1For as to my having carried a law on bribery, I certainly carried it in such a way as not to repeal the law which I long ago laid down for myself, about defending citizens in danger. 1Indeed, if I admitted that bribery had taken place and maintained that it had been rightly done, I should be acting dishonestly, even if another man had carried the law; 1but since I maintain that nothing was done against the law, what is there in my having carried the law to hinder my defence? 6He says it is not consistent with the same strictness to have driven Catiline out of the city by words and almost by command when he was plotting the destruction of the state within its walls, and now to speak for Murena.
6But I have always gladly played the part of gentleness and mercy which nature herself taught me, while that role of gravity and severity I did not seek, but bore it when it was laid on me by the state, as the dignity of this office demanded when the citizens were in the greatest danger. 6But if then, when the state required force and severity, I overcame my nature and was as stern as I was compelled to be, not as I wished, now, when every cause calls me to mercy and to humanity, with how much zeal, pray, ought I to serve my nature and my habit? 6And about the duty of my defence and the method of your accusation I shall perhaps have to speak in another part of my speech as well.
7But, judges, I was no less moved by the complaint of a most wise and accomplished man, Servius Sulpicius, than by Cato's accusation; he said that he took it most seriously and bitterly that I had forgotten our friendship and close ties and was defending Murena's case against him. 7Him, judges, I wish to satisfy, and to call you in as arbiters. 7For not only is it a serious thing to be truly accused in a friendship, but also, even if you are falsely accused, it is not to be neglected. 7I admit, Servius Sulpicius, that in your candidature I owed you, by our close ties, every zeal and service, and I believe I rendered them.
7When you were seeking the consulship, nothing was lacking from me that could be asked either of a friend or of a man of influence or of a consul. 7That time has passed; 7the situation has changed. 7This is my view, this is my conviction, that against Murena's office I owed you as much as you dared to ask of me, but against his safety I owe you nothing. 8For if I supported you then, when you were seeking the consulship, I am not bound to be your helper in the same way now, when you are attacking Murena himself. 8And this cannot be praised, nor even allowed: that when our friends are accusers we should not defend even complete strangers.