M. Tullius Cicero, Pro S. Roscio Amerino, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 42

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[42] 15 nescio inquit quae causa odi fuerit; fuisse odium intellego quia antea, cum duos filios haberet, illum alterum qui mortuus est secum omni tempore volebat esse, hunc in praedia rustica relegarat.¹ quod Erucio accidebat in mala nugatoriaque accusatione, idem mihi usu² venit in causa optima. ille quo modo crimen commenticium confirmaret non inveniebat, ego res tam levis qua ratione infirmem ac diluam reperire non possum.

Pro S. Roscio Amerino. M. Tullius Cicero. ed. Albert Curtis Clark. Oxford. 1908.

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Funding provided by National Endowment For The Humanities (NEH).

Current edition Perseus

Pro Sex. Roscio Amerino (Latin) (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Volume 1. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908.)

Translations (1)

For Sextus Roscius of Ameria Perseus (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 1. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1903.) — 42 focus

[42] I know not, says he, what cause for displeasure there was; but I know that displeasure existed; because formerly, when he had two sons, he chose that other one, who is dead; to be at all times with himself, but sent this other one to his farms in the country. The same thing which happened to Erucius in supporting this wicked and trifling charge, has happened to me in advocating a most righteous cause. He could find no means of supporting this trumped-up charge; I can hardly find out by what arguments I am to invalidate and get rid of such trifling circumstances.

Notes on the current edition

Pro S. Roscio Amerino

1. relegavit ς

2. usu mihi A π1φ

Commentary

Notes on Pro S. Roscio Amerino (Select Orations of Cicero (Allen and Greenough's Edition). Greenough, James Bradstreet; Kittredge, George Lyman, editors. Boston, London: Ginn & Company, 1897.) focus

decurionum : these constituted the municipal senate or city council. The decem primi were a standing executive committee of the town, to whom, in this instance, an unusual piece of business was entrusted. If the delegates had been a special committee appointed expressly to report the case to Sulla, Capito, one of the conspirators, would hardly have been chosen a member.

qui vir , what sort of man, i.e. especially in his political principles. The delegates were apparently to certify to the fact that Roscius had been of Sulla's party.

ut . . . velit , that he will consent.

decretum : the decree was here read to the court, but it has not been preserved. Its reading must have produced considerable effect. It was not only important testimony to the innocence of the younger Roscius, but it was introduced by Cicero at such a point in the case as to repeat and confirm the summary of the plot just given.

id quod , as (see note on p. 2, l. 16 , above).

nobilis , acc. plur.

ab eis qui peterent , to beg of them : § 531 , 2 (317, 2); B. 282, ; G. 630; H.590 (497,i); H.-B. 502,2;

eis refers to the

decem primi

ne . . .

adirent , obj. of

peterent .

vellent : § 580 (336, 2); B. 314, I; G. 508, 2; H. 643 (524); H.-B. 534, 2.

pollicerentur , same constr. as

peterent .

M. Tullius Cicero Pro S. Roscio Amerino 42

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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