For M. Fonteius (M. Tullius Cicero)

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	For M. Fonteius Author: M. Tullius Cicero	Translator: C. D. Yonge
1	PRO M . FONTEIO ORATIO ( ... lost text ... ) oportuisse an ita dissolvit ut omnes alii dissolverunt ? Nam ita ego defendo M . Fonteium , iudices , itaque contendo post legem Valeriam latam ( ... lost text ... ) te ( ... lost text ... ) quaestore usque ad T . Crispinum quaestorem aliter neminem solvisse ; hunc omnium superiorum , huius autem omnis qui postea fuerint auctoritatem dico secutos .	THE FRAGMENTS WHICH REMAIN OF THE SPEECH OF M. T. CICERO ON BEHALF OF MARCUS FONTEIUS. (... lost text ...) For I defend Marcus Fonteius, O judges, on this ground, and I assert that after the passing of the Valerian law, from the time that Marcus Fonteius was quaestor till the time when Titus Crispinus was quaestor, no one paid it otherwise. I say that he followed the example of all his predecessors, and that all those who came after him, followed his. What, then, do you accuse?
2	Quid accusas , quid reprendis ? Nam quod in tabulis dodrantariis et quadrantariis , quas ait ab Hirtuleio institutas , Fontei officium desiderat , non possum existimare utrum ipse erret an vos in errorem inducere velit . Quaero enim abs te , M . Plaetori , possitne tibi ipsi probata esse nostra causa , si , qua in re abs te M . Fonteius accusatur , auctorem habet eum quem tu maxime laudas Hirtuleium ; qua in re autem laudas Hirtuleium , Fonteius idem fecisse reperitur . Reprehendis solutionis genus ; eodem modo Hirtuleium dissolvisse publicae tabulae coarguunt . Laudas illum quod dodrantarias tabulas instituerit ; easdem Fonteius instituit et eodem genere pecuniae . Nam ne forte sis nescius et istas tabulas existimes ad diversam ve teris aeris alieni rationem pertinere , ob unam causam et in uno genere sunt institutae . Nam cum publicanis qui Africam , qui Aquileiense por torium ( ... lost text ... )	what do you find fault with? For because in these accounts, which he says were begun by Hirtuleius, he misses the assistance of Hirtuleius, I cannot think that he either does wrong himself, or wishes you to do wrong. For I ask you, O Marcus Plaetorius, whether you will consider our case established, if Marcus Fonteius, in the matter respecting which he is now accused by you, has the man whom you praise above all others, namely Hirtuleius, for his example; and if Fonteius is found to have done exactly the same as Hirtuleius in the matters in which you commend Hirtuleius? You find fault with the description of payment. The public registers prove that Hirtuleius paid in the same manner. You praise him for having established these peculiar accounts. Fonteius established the same, with reference to the same kind of money. For, that you may not ignorantly imagine that these accounts refer to some different description of debt, know that they were established for one and the same reason, and with reference to one and the same sort of money. For when(... lost text ...)
3	( ... lost text ... ) cite ( ... lost text ... ) Nemo , nemo , inquam , iudices , reperietur qui unum se in quaestura M . Fonteio nummum dedisse , aut illum ex ea pecunia quae pro aerario solveretur detraxisse dicat ; nullius in tabulis ulla huius furti significatio , nullum in eis nominibus intertrimenti aut deminutionis vestigium reperietur . Atqui homines , si qui in hoc genere quaestionis accusati sunt , reprehensos videmus primum testibus ; difficile est enim eum qui magistratui pecuniam dederit non aut induci odio ut dicat aut cogi religione ; deinde si qua gratia testes deterrentur , tabulae quidem certe incorruptae atque integrae manent . Fac omnis amicissimos Fonteio fuisse , tantum hominum numerum ignotissimorum atque alienissimorum pepercisse huius capiti , consuluisse famae ; res ipsa tamen ac ratio litterarum confectioque tabularum habet hanc vim ut ex acceptis et datis quidquid fingatur , aut surripiatur , aut non constet , appareat . Acceptas populo Romano pecunias omnis isti rettulerunt ; si protinus aliis aeque magnas aut solverunt aut dederunt , ut , quod acceptum populo Romano est , id expensum cuipiam sit , certe nihil potest esse detractum . Sin aliquid domum tulerunt , ex eorum arca , e ra ( ... lost text ... )	(... lost text ...)No one—no one, I say, O judges—will be found, to say that he gave Marcus Fonteius one sesterce during his praetorship, or that he appropriated one out of that money which was paid to him on account of the treasury. In no account-books is there any hint of such a robbery among all the items contained in them there will not be found one trace of any loss or diminution of such monies. But all those men whom we ever see accused and found fault with by this sort of inquiry, are overwhelmed with witnesses; for it is difficult for him who has given money to a magistrate to avoid being either induced by dislike of him, or compelled by scrupulousness, to mention it; and in the next place, if the witnesses are deterred from appearing by any influence, at all events the account-books remain uncorrupted and honest. Suppose that every one was ever so friendly to Fonteius; that such a number of men to whom he was perfectly unknown, and with whom he was utterly unconnected, spared his life, and consulted his character; still, the facts of the case itself, the consideration of the documents, and the composition of the account-books, have this force, that from them, when they are once given in and received, everything that is forged, or stolen, or that has disappeared, is detected. All those men made entries of sums of money having been received for the use of the Roman people; if they immediately either paid or gave to others equally large sums, so that what was received for the Roman people was paid to some one or other, at all events nothing can have been embezzled. If any of them took any money home(... lost text ...)
4	Deorum hominumque fidem ! testis non invenitur in ducentiens et triciens sestertio ! Quam multorum hominum ? Sescentorum amplius . Quibus in terris gestum negotium est ? Illo , illo , inquam , loco quem videtis . Extra ordinemne pecunia est data ? Immo vero nummus nu llus sine litteris multis commotus est . Quae est igitur i sta accusatio , quae facilius possit A lpis quam paucos aerari gradus ascendere , diligentius Rutenorum quam populi Romani defendat aerarium , libentius ignotis quam notis utatur , alienigenis quam domesticis testibus , planius se confirmare crimen libidine barbarorum quam nostrorum hominum litteris arbitretur ?	Oh, the good faith of gods and men! no witness is found in a case involving a sum of three million two hundred thousand sesterces! Among how many men? Among more than six hundred. In what countries did this transaction take place? In this place, in this very place which you see. Was the money given irregularly? No money at all was touched without many memoranda. What, then, is the meaning of this accusation, which finds it easier to ascend the Alps than a few steps of the treasury; which defends the treasury of the Ruteni with more anxiety than that of the Roman people; which prefers using unknown witnesses to known ones, foreign witnesses to citizens; which thinks that it is establishing a charge more plainly by the capricious evidence of barbarians than by documents written by our fellow citizens?
5	Duorum magistratuum , quorum uterque in pecunia maxima tractanda procurandaque versatus est , triumviratus et quaesturae , ratio sic redditur , iudices , ut in eis rebus quae ante oculos gestae sunt , ad mu ltos pertinuerunt , confectae publicis privatisque tabulis sunt , nulla significatio furti , nulla alicuius delicti suspicio reperiatur .	Of two magistracies, each of which is occupied in handling and dealing with large sums of money, the triumvirate and the quaestorship, such accurate accounts have been rendered, that in those things which were done in the sight of men, which affected many men's interests, and which were set forth both in public and private registers, no hint of robbery, no suspicion of any offence can possibly arise.
6	Hispaniensis legatio consecuta est turbulentissimo rei publicae tempore , cum adventu L . Sullae maximi exercitus in Italiam cives vi dissiderent , non iudiciis ac legibus ; atque hoc rei publicae statu desperato qualis ( ... lost text ... )	The embassy to Spain followed, in a most disturbed time of the republic; when, on the arrival of Lucius Sulla in Italy, great armies quarrelled about the tribunals and the laws; and in this desperate state of the republic(... lost text ...)
7	Si nulla pecunia numerata est , cuius pecuniae quinquagesima est ?	If no money was paid, of what sum is that fiftieth a part? (... lost text ...) Since his cause is not the same as that of Verres(... lost text ...)
8	Frumenti maximus numerus e Gallia , peditatus amplissimae copiae e Gallia , equites numero plurimi e Gallia .	a great quantity of corn from Gaul; infantry, and a most numerous army from Gaul, a great number of cavalry from Gaul(... lost text ...)
9	Gallos post haec dilutius esse poturos , quod illi venenum esse arbitrabuntur .	That after this the Gauls would drink their wine more diluted, because they thought that there was poison in it(... lost text ...)
10	Plaetori matrem dum vixisset ludum , postquam mortua esset magistros habuisse .	(... lost text ...)
11	( ... lost text ... ) hoc praetore oppressam esse aere alieno Galliam . A quibus versuras tantarum pecuniarum factas esse dicunt ? a Gallis ? Nihil minus . A quibus igitur ? A civibus Romanis qui negotiantur in Gallia . Cur eorum verba non audimus ? cur eorum tabulae nullae proferuntur ? Insector ultro atque insto accusatori , iudices ; insector , inquam , et flagito testis . Plus ego in hac causa laboris et operae consumo in poscendis testibus quam ceteri defensores in refutandis . Audaciter hoc dico , iudices , non temere confirmo . Referta Gallia negotiatorum est , plena civium Romanorum . Nemo Gallorum sine cive Romano quicquam negoti gerit , nummus in Gallia nullus sine civium Romanorum tabulis commovetur .	(... lost text ...)that in the time of this praetor Gaul was overwhelmed with debt. From whom do they say that loans of such sums were procured? From the Gauls? By no means. From whom then? From Roman citizens who are trading in Gaul. Why do we not hear what they have got to say? Why are no accounts of theirs produced? I myself pursue and press the prosecutor, O judges; I pursue him I say, and I demand witnesses. In this cause I am taking more pains and trouble to get them to produce their witnesses, than other advocates for the defence usually take to refute them. I say this boldly, O judges, but I do not assert it rashly. All Gaul is filled with traders,—is full of Roman citizens. No Gaul does any business without the aid of a Roman citizen; not a single sesterce in Gaul ever changes hands without being entered in the account-books of Roman citizens.
12	Videte quo descendam , iudices , quam longe videar ab consuetudine mea et cautione ac diligentia discedere . Vnae tabulae proferantur , in quibus vestigium sit aliquod quod significet pecuniam M . Fonteio datam , unum ex tot negotiatorum , colonorum , publicanorum , aratorum , pecuariorum numero testem producant ; vere accusatum esse concedam . Pro di immortales ! quae haec est causa , quae defensio ? Provinciae Galliae M . Fonteius praefuit , quae constat ex eis generibus hominum et civitatum qui , ut vetera mittam , partim nostra memoria bella cum populo Romano acerba ac diuturna gesserunt , partim modo ab nostris imperatoribus subacti , modo bello domiti , modo triumphis ac monumentis notati , modo ab senatu agris urbibusque multati sunt , partim qui cum ipso M . Fonteio ferrum ac manus contulerunt multoque eius sudore ac labore sub populi Romani imperium dicionemque ceciderunt .	See how I am descending, O judges, how far I seem to be departing from my ordinary habits, from my usual caution and diligence. Let one set of accounts be produced, in which there is any trace whatever which gives the least hint of money having been given to Fonteius; let them produce out of the whole body of traders, of colonists, of publicans, of agriculturists, of graziers, but one witness, and I will allow that this accusation is true. O ye immortal gods! what sort of a cause is this? what sort of a defence? Marcus Fonteius was governor of the province of Gaul, which consists of those tribes of men and of cities, some of whom (to say nothing of old times) have in the memory of the present generation carried on bitter and protracted wars with the Roman people; some have been lately subdued by our generals, lately conquered in war, lately made remarkable by the triumphs which we have celebrated over them, and the monuments which we have erected, and lately mulcted, by the senate, of their lands and cities: some, too, who have fought in battle against Marcus Fonteius himself, have by his toil and labour been reduced under the power and dominion of the Roman people.
13	Est in eadem provincia Narbo Martius , colonia nostrorum civium , specula populi Romani ac propugnaculum istis ipsis nationibus oppositum et obiectum ; est item urbs Massilia , de qua ante dixi , fortissimorum fidelissimorumque sociorum , qui Gallicorum bellorum pericula praecipuis populi Romani praemiis compensarunt ; est praeterea maximus numerus civium Romanorum atque equitum , hominum honestissimorum .	There is in the same province Narbo Martius, a colony of our citizens, set up as a watch-tower of the Roman people, and opposed as a bulwark to the attacks of those very natives. There is also the city of Massilia, which I have already mentioned, a city of most gallant and faithful allies, who have made amends to the Roman people for the dangers to which they have been exposed in the Gallic wars, by their service and assistance; there is, besides, a large number of Roman citizens, and most honourable men.
14	Huic provinciae quae ex hac generum varietate constaret M . Fonteius , ut dixi , praefuit ; qui erant hostes , subegit , qui proxime fuerant , eos ex eis agris quibus erant multati decedere coegit , ceteris qui idcirco magnis saepe erant bellis superati ut semper populo Romano parerent , magnos equitatus ad ea bella quae tum in toto orbe terrarum a populo Romano gerebantur , magnas pecunias ad eorum stipendium , maximum frumenti numerum ad Hispaniense bellum tolerandum imperavit . Is qui gessit in iudicium vocatur , vos qui in re non interfuistis causam una cum populo Romano cognoscitis , dicunt contra quibus invitissimis imperatum est , dicunt qui ex agris ex Cn . Pompei decreto decedere sunt coacti , dicunt qui ex belli caede et fuga nunc primum audent contra M . Fonteium inermem consistere . Quid ? coloni Narbonenses quid volunt , quid existimant ? Hunc per vos salvum volunt , se per hunc incolumis existimant esse . Quid Massiliensium civitas ? Hunc praesentem eis adfecit honoribus quos habuit amplissimos ; vos autem absens orat atque obsecrat ut sua religio , laudatio , auctoritas aliquid apud vestros animos momenti habuisse videatur .	Of this province, consisting of this variety of people, Marcus Fonteius, as I have said, was governor. Those who were enemies, he subdued; those who had lately been so, he compelled to depart from the lands of which they had been deprived by the senate. From the rest, who had been often conquered in great wars, on purpose that they might be rendered obedient for ever to the Roman people, he exacted large troops of cavalry to serve in those wars which at that time were being carried on all over the world by the Roman people, and large sums of money for their pay, and a great quantity of corn to support our armies in the Spanish war. The man who has done all these things is now brought before a court of law. You who were not present at the transactions are, with the Roman people, taking cognisance of the cause; those men are our adversaries who were compelled to leave their lands by the command of Cnaeus Pompeius; those men are our adversaries who having escaped from the war, and the slaughter which was made of them, for the first time dare to stand against Marcus Fonteius, now that he is unarmed. What of the colonists of Narbo? what do they wish? what do they think? They wish this man's safety to be ensured by you, they think that theirs has been ensured by him. What of the state of the Massilians? They distinguished him while he was among them by the greatest honours which they had to bestow; and now, though absent from this place, they pray and entreat you that their blameless character, their panegyric, and their authority may appear to have some weight with you in forming your opinions.
15	Quid ? civium Romanorum quae voluntas est ? Nemo est ex tanto numero quin hunc optime de provincia , de imperio , de sociis et civibus meritum esse arbitretur .	What more shall I say? What is the inclination of the Roman citizens? There is no one of that immense body who does not consider this man to have deserved well of the province, of the empire, of our allies, and of the citizens.
16	Quoniam igitur , iudices , qui oppugnatum M . Fonteium cognostis , qui defensum velint , statuite nunc quid vestra aequitas , quid populi Romani dignitas postulet , utrum colonis vestris , negotiatoribus vestris , amicissimis atque antiquissimis sociis et credere et consulere malitis , an eis quibus neque propter iracundiam fidem neque propter infidelitatem honorem habere debetis . Quid ? si maiorem etiam hominum honestissimorum copiam adferam quae huius virtuti atque innocentiae testimonio possit esse , tamenne plus Gallorum consensio valebit quam summa auctoritas omnium ? Cum Galliae Fonteius praeesset , scitis , iudices , maximos populi Romani exercitus in duabus Hispaniis clarissimosque imperatores fuisse . Quam multi equites Romani , quam multi tribuni militum , quales et quot et quotiens legati ad eos exierunt ! Exercitus praeterea Cn . Pompei maximus atque ornatissimus hiemavit in Gallia M . Fonteio imperante . Satisne vobis multos , satis idoneos testis et conscios videtur ipsa fortuna esse voluisse earum rerum quae M . Fonteio praetore gererentur in Gallia ? Quem ex tanto hominum numero testem in hac causa producere potestis ? quis est ex eo numero qui vobis auctor placeat ? eo nos iam laudatore et teste utemur .	Since, therefore, you now know who wish Marcus Fonteius to be attacked, and who wish him to be defended, decide now what your own regard for equity, and what the dignity of the Roman people requires; whether you prefer trusting your colonists, your traders, your most friendly and ancient allies, and consulting their interests, or the interests of those men, whom, on account of their passionate disposition, you ought not to trust; on account of their disloyalty you ought not to honour. What, if I produce also a still greater number of most honourable men to bear testimony to this man's virtue and innocence? Will the unanimity of the Gauls still be of more weight than that of men of such great authority? When Fonteius was governor of Gaul, you know, O judges, that there were very large armies of the Roman people in the two Spains, and very illustrious generals. How many Roman knights were there, how many military tribunes, how many ambassadors came to them! what eminent men they were, and how frequently did they come! Besides that, a very large and admirably appointed army of Cnaeus Pompeius wintered in Gaul while Marcus Fonteius was governor. Does not Fortune herself appear to have intended that they should be a sufficient number of sufficiently competent witnesses of those things which were done in Gaul while Marcus Fonteius was praetor? Out of all that number of men what witness can you produce in this cause? Who is there of all that body of men whose authority you are willing to cite? We will use that very man as our panegyrist and our witness.
17	Dubitabitis etiam diutius , iudices , quin illud quod initio vobis proposui verissimum sit , aliud per hoc iudicium nihil agi nisi ut M . Fonteio oppresso testimoniis eorum quibus multa rei publicae causa invitissimis imperata sunt , segniores posthac ad imperandum ceteri sint , cum videatis eos oppugnare quibus victoribus populi Romani imperium incolume esse non possit ?	Will you doubt any longer, O judges, that that which I stated to you at the beginning is most true, that there is another object in this prosecution, beyond causing others, after Marcus Fonteius has been overwhelmed by the testimonies of these men, from whom many contributions have been exacted, greatly against their will, for the sake of the republic, to be for the future more lax in governing, when they see these men attacked, who are such men that, if they are crushed, the empire of the Roman people cannot be maintained in safety
18	Obiectum est etiam quaestum M . Fonteium ex viarum munitione fecisse , ut aut ne cogeret munire , aut id quod munitum esset ne improbaret . Si et coacti sunt munire omnes et multorum opera improbata sunt , certe utrumque falsum est , et ob vacationem pretium datum , cum immunis nemo fuerit , et ob probationem , cum multa improbata sint . Quid ? si hoc crimen optimis nominibus delegare possimus , et ita non ut culpam in alios transferamus , sed uti doceamus eos isti munitioni praefuisse qui facile officium suum et praestare et probare possunt , tamenne vos omnia in M . Fonteium iratis testibus freti conferetis ? Cum maioribus rei publicae negotiis M . Fonteius impediretur , et cum ad rem publicam pertineret viam Domitiam muniri , legatis suis , primariis viris , C . Annio Bellieno et C . Fonteio , negotium dedit ; itaque praefuerunt ; imperaverunt pro dignitate sua quod visum est et probaverunt ; quod vos , si nulla alia ex re , ex litteris quidem nostris quas exscripsistis et missis et adlatis certe scire potuistis . Quas si antea non legistis , nunc ex nobis quid de eis rebus Fonteius ad legatos suos scripserit , quid ad eum illi rescripserint , cognoscite . L . M . " ad C . Annivm leg ., ad C . Fonteivm leg ., L . A . ab C . Annio leg ., ab C .Fonteio leg . "	A charge has also been advanced that Marcus Fonteius has made a profit from the making of roads; taking money either for not compelling people to make roads, or for not disapproving of roads which had been made. If all the cities have been compelled to make roads, and if the works of many of them have not been passed, then certainly both charges are false,—the charge that money has been given for exemption, when no one was exempted; and for approval, when many were disapproved of. What if we can shift this charge on other most unimpeachable names? not so as to transfer any blame to others, but to show that these men were appointed to superintend that road-making, who are easily able to show that their duty was performed, and performed well. Will you still urge all these charges against Marcus Fonteius, relying on angry witnesses? When Marcus Fonteius was hindered by more important affairs of the republic, and when it concerned the republic that the Domitian road should be made, he entrusted the business to his lieutenants, men of the highest characters, Caius Annius, Bellienus, and Caius Fonteius. So they superintended it; they ordered what seemed necessary, as became their dignity, and they sanctioned what seemed well done. And you have at all events had opportunities of knowing these things, both from our documents, from documents which you yourselves have written, and from others which have been sent to you, and produced before you; and if you have not already read them, now hear us read what Fonteius wrote about those matters to his lieutenants, and what they wrote to him in answer. [The letters sent to Caius Annius the Lieutenant, and to Caius Fonteius the Lieutenant; also, the letters received from Caius Annius the Lieutenant, and from Caius Fonteius the Lieutenant, are read.]
19	Satis opinor esse perspicuum , iudices , hanc rationem munitionis neque ad M . Fonteium pertinere et ab eis esse tractatam quos nemo possit reprehendere .	I think it is plain enough, O judges, that this question about the road-making does not concern Marcus Fonteius, and that the business was managed by these men, with whom no one can find fault.