There is in each of the rivals the greatest honesty, the greatest worth; which I, if Servius
 will allow me, will place in equal and in the same panegyric. But he will not let me; he
 discusses the military question; he attacks the whole of his services as lieutenant; he thinks
 the consulship is an office requiring diligence and all this daily labour. “Have you been,” says
 he, “so many years with the army? you can never have been near the forum. Have you been away so
 long? and then, when after a long interval you arrive, will you contend in dignity with those
 who have made their abode in the forum?” First of all, as to that assiduity of ours, O Servius,
 you know not what disgust, what satiety, it sometimes causes men; it was, indeed, exceedingly
 advantageous for me myself that my influence was in the sight of all men; but I overcame the
 weariness of me by my own great labour; and you, perhaps, have done the same thing, but yet a
 regret at our absence would have been no injury to either of us. 
 
But to say no more of this, and to return to the contest of studies and pursuits; how can it
 be doubted that the glory of military exploits contributes more dignity to aid in the
 acquisition of the consulship, than renown for skill in civil law? Do you wake before the night
 is over in order to give answers to those who consult you? He has done so in order to arrive
 betimes with his army at the place to which he is marching. The cook-crow wakens you, but the
 sound of the trumpet rouses him: you conduct an action; he is marshaling an army: you take care
 lest your clients should be convicted; he lest his cities or camp be taken. He occupies posts,
 and exercises skill to repel the troops of the enemy, you to keep out the rain; he is practised
 in extending the boundaries of the empire, you in governing the present territories; and in
 short, for I must say what I think, preeminence in military skill excels all other virtues.
 
 It is this which has procured its name for the Roman people; it is this which has procured
 eternal glory for this city; it is this which has compelled the whole world to submit to our
 dominion; all domestic affairs, all these illustrious pursuits of ours, and our forensic renown,
 and our industry, are safe under the guardianship and protection of military valour. As soon as
 the first suspicion of disturbance is heard of, in a moment our arts have not a word to say for
 themselves. And since you seem to me to embrace that knowledge of the
 law which you have, as if it were a darling daughter, I will not permit you to lie, under such a
 mistake as to think that whatever it may be, which you have so thoroughly learnt anything very
 preeminent. For your other virtues of continence, of gravity, of justice, of good faith, and all
 other good qualities, I have always considered you very worthy of the consulship and of all
 honour; but as for your having learnt civil law, I will not say you have wasted your pains, but
 I will say that there is no way made to lead to the consulship by that profession; for all arts
 which can conciliate for us the good-will of the Roman people ought to possess both an admirable
 dignity, and a very delightful utility. 
 The highest dignity is in those men who excel in military glory. For all things which are in
 the empire and in the constitution of the state, are supposed to be defended and strengthened by
 them. There is also the greatest usefulness in them, since it is by their wisdom and their
 danger that we can enjoy both the republic and also our own private possessions. The power of
 eloquence also is no doubt valuable and full of dignity, and it has often been of influence in
 the election of a consul to be able by wisdom and oratory to sway the minds of the senate and
 the people, and those who decide on affair. A consul is required who may be able sometimes to
 repress the madness of the tribunes, who may be able to bend the excited populace, who may
 resist corruption. It is not strange, if, on account of this faculty, even men who were not
 nobly born have often obtained the consulship; especially when this same quality procures a man
 great gratitude, and the firmest friendship, and the greatest zeal in his behalf; but! of all
 this there is nothing, O Sulpicius, in your profession. 
 First of all, what dignity can there be in so limited a science? For they are but small
 matters, conversant chiefly about single letters and punctuation between words. Secondly, if in
 the time of our ancestors there was any inclination to marvel at that study of yours, now that
 all your mysteries are revealed, it is wholly despised and disregarded. At one time few men knew
 whether a thing might be lawfully done or not; for men ordinarily had no records; those were
 possessed of great power who were consulted, so that even days for consultation were begged of
 them beforehand, as from the Chaldean astrologers. A certain notary was found, by name Cnaeus
 Flavius, who could deceive The Latin strictly is, “pierce the eyes of
 ravens.” It was a proverbial expression. the most wary, and who set the people records
 to be learnt by heart each day, and who pilfered their own learning from the profoundest
 lawyers. So they, being angry because they were afraid, lest, when their daily course of action
 was divulged and understood, people would be able to proceed by law without their assistance,
 adopted a sort of cipher, in order to make their presence necessary in every cause.