I will translate here the concluding words of a short paper written by M.du Rozoir in reference to Cicero's life at this period: "The assiduity of our orator at the bar had obtained for him a high degree of favor among the people, because they had seen how strictly he had observed that Cincian law which forbade advocates to take either money or presents for then pleadings--which law, however, the advocates of the day generally did not scruple to neglect."[97] It is a good thing to be honest when honesty is in vogue; but to be honest when honesty is out of fashion is magnificent.
In the affair with Verres, there are two matters to interest the reader--indeed, to instruct the reader--if the story were sufficiently well told.

The iniquity of Verres is the first--which is of so extravagant a nature as to become farcical by the absurdity of the extent to which he was not afraid to go in the furtherance of his avarice and lust.

As the victims suffered two thousand years ago, we can allow ourselves to be amused by the inexhaustible fertility of the man's resources and the singular iniquity of his schemes.

Then we are brought face to face with the barefaced corruption of the Roman judges--a corruption which, however, became a regular trade, if not ennobled, made, at any rate, aristocratic by the birth, wealth high names, and senatorial rank of the robbers.

Sulla, for certain State purposes--which consisted in the maintenance of the oligarchy--had transferred the privileges of sitting on the judgment-seat from the Equites, or Knights, to the Senators.