On the Agrarian Law (M. Tullius Cicero)

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	On the Agrarian Law Author: M. Tullius Cicero	Translator: C. D. Yonge
22	quid enim cavendum est in coloniis deducendis ? si luxuries , Hannibalem ipsum Capua corrupit , si superbia , nata inibi esse haec ex Campanorum fastidio videtur , si praesidium , non praeponitur huic urbi ista colonia , sed opponitur . at quem ad modum armatur , di immortales ! nam bello Punico quicquid potuit Capua , potuit ipsa per sese ; nunc omnes urbes quae circum Capuam sunt a colonis per eosdem xviros occupabuntur ; hanc enim ob causam permittit ipsa lex , in omnia quae velint oppida colonos ut xviri deducant quos velint . atque his colonis agrum Campanum et Stellatem campum dividi iubet .	For what is there that is especially to be guarded against in the establishment of colonies? If it be luxury— Capua corrupted Hannibal himself. If it be pride—that appears from the general arrogance of the Campanians to be innate there. If we want a bulwark for the state—then I say, that Capua is not placed in front of this city as an outwork, but is opposed to it as an enemy. But how is it armed? O ye immortal gods! For in the Punic war all the power that Capua had, it had from its unassisted resources; but now, all the cities which are around Capua will be occupied by colonists, by the order of these same decemvirs. For, for this reason, the law itself allows, “that the decemvirs may lead whoever they please as settlers to every town which they choose.” And it orders the Campanian district, and that of Stella, to be divided among these colonists.
23	non queror deminutionem vectigalium , non flagitium huius iacturae atque damni , praetermitto illa quae nemo est quin gravissime et verissime conqueri possit , nos caput patrimoni publici , pulcherrimam populi Romani possessionem , subsidium annonae , horreum belli , sub signo claustrisque rei publicae positum vectigal servare non potuisse , eum denique nos agrum P . Rullo concessisse , qui ager ipse per sese et Sullanae dominationi et Gracchorum largitioni restitisset ; non dico solum hoc in re publica vectigal esse quod amissis aliis remaneat , intermissis non conquiescat , in pace niteat , in bello non obsolescat , militem sustentet , hostem non pertimescat ; praetermitto omnem hanc orationem et contioni reservo ; de periculo salutis ac libertatis loquor .	I do not complain of the diminution of the revenues; nor of the wickedness of this loss and injury. I pass over those things which there is no one who cannot complain of with the greatest weight and the greatest truth; that we have not been able to preserve the most important part of the public patrimony of the state, that which has been to us the source of our supply of corn, our granary in time of war, our revenue placed under custody of the seals and bolts of the republic; that we, in short, have abandoned that district to Publius Rullus, which itself by its own resources had resisted both the absolute power of Sulla, and the corrupting liberality of the Gracchi. I do not say that, now that so much has been lost, this is the only revenue which remains in the republic; the only one which, while other sources of income are interrupted, does not fail us; the only one which is splendid in peace, is; not worn out in war; which supports our soldiery, and is not afraid of our enemies. I pass over all this which I might say; I reserve that for the assembly of the people. I am speaking now of the danger to our safety and to our liberty.
24	quid enim existimatis integrum vobis in re publica fore aut in vestra libertate ac dignitate retinenda , cum Rullus atque ei quos multo magis quam Rullum timetis cum omni egentium atque improborum manu , cum omnibus copiis , cum omni argento et auro Capuam et urbis circa Capuam occuparint ? his ego rebus , patres conscripti , resistam vehementer atque acriter neque patiar homines ea me consule expromere quae contra rem publicam iam diu cogitarunt .	For what do you think will remain to you unimpaired in the whole republic, or in your liberty, or in your dignity, when Rullus, and those whom you are much more afraid of than you are of Rullus, with his whole band of needy and unprincipled men, with all his forces, with all his silver and gold, shall have occupied Capua and the cities around Capua? These things, O conscript fathers, I will resist eagerly and vigorously; and I will not permit men, while I am consul, to bring forth those plans against the republic which they have long been meditating.
25	Errastis , Rulle , vehementer et tu et non nulli conlegae tui qui sperastis vos contra consulem veritate , non ostentatione popularem posse in evertenda re publica populares existimari . lacesso vos , in contionem voco , populo Romano disceptatore uti volo .	You made a great mistake, O Rullus, you and some of your colleagues, when you hoped that, in being in opposition to a consul who studied the interests of the people in reality, not by making a vain parade of so doing, you would be able to gain popularity while overturning the republic. I challenge you; I invite you to the assembly; I will accept the Roman people as an umpire between us
26	etenim , ut circumspiciamus omnia quae populo grata atque iucunda sunt , nihil tam populare quam pacem , quam concordiam , quam otium reperiemus . sollicitam mihi civitatem suspicione , suspensam metu , perturbatam vestris legibus et contionibus et deductionibus tradidistis ; spem improbis ostendistis , timorem bonis iniecistis , fidem de foro , dignitatem de re publica sustulistis .	In fact, if we look round to survey everything which is; pleasant and acceptable to the people, we shall find that nothing is so popular as peace, and concord, and ease. You have given up to me a city made anxious with suspicion, in suspense from fear, harassed to death by your proposed laws, and assemblies, and seditions. You have inflamed the hopes of the wicked; you have filled the virtuous with alarms; you have banished good faith from the forum, and dignity from the republic.
27	hoc motu atque hac perturbatione animorum atque rerum cum populo Romano vox et auctoritas consulis repente in tantis tenebris inluxerit , cum ostenderit nihil esse metuendum , nullum exercitum , nullam manum , nullas colonias , nullam venditionem vectigalium , nullum imperium novum , nullum regnum xvirale , nullam alteram Romam neque aliam sedem imperi nobis consulibus futuram summamque tranquillitatem pacis atque oti , verendum , credo , nobis erit ne vestra ista praeclara lex agraria magis popularis esse videatur .	Amid all this commotion and agitation of minds and circumstances, when the voice and authority of the consul has suddenly, from amid such great darkness, dawned on the Roman people; when it has shown that nothing need be feared; that no regular army, no band of extempore ruffians, no colony, no sale of the revenues, no new of command, no reign of decemvirs, no new Rome or opposition seat of empire, will be allowed to exist while we are consuls; that the greatest tranquillity of peace and ease will be secured; then, no doubt, we shall have much reason to ear that this beautiful agrarian law of yours will appear popular.
28	Cum vero scelera consiliorum vestrorum fraudemque legis et insidias quae ipsi populo Romano a popularibus tribunis plebis fiant ostendero , pertimescam , credo , ne mihi non liceat contra vos in contione consistere , praesertim cum mihi deliberatum et constitutum sit ita gerere consulatum quo uno modo geri graviter et libere potest , ut neque provinciam neque honorem neque ornamentum aliquod aut commodum neque rem ullam quae a tribuno plebis impediri possit appetiturus sim .	But when I have displayed the wickedness of your counsels, the dishonesty of your law, and the treachery which is planned by those popular tribunes of the people against the Roman people; then, I suppose, I shall have reason to fear that I shall not be allowed to appear in the assembly, for the purpose of opposing you; especially when I have determined and resolved so to conduct myself in my consulship, (and the duties of the consulship cannot be discharged with dignity and freedom, in any other manner,) as neither to desire any province, nor honour, nor dignity nor advantage nor anything whatever which can have any hindrance thrown in its way by any tribune of the people.
29	dicit frequentissimo senatu consul Kalendis Ianuariis sese , si status hic rei publicae maneat neque aliquod negotium exstiterit quod honeste subterfugere non possit , in provinciam non iturum . sic me in hoc magistratu geram , patres conscripti , ut possim tribunum plebis rei publicae iratum coercere , mihi iratum contemnere .	The consul states, in full senate, on the calends of January, that if the present condition of the republic continues, and if no new event arises, on account of which he cannot with honour avoid it, he will not go to any province. By that means I shall be able, O conscript fathers, so to behave myself in this magistracy, as to be able to restrain any tribune of the people who is hostile to the republic,—to despise any one who is hostile to myself.
30	quam ob rem , per deos immortalis ! conligite vos , tribuni plebis , deserite eos a quibus , nisi prospicitis , brevi tempore deseremini , conspirate nobiscum , consentite cum bonis , communem rem publicam communi studio atque amore defendite . multa sunt occulta rei publicae volnera , multa nefariorum civium perniciosa consilia ; nullum externum periculum est , non rex , non gens ulla , non natio pertimescenda est ; inclusum malum , intestinum ac domesticum est . huic pro se quisque nostrum mederi atque hoc omnes sanare velle debemus .	Wherefore, in the name of the immortal gods! I entreat you, recollect yourselves, O tribunes of the people; desert those men by whom, in a short time, unless you take great care, you will yourselves be deserted. Conspire with us; agree with all virtuous men defend our common republic with one common zeal and affection. There are many secret wounds sustained by the republic. There are many mischievous counsels of abandoned citizens designed against her. There is no external danger. There is no king no nation, no people in the world whom we need fear. The evil is confined within our own walls internal and domestic very one of us to the best of his power ought to resist and to remedy this.
31	erratis , si senatum probare ea quae dicuntur a me putatis , populum autem esse in alia voluntate . omnes qui se incolumis volent sequentur auctoritatem consulis soluti a cupiditatibus , liberi a delictis , cauti in periculis , non timidi in contentionibus . quod si qui vestrum spe ducitur se posse turbulenta ratione honori velificari suo , primum me consule id sperare desistat , deinde habeat me ipsum sibi documento , quem equestri ortum loco consulem videt , quae vitae via facillime viros bonos ad honorem dignitatemque perducat . quod si vos vestrum mihi studium , patres conscripti , ad communem dignitatem defendendam profitemini , perficiam profecto , id quod maxime res publica desiderat , ut huius ordinis auctoritas , quae apud maiores nostros fuit , eadem nunc longo intervallo rei publicae restituta esse videatur .	You mistake if you think that the senate approves of what is said by me, but that the inclinations of the people are different. All men, who wish to be safe themselves, will follow the authority of the consul, a man uninfluenced by evil passion; free from all suspicion of guilt; cautious in danger; not fearful in contest. But if any one of you cherishes a hope that he may be able in a turbulent state of affairs to promote his own interests, first of all, let him give up hoping any such thing as long as I am consul. In the next place, let him take me myself as a proof—(me whom he sees now consul, though born only in the equestrian rank)—of what course of life most easily conducts virtuous men to honour and dignity. But if you, O conscript father, assist me with your zeal and energy in defending our common dignity, then, in truth, I shall accomplish that of which our republic is at present in the greatest possible need. I shall make the authority of this order, which existed so long among our ancestors, appear after a long interval to be again restored to the republic.
32	DE LEGE AGRARIA ORATIO SECVNDA CONTRA P . SERVILIVM RVLLVM TR . PLEB. AD POPVLVM	THE SECOND SPEECH OF M. T. CICERO IN OPPOSITION TO PUBLIUS SERVILIUS RULLUS, A TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE, CONCERNING THE AGRARIAN LAW. DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE. THE ARGUMENT. A few days after the preceding speech in the senate, Cicero came into the assembly of the people, and made the following speech to them; dilating on the different particulars of the proposed law, and on its evils, at much greater length than he had done when he addressed the senate. And he succeeded so much, that, as he says himself, no one had ever had more success in arguing in favour of an agrarian law, (which was always likely to be a popular proposal,) than he had in haranguing the people against this one.
33	est hoc in more positum , Quirites , institutoque maiorum , ut ei qui beneficio vestro imagines familiae suae consecuti sunt eam primam habeant contionem , qua gratiam benefici vestri cum suorum laude coniungant . qua in oratione non nulli aliquando digni maiorum loco reperiuntur , plerique autem hoc perficiunt ut tantum maioribus eorum debitum esse videatur , unde etiam quod posteris solveretur redundaret . mihi , Quirites , apud vos de meis maioribus dicendi facultas non datur , non quo non tales fuerint qualis nos illorum sanguine creatos disciplinisque institutos videtis , sed quod laude populari atque honoris vestri luce caruerunt .	It is in accordance with the customs and established usages of our ancestors, O Romans, that those who, by your kindness, have overtaken the images of their family, should, the first time that they hold an assembly of the people, take an opportunity of uniting thanks to you for your kindness with a panegyric on their ancestors, and in the speech then made, some men are, on some occasions, found worthy of the rank of their ancestors. But most men only accomplish this,—namely, to make it seem that so vast a debt is due to their ancestors, that there is something still left to be paid to their posterity. I, indeed, have no opportunity of speaking before you of my ancestors, not because they were not such men as you see me also to be, who am born of their blood, and educated in their principles, but because they had never any share of popular praise, or of the light of honours conferred by you.
34	de me autem ipso vereor ne adrogantis sit apud vos dicere , ingrati tacere . nam et quibus studiis hanc dignitatem consecutus sim memet ipsum commemorare perquam grave est , et silere de tantis vestris beneficiis nullo modo possum . qua re adhibebitur a me certa ratio moderatioque dicendi , ut quid a vobis acceperim commemorem , qua re dignus vestro summo honore singularique iudicio sim , ipse modice dicam , si necesse erit , vos eosdem existimaturos putem qui iudicavistis .	And of myself I fear lest it may look like arrogance to speak, and yet like ingratitude to be silent. For it is a very troublesome thing for me myself to enumerate to you the pursuits by which I have earned this dignity; and, on the other hand, I cannot possibly be silent about your great kindnesses to me. Wherefore I will employ a reasonable moderation in speaking, so as to mention the kindness which I have received from you. I will speak slightly of the reasons why I am thought to have deserved the greatest honour you can confer, and your singularly favourable judgment of me.
35	me perlongo intervallo prope memoriae temporumque nostrorum primum hominem novum consulem fecistis et eum locum quem nobilitas praesidiis firmatum atque omni ratione obvallatum tenebat me duce rescidistis virtutique in posterum patere voluistis . neque me tantum modo consulem , quod est ipsum per sese amplissimum , sed ita fecistis quo modo pauci nobiles in hac civitate consules facti sunt , novus ante me nemo .	After a very long interval, almost beyond the memory of our times, you have for the first time made me, a new man, consul; and you have opened that rank which the nobles have held strengthened by guards, and fenced round in every possible manner, in my instance first, and have resolved that it should in future be open to virtue. Nor have you only made me consul, though that is of itself a most honourable thing, but you have made me so in such a way as very few nobles in this city have ever been made consuls before in, and no new man whatever before me.
36	nam profecto , si recordari volueritis de novis hominibus , reperietis eos qui sine repulsa consules facti sunt diuturno labore atque aliqua occasione esse factos , cum multis annis post petissent quam praetores fuissent , aliquanto serius quam per aetatem ac per leges liceret ; qui autem anno suo petierint , sine repulsa non esse factos ; me esse unum ex omnibus novis hominibus de quibus meminisse possimus , qui consulatum petierim cum primum licitum sit , consul factus sim cum primum petierim , ut vester honos ad mei temporis diem petitus , non ad alienae petitionis occasionem interceptus , nec diuturnis precibus efflagitatus , sed dignitate impetratus esse videatur .	For, in truth, if you please to recollect, you will find that those new men who have at any time been made consuls without a repulse, have been elected after long toil, and on some critical emergency, having stood for it many years after they had been praetors, and a good deal later than they might have done according to the laws regulating the age of candidates for the office; but that those who stood for it in their regular year were not elected without a repulse; that I am the only one of all the new men whom we can remember who have stood for the consulship the first moment that by law I could,—who have been elected consul the first time that I have stood; so that this honour which you have conferred on me, having been sought by me at the proper time, appears not to have been filched by me on the occasion of some unpopular candidate offering himself,—not to have been gained by long perseverance in asking for it, but to have been fairly earned by my worth and dignity.
37	estillud amplissimum quod paulo ante commemoravi , Quirites , quod hoc honore ex novis hominibus primum me multis post annis adfecistis , quod prima petitione , quod anno meo , sed tamen magnificentius atque ornatius esse illo nihil potest , quod meis comitiis non tabellam vindicem tacitae libertatis , sed vocem vivam prae vobis indicem vestrarum erga me voluntatum ac studiorum tulistis . itaque me non extrema diribitio suffragiorum , sed primi illi vestri concursus , neque singulae voces praeconum , sed una vox universi populi Romani consulem declaravit .	This, also, is a most honorable thing for me, O Romans, which I mentioned a few minutes ago,—that I am the first new man for many years on whom you have conferred this honour,—that you have conferred it on my first application, in my proper year. But yet nothing can be more splendid or more honourable for me than this circumstance,—that at the comitia at which I was elected you delivered not your ballot, the vindication of your silent liberty, but your eager voices as the witnesses of your good-will towards, and zeal for me. And so it was not the last tribe of the votes, but the very first moment of your meeting,—it was not the single voices of the criers, but the whole Roman people with one voice that declared me consul.
38	hoc ego tam insigne , tam singulare vestrum beneficium , Quirites , cum ad animi mei fructum atque laetitiam duco esse permagnum , tum ad curam sollicitudinemque multo magis . versantur enim , Quirites , in animo meo multae et graves cogitationes quae mihi nullam partem neque diurnae neque nocturnae quietis impertiunt , primum tuendi consulatus , quae cum omnibus est difficilis et magna ratio , tum vero mihi praeter ceteros cuius errato nulla venia , recte facto exigua laus et ab invitis expressa proponitur ; non dubitanti fidele consilium , non laboranti certum subsidium nobilitatis ostenditur .	I think this eminent and unprecedented kindness of yours, O Romans, of great weight as a reward for my courage, and as a source of joy to me, but still more calculated to impress me with care and anxiety. For, O Romans, many and grave thoughts occupy my mind, which allow me but little rest day or night. First, there is anxiety about discharging the duties of the consulship which is a difficult and important business to all men, and especially to me above all other men; for if I err, I shall obtain no pardon—if I do well, I shall get but little praise, and that, too, extorted from unwilling people—if I am in doubt, I have no faithful counselors to whom I can apply—if I am in difficulty, I have no sure assistance from the nobles on which I can depend.
39	quod si solus in discrimen aliquod adducerer , ferrem , Quirites , animo aequiore ; sed mihi videntur certi homines , si qua in re me non modo consilio verum etiam casu lapsum esse arbitrabuntur , vos universos qui me antetuleritis nobilitati vituperaturi . mihi autem , Quirites , omnia potius perpetienda esse duco quam non ita gerendum consulatum ut in omnibus meis factis atque consiliis vestrum de me factum consiliumque laudetur . accedit etiam ille mihi summus labor ac difficillima ratio consulatus gerendi , quod non eadem mihi qua superioribus consulibus lege et condicione utendum esse decrevi , qui aditum huius loci conspectumque vestrum partim magno opere fugerunt , partim non vehementer secuti sunt . ego autem non solum hoc in loco dicam ubi est id dictu facillimum , sed in ipso senatu in quo esse locus huic voci non videbatur popularem me futurum esse consulem prima illa mea oratione Kalendis Ianuariis dixi .	But, if I alone were in danger, I would bear it, O Romans, with more equanimity; but there appears to me to be some men determined, if they think that I have done anything wrongly not only intentionally, but even by chance, to blame all of you for having preferred me to the nobles. But I think, O Romans that I ought to endure everything rather than not discharge the duties of my consulship in such a manner, as by all my actions and counsels to compel men to praise your action and counsel with respect to me. There is also this added to the great labour and difficulty which I see before me in discharging the duties of my office, that I have made up my mind that I ought not to adopt the same rule and principle of conduct which former consuls have; some of whom have carefully avoided all approach to this place, and the sight of you, and others have at all events not been very fond of it. But I not only declare in this place where it is exceedingly easy to do it, but I said in my very first speech on the first of January, in the senate itself, which did not seem likely to be so favourable a place for the expression, that I would be a consul in the interests of the people.
40	neque enim ullo modo facere possum ut , cum me intellegam non hominum potentium studio , non excellentibus gratiis paucorum , sed universi populi Romani iudicio consulem ita factum ut nobilissimis hominibus longe praeponerer , non et in hoc magistratu et in omni vita videar esse popularis . sed mihi ad huius verbi vim et interpretationem vehementer opus est vestra sapientia . versatur enim magnus error propter insidiosas non nullorum simulationes qui , cum populi non solum commoda verum etiam salutem oppugnant et impediunt , oratione adsequi volunt ut populares esse videantur .	Nor is it possible for me, knowing, as I do, that I have been made consul, not by the zeal of the powerful citizens, nor by the preponderating influence of a few men, but by the deliberate judgment of the Roman people, and that, too, in such a way as to be preferred to men of the very highest rank, to avoid, both in this magistracy and throughout my whole life, devoting myself to the interests of the people. When, however, I speak of the interests of the people, I have great need of your wisdom in giving the proper meaning and interpretation to this expression. For there is a great error abroad, by reason of the treacherous pretences made by some people, who, though they oppose and hinder not only the advantage but even the safety of the people, still endeavour by their speeches to make men believe them zealous for the interests of the people.
41	ego qualem Kalendis Ianuariis acceperim rem publicam , Quirites , intellego , plenam sollicitudinis , plenam timoris ; in qua nihil erat mali , nihil adversi quod non boni metuerent , improbi exspectarent ; omnia turbulenta consilia contra hunc rei publicae statum et contra vestrum otium partim iniri , partim nobis consulibus designatis inita esse dicebantur ; sublata erat de foro fides non ictu aliquo novae calamitatis , sed suspicione ac perturbatione iudiciorum , infirmatione rerum iudicatarum ; novae dominationes , extraordinaria non imperia , sed regna quaeri putabantur .	I, O Romans, know in what condition I received the republic on the first of January: full of anxiety, full of fear. There was no evil, no misfortune which the good were not dreading and the bad looking out for. Every sort of seditious design against the existing constitution of the republic, and against your tranquillity, was said to be in contemplation,—some such to have been actually set on foot the moment we were elected consuls. All confidence was banished from the forum, not by the stroke of any new calamity, but by the general suspicion entertained of the courts of justice, and by the disorder into which they had fallen, and by the constant reversal of previous decisions. New authority, extraordinary powers, suited not to commanders, but to kings, were supposed to be aimed at.
42	quae cum ego non solum suspicarer , sed plane cernerem — neque enim obscure gerebantur — dixi in senatu in hoc magistratu me popularem consulem futurum . quid enim est tam populare quam pax ? qua non modo ei quibus natura sensum dedit sed etiam tecta atque agri mihi laetari videntur . quid tam populare quam libertas ? quam non solum ab hominibus verum etiam a bestiis expeti atque omnibus rebus anteponi videtis . quid tam populare quam otium ? quod ita iucundum est ut et vos et maiores vestri et fortissimus quisque vir maximos labores suscipiendos putet , ut aliquando in otio possit esse , praesertim in imperio ac dignitate . quin idcirco etiam maioribus nostris praecipuam laudem gratiamque debemus , quod eorum labore est factum uti impune in otio esse possemus . qua re qui possum non esse popularis , cum videam haec omnia , Quirites , pacem externam , libertatem propriam generis ac nominis vestri , otium domesticum , denique omnia quae vobis cara atque ampla sunt in fidem et quodam modo in patrocinium mei consulatus esse conlata ?	And as I did not only suspect these things, but clearly saw them, (for indeed there was no secret made of what was being done,) I said in the senate that I would in this magistracy prove a consul devoted to the interests of the people. For what is there so advantageous to the people as peace? in which not only the animals to whom nature has given sense, but even the houses and fields appear to me to rejoice. What is so advantageous to the people as liberty? which is sought out and preferred to everything, not only by men, but even by the beasts. What is so advantageous to the people as tranquillity? which is so delightful a thing, that both you and your ancestors, and every brave man, thinks it worth his while to encounter the greatest labours, in order at length to enjoy tranquillity, particularly if he be a man in command, or a man of high rank. And we, therefore, are bound to give great praise and to show great gratitude to our ancestors, because it is owing to their labours that we are able to enjoy tranquillity without risk. How then can I avoid being devoted to the interests of the people, O Romans, when I see all these things,—our peace abroad, and the liberty which belongs to the Roman race and Roman name, and our domestic tranquillity, and everything, in short, which is considered by you as valuable or honourable, entrusted to the good faith, and, as it were, to the protection of my consulship?