M. Tullius Cicero, De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites, Charles Duke Yonge (Translator), 64

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[64] 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.

De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites. M. Tullius Cicero. Charles Duke Yonge (Translator). London. 1856.

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Current edition Perseus

In Defense of the Proposed Manilian Law (English) (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.)

Editions (1)

De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites Perseus (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Volume 1. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908.) — 64 focus

[64] hoc si vos temere fecistis et rei publicae parum consuluistis, recte isti studia vestra suis consiliis regere conantur¹. sin autem vos plus tum² in re publica vidistis, vos eis³ 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 hoc⁴ bello Asiatico et regio, Quirites⁵, non solum militaris illa virtus quae est in Cn. Gnaeo Pompeio singularis sed aliae quoque animi virtutes⁶ 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.

Commentary

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

sin : the protasis extends to

attulistis , the connective being omitted.

plus . . . vidistis , had a keener insight in affairs of state.

aliquando : cf. p. 91, l. 15 , and note.

isti : this pron., since it is often used of an opponent in a suit, here at once suggests the opposition now existing between Cicero and Catulus.

auctoritati : § 372 (230); B. 256, 3; G. 217; H. 426, 1,518, I (385, i, 465, I); H.-B. 364, 2.

Asiatico et regio : the two adjectives enhance the impression of the difficulty of the war by emphasizing its distance and the dignity of the enemy.

versari , conduct himself (see Vocab.).

si qui sunt , when they are (lit. if there are any).

pudore (abl. of specification), respect for others;

temperantia , self-restraint.

M. Tullius Cicero De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites 64

Charles Duke Yonge (Translator)

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