Hybrida

The two men then went up onto the platform where the court was waiting, and when Cicero announced that he would be calling Hybrida as his final witness, a stir of anticipation ran through the jury.

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010

“Tell me, Hybrida,” said Cicero after a while, “did you lose a boy a few days ago?”

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010

But he had given away his governorships to Hybrida and Celer, and there was nothing for him to do except to stay in the city and resume his legal practice.

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010

Hybrida brought out a small flask of wine from which he took regular nips, occasionally offering it with a shaky hand to Cicero, who declined politely.

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010

But in the midst of all this turmoil, toward the end of March, he was obliged to go down to the treason tribunal in the Forum to defend Hybrida.

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010

By the end of the fourth day, the only question was: Should Cicero call on Hybrida to testify, in the hope at least of eliciting some sympathy from the jury; or should Hybrida cut his losses, leave Rome quietly before the verdict, and thus spare himself the humiliation of being jeered out of the city?

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“I always thought,” said Hybrida, suppressing a burp, “that you rigged that ballot for our provinces.”

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Less than a year after you dispatched Hybrida to the long-suffering people of Macedonia, you bought yourself a new house.

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I remember a Claudius, an Aemilius, a Valerius, and others of that ilk, including Hybrida: about eight or nine in total; all patricians.

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True, he had achieved the consulship, but then so had many nonentities, Hybrida being the most obvious example.

CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010