Moreover, Quinctius himself cried out that he
 was unwilling to give security, lest by so doing he should seem to admit that his goods
 had been taken possession of in accordance with the edict: besides, if he gave a bond in
 that manner, he should be forced (as has now happened) to speak first in a trial
 affecting himself capitally. Dolabella (as high-born men are wont to do, who, whether
 they have begun to act rightly or wrongly, carry either conduct to such a height that no
 one born in our rank of life can overtake them) perseveres most bravely in committing
 injustice: he bids him either give security or give a bond; and meantime he orders our
 advocates, who objected to this, to be removed with great roughness. Quinctius departs much embarrassed; and no wonder, when so miserable a choice was
 offered him, and one so unjust, that he must either himself convict himself of a capital
 offence if he gave security, Because the giving security now would
 be an admission that he had forfeited his recognizances before; which was liable to be
 punished with infamia or open the cause himself in
 a capital trial if he gave a bond. As in the one case there was no reason why he should
 pass an unfavourable sentence on himself (for sentence passed by oneself is the hardest
 sentence of all), but in the other case there was hope of coming before such a man as a
 judge, as would show him the more favour the more without interest he was, he preferred
 to give a bond. He did so. He had you, O Caius Aquillius, for the judge; he pleaded
 according to his bond; in what I have now mid consists the sum and the whole of the
 present trial. You see, O Caius Aquillius, that it is a trial
 touching not the property of Publius Quinctius, but his fame and fortunes. Though our
 ancestors have determined that he who is pleading for his life should speak last, you
 see that we, owing to this unprecedented accusation of the prosecutor's, are pleading
 our cause first. Moreover, you see that those who are more accustomed He means Hortensius. to defend people are today acting as
 accusers; and that those talents are turned to do people injury, which have hitherto
 been employed in ministering to men's safety, and in assisting them. There remained but
 one thing more, which they put in execution yesterday,—namely, to proceed
 against you for the purpose of compelling you to limit the time allowed us for making
 our defence; and this they would easily have obtained from the praetor if you had not
 taught him what your rights and duties and business were.