But in truth few men understood the Roman law better than did Cicero.
But we must go back to that agrarian law respecting which, as he tells us, four of his consular speeches were made.

This had been brought forward by Rullus, one of the Tribunes, toward the end of the last year.
The Tribunes came into office in December, whereas at this period of the Republic the Consuls were in power only on and from January 1st.

Cicero, who had been unable to get the particulars of the new law till it had been proclaimed, had but a few days to master its details.

It was, to his thinking, altogether revolutionary.

We have the words of many of the clauses; and though it is difficult at this distance of time to realize what would have been its effect, I think we are entitled to say that it was intended to subvert all property.