II. PROPOSITO (Sect. 3-10)
Section 3
pro eo . . . ac mereor, in
proportion as I deserve.
relaturos gratiam, will reward
("return favor": cf. habere, agere).
immatura: because an ex-consul had reached
the highest point of Roman ambition.
misera: the philosophy of the ancients
professed to make them despise death (see Plato, Apologia, and Cicero, Tusc.
Quaest. i.). ille ferreus qui, so iron-hearted
as (hence movear, subjunctive). fratris:
his brother Quintus, younger than he, and at this time praetor elect. He served with
credit in Caesar's Gallic campaigns.
neque . . . non, nor can it be but
that, etc.; the two negatives make an affirmative, but with a kind of emphasis which
the simple affirmative statement could not give.
uxor, etc.: his wife Terentia; his
daughter Tullia (daughters took the gentile name of the father (see § 80, c; G.
p. 493; H. 649, 4), married to C. Calpurnius Piso; his son Marcus, now two years old.
gener: Piso was not yet a member of the
Senate, and was probably standing in the lobby. moveat
(emphatic, as shown by its position), I am affected.
uti sint, [to wish] that, etc. (
the verb being implied in moveor); pereamus
is in the same construction as sint.
una . . . peste, i.e. by a destruction
which is at the same time that of the whole state.
Section 4
non Ti. Gracchus, etc.: to
preserve the emphasis, render it is not Ti. Gracchus who, etc. For the historical
allusions, cf. Cat. I., sect 3 with note, sect. 4 with note.
agrarios: see note on sect. 13.
Memmium: C. Memmius, one of the most
upright men of his time; he was a candidate for the consulship against Glaucia, was
murdered by instigation of Glaucia and Saturninus (B.C. 100).
tenentur, are in custody; to
preserve the emphasis we may change the voice, -- we have in our hands. vestram omnium: § 184, d; G. 321, R.²
ut . . . nemo, instead of the usual ne
quis or ne quisquam (§ 319, d, R.; cf.
§ 105, d, N.; G. 543, 3, cf. 317, 1; H. 497, ii, cf. 457) because
of the following ne . . . quidem.
Section 5
iudiciis: their verdict on
the conspirators' guilt consisted in the acts recounted in the following clauses.
gratias egistis: cf. relaturos,
sect. 3
abdicare, etc.: see Cat. III, sect. 14 and
note.
Section 6
sed, i.e. though you have
in fact decided. tamquam integrum, as if an open
question (i.e. as if you had not already expressed your judgment).
iudicetis refers to their judgment
as a court with respect to the facts; censeatis, to
their view as a public council respecting the punishment.
illa . . . consulis, etc., I will say
in advance what belongs to [me as] the consul: i.e. declare the need for
instant action; what action, it is for the Senate to determine. For construction
see § 214, c; G. 366; H. 401.
nova . . . misceri, that a revolution
subversive of the government was on foot; nova (subject of misceri)
means innovations or unconstitutional measures; misceri refers
to the disorder which these would produce.
concitari mala, that evil designs were
set in motion. videbam: for tense, see § 277, b;
G. 234; H. 469, 2.
opinione: § 257, b; G. 398, N.¹;
H. 417, 1, N.5
provincias, especially Spain, with which
Cn. Piso had had relations. It had not yet become fully reconciled since the overthrow of
Sertorius, only eight years before. sustentando, forbearance;
prolatando, procrastination.
ratione, abl. of manner.
placet, sc. vindicare.
Section 7
haec (with a gesture), all
this, i.e. city, citizens, and government.
amplectitur, adopts.
pro, in accordance with.
versatur in, exhibits.
mortem, etc.: a doctrine of the
Epicureans, to which sect Caesar and many other eminent Romans belonged.
et ea: cf. note on Cat. III, sect. 21.
municipiis dispertiri, sc. eos in
custodiam.
iniquitatem, since it might expose them to
danger, and it would be unjust to choose among so many; difficultatem,
since they might decline the service.
Section 8
statueritis, subjunctive
of integral part.
dignitatis: § 214, d; G. 366, R.¹;
H. 401, N.². adiungit, he (Caesar)
adds to his proposal.
ruperit: § 341, c; G. 366; H.
401.
sancit, ordains (under
penalties).
per senatum, by an executive decree; per populum, by a law.
uno, sc. dolore.
itaque, etc.: an artful way of making the
punishment of death seem less cruel; since death is a relief, these myths, says Cicero,
have been invented to give it terror.
eis remotis, equivalent to a future
protasis (§ 310, a; G. 593, 2; H. 549, 2).
Section 9
mea: § 222, a;
G. 381; H. 408, i, 2.
popularis, not popular, but devoted
to the people, democratic: Caesar was now the recognized leader of the party.
auctore (abl. absolute), proposer;
cognitore, sponsor (a legal term).
maiorum: none of Caesar's ancestors were
men of any distinction, although some distant relatives were prominent in public affairs
in the time of Sulla; see note, Cat. III, sect. 24. He belonged, however, to one of the
oldest patrician families.
obsidem, i.e. he is pledged at all events
to defend the state as against the conspirators.
interesset: for tense, see § 287, d.
levitatem, want of principle, i.e. of the
steady purpose, or stability of character, implied in gravitas.
saluti, i.e. not voluntati: their
interests, not their capricious wishes.
Section 10
non neminem: it is said
that the person referred to was Q. Metellus Nepos, brother of Celer (see Cat. I., sect.
19) a partisan of Pompey and an enemy of Cicero.
dedit, decrevit, adfecit, i.e. gave his
vote for these acts. With this, of course, his present action is inconsistent.
qui has for antecedent the subject of iudicarit.
re, the matter (in general); causa, the issue to be decided. C.
Caesar: the full name gives emphasis, contrasting him with the non nemo.
Caesar votes for a judgment against the conspirators which seems contrary to the
Sempronian Law, but he, a true friend of the people (vere popularis),
recognizes that this law applies to Roman citizens only, and that it therefore cannot
protect these traitors.
Semproniam: this law gave Roman citizens
the right of appeal to the judgment of the whole people in capital cases, even against the
military imperium. In civil life this right had existed ever since the
foundation of the republic.
latorem, i.e. C. Gracchus.
iussu populi: not strictly true, for C.
Gracchus was put to death, not by order of the people, but by virtue of the
dictatorial authority conferred upon the consuls by the Senate. rei
publicae, dative. dependisse, punishment with
the Romans was regarded as a penalty paid by the offender to the injured
party(hence dare, solvere, pendere of the guilty; capere,
petere, repetere, postulare, etc. of the person wronged).
Lentulum: by discussing this conspirator
as an example of the would-be popularis, Cicero skilfully throws discredit on the
non nemo and others like him. largitorem,
etc., i.e. however lavish, a symptom of courting the popular favor.
se iactare, i.e. as a pretended friend of
liberty, like the non nemo above.
omnis cruciatus, accusative plural.
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III. CONTENTIO (Sect. 11-19)
Section 11
quam ob rem, etc.: because
Caesar's view has in Caesar a popular sponsor, while the view of Silanus is in fact the
more merciful one. statueritis, dederitis:
§ 307, c, and N.; G. 595, N.²; H. 473, 2.
contio: see Introduction to Manilian Law
notes. The action of the consul would have to be justified before the people, who might
regard it as a tyrannical measure. In this justification Cicero would have Caesar to
assist him.
obtinebo eam, make it appear that it
(this view), etc.
ita . . . liceat: an asseveration like our
"so help me God." The point lies in the idea of "so and not otherwise"
implied in ita.
ut . . . moveor, as [it is true
that] I am influenced, etc.
animo, in my mind's eye (prop.,
ablative of means). patria, native city.
Section 12
cum vero: vero
introduces (as often) the most striking point. The other conspirators are bad enough, but
when, etc.
Vestalium: see note, Cat. III, sect. 9.
si quis: for form, see § 104, a,
N.; G. 106, R.; H. 454, 1.
sumpserit: see note on dependisse,
sect. 10; for tense, see note on statueritis, sect.
11.
ut . . . conlocarent, purpose clause in
apposition with id (above).
Section 13
nisi vero, etc.: reductio
ad absurdum, as usual with this phrase (§ 315, b, N.; G.
591, R.4). L. Caesar: L. Caesar (consul
B.C. 64), was a distant relative of the Dictator, son of Lucius Caesar (consul B.C. 90,
the year of the Social War), the author of the law giving citizenship to the Italian
allies. The sister of Lucius Caesar (the younger) was married to Lentulus, and his mother
Fulvia was daughter of M. Fulvius Flaccus, the leading adherent of C. Gracchus. When
Gracchus and Flaccus found themselves (B.C. 121) drawn into a collision with the Senate,
they sent the young son of Flaccus with a proposition of compromise. The Senate, however,
refused to listen to any terms, threw the messenger into prison, -- where he was
afterwards strangled, -- and moved upon the insurgents with all the power of the state. In
the contest that followed, both leaders and several thousands of their partisans lost
their lives. It was to these events that L. Caesar had appealed, in justifying his vote in
condemnation of his brother-in-law Lentulus.
eius refers to avum. legatum: of course the informal messenger of the
insurgents could have no claim to the title ambassador, or to the privileges
which attached to the title in ancient as well as modern times.
quorum limits factum:
understand with simile some word describing the present conspiracy (what
act of theirs was like this?).
largitionis . . . versata, est: the plans
of C. Gracchus embraced not only a lex frumentaria, allowing every citizen to buy
a certain amount of corn from the state at less than half its market rate, and a lex
agraria, providing for the distribution of public land among the poorer citizens; but
also the establishment of several colonies, both in Italy and the provinces, the object of
which was at once to provide poor citizens with land, and to relieve the city, by
emigration of a part of its proletariat. Though these grants were perhaps just, yet their
proposal was regarded by the nobility as a political bid for popular favor, and hence gave
rise to violent party jealousy (partium contentio).
avus (see note, Cat. III, sect. 10): he
was an active supporter of the Senate on this occasion; ille refers to
the same person.
urbem inflammandam: according to Sallust's
Catiline, ch. 43, this work was assigned to Gabinius and Statilius.
vereamini follows censeo
(ironical), as if with ut omitted.
Section 14
voces, remarks.
eorum, on the part of those, etc.
vereri . . . ut, § 331, f; G. 550, 2; H. 498,
iii, N.¹.
mea, etc.: observe the antithesis between mea
summa cura and maiore populi . . . voluntate.
Section 15
ad, for.
consentiunt, unite.
ita . . . ut, only to, etc. (lit.
with this limitation that): see § 319, b; G. 552, R.³. summam ordinis consilique, superiority in rank and
precedence in counsel.
huius ordinis (i.e. the Senate) limits dissensione
in the sense of cum hoc, etc.
quam si, etc., and if we keep this
union, etc.
confirmo, I assure, in a
different sense from confirmatam: Latin style does not (as ours does)
object to such repetitions with a variation in meaning.
tribunos aerarios, deans of the tribes.
The Roman people were divided into thirty-five tribes, local and territorial, like wards.
These tribes were made the basis of the comitia centuriata, as well as the comitia
tributa. They served also as general administrative and financial divisions. From the
latter character the name tribuni aerarii was given to their presiding officers.
scribas: the scribae quaestorii
(treasury clerks) formed an important powerful corporation. As they were a permanent body,
while the quaestors (treasurers) were elected annually, they had the real responsibility
in the management of the treasury.
sortis: the quaestors entered upon office
on the Nones of December (Dec. 5); all other patrician magistrates on the first of
January. The scribae had therefore come together in order to be present while the
quaestors drew lots for their provinces.
Section 16
ingenuorum, free-born.
Freedmen, libertini, were always regarded as inferior in rank, if not in civil
and political rights. Even these, however, are shown in the next chapter to be interested
in the safety of the republic.
sua virtute: manumission was very commonly
bestowed as the reward of some particular merit in the slave.
hic nati, i.e. citizens, as contrasted
with the manumitted slave (who were for the most part of foreign birth).
qui modo . . . sit: § 320, d. condicione: § 251, N.; G. 400; H. 419, 2.4
voluntatis, partitive genitive with quantum,
as if tantum voluntatis quantum, etc.).
Section 17
circum tabernas, i.e.
among the artisans. The Roman shops were like little stalls along the street, open in
front, with a "long room," or perhaps two, at the back.
cubile ac lectulum: both words mean nearly
the same thing and imply a very humble way of living.
otiosum, peaceable; so oti
(below).
quorum relates to eorum,
above.
incensis, sc. tabernis. futurum fuit = fuisset (§ 308, d;
G. 597, R.³; H. 511, 2), with protasis implied in incensis.
Section 18
populi Romani, as
contrasted with the Senate: cf. the formula Senatus Populusque Romanus.
impiae, impious (in its strict
sense of want of filial duty).
arcem et Capitolium: the Capitoline was a
saddle-shaped hill, having the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus (Capitolium)
on the southwestern point and the old citadel (arx), on the northeastern
(see Cat. III., sect. 20). Since Jupiter Capitolinus was the protecting divinity of Rome,
his temple was the most sacred spot in the whole empire.
aras Penatium: the Penates were
gods of the household and the larder (penus), worshipped by every paterfamilias
in his own atrium. The state, being developed from the family, had likewise its
Penates, which were fabled to have been brought by Aeneas from Troy and established at
Lavinium, whence they were transferred to Alba Longa, and afterwards to Rome. Their temple
was on the Velia, the low hill connecting the Palatine and Esquiline. ignem
Vestae: the temple of Vesta was on the Sacra Via, towards the Palatine,
-- a small round building containing the symbolic household fire of the Roman state. See note on the Vestals, Cat. III., sect. 9.
focis: the focus, the symbol of
household life, was a brazier for burning charcoal. It originally stood at the rear end of
the atrium, or great hall, of the house. Later it was moved, for all practical
purposes, to the kitchen, but a representative focus remained in the atrium
and continued to be the symbol of household life.
Section 19
quae facultas: § 201, d;
G. 616, 2.
in civili causa, on a political
question.
quantis . . . delerit: this clause will
best be turned into English by translating the participles, fundatum,
etc., as verbs, and delerit as a relative clause, -- with how great
toil this empire WAS established, WHICH one
night, etc. In Latin the question is contained in the interrogative modifiers of imperium
and not in the main clause.
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IV. PERORATIO (Sect. 20-24)
Section 20
me . . . factorum: for
cases, see § 221, b; G. 377; H. 409, iii.
gesta, abl. absolute with re
publica.
Section 21
Scipio: the elder
Africanus, who brought the Second Punic War to a triumphant close by the battle of Zama,
B.C. 202. By "carrying the war into Africa," he forced Hannibal to retire from
Italy.
alter Africanus: the younger, surnamed
Aemilianus. He was son of L. Aemilus Paulus (mentioned below), and adopted by the son of
the elder Africanus. He captured Carthage, B.C. 146, and Numantia, in Spain, B.C. 133.
Paulus: father of the younger Africanus,
and, like his son, the most eminent and upright man of his generation. He brought the
Third Macedonian War to a close by the battle Pydna, B.C. 168, and led King Perseus
captive in his triumphal procession. currum
[triumphalem]: the captives did not go with or behind the triumphal chariot, but preceded
it in the procession.
bis liberavit: by the victories over the
German invaders, -- over the Teutones at Aquae Sextiae (B.C. 102), and the Cimbri at Campi
Raudii (B.C. 101).
Pompeius: it should be remembered that
Pompey was now in the East, in the midst of his career of conquest, and that his return
was looked for with expectancy by all parties. Cicero took every means to win the
confidence of the great general, and gain him over to his views in public affairs; but to
no purpose. After some wavering, Pompey associated himself with Caesar, thus giving the
Senate a blow from which it never recovered, and preparing the way for his own downfall.
aliquid loci: § 216, a, 3; G.
369; H. 397, 3.
Section 22
quamquam, and yet.
uno loco, in one respect.
oppressi serviunt, are crushed and
enslaved (§ 292, R.).
Section 23
pro imperio, in place
of: all these honors, which Cicero might have gained by a foreign command, he has
renounced in order to stay at home and protect the city.
clientelis hospitiisque: the relation of cliens
to patronus was that of a subordinate to a superior, carrying with it services on
the one side and protection on the other; the hospites were, on the other hand,
equals, and their connection was one of mutual aid and friendship. Foreign states and
citizens were eager to form such ties with influential Romans, and they were equally
advantageous to the Roman. Of course a provincial governor had peculiar opportunities for
this.
urbanis opibus, the means afforded by
a city life. Such ties would be more easily formed by a sojourn in a province, but
they could also be formed by a statesman who remained at home; for the value of such a
relation to the provincial consisted in the opportunities for protection and assistance
which the statesman possessed in the city itself.
pro meis studiis, in return for my
efforts.
quae dum, and as long as this. mentibus: § 254, a; H. 425, 1².
suo solius: § 197, e; G. 321, R.²;
H. 398, 3.
Section 24
eum . . . qui, a
consul who, etc. (§ 102, d).
per se ipsum praestare, make good
[so far as he may] on his own part.
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