atfourpercentamonth，[59]andobtainedforthatpurposetwoSenatusConsulta；intheformerofwhichitwasexpresslymentionedthatthisloanshouldnotbeconsideredasanevasionofthelaw，[60]andthatthegovernorofSicilyshoulddetermineaccordingtothestipulationsmentionedinthebondoftheSalaminians。
AslendinguponinterestwasforbiddenbytheGabinianlawbetweenprovincialsandRomancitizens，andthelatteratthattimehadallthemoneyoftheglobeintheirhands，therewasanecessityfortemptingthemwiththebaitofextravagantinterest，totheendthattheavariciousmightthuslosesightofthedangeroflosingtheirmoney。
AndastheyweremenofgreatpowerinRome，whoawedthemagistratesandoverruledthelaws，theywereemboldenedtolend，andtoextortgreatusury。HencetheprovincesweresuccessivelyravagedbyeveryonewhohadanycreditinRome：andaseachgovernor，atenteringuponhisprovince，publishedhisedict[61]whereinhefixedtherateofinterestinwhatmannerhepleased，thelegislatureplayedintothehandsofavarice，andthelatterservedthemeanpurposesofthelegislator。
Butthepublicbusinessmustbecarriedon；andwhereveratotalinactionobtains，thestateisundone。Onsomeoccasionsthetowns，thecorporatebodiesandsocieties，aswellasprivatepeople，wereunderthenecessityofborrowing——anecessitybuttoourgent，wereitonlytorepairtheravagesofarmies，therapacityofmagistrates，theextortionsofcollectors，andthecorruptpracticesdailyintroduced；
forneverwasthereatoneperiodsomuchpovertyandopulence。Thesenate，beingpossessedoftheexecutivepower，granted，throughnecessity，andoftentimesthroughfavour，apermissionofborrowingfromRomancitizens，soastoenactdecreesforthatparticularpurpose。Buteventhesedecreeswerediscreditedbythelaw；fortheymightgiveoccasiontothepeople’sinsistinguponnewratesofinterest，whichwouldaugmentthedangeroflosingthecapital，whiletheymadeafurtherextensionofusury。[62]Ishalleverrepeatit，thatmankindaregovernednotbyextremes，butbyprinciplesofmoderation。