"You will not doubt, however," the historian says, "that it would have been better for the Republic to remain ignorant of these Corinthian gems than to understand them as well as it does now.

That rudeness befitted the public honor better than our present taste."[289] Cicero understood well enough, with one side of his intelligence, that as the longing for these things grew in the minds of rich men, as the leading Romans of the day became devoted to luxury rather than to work, the ground on which the Republic stood must be sapped.

A Marcellus or a Scipio had taken glory in ornamenting the city.

A Verres or even an Hortensius--even a Cicero--was desirous of beautiful things for his own house.

But still, with the other side of his intelligence, he saw that a perfect citizen might appreciate art, and yet do his duty, might appreciate art, and yet save his country.