§42.34.1postquam consul, quae voluerat, dixit, Sp. Ligustinus ex eo numero, qui tribunos plebis appellaverat, a consule et ab tribunis petit, ut sibi paucis ad populum agere liceret.
After the consul had said what he wished, Spurius Ligustinus, one of those who had appealed to the tribunes of the plebs, requested from the consul and the tribunes that he might be allowed to speak briefly to the people.
§42.34.2permissu omnium ita locutus fertur: “Sp. Ligustinus Crustumina ex Sabinis sum oriundus, Quirites.
With the permission of all, he is reported to have spoken as follows: "Quirites, I, Spurius Ligustinus, am of the Crustumini tribe, originated from the Sabines.
pater mihi iugerum agri reliquit et parvom tugurium, in quo natus educatusque sum, hodieque ibi habito.
My father left me a jugerum of land and a small cottage in which I was born and brought up, and there I live to this day.
§42.34.3cum primum in aetatem veni, pater mihi uxorem fratris sui filiam dedit, quae secum nihil adtulit praeter libertatem pudicitiamque, et cum his fecunditatem, quanta vel in diti domo satis esset.
As soon as I came of age, my father gave me his brother's daughter as a wife, who brought nothing with her except her freedom and chastity, and along with these, a fertility that would have been sufficient even in a wealthy house.
§42.34.4sex filii nobis, duae filiae sunt, utraeque iam nuptae.
We have six sons and two daughters, both of whom are now married.
filii quattuor togas viriles habent, duo praetextati sunt.
Four of our sons wear the toga virilis, while two still wear the praetexta.
§42.34.5miles sum factus P. Sulpicio C. Aurelio consulibus.
I became a soldier in the consulship of Publius Sulpicius and Gaius Aurelius.
in eo exercitu, qui in Macedoniam est transportatus, biennium miles gregarius fui adversus Philippum regem; tertio anno virtutis causa mihi T. Quinctius Flamininus decumum ordinem hastatum adsignavit.
In that army, which was transported to Macedonia, I was a common soldier for two years against King Philip; in the third year, Titus Quinctius Flamininus, on account of my bravery, assigned to me the post of centurion of the tenth company of the hastati.
§42.34.6devicto Philippo Macedonibusque cum in Italiam reportati ac dimissi essemus, continuo miles voluntarius cum M. Porcio consule in Hispaniam sum profectus.
When Philip and the Macedonians were thoroughly defeated, and we were brought back to Italy and discharged, I immediately set out for Spain as a volunteer soldier with the consul Marcus Porcius.
§42.34.7neminem omnium imperatorum, qui vivant, acriorem virtutis spectatorem ac iudicem fuisse sciunt, qui et illum et alios duces longa militia experti sunt.
Those who have experienced both him and other leaders in long military service know that, of all the commanders now living, there has been no one who was a sharper observer and judge of courage.
hic me imperator dignum iudicavit, cui primum hastatum prioris centuriae adsignaret.
This commander judged me worthy to be assigned the post of first hastatus of the prior century.
§42.34.8tertio iterum voluntarius miles factus sum in eum exercitum, qui adversus Aetolos et Antiochum regem est missus.
A third time, I again became a volunteer soldier in that army which was sent against the Aetolians and King Antiochus.
a M’. Acilio mihi primus princeps prioris centuriae est adsignatus.
By Manius Acilius, I was assigned the post of first princeps of the prior century.
§42.34.9expulso rege Antiocho, subactis Aetolis reportati sumus in Italiam; et deinceps bis, quae annua merebant legiones, stipendia feci.
When King Antiochus was driven out and the Aetolians subdued, we were brought back to Italy; and thereafter twice I performed the service which the legions were accustomed to serve annually.
bis deinde in Hispania militavi, semel Q. Fulvio Flacco, iterum Ti. Sempronio Graccho praetore.
After that, I served twice in Spain, once when Quintus Fulvius Flaccus, and a second time when Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus was praetor.
§42.34.10a Flacco inter ceteros, quos virtutis causa secum ex provincia ad triumphum deducebat, deductus sum; a Ti. Graccho rogatus in provinciam ii.
By Flaccus, I was brought along among the others whom he was bringing home with him from the province for his triumph because of their bravery; at the request of Tiberius Gracchus, I went to his province.
§42.34.11quater intra paucos annos primum pilum duxi; quater et tricies virtutis causa donatus ab imperatoribus sum; sex civicas coronas accepi.
Four times within a few years, I held the rank of chief centurion; thirty-four times, I was rewarded by commanders for my bravery; I received six civic crowns.
viginti duo stipendia annua in exercitu emerita habeo, et maior annis sum quinquaginta.
I have completed twenty-two years of active service in the army, and I am over fifty years of age.
§42.34.12quodsi mihi nec stipendia omnia emerita essent necdum aetas vacationem daret, tamen, cum quattuor milites pro me vobis dare, P. Licini, possem, aecum erat me dimitti.
But even if all my years of service had not been completed and my age did not yet grant me exemption, nevertheless, since I could give you four soldiers in my place, Publius Licinius, it would have been fair that I be discharged.
§42.34.13sed haec pro causa mea dicta accipiatis velim; ipse me, quoad quisquam, qui exercitus scribit, idoneum militem iudicabit, numquam sum excusaturus.
But I wish you to receive these statements as made in support of my case; as for myself, as long as anyone who enrolls the armies shall judge me an efficient soldier, I will never excuse myself.
§42.34.14quo ordine me dignum iudicent tribuni militum, ipsorum est potestatis; ne quis me virtute in exercitu praestet, dabo operam; et semper ita fecisse me et imperatores mei et, qui una stipendia fecerunt, testes sunt.
To what rank the military tribunes may judge me worthy belongs to their own power; that no one shall surpass me in courage in the army, I will take care; and that I have always done so, both my commanders and those who served with me are witnesses.
§42.34.15vos quoque aecum est, commilitones, etsi appellatione vostrum usurpatis ius, cum adulescentes nihil adversus magistratuum senatusque auctoritatem usquam feceritis, nunc quoque in potestate consulum ac senatus esse et omnia honesta loca ducere, quibus rem publicam defensuri sitis. ”
It is also fair, fellow soldiers, that you too, although you exercise your right by appeal, since in your youth you never did anything anywhere against the authority of the magistrates and the senate, should now also be under the power of the consuls and the senate, and regard all positions as honorable in which you are to defend the commonwealth."