Pro S. Roscio Amerino

66 CICERO PRO SEX. ROSCIO, § 154.
lest measures sliould appear to liave beeu takeu by tlie
people's couucil more severe thau had beeu sanctioued by
the custom of our aucestors. But as for this proscriptiou,
which reaches their childreu and the cradles of their iufaut
babes, uuless by this trial you cast it away aud spurn it
from you, see, in Heaveu's uame, into what couditiou,
think ye, may the commonwealth come at last.
154. Seusible mon endowed with influence aud power
like yours, would do well to heal especially those troubles
by which the commonwealth is especially distressed. There
is not a man of you but kuows that the Romau people,
who in days goue by were thought to be very merciful to
their enemies, are to-day suftering from cruelty inflicted
upon citizens. Banish this cruelty from the state, gentlemen,
suffer it no longer to walk abroad in this commonwealth
: for there is iuvolved in it uot ouly this evil, that
it has brutually destroyed huudreds of citizens, but it has
eveu takeu away from the most merciful of men their
feelings of pity, owiug to their constant associatiou with
disasters. For wheu we see or hear of some outrageous
deed every hour, even the geutlest uatures among us
through the constaut preseuce of annoying trouble let
sUp from our hearts every seutiment of hiunan kiudness.
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