grity, honour, and application, should take upon them the defence of the laws, and the revival of public justice; or, if even this be found ineffectual, it is in vain any longer to hope for redress. Nothing tends more to the preservation of a state, than for an accuser to be no less tender of his reputation, honour, and fame, than the accused is solicitous about his life and fortunes. Accordingly we find, that such as were the most jealous of their own characters, have always proved the most diligent and indefatigable accusers.

SECT. XXII. Therefore, my Lords, you have reason to believe, that Quintus Cæcilius, a man of no reputation, from whom very little is expected in the present trial, who has neither any fame already acquired to preserve, nor any future expectations to confirm, will not acquit himself in this cause, with the industry, vigour, and severity it requires. For he can lose nothing by a repulse. Should we even suppose him shamefully and scandalously baffled, all his former merit will still remain. Of me the Roman people have many pledges, which I must strive with my utmost indeavours to preserve, to defend, to confirm, and to redeem. They have the honour for which I am now a candidate: they have the hope that animates all my pursuits they have a reputation too, acquired with much sweat, watching, and toil. If I give proof of my fidelity and diligence in this cause, all these will remain sure and inviolable in the hands of my country; but if I trip or stumble in the least, the acquisitions of a whole life will be destroyed in one moment. Therefore, my Lords, it remains for you to pitch upon the man whom you think best qualified, by his integrity, diligence, wisdom, and authority, to sustain the weight of this prosecution. Should the preference be given to Cæcilius, I shall not think my character in the least affected by such a sentence but take care that the people of Rome have not too much reason to believe, that so upright, so severe, and so vigorous an impeachment, was neither agreeable to you, nor to those of your order.

ORATIO II.

PRO LEGE MANILIA*.

I.—QUAMQUAM mihi semper frequens conspectus vester multò jucundissimus; (1.) hic autem locus ad agendum amplissimus, ad dicendum ornatissimus est visus, Quirites! () tamen hoc aditu laudis, qui semper optimo cuique maximè patuit, non mea me voluntas, sed meæ vitæ rationes Nam, cùm antea ab ineunte ætate susceptæ prohibuerunt. per ætatem nondum hujus auctoritatem loci contingere auderem; statueremque, nihil huc, nisi perfectum ingenio, elaboratum industriâ, afferri oportere; omne meum tempus amicorum temporibus transmittendum putavi. Ita neque hic lo cus vacuus unquam fuit ab iis qui vestram causam defenderent;

In the consulfhip of M. Æmilius and L. Volcatius; L. Lucullus, who in qua Lity of proconful had continued almost seven years at the head of the Roman army in Asia Minor, and obtained many signal victories over Mithridates, was recalled by a decree of the Senate. As the war was not yet finished, there was a neceffity for fending fome other general to supply his place. C. Manilius, a tribune of the people, propofed a law, preferring Pompey to that important commiffion. This propofal met with great oppofition, because Pompey having already the command of the piratical war, with a very extensive authority, many Romans of diftinction thought it would be dangerous to trust so much power in the hands of one perfon. Cicero, who seems to have entertained a high opinion of Pompey's honour and probity, and considered him as the only man in the commonwealth fit to conduct a war of that importance, was zealous for the passing of the Manilian law, and in his speech endeavoured to support it with all his credit and eloquence. He begins with explaining the nature and importance of the Mithridatic war, and lays every thing that might ferve to animate the people to continue and pursue it with vigour. Thence pafsing to the choice of a general, he enters into fo beautiful a detail of Pompey's merit and qualifications, that I question whether there be any history where the character of that great man is so well drawn. the fequel the law paffed, though Catullus and Hortensius, two of the most confiderable men in Rome, and both confular fesators, were among the number of those that opposed it. Pompey was fent against Mithridates, with a more extensive command than had been granted even to Lucullus; Bithynia, and several other provinces, being included in his commission. He received his orders in Cilicia, where he was employed in putting the laft hand to the war against the pirates; by the fuccessful conclufion of which, hereftored the Roman commonwealth to her wonted power and splendor, which the

In

ORATION II.

FOR THE MANILIAN LAW.

SECT. I THOUGH your crowded assemblies, Romans, be always a grateful sight to me; though this place appears the most conspicuous for counsel, and the most honourable for debate; yet not choice, but the way of life I have been engaged in from my early youth, have hitherto excluded me from this theatre of praise, ever open to the worthy and the wise. For as till now I had not reached the age necessary to entitle me to so distinguished an honour, and as I judged nothing worthy of this tribunal, in which the most consummate genius and industry were not conspicuous; I thought it best to dedicate my whole time to the concerns of my friends. Accordingly this place has always

ill conduct of her generals abroad, and the remissness of the administration at home, had of late considerably impaired. This oration was delivered from the tribunal of harangues, being the first time of Cicero's appearance in that place; for hitherto he had pleaded only private causes in the prætor's court. It was spoken in the six hundred and eighty-seventh year of Rome, and the forty-first of Cicero's age, soon after his election to the prætorship.

(1) Hic locus. Cicero here means the rostra, or tribunal of harangues, which was situated in the Forum, and adorned with the beaks of ships, whence it had its name. Livy, speaking of it in his eighth book, says, Naves Antiatum partim in navalia Romæ subducta, partim incense: Rostrisque earum suggestum in foro extructum adornari placuit, restraque id templum appellatum. ` This place was set apart for enacting laws, pleading causes, and delivering speeches to the people. Here, none were allowed to speak but men of the first note, and such as bore offices of dignity in the state. In the rostra the speaker addressed himself to the people only, and was obliged to study a very different manner of speaking from that in use before the judges. The people were to be both instructed and pleased, which required all the eloquence and ornaments of language: The judges were only to be informed, and therefore a concise and simple style was necessary before them.

(2) Quirites.] This was an appellation given to the Roman people in general, from the Curetes, a people that removed to Rome with Tatius, from Cures a Sabine city. For a fierce war commencing between Romulus and Tatius, on occasion of the rape of the Sabine virgins, peace was at length concluded on these terms: That Romulus and Tatius should reign jointly over both people: that the city should be called Rome, from Romulus; and the citizens Quirites, from Cures. The word comes originally from guris, or quiris, which, in the language of the Sabines, signified a dart; and was a weapon. greatly in use among that people.

G

et meus labor in privatorum periculis castè integrèque versatus, ex vestro judicio fructum est amplissimum consecutus. Nan cùm propter dilationem comitiorum (3) ter prætor primus centuriis cunctis renuntiatus sum; facile intellexi, Quirites, et quid de me judicaretis, et quid aliis præscriberetis. Nunc cùm et auctoritatis in me tantum sit, quantum vos honoribus mandandis esse voluistis; et ad agendum facultatis tantum, quantum homini vigilanti ex forensi usu prope quotidiana dicendi exercitatio potuit afferre: certè, et si quid auctoritatis in me est, câ apud eos utar, qui eam mihi dederunt ; et si quid etiam dicendo consequi possum, iis ostendam potissimum, qui ei quoque rei fructum suo judicio tribuendum esse censuerunt. Atque illud in primis mihi lætandum jure esse video, quòd in hâc insolitâ mihi ex hoc loco ratione dicendi, causa talis oblata est, in quâ oratio nemini deesse potest. Dicendum est enim de Cn. Pompeii singulari eximiâque virtute: hujus autem orationis difficilius est exitum, quàm principium invenire. Itaque non mihi tam copia, quàm modus in dicendo quærendus est

II. Atque ut inde oratio mea proficiscatur, unde hæc omnis causa dicitur; bellum grave et periculosum vestris vectigalibus atque sociis (4) à duobus potentissimis regibus infertur, Mithri date, et Tigrane: quorum alter relictus, alter lacessitus, occasionem sibi ad occupandam Asiam oblatam esse arbitratur. Equitibus Romanis,honestissimis viris,afferuntur ex Asiâ quotidie literæ, quorum magnæ res aguntur, in vestris vectigalibus exercendis occupatæ ; qui ad me pro necessitudine, quæ mihi est cum illo ordine, causam reipublicæ, periculaque rerum suarum

(3) Ter præter primus centuriis cunctis renuntiatus sum.] The prætor was a magistrate, to whom belonged the administration of justice. At first only one was created, then two, in the time of Sylla eight, and laft of all ten. Of thefe prætors two had the management of private trials committed to them; one, the city prætor, who judged between fellow-citizens; the other the foreign prætor, who took cognizance of the affairs of ftrangers. The other eight were criminal judges, and had each his particular province. Two were appointed to decide in cases of murder; one of extortion; one of embezzling the public money; one of corruption; one of fraud; one of treason; and one of violence. Cicero here tells us, that he was thrice declared first prætor by all the centuries. Not that there was any inequality or difference of dignity between the prætors, but he who was first chofen to that office by the people, was judged on that account to have the preference in their favour. Plutarch, in his life of Cicero, tells us, that he had to ftruggle with many candidates of the firft dignity, from all whom he nevertheless carried the honour of the first nomination. Hence, in his book de claris oratoribus, fpeaking of himself, he says, Atque ut multa omittam, in hoc fpatio, et in bis post ædilitatem annis, et prætor primus, et incredibili populari voluntate sum factus. (4) A duobus potentissimis regibus.] They are defervedly ftyled powerful by the orator, whether we confider the extent of their dominions, or their renown in war. Mithri

bounded with able pleaders in the cause of the republic: and my talents, employed in the defence of private citizens, have by your suffrages been crowned with a glorious reward. For when by reason of the adjournment of the comitia, I found myself thrice chosen first prætor by all the centuries, it was easy for me thence to collect, both what your sentiments of me were, and what qualifications you required in others. Now that I am clothed with all that authority which is annexed to the offices you have honoured me with; and as my talents for business are such as the constant exercise of pleading may produce in a man of industry; be assured, that whatever authority I possess, shall be exerted in behalf of those from whom I derived it; and if my eloquence carries any weight, I will display it chiefly to those who have thought it worthy of reward. And here I think I may justly congratulate myself, that, unaccustomed as I am to harangue in this manner, and from this place; a subject presents itself, on which it is impossible not to be eloquent. I am to speak of the singular and amazing virtues of Pompey ; a theme where I shall find it more difficult to know when to stop, than how to begin and where my principal study must be, not to search for materials, but to set bounds to my orations.

SECT. II. But that my discourse may run back to the source of the present debate ; an important and dangerous war is car ried on against your tributaries and allies, by two very powerful monarchs, Mithridates and Tigranes: of whom the one being provoked, and the other not pushed after his defeat; they think a favourable opportunity offers to possess themselves of all Asia. Letters are daily brought from that quarter to the Roman knights, men of character and eminence, who have a great interest in the collection of your revenues; and on account of my near connection with their order, have thought proper to lay

dates, though originally no more than king of Pontus, found means, by his valour, to render himself master of all Asia Minor, and great part of Greece. Cicero, in his Lucullus, pronounces him the greatest of kings, next to Alexander. He was vanquished and restricted to his hereditary dominions by Sylla: but renewing the war again after his death, Lucullus was sent against him, who defeated him in several battles, and in the last would infallibly have made him prisoner, had not the soldiers, instead of continuing the pursuit, abandoned themselves to the desire of plunder. This gave him an opportunity of escaping to his son-in-law, Tigranes, who reigned in Armenia, and is by Plutarch styled the king of kings. His power was so great, that having driven the Farthians out of Asia, he transplanted the Greek states into Media, and ruled Syria and Palestine. Lucullus notwithstanding summoned him to deliver up Mithri dates; and upon his refusal, pushed him so vigorously, that after taking possession of Tigranocerta, the city of his own residence, he twice routed his numerous forces, and bliged him to fly into the skirts of Armenia,