“Furthermore, he was rather undisturbed by abuse, slander, or mockery on his person and family, and would say that the freedom to speak and think is the mark of a free country.”

Sed et aduersus conuicia malosque rumores et famosa de se ac suis carmina firmus ac patiens subinde iactabat in ciuitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere

This is from an emperor (Rome’s second) who was fond of rubbing lobsters on and slapping fish across his critics’ faces.

“It isn’t noble to mock the dead.”

οὐ γὰρ ἐσθλὰ κατθανοῦσι κερτομεῖν ἐπ᾿ ἀνδράσιν

And this from an expert in mockery!

“If you look at the life and, finally, the conduct of men,

when they [these men] condemn others, [you will see] no one lives without fault.”

Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores:
Cum culpant alios, nemo sine crimine vivit.

“Poets for the most part (I speak to a father and his worthy sons)

are deceived by the appearance of what is right.”

 Maxima pars uatum, pater et iuuenes patre digni,

decipimur specie recti.