1On matters so great and so terrible I realise that I can neither speak with enough skill, nor complain with enough weight, nor cry out with enough freedom. 1For my talent stands in the way of skill, my age of weight, the times of freedom. 1Added to this is the extreme fear which my nature and modesty bestow on me, and your dignity, and the violence of our opponents, and the dangers of Sextus Roscius. 1Therefore I beg and beseech you, judges, to listen to my words attentively and with kind indulgence. 10Relying on your good faith and wisdom, I have taken up more of a burden than I realise I can carry.
10If you lighten this burden in some part, I shall carry it as best I can with zeal and diligence, judges; 10but if I am deserted by you, which I do not expect, I shall still not lose heart, and I shall carry through what I have undertaken as far as I can. 10But if I cannot carry it through, I would rather be crushed by the burden of duty than either throw away through treachery or lay down through weakness of spirit what has once been laid on me in trust. 11You too, Marcus Fannius, I earnestly beg to show yourself at this time to us and to the state just such as you showed yourself before to the Roman people when you presided as judge over this same court.