§1cum in omnibus causis gravioribus, C. Caesar, initio dicendi commoveri soleam vehementius quam videtur vel usus vel aetas mea postulare, tum in hac causa ita multa me perturbant ut, quantum mea fides studi mihi adferat ad salutem regis Deiotari defendendam, tantum facultatis timor detrahat.
Although in all more important cases, Gaius Caesar, I am accustomed at the beginning of my speech to be more violently agitated than either my experience or my age seems to demand, yet in this case so many things disturb me that, in proportion as my devotion brings me zeal to defend the safety of King Deiotarus, so much of my ability does fear take away.
primum dico pro capite fortunisque regis, quod ipsum, etsi non iniquum est in tuo dumtaxat periculo, tamen est ita inusitatum, regem reum capitis esse, ut ante hoc tempus non sit auditum.
First of all, I speak for the life and fortunes of a king, a circumstance which, although it is not unjust when your own danger at least is concerned, is yet so unusual—that a king should be a defendant on a capital charge—that before this time it has not been heard of.
§2deinde eum regem quem ornare antea cuncto cum senatu solebam pro perpetuis eius in nostram rem publicam meritis, nunc contra atrocissimum crimen cogor defendere.
Next, that very king whom I was formerly accustomed to honor, together with the entire senate, for his constant services toward our republic, I am now compelled to defend against a most atrocious charge.
accedit ut accusatorum alterius crudelitate, alterius indignitate conturber.
In addition, I am troubled by the cruelty of one of the accusers and the worthlessness of the other.
crudelis Castor, ne dicam sceleratum et impium, qui nepos avum in capitis discrimen adduxerit adulescentiaeque suae terrorem intulerit ei cuius senectutem tueri et tegere debebat, commendationemque ineuntis aetatis ab impietate et ab scelere duxerit; avi servum corruptum praemiis ad accusandum dominum impulerit, a legatorum pedibus abduxerit.
Cruel Castor—not to say criminal and impious—who as a grandson has brought his grandfather into danger of his life, and has brought terror upon the youth of him whose old age he ought to have protected and covered, and has derived the recommendation of his early years from impiety and crime; who has driven his grandfather's slave, corrupted by rewards, to accuse his master, and has carried him away from the feet of the ambassadors.
§3fugitivi autem dominum accusantis et dominum absentem et dominum amicissimum nostrae rei publicae cum os videbam, cum verba audiebam, non tam adflictam regiam condicionem dolebam quam de fortunis communibus extimescebam.
Furthermore, when I saw the face and heard the words of a runaway slave accusing his master—and that an absent master, and a master most friendly to our republic—I did not grieve so much for the afflicted condition of the king as I feared for our common fortunes.
nam cum more maiorum de servo in dominum ne tormentis quidem quaeri liceat, in qua quaestione dolor elicere veram vocem possit etiam ab invito, exortus est servus qui, quem in eculeo appellare non posset, eum accuset solutus.
For although by the custom of our ancestors it is not permitted to inquire even by torture concerning a slave against his master—in which interrogation pain might elicit a true voice even from an unwilling person—there has arisen a slave who, though he could not name his master on the rack, accuses him while free.
§4perturbat me, C. Caesar, etiam illud interdum quod tamen, cum te penitus recognovi, timere desino: re enim iniquum est, sed tua sapientia fit aequissimum.
Sometimes, Gaius Caesar, that also disturbs me, which, however, when I have thoroughly recalled your character, I cease to fear; for in reality it is unjust, but by your wisdom it becomes most just.
nam dicere apud eum de facinore contra cuius vitam consilium facinoris inisse arguare, cum per se ipsum consideres, grave est; nemo enim fere est qui sui periculi iudex non sibi se aequiorem quam reo praebeat.
For to speak before him concerning a crime against whose life you are alleged to have entered into a conspiracy, when you consider it by itself, is a grave thing; for there is almost no one who, being the judge of his own danger, does not show himself more favorable to himself than to the accused.
sed tua, Caesar, praestans singularisque natura hunc mihi metum minuit.
But your outstanding and unique nature, Caesar, diminishes this fear for me.
non enim tam timeo quid tu de rege Deiotaro, quam intellego quid de te ceteros velis iudicare.
For I do not so much fear what you will judge concerning King Deiotarus, as I understand what you wish others to judge concerning you.
§5moveor etiam loci ipsius insolentia, quod tantam causam quanta nulla umquam in disceptatione versata est dico intra domesticos parietes, dico extra conventum et eam frequentiam in qua oratorum studia niti solent: in tuis oculis, in tuo ore voltuque acquiesco, te unum intueor, ad te unum omnis spectat oratio: quae mihi ad spem obtinendae veritatis gravissima sunt, ad motum animi et ad omnem impetum dicendi contentionemque leviora.
I am also moved by the strangeness of the place itself, because I am pleading so great a cause, such as has never been involved in any discussion, within domestic walls, and outside the assembly and that crowd in which the zeal of orators is accustomed to find its support: in your eyes, in your face and countenance I find rest, on you alone I look, to you alone my whole speech is directed; which things are most weighty for me toward the hope of obtaining the truth, but lighter for the movement of the mind and for all the force and exertion of speaking.
§6hanc enim, C. Caesar, causam si in foro dicerem eodem audiente et disceptante te, quantam mihi alacritatem populi Romani concursus adferret! quis enim civis ei regi non faveret cuius omnem aetatem in populi Romani bellis consumptam esse meminisset? spectarem curiam, intuerer forum, caelum denique testarer ipsum.
For if, Gaius Caesar, I were pleading this cause in the forum, with you yourself listening and deciding, what great eagerness would the gathering of the Roman people bring to me! For what citizen would not favor that king whose entire life he remembered to have been spent in the wars of the Roman people? I would look at the Senate-house, I would gaze at the forum, and finally I would call heaven itself to witness.
sic, cum et deorum immortalium et populi Romani et senatus beneficia in regem Deiotarum recordarer, nullo modo mihi deesse posset oratio.
Thus, when I recalled the benefits of both the immortal gods and the Roman people and the Senate toward King Deiotarus, in no way could speech fail me.
§7quae quoniam angustiora parietes faciunt actioque maximae causae debilitatur loco, tuum est, Caesar, qui pro multis saepe dixisti, quid mihi nunc animi sit ad te ipsum referre, quo facilius cum aequitas tua tum audiendi diligentia minuat hanc perturbationem meam.
Since the walls make these things narrower, and the pleading of a most important cause is weakened by the place, it is your part, Caesar, who have often spoken on behalf of many, to refer to your own mind what my feelings are now, so that both your fairness and your diligence in listening may more easily diminish this disturbance of mine.
sed ante quam de accusatione ipsa dico, de accusatorum spe pauca dicam; qui cum videantur neque ingenio neque usu atque exercitatione rerum valere, tamen ad hanc causam non sine aliqua spe et cogitatione venerunt.
But before I speak of the accusation itself, I will say a few words about the hope of the accusers; who, although they seem to be strong neither in talent nor in experience and practice of affairs, yet have come to this cause not without some hope and calculation.