have more authority than you, and some day you will without fail lay down these weapons.  Do not, again, rely on your numbers.  Those capable of being wronged are, if they unite, more than you.  And they will unite, if you do wrong.  Do not, because you have conquered the barbarians, despise these citizens also, from whom you differ not the slightest either in birth or in education, in the matter of food or in customs.  Instead, as is proper and advantageous for you, use no violence and wrong no one of them, but receive provisions from their willingness to provide, and accept rewards from their willing hands. [-32-] In addition to what I have just said and other considerations that one might cite who should enter upon a long discussion of such questions, you must also take account of the following fact,—­that we have come here now to assist our country under oppression and to ward off those that are harming her.  If she were in no danger, we should neither have come into Italy with arms,—­since it is unlawful,—­nor should we have left unfinished the business of the Celts and Britons, when we might have subjugated those regions too.  Then is it not remarkable if we who are here for vengeance upon the evildoers should show ourselves no less greedy of gain than they?  Is it not inconceivable that when we have arrived to aid our country we should force her to require other allies against us?  And yet I think my claims so much better warranted than Pompey’s that I have often challenged him to a trial; and since he by reason of his guilty conscience has refused to have the questions peaceably decided, I hope by this act of his to attach to my cause all the allies and the entire people.  But now, if we also shall take up a course similar to his, I shall not have any decent excuse to offer nor be able to charge my opponents with any unbecoming conduct.  You must also look ahead very carefully to the justice of your cause.  If you have this, the strength that arms afford is full of hope, but without it nothing remains sure, though for the moment a man may be successful.

[-33-] “That nature has ordained this most of you understand, and you fulfill all your duties without urging.  That is why I have convened you,—­to make you both witnesses and spectators of my words and acts.  But you are not of such a character as some men I have been mentioning and therefore it is that you receive praise.  Only some few of you observe how, in addition to working many injuries and paying no penalty at all for them hitherto, these malcontents are also threatening us.  However, as a general principle, I do not think it well for any ruler to be subdued by his subjects, nor do I believe that any safety could possibly result, if the class appointed to assist a person should attempt to overcome him.  Consider what sort of order could exist in a house where those in the prime of youth should despise their elders, or what order in schools, if the students should pay no heed to their instructors?