1These things I ask of Chrysogonus on my own account, leaving Sextus Roscius aside: first, why the property of an excellent citizen was sold; next, why the property of a man was sold who was neither proscribed nor killed among the enemy, when the law was written against those alone; next, why it was sold some time after the date fixed in advance in the law; and next, why it was sold for so little. 1If, as worthless and wicked freedmen are accustomed to do, he chooses to shift all this onto his patron, he will achieve nothing; 1for there is no one who does not know that, because of the magnitude of affairs, many men committed many acts, partly against the wishes of Lucius Sulla, partly without his knowledge.
131Is it right, then, that in these matters something should be overlooked through ignorance? 131It is not right, gentlemen, but it is unavoidable. 131For if Jupiter Best and Greatest, by whose nod and will heaven, earth and seas are ruled, has often harmed men with violent winds or immoderate storms or excessive heat or unbearable cold, has destroyed cities and ruined crops — none of which we think was done by divine design to cause destruction, but by the very force and magnitude of nature — while on the other hand we see that the benefits we enjoy, the light we delight in and the breath we draw are given and imparted to us by him, why are we surprised, gentlemen, that Lucius Sulla, when he alone was ruling the republic and governing the world, and was now strengthening by laws the majesty of the empire which he had recovered by arms, was unable to notice some things?
131unless it is surprising that the human mind has not achieved what divine power cannot attain. 132But to let go these things which are already done, from those which are being done at this very moment can anyone not see that the one architect and contriver of them all is Chrysogonus? 132he who saw to it that Sextus Roscius was charged, he as a favour to whom Erucius said that he was prosecuting ... 132[A considerable part is missing.]