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. Lepidus, Tri∣bune of the people, vnto the people.

IF you should not well consi∣der, O yee Romanes, what

difference might be, betwixt the gouernment left vnto vs by our Ancestours, and this seruitude prepared by Sylla; it were re∣quisite for me to discourse at large, and shew for what iniu∣ries, and how often the armed Commonalty disunited them∣selues from the Fathers; and how they procured Tribunes of the people, to vindicate their right. That which remaines now, is one∣ly to exhort, and to goe the di∣rect way, by which I thinke li∣berty may be regained. Neither doth it ouerpasse me, how great supports of the Nobility, I being alone, and impotent, with the vaine shadow of Magistracy onely, must vndertake to re∣moue from the gouernment; and how much more securely the wicked liue; then the forelorne innocent.

But besides the good hope conceiued of you, which hath

subdued feare, it hath beene my resolution, that the difficulties of contending in the case of liberty, beseeme more a valiant man, then not to haue contended at all: Although all other Magi∣strates created for yo••r right, haue conuerted all their power and commaunds against you, indu∣ced with fauour, hope, or re∣wards; and hold it better to of∣fend for hire, then to doe well for bare thankes.

Therefore all are inthralled vn∣der the tyranny of some few, who vnder a military pretence haue vsurped the Treasury, King∣domes, Armies, and Prouinces, and possesse the capitoll out of your spoiles: when in the meane time you the multitude yeeld vp your selues, to be had, and posses∣sed by seuerall men, dispoiled of all things, which our Ancestours left: except that now you choose Lords by suffrages, as you did

Gouernours in former times.

Therefore all haue put their neckes vnder the same yoake, and forthwith, if you shall recouer your owne, most of them will re∣turne to your party. For rare is the resolution, which will defend those things, that please. The rest belong to the stronger.

What, doe you doubt, that any thing can hinder you, proceeding with vnanimity, whom they haue feared being lazie and languish∣ing? except perchance Ca. Cotta a Consull of the middle faction, otherwise then out of feare, resto∣red certaine priuiledges to the Tribunes of the people; and al∣though L. Sicinius was the first, that durst speake of the Tribu∣nitiall power, yet was he circum∣uēted through your irresolution. Notwithstanding, they first fea∣red the enuie of the fact, before you were greeued with the wrong. Which I cannot suffici∣••ntly

admire (O ye Romanes) or ye knew all hope to be vaine. Sylla being dead, who imposed ••greeuous seruitude, you belee∣••ed your miseries to be at an end. Catulus comes vp farre more ••ruell. A tumult interceded Bru∣••us, and Acmilius Mamercus ••eing Consuls. Then C. Curio ••yrannized, euen to the destructi∣••n of a guiltlesse Tribune, with ••hat eagernesse of mind Lucullus ••his last yeere prosecuted L. Quinctius, you your selues saw: ••esides what troubles are now ••••ised against me. Which verily would proue frustrate, if they would make an end of their ty∣••anny, before you doe of your ••••uitude: especially when in these ••uill broiles other things are pre∣••••nded in words, but both facti∣••ns contend for rule ouer you.

Therefore other combustions proceeding from licentiousnesse, ••atred, or auarice, haue beene

transitory. One thing onely is permanent, which both factions seeke for: and for euer hereafter is the Tribunitiall authority ta∣ken from you: a weapon left by your Ancestours for the defence of liberty. Which I admonish, & intreate you to consider: and that by changing the names of things to shadow your cowardice, you would not call it ease, in stead of seruitude. To inioy which euen now, if wrong shall onercome truth and honesty, it is no condi∣tion: it would haue beene, if you had beene altogether quiet. Now obserue thus farre; that except you vanquish, they will restraine you more; Since euery iniurie growes safer by his greatnesse.

What therefore is your cen∣sure? Some man will reply, first of all, the custome, which you now imbrace, is to be omitted, of a nimble tongue, and slouthfull spirit, not being mindfull of your

liberty without the place of as∣sembly. Then that I may not summon you to those virill du∣ties, by vertue whereof your Ancestours committing a Patriti∣an Magistracy to the Tribunes of the people, procured free suffra∣ges from Patritian Authors. Al∣though (O ye Romanes) it lyes in your power, that those things, which inioyned you suffer for o∣thers, you may doe, and not doe indifferently for your selues.

What doe you expect Iupiter, or some other god for counseller? the great commands of the Con∣suls, and decrees of the Fathers, you ratifie by your execution (O ye Romanes) and of your owne accord you make haste to inlarge and support their authority ouer you. Neither doe I perswade you to reuenge iniuries; rather I would haue you imbrace peace: neither desiring discords, as they misinforme, but the end of them, I require our owne by the

Law of Nations: and if they shall detaine that forcibly, I doe not giue my censure for armes, or dis∣union, but onely that you would not giue your blood any more.

Let them after their owne wayes mannage and hold places of command: let them seeke after triumphs: let them with their sta∣tutes persecute Mithridates, Sertorius, and the reliques of the banished. Let danger and labour be remoued, in which there is no share of the gaine: except per∣haps by that sudden Law for corne, your offices are amply re∣quited. By which not withstand∣ing they valued at 5. measures the liberty of all those, who could no longer want this releese. For as by the exiguity death is preuent∣ed, their stre••gths decay: so that neither such a small proportion frees them from domesticke care; and the slouthfullest persons are frustrated from the meanest hope. Which although it were

ample, yet because it representeth the price of slauery, whose folly was it to be deceiued, and to owe, together with iniury, the fa∣uour of those things, which be∣long to you? For by any other course neither can they worke vpon the generality, nor will in∣deuour. Yet ought we to be cautelous of their deceite.

For this cause, all of them to∣gether prepare Lenitiues to de∣lay you till the comming of Cn. Pompeius: whom when they haue reuerenced with an awfull regard, hauing made their neckes his footstoole, forthwith feare being remoued, they will rent his honour peecemeale. Neitherdoth it ashame these auengers, as they call themselues, of liberty, being so many as they are, that they durst not without one man par∣don an iniury, or are not able to defend their right. For certaine it is sufficiently knowne to me. that Pompey; being a youngman,

of such eminent glory, had rather be chiefe ouer you with consent, then an associat with them in ty∣ranny, and will labour especially to be Author of the Tribunitiall power.

But formerly (O ye Romans) all ye that were Citizens relyed on the patronage of many, all did not depend from one. Neither could any one man giue, or take away things of that nature. There∣fore inough hath beene spoken. Neither is the matter shut vp in ignorance.

But I know not, what dulnesse hath possessed you, in that you are neither moued with glory, not wrong; and haue exchanged all things for present slouth: think∣ing it liberty enough, because your backs are kept from scour∣ging, and you may lawfully go whither you will, by the leaue of your rich Masters; and that the Peazants inioy not the same pri∣uiledges. But yet these men are

beaten by the enmities of the mighty, and are giuen for a gift to the Magistrates with their Pro∣uinces. Thus some few fight, and vanquish: the Commonalty, whatsoeuer happens, is held for vanquished; and will bee more euery day than other; if they with greater care shall main∣taine their tyranny, then you shall require your liberty.