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.
 Now that the universal cupidity of those men is ascertained, I will proceed to the separate
 complaints and charges of the Greeks. They complain that money was levied from the cities under
 the name of money for a fleet. And we admit, O judges, that that was done. But if this be a
 crime, the guilt must consist either in the fact that it was not lawful so to levy money; or in
 the fact that the ships were not wanted; or in the third alternative, that no fleet put to sea
 while he was praetor. That you may see that this levy was lawful, listen, I pray you, to what
 the senate decreed, when I was consul, in which it did not depart at all from the former decrees
 of many years running. [The resolution of the senate is read.] The next thing is for us to
 inquire whether there was need of the fleet or not. Is it then the Greeks or any foreign nations
 who are to be judges of this, or your praetors, your generals, your commanders-in-chief? I
 indeed think that in a district and province of that sort which is surrounded by the sea, dotted
 all over with harbours, and girt with islands, a fleet is requisite not only for the sake of
 protection, but as an ornament of the empire. For there were
 these principles and there was this greatness of mind in our ancestors, that while in their
 private affairs, and as to their own personal expenses, they lived contented with a little, and
 without the smallest approach to luxury; where the empire and the dignity of the state was
 concerned, they brought everything up to a high pitch of splendour and magnificence. For in a
 man's private affairs he desires the credit of moderation, but in public affairs dignity is the
 object aimed at. But even if he had a fleet for the sake of protection, who will be so unjust as
 to blame it?—“There were no pirates.” What? who could certify beforehand that there would be
 none? “You are taking away,” said he, “from the glory of Pompeius.” Say, rather, that you yourself are increasing his difficulties. For he
 destroyed the fleets of the pirates, their cities, and harbours, and places of refuge. By his
 surpassing valour and incredible rapidity of motion he established a maritime peace; but this he
 neither undertook nor ought to have undertaken,—namely, to submit to appear worthy of
 prosecution if a single pirate's boat was anywhere seen. Therefore he himself in Asia, when he
 had terminated every war, both by land and sea, nevertheless levied a fleet on those self-same
 cities. And if he then thought that step was necessary, when everything might have been safe and
 tranquil through fear of his name, while he was still in those countries, what do you think that
 Flaccus ought to have decided on and to have done after he had departed?