§40Fonteius ita duabus actionibus accusatus est ut obiectum nihil sit quo significari vestigium libidinis, petulantiae, crudelitatis, audaciae possit; non modo nullum facinus huius protulerunt sed ne dictum quidem aliquod reprehenderunt.
Fonteius was accused in two actions in such a way that nothing was charged from which any trace of lust, petulance, cruelty, or audacity could be indicated; not only did they produce no crime of his, but they did not even censure any word of his.
quod si aut quantam voluntatem habent ad hunc opprimendum aut quantam ad male dicendum licentiam, tantum haberent aut ad ementiendum animi aut ad fingendum ingeni, non meliore fortuna ad probra non audienda M. Fonteius quam illi de quibus antea commemoravi fuisset.
But if they had as much courage for lying or talent for fabricating as they have desire to crush him or license for slander, Marcus Fonteius would not have been in any better fortune in not hearing reproaches than those whom I mentioned before.
Frugi igitur hominem, iudices, frugi, inquam, et in omnibus vitae partibus moderatum ac temperantem, plenum pudoris, plenum offici, plenum religionis videtis positum in vestra fide ac potestate, atque ita ut commissus sit fidei, permissus potestati.
Therefore, judges, you see a worthy man, worthy, I say, and moderate and temperate in all parts of his life, full of shame, full of duty, full of religion, placed in your faith and power, and in such a way that he has been committed to your faith and permitted to your power.
§41videte igitur utrum sit aequius hominem honestissimum, virum fortissimum, civem optimum dedi inimicissimis atque immanissimis nationibus an reddi amicis, praesertim cum tot res sint quae vestris animis pro huius innocentis salute supplicent, primum generis antiquitas, quam Tusculo, ex clarissimo municipio, profectam in monumentis rerum gestarum incisam ac notatam videmus, tum autem continuae praeturae, quae et ceteris ornamentis et existimatione innocentiae maxime floruerunt, deinde recens memoria parentis, cuius sanguine non solum Asculanorum manus, a qua interfectus est, sed totum illud sociale bellum macula sceleris imbutum est, postremo ipse cum in omnibus vitae partibus honestus atque integer, tum in re militari cum summi consili et maximi animi, tum vero usu quoque bellorum gerendorum in primis eorum hominum qui nunc sunt exercitatus.
See therefore whether it is more just that a most honorable man, a most brave hero, a most excellent citizen should be surrendered to the most hostile and savage nations, or restored to his friends, especially since there are so many things that supplicate your minds for the safety of this innocent man: first, the antiquity of his family, which we see, having originated from Tusculum, a most illustrious municipality, engraved and marked on the monuments of achievements; then, the continuous praetorships, which flourished chiefly both in other distinctions and in the reputation of innocence; next, the recent memory of his father, by whose blood not only the hand of the Asculans, by which he was slain, but that whole Social War was stained with the blot of crime; finally, he himself, as he is honorable and upright in all parts of life, so in military affairs he is of the highest counsel and greatest courage, and indeed in the practice of conducting wars especially trained among those men who now exist.
§42qua re si etiam monendi estis a me, iudices, quod non estis, videor hoc leviter pro mea auctoritate vobis praecipere posse, ut ex eo genere homines quorum cognita virtus, industria, felicitas in re militari sit diligenter vobis retinendos existimetis.
Therefore, if you are even to be admonished by me, judges, which you are not, I seem to be able to prescribe this to you lightly in accordance with my authority, that you should think that men of that class, whose virtue, industry, and fortune in military affairs are well known, ought to be diligently retained by you.
fuit enim maior talium tum virorum in hac re publica copia; quae cum esset, tamen eorum non modo saluti sed etiam honori consulebatur.
For there was once a greater abundance of such men in this republic; and when there was, care was taken not only for their safety but also for their honor.
quid nunc vobis faciendum est studiis militaribus apud iuventutem obsoletis, fortissimis autem hominibus ac summis ducibus partim aetate, partim civitatis discordiis ac rei publicae calamitate consumptis, cum tot bella aut a nobis necessario suscipiantur aut subito atque improvisa nascantur? nonne et hominem ipsum ad dubia rei publicae tempora reservandum et ceteros studio laudis ac virtutis inflammandos putatis?
What must you do now, with military pursuits grown obsolete among the youth, and the bravest men and greatest leaders consumed partly by age, partly by civil discords and the calamity of the republic, while so many wars are either necessarily undertaken by us or arise suddenly and unforeseen? Do you not think both that the man himself should be reserved for the doubtful times of the republic, and that others should be inflamed by the study of praise and virtue?
§43recordamini quos legatos nuper in bello Italico L. Iulius, quos P. Rutilius, quos L. Cato, quos Cn. Pompeius habuerit; scietis fuisse tum M. Cornutum, L. Cinnam, L. Sullam, praetorios homines, belli gerendi peritissimos; praeterea C. Marium, P. Didium, Q. Catulum, P. Crassum, non litteris homines ad rei militaris scientiam, sed rebus gestis ac victoriis eruditos.
Recall what legates Lucius Julius, Publius Rutilius, Lucius Cato, and Gnaeus Pompeius recently had in the Italian War; you will know that there were then Marcus Cornutus, Lucius Cinna, and Lucius Sulla, praetorian men, most skilled in waging war; and besides, Gaius Marius, Publius Didius, Quintus Catulus, and Publius Crassus, men instructed in the science of military affairs not by letters, but by achievements and victories.
age vero, nunc inferte oculos in curiam, introspicite penitus in omnis rei publicae partis; utrum videtis nihil posse accidere ut tales viri desiderandi sint, an, si acciderit, eorum hominum copia populum Romanum abundare? quae si diligenter attendetis, profecto, iudices, virum ad labores belli impigrum, ad pericula fortem, ad usum ac disciplinam peritum, ad consilia prudentem, ad casum fortunamque felicem domi vobis ac liberis vestris retinere quam inimicissimis populo Romano nationibus et crudelissimis tradere et condonare maletis.
Come now, turn your eyes upon the senate-house, look deeply into all parts of the republic; do you see that nothing can happen such that such men should be needed, or, if it should happen, that the Roman people abounds with an abundance of such men? If you attend to these things diligently, surely, judges, you will prefer to retain at home for yourselves and your children a man energetic in the labors of war, brave against dangers, skilled in practice and discipline, prudent in counsels, and fortunate in chance and fortune, rather than to surrender and condone him to nations most hostile to the Roman people and most cruel.
§44at infestis prope signis inferuntur Galli in M. Fonteium et instant atque urgent summo cum studio, summa cum audacia.
But the Gauls advance against Marcus Fonteius with almost hostile banners, and they press and urge him with the greatest eagerness and the greatest audacity.
video, iudices; sed multis et firmis praesidiis vobis adiutoribus isti immani atque intolerandae barbariae resistemus.
I see it, judges; but with many and strong protections, with you as helpers, we will resist that savage and intolerable barbarity.
primum obicitur contra istorum impetus Macedonia, fidelis et amica populo Romano provincia; quae cum se ac suas urbis non solum consilio sed etiam manu M. Fontei conservatam esse dicat, ut ipsa per hunc a Thraecum adventu ac depopulatione defensa est, sic ab huius nunc capite Gallorum impetus terroresque depellit.
First, Macedonia is opposed to the attacks of those men, a province faithful and friendly to the Roman people; and since it says that itself and its cities were preserved not only by the counsel but also by the hand of Marcus Fonteius, just as it was defended by him from the coming and plundering of the Thracians, so now it drives away the attacks and terrors of the Gauls from his head.