For P. Sulla (M. Tullius Cicero)

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	For P. Sulla Author: M. Tullius Cicero	Translator: C. D. Yonge
1	PRO P . SVLLA ORATIO Maxime vellem , iudices , ut P . Sulla et antea dignitatis suae splendorem obtinere et post calamitatem acceptam modestiae fructum aliquem percipere potuisset . Sed quoniam ita tulit casus infestus ut in amplissimo honore cum communi ambitionis invidia tum singulari Autroni odio everteretur , et in his pristinae fortunae reliquiis miseris et adflictis tamen haberet quosdam quorum animos ne supplicio quidem suo satiare posset , quamquam ex huius incommodis magnam animo molestiam capio , tamen in ceteris malis facile patior oblatum mihi tempus esse in quo boni viri lenitatem meam misericordiamque , notam quondam omnibus , nunc quasi intermissam agnoscerent , improbi ac perditi cives domiti atque victi praecipitante re publica vehementem me fuisse atque fortem , conservata mitem ac misericordem faterentur .	I should have been very glad, O judges, if Publius Sulla had been able formerly to retain the honour of the dignity to which he was appointed, and had been allowed, after the misfortune which befell him, to derive some reward from his moderation in adversity. But since his unfriendly fortune has brought it about that he has been damaged, even at a time of his greatest honour, by the unpopularity ensuing not only from the common envy which pursues ambitious men, but also by the singular hatred in which Autronius is held, and that even in this sad and deplorable wreck of his former fortunes, he has still some enemies whose hostility he is unable to appease by the punishment which has fallen upon him; although I am very greatly concerned at his distresses, yet in his other misfortunes I can easily endure that an opportunity should be offered to me of causing virtuous men to recognise my lenity and merciful disposition, which was formerly known to every one, but which has of late been interrupted as it were; and of forcing wicked and profligate citizens, being again defeated and vanquished, to confess that, when the republic was in danger, I was energetic and fearless; now that it is said, I am lenient and merciful.
2	Et quoniam L . Torquatus , meus familiaris ac necessarius , iudices , existimavit , si nostram in accusatione sua necessitudinem familiaritatemque violasset , aliquid se de auctoritate meae defensionis posse detrahere , cum huius periculi propulsatione coniungam defensionem offici mei . Quo quidem genere non uterer orationis , iudices , hoc tempore , si mea solum interesset ; multis enim locis mihi et data facultas est et saepe dabitur de mea laude dicendi ; sed , ut ille vidit , quantum de mea auctoritate deripuisset , tantum se de huius praesidiis deminuturum , sic hoc ego sentio , si mei facti rationem vobis constantiamque huius offici ac defensionis probaro , causam quoque me P . Sullae probaturum .	And since Lucius Torquatus, O judges, my own most intimate friend, O judges, has thought that if he violated our friendship and intimacy somewhat in his speech for the prosecution, he could by that means detract a little from the authority of my defence, I will unite with my endeavours to ward off danger from my client a defence of my own conduct in the discharge of my duty. Not that I would employ that sort of speech at present, O judges, if my own interest alone were concerned, for on many occasions and in many places I have had, and I often shall have, opportunities of speaking of my own credit. But as he, O judges, has thought that the more he could take away from my authority, the more also he would be diminishing my client's means of protection; I also think, that if I can induce you to approve of the principles of my conduct and my wisdom in this discharge of my duty and in undertaking this defence, I shall also induce you to look favourably on the cause of Publius Sulla.
3	Ac primum abs te illud , L . Torquate , quaero , cur me a ceteris clarissimis viris ac principibus civitatis in hoc officio atque in defensionis iure secernas . Quid enim est quam ob rem abs te Q . Hortensi factum , clarissimi viri atque ornatissimi , non reprehendatur , reprehendatur meum ? Nam , si est initum a P . Sulla consilium inflammandae huius urbis , exstinguendi imperi , delendae civitatis , mihi maiorem hae res dolorem quam Q . Hortensio , mihi maius odium adferre debent , meum denique gravius esse iudicium , qui adiuvandus in his causis , qui oppugnandus , qui defendendus , qui deserendus esse videatur ? ' Ita , ' inquit ; ' tu enim investigasti , tu patefecisti coniurationem . '	And in the first place, O Torquatus, I ask you this why you should separate me from the other illustrious and chief men of this city, in regard to this duty, and to the right of defending clients? For what is the reason why the act of Quintus Hortensius a most illustrious man and a most accomplished citizen, is not blamed by you, and mine is blamed? For if a design of firing the city, and of extinguishing this empire, and of destroying this city, was entertained by Publius Sulla ought not such projects to raise greater indignation and greater hatred against their authors in me than in Quintus Hortensius? Ought not my opinion to be more severe in such a matter, as to whom I should think fit to assist in these causes, whom to oppose, whom to defend, and whom to abandon? No doubt, says he, for it was you who investigated, you who laid open the whole conspiracy.
4	Quod cum dicit , non attendit eum qui patefecerit hoc curasse , ut id omnes viderent quod antea fuisset occultum . Qua re ista coniuratio , si patefacta per me est , tam patet Hortensio quam mihi . Quem cum videas hoc honore , auctoritate , virtute , consilio praeditum non dubitasse quin innocentiam P . Sullae defenderet , quaero cur qui aditus ad causam Hortensio patuerit mihi interclusus esse debuerit ; quaero illud etiam , si me , qui defendo , reprehendendum putas esse , quid tandem de his existimes summis viris et clarissimis civibus , quorum studio et dignitate celebrari hoc iudicium , ornari causam , defendi huius innocentiam vides . Non enim una ratio est defensionis ea quae posita est in oratione ; omnes qui adsunt , qui laborant , qui salvum volunt , pro sua parte atque auctoritate defendunt .	And when he says this, he does not perceive that the man who laid it open took care that all men should see that which had previously been hidden. Wherefore that conspiracy, if it was laid open by me, is now as evident in all its particulars to Hortensius as it is to me. And when you see that he, a man of such rank, and authority, and virtue, and wisdom, has not hesitated to defend this innocent Publius Sulla, I ask why the access to the cause which was open to Hortensius, ought to be closed against me? I ask this also,—if you think that I, who defend him, am to he blamed, what do you think of those excellent men and most illustrious citizens, by whose zeal and dignified presence you perceive that this trial is attended, by whom the cause of my client is honoured, by whom his innocence is upheld? For that is not the only method of defending a man's cause which consists in speaking for him. All who countenance him with their presence, who show anxiety in his behalf, who desire his safety, all, as far as their opportunities allow or their authority extends, are defending him.
5	An vero , in quibus subselliis haec ornamenta ac lumina rei publicae viderem , in his me apparere nollem , cum ego illum in locum atque in hanc excelsissimam sedem dignitatis atque honoris multis meis ac magnis laboribus et periculis ascendissem ? Atque ut intellegas , Torquate , quem accuses , si te forte id offendit quod ego , qui in hoc genere quaestionis defenderim neminem , non desim P . Sullae , recordare de ceteris quos adesse huic vides ; intelleges et de hoc et de aliis iudicium meum et horum par atque unum fuisse .	Ought I to be unwilling to appear on these benches on which I see these lights and ornaments of the republic, when it is only by my own numerous and great labours and dangers that I have mounted into their rank, and into this lofty position and dignity which I now enjoy? And that you may understand, O Torquatus, whom you are accusing, if you are offended that I, who have defended no one on inquiries of this sort do not abandon Publius Sulla, remember also the other men, whom you see countenancing this man by their presence. You will see that their opinion and mine has been one and the same about this man's case, and about that of the others. Who of us stood by Varguntius? No one. Not even this Quintus Hortensius, the very man who had formerly been his only defender when prosecuted for corruption. For he did not think himself connected by any bond of duty with that man, when he, by the commission of such enormous wickedness, had broken asunder the ties of all duties whatever. Who of us countenanced Servius Sulla? who (... lost text ...)? who of us thought Marcus Laeca or Caius Cornelius fit to be defended? who of all the men whom you see here gave the countenance of his presence to any one of those criminals?
6	Quis nostrum adfuit Vargunteio ? Nemo , ne hic quidem Q . Hortensius , praesertim qui illum solus antea de ambitu defendisset . Non enim iam se ullo officio cum illo coniunctum arbitrabatur , cum ille tanto scelere commisso omnium officiorum societatem diremisset . Quis nostrum Serv . Sullam , quis Publium , quis M . Laecam , quis C . Cornelium defendendum putavit , quis eis horum adfuit ? Nemo . Quid ita ? Quia ceteris in causis etiam nocentis viri boni , si necessarii sunt , deserendos esse non putant ; in hoc crimine non solum levitatis est culpa verum etiam quaedam contagio sceleris , si defendas eum quem obstrictum esse patriae parricidio suspicere .	No one. Why was that? Because in other causes good men think that they ought not to refuse to defend even guilty men, if they are their own intimate personal friends; but in this prosecution, there would not only be the fault of acting lightly, but there would be even some infection of wickedness which would taint one who defended that man whom he suspected of being involved in the guilt of planning the parricide of his country.
7	Quid ? Autronio nonne sodales , non conlegae sui , non veteres amici , quorum ille copia quondam abundarat , non hi omnes qui sunt in re publica principes defuerunt ? Immo etiam testimonio plerique laeserunt . Statuerant tantum illud esse maleficium quod non modo non occultari per se sed etiam aperiri inlustrarique deberet .	What was the case of Autronius? did not his companions, did not his own colleagues, did not his former friends, of whom he had at one time an ample number, did not all these men, who are the chief men in the republic, abandon him? Yes, and many of them even damaged him with their evidence. They made up their minds that it was an offence of such enormity, that they not only were bound to abstain from doing anything to conceal it, but that it was their duty to reveal it, and throw all the light that they were able upon it.
8	Quam ob rem quid est quod mirere , si cum isdem me in hac causa vides adesse cum quibus in ceteris intellegis afuisse ? Nisi vero me unum vis ferum praeter ceteros , me asperum , me inhumanum existimari , me singulari immanitate et crudelitate praeditum . Hanc mihi tu si propter meas res gestas imponis in omni vita mea , Torquate , personam , vehementer erras . Me natura misericordem , patria severum , crudelem nec patria nec natura esse voluit ; denique istam ipsam personam vehementem et acrem quam mihi tum tempus et res publica imposuit iam voluntas et natura ipsa detraxit . Illa enim ad breve tempus severitatem postulavit , haec in omni vita misericordiam lenitatemque desiderat .	What reason is there then for your wondering, if you see me countenancing this cause in company with those men, whom you know that I also joined in discountenancing the other causes by absenting myself from them. Unless you wish me to be considered a man of eminent ferocity before all other men, a man savage, inhuman, and endowed with an extraordinary cruelty and barbarity of disposition. If this be the character which, on account of all my exploits, you wish now to fix upon my whole life, O Torquatus, you are greatly mistaken. Nature made me merciful, my country made me severe; but neither my country nor nature has ever required me to be cruel. Lastly, that same vehement and fierce character which at that time the occasion and the republic imposed upon me, my own inclination and nature itself has now relieved me of; for my country required severity for a short time, my nature requires clemency and lenity during my whole life.
9	Qua re nihil est quod ex tanto comitatu virorum amplissimorum me unum abstrahas ; simplex officium atque una bonorum est omnium causa . Nihil erit quod admirere posthac , si in ea parte in qua hos animum adverteris me videbis . Nulla est enim in re publica mea causa propria ; tempus agendi fuit mihi magis proprium quam ceteris , doloris vero et timoris et periculi fuit illa causa communis ; neque enim ego tunc princeps ad salutem esse potuissem , si esse alii comites noluissent . Qua re necesse est , quod mihi consuli praecipuum fuit praeter alios , id iam privato cum ceteris esse commune . Neque ego hoc partiendae invidiae , sed communicandae laudis causa loquor ; oneris mei partem nemini impertio , gloriae bonis omnibus .	There is, therefore, no pretence for your separating me from so numerous a company of most honourable men. Duty is a plain thing, and the cause of all men is one and the same. You will have no reason to marvel hereafter, whenever you see me on the same side as you observe these men. For there is no side in the republic in which I have a peculiar and exclusive property. The time for acting did belong more peculiarly to me than to the others but the cause of indignation, and fear, and danger was common to us all. Nor, indeed, could I have been at that time as I was the chief man in providing for the safety of the state if others had been unwilling to be my companions. Wherefore it is inevitable that that which, when I was consul, belonged to me especially above all other men, should, now that I am a private individual, belong to me in common with the rest. Nor do I say this for the sake of sharing my unpopularity with others, but rather with the object of allowing them to partake of my praises. I will give a share of my burden to no one; but a share of my glory to all good men.
10	' In Autronium testimonium dixisti , ' inquit ; ' Sullam defendis . ' Hoc totum eius modi est , iudices , ut , si ego sum inconstans ac levis , nec testimonio fidem tribui convenerit nec defensioni auctoritatem ; sin est in me ratio rei publicae , religio privati offici , studium retinendae voluntatis bonorum , nihil minus accusator debet dicere quam a me defendi Sullam , testimonio laesum esse Autronium . Videor enim iam non solum studium ad defendendas causas verum etiam opinionis aliquid et auctoritatis adferre ; qua ego et moderate utar , iudices , et omnino non uterer , si ille me non coegisset .	“You gave evidence against Autronius,” says he, “and you are defending Sulla.” All this, O judges, has this object to prove that if I am an inconstant and fickle-minded man, my evidence ought not to be credited, and my defence ought not to carry any authority with it. But if there is found in me a proper consideration for the republic, a scrupulous regard to my duty, and a constant desire to retain the good-will of virtuous men, then there is nothing which an accuser ought less to say than that Sulla is defended by me, but that Autronius was injured by my evidence against him. For I think that I not only carry with me zeal in defending causes, but also that my deliberate opinion has some weight; which, however, I will use with moderation, O judges, and I would not have used it at all if he had not compelled me.
11	Duae coniurationes abs te , Torquate , constituuntur , una quae Lepido et Volcatio consulibus patre tuo consule designato facta esse dicitur , altera quae me consule ; harum in utraque Sullam dicis fuisse . Patris tui , fortissimi viri atque optimi consulis , scis me consiliis non interfuisse ; scis me , cum mihi summus tecum usus esset , tamen illorum expertem temporum et sermonum fuisse , credo quod nondum penitus in re publica versabar , quod nondum ad propositum mihi finem honoris perveneram , quod me ambitio et forensis labor ab omni illa cogitatione abstrahebat .	Two conspiracies are spoken of by you, O Torquatus; one, which is said to have been formed in the consulship of Lepidus and Volcatius, when your own father was consul elect; the other, that which broke out in my consulship. In each of these you say that Sulla was implicated. You know that I was not acquainted with the counsels of your father, a most brave man, and a most excellent consul. You know, as there was the greatest intimacy between you and me, that I knew nothing of what happened, or of what was said in those times; I imagine, because I had not yet become a thoroughly public character, because I had not yet arrived at the goal of honour which I proposed to myself; and because my ambition and my forensic labours separated me from all political deliberations.
12	Quis ergo intererat vestris consiliis ? Omnes hi quos vides huic adesse et in primis Q . Hortensius ; qui cum propter honorem ac dignitatem atque animum eximium in rem publicam , tum propter summam familiaritatem summumque amorem in patrem tuum cum communibus tum praecipuis patris tui periculis commovebatur . Ergo istius coniurationis crimen defensum ab eo est qui interfuit , qui cognovit , qui particeps et consili vestri fuit et timoris ; cuius in hoc crimine propulsando cum esset copiosissima atque ornatissima oratio , tamen non minus inerat auctoritatis in ea quam facultatis . Illius igitur coniurationis quae facta contra vos , delata ad vos , a vobis prolata esse dicitur , ego testis esse non potui ; non modo animo nihil comperi , sed vix ad auris meas istius suspicionis fama pervenit .	Who, then, was present at your counsels? All these men whom you see here, giving Sulla the countenance of their presence; and among the first was Quintus Hortensius—who, by reason of his honour and worth, and his admirable disposition towards the republic, and because of his exceeding intimacy with and excessive attachment to your father, was greatly moved by the thoughts of the common danger, and most especially by the personal peril of your father. Therefore, he was defended from the charge of being implicated in that conspiracy by that man who was present at and acquainted with all your deliberations, who was a partner in all your thoughts and in all your fears; and, elegant and argumentative as his speech in repelling this accusation was, it carried with it as much authority as it displayed of ability. Of that conspiracy, therefore, which is said to have been formed against you, to have been reported to you, and to have been revealed by you, I was unable to say anything as a witness. For I not only found out nothing, but scarcely did any report or suspicion of that matter reach my ears.
13	Qui vobis in consilio fuerunt , qui vobiscum illa cognorunt , quibus ipsis periculum tum conflari putabatur , qui Autronio non adfuerunt , qui in illum testimonia gravia dixerunt , hunc defendunt , huic adsunt , in huius periculo declarant se non crimine coniurationis , ne adessent ceteris , sed hominum maleficio deterritos esse . Mei consulatus autem tempus et crimen maximae coniurationis a me defendetur . Atque haec inter nos partitio defensionis non est fortuito , iudices , nec temere facta ; sed cum videremus eorum criminum nos patronos adhiberi quorum testes esse possemus , uterque nostrum id sibi suscipiendum putavit de quo aliquid scire ipse atque existimare potuisset .	They who were your counselors, who became acquainted with these things in your company,—they who were supposed to be themselves menaced with that danger, who gave no countenance to Autronius, who gave most important evidence against him,—are now defending Publius Sulla, are countenancing him by their presence here; now that he is in danger they declare that they were not deterred by the accusation of conspiracy from countenancing the others, but by the guilt of the men. But for the time of my consulship, and with respect to the charge of the greatest conspiracy, Sulla shall be defended by me. And this partition of the cause between Hortensius and me has not been made by chance, or at random, O judges, but as we saw that we were employed as defenders of a man against those accusations in which we might have been witnesses, each of us thought that it would be best for him to undertake that part of the case, concerning which he himself had been able to acquire some knowledge, and to form some opinions with certainty.
14	Et quoniam de criminibus superioris coniurationis Hortensium diligenter audistis , de hac coniuratione quae me consule facta est hoc primum attendite . Multa , cum essem consul , de summis rei publicae periculis audivi , multa quaesivi , multa cognovi ; nullus umquam de Sulla nuntius ad me , nullum indicium , nullae litterae pervenerunt , nulla suspicio . Multum haec vox fortasse valere deberet eius hominis qui consul insidias rei publicae consilio investigasset , veritate aperuisset , magnitudine animi vindicasset , cum is se nihil audisse de P . Sulla , nihil suspicatum esse diceret . Sed ego nondum utor hac voce ad hunc defendendum ; ad purgandum me potius utar , ut mirari Torquatus desinat me qui Autronio non adfuerim Sullam defendere .	And since you have listened attentively to Hortensius, while speaking on the charge respecting the former conspiracy, now, I beg you, listen to this first statement of mine respecting the conspiracy which was formed in my consulship. When I was consul I heard many reports, I made many inquiries, I learnt a great many circumstances concerning the extreme peril of the republic. No messenger, no information, no letters, no suspicion ever reached me at any time in the least affecting Sulla. Perhaps this assertion ought to have great weight when coming from a man who as consul had investigated the plots laid against the republic with prudence, had revealed them with sincerity had chastised them with magnanimity and who says that he himself never heard a word against Publius Sulla and never entertained a suspicion of him. But I do not as yet employ this assertion for the purpose of defending him I rather use it with a view to clear myself in order that Torquatus may cease to wonder that I, who would not appear by the side of Autronius, am now defending Sulla.
15	Quae enim Autroni fuit causa , quae Sullae est ? Ille ambitus iudicium tollere ac disturbare primum conflato voluit gladiatorum ac fugitivorum tumultu , deinde , id quod vidimus omnes , lapidatione atque concursu ; Sulla , si sibi suus pudor ac dignitas non prodesset , nullum auxilium requisivit . Ille damnatus ita se gerebat non solum consiliis et sermonibus verum etiam aspectu atque voltu ut inimicus esse amplissimis ordinibus , infestus bonis omnibus , hostis patriae videretur ; hic se ita fractum illa calamitate atque adflictum putavit ut nihil sibi ex pristina dignitate superesse arbitraretur , nisi quod modestia retinuisset .	For what was the cause of Autronius? and what is the cause of Sulla? The former tried to disturb and get rid of a prosecution for bribery by raising in the first instance a sedition among gladiators and runaway slaves, and after that as we all saw, by stoning people, and collecting a violent mob. Sulla, if his own modesty and worth could not avail him, sought no other assistance. The former, when he had been convicted, behaved in such a manner, not only in his secret designs and conversation, but in every look and in his whole countenance, as to appear an enemy to the most honourable orders in the state, hostile to every virtuous man, and a foe to his country. The latter considered himself so bowed down, so broken down by that misfortune, that he thought that none of his former dignity was left to him, except what he could retain by his present moderation.
16	Hac vero in coniuratione quid tam coniunctum quam ille cum Catilina , cum Lentulo ? quae tanta societas ullis inter se rerum optimarum quanta ei cum illis sceleris , libidinis , audaciae ? quod flagitium Lentulus non cum Autronio concepit ? quod sine eodem illo Catilina facinus admisit ? cum interim Sulla cum isdem illis non modo noctem solitudinemque non quaereret sed ne mediocri quidem sermone et congressu coniungeretur .	And in this conspiracy, what union was ever so close as that between Autronius and Catiline, between Autronius and Lentulus? What combination was there ever between any men for the most virtuous purposes, so intimate as his connection with them for deeds of wickedness, lust and audacity?—what crime is there which Lentulus did not plot with Autronius?—what atrocity did Catiline ever commit without his assistance? while, in the meantime, Sulla not only abstained from seeking the concealment of night and solitude in their company, but he had never the very slightest intercourse with them, either in conversation or in casual meetings.
17	Illum Allobroges , maximarum rerum verissimi indices , illum multorum litterae ac nuntii coarguerunt ; Sullam interea nemo insimulavit , nemo nominavit . Postremo eiecto sive emisso iam ex urbe Catilina ille arma misit , cornua , tubas , fascis , signa , legiones , ille relictus intus , exspectatus foris , Lentuli poena compressus convertit se aliquando ad timorem , numquam ad sanitatem ; hic contra ita quievit ut eo tempore omni Neapoli fuerit , ubi neque homines fuisse putantur huius adfines suspicionis et locus est ipse non tam ad inflammandos calamitosorum animos quam ad consolandos accommodatus .	The Allobroges, those who gave us the truest information on the most important matters, accused Autronius, and so did the letters of many men, and many private witnesses. All that time no one ever accused Sulla; no one ever mentioned his name. Lastly, after Catiline had been driven out or allowed to depart out of the city, Autronius sent him arms, trumpets, bugles, scythes, standards, legions. He who was left in the city, but expected out of it though checked by the punishment of Lentulus, gave way at times to feelings of fear, but never to any right feelings or good sense. Sulla, on the other hand, was so quiet, that all that time he was at Naples, where it is not supposed that there were any men who were implicated in or suspected of this crime; and the place itself is one not so well calculated to excite the feelings of men in distress, as to console them.
18	Propter hanc igitur tantam dissimilitudinem hominum atque causarum dissimilem me in utroque praebui . Veniebat enim ad me et saepe veniebat Autronius multis cum lacrimis supplex ut se defenderem , et se meum condiscipulum in pueritia , familiarem in adulescentia , conlegam in quaestura commemorabat fuisse ; multa mea in se , non nulla etiam sua in me proferebat officia . Quibus ego rebus , iudices , ita flectebar animo atque frangebar ut iam ex memoria quas mihi ipsi fecerat insidias deponerem , ut iam immissum esse ab eo C . Cornelium qui me in meis sedibus , in conspectu uxoris ac liberorum meorum trucidaret obliviscerer . Quae si de uno me cogitasset , qua mollitia sum animi ac lenitate , numquam me hercule illius lacrimis ac precibus restitissem ; sed cum mihi patriae ,	On account, therefore, of this great dissimilarity between the men and the cases, I also behaved in a different manner to them both. For Autronius came to me, and he was constantly coming to me, with many tears, as a suppliant, to beg me to defend him, and he used to remind me that he had been my school-fellow in my childhood, my friend in my youth, and my colleague in the quaestorship. He used to enumerate many services which I had done him, and some also which he had done me. By all which circumstances, O judges, I was so much swayed and influenced, that I banished from my recollection all the plots which he had laid against me myself; that I forgot that Caius Cornelius had been lately sent by him for the purpose of killing me in my own house, in the sight of my wife and children. And if he had formed these designs against me alone, such is my softness and lenity of disposition, that I should never have been able to resist his tears and entreaties;