§Lep.1'Clementia et probitas vostra, Quirites, quibus per ceteras gentis maxumi et clari estis, plurumum timoris mihi faciunt advorsum tyrannidem L. Sullae, ne, quae ipsi nefanda aestumatis, ea parum credundo de aliis circumveniamini — praesertim quom illi spes omnis in scelere atque perfidia sit neque se aliter tutum putet, quam si peior atque intestabilior metu vostro fuerit, quo captis libertatis curam miseria eximat — aut, si provideritis, in tutandis periculis magis quam ulciscundo teneamini.
'Your clemency and probity, Citizens, by which you are greatest and most renowned among other nations, cause me the greatest fear against the tyranny of L. Sulla, lest, by believing too little of others what you yourselves deem unspeakable, you should be circumvented — especially since all his hope is in crime and treachery, nor does he think himself safe otherwise than if he has become worse and more detestable than your fear, so that misery may take away the care for liberty from those who are captured — or, if you should foresee it, you should be kept occupied in guarding against dangers rather than in taking vengeance.
§Lep.2satellites quidem eius, homines maxumi nominis, optumis maiorum exemplis, nequeo satis mirari, qui dominationis in vos servitium suom mercedem dant et utrumque per iniuriam malunt quam optumo iure liberi agere: §Lep.3praeclara Brutorum atque Aemiliorum et Lutatiorum proles, geniti ad ea, quae maiores virtute peperere, subvortunda.
Indeed, I cannot sufficiently wonder at his satellites, men of the highest reputation, with the best examples of their ancestors, who give their own servitude as the price of dominion over you, and prefer both through injustice rather than to live as free men under the best law: the illustrious offspring of the Bruti, Aemilii, and Lutatii, born for the subversion of those things which their ancestors won by virtue.
§Lep.4nam quid a Pyrrho, Hannibale Philippoque et Antiocho defensum est aliud quam libertas et suae quoique sedes, neu quoi nisi legibus pareremus?
For what else was defended against Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Philip, and Antiochus, but liberty and each man's own home, and that we should obey none but the laws?
§Lep.5quae cuncta scaevos iste Romulus quasi ab externis rapta tenet, non tot exercituum clade neque consulum et aliorum principum, quos fortuna belli consumpserat, satiatus, sed tum crudelior, quom plerosque secundae res in miserationem ex ira vortunt.
All of which that sinister Romulus holds as if snatched from foreign enemies, not satisfied with the ruin of so many armies, nor of consuls and other leading men whom the fortune of war had consumed, but then more cruel when prosperity turns most men from anger to pity.
§Lep.6quin solus omnium post memoriam humani generis supplicia in post futuros conposuit, quis prius iniuria quam vita certa esset, pravissumeque per sceleris immanitatem adhuc tutus fuit, dum vos metu gravioris serviti a repetunda libertate terremini.
Nay, he alone of all within the memory of mankind has devised punishments for future generations, to whom injury was certain before life itself was, and most perversely through the enormity of his crime he has remained safe until now, while you are deterred by the fear of a heavier servitude from reclaiming your liberty.
§Lep.7Agundum atque obviam eundum est, Quirites, ne spolia vostra penes illos sint, non prolatandum neque votis paranda auxilia; nisi forte speratis taedium iam aut pudorem tyrannidis Sullae esse et eum per scelus occupata periculosius dimissurum.
We must act and go to meet them, Citizens, lest your spoils remain in their hands; there must be no putting off, nor must aid be sought through prayers; unless perhaps you hope that there is already weariness or shame in Sulla's tyranny, and that he will surrender with greater danger what he occupied through crime.
§Lep.8at ille eo processit, ut nihil gloriosum nisi tutum et omnia retinendae dominationis honesta aestumet.
But he has gone so far that he deems nothing glorious unless it is safe, and all things honorable for the retention of his dominion.
§Lep.9itaque illa quies et otium cum libertate, quae multi probi potius quam laborem cum honoribus capessebant, nulla sunt; §Lep.10hac tempestate serviundum aut imperitandum, habendus metus est aut faciundus, Quirites.
And so that peace and leisure with liberty, which many good men used to embrace rather than labor with honors, are no more; in this season one must either serve or rule, Citizens, fear must be either had or made.
§Lep.11nam quid ultra? quaeve humana superant aut divina inpulluta sunt? populus Romanus, paulo ante gentium moderator, exutus imperio gloria iure, agitandi inops despectusque ne servilia quidem alimenta reliqua habet.
For what is there beyond? Or what human things remain, or what divine things are left unpolluted? The Roman people, lately the ruler of nations, stripped of empire, glory, and law, helpless in action and despised, does not even have slave-like nourishment left.
§Lep.12sociorum et Lati magna vis civitate pro multis et egregiis factis a vobis data per unum prohibentur, et plebis innoxiae patrias sedes occupavere pauci satellites mercedem scelerum.
A great multitude of the allies and of Latium, to whom citizenship was given by you for many and outstanding deeds, are excluded by one man, and a few satellites have occupied the ancestral homes of the innocent plebeians as the reward of their crimes.
§Lep.13leges iudicia aerarium provinciae reges penes unum, denique necis civium et vitae licentia.
Laws, courts, the treasury, provinces, kings are in the power of one man, and finally the license of life and death over the citizens.
§Lep.14simul humanas hostias vidistis et sepulcra infecta sanguine civili.
At the same time, you have seen human victims and graves defiled with civil blood.
§Lep.15estne viris reliqui aliud quam solvere iniuriam aut mori per virtutem? quoniam quidem unum omnibus finem natura vel ferro saeptis statuit, neque quisquam extremam necessitatem nihil ausus nisi muliebri ingenio expectat.
Is there anything left for men except to wipe out the injustice or to die through virtue? Since nature has indeed established one end for all, even for those protected by iron, and no one except with a womanish spirit awaits the ultimate necessity without having dared anything.
§Lep.16Verum ego seditiosus, uti Sulla ait, qui praemia turbarum queror, et bellum cupiens, qui iura pacis repeto;
But I am seditious, as Sulla says, who complain of the rewards of disturbances, and desirous of war, who demand back the rights of peace;