§45constituitur ex altera parte ulterior Hispania, quae profecto non modo religione sua resistere istorum cupiditati potest sed etiam sceleratorum hominum periuria testimoniis ac laudationibus suis refutare.
On the one side is established Ulterior Spain, which surely not only by its own sanctity can resist the desire of those men, but also refute the perjuries of wicked men by its own testimonies and commendations.
atque ex ipsa etiam Gallia fidelissima et gravissima auxilia sumuntur.
And from Gallia itself also, most faithful and weighty reinforcements are received.
venit huic subsidio misero atque innocenti Massiliensium cuncta civitas, quae non solum ob eam causam laborat ut huic, a quo ipsa servata est, parem gratiam referre videatur sed etiam quod ea condicione atque eo fato se in eis terris conlocatam esse arbitratur ne quid nostris hominibus istae gentes nocere possint.
The entire state of the Massilians comes as a help to this miserable and innocent man; they labor not only for this cause, that they may seem to return equal gratitude to this man by whom they themselves were preserved, but also because they think that they were established in those lands under that condition and that fate, so that those nations might not be able to harm our men in any way.
§46propugnat pariter pro salute M. Fontei Narbonensis colonia, quae per hunc ipsa nuper obsidione hostium liberata nunc eiusdem miseriis ac periculis commovetur.
In like manner, the colony of Narbo fights for the safety of Marcus Fonteius, which, recently liberated by him from the siege of the enemy, is now deeply moved by his miseries and dangers.
denique ut oportet bello Gallico, ut maiorum iura moresque praescribunt, nemo est civis Romanus qui sibi ulla excusatione utendum putet; omnes illius provinciae publicani, agricolae, pecuarii, ceteri negotiatores uno animo M. Fonteium atque una voce defendunt.
Finally, as is proper in a Gallic war, as the laws and customs of our ancestors prescribe, there is no Roman citizen who thinks he ought to use any excuse; all the tax-gatherers, farmers, herdsmen, and other traders of that province defend Marcus Fonteius with one mind and one voice.
quod si tantas auxiliorum nostrorum copias Indutiomarus ipse despexerit, dux Allobrogum ceterorumque Gallorum, num etiam de matris hunc complexu, lectissimae miserrimaeque feminae, vobis inspectantibus avellet atque abstrahet? praesertim cum virgo Vestalis ex altera parte germanum fratrem complexa teneat vestramque, iudices, ac populi Romani fidem imploret;
But if Indutiomarus himself, the leader of the Allobroges and of the other Gauls, should despise such great forces of our reinforcements, will he also, while you look on, tear and drag this man away from the embrace of his mother, a most choice and miserable woman?
quae pro vobis liberisque vestris tot annos in dis immortalibus placandis occupata est ut ea nunc pro salute sua fratrisque sui animos vestros placare possit.
Especially since on the other side a Vestal Virgin holds her own brother embraced, and implores your faith, judges, and that of the Roman people; she who for so many years has been occupied for you and your children in appeasing the immortal gods, so that she might now be able to appease your minds for her own safety and that of her brother.
§47cui miserae quod praesidium, quod solacium reliquum est hoc amisso? nam ceterae feminae gignere ipsae sibi praesidia et habere domi fortunarum omnium socium participemque possunt; huic vero virgini quid est praeter fratrem quod aut iucundum aut carum esse possit? nolite pati, iudices, aras deorum immortalium Vestaeque matris cotidianis virginis lamentationibus de vestro iudicio commoneri; prospicite ne ille ignis aeternus nocturnis Fonteiae laboribus vigiliisque servatus sacerdotis vestrae lacrimis exstinctus esse dicatur.
What protection, what consolation is left to this miserable woman if he is lost? For other women can give birth to protections for themselves and have at home a partner and sharer of all fortunes; but to this virgin, what is there besides her brother that can be either pleasing or dear? Do not permit, judges, the altars of the immortal gods and of Mother Vesta to be reminded of your judgment by the daily lamentations of the virgin; take care lest that eternal fire, preserved by the nightly labors and vigils of Fonteia, should be said to have been extinguished by the tears of your priestess.
§48tendit ad vos virgo Vestalis manus supplices easdem quas pro vobis dis immortalibus tendere consuevit.
The Vestal Virgin stretches out to you her suppliant hands, the very same ones she has been accustomed to stretch out to the immortal gods for you.
Cavete ne periculosum superbumque sit eius vos obsecrationem repudiare cuius preces si di aspernarentur, haec salva esse non possent.
Beware lest it be dangerous and arrogant for you to reject her entreaty, whose prayers if the gods were to reject, these things could not have been safe.
videtisne subito, iudices, virum fortissimum, M. Fonteium, parentis et sororis commemoratione lacrimas profudisse? qui numquam in acie pertimuerit, qui se armatus saepe in hostium manum multitudinemque immiserit, cum in eius modi periculis eadem se solacia suis relinquere arbitraretur quae suus pater sibi reliquisset, idem nunc conturbato animo pertimescit ne non modo ornamento et adiumento non sit suis sed etiam cum acerbissimo luctu dedecus aeternum miseris atque ignominiam relinquat.
Do you see, judges, that suddenly Marcus Fonteius, a most brave man, has poured forth tears at the mention of his mother and sister? He who never feared in battle, who, armed, often cast himself into the hands and multitude of the enemy, since in dangers of that kind he thought he was leaving to his people the same consolations which his own father had left to him, now, with a troubled mind, fears lest he may not only fail to be an ornament and aid to his family, but even leave to the miserable ones an eternal disgrace and ignominy with the bitterest grief.
§49O fortunam longe disparem, M. Fontei, si deligere potuisses ut potius telis tibi Gallorum quam periuriis intereundum esset! tum enim vitae socia virtus, mortis comes gloria fuisset; nunc vero qui est dolor victoriae te atque imperi poenas ad eorum arbitrium sufferre qui aut victi armis sunt aut invitissimi paruerunt! A quo periculo defendite, iudices, civem fortem atque innocentem;
O Marcus Fonteius, how far different a fortune would it have been, if you could have chosen to perish by the weapons of the Gauls rather than by their perjuries! For then virtue would have been the companion of your life, glory the comrade of your death; but now, what a pain of victory and empire it is, that you should suffer punishment at the will of those who were either conquered by arms or obeyed most unwillingly!
curate ut nostris testibus plus quam alienigenis credidisse videamini, plus saluti civium quam hostium libidini consuluisse, graviorem duxisse eius obsecrationem quae vestris sacris praesit quam eorum audaciam qui cum omnium sacris delubrisque bella gesserunt.
Defend a brave and innocent citizen from this danger, judges; take care that you may seem to have believed our witnesses more than foreigners, to have consulted the safety of citizens more than the lust of enemies, and to have considered more serious the entreaty of her who presides over your sacred rites than the audacity of those who waged war against the sacred places and shrines of all.
postremo prospicite, iudices, id quod ad dignitatem populi Romani maxime pertinet, ut plus apud vos preces virginis Vestalis quam minae Gallorum valuisse videantur.
Finally, look to it, judges, which especially pertains to the dignity of the Roman people, that the prayers of the Vestal Virgin may seem to have had more weight with you than the threats of the Gauls.