But, besides the disadvantages which are common to me, with all others in eminent stations, my case is, in this respect, peculiarly hard; that whereas a commander of Patrician rank, if he is guilty of a neglect, or breach of duty, has his great connection, the antiquity of his family, the important services of his ancestors, and the multitudes he has, by power, engaged in his interest, to screen him from condign punishment; my whole safety depends upon myself; which renders it the more indispensibly necessary for me, to take care that my conduct be clear and unexceptionable.  Besides, I am well aware, my country men, that the eye of the public is upon me; and that, though the impartial, who prefer the real advantage of the commonwealth to all other considerations, favour my pretensions, the Patricians want nothing so much as an occasion against me.  It is, therefore, my fixed resolution, to use my best endeavours, that you may not be disappointed in me, and that their indirect designs against me may be defeated.

I have, from my youth, been familiar with toils, and with dangers.  I was faithful to your interests, my countrymen, when I served you for no reward, but that of honour.  It is not my design to betray you, now that you have conferred upon me a place of profit.  You have committed to my conduct, the war against Jugurtha.  The Patricians are offended at this.  But, where would be the wisdom of giving such a command to one of their honourable body? a person of illustrious birth, of ancient family, of innumerable statues, but—­of no experience!  What service would his long line of dead ancestors, or his multitude of motionless statues, do his country in the day of battle?  What could such a general do, but, in his trepidation and inexperience, have recourse to some inferior commander, for direction in difficulties to which he was not himself equal?  Thus, your Patrician general would, in fact have a general over him; so that the acting commander would still be a Plebeian.  So true is this, my countrymen, that I have myself known those, who have been chosen consuls, begin then to read the history of their own country, of which, till that time, they were totally ignorant:  that is, they first obtained the employment, and then bethought themselves of the qualifications necessary for the proper discharge of it.

I submit to your judgment, Romans, on which side the advantage lies, when a comparison is made between Patrician haughtiness and Plebeian experience.  The very actions, which they have only read, I have partly seen, and partly myself achieved.  What they know by reading, I know by action.  They are pleased to slight my mean birth.  I despise their mean characters.  Want of birth and fortune is the objection against me:  want of personal merit against them.  But are not all men of the same species?  What can make a difference between one man and another but the endowments of the mind?  For my part, I shall always look upon the bravest