He
 wishes a decision to be come to concerning the accounts and disputes of the partnership.
 It is very late. However, better late than never; let us grant it. Oh, says be, I do not
 want that now, O Caius Aquillius; and I am not troubling myself about that now: Publius
 Quinctius has had the use of my money for so many years; let him use it, I do not ask
 anything. What then are you contending for? is it with that object that you have often
 announced in many places—that he may no longer be a citizen? that he may not
 keep that rank which hitherto he has most honourably preserved? that be may not be
 counted among the living? that he may be in peril of his life and all his honours? that
 he may have to plead his cause before the plaintiff speaks, and that when he has ended
 his speech he may then hear the voice of his accuser? What? What is the object of this?
 That you may the quicker arrive at your rights? But if you wished that might be already
 done. That you may contend according to a more respectable form of procedure? But you cannot murder Publius Quinctius your own relation,
 without the greatest wickedness. That the trial may be facilitated I But neither does
 Caius Aquillius willingly decide on the life of another, nor has Quintus Hortensius been
 in the habit of pleading against a man's life. But what reply is made by us, O Caius
 Aquillius? He asks for his money: we deny that it is due. Let a trial take place
 instantly; we make no objection; is there anything more? If he is afraid that the money
 will not be forth coming when the decision is given let him take security that it shall
 be; and let him give security In many cases both plaintiff and
 defendant might be required to give security, ( satis
 dare .) Smith, Dict. Ant. p.10, V. Actio . 
 for what I demand in the very same terms in which we give security. The matter can be terminated at once, O Caius Aquillius You can at
 once depart, being delivered from an annoyance, I had almost said, no less than that
 Quinctius is exposed to. What are we doing, Hortensius? what are we to say of this
 condition? Can we, some time or other, laying aside our weapons, discuss the money
 matter without hazard of any one's fortunes? Can we so prosecute our business, as to
 leave the life of our relation in safety? Can we adopt the character of a plaintiff, and
 lay aside that of an accuser? Yes, says he, I will take security from you, but I will
 not give you security. 
 But who is it that lays down for us these very reasonable conditions? who determines
 this—that what is just towards Quinctius is unjust towards Naevius? The goods
 of Quinctius, says he, were taken possession of in accordance with the edict of the
 praetor. You demand then, that I should admit that; that we should establish by our own
 sentence, as having taken place, that which we go to trial expressly to prove never did
 take place.