V. Magistrates sent into Prouinces no more rewarded. The Gymnase burnt. Pompeius towne suncke with an earthquake.
AFter this Claudius Timarchus of Candie, was accused of all the crimes, that rich gouernours of Prouinces are woont to be touched with; and growne insolent with ouer great wealth to the oppression of the meaner sort. One speech of his reached to the disgrace of the Senate, which was, that it laye in him whether the Proconsuls of Candie should haue thankes giuen them, or not. Which occasion Paetus Thrasea turning to the common good, after he had giuen his opini∣on that the accused should be banished Candie; added these words. It is prooued by experience, Lords of the Senate, that most excellent lawes, and honest examples haue their beginning by good men, from others offences. So the licence of orators was cause of the lawe Cincia; the suing of competitors of the Iulian lawes; the co∣uetuousnes of magistrates of the Calpurnian decrees. For the fault goeth before the punishment, and the remedie commeth after the offence. Therefore against the new pride of Prouinces, let vs take some aduise woorthie of the Roman integri∣tie and constancie, that nothing may be derogated from the protection of the allies, or the opinion conceiued of vs weakened, or a citizen be else where iudged, than be∣fore vs, or reputed other than he is esteemed by vs. In times past not onely a Pretor or Consull, but priuate men also were sent to visite the Prouinces, which should re∣port, what was thought of euery ones dutie and loyaltie: and the people were afraid of a particular mans estimation and iudgement. But now we adore strangers and flatter them; and as at the pleasure of one, thankes are now a dayes giuen, so the ac∣cusation of one more redily receiued. Let the decree contiuue, and let the Prouin∣ces haue power to shew their authoritie by such meanes: but let false praise, and wroong out by praiers be restrained, no lesse than malice and crueltie. For there are more offences committed whilest we goe about to win fauour, than whilest we do offend: yea some vertues are odious, obstinate seueritie, and an inuincible minde against fauour. Hereupon the beginnings of our magistrates are for the most part better, and the end declineth, whilest we hunt after suffrages: which if they were for∣bidden, the Prouinces would be gouerned more iustly and constantly. For as coue∣tuousnes