after that
it was found impossible to come to an agreement—that
consummation which above all others I desired—to the
best of my weak and feeble powers I strove above all to
assure the victory of those who have won it. For who was
there but saw that there was a struggle for position
between the baser and the worthier sort ? And in a contest
like this it was the part of an abandoned citizen not
to join those by whose safety dignity athome and authority
abroad woukl be preserved. I am gkxd, gentlemen, aud
I heartily rejoice that these ends have been effected and to
each man his office and rauk has been restored, and I
know that all these achievements are due to the goodwill of
the gods, the energy of the Eoman people, the policy, the
imperial rule, aud the good fortune of Lucius Sulla.
137. I ought not to find fault with the infiiction of
punishment upon those who fought against him by every
means in their power : I do speak in praise of the bestowal
of rewards on brave men who have rendered signal assistance
in the administration of affairs ; I think these were
precisely the objects of the war; and I admit that I
CIC. ROSC. 15