e! 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 man as the noblest man. Suppose it were enquired of the fathers
of such Patricians as Albinus and Bessia, whether, if they had their
choice, they would desire sons of their character, or of mine: what
would they answer, but that they should wish the worthiest to be their
sons. If the Patricians have reason to despise me, let them likewise
despise their ancestors, whose nobility was the fruit of their virtue.
Do they envy the honours bestowed upon me? let them envy, likewise, my
labours, my abstinence, and the dangers I have undergone for my country,
by which I have acquired them. But those worthless men lend such a life
of inactivity, as if they despised any honours you can bestow; whilst
they aspire to honours, as if they had deserved them by the most
industrious virtue. They lay claim to the rewards of activity, for their
having enjoyed the pleasures of luxury. Yet none can be more lavish than
they are in praise of their ancestors: and they imagine they honour
themselves by celebrating their forefathers. Whereas, they do the very
contr