Cicero Translation

Question 1

Nemini video dubium esse, iudices, quin apertissime C. Verres in Sicilia sacra profanaque omnia et privatim et publice spoliarit,

Answer 1

I see that it is doubtful to no-one, O men of the jury, that Gaius Verres has most openly plundered all things both sacred and secular in Sicily both privately and publicly,

Question 2

versatusque sit sine ulla non modo religione verum etiam dissimulatione in omni genere furandi atque praedandi.

Answer 2

and engaged, not only without any religious fear but truly even (without) concealment, in every kind of stealing and plundering.

Question 3

Sed quaedam mihi magnifica et praeclara eius defensio ostenditur;

Answer 3

But a certain magnificent and outstanding defence of his is being shown to me;

Question 4

cui quem ad modum resistam multo mihi ante est, iudices, providendum.

Answer 4

to which I must consider (foresee) very carefully beforehand, O judges, how (in the manner) I am to resist.

Question 5

Ita enim causa constituitur, provinciam Siciliam virtute istius et vigilantia singulari dubiis formidolosisque temporibus a fugitivis atque a belli periculis tutam esse servatam.

Answer 5

For so the argument is decided, that by his bravery and outstanding vigilance at a doubtful and fearful time, the province of Sicily was preserved safely from fugitives and the dangers of war.

Question 6

Quid agam, iudices? Quo accusationis meae rationem conferam? Quo me vertam?

Answer 6

What am I to do, O judges? Where am I to direct the method of my accusations? Where am I to turn?

Question 7

Ad omnis enim meos impetus quasi murus quidam boni nomen imperatoris opponitur.

Answer 7

For the name of a good general is opposed, like a wall of sorts, to each of my attacks.

Question 8

Novi locum; video ubi se iactaturus sit Hortensius.

Answer 8

I know the topic; I see where Hortensius might throw himself about.

Question 9

Belli pericula, tempora rei publicae, imperatorum penuriam commemorabit;

Answer 9

He will recall the dangers of war, the crisis (condition) of the state, the need for generals;

Question 10

tum deprecabitur a vobis, tum etiam pro suo iure contendet, ne patiamini talem imperatorem populo Romano Siculorum testimoniis eripi, ne obteri laudem imperatoriam criminibus avaritiae velitis.

Answer 10

he will beg of you, he will even contend for his own right, that you do not tolerate such a general to be snatched from the Roman people by the testimonies of the Sicilians, that you do not want the praise belonging to a general to be destroyed by charges of greed.

Question 11

Non possum dissimulare, iudices; timeo ne C. Verres propter hanc eximiam virtutem in re militari omnia quae fecit impune fecerit.

Answer 11

I am not able to hide it, O judges; I fear that Gaius Verres, on account of this exceptional virtue/courage in military business, has done all that he has done without punishment.

Question 12

Venit enim mihi in mentem in iudicio M’. Aquili quantum auctoritatis, quantum momenti oratio M. Antoni habuisse existimata sit;

Answer 12

For it came into my mind, how much authority, how much influence the speech of Marcus Antonius was supposed to have had in the trial of Marcus Aquilius;

Question 13

qui, ut erat in dicendo non solum sapiens sed etiam fortis, causa prope perorata ipse arripuit M’. Aquilium constituitque in conspectu omnium tunicamque eius a pectore abscidit,

Answer 13

and, as he was in speaking not only a wise man but even brave, with the case having been nearly concluded, he himself took a hold of Marcus Aquilius and positioned him in the sight of all and tore his tunic from his chest,

Question 14

ut cicatrices populus Romanus iudicesque aspicerent adverso corpore exceptas;

Answer 14

so that the Roman people and the judges saw the scars which had been received on the front of his body;

Question 15

simul et de illo vulnere quod ille in capite ab hostium duce acceperat multa dixit,

Answer 15

He also said many things all at once about the wound, which he had received to his head from the leader of the enemy,

Question 16

eoque adduxit eos qui erant iudicaturi vehementer ut vererentur ne, quem virum fortuna ex hostium telis eripuisset,

Answer 16

and he led those, who were about to judge him, to the point that they were fearing strongly, that this man whom fortune had snatched out/saved from the weapons of his enemy,

Question 17

cum sibi ipse non pepercisset, hic non ad populi Romani laudem sed ad iudicum crudelitatem videretur esse servatus.

Answer 17

since he had not spared himself, not to the praise of the Roman people but the cruelty of the judges, would appear to have been saved.

Question 18

Eadem nunc ab illis defensionis ratio viaque temptatur, idem quaeritur.

Answer 18

Now the same plan and road of defence is being attempted by those men, the same thing is being sought.

Question 19

Sit fur, sit sacrilegus, sit flagitiorum omnium vitiorumque princeps;

Answer 19

he may be a thief, he may be a temple robber, he may be the chief of all shameful acts and faults;

Question 20

at est bonus imperator, at felix et ad dubia rei publicae tempora reservandus.

Answer 20

but he is a good leader, but he has good luck and he must be preserved for the critical crisis of the state.

Question 21

Non agam summo iure tecum, non dicam id quod debeam forsitan obtinere, cum iudicium certa lege sit,

Answer 21

I will not deal with you according to the upmost law, I will not say that which I should perhaps obtain, since the court is defined by law.

Question 22

—non quid in re militari fortiter feceris, sed quem ad modum manus ab alienis pecuniis abstinueris abs te doceri oportere; non, inquam, sic agam, sed ita quaeram, quem ad modum te velle intellego , quae tua opera et quanta fuerit in bello.

Answer 22

I am not saying that you are required to prove what you did bravely in military matters, but how you kept your hands away from other people’s possessions; I am not going to deal with you in this way, but I will search for in this way, as I understand that you want, what and how much your service was in war.

Question 23

Quid dicis? an bello fugitivorum Siciliam virtute tua liberatam?

Answer 23

What are you saying? That Sicily was set free from the war of the fugitives by your courage?

Question 24

‘At in Italia fuit.’ Fateor, et magnum quidem ac vehemens.

Answer 24

‘But there was in Italy’. I confess, and indeed it was a big and violent one.

Question 25

Num igitur ex eo bello partem aliquam laudis appetere conaris?

Answer 25

Therefore, surely you are not trying to seek any part of the praise from that war?

Question 26

num tibi illius victoriae gloriam cum M. Crasso aut Cn. Pompeio communicatam putas?

Answer 26

Surely you do not think that for you the glory of that victory has been shared with Marcus Crassus or Gnaeus Pompeius?

Question 27

Magna laus et honesta oratio; sed tamen quo bello?

Answer 27

Great praise and honourable speech; however in which war?

Question 28

Nos enim, post illud bellum quod M’. Aquilius confecit, sic accepimus, nullum in Sicilia fugitivorum bellum fuisse.

Answer 28

For we, after that war which Marcus Aquilius ended, thus heard that there was no war of the fugitives/runaway slaves in Sicily.

Question 29

Non arbitror hoc etiam tuae deesse impudentiae, ut quicquam eius modi dicere audeas.

Answer 29

I don’t think that this thing is missing from even your shamelessness that you dare to say anything of this kind.

Question 30

Obstitisti videlicet ne ex Italia transire in Siciliam fugitivorum copiae possent.

Answer 30

You have obviously obstructed the troops of the slaves from being able to cross out of Italy and into Sicily.

Question 31

Ubi, quando, qua ex parte? cum aut ratibus aut navibus conarentur accedere?

Answer 31

Where, when, from what side? When they were trying to approach either by rafts or ships?

Question 32

Nos enim nihil umquam prorsus audivimus, sed illud audivimus, M. Crassi, fortissimi viri, virtute consilioque factum ne ratibus coniunctis freto fugitivi ad Messanam transire possent,

Answer 32

For we have heard absolutely nothing ever, but we have heard that which has been done by the manliness and cunning of Marcus Crassus, the very brave man, that the fugitives were not able to cross by the straits to Messana by tied together rafts,

Question 33

a quo illi conatu non tanto opere prohibendi fuissent, si ulla in Sicilia praesidia ad illorum adventum opposita putarentur.

Answer 33

from which attempt those men would have not needed to be prevented so much, if in Sicily any protections opposed to their arrival were being thought (of).

Question 34

At cum esset in Italia bellum tam prope a Sicilia, tamen in Sicilia non fuit.

Answer 34

But although there was a war in Italy so close to Sicily, nevertheless it was not in Sicily.

Question 35

Quid mirum? ne cum in Sicilia quidem fuit eodem intervallo, pars eius belli in Italiam ulla pervasit.

Answer 35

What wonder is this (what is strange/wonderful about that)? Not even when it was in Sicily, at the same distance did any part of that war spill over into Italy.

Question 36

Etenim propinquitas locorum ad utram partem hoc loco profertur?

Answer 36

And indeed, the closeness of the places is being brought forward to which part in this topic?

Question 37

utrum aditum facilem hostibus an contagionem imitandi belli periculosam fuisse?

Answer 37

[are they saying] that the approach was easy for the enemy or that the infection of the war being imitated was dangerous?

Question 38

Aditus omnis hominibus sine ulla facultate navium non modo disiunctus sed etiam clausus est,

Answer 38

Every approach is not only disconnected but even closed off for men without any means of ships,

Question 39

ut illis quibus Siciliam propinquam fuisse dicis facilius fuerit ad Oceanum pervenire quam ad Peloridem accedere.

Answer 39

so that it was easier for those, whom you say that Sicily was near to, to arrive at the ocean than to approach Peloris.

Question 40

Contagio autem ista servilis belli cur abs te potius quam ab iis omnibus qui ceteras provincias obtinuerunt praedicatur ?

Answer 40

But that infection of the slave war is being proclaimed; why by you rather than by all those who possessed other provinces?

Question 41

An quod in Sicilia iam antea bella fugitivorum fuerunt?

Answer 41

Is it because there were already beforehand in Sicily wars of runaway slaves?

Question 42

at ea ipsa causa est cur ista provincia minimo in periculo sit et fuerit.

Answer 42

But that itself is the reason why that province is and was in the least danger.

Question 43

Nam posteaquam illinc M’. Aquilius decessit, omnium instituta atque edicta praetorum fuerunt eius modi ut ne quis cum telo servus esset.

Answer 43

For after Marcus Aquilius departed from there, the intentions and proclamations of all of the Praetors were of that type, that not any slave was with a weapon.

Question 44

Quid igitur? nulline motus in Sicilia servorum Verre praetore, nullaene consensiones factae esse dicuntur?

Answer 44

Therefore, what? Were there no rebellions of slaves when Verres was praetor in Sicily, no conspiracies said to have been made?

Question 45

Nihil sane quod ad senatum populumque Romanum pervenerit, nihil quod iste publice Romam scripserit;

Answer 45

Nothing at any rate of the kind that arrived at the Senate and people of Rome, nothing of the kind that that man has written officially to Rome;

Question 46

et tamen coeptum esse in Sicilia moveri aliquot locis servitium suspicor.

Answer 46

and yet, I suspect that enslaved people have begun to be moved in Sicily in some places.

Question 47

Id adeo non tam ex re quam ex istius factis decretisque cognosco.

Answer 47

I understand this at any rate not so much from the thing but more from the deeds and decrees of that man.

Question 48

Ac videte quam non inimico animo sim acturus:

Answer 48

And see how I am going to act not with a hostile mind:

Question 49

ego ipse haec quae ille quaerit, quae adhuc numquam audistis, commemorabo et proferam.

Answer 49

I myself will remember and put forward these things which he searches for, which you all have never heard until now.

Question 50

In Triocalino, quem locum fugitivi iam ante tenuerunt, Leonidae cuiusdam Siculi familia in suspicionem est vocata coniurationis.

Answer 50

In Triocala, the place which the runaway slaves held before now, the household of Leonidas, a certain Sicilian, was called into suspicion of conspiracy.

Question 51

Res delata ad istum.

Answer 51

That man [Verres] was informed of the matter.

Question 52

Statim, ut par fuit, iussu eius homines qui fuerant nominati comprehensi sunt adductique Lilybaeum;

Answer 52

Immediately, as it was right, by the order of him, the men, who were named, were apprehended, and led to Lilybaeum;

Question 53

domino denuntiatum est, causa dicta, damnati.

Answer 53

it was announced to the master, the case was declared, they were condemned.

Question 54

Quid deinde? quid censetis?

Answer 54

What then? What do you all think?

Question 55

furtum fortasse aut praedam exspectatis aliquam.

Answer 55

Perhaps you all look out for the theft or some act of looting.

Question 56

Nolite usque quaque idem quaerere.

Answer 56

Do not search for the same thing all the time.

Question 57

In metu belli furandi locus qui potest esse?

Answer 57

In a situation when there is fear of war, what place can there be for stealing?

Question 58

etiam si qua fuit in hac re occasio praetermissa est.

Answer 58

even if there was any opportunity in this matter, it has been overlooked.

Question 59

Tum potuit a Leonida nummorum aliquid auferre, cum denuntiavit ut adesset;

Answer 59

At that time he was able to steal some (of the) money from Leonidas, when he summoned him to be present.