Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/53

 CICERO. 45 always treated the accused with equity and humanity, as far as the law allowed, so he thought it hard to deny the same to Manilius, and that he had studiously appointed that day of which alone, as prsetor, he was master, and that it was not the part of those that were desirous to help him, to cast the judgment of his cause upon another prajtor. These things being said made a wonderful change in the people, and, commending him much for it, they desired that he himself would undertake the defence of Manilius; which he willingly consented to, and that principally for the sake of Pompey, who was absent And, accordingly, taking his place before the people again, he delivered a bold invective upon the oligarchical party and on those who were jealous of Pompey. Yet he was preferred to the consulship no less by the nobles than the common people, for the good of the city ; and both parties jointly assisted his promotion, upon the following reasons. The change of government made by Sylla, which at first seemed a senseless one, by time and usage had now come to be considered by the people no unsatisfactory settlement. But there were some that endeavored to alter and subvert the whole present state of affairs, not from any good motives, but for their owu private gain ; and Pompey being at this time employed in the wars with the kings of Pontus and Armenia, there ■was no sufficient force at Rame to suppress any attempts at a revolution. These people had for their head a man of bold, daring, and restless character, Lucius Catiline, who was accused, besides other great offences, of defloiu-- ing his virgm daughter, and killing his own brother ; for which latter crime, fearing to be prosecuted at law, he persuaded Sylla to set him down, as though he were yet alive, amongst those that were to be put to death by proscription. This man the profligate citizens choosing for their captain, gave faith to one another, amongst other