the carelessness of his agents.  But this man lately was not content with giving poison to his sister’s son, he actually drenched him with it.  But it is impossible for these men to live in any other than a prodigal manner, who hope for our property while they are squandering their own.  I have seen also an auction of the property of Publius Decius, an illustrious man, who, following the example of his ancestors, devoted himself for the debts of another.  But at that auction no one was found to be a purchaser.  Ridiculous man to think it possible to escape from debt by selling other people’s property!  For why should I speak of Trebellius? on whom the furies of debts seem to have wrecked their vengeance, for we have seen one table[47] avenging another.  Why should I speak of Plancus? whom that most illustrious citizen Aquila has driven from Pollentia,—­and that too with a broken leg, and I wish he had met with that accident earlier, so as not to be liable to return hither.

I had almost passed over the light and glory of that army, Caius Annius Cimber, the son of Lysidicus, a Lysidicus himself in the Greek meaning of the word, since he has broken all laws, unless perhaps it is natural for a Cimbrian to slay a German[48]?  When Antonius has such numbers with him, and those too men of that sort, what crime will he shrink from, when Dolabella has polluted himself with such atrocious murders without at all an equal troop of robbers to support him?  Wherefore, as I have often at other times differed against my will from Quintus Fufius, so on this occasion I gladly agree with his proposition.  And from this you may see that my difference is not with the man, but with the cause which he sometimes advocates.

Therefore, at present I not only agree with Quintus Fufius, but I even return thanks to him, for he has given utterance to opinions which are upright, and dignified, and worthy of the republic.  He has pronounced Dolabella a public enemy, he has declared his opinion that his property ought to be confiscated by public authority.  And though nothing could be added to this, (for, indeed, what could he propose more severe or more pitiless?) nevertheless, he said that if any of those men who were asked their opinion after him proposed any more severe sentence, he would vote for it.  Who can avoid praising such severity as this?

VII.  Now, since Dolabella has been pronounced a public enemy, he must be pursued by war.  For he himself will not remain quiet.  He has a legion with him, he has troops of runaway slaves, he has a wicked band of impious men, he himself is confident, intemperate, and bent on falling by the death of a gladiator.  Wherefore, since, as Dolabella was voted an enemy by the decree which was passed yesterday, war must be waged, we must necessarily appoint a general.