Cael. 9.1Sed tōtum genus oppugnātiōnis huius, iūdicēs, et iam prōspicitis animīs et, cum īnferētur, prōpulsāre dēbēbitis.But this whole kind of attack, gentlemen, you both already foresee in your minds and, when it is brought in, will have to repel. Cael. 9.1Nōn enim ab īsdem accūsātur M. Caelius ā quibus oppugnātur;For Marcus Caelius is not accused by the same people by whom he is attacked; Cael. 9.1palam in eum tēla iaciuntur, clam subministrantur.the weapons are hurled at him openly, but supplied in secret. Cael. 9.21Neque ego id dīcō ut invidiōsum sit in eōs quibus glōriōsum etiam hoc esse dēbet.Nor do I say this in order to raise ill will against those for whom this ought even to be a source of glory. Cael. 9.21Funguntur officiō, dēfendunt suōs, faciunt quod virī fortissimī solent;They are doing their duty, they are defending their own, they are doing what the bravest men are accustomed to do; Cael. 9.21laesī dolent, īrātī efferuntur, pugnant lacessītī.when hurt they feel pain, when angry they are carried away, when provoked they fight.
Cael. 9.21Sed vestrae sapientiae tamen est, iūdicēs, nōn, sī causa iūsta est virīs fortibus oppugnandī M. Caelium, ideō vōbīs quoque causam putāre esse iūstam aliēnō dolōrī potius quam vestrae fideī cōnsulendī.But it is nonetheless for your wisdom, gentlemen, not to think that, if brave men have just cause for attacking Marcus Caelius, you therefore also have just cause to consult another's resentment rather than your own oath. Cael. 9.21Iam quae sit multitūdō in forō, quae genera, quae studia, quae varietās hominum vidētis.You see now what a crowd there is in the forum, what sorts, what interests, what variety of men. Cael. 9.21Ex hāc cōpiā quam multōs esse arbitrāminī quī hominibus potentibus, grātiōsīs, disertīs, cum aliquid eōs velle arbitrentur, ultrō sē offerre soleant, operam nāvāre, testimōnium pollicērī?Of this multitude, how many do you think there are who are accustomed to offer themselves unasked to powerful, influential and eloquent men, when they think they want something, to lend their efforts, to promise testimony? Cael. 9.22Hōc ex genere sī quī sē in hoc iūdicium forte prōiēcerint, exclūditōte eōrum cupiditātem, iūdicēs, sapientiā vestrā, ut eōdem tempore et huius salūtī et religiōnī vestrae et contrā perīculōsās hominum potentiās condiciōnī omnium cīvium prōvīdisse videāminī.If any of this kind happen to thrust themselves into this trial, shut out their eagerness, gentlemen, by your wisdom, so that you may be seen at one and the same time to have provided for this man's safety, for your own oath, and for the position of all citizens against the dangerous power of individuals.
Cael. 9.22Equidem vōs abdūcam ā testibus neque huius iūdicī vēritātem quae mūtārī nūllō modō potest in voluntāte testium conlocārī sinam quae facillimē fingī, nūllō negōtiō flectī ac dētorquērī potest.For my part, I shall lead you away from the witnesses, nor shall I allow the truth of this trial, which can in no way be altered, to be placed in the will of witnesses, which can very easily be fabricated and bent and twisted without any trouble. Cael. 9.22Argūmentīs agēmus, signīs lūce omnī clāriōribus crīmina refellēmus;We shall proceed by arguments, we shall refute the charges with proofs clearer than any daylight; Cael. 9.22rēs cum rē, causa cum causā, ratiō cum ratiōne pugnābit.fact will fight with fact, case with case, reasoning with reasoning.