Cicero 4.8 Flashcards
decernatur tamen, si placet. ego enim suscipiam et, ut spero, reperiam qui id quod salutis omnium causa statueritis non putent [Note] esse suae dignitatis recusare.
Let it, however, be so decreed if you like. For I will undertake, and, as I hope, I shall find one who will not think it suitable to his dignity to refuse what you decide on for the sake of the universal safety.
adiungit gravem poenam municipiis[Note], si quis eorum vincula ruperit; horribilis custodias circumdat et dignas [Note] scelere hominum perditorum;
He imposes besides a severe punishment on the burgesses of the municipal town if any of the prisoners escape; he surrounds them with the most terrible guard, and with everything worthy of the wickedness of abandoned men.
sancit ne quis eorum poenam quos condemnat aut per senatum aut per populumlevare possit [Note];
And he proposes to establish a decree that no one shall be able to alleviate the punishment of those whom he is condemning by a vote of either the senate or the people.
eripit etiam spem quae sola hominem in miseriis consolari solet. bona praeterea publicari iubet; vitam solam relinquit nefariis hominibus: quam si eripuisset, multas uno doloreanimi atque corporis [Note] et omnis scelerum poenas ademisset.
He takes away even hope, which alone can comfort men in their miseries; besides this, he votes that their goods should be confiscated; he leaves life alone to these infamous men, and if he had taken that away; he would have relieved them by one pang of many tortures of mind and body, and of all the punishment of their crimes.
itaque ut aliqua in vita formido improbis esset proposita [Note], apud inferos eius modi quaedam illi antiqui suppliciaimpiis constituta esse voluerunt, quod videlicet intellegebant his remotis non esse mortem ipsam pertimescendam.
Therefore, that there might be some dread in life to the wicked, men of old have believed that there were some punishments of that sort appointed for the wicked in the shades below; because in truth they perceived that if this were taken away death itself would not be terrible.
