Look but on the single consulship of Laelius, and that, too, after having been set aside (though when a wise and good man like him is outvoted, the people are disappointed of a good consul, rather than be disappointed by a vain people); but the point is, would you prefer, were it in your power, to be once such a consul as Laelius, or be elected four times, like Cinna?
I have no doubt in the world what answer you will make, and it is on that account I put the question to you.
I would not ask every one this question; for some one perhaps might answer that he would not only prefer four consulates to one, but even one day of Cinna's life to whole ages of many famous men.

Laelius would have suffered had he but touched any one with his finger; but Cinna ordered the head of his colleague consul, Cn.

Octavius, to be struck off; and put to death P.Crassus[58], and L.Caesar[59], those excellent men, so renowned both at home and abroad; and even M.Antonius[60], the greatest orator whom I ever heard; and C.Caesar, who seems to me to have been the pattern of humanity, politeness, sweetness of temper, and wit.

Could he, then, be happy who occasioned the death of these men?
So far from it, that he seems to be miserable, not only for having performed these actions, but also for acting in such a manner that it was lawful for him to do it, though it is unlawful for any one to do wicked actions; but this proceeds from inaccuracy, of speech, for we call whatever a man is allowed to do lawful.

Was not Marius happier, I pray you, when he shared the glory of the victory gained over the Cimbrians with his colleague Catulus (who was almost another Laelius; for I look upon the two men as very like one another), than when, conqueror in the civil war, he in a passion answered the friends of Catulus, who were interceding for him, "Let him die ?" And this answer he gave, not once only, but often.