And is that man to be put on his trial
for covetousness, who, when employed on a business affording numerous opportunities for such
conduct, shunned all base gain,—who, in a city much given to evil speaking, and in an office
surrounded with suspicion avoided, not only all accusation, but even a single hard name? I pass
over points which I ought not to pass over that in his private affairs no covetous action, no
eagerness about money matters, no sordid conduct in the management of his estate can be alleged
against him. By what witnesses, then, can I refute these men except by you?
Shall that villager from near Tmolus,—a man not only a stranger to us, but not
even known among his own neighbours,—teach you what sort of a man Lucius Flaccus is, whom you
yourselves have known to be most modest as a youth, whom our most extensive provinces have found
to be a most conscientious man and whom our armies know by experience to be a thoroughly brave
soldier and vigilant general, and of a lieutenant and quaestor most moderate; whom you
yourselves, being witnesses on the spot of his conduct, have judged to be a thoroughly wise and
consistent senator, a most upright praetor, and a citizen wholly devoted to the republic.
Will you then listen to others as witnesses on those points, respecting which you yourselves
ought rather to bear witness to others? And what witnesses are they? In the first place, I will
say that they are Greeks, (that is the case of them all.) Not that I, for my own part, would be
more inclined than others to refuse credit to that nation; for if ever there was any one of our
countrymen not averse to that race of men, and proving himself so by zeal and good-will, I think
that I am that man, and that I was so even more when I had more leisure; but there are in that
body many virtuous, many learned, many modest men, and they have not been brought hither to this
trial. There are also many impudent, illiterate, worthless persons, and those I see here,
impelled by various motives. But I say this of the whole race of Greeks; I allow them learning,
I allow them a knowledge of many arts; I do not deny them wit in conversation, acuteness of
talents, and fluency in speaking; even if they claim praise for other sorts of ability, I will
not make any objection; but a scrupulous regard to truth in giving their evidence is not a
virtue that that nation has ever cultivated; they are utterly ignorant what is the meaning of
that quality, they know nothing of its authority or of its weight.
Where does that expression, “Give evidence for me, and I will
give evidence for you,” come from? is it supposed to be a phrase of the Gauls, or of the
Spaniards? It belongs wholly to the Greeks; so that even those who do not understand Greek know
what form of expression is used by the Greeks for this. Therefore, when they give their
evidence, remark with what a countenance, with what confidence they give it; and then you will
become aware how scrupulous they are as to what evidence they give. They never reply precisely
to a question. They always answer an accuser more than he asks them. They never feel any anxiety
to make what they say seem probable to any one; but are solicitous only how to get out what they
have got to say. Marcus Lurco gave evidence against Flaccus, being angry (as he said himself)
because his freedman had been condemned by a decision of his involving infamy. He said nothing
which could injure him, though he was eager to do so; for his conscientious regard to his oath
prevented him. And yet with what modesty, with what trembling
and paleness did he say what he did!