1For those who wish to find fault with the present state of things complain that Chrysogonus has so much power; 1those who wish to praise it point out that this has not been granted to him. 1And now there is no reason for anyone to be so foolish or so dishonest as to say: 'I wish indeed it were allowed; 1I would have said this.' 1You may say it. 1'I would have done this.' 1You may do it; 1no one prevents you. 1'I would have decreed this.' 1Decree it, provided it is right; 1all will approve. 1'I would have judged this.' 1All will praise you, if you judge rightly and properly.
139While it was necessary and circumstances themselves compelled it, one man had all power; 139and after he had appointed magistrates and established laws, each man had his own sphere of responsibility and authority restored to him. 139If those who have recovered it wish to keep it, they will be able to hold it for ever; 139but if they either commit or approve these murders and robberies and this vast and lavish expenditure — I do not wish to say anything harsher against them, if only for the sake of the omen; I say this one thing: unless these nobles of ours are watchful and good and brave and merciful, they must yield their distinctions to those men in whom these qualities are found.
140Therefore let them stop at last saying that someone has spoken ill if he has spoken truly and freely, let them stop making common cause with Chrysogonus, let them stop thinking that if he is injured something has been taken away from themselves, let them see to it that it is not shameful and pitiable that those who could not bear the splendour of the equestrian order can bear the domination of a most worthless slave. 140This domination, gentlemen, used to be engaged in other matters before; but now you see what road it is building and what path it is aiming at: towards your good faith, your oath, your verdicts, towards almost the one thing that remains pure and sacred in the state.
141Does Chrysogonus think that here too he has some power? 141does he want to be powerful here too? 141O wretched and bitter state of affairs! 141And, by Hercules, I am not indignant at this because I fear he has any power; but that he has dared, that he has hoped that before such men he could have some power to destroy an innocent man — that is precisely what I complain of.