But when the greatest honours of your family were at stake, that is to say, the consulship of
 your father that wise man your father was not angry with his most intimate friends for defending
 and praising Sulla. He was aware that this was a principle handed down to us from our ancestors
 that we were not to be hindered by our friendship for any one from warding off dangers from
 others. And yet that contest was far from resembling this trial. Then, if Publius Sulla could he
 put down, the consulship would be procured for your father as it was procured, it was a contest
 of honour you were crying out, that you were seeking to recover what had been taken from you, in
 order that, having been defeated in the Campus Martius, you might succeed in the forum. Then
 those who were contending against you for Sulla's safety your greatest friends, with whom you
 were not angry. On, that account, deprived you of the consulship, resisted your acquisition of
 honour; and yet they did so without any rupture of your mutual friendship, without violating any
 duty according to ancient precedent and the established principles of every good man. 
 
 But now what promotion of yours am I opposing? or what dignity of yours am I throwing
 obstacles in the way of? what is there which you can at present seek from this proceeding?
 Honour has been conferred on your father; the insignia of honour have descended to you. You,
 adorned with his spoils, come to tear the body of him whom you have slain; I am defending and
 protecting him who is lying prostrate and stripped of his arms. And on this you find fault with
 me, and are angry because I defend him. But I not only am not angry with you, but I do not even
 find fault with your proceeding. For I imagine that you have laid down a rule for yourself as to
 what you thought that you ought to do, and that you have appointed a very capable judge of your
 duty. “Oh, but the son of Caius Cornelius accuses him, and
 that ought to have the same weight as if his father had given information against him.” O wise
 Cornelius,—the father; I mean—who left all the reward which is usually given for information,
 but has got all the discredit which a confession can involve, through the accusation brought by
 his son! However; what is it that Cornelius gives information of by the mouth of that boy? If it
 is a part of the business which is unknown to me, but which has been communicated to Hortensius,
 let Hortensius reply. If as you say, his statement concerns that crew of Autronius and Catiline,
 when they intended to commit a massacre in the Campus Martius, at the consular comitia , which were held by me; we saw Autronius that day in the
 Campus. And why do I say we saw? I myself saw him (for you at that time, O judges, had no
 anxiety, no suspicions; I, protected by a firm guard of friends at that time, checked the forces
 and the endeavours of Catiline and Autronius).