esto
,
well then (to quit that point).
causam proferre
,
to allege a motive.
vicisse debeo
,
I ought to have now gained the case, i.e. by my past argument;
ought to have conquered (in the past) would be
vincere debui: §
486
, a (288, a); B. 270, 2; G. 280, b, N.3; H. 618, 2 (537, 1); H.-B. 582, 3, a, footnote 2.
in alia causa
,
in another case: an implied condition of which
concederem
is the apodosis; §
521
, a (310, a); B. 305, I; G. 600, I; H.583 (507, N.7); H.-B. 578, 6.
qua re
,
why;
quo modo
,
how. Cicero contends that he is not obliged to discuss the manner of the murder, since Erucius has not raised that point, and has not even been able to assign a motive. His own position in the argument is so strong, however, that, he says, he can afford to concede a point by waiving the question of
motive and allowing Erucius to argue the case on the basis of the
means by which Roscius could have committed the crime. This is of course a rhetorical device to introduce one of Cicero's strongest arguments. It cannot be proved that it was even possible for Roscius to kill his father under the circumstances. By calling for the details of the murder Cicero shows that none can be produced. The whole passage serves also as an effective preparation for the countercharge (omitted in this edition), in which it is shown that Sex. Roscius Magnus had not only a motive, but every opportunity.
sic
, i.e. I will deal with you on these terms.
meo loco
,
in my place, i.e. in the time allotted to the defence; this was determined for each party by the praetor.
respondendi
, i.e. at the end of a question;
interpellandi
, i.e. in the middle of any question, to answer a part of it;
interrogandi
, i.e. by asking questions in his turn.
