II. NARRATIO (SECTIONS 4-6)
Sects. 4-6. Earlier career of Archias. His celebrity
in Asia and elsewhere. His removal to Rome and his distinguished patrons there. He becomes
a citizen of Heraclia.
Section 4
cum,
causal, but best translated when.
esset:
for tense, see § 337, b, 1; G. 597, R.4; H. 527, iii.
asciscendum fuisse:
in the direct, asciscendus erat (§ 308, d; G. 597, R.³
a; H. 511, 2).
urbe: §
184, c; G. 411, R.³; H. 363, 4².
contigit:
sc. ei, i.e. Archias. post,
afterwards.
Section 5
tunc,
at that time. This was the long period of comparative quiet between the Gracchan
disturbances (B.C. 133-121) and the tribunate of Drusus (B.C. 91), which was followed by
the Social War and the civil wars of Marius and Sulla.
Latio:
not the geographical Latium merely, but all towns which at that time possessed
citizenship; that is, the Latin colonies, such as Venusia, the birthplace of the poet
Horace.
de ingeniis,
i.e. could form some opinion about the talents of literary men.
absentibus,
ipeople at a distance. mario et
Catulo (consuls B.C. 102); of these, Marius was renowned for his exploits,
while Catulus was a good officer, and also a man of culture.
nactus est,
etc., he happened to find holding the consulship. eos quorum alter, men of such a kind
that one of them, etc. This would not only furnish him with themes for his poetry but
insure appreciation of his genius.
Luculli:
Lucius, the one who fought against Mithridates, and his brother Marcus: both of them
belonged to the highest ranks of the aristocracy, and were men of distinguished taste and
culture.
ingeni,
predicate genitive after an understood erat: this was [a proof] not
only of his genius, etc.
ut. . .esset,
result clause in apposition with hoc.
Section 6
iucundus,
etc.: ever since the introduction of Greek culture at Rome, it had been customary for
cultivated Romans of high rank to entertain Greek men of letters in their houses, partly
as tutors and partly as companions. Such associates frequently accompanied their patrons
on their journeys and even on their campaigns. Metello Numidico: the most distinguished
member of this family. He was predecessor of Marius in the war against Jugurtha, and from
this service in Numidia received his agnomen.
Aemilio,
i.e. M. Æmilius Scaurus (consul B.C. 115), for many years princeps senatus.
Catulo:
see note, section 5. L. Crasso:
the most distinguished orator of his time, a man of genius and culture (see Roman Oratory): he died B.C. 91.
Drusum
(M. Livius), tribune B.C. 91, a distinguished orator and statesman, who lost his life in a
vain attempt to reconcile the aristocratic and democratic factions in the republic. Octavios: see Catiline
iii, sect. 24. Catonem:
probably the father of the famous Cato of Utica is meant.
Hortensiorum:
the most eminent of these was Q. Hortensius, the rival of Cicero and his opponent in the
case of Verres.
si qui forte,
those (if there were any) who, etc.
Heracliam:
an important Greek city, on the southern coast of Lucania. In the war with Pyrrhus it had
fought on the side of the Romans, and, B.C. 278, it entered into an alliance of the
closest and most favorable character (aequissimo iure ac foedere).
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III. CONFIRMATIO (SECTIONS 7-30)
Sects. 7-11. Archias received Roman citizenship under
the Lex Plautia-Papiria, complying with all the provisions of that law. The evidence of
this cannot be shaken; the testimony of the census is unnecessary. No further argument is
needed: the case is closed.
Section 7
Silvani
lege, etc., i.e. the Lex Plautia-Papiria, of the tribunes M.
Plautius Silvanus and C. Papirius Carbo (not to be confused with his infamous cousin
Cneius, the Marian leader after the death of Cinna), extended the Roman citizenship to all
Italian communities who had not yet received it. These towns now exchanged their
independence for Roman citizenship, and became incorporated with the republic; though many
of them, as Heraclia, hesitated about making the change, and did it with great reluctance.
They lost all rights of independent government (such as that of coining money, the ius
exsilii, etc.). Latin became the official language; justice was administered by Roman
law; and in most cases their government was organized on the model of Rome, having duumviri
for consuls, and a curia for the Senate. The passage here given from the
Plautian-Papirian Law contains its application to citizens of foreign birth, like Archias.
si qui, etc.: the law
is quoted in indir. disc., but the main cluase is omitted, being implied in data
est (see § 341, c; G. 663, 2, b).
essent professi,
should have declared their intention.
Q. Metellum
[Pium], praetor, B.C. 89: the most eminent living member of this family, and one of the
leaders of the aristocracy.
Section 8
Grati,
the complainant (see Introduction).
religione,
conscientiousness.
desideras,
call for (lit. miss, feel the want of). Italico bello, (§ 259, a; G.
394, R.; H. 429), i.e. the Social War.
municipi:
since the bestowal of the Roman citizenship, the Italian civitates had become
Roman municipia (see Roman Constitution,
under Italian Towns).
idem, you
yourself (lit. the same man).
Section 9
In section 8 Cicero shows that Archias was a citizen of
Heraclia and so came under the first requirement of the law; in section 9 he claims that
his client had also complied with the other two requirements (domicilium
and professio).
civitatem datam,
i.e. by the law before cited.
professione,
list of declarations.
conlegio:
the praetors, when regarded as a whole, could be spoken of as a "board."
cum, while.
Appi, i.e. Appius
Claudius, husband of Caecilia (the friend of Roscius: see Rosc. Am. sect. 50) and father
of the infamous Clodius.
Gabini:
see Introduction to Pompey's Military Command (Pro Lege
Manilia).
damnationem:
he was condemned, B.C. 54, for extortion on complaint of the Achaeans.
L. Lentulum:
nothing further is known of him; he probably presided over a court (iudices)
to determine cases involving citizenship under the new law.
Section 10
multis
and praeditis are dative after
impertiebant; arte,
ablative after praeditis.
Graecia,
i.e. Magna Graecia, the Greek cities of Italy.
credo
(ironical), I suppose. Locrensis:
Locri Epizephrii, a Greek city near Rhegium.
quod
relates to id, which is governed by largiri understood.
ingeni limits
gloria, which depends on praedito.
civitatem datam,
i.e. by the Lex Plautia-Papiria.
legem Papiam:
see Introduction to the Oration.
illis,
sc. tabulis, i.e. of Tarentum, Rhegium, and Naples.
Section 11
census:
the lists of citizens made out by the censors for purposes of taxation. These were, of
course, excellent evidence on a question of citizenship; but they were not needed in this
case. requiris: cf. desideras
in the same sense in section 8.
est obscurum
(ironical), it is not generally known. proximis, ablative of time: translate by under.
The censors referred to were L. Gellius and Cn. Lentulus (B.C. 70). clarissimo: observe the art with which
Cicero here again calls attention to the connection of Archias with the distinguished
Romans any one of whom could at any moment have procured him the citizenship if he had not
already possessed it.
apud exercitum,
i.e. in the war against Mithridates (see Oration for the
Manilian Law). superioribus,
sc. censoribus. New censors were regularly appointed every five years: those here
referred to were Q. Marcius Philippus and M Perperna (B.C. 86). In the present instance
the succession had been interfered with by Sulla but restored in B.C. 70.
in Asia:
this was in the First Mithridatic War, in which Lucullus served as quaestor to Sulla. primis, i.e. the first
after the passage of the Lex Plautia-Papiria: these were L. Julius Caesar and P.
Crassus (B.C. 89).
esse versatum
(sc. eum), had availed himself of: this clause is the object of criminaris.
testamentum, etc.,
acts which no foreigner could do.
in beneficiis,
etc.: his name was reported for a reward from the state (i.e. on the ground of
some special merit): this, of course, implied citizenship.
suo,
etc., i.e. Archias and his freinds knew that he was a citizen and had acted as such,
whatever might be said on the other side.
At this point Cicero practically rests his case. The remainder of his speech
is devoted to the praise of poetry and literature. This eulogy is, however, skilfully
connected with the argument. Literature is useful in the state, he contends, and poets are
particularly in favor with great men. Hence Archias could not have failed to receive the
citizenship as a gift from some of his illustrious Roman friends if he had not held it
already. Since he is a citizen, so eminent and useful a man should be protected in his
rights.
Sects. 12-16. Literature is an indispensable
relaxation: and also a source of moral strength. Hence all famous men have been devoted to
letters. The dignity and delight of liberal study.
Section 12
ubi(=locum
ubi). . .reficiatur, relative
clause of purpose.
suppetere
has for subject the suppressed antecedent of quod. posse (with a future force), should be able.
contentionem,
strain.
ego
(emphatic), etc., for my part I admit, etc. We should remember that the more
old-fashioned of Cicero's contemporaries were still inclined to regard literary and
artistic pursuits as frivolous in comparison with the more "truly Roman"
professions of war and politics (cf. Æneid, vi. 847 ff.). Hence it was important for
Cicero to show that literature was of practical value to the man of affairs.
his studiis,
the study of letters in general, including all varieties of literature, poetry as well as
prose.
nullius tempore,
etc., the necessities or interests of no one (i.e. as a client).
Section 13
ceteris
depends on conceditur.
ad ipsam requiem,
even to repose.
temporum
limits quantum, which has tantum for antecedent. alii: notice how this
differs in meaning from ceteris, the first mentioned pursuits (attending
to business, celebrating festivals, etc.) are common to everybody, the last (being
dissipations) belong only to "some people." tempestivis conviviis, early dinners,
i.e. beginning by daylight, or in business hours, a mark of luxury and idleness: we should
refer to "late dinners."
oratio et facultas,
hendiadys. quantacumque,
etc., i.e. such as I have (a modest disclaimer).
periculis:
Cicero prided himself on defending cases rather than acting for the prosecution.
quae,
i.e. the mere ability to speak. illa
(object of hauriam), i.e. the moral character resulting from the praecepta
mentioned below.
Section 14
multorum,
i.e. great minds whose thought have found expression in literature. multis litteris, wide reading.
nihil esse,
etc.: these doctrines had been the commonplaces of philosophy and letters for hundreds of
years before Cicero wrote, and to the cultivated Roman they took the place which with us
belongs to the ethical teachings of sacred literature.
parvi, of
slight account (§ 252, a; G. 379, 380, 1; H. 404).
exemplorum,
i.e. examples of heroism and virtute recorded in literature. The moral education of the
ancients consisted largely in the study of the lives of eminent men of past ages.
accederet,
were thrown upon them.
Section 15
Observe the attitude of the Romans toward literature, which
they valued as a source of ethical and political cultivation, and not, like the Greeks,
for its own sake or as a means of affording aesthetic pleasure.
Section 16
ex
hoc, etc.: Cicero enumerates the most distinguished patrons of the newly
introduced Greek culture. Cato is separated from the rest because he was in theory opposed
to this tendency on account of its imagined ill effects: hence the rather apologetic tone
in which Cicero speaks of him.
Africanum:
Scipio the younger (Æmilianus). Laelium:
the younger Laelius (surnamed Sapiens), whose friendship with Scipio Æmilianus
forms the groundwork of Cicero's famous treatise De Amicitia.
Furium: L. Furius
Philus (consul B.C. 136), a patron of literature. These three men belonged to the
so-called Scipionic Circle, which was especially influential in the introduction of Greek
culture.
Catonem:
M. Porcius Cato, called the Censor, was one of the leading men of Rome in the first half
of the second century B.C.: a shrewd, hard-headed Roman of the old school, full of
prejudices, and priding himself on his blunt manners. He was a distinguished antiquarian,
and wrote books on antiquities and agriculture.
senem:
he gives the name to Cicero's dialogue on Old Age (Cato Major).
quod si,
etc.: even if literature, Cicero argues, had no great practical or ethical value (as it
has), it would still be worthy of respect as a means of mental refreshment and diversion.
The passage is a very famous tribute to liberal studies.
ceterae,
sc. animi adversiones.
adversis
[rebus], dative with praebent.
Sect. 17-24. Great artists are themselves worthy of
admiration. the poet is especially sacred: he is the herald of fame. Alexander at the tomb
of Achilles.
Section 17
deberemus:
§ 308, c, N.¹; G. 597, R.³, b; H. cf.
511, 1, N.³.
videremus:
subjunctive because an integral part of the contrary to fact apodosis.
Rosci:
Q. Roscius, the most eminent actor of his time, defended by Cicero in a speech which is
still extant.
corporis:
observe the emphatic position as opposed to animorum. In the ancient
drama the action was much more important as compared with the delivery and facial
expression than is the case on the modern stage.
Section 18
novo
genere: such praise of letters was, of course, an innovation on the formal
proceedings of a Roman court. quotiens,
etc.: given as a remarkable instance of poetical improvisation illustrating the celeritas
mentioned above.
revocatum
[hunc], subject of dicere. The encore was a
common Roman practice, as with us.
sic,
this (referring to the indir. disc. that follows).
Q. Ennius:
the father of Latin poetry. He was born at Rudiae in Magna Graecia (B.C. 239), but wrote
in Latin. His principal work was the Annales, an epic poem upon Roman history,
lost except for a few fragments.
Section 19
bestiae:
etc.; alluding to the myths of Orpheus and Arion (see Ovid, Met. x. 3; Fasti,
ii. 83-118; Virg. Ecl. viii. 56).
Homerum,
etc.: the names of the cities which thus claimed Homer are given in the following
Hexameter verse:
Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, Salamis, Rhodos, Argos, Athenae.
olim,
almost equivalent to an adjective (cf. § 188, e; G. 439, N.4; H.
359, N.4).
Cimbricas res:
the war with the Cimbri and Teutones, who invaded Italy and were at length defeated by
Marius (the Teutones, B.C. 102; the Cimbri, 101).
durior:
Marius was a rude and illiterate soldier. The illustration [soon to come--Webmaster]
shows what seems to be the most trustworthy portrait of Marius (from the impression of a
coin, now lost); various busts have been identified with him, but without any probably
evidence.
Section 20
Themistoclem:
the great Athenian statesman and general, who won the battle of Salamis, in the second
Persian invasion (B.C. 480), and afterwards, by his skilful policy, raised Athens to its
greatest height of power.
Section 21
natura
et regione, hendiadys.
eiusdem,
i.e. Lucullus.
nostra, as
ours (predicate), agreeing with pugna. Cicero means that these
exploits, since they have been immortalized by Archias, will always remain the glory of
the Roman people.
quae, these
things (just mentioned); quorum
limits ingeniis, and refers to eis.
Section 22
Africano
superiori: the conqueror of Hannibal.
in sepulcro Scipionum:
this tomb on the Appian Way has been discovered, and in it a bust of peperino
(not marble), which has some been supposed to be that here referred to. It now stands upon
the sarcophagus of Scipio in the Vatican museum.
huius:
M. Porcius Cato, later called Uticensis, from his killing himself at Utica after
Caesar's victory. Cato the Censor was his great-grandfather.
Maximi,
etc.: Q. Fabius Maximum, "the shield of Rome," in the Second Punic War; M.
Marcellus, "the sword of Rome"; Q. Fulvius Flaccus, a distinguished officer in
the same war.
illum,
i.e. Ennius.
Heracliensem:
Heraclia, as being an important city, is here contrasted with the insignifcant Rudiae. civitatibus: § 232, a;
G. 354; H. 388, 1.
Section 23
Graeca
leguntur, Greek is read. Greek was, in the ancient world, almost the
universal language of polite society; cf. the use of French in modern times.
quo (whither)
related to eodem (thither); cupere governs the clause quo. .
.penetrare.
populis,
dative after ampla, a noble thing for them.
eis,
i.e. the individuals by whom these exploits are performed as contrasted with their peoples
as a whole.
Section 24
Magnus,
i.e. Pompey.
Sects. 25-30. Many would have been glad to give
Archias the citizenship if he had not already possessed it. All men thirst for glory,
which he can confer. Literature is the most enduring of monuments.
Section 25
esset:
§ 308, a; G. 597, R.¹; H. 510, N.². civitate donaretur: §
225, d; G. 348; H. 384, ii, 2.
donaret,
sc. civitate.
repudiasset:
the protasis is implied in petentem. quem, subject of iubere, below.
de populo,
of the people, i.e. of low birth. quod.
. .fecisset, which he had made as an epigram (poetical address) to
him (for gender, see § 195, d; G. cf. 211, R.5; H. 445, 4).
tantummodo. .
.longiusculis, merely with the alternative verses a little longer,
i.e. it was written in some metre in which (as in elegiac verse) long and short verses
alternated; tantummodo implies that this was its only merit.
eis rebus:
i.e. confiscated goods. Apparently a commander could take out from the booty anything he
desired to bestow upon a soldier as a reward; and here the confiscated goods are treated
in the same manner.
Section 26
pingue
atque peregrinum, cognate accusative (§ 240, a; G. 333, 2, N.6;
H. 371, ii).
prae nobis ferendum,
a thing to be proud of.
optimus quisque:
§ 93, c; G. 318, 2; H. 458, 1.
in eo ipso,
in the very act.
praedicari,
impersonal.
Section 27
Brutus:
D. Junius Brutus (consul B.C. 138) conquered the Lusitanians (of Portugal).
Acci: L.
Accius (less properly Atticus), a tragic poet (born B.C. 170); distinguished for
vigor and sublimity; he lived long enough for Cicero in his youth to converse with him.
Fulvius:
M. Fulvius Nobilior (consul B.C. 189) subdued Ætolia. He was distinguished as a friend of
Greek literature, and built, from the spoils of war, a temple to Hercules and the Muses.
prope armati,
having scarce laid aside their arms.
togati:
see note, Cat. ii., Sect. 28.
Section 28
quas
res, i.e. the suppression of Catiline's conspiracy.
adornavi,
I supplied him with materials (i.e. facts).
quid est quod,
etc.: § 317, 2; G. 631, 2; H. 497, i.
Section 29
nec
tantis, etc.: here the apodosis begins.
Section 30
parvi
animi (§ 215; G. 365; H. 396, v), mean-spirited.
imagines,
busts. Whoever held any curule office (dictator, consul, interrex, praetor,
curule aedile) thereby secured to his posterity the ius imaginum, i.e. the right
to place in their halls and carry in funeral processions a wax mask of him as well as of
any other deceased members of the family of curule rank. Since this right was a
distinguishing mark of the Roman nobility, it was naturally highly prized.
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