The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.

The Oration of M. Aemilius Le∣pidus the Consull, against Lu. Sylla.

YOur clemency, and integri∣ty, (O yee Romanes,) by

which you are most great, and famous amongst other Nations, minister much cause of feare to me, in the contemplation of L. Syllaes tyranny, lest that either you be circumuented by o∣thers, being incredulous of these things, which you esteeme most wicked: especially when all his hope relie on villany and persi∣diousnesse: neither can he thinke himselfe otherwise safe, except he growes worse and more de∣testable from your feare, by meanes whereof misery may take away the care of your cap∣tiued liberty: or if you shall pro∣uide against them, you may be more ingaged in defending your selues from dangers, then in re∣uenging them. Truely his mini∣sters being men of much re∣nowne, and no lesse honoured for the excellent examples of their Ancestours (I cannot suf∣ficiently wonder at it) bestow

their seruice for the reward of his tyranny ouer you: and rather desire them both with iniury, then to liue freely after the vprightest manner: The illustri∣ous progeny of the Bruti, Aemi∣lij, and Lutatij, borne to ruine that, which their Ancestors got.

For what else was defended from Pyrrhus, Hannibal, Philip, and Antiochus, but liberty, and euery mans proper habitation; that we might be obedient to none, but the Lawes? all which this cruell Romulus detaines, as spoiles from taken strangers; not being glutted with the slaughter of so many Armies, nor with that of the Consuls, and other Princes, whom the fortune of the warre hath consumed: but euen then hee growes more mercilesse, when as prosperity turneth most men from anger vnto compassi∣on. But he alone amongst all after the memory of man, hath

ordained punishments for those that are to be borne; vnto whom iniury shall bee assured before life: and being as yet protected by his monstrous villany, he doth rage in most wicked man∣ner; whilst you out of the feare of a more grieuous feruitude, are terrified from the recouering of liberty.

Something is to be done, and he reincountred (O ye Romans) that your spoiles become not his prey: delayes are not to bee made, neither by vowes are helps to be procured: except perchance you hope, that out of the tediousnesse and shame of his tyranny, he will quit those perquisites with more danger, which he hath vsurped to him∣selfe by villany.

But he hath proceeded so far, that he esteemeth nothing glori∣ous, but what is safe, and all things to be honest, that tend to

the preseruation of his tyrannicall gouernment. Therefore that peace, and quietnesse with li∣berty, which many good men haue imbraced before laborious honours, haue no respect with him. At this time we must ei∣ther serue or command: feare is either to be had, or caused (O ye Romanes.)

For what remaines further? or what diuine or humane rights are left vnpolluted? the Romane people not long since the rulers of Nations, being despoiled of glory, Empire, and priuiledges, withall growne poore and despi∣cable, haue not seruill mainte∣nance left. A great number of Alies and Latines made free of the City, for their many & meri∣torious acts, are restrained by one man alone; and a few of his mi∣nisters haue possessed the ancient seates of the Commonalty, for a reward of their villanies. Lawes,

Iudicatures, Treasures, Prouin∣ces, and Kings, are in one mans power: finally the liberty of the death and life of Citizens. With∣all you haue seene humane sacri∣fices, and Sepulchres polluted with ciuill blood.

Is there any thing left remai∣ning for men, but to quit thi•• iniury, and die valiantly? For as much as nature hath certainly appointed the same end for all men, euen for those who are hedg∣ed about with Iron: neither doth any man, that wants daring, ex∣pect the last necessity, but with a feminine resoluton.

But I am seditious, as Sylla saith, who complaine vpon the rewards of these tumults; and seeke after warre, because I re∣quire the priuiledges of peace. Forsooth, as though you could not be otherwise safe, and secu∣red inough vnder his gouern∣ment, except Vettius▪ Picens,

and Cornelius the Scribe shall lauish out other mens law∣full acquisitions: except you shall approue all the proscripti∣ons of the innocent for their riches: the tortures of illustrious persons; the Citty wasted with fire and slaughters: the goods of miserable Citizens sold, or giuen away; as if they were Cimbrian pillage.

But he obiecteth to me my possessions gotten out of the goods of the proscribed. Which verily is the greatest argument of his wickednesse: that neither I, nor any man else should be sufficiently safe, if wee should doe vprightly. And those things which then I bought out of feare; the price being paid, I restore forthwith to the rightfull ow∣ners: neither is it my counsell to suffer any prey to be made of Citizens. Those calamities shalbe sufficient, which in the heate of

madnesse we haue indured. Ro∣mane Amies fighting one against another, and Armes conuerted from strangers vpon our selues.

Of all mischiefes and repro∣ches let there bee an end, Of which Sylla is not so penitent, but that hee glories in his wicked deedes, and if it were lawfull, would follow that course more egerly. Neither, now doe I feare, what you esteeme of him, but how much you dare to doe your selues: lest one expecting ano∣ther for chiefe, you may be sur∣prized, not by his power, which is weake and broken, but by your owne cowardice, before you could otherwise be surpri∣zed, and before he durst appeare so happy.

For besides his debaucht mi∣nisters, who desires the same with him? and who would not haue all things changed but the victory? his Souldiers forsooth:

whose blood hath beene the price of riches, for Tarrula, and Scir∣rus the worst of slaues. Or will those, by whom Fusidius is ad∣uanced in gaining of Magi∣stracies a base varlet, the shame of all good men?

Therefore the victorious Army maketh me very confi∣dent: by whom besides wounds, and labours, nothing hath beene procured but a Tyrant. Except perchance they went about to subuert the Tribunitiall power, founded by our Ancestours, that so they might vsurpe Lawes and Iudicatures vnto themselues: for a faire hire indeed, when as be∣ing banished into marishes and woods, they shall vnderstand that their disgrace and hatred re∣maine for rewards with some few.

Why therefore doth hee march with such a Troupe, and such anelated mind? because pros∣perity

supports vice wonderful∣ly: which being decayed, hee will be as much despised, as he was feared before; except per∣chance he doth this vnder the colour of peace and concord, which names hee hath giuen to his villany and parricide. Nor o∣therwise, saith he, can the Ro∣mane people haue an end of warre, except the Commonalty be expelled out of their possessi∣ons, the worst of all ciuill predation and the right and iudgement of all things remaine with him, which belonged to the people of Rome.

Which if you should inter∣pret to be peace and concord, approue then the greatest distur∣bances and plagues of the Com∣monwealth. Submit to impo∣sed lawes: imbrace idlenesse with seruitude: and deliuer o∣uer an example to posterity, of circumuenting the Romane peo∣ple,

with the effusion of their owne blood.

For my selfe, although by this highest command, inough hath beene procured for the name of my Ancestours, for my owne dignity and safety also: yet it was not my resolution to ouer∣value my priuate fortunes: and a dangerous liberty seemed bet∣ter to me then seruitude? which if you allow, ioyne with me, (O yee Romanes:) and the gods assisting happily, follow Marcus Aemilius the Consull, as Gene∣rall and Author for the recoue∣ring of your liberty.