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DO you think any comparison to be made between (b) the one Consulship of C. Lae∣lius, and that after a repulse (if, when a wise and good man, such as he was, is repuls'd in an Electi∣on,
the People do not rather miss of a good Ma∣gistrate, than he of a good People,) but yet, which had you rather be, if it were at your Choice, once Consul as Laelius, or (c) four times as Cinna? I make no question what you would answer; there∣fore I consider to whom I put the case. I would not ask every body the same question; for ano∣ther perhaps would answer that he not only pre∣fer'd the four Consulships before the one, but one day of Cinna, before the whole Ages of many and brave men. Laelius, if he had laid his least Finger on any one, should have suffer'd for it; but Cinna com∣manded to Behead his Fellow-Consul Cn. Octavius, P. Crassus, L. Caesar, Principal of the Nobility, men of try'd Abilities both in Peace and War. M. An∣tony the most Eloquent of all that I ever heard. C. Caesar who seem'd to me a Pattern of Courtesie, Wit, Good Nature, Facetiousness. Was he there∣fore happy who slew these? On the contrary, I take him to be therefore miserable, not only be∣cause he did it, but also because he had order'd the matter, so as to have Authority to do it; though no body hath Authority to sin; but we speak improperly through a vulgar abuse of Lan∣guage, for we say a man doth that by Authority, which he can do without being call'd to an ac∣count for so doing. Pray was C. Marius then hap∣pier, when he (d) communicated the Glory of his Cimbrick Victory with Catulus, almost another Laelius (for I take him to have been most like the other) or when being Conqueror in a Civil War, upon the Humble Petition of the Relations of Ca∣tulus; he answer'd in Anger not once, but often, He must dye; wherein more Happy was he who submitted to that execrable word, than he who gave so wicked an order. For as it is better to re∣ceive,
than do an Injury; So is it to go a little way to meet death near approaching, as Catulus did; then what did Marius by the murther of such a Personage, (e) to deface his six Consulships, and pollute his dying Conscience.
(b)The one Consulship of O Laelius.] With L. Cornelius Scipio, an Eloquent and wise man.
(c) Four times as Cinna.] A bloody, leud, and violent Magistrate, when hindred by his Fellow Consul Cnaeus Octa∣vius, from passing unduly some pernicious Laws, he fled Rome, freed Slaves, and call'd home C. Marius from Africa with other Randiti, storm'd Rome, cut off the Head of his Fellow-Consul, and expos'd it upon the Rostra, or Pleading-place. P. Crassus Father and Son were slain, with C. Julius Caesar, and Lucius his Brother; this latter was so facetious, that with his Discourse he so charm'd the Souldiers, sent to kill Mark Antony the Orator, that they put up their drawn Swords till Annius a Colonel fell on him, and brought his Head to Marius, which he joyfully receiv'd, set on his Table in a Feast, and stuck it afterwards on the Rostra. Cinnd in his Fourth Consulship was ston'd by his Souldiers at Ancona for his Cruelty. C. Julius Caesar married his Daughter Cornelia.
(d) Communicated the Glory of his Cimbrick Victory with Catulus.] In Venice near the Addis, Marius and Catulus fought, the Cimbrians took 60000. and slew about 120000. when his Colleague quitted the Honour of the day to him; so that two Triumphs were decreed him alone; he took in Catulus with him to partake of the Honour. Afterwards he fell out with him, and without hearkening to any Inter∣cessors, oblig'd him to dye, which he did, locking himself up into a Chamber, newly plaister'd over with green Lime, and so departed.
(e) To deface his six Consulships.] This was acted in his sixth Consulship; the following January he was chosen a seventh time Consul and soon dy'd.