But when the interests of Lucius Flaccus are at stake, a man
 of whom I may say that the first man who was made consul of his family This is not quite true, for Cicero is referring to Publius Valerius, surnamed Publicola, and
 he was not the first consul; but was elected as a substitute for Collatinus, who, with Brutus,
 was the first consul. was the first man that was ever consul in this city; a man by
 whose valour the kings were banished, and liberty was established in this republic; a family
 which has endured to this time with a continued series of honours and commands, and of glorious
 achievements; and when Lucius Flaccus has not only not degenerated from this everlasting and
 well-attested virtue of his ancestors, but as praetor has especially devoted himself to the
 glory of asserting the liberty of his country, seeing that that was the especial glory and
 characteristic of his family,—can I fear lest any mischievous precedent be established in the
 case of this defendant when, even if he had committed any slight fault, all good men would think
 that they ought rather to connive at it? That, however, I not
 only do not request, but I beg and entreat you, O judges, to scrutinise the whole case most
 vigilantly, with all your eyes, as they say. None of the charges will be found borne witness to
 with conscientiousness, or founded in truth, or extorted by indignation; but, on the contrary,
 you will see that it is all redolent of lust, passion, party spirit, bribery, and perjury.