[53] Aspendum vetus oppidum et nobile in Pamphylia scitis esse, plenissimum signorum optimorum.

You know that Aspendus is an ancient and noble town in Pamphylia, very full of the best statues.

non dicam illinc hoc signum ablatum esse et illud:

I will not say that this statue or that was taken away from there:

hoc dico, nullum te Aspendi signum, Verres, reliquisse,

I will say this – that you, Verres, left not one statue at Aspendus;

omnia ex fanis, ex locis publicis, palam, spectantibus omnibus, plaustris evecta exportataque esse.

that everything, from the temples and from the public places, was seized and carried away openly, on wagons, with everybody looking on.

atque etiam illum Aspendium citharistam, de quo saepe audistis id quod est Graecis hominibus in proverbio,

And he has even removed that lyre-player of Aspendus – about whom you have often heard [the saying], which is in a proverb, among the Greeks:

quem omnia ‘intus canere’ dicebant, sustulit et in intimis suis aedibus posuit,

‘he’, they used to say, ‘played everything on the inside’ – and put it in the inmost part of his own house,

ut etiam illum ipsum suo artificio superasse videatur.

so that he even seems to have surpassed that [statue] itself in his cunning.

[54] Pergae fanum antiquissimum et sanctissimum Dianae scimus esse:

We know that there is a very ancient and very holy temple of Diana at Perga.

id quoque a te nudatum ac spoliatum esse, ex ipsa Diana quod habebat auri detractum atque ablatum esse dico.

That too, I say, was stripped and plundered by you; from Diana herself, [any] gold which she had was ripped off and stolen.

quae, malum, est ista tanta audacia atque amentia!

What is it, in the name of mischief, such great audacity and insanity?

quas enim sociorum atque amicorum urbes adisti legationis iure et nomine, si in eas vi cum exercitu imperioque invasisses,

For if you had invaded those cities of allies and of friends, which you approached with the rights and name of ambassador, with force, an army, and legal rights,

tamen, opinor, quae signa atque ornamenta ex iis urbibus sustulisses,

you would still, in my opinion, have carried away these statues and decorations, which you removed from those cities,

haec non in tuam domum neque in suburbana amicorum, sed Romam in publicum deportasses.

not into your own house, nor into the suburban [villas] of your friends, but to Rome, for public [use].

[55] quid ego de M. Marcello loquar, qui Syracusas, urbem ornatissimam, cepit?

What should I say about Marcus Marcellus, who captured Syracuse, a most beautiful city?

quid de L. Scipione, qui bellum in Asia gessit Antiochumque, regem potentissimum, vicit?

What about Lucius Scipio, who waged war in Asia, and conquered Antiochus, a most powerful king?

quid de Flaminino, qui regem Philippum et Macedoniam subegit?

What about Flaminius, who subdued King Philip and Macedonia?

quid de L. Mummio, qui urbem pulcherrimam atque ornatissimam, Corinthum, plenissimam rerum omnium, sustulit,

What about Lucius Mummius, who overthrew Corinth, a most beautiful and elegant city, very full of all [sorts of] riches,

urbesque Achaiae Boeotiaeque multas sub imperium populi Romani dicionemque subiunxit?

and brought many cities of Achaia and Boeotia under the power and authority of the Roman people?

quorum domus, cum honore ac virtute florerent, signis et tabulis pictis erant vacuae;

Whose houses, although they were flourishing with honour and virtue, were empty of statues and paintings –

at vero urbem totam templaque deorum omnesque Italiae partes illorum donis ac monumentis exornatas videmus.

yet in truth, we see the whole city, the temples of the gods, and all parts of Italy adorned with their gifts and monuments.

[56] vereor ne haec forte cuipiam nimis antiqua et iam obsoleta videantur;

I am afraid lest these [examples] may seem to someone too ancient and already obsolete;

ita enim tum aequabiliter omnes erant eius modi

For at that time all men were so equally of that sort,

ut haec laus eximiae virtutis et innocentiae non solum hominum, verum etiam temporum illorum esse videatur.

that this praise for eminent virtue and innocence seems to be [a mark], not only of [those] men, but also of those times.

P. Servilius, vir clarissimus, maximis rebus gestis, adest de te sententiam laturus:

Publius Servilius, a very famous man, [who] has performed the greatest exploits, is present to deliver his opinion on you:

Olympum vi, copiis, consilio, virtute cepit, urbem antiquam et omnibus rebus auctam et ornatam.

he took Olympus by force, by troops, by planning – an ancient city, and [one] strengthened and embellished in every [possible] manner.

recens exemplum fortissimi viri profero; nam postea Servilius imperator populi Romani Olympum urbem hostium cepit

I put forward recent example of a very brave man; for Servilius, as a general of the Roman people, took Olympus, a city of the enemy,

[57] tu quae ex fanis religiosissimis per scelus et latrocinium abstulisti, ea nos videre nisi in tuis amicorumque tuorum tectis non possumus:

The things which you stole from the holiest temples with wickedness, and like a robber, we cannot see, except in your own houses, or in those of your friends.

P. Servilius quae signa atque ornamenta ex urbe hostium vi et virtute capta belli lege atque imperatorio iure sustulit,

The statues and decorations which Publius Servilius removed from a city of the enemy, captured by force and virtue, by the law of war and the rights of a general,

ea populo Romano adportavit, per triumphum vexit, in tabula publica ad aerarium perscribenda curavit.

he brought them to the Roman people, he carried them in his triumph, he took care they should be described in full on public tablets for the treasury.

cognoscite ex litteris publicis hominis amplissimi diligentiam. recita. RATIONES RELATAE P. SERVILI.

Learn from public documents the carefulness of [that] most distinguished man. Read aloud —“The accounts delivered by Publius Servilius.”

non solum numerum signorum, sed etiam unius cuiusque magnitudinem, figuram, statum litteris definiri vides.

You see that not only the number of the statues, but even the size, the figure, and the condition of each one is defined in writing.

certe maior est virtutis victoriaeque iucunditas quam ista voluptas quae percipitur ex libidine et cupiditate.

Certainly, the joy of virtue and victory is greater than that pleasure which is derived from lust and greed.

multo diligentius habere dico Servilium praedam populi Romani quam te tua furta notata atque perscripta.

I say that Servilius has been much more careful, that the plunder of the Roman people has been noted and described in full, than you have been with your thefts.

[58] dices tua quoque signa et tabulas pictas ornamento urbi foroque populi Romani fuisse.

You will say that your statues and paintings were also a decoration for the city and forum of the Roman people.

memini; vidi simul cum populo Romano forum comitiumque adornatum

I recollect: together with the Roman people, I saw the forum and assembly adorned with decoration,

ad speciem magnifico ornatu, ad sensum cogitationemque acerbo et lugubri;

magnificent, in terms of appearance, [but] bitter and melancholy, in terms of perception and thoughts –

vidi conlucere omnia furtis tuis, praeda provinciarum, spoliis sociorum atque amicorum.

I saw everything glittering with your thefts, with the plunder of the provinces, with the spoils of our allies and friends.

quo quidem tempore, iudices, iste spem maximam reliquorum quoque peccatorum nactus est;

At that time, O jurymen, that fellow conceived the greatest hope of his remaining crimes, also.

vidit enim eos qui iudiciorum se dominos dici volebant harum cupiditatum esse servos.

For he saw that those men – who wanted to be called the masters of the lawcourts – were the slaves of these desires.

[59] socii vero nationesque exterae spem omnem tum primum abiecerunt rerum ac fortunarum suarum,

But then, for the first time, the allies and foreign nations threw away all hope of [saving] their property and fortunes,

propterea quod casu legati ex Asia atque Achaia plurimi Romae tunc fuerunt,

for the following reason: by chance, very many ambassadors from Asia and Achaia were then at Rome,

qui deorum simulacra ex suis fanis sublata in foro venerabantur,

who were worshipping, in the forum, the images of the gods removed from their temples;

itemque cetera signa et ornamenta cum cognoscerent, alia alio in loco lacrimantes intuebantur.

and so also, when they recognised the other statues and decorations, they looked upon them, weeping, some in one place, others in another.

quorum omnium hunc sermonem tum esse audiebamus, nihil esse quod quisquam dubitaret de exitio sociorum atque amicorum,

[And] from all those men we then used to hear this conversation, that there was nothing for anyone to doubt, concerning the ruin of allies and friends,

cum quidem viderent in foro populi Romani,

when, indeed, they saw, in the forum of the Roman people,

quo in loco antea qui sociis iniurias fecerant accusari et condemnari solebant,

a place in which [those] who had done injuries to allies were accustomed, previously, to be accused and condemned,

ibi esse palam posita ea quae ab sociis per scelus ablata ereptaque essent.

that things which had been stolen and snatched away from the allies, through wickedness, had now been openly placed there.

[60] hic ego non arbitror illum negaturum signa se plurima, tabulas pictas innumerabiles habere;

At this point, I do not expect that that man will deny that he has very many statues, countless paintings;

sed, ut opinor, solet haec quae rapuit et furatus est non numquam dicere se emisse,

But, in my opinion, he is sometimes accustomed to say that he bought these things which he seized and stole,

quoniam quidem in Achaiam, Asiam, Pamphyliam sumptu publico et legationis nomine mercator signorum tabularumque pictarum missus est.

since indeed he was sent at the public expense, and with the title of ambassador, into Achaia, Asia, Pamphylia, as a merchant of statues and paintings.

et istius et patris eius accepi tabulas omnes, quas diligentissime legi atque digessi,

I have received all the accounts, both of that fellow and of his father, which I have most carefully read and arranged;

patris, quoad vixit, tuas, quoad ais te confecisse. nam in isto, iudices, hoc novum reperietis.

your father’s, for as long as he lived; you own, as far as, you say, you completed them. For in that man, jurymen, you will find this new thing.

audimus aliquem tabulas numquam confecisse; quae est opinio hominum de Antonio falsa, nam fecit diligentissime;

We hear that one [sort of] man has never kept accounts (which is a mistaken opinion of men concerning Antonius, for he kept them most carefully);

verum sit hoc genus aliquod, minime probandum. audimus alium non ab initio fecisse,

that sort [of man] may exist, [but] they must in no way be approved of. We hear that another [sort of] man has not made them from the beginning,

sed ex tempore aliquo confecisse; est aliqua etiam huiusce rei ratio.

but from some [point in] time has kept them; there is also some way of accounting for this [sort of] thing.

hoc vero novum et ridiculum est, quod hic nobis respondit cum ab eo tabulas postularemus,

This is truly a new and absurd thing which this man replied to us, when we demanded his accounts of him,

usque ad M. Terentium et C. Cassium consules confecisse, postea destitisse.

that he kept them up to the consulship of Marcus Terentius and Gaius Cassius, [but] after that, he stopped.

[61] alio loco hoc cuius modi sit considerabimus; nunc nihil ad me attinet;

In another place we will consider what sort of a reply this is; at present it does not concern me at all;

horum enim temporum in quibus nunc versor habeo tabulas et tuas et patris.

for I have the accounts of these times with which I am now occupied, both yours and those of your father.

plurima signa pulcherrima, plurimas tabulas optimas deportasse te negare non potes.

You cannot deny that you carried off very many most beautiful statues, very many of the best paintings.

atque utinam neges! unum ostende in tabulis aut tu aut patris tui emptum esse: vicisti.

But if only you would deny it! Show in your accounts or in those of your father that one of them was purchased; you have won [your case].

ne haec quidem duo signa pulcherrima quae nunc ad impluvium tuum stant,

You do not even have [an explanation of] how you bought the two very beautiful statues which now stand at your hallway’s pool,

quae multos annos ante valvas Iunonis Samiae steterunt, habes quo modo emeris, haec, inquam, duo quae in aedibus tuis sola iam sunt,

which stood for many years before the doors of the Samian Juno; these [two], I say, which are now the only statues in your house,

quae sectorem exspectant, relicta ac destituta a ceteris signis.

which are waiting for the broker, left behind and deserted by the other statues.

[62] at, credo, in hisce solis rebus indomitas cupiditates atque effrenatas habebat:

But, I suppose, in these matters alone he had these untamed and unbridled desires;

ceterae libidines eius ratione aliqua aut modo continebantur.

his other desires were restrained by some reason and moderation.

quam multis istum ingenuis, quam multis matribus familias in illa taetra atque impura legatione vim attulisse existimatis?

To how many free-born [women], to how many family matrons do you think that fellow brought violence, in that foul and impure ambassadorship?

ecquo in oppido pedem posuit ubi non plura stuprorum flagitiorumque suorum quam adventus sui vestigia reliquerit?

In what town did he set his foot where he did not leave more traces of his rapes and crimes than of his arrival?

sed ego omnia quae negari poterunt praetermittam; etiam haec quae certissima sunt et clarissima relinquam;

But I will pass over everything which can be denied; I will even omit those things which are most certain and most clear;

unum aliquod de nefariis istius factis eligam, quo facilius ad Siciliam possim aliquando, quae mihi hoc oneris negotique imposuit, pervenire.

I will select a particular one of that fellow’s abominable deeds, so that I can more easily arrive at Sicily, which has imposed the burden of this business on me, at last.

[63] oppidum est in Hellesponto Lampsacum, iudices, in primis Asiae provinciae clarum et nobile;

There is a town on the Hellespont, jurymen, Lampsacus, among the first in the province of Asia for fame and for nobility.

homines autem ipsi Lampsaceni cum summe in omnes cives Romanos officiosi, tum praeterea maxime sedati et quieti,

Moreover, the men of Lampsacus themselves are not only very courteous to all Roman citizens, but are also, in addition, an extremely orderly and quiet race,

prope praeter ceteros ad summum Graecorum otium potius quam ad ullam vim aut tumultum adcommodati.

inclined to the supreme relaxation of the Greeks almost beyond the rest [of that race], rather than to any violence or disorder.

accidit, cum iste a Cn. Dolabella efflagitasset ut se ad regem Nicomedem regemque Sadalam mitteret,

It happened, when that fellow had forcefully demanded of Cnaeus Dolabella to send him to King Nicomedes and to King Sadala,

cumque iter hoc sibi magis ad quaestum suum quam ad rei publicae tempus adcommodatum depoposcisset,

and when he had repeatedly demanded this journey for himself, more suited to his own gain than to the republic’s [investment of] time,

ut illo itinere veniret Lampsacum cum magna calamitate et prope pernicie civitatis.

that on that journey he came to Lampsacus, accompanied by the great misfortune and almost ruin of [that] city-state.

deducitur iste ad lanitorem quendam hospitem, comitesque eius item apud ceteros hospites conlocantur.

That fellow was led away to a certain host, Janitor, and his companions were also accommodated at other men’s houses.

ut mos erat istius, atque ut eum suae libidines flagitiosae facere admonebant,

As was that fellow’s custom, and as his wicked lusts were always urging him to do,

statim negotium dat illis suis comitibus, nequissimis turpissimisque hominibus

he immediately gave a task to his companions, the most evil and disgraceful of men:

uti videant et investigent ecqua virgo sit aut mulier digna quam ob rem ipse Lampsaci diutius commoraretur.

to see and search for any maiden or married woman worthy of [Verres] himself staying longer at Lampsacus for her sake.

[64] erat comes eius Rubrius quidam, homo factus ad istius libidines, qui miro artificio, quocumque venerat, haec investigare omnia solebat.

His comrade was a certain Rubrius, a man made for that fellow’s lusts, who was accustomed to seek out all these things, wherever he went, with wondrous cunning.

is ad eum rem istam defert, Philodamum esse quendam, genere, honore, copiis, existimatione facile principem Lampsacenorum;

He brought to him the following news, that there was a certain Philodamus, in birth, honour, wealth, and reputation easily the first man of the Lampsacenes;

eius esse filiam, quae cum patre habitaret propterea quod virum non haberet, mulierem eximia pulchritudine;

that his daughter, who was living with her father because she did not have a husband, was a woman of extraordinary beauty,

sed eam summa integritate pudicitiaque existimari. homo, ut haec audivit, sic exarsit ad id quod non modo ipse numquam viderat,

but that she was also considered exceedingly modest and virtuous. When he heard this, the man so burned for that which he had not only never seen himself,

sed ne audierat quidem ab eo qui ipse vidisset, ut statim ad Philodamum migrare se diceret velle.

but which he had not even heard about from one who had seen [her] himself, that he said he wanted to travel to Philodamus at once.

hospes lanitor, qui nihil suspicaretur, veritus ne quid in ipso se offenderetur, hominem summa vi retinere coepit.

Janitor, his host, who was the sort to suspect nothing, afraid that he must have given him some offence himself, began to detain the man with the utmost force.

iste, qui hospitis relinquendi causam reperire non posset, alia sibi ratione viam munire ad stuprum coepit;

That fellow, as he could not find any pretext for leaving his host’s house, began to pave the way for his rape by another method.

Rubrium, delicias suas, in omnibus eius modi rebus adiutorem suum et conscium, parum laute deversari dicit; ad Philodamum deduci iubet.

He said that Rubrius, his beloved, his assistant and confidante in all matters of that kind, was lodged with little elegance; he ordered him to be led off to Philodamus.

[65] quod ubi est Philodamo nuntiatum, tametsi erat ignarus quantum sibi ac liberis suis iam tum mali constitueretur,

But when this was reported to Philodamus, although he was ignorant of what great misfortune was already then being decided for him and his children,

tamen ad istum venit; ostendit munus illud suum non esse; se, cum suae partes essent hospitum recipiendorum,

still he came to that fellow; he pointed out that that was not his duty, that [even] when it was his turn to receive guests,

tum ipsos tamen praetores et consules, non legatorum adseculas, recipere solere.

then he was accustomed, however, to receive the praetors and consuls themselves, and not the [mere] attendants of ambassadors.

iste, qui una cupiditate raperetur, totum illius postulatum causamque neglexit;

That fellow, as he was seized upon by one desire, disregarded all that man’s demands and arguments;

per vim ad eum, qui recipere non debebat, Rubrium deduci imperavit.

he ordered Rubrius to be led away by force to a man who ought not to receive him.

hic Philodamus, posteaquam ius suum obtinere non potuit, ut humanitatem consuetudinemque suam retineret laborabat.

At this point, Philodamus, when he could not preserve his rights, was [at least] working to preserve his humanity and manners.

homo, qui semper hospitalissimus amicissimusque nostrorum hominum existimatus esset, noluit videri ipsum illum Rubrium invitus domum suam recepisse; A man who had always been thought the best host and friend of our people, he did not want to seem to have received that Rubrius himself into his house unwillingly;

magnifice et ornate, ut erat in primis inter suos copiosus, convivium comparat; rogat Rubrium ut quos ei commodum sit invitet,

he prepared a banquet magnificently and ornately, as he was among the first of his people in riches; he asked Rubrius to invite [those] who were agreeable to him;

locum sibi soli, si videatur, relinquat; etiam filium suum, lectissimum adulescentem, foras ad propinquum suum quendam mittit ad cenam.

to leave, if it seemed [good to him], a place for him alone. He even sent his own son, a most excellent youth, out to one of his relations to supper.

[66] Rubrius istius comites invitat; eos omnes Verres certiores facit quid opus esset. mature veniunt, discumbitur.

Rubrius invited that fellow’s comrades; Verres informed them all of what the task was. They came early; dinner commenced.

fit sermo inter eos, et invitatio ut Graeco more biberetur;

Conversation took place among them, and an invitation that there should be drinking in the Greek fashion.

hortatur hospes, poscunt maioribus poculis, celebratur omnium sermone laetitiaque convivium.

The host encouraged them; they demanded [to drink] with larger goblets; the banquet was celebrated with the conversation and joy of everyone.

posteaquam satis calere res Rubrio visa est, “quaeso”, inquit, “Philodame, cur ad nos filiam tuam non intro vocari iubes?”

When the business seemed to Rubrius to be warm enough, he said “I beseech you, Philodamus – why you do not order your daughter to be called in to us?”

homo, qui et summa gravitate et iam id aetatis et parens esset, obstipuit hominis improbi dicto. instare Rubrius.

The man, as he was most dignified, and was already of a mature age, and a parent, was amazed at the speech of the wicked man. [But] Rubrius pressed on him.

tum ille, ut aliquid responderet, negavit moris esse Graecorum ut in convivio virorum accumberent mulieres.

Then he, in order to respond [with] something, said that it was not the custom of the Greeks for women to recline at the banquets of men.

hic tum alius ex alia parte, “enim vero ferendum hoc quidem non est; vocetur mulier!”

At this point, another man from another part [cried] “But come now, this is not to be borne, indeed; let the woman be called!”

et simul servis suis Rubrius ut ianuam clauderent et ipsi ad foris adsisterent imperat.

And immediately Rubrius ordered his slaves to shut the door, and to stand at the front door themselves.

[67] quod ubi ille intellexit, id agi atque id parari ut filiae suae vis adferretur, servos suos ad se vocat;

[But] when he perceived that this was being done and prepared so that violence should be brought against his daughter, he called his slaves to him;

his imperat ut se ipsum neglegant, filiam defendant; excurrat aliquis qui hoc tantum domestici mali filio nuntiet.

he ordered them to disregard him and defend his daughter, [and ordered] someone to run out to announce such a great domestic misfortune to his son.

clamor interea fit tota domo;

Meantime there was an uproar in all the house;

inter servos Rubri atque hospitis iactatur domi suae vir primarius et homo honestissimus.

between the slaves of Rubrius and the host, the eminent and most honoured man was thrown about his own home.

pro se quisque manus adfert; aqua denique ferventi a Rubrio ipso Philodamus perfunditur.

each man was using his fists for his own safety; finally Philodamus was doused with boiling water by Rubrius himself.

haec ubi filio nuntiata sunt, statim exanimatus ad aedes contendit, ut et vitae patris et pudicitiae sororis succurreret;

When this news was announced to the son, half dead [with alarm], he hurried to the house at once, to save both the life of his father and the modesty of his sister.

omnes eodem animo Lampsaceni, simul ut hoc audierunt, quod eos cum Philodami dignitas tum iniuriae magnitudo movebat,

All the Lampsacenes, with the same spirit, as soon as they heard this, because not only the merit of Philodamus, but also the size of the injury moved them,

ad aedes noctu convenerunt. hic lictor istius Cornelius, qui cum eius servis erat a Rubrio quasi in praesidio ad auferendam mulierem conlocatus,

gathered by night at his house. At this point Cornelius, that fellow’s lictor, who had been placed with slaves by Rubrius, as if on guard, to steal the woman,

occiditur; servi non nulli vulnerantur; ipse Rubrius in turba sauciatur.

was killed; several of the slaves were wounded; Rubrius himself was injured in the crowd.

iste, qui sua cupiditate tantos tumultus concitatos videret, cupere aliqua evolare, si posset.

That fellow, as he saw such a great uproar excited by his greed, desired to escape in some way, if he could.

[68] postridie homines mane in contionem conveniunt; quaerunt quid optimum factu sit;

The next day, men gathered early for a public assembly; they asked what it was best to do;

pro se quisque, ut in quoque erat auctoritatis plurimum, ad populum loquebatur;

each man was speaking to the people for himself, according to the weight of authority in each.

inventus est nemo cuius non haec et sententia esset et oratio,

No one was found whose opinion and speech was not the following:

non esse metuendum, si istius nefarium scelus Lampsaceni ulti vi manuque essent,

that it must not be feared, if the Lampsacenes had avenged that fellow’s abominable crime by force and by hand,

ne senatus populusque Romanus in eam civitatem animadvertendum putaret;

that the senate and Roman people would think that they ought to turn their attention to that city-state.

quodsi hoc iure legati populi Romani in socios nationesque exteras uterentur,

But if the ambassadors of the Roman people were to employ this law towards allies and foreign nations,

ut pudicitiam liberorum servare ab eorum libidine tutam non liceret,

so that to preserve the chastity of children, safe from their lust, was not allowed,

quidvis esse perpeti satius quam in tanta vi atque acerbitate versari.

[then] it was better to endure anything, rather than to be occupied with such great violence and bitterness.

[69] haec cum omnes sentirent, et cum in eam rationem pro suo quisque sensu ac dolore loqueretur,

Since they all felt this, and since everyone spoke in this way, each according to his own feelings and grief,

omnes ad eam domum in qua iste deversabatur profecti sunt;

they all set out towards that house in which that fellow was lodging.

caedere ianuam saxis, instare ferro, ligna et sarmenta circumdare ignemque subicere coeperunt.

They began to beat the door with stones, to press upon it with swords, to surround it with logs and twigs, and to apply fire to it.

tunc cives Romani, qui Lampsaci negotiabantur, concurrunt;

Then the Roman citizens who were dwelling as traders at Lampsacus ran together;

orant Lampsacenos ut gravius apud eos nomen legationis quam iniuria legati putaretur;

they begged Lampsacenes that the name of the ambassadorship be thought more weighty, amongst them, than the injury of the ambassador;

sese intellegere hominem illum esse impurum ac nefarium, sed quoniam nec perfecisset quod conatus esset,

[they said] that they knew that he was an impure and abominable man, but since he had not accomplished what he had attempted,

neque futurus esset Lampsaci postea, levius eorum peccatum fore si homini scelerato pepercissent quam si legato non pepercissent.

and he was not going to be at Lampsacus any longer, their sin, if they had spared a wicked man, would be less than if they had not spared an ambassador.