1Therefore, even if you have someone who seems able to overcome royal armies in pitched battle, still, unless he is also a man who can keep his hands, his eyes and his mind from the money of the allies, from their wives and children, from the adornments of temples and towns, and from the gold and treasure of kings, he will not be fit to be sent to an Asian war against the kings. 67Do you think there is any state that is rich has been left at peace, any state rich that seems to these men to be at peace? 67The sea coast, citizens, asked for Pompey not only because of his military glory but also because of his self-restraint.
67For it saw that praetors, with a few exceptions, were enriched every year with public money, and that we achieved nothing else in the name of fleets except that by suffering losses we seemed to incur greater disgrace. 67Now, with what greed men set out for the provinces, at what outlay and on what terms, those men are, of course, unaware who do not think everything should be entrusted to one man. 67As if we did not see that Pompey is great not only through his own virtues but also through the vices of others. 68Therefore do not hesitate to entrust everything to this one man, who in so many years is the only one found whose arrival with an army in their cities the allies were glad of.
68But if you think this cause should be supported by authorities, citizens, you have as your authority a man most experienced in all wars and the greatest affairs, Servilius, whose achievements on land and sea have been so great that, when you deliberate about war, no one ought to carry weightier authority with you; 68there is Gaius Curio, endowed with your highest favours and very great achievements, and with the highest talent and wisdom; there is Lentulus, in whom you have all recognised, in keeping with the very high honours you gave him, the highest judgement and the greatest dignity; there is Cassius, of singular integrity, truthfulness and steadfastness. 68See, then, how with the authority of these men we seem able to answer the arguments of those who disagree.