Mur. 4.1Mihi autem cum Mūrēnā, iūdicēs, et magna et vetus amīcitia est, quae in capitis dīmicātiōne ā Ser. Sulpiciō nōn idcircō obruētur quod ab eōdem in honōris contentiōne superāta est.But I have, judges, a great and old friendship with Murena, which in a struggle for his civic life will not be overwhelmed by Servius Sulpicius merely because it was beaten by the same man in the contest for office. Mur. 4.1Quae sī causa nōn esset, tamen vel dignitās hominis vel honōris eius quem adeptus est amplitūdō summam mihi superbiae crūdēlitātisque īnfāmiam inussisset, sī hominis et suīs et populī Rōmānī ōrnāmentīs amplissimī causam tantī perīculī repudiāssem.Even if there were not this reason, still either the man's standing or the eminence of the office he has won would have branded me with the deepest disgrace for arrogance and cruelty, if I had refused the case of a man so distinguished by his own honours and those of the Roman people, when he was in such great danger. Mur. 4.1Neque enim iam mihi licet neque est integrum ut meum labōrem hominum perīculīs sublevandīs nōn impertiam.For it is no longer permitted to me, nor am I free, to withhold my labour from relieving men in danger.
Mur. 4.1Nam cum praemia mihi tanta prō hāc industriā sint data quanta anteā nēminī, sīc exīstimō, labōrēs quōs in petītiōne excēperīs, eōs, cum adeptus sīs, dēpōnere, esse hominis et astūtī et ingrātī.For since rewards have been given me for this diligence such as no one had before, I hold that to lay aside, once you have won your goal, the labours you took on in your candidature is the mark of a man both crafty and ungrateful. Mur. 4.9Quod sī licet dēsinere, sī tē auctōre possum, sī nūlla inertiae īnfāmia, nūlla superbiae turpitūdō, nūlla inhūmānitātis culpa suscipitur, ego vērō libenter dēsinō.But if I may leave off, if I can do so on your authority, if no disgrace for idleness, no shame for arrogance, no charge of inhumanity is incurred, then indeed I gladly leave off. Mur. 4.9Sīn autem fuga labōris dēsidiam, repudiātiō supplicum superbiam, amīcōrum neglēctiō improbitātem coarguit, nīmīrum haec causa est eius modī quam nec industrius quisquam nec misericors nec officiōsus dēserere possit.But if shirking labour convicts a man of laziness, rejecting suppliants of arrogance, and neglecting friends of dishonesty, then this case is surely of such a kind that no one who is diligent, merciful or dutiful could abandon it.
Mur. 4.9Atque huiusce reī coniectūram dē tuō ipsīus studiō, Servī, facillimē cēperīs.And you may very easily form a judgement of this from your own practice, Servius. Mur. 4.9Nam sī tibi necesse putās etiam adversāriīs amīcōrum tuōrum dē iūre cōnsulentibus respondēre, et sī turpe exīstimās tē advocātō illum ipsum quem contrā vēnerīs causā cadere, nōlī tam esse iniūstus ut, cum tuī fontēs vel inimīcīs tuīs pateant, nostrōs etiam amīcīs putēs clausōs esse oportēre.For if you think it necessary to give legal opinions even to the opponents of your friends when they consult you, and if you think it shameful that the very man against whom you have appeared as counsel should lose his case, do not be so unjust as to think that, while your springs are open even to your enemies, ours ought to be closed even to our friends. Mur. 4.10Etenim sī mē tua familiāritās ab hāc causā remōvisset, et sī hoc idem Hortēnsiō, Crassō, clārissimīs virīs, sī item cēterīs ā quibus intellegō tuam grātiam magnī aestimārī accidisset, in eā cīvitāte cōnsul dēsignātus dēfēnsōrem nōn habēret in quā nēminī umquam īnfimō maiōrēs nostrī patrōnum dēesse voluērunt.Indeed, if my friendship with you had kept me from this case, and if the same thing had happened to Hortensius and Crassus, most distinguished men, and likewise to the others by whom I understand your favour is highly valued, a consul-elect would have no defender in that state in which our ancestors wished that no one, even the lowest, should ever lack an advocate.
Mur. 4.10Ego vērō, iūdicēs, ipse mē exīstimārem nefārium sī amīcō, crūdēlem sī miserō, superbum sī cōnsulī dēfuissem.But I, judges, should think myself wicked if I had failed a friend, cruel if I had failed one in distress, arrogant if I had failed a consul. Mur. 4.10Quā rē quod dandum est amīcitiae, lārgē dabitur ā mē, ut tēcum agam, Servī, nōn secus ac sī meus esset frāter, quī mihi est cārissimus, istō in locō;Therefore what must be given to friendship will be given by me generously, so that I shall deal with you, Servius, just as if my brother, who is dearest to me, were in your place; Mur. 4.10quod tribuendum est officiō, fideī, religiōnī, id ita moderābor ut meminerim mē contrā amīcī studium prō amīcī perīculō dīcere.what must be granted to duty, to good faith, to conscience, I shall so regulate as to remember that I am speaking against a friend's zeal to save a friend in danger.