[69]
Once more, a slave, not twelve years old, recently attempted to murder his master. Had he had the courage to stay where he was, instead of taking to his heels in terror at his victim's cries, leaving the knife in the wound, the entire household1 would have perished, as no one would have dreamed him capable of such audacity. As it was, he was caught, and later confessed his own guilt. Then again, your Hellenotamiae2 were once accused of embezzlement, as wrongfully as I am accused today. Anger swept reason aside, and they were all put to death save one. Later the true facts became known.