Cicero: A Useful Lesson Flashcards
non vereor ne mihi aliquid, iudices, videar adrogare si de quaestura mea dixero.
I do not fear, judges, that I may seem to arrogate for myself to some extent if I speak about my quaestorship.
More flowing translation:
I do not fear, members of the jury, that I will seem too boastful if I speak about my quaestorship.
Apostrophe is used here as a rhetorical device. Addresses jurors directly to get and keep their interest.
nec vereor ne quis audeat dicere ullius in Sicilia quaesturam aut grationem aut clariorem fuisse.
Neither do I fear that anyone would dare to say that the quaestorship of anyone (else) in Sicily had been either more popular or more distinguished.
vere mehercule hoc dicam: sic tum existimabam, nihil homines aliud Romae nisi de quaetura mea loqui.
Truly. by Hercules, I will say this: At that time I was thinking that the people of Rome were speaking about nothing other than my quaestorship.
frumenti in summa caritate maximum numerum miseram; negotiatoribus comis, mercatoribus iustus, mancipibus liberalis, sociis abstinens, amnibus eram visus in omni officio diligentissimus: excogitati quidam erant a Siculis honores in me inauditi.
I had sent a very great amount of corn at its highest price (when it was most expensive); (I was) courteous to bankers, fair to merchants, generous to tax collectors, abstaining from (enriching myself from) our allies, I was seen by all as the most diligent in all my official duties: certain unheard of honours had been thought up for me by the Silicians.
itaque hac spe decedebamus ut mihi populum Romanum ultro omnia delaturum putarem.
And so I was departing with this hope, thinking that the Roman people would spontaneously grant everything (unheard of honours) to me.
vereor
to fear
iudices
members of the jury, judges
videor, visus sum
to seem
sed tamen
and yet, yet
quisque
each one
quis
someone, anyone
audeo
to dare
vere
truly, frankly
tum
then, at that time
alius, alia, alius
other
loquor
to speak
iustus, iusta, iustum
just, fair
dilligens, dilligentis
dilligent, efficient
excogito
to think out, devise
inauditus, inaudita, inauditum
unheard of
defero, deferre, detuli, delatum
to grant
puto
to think
at
but
atque
and
verus, vera, verum
true
plurimi, plurimae, plurima
very many
soleo, solere, solentus sum (semi-deponent)
to be accustomed to
quaero, quaesivi (ex. + ablative)
to ask
exeo, -ire, -ivi
to go
num
whether
respondeo, respondere, respond, responsum
to reply
inquam
I say
nescio (4)
to be unaware, to not know
quid multa
to cut a long story short
plus
more
cogito, cogitare, cogitavi, cogitatum
to think about
cotidie
daily, every day
to sleep
somnus, somni
oppidum
town
iudices, iudicum
members of the jury
fugio, fugere, fugivi, fugitum
to flee
non solum…verum etiam…
not only…but also…
verum
but
quondam
long ago, in past times
civitas, civitatis
state, community
deleo, delere, delevi, deletum
to destroy
apud (+accusative)
among
perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectum
to finish
tranferro, transferre, transtuli, translatum
to carry across, to transfer, to move
tantum
only, merely
conservo, conservare, conservavi, conservatum
to preserve, to keep
eximus, exima, eximum
excellent, outstanding
etiam
even
cura, curae
care
reddo, reddere, reddivi, redditum
to give back, to return
gratulatio, gratulationus
public thanksgiving
incido, incidere, incidi, incisum
to cut, to inscribe
saggita, saggitae
an arrow
praefero, preferre, pretuli, prelaetum
to hold out in front
quasi
as if
coepi
i began
ostendo, ostendere, onstensi, ostensum
to show, to indicate
vero
but
nefas
wrong, sinful, against divine law
sese
se, reflexive pronoun
metus, metus
fear
lex, legis
law
teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum
to hold or to bind
peto, petere, petivi, petitum (a/ab + ablative)
to ask, to seek to request
fas
right, good, divine, holy, blessed
vehementer
violently, vehemently
insto, instare, instavi, instatum
to press, to insist, to persist
cotidie
everyday
ago, agere, egi, actum
to discuss
reclamo, reclamare, reclamavi, reclamatum
to cry out against, to protest
pernego (1)
to refuse completely
impero (1)
to demand
praeter (+accusative)
beyond, more than that
impono (3) (+ dative)
to impose on
oppono
to oppose
fero, ferre, tuli, latum
to bear, to endure
iste
that, but a little bit further away. Used very often in a very negative sense, used to convey disdain because you spit it out.
praterea
in addition
quisque, quidque
each
optimus quisque
all the best men (each one the best)
arcesso, arcessere, arcessivi, arcessitum
to summon
everto, evertere, everti, eversum
to overturn to destroy
malum, mali
calamity
pareo (2) (+ dative)
to obey
totus, tota, totum
all, whole
tollo, tollere, sustuli, suslaetum
to carry off, to remove
at ego, cum casu diebus eis itineris faciendi causa decedens e provincia Puteolos forte venissem, cum plurimi et lautissimi in eis locis solent esse, concidi paene, iudices, cum ex me quidam quaesisset quo die Roma exissem et num quidnam esset novi.
But I, when by chance in those days for the sake of making a journey, departing from the province I had come to Puteoli as it so happened, when very many and very fashionable people are accustomed to be in that place, nearly collapsed, members of the jury, when a certain man had asked from me on what day I had departed from Rome and whether there was anything new.
cui cum respondissem me a provincia decedere: “etiam mehercule,” inquit, “ut opinor, ex Africa.”
When I had responded to him that I was leaving from a province: “Yes, by Hercules,” he said, “as I believe, from Africa.”
huic ego iam stomachans fastiodiose “immo ex Sicilia” inquam.
I, now being annoyed scornfully, say to this man: “No, from Sicily.”
tum quidam, quasi qui omnia sciret, “quic? tu nescis,” inquit “hunc quaestorem Syracusis fuisse?”
Then a certain one, as if someone who was knowing everything, said, “What? You do not know that this man was quaestor in Syracus?”
quid multa? destiti stomachari et me unum ex eis feci qui ad aquas venissent.
To cut a long story short? I stopped being irritated and made myself one of those who had come to the baths.
I ceased to be annoyed and made myself one of them who had come to the waters.
sed ea res, iudices, haud scio an plus mihi profuerit quam si mihitum essent omnes gratulati.
But I hardly know, member of the jury, whether this incident profited me more than if at that time all had congratulated me.
nam posteaquam sensi populi Romani aures hebetiores, oculus autem esse acres atque acutos, destiti quid de me audituri essent homines cogitare; feci ut postea cotidie praesentem me viderent, habitavi in oculis, pressi forum; neminem a congressu meo neque ianitor meus neque somnus absterruit.
For afterwards I felt that the ears of the Roman people were rather dull, their eyes however were keen and alert, I ceased to think about what people were going to hear about me. I made sure that afterwards every day they would see me present, I lived in their eyes, I pressed the forum. Neither my doorkeeper nor sleep drove away anyone from my presense.
Segesta est oppidum pervetus in Sicilia, iudices, quod ab Aenea fugiente a Troia atque in haec loca veniente conditum esse demonstrant.
Segesta is an ancient town in Sicily, members of the jury, which they/the inhabitants say was founded by Aeneas when he was fleeing from Troy and came to this place.
Itaque Segestani non solum perpetua societate atque amicitia, verum etiam cognatione se cum populo Romano coniunctos esse arbitrantur.
And so the inhabitants of Segesta consider that they are connected to the Roman people not only by alliance and friendship but also by kindred (a blood relationship).
Hoc quondam oppidum, cum illa civitas cum Poenis suo nomine ac sua sponte bellaret, a Carthaginiensibus vi captum atque deletum est, omniaque quae ornamento urbi esse possent Carthaginem sunt ex illo loco deportata.
Long ago this town, when that district, on their own account and of their own accord, was at war with the Carthaginians, was captured and destroyed by the Carthaginian force. And everything which could be an ornament to the city was taken away from that place to Carthage.
Fuit apud Segestanos ex aere Dianae simulacrum, cum summa atque antiquissima praeditum religione tum singulari opere artificioque perfectum.
There was among the Segestians a bronze image of Diana, not only endowed with the highest and most ancient sanctity but also executed with unique skilled craftsmanship.
Hoc translatum Carthaginem locum tantum hominesque mutarat, religionem quidem pristinam conservabat; nam propter eximiam pulchritudinem etiam hostibus digna quam sanctissime colerent videbatur.
When this was moved to Carthage, only the place and the men had changed, it retained indeed the same sanctity. For on account of [its] special beauty it seemed, even to [its] enemies worthy that they might worship [it] most religiously.
Illo tempore Segestanis maxima cum cura haec ipsa Diana, de qua dicimus, redditur; reportatur Segestam; in suis antiquis sedibus summa cum gratulatione civium et laetitia reponitur.
At that time this same (statue of) Diana itself, of which we speak, is returned to the inhabitants of Segesta with the greatest care ; [it is] brought back to Segesta; [it is] put back in its ancient site with the highest rejoicing and happiness of the citizens.
Haec erat posita Segestae sane excelsa in basi, in qua grandibus litteris P. Africani nomen erat incisum eumque Carthagine capta restituisse perscriptum.
It was placed by the inhabitants of Segesta on a truly high pedestal on which was engraved in large letters the name P. Africanus and it was written in detail that it was restored after he had taken Carthage.
Colebatur a civibus, ab omnibus advenis visebatur; cum quaestor essem, nihil mihi ab illis est demonstratum prius.
It was worshipped by the citizens, it was looked at by all visitors, when I was quaestor, nothing was shown me before it [i.e. it was the first thing I was shown].
Erat admodum amplum et excelsum signum cum stola; verum tamen inerat in illa magnitudine aetas atque habitus virginalis; sagittae pendebant ab umero, sinistra manu retinebat arcum, dextra ardentem facem praeferebat.
It was a very large and high statue with a dress/robe truly however there was, in[spite of] that great size, a maiden’s youth and garments. Arrows were hanging from [her] shoulder, [her] left-hand was holding a bow, [her] right hand was carrying a burning torch.
Hanc cum iste sacrorum omnium et religionum hostis praedoque vidisset, quasi illa ipsa face percussus esset, ita flagrare cupiditate atque amentia coepit; imperat magistratibus ut eam demoliantur et sibi dent; nihil sibi gratius ostendit futurum.
When that enemy (of) and robber of sacred things and holy objects saw it, it was as if he had been hit by that very torch itself thus he began to burn with desire and madness. He ordered the magistrates to take it down and give it to him and pointed out that nothing would be more pleasing to him.
Note: Hendiadys is being used here - cupiditate atque amentia. Two words can be translated together as “mad desire” or “insane craving”
Note: In hendiadys ne word is clearly subordinate to another word, unlike paired words, where both words are equal and merely add emphasis.
Illi vero dicere sibi id nefas esse, seseque cum summa religione tum summo metu legum et iudiciorum teneri.
They, indeed, said to him it was a crime and they were held not only by the highest reverence but also the highest fear/respect of law and justice.
Iste tum petere ab illis, tum minari, tum spem, tum metum ostendere.
He at one time begged at another time threatened at one time showed them hope at another time fear (or more freely “he played on their hopes and fears.”).
Opponebant illi nomen interdum P. Africani; populi Romani illud esse dicebant; nihil se in eo potestatis habere quod imperator clarissimus urbe hostium capta monumentum victoriae populi Romani esse voluisset.
They every now and again set against his demands the name of Publius Africanus; they said that it belonged to the Roman People; that they had no power/authority in a thing which, captured from the city of the enemy, the most famous Roman general wanted to be a monument to the victory of the Roman People.
Itaque illo tempore ac primo istius adventu pernegatur.
And so at that time and at the first visit of that man it was refused absolutely.
Cum iste nihilo remissius atque etiam multo vehementius instaret cotidie, res agitur in senatu: vehementer ab omnibus reclamatur. Postea, quidquid erat oneris in nautis remigibusque exigendis, in frumento imperando, Segestanis praeter ceteros imponebat, aliquanto amplius quam ferre possent.
When he, by no means more relaxed and even more furious every day, insisted, the matter is taken to/brought before the senate: it is loudly contradicted by everyone violently. Afterwards, whatever burden of sailors and oarsmen was demanded or corn was commanded, he inflicted on the Segestians beyond the others (i.e. other cities), considerably more than they could bear.
Praeterea magistratus eorum evocabat, optimum quemque et nobilissimum ad se arcessebat, circum omnia provinciae fora rapiebat, singillatim uni cuique calamitati fore se denuntiabat, universis se funditus eversurum esse illam civitatem minabatur.
Furthermore he sent for their magistrates, he summoned each of the best and most noble of them, he carried them off around all the provincial fora/forums, he gave notice to them one by one that he would ruin them, he threatened that those citizens would be utterly swept away altogether.
Itaque aliquando multis malis magnoque metu victi Segestani praetoris imperio parendum esse decreverunt.
Thus finally, conquered by many evils and great fear, the Segestian resolved to obey the command of the Praetor.
Magno cum luctu et gemitu totius civitatis, multis cum lacrimis et lamentationibus virorum mulierumque omnium simulacrum Dianae tollendum locatur.
With great sorrow and groans of all the citizens, many tears and lamentations of all the men and women a contract is placed to remove the image of Diana.
Videte quanta religio fuerit. Apud Segestanos repertum esse, iudices, scitote neminem, neque liberum neque servum, neque civem neque peregrinum, qui illud signum auderet attingere; barbaros quosdam Lilybaeo scitote adductos esse operarios; ii denique illud ignari totius negoti ac religionis mercede accepta sustulerunt.
Behold/See what an object of devotion/reverence it was. Among the Segestans there was found, be it known/know, O jury, no one, neither free or slave, neither citizen nor foreigner, who dared to touch that statue. Take note, some barbarian workmen from Lilybaum, were brought, they at last ignorant of this whole business and of piety, having received wages took [it] away.
Rhetorical techniques to know?
*Humour
*Sarcasm and Irony
*Invective
*Exaggeration
*Climax and Anti-Climax
*Appealing to Emotions
*Rhetorical Questions
*Digression
*Praeteritio (Omission)
*Dubitatio
*Hendiadys
*Alliteration
*Assonance
*Simile
*Metaphor
*Litotes
Linguistic and stylistic devices to know?
*Paired words
*Tricolon
*Congeries Verborum
*Balanced Phrases
*Chiasmus
*Emphatic positioning
*Anaphora
*Asyndeton
*Rhythmic endings
How does Cicero appeal to emotions?
*uses emotive language to evoke strong emotions
*Makes listeners feel important by seeming to share something confidential
*appeals to patriotism
*implies that morally right citizens are bound to share his view
How does Cicero use rhetorical questions?
*uses technique to catch attention of the listeners by involving them more intimately in proceedings to mock or embarrass particular individuals
How does Cicero use digression?
*holds interest of audience
*illustrates his point in a more metaphorical sense
*gives backstory to make listeners feel more involved and personally attached and connected
How does Cicero use prateritio/omission?
*claims that he is going to OMIT some embarrassing or damaging fact but then proceeds to mention it
How does Cicero use dubito (doubt)?
*He uses mock modesty to pretend to be less knowledgable, experienced or confident than what he actually is
How does Cicero use Hendiadys?
*Two linked words or phrases to express one idea
