In Verrem Quotes Flashcards
In Verrem
- Cicero’s prosecution of Verres for the extortion of 400,000 sesterces from Sicily
- he had prepared 7 speeches but the first was so effective that it was the only one delivered
- the rest were written down and published
anaphora
Repetition of a word or phrase at the start of consecutive clauses.
e.g. “accept the case of the law courts. Accept the case of severity…accept the case of the senate…”
apostrophe
directly addressing somebody in order to break up the narrative (“O, judges)
asyndeton
not using a conjunction (and, or…) before the final item on a list.
e.g. “Think who are, in what position you are placed, what you ought to give to the Roman people, what you ought to repay your ancestors.”
hyperbole
“no wealthy man, however guilty he may be, can possibly be convicted.”
polysyndeton
using more conjunctions that necessary in a list to emphasise each item
praeteritio
deliberately mentioning something whilst saying that you won’t mention it.
e.g. “to say nothing of the dishonours and disgraces of his youth.”
tricolon
“your father was a most brave man, your grandfather most wise, and your father-in-law most serious.”
Raises situation to divine sphere
“this opportunity has been given to you by divine influence “
Corruption in the courts
says they need to “destroy the shame and infamy”
Cicero saying that he is opposite
“prevented by shame”
“an enemy to this type of man”
Rhetorical Q - willing to loose his reputation
“did you think that I would remain silent on matters as important as these? That, at a time of such danger to the republic and to my reputation, I would consult anything rather than my duty and dignity?”
Honesty
would not take bribes
goes to great lengths to get evidence
“attended the whole of Sicily in order to examine the records and injustices”
