§Macr.1'Si, Quirites, parum existumaretis, quid inter ius a maioribus relictum vobis et hoc a Sulla paratum servitium interesset, multis mihi disserundum fuit docendique, quas ob iniurias et quotiens a patribus armata plebes secessisset utique vindices paravisset omnis iuris sui tribunos plebis.
'If, Quirites, you did not sufficiently realize what a difference there is between the right left to you by your ancestors and this servitude prepared by Sulla, I would have had to discourse at length and teach you for what wrongs and how many times the armed plebs seceded from the fathers and indeed secured tribunes of the plebs as defenders of all their rights.
§Macr.2nunc hortari modo reliquom est et ire primum via, qua capessundam arbitror libertatem.
Now, it only remains to encourage you and to go first by the path by which I think liberty must be seized.
§Macr.3neque me praeterit, quantas opes nobilitatis solus inpotens inani specie magistratus pellere dominatione incipiam, quantoque tutius factio noxiorum agat quam soli innocentes.
Nor does it escape me how great a power of the nobility I, a single powerless man, under the empty appearance of a magistracy, am beginning to drive from domination, and how much more safely a faction of guilty men acts than solitary innocent ones.
§Macr.4sed praeter spem bonam ex vobis, quae metum vicit, statui certaminis advorsa pro libertate potiora esse forti viro quam omnino non certavisse.
But besides the good hope from you, which has conquered fear, I have decided that adversity in a struggle for liberty is better for a brave man than not to have struggled at all.
§Macr.5Quamquam omnes alii creati pro iure vostro vim cunctam et imperia sua gratia aut spe aut praemiis in vos convortere meliusque habent mercede delinquere quam gratis recte facere.
Although all others, elected for your rights, turn all their strength and power against you for favor, hope, or rewards, and prefer to do wrong for pay rather than to do right for nothing.
§Macr.6itaque omnes concessere iam in paucorum dominationem, qui per militare nomen aerarium exercitus regna provincias occupavere et arcem habent ex spoliis vostris, quom interim more pecorum vos multitudo singulis habendos fruendosque praebetis, exuti omnibus, quae maiores reliquere; nisi quia vobismet ipsi per suffragia, ut praesides olim, nunc dominos destinatis.
And so all have now yielded to the domination of a few, who under military prestige have seized the treasury, armies, kingdoms, and provinces, and hold a citadel built from your spoils, while in the meantime you, the multitude, like sheep, offer yourselves to be possessed and enjoyed by individuals, stripped of everything that your ancestors left behind; except that you yourselves by your votes designate as your masters those who were once your protectors.
§Macr.7itaque concessere illuc omnes, at mox, si vostra receperitis, ad vos plerique.
Therefore, all have yielded there, but soon, if you recover what is yours, most of them will return to you.
raris enim animus est ad ea, quae placent, defendunda, ceteri validiorum sunt.
For few have the courage to defend what pleases them; the rest belong to the stronger.
§Macr.8An dubium habetis, num officere quid vobis uno animo pergentibus possit, quos languidos socordesque pertimuere? nisi forte C. Cotta, ex factione media consul, aliter quam metu iura quaedam tribunis plebis restituit.
Or do you doubt whether anything can oppose you as you go forward with one mind, whom they feared even when you were listless and inactive? Unless perhaps C. Cotta, a consul from the very heart of the faction, restored certain rights to the tribunes of the plebs for some reason other than fear.
et quamquam L. Sicinius primus de potestate tribunicia loqui ausus mussantibus vobis circumventus erat, tamen prius illi invidiam metuere, quam vos iniuriae pertaesum est.
And although L. Sicinius, who first dared to speak of the tribunician power while you were muttering, was circumvented, yet they feared unpopularity before you were weary of injustice.
quod ego nequeo satis mirari, Quirites; nam spem frustra fuisse intellexistis.
Which thing I cannot sufficiently wonder at, Quirites; for you have understood that your hope was in vain.
§Macr.9Sulla mortuo, qui scelestum inposuerat servitium, finem mali credebatis: ortus est longe saevior Catulus.
When Sulla was dead, who had imposed a criminal servitude, you believed there would be an end to your misery; but there arose Catulus, far more savage.
§Macr.10tumultus intercessit Bruto et Mamerco consulibus.
A tumult broke out during the consulship of Brutus and Mamercus; then C.
dein C. Curio ad exitium usque insontis tribuni dominatus est.
Curio exercised his tyranny even to the destruction of an innocent tribune.
§Macr.11Lucullus superiore anno quantis animis ierit in L. Quintium, vidistis.
You saw with what spirit Lucullus went against L. Quintius last year.
quantae denique nunc mihi turbae concitantur! quae profecto in cassum agebantur, si prius quam vos serviundi finem, illi dominationis facturi erant: praesertim quom his civilibus armis dicta alia, sed certatum utrimque de dominatione in vobis sit.
Finally, what great troubles are now being stirred up against me! Which indeed would have been done in vain, if they were going to put an end to their domination before you put an end to your servitude; especially since in these civil wars other things were professed, but on both sides the struggle was for domination over you.
§Macr.12itaque cetera ex licentia aut odio aut avaritia in tempus arsere; permansit una res modo, quae utrimque quaesita est, et erepta in posterum: vis tribunicia, telum a maioribus libertati paratum.
Therefore, other matters flared up temporarily out of license, hatred, or avarice; one thing alone remained, which was sought by both sides and snatched away for the future: the tribunician power, a weapon prepared by your ancestors for liberty.
§Macr.13quod ego vos moneo quaesoque ut animadvortatis neu nomina rerum ad ignaviam mutantes otium pro servitio appelletis.
Of which thing I warn and entreat you to take heed, and not, by changing the names of things to suit your cowardice, to call servitude peace.
quo iam ipso frui, si vera et honesta flagitium superaverit, non est condicio: fuisset, si omnino quiessetis.
Of which very peace there is now no possibility of enjoyment, if shamefulness shall overcome truth and honor; there would have been, if you had remained entirely quiet.
nunc animum advortere et, nisi viceritis, quoniam omnis iniuria gravitate tutior est, artius habebunt.
Now they are on their guard, and unless you conquer, since every injustice is safer by its severity, they will hold you more tightly.'