XLIX.  A  decree  of  the  senate,  which  had  no  higher
object  than  to  authorise  the  people  of  Syracuse  to  exceed,
in  their  public  spectacles,  the  number  of  gladiators  limited
by  law,  would  be  matter  too  trite,  and  unworthy  of  notice,
if  the  opposition,  made  by  Pgetus  Thrasea,  had  not  excited
against  that  excellent  man  a  number  of  enemies.  They
seized  the  opportunity  to  traduce  his  character.  "  If  he
is,  as  he  pretends  to  be,  seriously  of  opinion,  that  the
public  good  requires  liberty  of  speech  and  freedom  of
debate,  why  descend  to  things  so  frivolous  in  their  nature?
Are  peace  and  war  of  no  importance?  When  laws  are  in
question ;  when  tributes  and  imposts  are  the  subject  before
the  fathers,  and  when  points  of  the  first  importance  are
in  agitation,  where  is  his  eloquence  then?  Every  senator,
who  rises  in  his  place,  has  the  privilege  of  moving  what-
ever he  conceives  to  be  conducive  to  the  public  welfare ;
and  what  he  moves,  he  has  a  right  to  discuss,  to  debate,
and  put  to  the  vote.  And  yet  to  regulate  the  amphitheatre
of  Syracuse  is  the  sole  business  of  a  professed  and  zealous
patriot  !  Is  the  administration  in  all  its  parts  so  fair  and
perfect,  that  even  Thrasea  himself,  if  he  held  the  reins
of  government,  could  find  nothing  to  reform  ?  If  he
suffers  matters  of  the  first  importance  to  pass  in  silence,
why  amuse  us  with  a  mock  debate  on  questions,  wherein
no  man  finds  himself  interested  ?  "

The  friends  of  Thrasea  desired  an  explanation  of  his
conduct ;'  his  answer  was  as  follows :  When  he  rose  to
make  his  objections  to  the  law  in  question,  he  was  not
ignorant  of  the  mismanagement  that  prevailed  in  all  depart-
ments of  the  government ;  but  the  principle  on  which  he
acted,  had  in  view  the  honour  of  the  senate.  When
matters  of  little  moment  drew  the  attention  of  the  fathers,
men  would  see  that  affairs  of  importance  could  not  escape
a  body  of  men,  who  thought  nothing  that  concerned  the
public  beneath  their  notice.
