multi frequenter, quos execrabilis popularitas agit, civium maximos manu prensant deque consessu publico abducunt ac sequestratis oscula impingunt, operam suam spondent, sed non petiti; utque videantur in negotii communis assertionem legari, evectionem refundunt ipsosque sumptus ultro recusant et ab ambitu clam rogant singulos, ut ab omnibus palam rogentur.
Many men, urged by an accursed passion for popularity, constantly grasp the leading citizens by the hand, draw them aside from a public meeting, and having thus got them by themselves press kisses upon them, and promise services for which no one asked them. To create the impression that their election as ambassadors would mean a firm championship of public interests, they are ready to forgo the privilege of the Imperial post and actually to decline the ordinary expenses. Thus their intriguing spirit makes them sue individuals in private, in order that they may be publicly invited by all.
final_alignments\Sidonius_Letters_Book5.json