1Sextus Roscius, the father of this man, was a citizen of the town of Ameria, easily the first not only of his own town but also of that neighbourhood in birth, rank and wealth, and moreover flourishing in the favour and the ties of hospitality of men of the highest nobility. 1For with the Metelli, the Servilii and the Scipios he had not only ties of hospitality but also close domestic acquaintance and intimacy, families which, as is right, I name with respect for their honour and standing. 1And so of all his advantages he left this alone to his son; 1for his patrimony is held by robbers of his own household, who seized it by force, while the good name and life of an innocent man are defended by his father's guests and friends.
16He had at all times been a supporter of the nobility, and especially in this last upheaval, when the dignity and safety of all the nobles were put at stake, he defended that party and cause beyond all others in that neighbourhood with his effort, zeal and influence. 16For he thought it right to fight for the honour of those through whom he himself was counted the most honoured among his own people. 16After victory had been established and we had withdrawn from arms, when men were being proscribed and those who were thought to have been opponents were being seized in every region, he was often at Rome and went about in the forum and in the sight of all every day, so that he seemed rather to be exulting in the victory of the nobility than fearing that any disaster might befall him from it.
17He had old feuds with two Roscii of Ameria, one of whom I see sitting on the accusers' benches, while the other, I hear, holds three of this man's farms; 17if he had been able to guard against those feuds as well as he used to fear them, he would be alive. 17Nor indeed, judges, was he wrong to fear them. 17For these two men are both called Titus Roscius, one of whom has the surname Capito, while the one who is present here is called Magnus, men of this sort: the one is regarded as an old and famous gladiator with very many prizes to his name, while this one has lately betaken himself to him as his trainer, and he who before this fight was a raw recruit, so far as I know, has easily surpassed his master himself in wickedness and recklessness.