Meanwhile, is he learned in the interests of
the State? Can he argue a point upon the public economy? You see what a
host of sabres is required, what a host of impeachments, sentences,
executions, before the commonwealth can reassume its ancient integrity!
What! shall I esteem as proconsuls, as governors, those who for that end
only deem themselves invested with lieutenancies or great senatorial
appointments, that they may gorge themselves with the provincial luxuries
and wealth? No doubt you heard in what way our friend the philosopher gave
the place of praetorian prefect to one who but three days before was a
bankrupt,--insolvent, by G--, and a beggar. Be not you content: that same
gentleman is now as rich as a prefect should be; and has been so, I tell
you, any time these three days. And how, I pray you, how--how, my good
sir? How but out of the bowels of the provinces, and the marrow of their
bones? But no matter, let them be rich; let them be blood-suckers; so
much, God willing, shall they regorge into the treasury of the empire. Let
but Heaven smile upon our party, and the Cassiani shall return to the
republic its old impersonal supremacy.
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