We know that Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, the most eminent man of our city, was accused by Marcus
 Brutus. The orations are extant by which it can be seen that many things are alleged against
 Scaurus himself, no doubt falsely; but still they were alleged against him and urged against him
 by an enemy. How many things were said against Manius Aquilius on his trial? How many against
 Lucius Cotta? and, lastly, against Publius Rutilius? who, although he was condemned, still
 appears to me to deserve to be reckoned among the most virtuous and innocent men. Yet that most
 upright and temperate man had many things attributed to him on his trial, which involved
 suspicion of adultery, and great licentiousness. There is an
 oration extant of a man, by far (in my opinion, that is,) the ablest and most eloquent of all
 our countrymen, Caius Gracchus; in which oration Lucius Piso is accused of many base and wicked
 actions. What a man to be so accused! A man who was of such virtue and integrity, that even in
 those most admirable: times, when it was not possible to find a thoroughly worthless man, still
 he alone was called Thrifty. And when Gracchus was ordering him to be summoned before the
 assembly, and his lictor asked him which Piso, because there were many of the name, “You are
 compelling me,” says he, “to call my enemy, Thrifty.” That very man then, whom even his enemy
 could not point out with sufficient clearness without first praising him; whose one surname
 pointed not only who he was, but what sort of man he was; that very man was, nevertheless,
 exposed to a false and unjust accusation of disgraceful conduct. Marcus Fonteius has been accused in two trials, in such a way, that nothing
 has been alleged against him from which the slightest taint of lust, or caprice, or cruelty, or
 audacity can be inferred. They not only have not mentioned any atrocious deed of his, but they
 have not even found fault with any expression used by him. 
 But if they had either had as much courage to tell a lie, or as much ingenuity to invent one,
 as they feel eagerness to oppress Fonteius, or as they have displayed licence in abusing him;
 then he would have had no better fortune, as far as relates to not having disgraceful acts
 alleged against him, than those men whom I have just mentioned. 
 You see then another Thrifty,—a thrifty man, I say, O judges, and a man moderate and temperate
 in every particular of his life; a man full of modesty, full of a sense of duty, full of
 religion, depending on your good faith and power, and placed in your power in such a way as to
 be committed wholly to the protection of your good faith. 
 Consider, therefore, whether it is more just that a most
 honourable and brave man, that a most virtuous citizen, should be given up to the most hostile
 and ferocious nations, or restored to his freedom, especially when there are so many
 circumstances which cooperate in entreating your favourable disposition in aid of this man's
 safety. First of all, there is the antiquity of his family, which we are aware proceeds from
 Tusculum , a most illustrious municipality, and
 whose fame is engraved and handed down on monuments of the exploits of its members; secondly,
 there have been continual praetorships in that family, which have been distinguished by every
 sort of honour, and especially by the credit of unimpeachable innocence; besides that, there is
 the recent memory of his father, by whose blood, not only the troop of Asculum , by whom he was slain, but the whole of that social
 war has been stained with the deep dye of wickedness; lastly, there is the man himself,
 honourable and upright in every particular of his life, and in military affairs not only endued
 with the greatest wisdom, and the most brilliant courage, but also skillful through personal
 experience in carrying on war, beyond almost any man of the present age.