Hitherto his addresses had been to the judges--Judices; now it is to the people--Quirites: "Although, Quirites, no sight has ever been so pleasant to me as that of seeing you gathered in crowds--although this spot has always seemed to me the fittest in the world for action and the noblest for speech--nevertheless, not my own will, indeed, but the duties of the profession which I have followed from my earliest years have hitherto hindered me from entering upon this the best path to glory which is open to any good man." It is only necessary for our purpose to say, in reference to the matter in question, that this command was given to Pompey in opposition to the Senate.
As to the speech itself, it requires our attention on two points.

It is one of those choice morsels of polished Latinity which have given to Cicero the highest rank among literary men, and have, perhaps, made him the greatest writer of prose which the world has produced.

I have sometimes attempted to make a short list of his _chefs d'[oe]uvre_--of his tidbits, as I must say, if I am bound to express myself in English.
The list would never allow itself to be short, and so has become almost impossible; but, whenever the attempt has been made, this short oration in its integrity has always been included in it.

My space hardly permits me to insert specimens of the author's style, but I will give in an appendix[144] two brief extracts as specimens of the beauty of words in Latin.

I almost fancy that if properly read they would have a grace about them even to the ears of those to whom Latin is unknown.