§1etsi, Quirites, non est meae consuetudinis initio dicendi rationem reddere qua de causa quemque defendam, propterea quod cum omnibus civibus in eorum periculis semper satis iustam mihi causam necessitudinis esse duxi, tamen in hac defensione capitis, famae fortunarumque omnium C. Rabiri proponenda ratio videtur esse offici mei, propterea quod, quae iustissima mihi causa ad hunc defendendum esse visa est, eadem vobis ad absolvendum debet videri.
, Quirites, it is not my custom at the beginning of a speech to render an account of the reason why I defend each person, because I have always deemed that a sufficiently just cause of connection existed for me with all citizens in their perils, yet in this defense of the life, reputation, and all the fortunes of Gaius Rabirius, it seems necessary to put forward the reason for my duty, because the very cause which seemed to me most just for defending him ought to appear to you to be just for acquitting him.
§2nam me cum amicitiae vetustas, cum dignitas hominis, cum ratio humanitatis, cum meae vitae perpetua consuetudo ad C. Rabirium defendendum est adhortata, tum vero, ut id studiosissime facerem, salus rei publicae, consulare officium, consulatus denique ipse mihi una a vobis cum salute rei publicae commendatus coegit.
while the long-standing friendship, the dignity of the man, the consideration of humanity, and the constant custom of my life have exhorted me to defend Gaius Rabirius, so indeed the safety of the republic, my consular duty, and finally the consulship itself, entrusted to me by you together with the safety of the republic, have compelled me to do so with the utmost zeal.
non enim C. Rabirium culpa delicti, non invidia vitae, Quirites, non denique veteres iustae gravesque inimicitiae civium in discrimen capitis vocaverunt, sed ut illud summum auxilium maiestatis atque imperi quod nobis a maioribus est traditum de re publica tolleretur, ut nihil posthac auctoritas senatus, nihil consulare imperium, nihil consensio bonorum contra pestem ac perniciem civitatis valeret, idcirco in his rebus evertendis unius hominis senectus, infirmitas solitudoque temptata est.
For it is not the guilt of a crime, Quirites, nor the unpopularity of his life, nor finally old, just, and heavy enmities of his fellow citizens that have summoned Gaius Rabirius into jeopardy of his life, but rather that that highest protection of majesty and authority, which was handed down to us by our ancestors, might be abolished from the republic; so that hereafter the authority of the senate, the consular power, and the agreement of good citizens might avail nothing against the pestilence and ruin of the state; it is for this reason, in overturning these institutions, that the old age, weakness, and solitude of a single man have been targeted.
§3quam ob rem si est boni consulis, cum cuncta auxilia rei publicae labefactari convellique videat, ferre opem patriae, succurrere saluti fortunisque communibus, implorare civium fidem, suam salutem posteriorem salute communi ducere, est etiam bonorum et fortium civium, quales vos omnibus rei publicae temporibus exstitistis, intercludere omnis seditionum vias, munire praesidia rei publicae, summum in consulibus imperium, summum in senatu consilium putare; ea qui secutus sit, laude potius et honore quam poena et supplicio dignum iudicare.
, if it is the part of a good consul, when he sees all the defenses of the republic shaken and torn up, to bring aid to his country, to succor the safety and common fortunes, to implore the good faith of the citizens, and to consider his own safety secondary to the common safety, it is also the part of good and brave citizens, such as you have shown yourselves to be in all times of the republic, to block all avenues of sedition, to fortify the garrisons of the republic, to believe that the supreme power is in the consuls and the supreme counsel is in the senate, and to judge that anyone who has followed these principles is worthy of praise and honor rather than punishment and penalty.
§4quam ob rem labor in hoc defendendo praecipue meus est, studium vero conservandi hominis commune mihi vobiscum esse debebit.
, the labor in defending him is especially mine, but the zeal for preserving the man must be common to me and you.
sic enim existimare debetis, Quirites, post hominum memoriam rem nullam maiorem, magis periculosam, magis ab omnibus vobis providendam neque a tribuno pl. susceptam neque a consule defensam neque ad populum Romanum esse delatam.
For you ought to think thus, Quirites: within human memory, no matter of greater weight, more dangerous, or more demanding the foresight of all of you has ever been undertaken by a tribune of the plebs, defended by a consul, or brought before the Roman people.
agitur enim nihil aliud in hac causa, Quirites, nisi ut nullum sit posthac in re publica publicum consilium, nulla bonorum consensio contra improborum furorem et audaciam, nullum extremis rei publicae temporibus perfugium et praesidium salutis.
For nothing else is at stake in this trial, Quirites, except that hereafter there should be no public counsel in the republic, no agreement of good citizens against the madness and audacity of the wicked, and no refuge and protection of safety in the ultimate crises of the state.
§5quae cum ita sint, primum, quod in tanta dimicatione capitis, famae fortunarumque omnium fieri necesse est, ab Iove optimo maximo ceterisque dis deabusque immortalibus, quorum ope et auxilio multo magis haec res publica quam ratione hominum et consilio gubernatur, pacem ac veniam peto precorque ab eis ut hodiernum diem et ad huius salutem conservandam et ad rem publicam constituendam inluxisse patiantur.
these things are so, first of all, as is necessary in so great a struggle concerning life, reputation, and all fortunes, I beg and pray for peace and pardon from Jupiter Best and Greatest and the other immortal gods and goddesses, by whose power and help this republic is governed far more than by human reason and counsel, that they may allow today's day to have dawned both for preserving this man's safety and for establishing the republic.
deinde vos, Quirites, quorum potestas proxime ad deorum immortalium numen accedit, oro atque obsecro, quoniam uno tempore vita C. Rabiri, hominis miserrimi atque innocentissimi, salus rei publicae vestris manibus suffragiisque permittitur, adhibeatis in hominis fortunis misericordiam, in rei publicae salute sapientiam quam soletis.
Next, Quirites, whose power approaches nearest to the divinity of the immortal gods, I beg and beseech you, since at one and the same time the life of Gaius Rabirius, a most wretched and innocent man, and the safety of the republic are committed to your hands and votes, that you may apply mercy to the man's fortunes and, to the safety of the republic, that wisdom which is your custom.
§6nunc quoniam, T. Labiene, diligentiae meae temporis angustiis obstitisti meque ex comparato et constituto spatio defensionis in semihorae articulum coegisti, parebitur et, quod iniquissimum est, accusatoris condicioni et, quod miserrimum, inimici potestati.
since, Titus Labienus, you have obstructed my diligence by the narrowness of the time, and have forced me from the prepared and established space of defense into the limit of a half-hour, compliance will be given both to the condition of the accuser, which is most unjust, and to the power of an enemy, which is most wretched.
quamquam in hac praescriptione semihorae patroni mihi partis reliquisti, consulis ademisti, propterea quod ad defendendum prope modum satis erit hoc mihi temporis, ad conquerendum vero parum.
Although in this prescription of a half-hour you have left me the part of an advocate but taken away that of a consul, because this amount of time will be almost sufficient for defending, but too little indeed for complaining.
§7Nisi forte de locis religiosis ac de lucis quos ab hoc violatos esse dixisti pluribus verbis tibi respondendum putas; quo in crimine nihil est umquam abs te dictum, nisi a C. Macro obiectum esse crimen id C. Rabirio.
perchance you think that I ought to reply to you in more words concerning the sacred places and groves which you said were violated by him; in which charge nothing has ever been said by you, except that this charge was brought against Gaius Rabirius by Gaius Macer.
in quo ego demiror meminisse te quid obiecerit C. Rabirio Macer inimicus, oblitum esse quid aequi et iurati iudices iudicarint.
In which matter I wonder that you remember what Macer, an enemy, charged against Gaius Rabirius, but have forgotten what fair and sworn jurors decided.