These men know that this request was not only made to me, but that it was made so
 frequently and with such earnestness, that I had no alternative except either to
 undertake the cause, or to repudiate the duty of friendship. But why do I cite these men
 as witnesses, as if the matter were doubtful or unknown? Most noble men are present here
 from the whole province, who being present, beg and entreat you, O judges, not to let
 your judgment differ from their judgment in selecting an advocate for their cause.
 Deputations from every city in the whole of Sicily , except two, Cicero means Syracuse and Messana , which did not join in the outcry against Verres, because
 Verres had resided at Syracuse , and had
 enriched that city with some of the plunder which he had taken from other cities; and
 he had treated Messana in the same way, which
 place he had made the repository of his plunder till he could export it to Italy . are present; and if deputations from
 those two were present also, two of the very most serious of the crimes would be
 lessened in which these cities are implicated with Caius Verres.