1Capito came to the camp as an envoy, one of the ten leading men. 1Learn the whole life, nature and character of the man from that embassy itself. 1Unless you come to understand, gentlemen, that there is no duty, no right so sacred and inviolate that his wickedness and treachery have not violated and impaired it, judge him to be the best of men. 110He stands in the way of Sulla's being informed about these matters, discloses to Chrysogonus the plans and wishes of the other envoys, warns him to take care that the business is not done openly, shows him that, if the sale of the property were annulled, he would lose a great sum of money, and that Capito himself would run the risk of his life; 110he spurred the one on, deceived those who had been sent with him, warned the one again and again to be on his guard, treacherously held out false hope to these, laid plans with the one against these, disclosed these men's plans to the one, bargained with the one for his own share, and, relying on some pretext for delay, kept blocking every approach to Sulla for these.
110In the end, with him as their adviser, instigator and intermediary, the envoys did not go to Sulla; 110deceived by his good faith, or rather his bad faith, as you will be able to learn from the men themselves, if the prosecutor is willing to summon them as witnesses, they brought home false hope instead of a certainty. 110In private affairs, if anyone had managed a commission entrusted to him not only rather dishonestly, for his own profit or advantage, but even rather carelessly, our ancestors considered that he had committed the greatest disgrace. 111And so a trial for breach of commission was established that is no less disgraceful than one for theft, I suppose because, in matters where we cannot ourselves be present, the good faith of our friends is put in place as a substitute for our own efforts; 111and whoever injures it attacks the common safeguard of all and, as far as lies in him, disrupts the fellowship of life.
111For we cannot do everything by ourselves; 111one man is more useful in one thing, another in another. 111That is why friendships are formed, so that the common advantage may be managed by mutual services. 112Why do you accept a commission, if you are going either to neglect it or to turn it to your own advantage? 112why do you offer yourself to me and, with a pretence of service, hinder and obstruct my interests? 112Stand out of the way; 112I shall get it done through someone else. 112You take up the burden of a duty which you think you can bear; 112a burden which seems heaviest to those who are themselves least light-minded.