Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

7. hoc auctore et cognitore: with him as the author and advocate.

8. illam alteram: that other opinion, that of Silanus.

9. nescio an . . . contrahatur: I am inclined to think more trouble may be brought upon me. H. 650, 4; LM. 814; A. 331, N.; G. 457, 2; B. 300, 5; (H. 529, 3, N. 2).

IO. meorum

...

rationes: the consideration of my dangers.

II. vincat: let outweigh.

12. maiorum eius: the Julian gens, to which Caesar belonged, was one of the oldest and most famous in Rome.

Iulus, the son of Aeneas.

In the Aeneid it is traced back to

13. Intellectum est: it was perceived, i.e. as he spoke.

15. saluti populi consulentem: these words are added to define the term vere popularem. The learner must not fail to notice the different senses in which popularis is used. Coming as it does from populus, its primary signification is belonging to, or relating to, the people. With this general meaning it has three principal applications: 1. Belonging to the party of the people, a political application; 2. Devoted to the interests of the people; 3. Having the favor of the people, popular in the usual sense of the term. Caesar belonged politically to the party of the people; the term popularis was, therefore, applicable to him in the first sense, and Cicero here pays him the flattering compliment of applying it to him in the second sense.

16. non neminem: some one or more. Some critics think it probable that Cicero here referred especially to Q. Metellus Nepos, tribune-elect, whose veto prevented him from presenting the usual report at the close of his term of office as consul. On non neminem, see H. 656, 1; LM. 675; A. 326, a; G. 449, 4; (H. 553, 1).

17. de capite: questions which thus involved the life or civil status of a Roman citizen could be tried only in the Comitia Centuriata. The senate therefore had no legal right to condemn the conspirators to death.

18. Is referring to non neminem.

nudius tertius: also written as one word, = nunc dies tertius, the day before yesterday.

19. mihi: in my honor, dative of reference.

20. Iam: now,

not mere time.

i.e. in view of these facts, marking a connection of thought,

...

hoc: this, explained by the indirect question quid . . . iudicarit. 21. qui: he who. The omitted antecedent of qui is the subject of iudicarit. The meaning of this sentence is that every one clearly sees what judgment has been given in the case by those who have favored the decrees already passed in the senate.

=

quaesitori gratulationem: a thanksgiving in honor of the investigating officer, referring to Cicero, who conducted in person the investigation in the senate two days before. Note that gratulationem here supplicationem in l. 19 above, but that strictly supplicatio has primary reference to the gods, as in supplicatio dis immortalibus, p. 130, l. 10, while gratulatio has reference to the man in whose honor the thanksgiving is decreed. In their secondary uses the two words are synonymous.

24. At vero C. Caesar: in contrast with the senator just mentioned. legem Semproniam: i.e. the law of C. Sempronius Gracchus, -ne de capite civium Romanorum iniussu populi iudicaretur. Caesar, in opposing the sentence of capital punishment, had appealed to certain statutes, which provided that the punishment of death should not be inflicted upon a Roman citizen without the vote of the people. To this Cicero replies that the enemies of the state have forfeited their citizenship, and, therefore, are not protected by this law.

[blocks in formation]

ipsum latorem. . . dependisse: C. Gracchus, the very author of this law, was put to death as a public enemy, without trial before the people. Hence Catiline and other public enemies may be treated in the same way. This assumption, that men who had become hostes patriae were no longer citizens, was a weak point in Cicero's position and later led to his exile.

27. poenas rei publicae dependisse: paid the penalty to the state. 28. Idem: he also, i.e. Caesar.

largitorem et prodigum: though lavish and prodigal. Such lavish expenditure of money would tend to make a man popular in certain quarters.

Page 145, line 2.—cogitarit: causal.

etiam: still.

3. popularem: a friend of the people.

homo mitissimus: although a very kindly man, in apposition with the subject implied in dubitat, referring to Caesar.

4. aeternis: perpetual, i.e. for life.

5. huius supplicio levando se iactare: to attract attention (lit. to display himself) by mitigating this man's punishment.

6. in pernicie: while ruining.

Make a careful study of the various constructions with interest.

Distinguish between non nemo and nemo non.

Propositio, 6

10. CHAPTER 6.—hoc: this course, the one just mentioned, as recommended by Caesar.

statueritis, dederitis: future perfect in both clauses to mark the completion of the action, though the English idiom requires the future.

II. ad contionem: for the assembly, i.e. the assembly of the people, to which he will communicate the decision of the senate. Caesar, the people's favorite, could readily obtain their approval of the bill of which he was himself the mover. The contio was an informal assembly convened to listen to addresses and receive communications, but with no power to transact public business. The assembly of the people for the transaction of business was called comitia; see 140.

13. populo Romano: dative of reference.

14. obtinebo: I shall show, (lit. hold against) eam (i.e. sententiam) multo leniorem fuisse.

Confirmatio, 6-9

15. in tanti sceleris immanitate punienda: in punishing a crime of so great enormity.

17. ita mihi . . . perfrui liceat, ut ego moveor: as I hope to enjoy.

...

I am actuated, lit. so may it be permitted me to enjoy as I am actuated, i.e. only in case I am actuated. It is a form of emphatic assertion and asseveration. H. 558, 1; LM. 711; A. 441; G. 261; B. 279; (H. 484, I).

...

re publica: H. 477, I; LM. 646; A. 410; G. 407; B. 218, 1; (H. 421, I). 21. lucem atque arcem in Pro Sulla, 33, Cicero expands this idea: Urbem hanc denique, sedem omnium nostrum, arcem regum ac nationum exterarum, lumen gentium, domicilium imperii, quinque hominum amentium ac perditorum poena redemi.

22. subito: adverb.

23. cerno animo: I see in imagination; cerno denotes a clearer perception than video; animo, ablative of means.

insepultos: this word renders the picture peculiarly shocking, when we consider the importance which the ancients attached to the rite of burial, as essential to the peace of the soul in the lower world.

24. mihi ante oculos: cf. Caesar, B. G. I, 31, Caesari ad pedes proiecerunt; mihi, dative of reference.

aspectus Cethegi et furor: the ferocious appearance of Cethegus, hendiadys.

Page 146, line 1. — bacchantis: revelling, agreeing with Cethegi.

2. regnantem: on the throne, more vivid than regnare. Cicero purposely selects an offensive term to give effect to his picture. So purpuratum, suggestive of oriental despotism.

ex fatis: i.e. ex fatis Sibyllinis.

3. purpuratum ... Gabinium: that Gabinius is his grand vizier, lit. clad in purple, as usual with the ministers and courtiers of an oriental monarch.

5. familias: H. 79, 2; LM. 137; A. 43, b; G. 29, R. I; B. 21, 2, a; (H. 49, 1).

7. vehementer misera: separated for emphasis.

8. me severum praebeo: I steel myself to be severe.

9. liberis interfectis, etc.: note that these ablatives absolute denote condition.

11. de servo non sumpserit: would not inflict upon the slave, lit. take from, with the idea of taking satisfaction from. Note that to inflict punishment is supplicium sumere, to suffer punishment is supplicium dare.

quam acerbissimum: H. 159, 2; LM. 679; A. 291, c; G. 303, R. I; B. 240, 3; (H. 170, 2).

12. an equivalent to an potius, or rather.

13. Mihi: dependent upon videatur, understood.

importunus: unfeeling.

qui non lenierit: if he would not assuage; qui = si is. H. 593, 1; LM. 831; A. 519; G. 593, 1; B. 312, 2; (H. 507, 2).

In this language, adopted for present effect, Cicero does great injustice to his own philosophy, but he is here acting the part of an advocate, not of a philosopher.

15. Sic nos: nos is subject of habebimur, 1. 21.

in his hominibus: in the case of these men, i.e. the conspirators.

18. id egerunt, ut conlocarent: attempted to place, lit. pursued this, viz. that they might place; ut conlocarent is in apposition with id.

19. in vestigiis: in the ruins.

22. nobis fama subeunda est: we must endure the infamy; fama here = infamia.

23. Nisi vero: H. 575, 8; LM. 928; A. 525, b; G. 591, R. 4; B. 306, 5; (H. 507, N. 1).

L. Caesar: consul during the preceding year. His sister Julia had married Lentulus for her second husband.

24. rei publicae: H. 451, 3; LM. 574; A. 349, b; G. 375; B. 204, I, a; (H. 399, II).

What is the difference in meaning between amans rem publicam and amans rei publicae?

25. sororis of his sister, Julia.

virum: the husband, Lentulus the conspirator.

26. cum avum . . .

dixit: Lucius Caesar had mentioned these instances merely to show that it was by no means an unprecedented thing to punish the enemies of the state with death.

27. avum suum: M. Fulvius Flaccus, his grandfather on his mother's side, is meant. He is mentioned in the first oration as M. Fulvius consularis. He was a partisan of C. Gracchus, and during the excitement caused by the radical measures of the reformer, he sent his son to confer with the government on the subject of a compromise. The consul, however, threw the son into prison, where he was subsequently executed, and the father lost his life in the final contest between Gracchus and the consul.

consulis L. Opimius, consul 121 B.C.

filium eius: why not suum instead of eius? To whom would suum refer? 28. legatum a patre missum: though sent by his father as an ambassador, i.e. to ask terms of settlement from the consul. The imprisonment and execution of this youth must be regarded as cruel and inexcusable, but observe that Cicero is guilty of exaggeration when he calls him an ambassador.

29. Quorum quod simile factum: what act of theirs was similar? i.e. to this of the conspirators. Quorum depends upon factum, which is here a noun. What is the difference between quid and quod in questions?

30. largitionis voluntas: a spirit of bribery, lit. the desire of giving, i.e. of giving for the purpose of securing popularity, referring especially to the monthly distribution of grain at a low price among the poorer classes in accordance with the lex frumentaria of C. Gracchus, and to his agrarian legislation.

31. versata est: was rife.

32. avus Lentuli: see note on imago avi tui, p. 128, 1. 5.

Page 147, line 1.-est persecutus: He was one of the party under the consul Opimius which made the attack upon C. Gracchus, though at the time he must have been over eighty years old.

Ille: he, the grandfather, in contrast with hic just below.

2. ne quid. . . deminueretur: that the highest public welfare might suffer no detriment, lit. that nothing might be taken away, etc.

4. nos: i.e. the consuls and senators.

trucidandos: H. 622; LM. 994; A. 500, 4; G. 430; B. 337, 7, b, 2; (H. 544, N. 2).

« IndietroContinua »