opponent of
your liberty; he surpasses all the Tarquins in arrogance. Wait till he
is made consul or dictator, whom, though but a private citizen, you now
see exercising kingly sway over you by his strength and audacity." Many
assented, complaining that they had been beaten by him: and strongly
urged on the tribune to go through with the prosecution.

12. The day of trial now approached, and it was evident that persons in
general considered that their liberty depended on the condemnation of
Caeso: then, at length being forced to it, he addressed the commons
individually, though with a strong feeling of indignation; his relatives
followed him, the principal members of the state. Titus Quintius
Capitolinus, who had been thrice consul, after he recounted many
splendid achievements of his own, and of his family, stated, that
neither in the Quintian family, nor in the Roman state, had there
appeared such promising genius of such early valour. "That he had first
been his soldier, that he had often in his sight fought against the
enemy." Spurius Furius declared, that "he having been sent to him by
Quintius Capitolinus, had come to his aid when in the midst of danger;
that there was no individual by whose exertions he considered the common
weal more effectually re-established." Lucius Lucretius, the consul of
the preceding year, in the full splendour of recent glory, shared his
own services with Caeso; he recounted his battles, detailed his
distinguished exploits, both on expeditions and in the field; he advised
and recommended that they would prefer this extraordinary young man,
endowed with all the advantages of nature and of rank, and (one who
would prove) of the utmost importance to the interest of that state into
which he should come, to be their fellow-citizen, rather than the
citizen of a foreign state. "That with respect to that which may be
offensive in him, heat and vehemence, time would diminish daily; that
the prudence, which may be wanting in him, was increasing daily; that as
his faults were declining and his virtues ripening to maturity, they
should allow so distinguished a man to become old in their state." Among
these his father, Lucius Quintius, who bore the surname of Cincinnatus,
without dwelling on his merits, lest he should heighten public hatred,
but soliciting pardon for his errors and his youth, implored of them to
forgive his son for his sake, who had not given offence to any one by
either word or deed