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For Sextus Roscius of Ameria (M. Tullius Cicero)
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For Sextus Roscius of Ameria

Author: M. Tullius Cicero
Translator: C. D. Yonge
121
ergo
idcirco
turpis
haec
culpa
est
,
quod
duas
res
sanctissimas
violat
,
amicitiam
et
fidem
.
nam
neque
mandat
quisquam
fere
nisi
amico
neque
credit
nisi
ei
quem
fidelem
putat
.
perditissimi
est
igitur
hominis
simul
et
amicitiam
dissolvere
et
fallere
eum
qui
laesus
non
esset
,
nisi
credidisset
.
This fault therefore is very base, because it violates two most holy things, friendship and confidence; for men commonly do not entrust anything except to a friend, and do not trust any one except one whom they think faithful. It is therefore the part of a most abandoned man, at the same time to dissolve friendship and to deceive him who would not have been injured unless he had trusted him.
122
itane
est
?
in
minimis
rebus
qui
mandatum
neglexerit
,
turpissimo
iudicio
condemnetur
necesse
est
,
in
re
tanta
cum
is
cui
fama
mortui
,
fortunae
vivi
commendatae
sunt
atque
concreditae
,
ignominia
mortuum
,
inopia
vivum
adfecerit
,
is
inter
honestos
homines
atque
adeo
inter
vivos
numerabitur
?
in
minimis
privatisque
rebus
etiam
neglegentia
in
crimen
mandati
iudiciumque
infamiae
vocatur
,
propterea
quod
,
si
recte
fiat
,
illum
neglegere
oporteat
qui
mandarit
non
illum
qui
mandatum
receperit
;
in
re
tanta
quae
publice
gesta
atque
commissa
sit
qui
non
neglegentia
privatum
aliquod
commodum
laeserit
sed
perfidia
legationis
ipsius
caerimoniam
polluerit
maculaque
adfecerit
,
qua
is
tandem
poena
adficietur
aut
quo
iudicio
damnabitur
?
Is it not so? In the most trifling affairs he who neglects a commission, must be condemned by a most dishonouring sentence; in a matter of this importance, when he to whom the character of the dead, the fortunes of the living have been recommended and entrusted, loads the dead with ignominy and the living with poverty, shall he be reckoned among honourable men, shall he even be reckoned a man at all? In trifling affairs, in affairs of a private nature, even carelessness is accounted a crime, and is liable to a sentence branding a man with infamy; because, if the commission be properly executed, the man who has given the commission may feel at his ease and be careless about it: he who has undertaken the commission may not. In so important an affair as this, which was done by public order and so entrusted to him, what punishment ought to be inflicted on that man who has not hindered some private advantage by his carelessness, but has polluted and stained by his treachery the solemnity of the very commission itself? or by what sentence shall he be condemned?
123
si
hanc
ei
rem
privatim
Sex
.
Roscius
mandavisset
ut
cum
Chrysogono
transigeret
atque
decideret
,
inque
eam
rem
fidem
suam
,
si
quid
opus
esse
putaret
,
interponeret
,
ille
qui
sese
facturum
recepisset
,
nonne
,
si
ex
eo
negotio
tantulum
in
rem
suam
convertisset
,
damnatus
per
arbitrum
et
rem
restitueret
et
honestatem
omnem
amitteret
?
If Sextus Roscius had entrusted this matter to him privately to transact and determine upon with Chrysogonus, and to involve his credit in the matter if it seemed to him to be necessary—if he who had undertaken the affair had turned ever so minute a point of the business to his own advantage, would he not, if convicted by the judge, have been compelled to make restitution, and would he not have lost all credit?
124
nunc
non
hanc
ei
rem
Sex
.
Roscius
mandavit
sed
,
id
quod
multo
gravius
est
,
ipse
Sex
.
Roscius
cum
fama
vita
bonisque
omnibus
a
decurionibus
publice
Tito
Roscio
mandatus
est
;
et
ex
eo
Titus
Roscius
non
paululum
nescio
quid
in
rem
suam
convertit
sed
hunc
funditus
evertit
bonis
,
ipse
tria
praedia
sibi
depectus
est
,
voluntatem
decurionum
ac
municipum
omnium
tantidem
quanti
fidem
suam
fecit
.
Now it is not Sextus Roscius who gave him this commission, but what is a much more serious thing, Sextus Roscius himself, with his character, his life, and all his property, is publicly entrusted by the senators to Roscius; and, of this trust, Titus Roscius has converted not some small portion to his own advantage, but has turned him entirely out of his property; he has bargained for three farms for himself; he has considered the intention of the senators and of all his fellow-citizens of just as much value as his own integrity.
125
videte
iam
porro
cetera
,
iudices
,
ut
intellegatis
fingi
maleficium
nullum
posse
quo
iste
sese
non
contaminarit
.
in
rebus
minoribus
socium
fallere
turpissimum
est
aequeque
turpe
atque
illud
de
quo
ante
dixi
;
neque
iniuria
,
propterea
quod
auxilium
sibi
se
putat
adiunxisse
qui
eum
altero
rem
communicavit
.
ad
cuius
igitur
fidem
confugiet
,
cum
per
eius
fidem
laeditur
cui
se
commiserit
?
atque
ea
sunt
animadvertenda
peccata
maxime
quae
difficillime
praecaventur
.
tecti
esse
ad
alienos
possumus
,
intimi
multa
apertiora
videant
necesse
est
;
socium
cavere
qui
possumus
?
quem
etiam
si
metuimus
,
ius
offici
laedimus
.
recte
igitur
maiores
cum
qui
socium
fefellisset
in
virorum
bonorum
numero
non
putarunt
haberi
oportere
.
Moreover, consider now, O judges, the other matters, that you may see that no crime can be imagined with which that fellow has not disgraced himself. In less important matters, to deceive one's partner is a most shameful thing, and equally base with that which I have mentioned before. And rightly; because he who has communicated an affair to another thinks that he has procured assistance for himself. To whose good faith, then, shall a man have recourse who is injured by the want of faith in the man whom he has trusted? But these offences are to be punished with the greatest severity which are guarded against with the greatest difficulty. We can be reserved towards strangers; intimate friends must see many things more openly; but how can we guard against a companion? for even to be afraid of him is to do violence to the rights of duty. Our ancestors therefore rightly thought that he who had deceived his companion ought not to be considered in the number of good men.
126
at
vero
Titus
Roscius
non
unum
rei
pecuniariae
socium
fefellit
,
quod
,
tametsi
grave
est
,
tamen
aliquo
modo
posse
ferri
videtur
,
verum
novem
homines
honestissimos
,
eiusdem
muneris
,
legationis
,
offici
mandatorumque
socios
,
induxit
,
decepit
,
destituit
,
adversariis
tradidit
,
omni
fraude
et
perfidia
fefellit
;
qui
de
scelere
suspicari
eius
nihil
potuerunt
,
socium
offici
metuere
non
debuerunt
,
eius
malitiam
non
viderunt
,
orationi
vanae
crediderunt
.
itaque
nunc
illi
homines
honestissimi
propter
istius
insidias
parum
putantur
cauti
providique
fuisse
;
iste
qui
initio
proditor
fuit
,
deinde
perfuga
,
qui
primo
sociorum
consilia
adversariis
enuntiavit
,
deinde
societatem
cum
ipsis
adversariis
coiit
,
terret
etiam
nos
ac
minatur
tribus
praediis
,
hoc
est
praemiis
sceleris
,
ornatus
.
in
eius
modi
vita
,
iudices
,
in
his
tot
tantisque
flagitiis
hoc
quoque
maleficium
de
quo
iudicium
est
reperietis
.
But Titus Roscius did not deceive one friend alone in a money matter, (which, although it be a grave offence, still appears possible in some degree to be borne) but he led on, cajoled, and deserted nine most honourable men, betrayed them to their adversaries, and deceived them with every circumstance of fraud and perfidy. They who could suspect nothing of his wickedness, ought not to have been afraid of the partner of their duties; they did not see his malice, they trusted his false speech. Therefore these most honourable men are now, on account of his treachery, thought to have been incautious and improvident He who was at the beginning a traitor, then a deserter—who at first reported the counsels of his companions to their adversaries, and then entered into a confederacy with the adversaries themselves, even now terrifies us, and threatens us, adorned with his three farms, that is, with the prizes of his wickedness. In such a life as his, O judges, amid such numerous and enormous crimes, you will find this crime too, with which the present trial is concerned.
127
etenim
quaerere
ita
debetis
:
ubi
multa
avare
,
multa
audacter
,
multa
improbe
,
multa
perfidiose
facta
videbitis
,
ibi
scelus
quoque
latere
inter
illa
tot
flagitia
putatote
.
tametsi
hoc
quidem
minime
latet
quod
ita
promptum
et
propositum
est
ut
non
ex
illis
maleficiis
quae
in
illo
constat
esse
hoc
intellegatur
verum
ex
hoc
etiam
,
si
quo
de
illorum
forte
dubitabitur
,
convincatur
.
quid
tandem
,
quaeso
,
iudices
?
num
aut
ille
lanista
omnino
iam
a
gladio
recessisse
videtur
aut
hic
discipulus
magistro
tantulum
de
arte
concedere
?
par
est
avaritia
,
similis
improbitas
,
eadem
impudentia
,
gemina
audacia
.
In truth you ought to make investigation on this principle; where you see that many things have been done avariciously, many audaciously, many wickedly, many perfidiously, there you ought to think that wickedness also lies hid among so many crimes; although this indeed does not lie hid at all, which is so manifest and exposed to view, that it may be perceived, not by those vices which it is evident exist in him, but even if any one of those vices be doubted of, he may be convicted of it by the evidence of this crime. What then, I ask, shall we say, O judges? Does this gladiator seem entirely to have thrown off his former character? or does that pupil of his seem to yield but little to his master in skill? Their avarice is equal, their dishonesty similar, their impudence is the same; the audacity of the one is twin-sister to the audacity of the other.
128
etenim
,
quoniam
fidem
magistri
cognostis
,
cognoscite
nunc
discipuli
aequitatem
.
dixi
iam
antea
saepe
numero
postulatos
esse
ab
istis
duos
servos
in
quaestionem
.
tu
semper
,
Titi
Rosci
,
recusasti
.
quaero
abs
te
: '
Eine
qui
postulabant
indigni
erant
qui
impetrarent
,
an
is
te
non
commovebat
pro
quo
postulabant
,
an
res
ipsa
tibi
iniqua
videbatur
?'
postulabant
homines
nobilissimi
atque
integerrimi
nostrae
civitatis
quos
iam
antea
nominavi
;
qui
ita
vixerunt
talesque
a
populo
Romano
putantur
ut
quicquid
dicerent
nemo
esset
qui
non
aequum
putaret
.
postulabant
autem
pro
homine
miserrimo
atque
infelicissimo
qui
vel
ipse
sese
in
cruciatum
dari
cuperet
,
dum
de
patris
morte
quaereretur
.
Now forsooth, since you have seen the good faith of the master, listen to the justice of the pupil. I have already said before, that two slaves have been continually begged of them to be put to the question. You have always refused it, O Titus Roscius. I ask of you whether they who asked it were unworthy to obtain it? or had he, on whose behalf they asked it, no influence with you? or did the matter itself appear unjust? The most noble and respectable men of our state, whom I have named before, made the request, who have lived in such a manner, and are so esteemed by the Roman people, that there is no one who would not think whatever they said reasonable. And they made the request on behalf of a most miserable and unfortunate man, who would wish even himself to be submitted to the torture, provided the inquiry into his father's death might go on.
129
res
porro
abs
te
eius
modi
postulabatur
ut
nihil
interesset
,
utrum
eam
rem
recusares
an
de
maleficio
confiterere
.
quae
cum
ita
sint
,
quaero
abs
te
quam
ob
causam
recusaris
.
cum
occiditur
Sex
.
Roscius
ibidem
fuerunt
.
servos
ipsos
,
quod
ad
me
attinet
,
neque
arguo
neque
purgo
;
quod
a
vobis
oppugnari
video
ne
in
quaestionem
dentur
,
suspiciosum
est
;
quod
vero
apud
vos
ipsos
in
honore
tanto
sunt
,
profecto
necesse
est
sciant
aliquid
,
quod
si
dixerint
perniciosum
vobis
futurum
sit
. —
in
dominos
quaeri
de
servis
iniquum
est
. —
at
non
quaeritur
;
sex
.
enim
Roscius
reus
est
;
neque
enim
,
cum
de
hoc
quaeritur
,
in
dominos
quaeritur
;
vos
enim
dominos
esse
dicitis
. —
cum
Chrysogono
sunt
. —
ita
credo
;
litteris
eorum
et
urbanitate
Chrysogonus
ducitur
ut
inter
suos
omnium
deliciarum
atque
omnium
artium
puerulos
ex
tot
elegantissimis
familiis
lectos
velit
hos
versari
,
homines
paene
operarios
,
ex
Amerina
disciplina
patris
familiae
rusticani
.
Moreover, the thing demanded of you was such that it made no difference whether you refused it or confessed yourself guilty of the crime. And as this is the case, I ask of you why you refused it? When Sextus Roscius was murdered they were there. The slaves themselves, as far as I am concerned, I neither accuse nor acquit; but the point which I see you contending for, namely, that they be not submitted to the question, is full of suspicion. But the reason of their being held in such horror by you, must be that they know something, which, if they were to tell, will be pernicious to you. Oh, say you, it is unjust to put questions to slaves against their masters. Is any such question meant to be put? For Sextus Roscius is the defendant, and when inquiry is being made into his conduct, you do not say that you are their masters. Oh, they are with Chrysogonus. I suppose so; Chrysogonus is so taken with their learning and accomplishments, that be wishes these men—men little better than labourers from the training of a rustic master of a family at Ameria, to mingle with his elegant youths, masters of every art and every refinement—youths picked out of many of the politest households.
130
non
ita
est
profecto
,
iudices
;
non
est
veri
simile
ut
Chrysogonus
horum
litteras
adamarit
aut
humanitatem
,
non
ut
rei
familiaris
negotio
diligentiam
cognorit
eorum
et
fidem
.
est
quiddam
quod
occultatur
;
quod
quo
studiosius
ab
istis
opprimitur
et
absconditur
,
eo
magis
eminet
et
apparet
.
quid
igitur
?
That cannot be the truth, O judges; it is not probable that Chrysogonus has taken a fancy to their learning or their politeness, or that he should be acquainted with their industry and fidelity in the business of a household. There is something which is hidden; and the more studiously it is bidden and kept back by them, so much the more is it visible and conspicuous.
131
Chrysogonus
suine
malefici
occultandi
causa
quaestionem
de
eis
haberi
non
volt
?
minime
,
iudices
;
non
in
omnis
arbitror
omnia
convenire
.
ego
in
Chrysogono
,
quod
ad
me
attinet
,
nihil
eius
modi
suspicor
;
neque
hoc
mihi
nunc
primum
in
mentem
venit
dicere
.
meministis
me
ita
distribuisse
initio
causam
:
in
crimen
cuius
tota
argumentatio
permissa
Erucio
est
,
et
in
audaciam
cuius
partes
Rosciis
impositae
sunt
.
quicquid
malefici
,
sceleris
,
caedis
erit
,
proprium
id
Rosciorum
esse
debebit
.
nimiam
gratiam
potentiamque
Chrysogoni
dicimus
et
nobis
obstare
et
perferri
nullo
modo
posse
et
a
vobis
,
quoniam
potestas
data
est
,
non
modo
infirmari
verum
etiam
vindicari
oportere
.
What, then, are we to think? Is Chrysogonus unwilling that these men shall be put to the question for the sake of concealing his own crime? Not so, O judges; I do not think that the same arguments apply to every one. As far as I am concerned, I have no suspicion of the sort respecting Chrysogonus, and this is not the first time that it has occurred to me to say so. You recollect that I so divided the cause at the beginning; into the accusation, the whole arguing of which was entrusted to Erucius; and into audacity, the business of which was assigned to the Roscii;—whatever crime, whatever wickedness, whatever bloodshed there is, all that is the business of the Roscii. We say that the excessive interest and power of Chrysogonus is a hindrance to us, and can by no means be endured; and that it ought not only to be weakened, but even to be punished by you, since you have the power given to you.
132
ego
sic
existimo
,
qui
quaeri
velit
ex
eis
quos
constat
,
eum
caedes
facta
sit
,
adfuisse
,
cum
cupere
verum
inveniri
;
qui
id
recuset
,
eum
profecto
,
tametsi
verbo
non
audeat
,
tamen
re
ipsa
de
maleficio
suo
confiteri
.
dixi
initio
,
iudices
,
nolle
me
plura
de
istorum
scelere
dicere
quam
causa
postularet
ac
necessitas
ipsa
cogeret
.
nam
et
multae
res
adferri
possunt
,
et
una
quaeque
earum
multis
cum
argumentis
dici
potest
.
verum
ego
quod
invitus
ac
necessario
facio
neque
diu
neque
diligenter
facere
possum
.
quae
praeteriri
nullo
modo
poterant
,
ea
leviter
,
iudices
,
attigi
,
quae
posita
sunt
in
suspicionibus
de
quibus
,
si
coepero
dicere
,
pluribus
verbis
sit
disserendum
,
ea
vestris
ingeniis
coniecturaeque
committo
.
I think as follows; that he who wishes these men to be put to the question, whom it is evident were present when the murder was committed, is desirous to find out the truth; that he who refuses it, though he does not dare admit it in words, yet does in truth by his actions, confesses himself guilty of the crime. I said at the beginning, O judges, that I was unwilling to say more of the wickedness of those men than the cause required, and than necessity itself compelled me to say. For many circumstances can be alleged, and every one of them can be discussed with many arguments. But I cannot do for any length of time, nor diligently, what I do against my will, and by compulsion. Those things which could by no means be passed over, I have lightly touched upon, O judges; those things which depend upon suspicion, and which, if I begin to speak of them, will require a copious discussion, I commit to your capacities and to your conjectures.
133
venio
nunc
ad
illud
nomen
aureum
Chrysogoni
sub
quo
nomine
tota
societas
latuit
;
de
quo
,
iudices
,
neque
quo
modo
dicam
neque
quo
modo
taceam
reperire
possum
.
si
enim
taceo
,
vel
maximam
partem
relinquo
;
sin
autem
dico
,
vereor
ne
non
ille
solus
,
id
quod
ad
me
nihil
attinet
,
sed
alii
quoque
plures
laesos
se
putent
.
tametsi
ita
se
res
habet
ut
mihi
in
communem
causam
sectorum
dicendum
nihil
magno
opere
videatur
;
haec
enim
causa
nova
profecto
et
singularis
est
.
bonorum
Sex
.
Rosci
emptor
est
Chrysogonus
.
I come now to that golden name of Chrysogonus, under which name the whole confederacy is set up, concerning whom, O judges, I am at a loss both how to speak and how to hold my tongue; for if I say nothing, I leave out a great part of my argument, and if I speak, I fear that not he alone (about whom I am not concerned), but others also may think themselves injured; although the case is such that it does not appear necessary to say much against the common cause of the brokers. For this cause is, in truth, a novel and an extraordinary cause. Chrysogonus is the purchaser of the property of Sextus Roscius.
134
primum
hoc
videamus
:
eius
hominis
bona
qua
ratione
venierunt
aut
quo
modo
venire
potuerunt
?
atque
hoc
non
ita
quaeram
,
iudices
,
ut
id
dicam
esse
indignum
,
hominis
innocentis
bona
venisse
si
enim
haec
audientur
ac
libere
dicentur
,
non
fuit
tantus
homo
Sex
.
Roscius
in
civitate
ut
de
eo
potissimum
conqueramur
verum
ego
hoc
quaero
:
qui
potuerunt
ista
ipsa
lege
quae
de
proscriptione
est
,
sive
Valeria
est
sive
Cornelia
non
enim
novi
nec
scio
verum
ista
ipsa
lege
bona
Sex
.
Rosci
venire
qui
potuerunt
?
Let us see this first, on what pretence the property of that man was sold, or how they could be sold. And I will not put this question, O judges, so as to imply that it is a scandalous thing for the property of an innocent man to be sold at all. For if these things are to be freely listened to and freely spoken, Sextus Roscius was not a man of such importance in the state as to make us complain of his fortune more than of that of others. But I ask this, how could they be sold even by that very law which is enacted about prescriptions, whether it be the Valerian or Cornelian law,—for neither know nor understand which it is—but by that very law itself how could the property of Sextus Roscius be sold?
135
scriptum
enim
ita
dicunt
esse
:
VT
AVT
EORVM
BONA
VENEANT
QVI
PROSCRIPTI
SVNT
;
quo
in
numero
Sex
.
Roscius
non
est
:
AVT
EORVM
QVI
IN
ADVERSARIORVM
PRAESIDIIS
OCCISI
SVNT
.
Dum
praesidia
ulla
fuerunt
,
in
Sullae
praesidiis
fuit
;
postea
quam
ab
armis
omnes
recesserunt
,
in
summo
otio
rediens
a
cena
Romae
occisus
est
.
si
lege
,
bona
quoque
lege
venisse
fateor
.
sin
autem
constat
contra
omnis
non
modo
veteres
leges
verum
etiam
novas
occisum
esse
,
bona
quo
iure
aut
quo
modo
aut
qua
lege
venierint
quaero
.
For they say it is written in it, “that the property of those men who have been proscribed is to be sold”; in which number Sextus Roscius is not one: “or of those who have been slain in the garrisons of the opposite party.” While there, were any garrisons, he was in the garrisons of Sulla; after they laid down their arms, returning from supper, he was slain at Rome in a time of perfect peace. If he was slain by law, I admit that his property was sold by law too; but if it is evident that he was slain contrary to all laws, not merely to old laws, but to the new ones also, then I ask by what right, or in what manner, or by what law they were sold?
136
in
quem
hoc
dicam
quaeris
,
Eruci
?
non
in
eum
quem
vis
et
putas
;
nam
Sullam
et
oratio
mea
ab
initio
et
ipsius
eximia
virtus
omni
tempore
purgavit
.
ego
haec
omnia
Chrysogonum
fecisse
dico
,
ut
ementiretur
,
ut
malum
civem
Sex
.
Roscium
fuisse
fingeret
,
ut
eum
apud
adversarios
occisum
esse
diceret
,
ut
his
de
rebus
a
legatis
Amerinorum
doceri
Lucium
Sullam
passus
non
sit
.
denique
etiam
illud
suspicor
,
omnino
haec
bona
non
venisse
;
id
quod
postea
,
si
per
vos
,
iudices
,
licitum
erit
,
aperietur
.
You ask, against whom do I say this, O Erucius. Not against him whom you are meaning and thinking of; for both my speech from the very beginning, and also I is own eminent virtue, at all times has acquitted Sulla. I say that Chrysogonus did all this in order to tell lies; in order to make out Roscius to have been a bad citizen; in order to represent him as slain among the opposite party; in order to prevent Lucius Sulla from being rightly informed of these matters by the deputies from Ameria. Last of all, I suspect that this property was never sold at all; and this matter I will open presently, O judges, if you will give me leave.
137
opinor
enim
esse
in
lege
quam
ad
diem
proscriptiones
venditionesque
fiant
,
nimirum
Kalendas
Iunias
.
aliquot
post
mensis
et
homo
occisus
est
et
bona
venisse
dicuntur
.
profecto
aut
haec
bona
in
tabulas
publicas
nulla
redierunt
nosque
ab
isto
nebulone
facetius
eludimur
quam
putamus
,
aut
,
si
redierunt
,
tabulae
publicae
corruptae
aliqua
ratione
sunt
;
nam
lege
quidem
bona
venire
non
potuisse
constat
.
intellego
me
ante
tempus
,
iudices
,
haec
serutari
et
prope
modum
errare
qui
,
cum
capiti
Sex
.
Rosci
mederi
debeam
,
reduviam
curem
.
non
enim
laborat
de
pecunia
,
non
ullius
rationem
sui
commodi
ducit
;
facile
egestatem
suam
Sc
laturum
putat
,
si
hac
indigna
suspicione
et
ficto
crimine
liberatus
sit
.
For I think it is set down in the law on what day these proscriptions and sales shall take place, forsooth on the first of January. Some months afterwards the man was slain, and his property is said to have been sold. Now, either this property has never been returned in the public accounts, and we are cheated by this scoundrel more cleverly than we think, or, if they were returned, then the public accounts have some way or other been tampered with, for it is quite evident that the property could not have been sold according to law. I am aware, O judges, that I am investigating this point prematurely, and that I am erring as greatly as if, while I ought to be curing a mortal sickness of Sextus Roscius, I were mending a whitlow; for he is not anxious about his money; he has no regard to any pecuniary advantage; he thinks he can easily endure his poverty, if he is released from this unworthy suspicion, from this false accusation.
138
verum
quaeso
a
vobis
,
iudices
,
ut
haec
pauca
quae
restant
ita
audiatis
ut
partim
me
dicere
pro
me
ipso
putetis
,
partim
pro
Sex
.
Roscio
.
quae
enim
mihi
ipsi
indigna
et
intolerabilia
videntur
quaeque
ad
omnis
,
nisi
providemus
,
arbitror
pertinere
,
ea
pro
me
ipso
ex
animi
mei
sensu
ac
dolore
pronuntio
;
quae
ad
huius
vitae
casum
causamque
pertinent
et
quid
hic
pro
se
dici
velit
et
qua
condicione
contentus
sit
iam
in
extrema
oratione
nostra
,
iudices
,
audietis
.
But I entreat you, O judges, to listen to the few things I have still to say, under the idea that I am speaking partly for myself, and party for Sextus Roscius. For the things which appear to me unworthy and intolerable, and which I think concern all men unless we are prudent, those things I now mention to you for my own sake, from the real feelings and indignation of my mind. What relates to the misfortunes of the life, and to the cause of my client, and what he wishes to be said for him, and with what condition he will be content, you shall hear, O judges, immediately at the end of my speech. I ask this of Chrysogonus of my own accord, leaving Sextus Roscius out of the question.
139
ego
haec
a
Chrysogono
mea
sponte
remoto
Sex
.
Roscio
quaero
,
primum
qua
re
civis
optimi
bona
venierint
,
deinde
qua
re
hominis
eius
qui
neque
proscriptus
neque
apud
adversarios
occisus
est
bona
venierint
,
cum
in
eos
solos
lex
scripta
sit
,
deinde
qua
re
aliquanto
post
eam
diem
venierint
quae
dies
in
lege
praefinita
est
,
deinde
cur
tantulo
venierint
.
quae
omnia
si
,
quem
ad
modum
solent
liberti
nequam
et
improbi
facere
,
in
patronum
suum
voluerit
conferre
,
nihil
egerit
;
nemo
est
enim
qui
nesciat
propter
magnitudinem
rerum
multa
multos
partim
improbante
partim
imprudente
L
.
Sulla
commisisse
.
First of all, why the property of a virtuous citizen was sold? Next, why the property of a man who was neither proscribed, nor slain in the garrisons of the opposite party, were sold; when the law was made against them alone? Next, why were they sold long after the day which is appointed by the law? Next, why were they sold for go little! And if he shall choose, as worthless and wicked freedmen are accustomed to do, to refer all this to his patrons, he will do himself no good by that For there is no one who does not know that on account of the immensity of his business, many men did many things of which Lucius Sulla knew very little.
140
placet
igitur
in
his
rebus
aliquid
imprudentia
praeteriri
?
non
placet
,
iudices
,
sed
necesse
est
.
etenim
si
Iuppiter
optimus
maximus
cuius
nutu
et
arbitrio
caelum
terra
mariaque
reguntur
saepe
ventis
vehementioribus
aut
immoderatis
tempestatibus
aut
nimio
calore
aut
intolerabili
frigore
hominibus
nocuit
,
urbis
delevit
,
fruges
perdidit
,
quorum
nihil
pernicii
causa
divino
consilio
sed
vi
ipsa
et
magnitudine
rerum
factum
putamus
,
at
contra
commoda
quibus
utimur
lucemque
qua
fruimur
spiritumque
quem
ducimus
ab
eo
nobis
dari
atque
impertiri
videmus
,
quid
miramur
,
iudices
,
Lucium
Sullam
,
cum
solus
rem
publicam
regeret
orbemque
terrarum
gubernaret
imperique
maiestatem
quam
armis
receperat
iam
legibus
confirmaret
,
aliqua
animadvertere
non
potuisse
?
nisi
hoc
mirum
est
quod
vis
divina
adsequi
non
possit
,
si
id
mens
humana
adepta
non
sit
.
Is it right, then, that in these matters anything should be passed over without the ruler knowing it? It is not right, O judges, but it is inevitable. In truth, if the great and kind Jupiter, by whose will and command the heaven, the earth, and the seas are governed, has often by too violent winds, or by immoderate tempests, or by too much heat, or by intolerable cold, injured men, destroyed cities, or ruined the crops; nothing of which do we suppose to have taken place, for the sake of causing injury, by the divine intention, but owing to the power and magnitude of the affairs of the world; but on the other hand we see that the advantages which we have the benefit of, and the light which we enjoy, and the air which we breathe, are all given to and bestowed upon us by him; how can we wonder that Lucius Sulla, when he alone was governing the whole republic, and administering the affairs of the whole world, and strengthening by his laws the majesty of the empire, which he had recovered by arms, should have been forced to leave some things unnoticed? Unless this is strange that human faculties have not a power which divine might is unable to attain to.
141
verum
ut
haec
missa
faciam
quae
iam
facta
sunt
,
ex
eis
quae
nunc
cum
maxime
fiunt
nonne
quivis
potest
intellegere
omnium
architectum
et
machinatorem
unum
esse
Chrysogonum
?
qui
Sex
.
Rosci
nomen
deferendum
curavit
,
cuius
honoris
causa
accusare
se
dixit
Erucius
...
Desunt
non
pauca
.
But to say no more about what has happened already, cannot any one thoroughly understand from what is happening now, that Chrysogonus alone is the author and contriver of all this, and that it is he who caused Sextus Roscius to be accused? this trial in which Erucius says that he is the accuser out of regard for honour
142 ...
aptam
et
ratione
dispositam
se
habere
existimant
,
qui
in
Sallentinis
aut
in
Bruttiis
habent
unde
vix
ter
in
anno
audire
nuntium
possunt
.
They think they are leading a convenient life, and one arranged rationally, who have a house among the Salentii or Brutii, from which they can scarcely receive news three times a year.
143
alter
tibi
descendit
de
Palatio
et
aedibus
suis
;
habet
animi
causa
rus
amoenum
et
suburbanum
,
plura
praeterea
praedia
neque
tamen
ullum
nisi
praeclarum
et
propinquum
.
domus
referta
vasis
Corinthiis
et
Deliacis
,
in
quibus
est
authepsa
illa
quam
tanto
pretio
nuper
mercatus
est
ut
qui
praetereuntes
quid
praeco
enumeraret
audiebant
fundum
venire
arbitrarentur
.
quid
praeterea
caelati
argenti
,
quid
stragulae
vestis
,
quid
pictarum
tabularum
,
quid
signorum
,
quid
marmoris
apud
illum
putatis
esse
?
tantum
scilicet
quantum
e
multis
splendidisque
familiis
in
turba
et
rapinis
coacervari
una
in
domo
potuit
.
familiam
vero
quantam
et
quam
variis
cum
artificiis
habeat
quid
ego
dicam
?
Another comes down to you from his palace on the Palatine; he has for the purposes of relaxation to his mind a pleasant suburban villa, and many farms besides, and not one which is not beautiful and contiguous; a house filled with Corinthian and Delian vessels, among which is that celebrated stove which he has lately bought at so great a price, that passers by, who heard the money being counted out, thought that a farm was being sold. What quantities besides of embossed plate, of embroidered quilts; of paintings, of statues, and of marble, do you think he has in his house? All, forsooth, that in a time of disturbance and rapine can be crammed into one house from the plunder of many magnificent families. But why should I mention how vast a household too was his, and in what various trades was it instructed?
144
Mitto
hasce
artis
volgaris
,
coquos
,
pistores
,
lecticarios
;
animi
et
aurium
causa
tot
homines
habet
ut
cotidiano
cantu
vocum
et
nervorum
et
tibiarum
nocturnisque
conviviis
tota
vicinitas
personet
.
in
hac
vita
,
iudices
,
quos
sumptus
cotidianos
,
quas
effusiones
fieri
putatis
,
quae
vero
convivia
?
honesta
,
credo
,
in
eius
modi
domo
,
si
domus
haec
habenda
est
potius
quam
officina
nequitiae
ac
deversorium
flagitiorum
omnium
.
I say nothing of those ordinary arts, cooks, bakers, and litter-bearers; he has so many slaves to gratify his mind and ears, that the whole neighbourhood resounds with the daily music of voices, and stringed instruments, and flutes. In such a life as this, O judges, how great a daily expense, and what extravagance do you think there must be? And what banquets? Honourable no doubt in such a house; if that is to be called a house rather than a workshop of wickedness, and a lodging for every sort of iniquity.