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In Defense of the Proposed Manilian Law (M. Tullius Cicero)
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In Defense of the Proposed Manilian Law

Author: M. Tullius Cicero
Translator: C. D. Yonge
61
reliquum
est
ut
de
Quinti
Catuli
auctoritate
et
sententia
dicendum
esse
videatur
.
qui
cum
ex
vobis
quaereret
,
si
in
uno
Gnaeo
Pompeio
omnia
poneretis
,
si
quid
eo
factum
esset
,
in
quo
spem
essetis
habituri
,
cepit
magnum
suae
virtutis
fructum
ac
dignitatis
,
cum
omnes
una
prope
voce
in
eo
ipso
vos
spem
habituros
esse
dixistis
.
etenim
talis
est
vir
ut
nulla
res
tanta
sit
ac
tam
difficilis
quam
ille
non
et
consilio
regere
et
integritate
tueri
et
virtute
conficere
possit
.
sed
in
hoc
ipso
ab
eo
vehementissime
dissentio
,
quod
quo
minus
certa
est
hominum
ac
minus
diuturna
vita
,
hoc
magis
res
publica
,
dum
per
deos
immortalis
licet
,
frui
debet
summi
viri
vita
atque
virtute
.
It remains for me to speak of the authority and opinion of Quintus Catulus; who, when he asked of you, if you thus placed all your dependence on Cnaeus Pompeius, in whom you would have any hope, if anything were to happen to him, received a splendid reward for his own virtue and worth, when you all, with almost one voice, cried out that you would, in that case, put your trust in him. In truth he is such a man, that no affair can be so important, or so difficult, that, he cannot manage it by his wisdom, or defend it by his integrity, or terminate it by his valour. But, in this case, I entirely differ from him; because, the less certain and the less lasting the life of man is, the more ought the republic to avail itself of the life and valour of any admirable man, as long as the immortal gods allow it to do so.
62
at
enim
ne
quid
novi
fiat
contra
exempla
atque
instituta
maiorum
.
non
dicam
hoc
loco
maiores
nostros
semper
in
pace
consuetudini
,
in
bello
utilitati
paruisse
,
semper
ad
novos
casus
temporum
novorum
consiliorum
rationes
accommodasse
,
non
dicam
duo
bella
maxima
,
Punicum
atque
Hispaniense
,
ab
uno
imperatore
esse
confecta
duasque
urbis
potentissimas
quae
huic
imperio
maxime
minitabantur
,
Carthaginem
atque
Numantiam
,
ab
eodem
Scipione
esse
deletas
,
non
commemorabo
nuper
ita
vobis
patribusque
vestris
esse
visum
ut
in
uno
Gaio
Mario
spes
imperi
poneretur
,
ut
idem
cum
Iugurtha
,
idem
cum
Cimbris
,
idem
cum
Teutonis
bellum
administraret
;
in
ipso
Gnaeo
Pompeio
in
quo
novi
constitui
nihil
volt
Quintus
Catulus
quam
multa
sint
nova
summa
Quinti
Catuli
voluntate
constituta
recordamini
.
But let no innovation be established contrary to the precedents and principles of our ancestors.— I will not say, at this moment, that our ancestors in peace always obeyed usage, but in war were always guided by expediency, and always accommodated themselves with new plans to the new emergencies of the times. I will not say that two most important wars, the Punic war and the Spanish war, were put an end to by one general; that two most powerful cities, which threatened the greatest danger to this empire— Carthage and Numantia, were destroyed by the same Scipio. I will not remind you that it was but lately determined by you and by your ancestors, to rest all the hopes of the empire on Caius Marius, so that the same man conducted the war against Jugurtha, and against the Cimbri, and against the Teutones. But recollect, in the case of Cnaeus Pompeius himself, with reference to whom Catulus objects to having any new regulations introduced, how many new laws have been made with the most willing consent of Quintus Catulus.
63
quid
tam
novum
quam
adulescentulum
privatum
exercitum
difficili
rei
publicae
tempore
conficere
?
confecit
.
huic
praeesse
?
praefuit
.
rem
optime
ductu
suo
gerere
?
gessit
.
quid
tam
praeter
consuetudinem
quam
homini
peradulescenti
cuius
aetas
a
senatorio
gradu
longe
abesset
imperium
atque
exercitum
dari
,
Siciliam
permitti
atque
Africam
bellumque
in
ea
provincia
administrandum
?
fuit
in
his
provinciis
singulari
innocentia
,
gravitate
,
virtute
,
bellum
in
Africa
maximum
confecit
,
victorem
exercitum
deportavit
.
quid
vero
tam
inauditum
quam
equitem
Romanum
triumphare
?
at
eam
quoque
rem
populus
Romanus
non
modo
vidit
sed
omnium
etiam
studio
visendam
et
concelebrandam
putavit
.
For what can be so unprecedented as for a young man in a private capacity to levy an army at a most critical time of the republic? He levied one.—To command it? He did command it.—To succeed gloriously in his undertaking? He did succeed. What can be so entirely contrary to usage, as for a very young man, whose age fell far short of that required for the rank of a senator, to have a command and an army entrusted to him? to have Sicily committed to his care, and Africa, and the war which was to be carried on there? He conducted himself in these provinces with singular blamelessness, dignity, and valour; he terminated a most serious war in Africa, and brought away his army victorious. But what was ever so unheard of as for a Roman knight to have a triumph? But even that circumstance the Roman people not only say, but they thought that it deserved to be thronged to and honoured with all possible zeal.
64
quid
tam
inusitatum
quam
ut
,
cum
duo
consules
clarissimi
fortissimique
essent
,
eques
Romanus
ad
bellum
maximum
formidolosissimumque
pro
consule
mitteretur
?
Missus
est
.
quo
quidem
tempore
cum
esset
non
nemo
in
senatu
qui
diceret
'
non
oportere
mitti
hominem
privatum
pro
consule
,'
Lucius
Philippus
dixisse
dicitur
'
non
se
illum
sua
sententia
pro
consule
sed
pro
consulibus
mittere
.'
tanta
in
eo
rei
publicae
bene
gerendae
spes
constituebatur
ut
duorum
consulum
munus
unius
adulescentis
virtuti
committeretur
.
quid
tam
singulare
quam
ut
ex
senatus
consulto
legibus
solutus
consul
ante
fieret
quam
ullum
alium
magistratum
per
leges
capere
licuisset
?
quid
tam
incredibile
quam
ut
iterum
eques
Romanus
ex
senatus
consulto
triumpharet
?
quae
in
omnibus
hominibus
nova
post
hominum
memoriam
constituta
sunt
,
ea
tam
multa
non
sunt
quam
haec
quae
in
hoc
uno
homine
vidimus
.
What was ever so unusual, as, when there were two most gallant and most illustrious consuls, for a Roman knight to be sent as proconsul to a most important and formidable war? He was so sent—on which occasion, indeed, when some one in the senate said that a private individual ought not to be sent as proconsul, Lucius Philippus is reported to have answered, that if he had his will he should be sent not for one consul, but for both the consuls. Such great hope was entertained that the affairs of the republic would be prosperously managed by him, that the charge which properly belonged to the two consuls was entrusted to the valour of one young man. What was ever so extraordinary as for a man to be released from all laws by a formal resolution of the senate, and made consul before he was of an age to undertake any other magistracy according to the laws? What could be so incredible, as for a Roman knight to celebrate a second triumph in pursuance of a resolution of the senate? All the unusual circumstances which in the memory of man have ever happened to all other men put together, are not so many as these which we see have occurred in the history of this one man.
65
atque
haec
tot
exempla
tanta
ac
tam
nova
profecta
sunt
in
eodem
homine
a
Quinti
Catuli
atque
a
ceterorum
eiusdem
dignitatis
amplissimorum
hominum
auctoritate
.
And all these instances, numerous, important and novel as they are, have all occurred in the case of the same man, taking their rise in the authority of Quintus Catulus himself and by that of other most honourable men of the same rank.
66
qua
re
videant
ne
sit
periniquum
et
non
ferendum
illorum
auctoritatem
de
Gnaei
Pompei
dignitate
a
vobis
comprobatam
semper
esse
,
vestrum
ab
illis
de
eodem
homine
iudicium
populique
Romani
auctoritatem
improbari
,
praesertim
cum
iam
suo
iure
populus
Romanus
in
hoc
homine
suam
auctoritatem
vel
contra
omnis
qui
dissentiunt
possit
defendere
,
propterea
quod
isdem
istis
reclamantibus
vos
unum
illum
ex
omnibus
delegistis
quem
bello
praedonum
praeponeretis
.
Wherefore, let them take care that it is not considered a most unjust and intolerable thing, that their authority in matters affecting the dignity of Cnaeus Pompeius should hitherto have been constantly approved of by you, but that your judgment, and the authority of the Roman people in the case of the same man, should be disregarded by them. Especially when the Roman people can now, of its own right, defend its own authority with respect to this man against all who dispute it,—because, when those very same men objected, you chose him alone of all men to appoint to the management of the war against the pirates.
67
hoc
si
vos
temere
fecistis
et
rei
publicae
parum
consuluistis
,
recte
isti
studia
vestra
suis
consiliis
regere
conantur
.
sin
autem
vos
plus
tum
in
re
publica
vidistis
,
vos
eis
repugnantibus
per
vosmet
ipsos
dignitatem
huic
imperio
,
salutem
orbi
terrarum
attulistis
,
aliquando
isti
principes
et
sibi
et
ceteris
populi
Romani
universi
auctoritati
parendum
esse
fateantur
.
atque
in
hoc
bello
Asiatico
et
regio
,
Quirites
,
non
solum
militaris
illa
virtus
quae
est
in
Gnaeo
Pompeio
singularis
sed
aliae
quoque
animi
virtutes
magnae
et
multae
requiruntur
.
difficile
est
in
Asia
,
Cilicia
,
Syria
regnisque
interiorum
nationum
ita
versari
nostrum
imperatorem
ut
nihil
aliud
nisi
de
hoste
ac
de
laude
cogitet
.
deinde
,
etiam
si
qui
sunt
pudore
ac
temperantia
moderatiores
,
tamen
eos
esse
talis
propter
multitudinem
cupidorum
hominum
nemo
arbitratur
.
If you did this at random, and had but little regard for the interests of the republic, then they are right to endeavour to guide your party spirit by their wisdom; but if you at that time showed more foresight in the affairs of the state than they did; if you, in spite of their resistance, by yourselves conferred dignity on the empire, safety on the whole world; then at last let those noble men confess that both they and all other men must obey the authority of the universal Roman people. And in this Asiatic and royal war, not only is that military valour required, which exists in a singular degree in Cnaeus Pompeius, but many other great virtues of mind are also demanded. It is difficult for your commander-in-chief in Asia, Cilicia, Syria, and all the kingdoms of the inland nations, to behave in such a manner as to think of nothing else but the enemy and glory. Then, even if there be some men moderate and addicted to the practice of modesty and self-government, still, such is the multitude of covetous and licentious men, that no one thinks that these are such men.
68
difficile
est
dictu
,
Quirites
,
quanto
in
odio
simus
apud
exteras
nationes
propter
eorum
quos
ad
eas
per
hos
annos
cum
imperio
misimus
libidines
et
iniurias
.
quod
enim
fanum
putatis
in
illis
terris
nostris
magistratibus
religiosum
,
quam
civitatem
sanctam
,
quam
domum
satis
clausam
ac
munitam
fuisse
?
Vrbes
iam
locupletes
et
copiosae
requiruntur
quibus
causa
belli
propter
diripiendi
facultatem
inferatur
.
It is difficult to tell you, O Romans, how great our unpopularity is among foreign nations, on account of the injurious and licentious behaviour of those whom we have of late years sent among them with military command. For, in all those countries which are now under our dominion, what temple do you think has had a sufficiently holy reputation, what city has been sufficiently sacred, what private house has been sufficiently closed and fortified, to be safe from them? They seek out wealthy and splendid cities to find presence for making war on them for the sake of plundering them.
69
libenter
haec
coram
cum
Quinto
Catulo
et
Quinto
Hortensio
,
summis
et
clarissimis
viris
,
disputarem
;
norunt
enim
sociorum
volnera
,
vident
eorum
calamitates
,
querimonias
audiunt
.
pro
sociis
vos
contra
hostis
exercitus
mittere
putatis
an
hostium
simulatione
contra
socios
atque
amicos
?
quae
civitas
est
in
Asia
quae
non
modo
imperatoris
aut
legati
sed
unius
tribuni
militum
animos
ac
spiritus
capere
possit
?
I would willingly argue this with those most eminent and illustrious men, Quintus Catulus and Quintus Hortensius; for they know the distresses of the allies, they see their calamities, they hear their complaints. Do you think that you are sending an army in defence of your allies against their enemies, or rather, under presence of the existence of enemies, against your allies and friends themselves? What city is there in Asia which can stand the ferocity and arrogance, I will not say of the, army, of a commander-in-chief, or of a lieutenant, but of even the brigade of one single military tribune?
70
qua
re
,
etiam
si
quem
habetis
qui
conlatis
signis
exercitus
regios
superare
posse
videatur
,
tamen
,
nisi
erit
idem
qui
a
pecuniis
sociorum
,
qui
ab
eorum
coniugibus
ac
liberis
,
qui
ab
ornamentis
fanorum
atque
oppidorum
,
qui
ab
auro
gazaque
regia
manus
,
oculos
,
animum
cohibere
possit
,
non
erit
idoneus
qui
ad
bellum
Asiaticum
regiumque
mittatur
.
So that even if you have any one who may appear able to cope in terms of advantage with the king's armies, still, unless he be also a man who can keep his hands, and eyes, and desires from the treasures of the allies, from their wives and children, from the ornaments of their temples and cities, from the gold and jewels of the king, he will not be a fit person to be sent to this Asiatic and royal war. Do you think that there is any city there peacefully inclined towards us which is rich?
71
ecquam
putatis
civitatem
pacatam
fuisse
quae
locuples
sit
,
ecquam
esse
locupletem
quae
istis
pacata
esse
videatur
?
Ora
maritima
,
Quirites
,
Gnaeum
Pompeium
non
solum
propter
rei
militaris
gloriam
sed
etiam
propter
animi
continentiam
requisivit
.
videbat
enim
praetores
locupletari
quotannis
pecunia
publica
praeter
paucos
,
neque
nos
quicquam
aliud
adsequi
classium
nomine
nisi
ut
detrimentis
accipiendis
maiore
adfici
turpitudine
videremur
.
nunc
qua
cupiditate
homines
in
provincias
,
quibus
iacturis
quibusque
condicionibus
proficiscantur
ignorant
videlicet
isti
qui
ad
unum
deferenda
omnia
esse
non
arbitrantur
.
quasi
vero
Gnaeum
Pompeium
non
cum
suis
virtutibus
tum
etiam
alienis
vitiis
magnum
esse
videamus
.
Do you think that there is any rich city there, which will appear to those men to be peacefully inclined towards us? The sea-coast, O Romans, begged for Cnaeus Pompeius, not only on account of his renown for military achievements, but also because of the moderation of his disposition. For it saw that it was not the Roman people that was enriched every year by the public money, but only a few individuals, and that we did nothing more by the name of our fleets beyond sustaining losses, and so covering ourselves with additional disgrace. But now, are these men, who think that all these honours and offices are not to be conferred on one person, ignorant with what desires, with what hope of retrieving past losses, and on what conditions, these men go to the provinces? As if Cnaeus Pompeius did not appear great in our eyes, not only on account of his own positive virtues, but by a comparison with the vices of others.
72
qua
re
nolite
dubitare
quin
huic
uni
credatis
omnia
qui
inter
tot
annos
unus
inventus
est
quem
socii
in
urbis
suas
cum
exercitu
venisse
gauderent
.
quod
si
auctoritatibus
hanc
causam
,
Quirites
,
confirmandam
putatis
,
est
vobis
auctor
vir
bellorum
omnium
maximarumque
rerum
peritissimus
,
Publius
Servilius
,
cuius
tantae
res
gestae
terra
marique
exstiterunt
ut
,
cum
de
bello
deliberetis
,
auctor
vobis
gravior
esse
nemo
debeat
;
est
C
.
Curio
,
summis
vestris
beneficiis
maximisque
rebus
gestis
,
summo
ingenio
et
prudentia
praeditus
,
est
Gnaeus
Lentulus
in
quo
omnes
pro
amplissimis
vestris
honoribus
summum
consilium
,
summam
gravitatem
esse
cognostis
,
est
Gaius
Cassius
,
integritate
,
veritate
,
constantia
singulari
.
qua
re
videte
ut
horum
auctoritatibus
illorum
orationi
qui
dissentiunt
respondere
posse
videamur
.
And, therefore, do not you doubt to entrust everything to him alone, when he has been found to be the only man for many years whom the allies are glad to see come to their cities with an army. And if you think that our side of the argument, O Romans, should be confirmed by authorities, you have the authority of Publius Servilius, a man of the greatest skill in all wars, and in affairs of the greatest importance, who has performed such mighty achievements by land and sea, that, when you are deliberating about war, no one's authority ought to have more weight with you. You have the authority of Caius Curio, a man who has received great kindnesses from you, who has performed great exploits, who is endued with the highest abilities and wisdom; and of Cnaeus Lentulus, in whom all of you know there is (as, indeed, there ought to be from the ample honours which you have heaped upon him) the most eminent wisdom, and the greatest dignity of character; and of Caius Cassius, a man of extraordinary integrity, and valour, and virtue. Consider, therefore, whether we do not seem by the authority of these men to give a sufficient answer to the speeches of those men who differ from us.
73
quae
cum
ita
sint
,
Gaii
Manili
,
primum
istam
tuam
et
legem
et
voluntatem
et
sententiam
laudo
vehementissimeque
comprobo
;
deinde
te
hortor
ut
auctore
populo
Romano
maneas
in
sententia
neve
cuiusquam
vim
aut
minas
pertimescas
.
primum
in
te
satis
esse
animi
perseverantiaeque
arbitror
;
deinde
,
cum
tantam
multitudinem
tanto
cum
studio
adesse
videamus
quantam
iterum
nunc
in
eodem
homine
praeficiendo
videmus
,
quid
est
quod
aut
de
re
aut
de
perficiendi
facultate
dubitemus
?
ego
autem
,
quicquid
est
in
me
studi
,
consili
,
laboris
,
ingeni
,
quicquid
hoc
beneficio
populi
Romani
atque
hac
potestate
praetoria
,
quicquid
auctoritate
,
fide
,
constantia
possum
,
id
omne
ad
hanc
rem
conficiendam
tibi
et
populo
Romano
polliceor
ac
defero
testorque
omnis
deos
,
And as this is the case, O Caius Manilius, in the first place, I exceedingly praise and approve of that law of yours, and of your purpose, and of your sentiments. And in the second place, I exhort you, having the approbation of the Roman people, to persevere in those sentiments, and not to fear the violence or threats of any one. And, first of all, I think you have the requisite courage and perseverance; and, secondly, when we see such a multitude present displaying such zeal in our cause as we now see displayed for the second time, in appointing the same man to the supreme command how can we doubt in the matter, or question our power of carrying our point? As for me, all the zeal, and wisdom, and industry, and ability of which I am possessed, all the influence which I have through the kindness shown for me by the Roman people, and through my power as praetor, as also, through my reputation for authority, good faith, and virtue, all of it I pledge to you and the Roman people, and devote to the object of carrying this resolution.
74
et
eos
maxime
qui
huic
loco
temploque
praesident
,
qui
omnium
mentis
eorum
qui
ad
rem
publicam
adeunt
maxime
perspiciunt
,
me
hoc
neque
rogatu
facere
cuiusquam
,
neque
quo
Gnaei
Pompei
gratiam
mihi
per
hanc
causam
conciliari
putem
,
neque
quo
mihi
ex
cuiusquam
amplitudine
aut
praesidia
periculis
aut
adiumenta
honoribus
quaeram
,
propterea
quod
pericula
facile
,
ut
hominem
praestare
oportet
,
innocentia
tecti
repellemus
,
honorem
autem
neque
ab
uno
neque
ex
hoc
loco
sed
eadem
illa
nostra
laboriosissima
ratione
vitae
,
si
vestra
voluntas
feret
,
consequemur
.
And I call all the gods, to witness, and especially those who preside over this place and temple, who see into the minds of all those who apply themselves to affairs of state, that I am not doing this at the request of any one, nor because I think to conciliate the favour of Cnaeus Pompeius by taking this side, nor in order, through the greatness of any one else, to seek for myself protection against dangers, or aids in the acquirement of honours; because, as for dangers, we shall easily repel them, as a man ought to do, protected by our own innocence; and as for honours, we shall not gain them by the favour of any men, nor by anything that happens in this place, but by the same laborious course of life which I have hitherto adopted, if your favourable inclination assists me.
75
quam
ob
rem
,
si
quid
in
hac
causa
mihi
susceptum
est
,
Quirites
,
id
ego
omne
me
rei
publicae
causa
suscepisse
confirmo
,
tantumque
abest
ut
aliquam
mihi
bonam
gratiam
quaesisse
videar
,
ut
multas
me
etiam
simultates
partim
obscuras
,
partim
apertas
intellegam
mihi
non
necessarias
,
vobis
non
inutilis
suscepisse
.
sed
ego
me
hoc
honore
praeditum
,
tantis
vestris
beneficiis
adfectum
statui
,
Quirites
,
vestram
voluntatem
et
rei
publicae
dignitatem
et
salutem
provinciarum
atque
sociorum
meis
omnibus
commodis
et
rationibus
praeferre
oportere
.
Wherefore, whatever I have undertaken in this cause, O Romans, I assure you that I have undertaken wholly for the sake of the republic; and I am so far from thinking that I have gained by it the favour of any influential man, that I know, on the other hand, that I have brought on myself many enmities, some secret, some undisguised, which I never need have incurred, and which get will not be mischievous to you. But I have considered that I, invested with my present honours, and loaded with so many kindnesses from you, ought to prefer your inclination, and the dignity of the republic, and the safety of our provinces and allies, to all considerations of my own private interest.