Did you think that I would not say this in a court of justice when I was not
 on my oath, which I had said before now in a most numerous assembly when speaking This refers to Cicero's conduct when resigning his consulship. Metellus, as has
 been said before, refused to allow him to make a speech to the people, because, as he said, he
 had put Roman citizens to death without a trial; on which Cicero instead of making oath in the
 ordinary formula, that he had discharged his duty with fidelity swore with a loud voice “that
 the republic and the city had been saved by his unassisted labour;” and all the Roman people
 cried out with one voice that that statement was true to its fullest extent. See Cic. in Pis. 3 . on oath? 
 
 And I will say this further, O Torquatus, to prevent any wicked man from conceiving any sudden
 attachment to, or any sudden hopes of you; and, in order that every one may hear it, I will say
 it as loudly as I can:—Of all those things which I undertook and did during my consulship in
 defence of the common safety, that Lucius Torquatus, being my constant comrade in my consulship,
 and having been so also in my praetorship, was my defender; and assistant, and partner in my
 actions; being also the chief; and the leader, and the standard-bearer of the Roman youth; and
 his father, a man most devoted to his country, a man of the greatest courage, of the most
 consummate political wisdom, and of singular firmness, though he was sick still was constantly
 present at all my actions he never left my side: he by his zeal and wisdom and
 authority was of the very greatest assistance to me, overcoming the infirmity of his body by the
 vigour of his mind. Do you not see now, how I deliver you
 from the danger of any sudden popularity among the wicked, and reconcile you to all good men?
 who love you, and cherish you, and who always will cherish you; nor, if perchance you for a
 while abandon me, will they on that account allow you to abandon them and the republic and your
 own dignity. 
 But now I return to the cause; and I call you, O judges, to hear witness to this;—that this
 necessity of speaking of myself was imposed on me by him. For if Torquatus had been content with
 accusing Sulla, I too at the present time should have done nothing beyond defending him who had
 been accused; but when he, in his whole speech, inveighed against me, and when, in the very
 beginning, as I said, he sought to deprive my defence of all authority, even if my indignation
 had not compelled me to speak, still the necessity of doing justice to my cause would have
 demanded this speech from me. 
 You say that Sulla was named by the Allobroges.—Who denies it? but read the information, and
 see how he was named. They said that Lucius Cassius had said that, among other men, Autronius
 was favourable to their designs. I ask, did Cassius say that Sulla was? Never. They say that
 they themselves inquired of Cassius what Sulla's opinions were. Observe the diligence of the
 Gauls. They, knowing nothing of the life or character of the man, but only having heard that he
 and Autronius had met with one common disaster, asked whether his inclinations were the same?
 what then? Even if Cassius had made answer that Sulla was of the same opinion, and was
 favourable to their views, still it would not seem to me that that reply ought to be made matter
 of accusation against him. How so? Because, as it was his object to instigate the barbarians to
 war, it was no business of his to weaken their expectations, or to acquit those men of whom they
 did entertain some suspicions.