§1Antea sic hanc causam agere statueram, recuperatores, ut infitiaturos adversarios arbitrarer tantam caedem et tam atrocem ad familiam suam pertinere.
Previously, recuperators, I had resolved to conduct this case in such a way as to think that my adversaries would deny that so great and atrocious a slaughter pertained to their own household.
itaque animo soluto a cura et a cogitatione veneram, quod intellegebam facile id me testibus planum facere posse.
And so I had come with a mind free from anxiety and concern, because I understood that I could easily make this clear by witnesses.
nunc vero postea quam non modo confessus est vir primarius, L. Quinctius laborabam ut, quod arguebam, id factum esse ostenderem; nunc in eo consumenda est oratio ut ne adversarii, quod infitiari nullo modo potuerunt, cum maxime cuperent, id cum confessi sunt, meliore loco esse videantur.
But now, since that leading man, L. Quinctius, has not only confessed, I was laboring to show that what I was alleging had indeed happened; now my speech must be spent on this, so that our adversaries may not seem to be in a better position because they have confessed to that which, though they most desired to do so, they could in no way deny.
§2itaque tum vestrum difficilius iudicium, mea facilis defensio fore videbatur.
And so at that time your judgment seemed to be more difficult, and my defense easy.
ego enim omnia in testibus quid est facilius quam de eo qui confitetur iudicare? mihi autem difficile est satis copiose de eo dicere quod nec atrocius verbis demonstrari potest quam re ipsa est, neque apertius oratione mea fieri quam ipsorum confessione factum est.
For I placed everything in the witnesses; what is easier than to judge concerning one who confesses? But for me it is difficult to speak adequately and copiously about that which can neither be shown by words to be more atrocious than it is in reality, nor be made clearer by my speech than it has been made by their own confession.
§3Cum in hac re quam commemoravi mihi mutanda ratio defensionis minus diligenter illius existimationem quam rem M. Tulli viderer defendere.
Since in this matter which I have mentioned, my method of defense had to be changed, I might have seemed to defend his reputation less diligently than the property of M. Tullius.
nunc quoniam Quinctius ad causam pertinere putavit res ita multas, falsas praesertim et inique confictas, proferre de vita et moribus et existimatione M. Tulli, multis de causis mihi Fabius debebit ignoscere, si minus eius famae parcere videbor quam antea consului.
Now since Quinctius thought it pertained to the case to bring forward so many things, especially false and unjustly fabricated, concerning the life, character, and reputation of M. Tullius, Fabius will have to forgive me for many reasons if I seem to spare his reputation less than I previously consulted.
§4Pri. . ore putavit ad officium suum pertinere adversario nulla in re parcere, quid me oportet Tullium pro Tullio facere, homine coniuncto mecum non minus animo quam nomine? ac mihi magis illud laborandum videtur, recuperatores, ut quod antea nihil in istum dixi probare possim, quam ne in eo reprehendar quod hoc tempore respondeo.
Since in the previous action he thought it pertained to his duty to spare his adversary in no respect, what ought I, Tullius, to do for Tullius, a man joined to me no less in mind than in name? And indeed, recuperators, it seems to me that I must labor more to be able to justify why I previously said nothing against that man, than to avoid being blamed for what I reply at this time.
§5verum et tum id feci quod oportuit, et nunc faciam quod necesse est.
But both then I did what was proper, and now I shall do what is necessary.
nam cum esset de re pecuniaria controversia, quod damnum datum M. Tullio diceremus, alienum mea natura videbatur quicquam de existimatione P. Fabi dicere, non quia res postulare non videretur.
For when there was a dispute over a pecuniary matter, because we said that damage had been done to M. Tullius, it seemed foreign to my nature to say anything against the reputation of P. Fabius, not because the circumstances did not seem to demand it.
quid ergo est? tametsi postulat causa, tamen, nisi plane cogit ingratiis, ad male dicendum non soleo descendere.
What is it then? Although the case demands it, yet, unless absolute necessity forces me against my will, I am not accustomed to descend to abuse.
nunc cum coactus dicam, si quid forte dicam, tamen id ipsum verecunde modiceque faciam, tantum ut, quoniam sibi me non esse inimicum potuit priore actione Fabius iudicare, nunc M. Tullio fidelem certumque amicum esse cognoscat.
Now, since I speak under compulsion, if by chance I say anything, I will nevertheless do so with modesty and moderation, only so that, since Fabius was able to judge from the former action that I was not his enemy, he may now know that I am a faithful and certain friend to M. Tullius.
§6Vnum hoc abs te, L. Quincti, pervelim impetrare—quod tametsi eo volo quia mihi utile est, tamen abs te idcirco quia aequum est, postulo—ut ita tibi multum temporis ad dicendum sumas ut his aliquid ad iudicandum relinquas.
This one thing, L. Quinctius, I would very much like to obtain from you—which, although I wish it because it is useful to me, yet I demand it from you because it is fair—that you take so much time for speaking as to leave some time for these men to judge.
namque antea non defensionis tuae modus, sed nox tibi finem dicendi fecit; nunc, si tibi placere potest, ne idem facias, id abs te postulo.
For previously, not the limit of your defense, but the night brought an end to your speaking; now, if it can please you not to do the same, I request this of you.
neque hoc idcirco postulo quod te aliquid censeam praeterire oportere aut non quam ornatissime et copiosissime dicere, verum ut semel una quaque de re dicas; quod si facies, non vereor ne dicendo dies eximatur.
Nor do I request this because I think you ought to omit anything or not speak as ornately and copiously as possible, but rather that you speak once about each individual matter; if you do this, I do not fear that the day will be consumed by speaking.
§7iudicium vestrum est, recuperatores,
"Qvantae pecvniae"
"paret dolo malo familiae P. Fabi vi hominibvs armatis coactisve damnvm datvm esse M. Tvllio. "
eius rei taxationem nos fecimus; aestimatio vestra est; iudicium datum est in quadruplum.
The judgment is yours, recuperators: "For how much money does it appear that, by the malice of the household of P. Fabius, damage was done to M. Tullius by force of armed or gathered men?" We have fixed the limit of that matter; the assessment is yours; the action is granted for fourfold.