§8.25.1φέρε, εἰ δὲ δὴ πάντας μὲν ἀνθρώπους καὶ τοὺς μηδὲν ἀδικοῦντάς σε γυναιξὶν ὁμοῦ καὶ τέκνοις δίκας σοι δοῦναι προσῆκε, πάντας δὲ θεούς τε καὶ ἥρωας καὶ δαίμονας πόλιν τε καὶ χώραν ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς τῶν δημάρχων ἀνοίας, καὶ μηδὲν ἐξαίρετον μηδʼ ἀτιμώρητον ἀφεῖσθαι μέρος ὑπὸ σοῦ, οὐχ ἱκανὰς ἤδη παρὰ πάντων εἰσπέπραξαι δίκας τοσοῦτον μὲν φόνον ἐργασάμενος ἀνθρώπων, τοσαύτην δὲ χώραν πυρὶ καὶ σιδήρῳ λωβησάμενος, τοσαύτας δὲ πόλεις ἐκ βάθρων ἀναστήσας, ἑορτὰς δὲ καὶ θυσίας καὶ σεβασμοὺς θεῶν καὶ δαιμόνων ἐν πολλοῖς τόποις ἀνεόρτους ἀναγκάσας γενέσθαι καὶ ἀθύτους καὶ τιμῶν νομίμων ἀμοίρους;
Come now, even if indeed it was proper for all men, including those who do you no wrong, together with their wives and children, to pay you the penalty, and for all the gods, heroes, and spirits, as well as the city and the country, to reap the fruits of the madness of the tribunes, and for no part to be left by you exempt or unpunished, have you not already exacted sufficient penalties from all, by having wrought so great a slaughter of men, by having ravaged so much land with fire and sword, by having destroyed so many cities from their foundations, and by having forced the festivals, sacrifices, and worship of gods and spirits in many places to become festival-less, sacrifice-less, and devoid of their customary honors?
§8.25.2ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἠξίουν ἄνδρα, ὅτῳ φροντὶς ὁποσηοῦν ἀρετῆς ἐστιν, οὔτε συναναιρεῖν τοῖς ἐχθροῖς τὰ φίλια οὔτε χαλεπὸν ὀργὴν εἶναι καὶ ἀπαραίτητον εἰς τοὺς ἐξαμαρτάνοντάς τι περὶ αὐτόν, ἄλλως τε καὶ δίκας παρʼ §8.25.3αὐτῶν εἰληφότα πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας.
For my part, I did not think it fitting for a man who has any concern at all for virtue either to destroy friendly things along with enemies, or to be harsh and inexorable in anger toward those who commit some offense against him, especially when he has already received from them many great penalties.
ἃ μὲν οὖν ἀπολογεῖσθαί τε περὶ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν εἴχομεν καὶ παραιτεῖσθαί σε περὶ τῶν δημοτικῶν, ταῦτʼ ἐστιν, ἃ δʼ ὑποτίθεσθαί σοι διʼ εὔνοιαν οἱ τιμιώτατοι φίλων ἥκοντες καὶ ὑπισχνεῖσθαι διαλλαττομένῳ πρὸς τὴν πατρίδα, ταυτί· ἐν ᾧ τὸ δύνασθαί σοι μάλιστα ὑπάρχει καὶ τὸ θεῖον ἔτι συλλαμβάνει μετριάσαι καὶ ταμιεύεσθαι τὴν τύχην ἐνθυμηθέντα, ὅτι μεταβολὰς ἔχει πάντα τὰ πράγματα καὶ οὐδὲν ἐπὶ τῶν αὐτῶν φιλεῖ διαμένειν, νεμεσᾶταί τε πάντα ὑπὸ θεῶν τὰ ὑπερέχοντα, ὅταν εἰς ἄκρον ἐπιφανείας ἀφίκηται, καὶ τρέπεται πάλιν εἰς τὸ μηδέν.
Now, what we had to say in defense of ourselves and to entreat of you on behalf of the plebeians is this; and what the most honored of your friends, having come out of goodwill, suggest to you and promise if you are reconciled to your country is the following: that, while you have the greatest power and the divine still assists you, you should moderate and manage your fortune, reflecting that all things are subject to change and nothing is accustomed to remain in the same state, and that all things that excel are resented by the gods when they reach the pinnacle of distinction, and are turned back into nothingness.
μάλιστα δὲ τοῦτο πάσχει τὰ σκληρὰ καὶ μεγάλαυχα φρονήματα καὶ τοὺς ὅρους ἐκβαίνοντα τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως.
And it is stubborn and boastful minds, exceeding the bounds of human nature, that especially suffer this.
§8.25.4ὑπάρχει δέ σοι νῦν ἁπάντων κράτιστα καταλύσασθαι τὸν πόλεμον· ἥ τε γὰρ βουλὴ πᾶσα ὥρμηται τὴν κάθοδον ψηφίσασθαί σοι, καὶ ὁ δῆμος ἕτοιμός ἐστι νόμῳ κυρωθέντι λῦσαι τὴν ἀειφυγίαν.
And it is now possible for you to end the war in the most excellent way of all; for the whole senate is eager to vote for your return, and the people are ready to repeal your perpetual banishment by a ratified law.
τί οὖν ἔτι κωλύει σε τὰς ἡδίστας καὶ τιμιωτάτας ὄψεις τῶν ἀναγκαιοτάτων σωμάτων ἀπολαβεῖν καὶ κεκομίσθαι τὴν περιμάχητον πατρίδα ἄρχειν τε ὥσπερ σοι προσῆκεν ἀρχόντων καὶ ἡγεῖσθαι ἡγεμόνων παισί τε καὶ ἐγγόνοις μέγιστον αὔχημα καταλιπεῖν;
What, then, still prevents you from recovering the sweetest and most precious sight of your nearest and dearest, and from receiving back your eagerly contested country, and from ruling over rulers and leading leaders as was fitting for you, and from leaving the greatest boast to your children and descendants?
τούτων μέντοι τῶν ὑποσχέσεων ἡμεῖς ἐγγυηταὶ πασῶν ἐσμεν ὡς αὐτίκα μάλα γενησομένων.
Of these promises, indeed, we are guarantors of all, that they will be fulfilled immediately.
νῦν μὲν γὰρ οὐχὶ καλῶς εἶχε ψηφίσασθαί §8.25.5σοι τὴν βουλὴν ἢ τὸν δῆμον οὐθὲν ἐπιεικὲς ἢ μέτριον, ἕως ἀντιπαρεστρατοπέδευκας ἡμῖν καὶ τὰ πολεμίων ἔργα δρᾷς· εἰ δʼ ἀποσταίης τῶν ὅπλων, ἥξει σοι τὸ περὶ τῆς καθόδου ψήφισμα φερόμενον ὑφʼ ἡμῶν οὐκ εἰς μακράν.
For indeed, it was not proper for the senate or the people to vote any equitable or moderate measure for you as long as you were encamped against us and performing the deeds of enemies; but if you should withdraw from arms, the decree concerning your return will come to you, brought by us before long.