M. Tullius Cicero, De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 40

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[40] 14 age vero, ceteris in rebus quae¹ sit temperantia considerate. Vnde illam tantam celeritatem et tam incredibilem cursum inventum putatis? non enim illum eximia vis remigum aut ars inaudita quaedam gubernandi aut venti aliqui novi tam celeriter in ultimas terras pertulerunt, sed eae² res quae ceteros remorari solent non retardarunt. non avaritia ab instituto cursu ad praedam aliquam devocavit, non libido ad voluptatem, non amoenitas ad delectationem, non nobilitas urbis³ ad cognitionem, non denique labor ipse ad quietem; postremo signa et tabulas ceteraque ornamenta Graecorum oppidorum quae ceteri tollenda esse arbitrantur, ea sibi ille ne visenda quidem existimavit.

De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites. M. Tullius Cicero. ed. Albert Curtis Clark. Oxford. 1908.

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Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (1)

In Defense of the Proposed Manilian Law Perseus (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.) — 40 focus

[40]
Come now, consider also what moderation he has displayed in other matters also. How was it, do you suppose, that he was able to display that excessive rapidity, and to perform that incredible voyage? For it was no unexampled number of rowers, no hitherto unknown skill in navigation, no new winds, which bore him so swiftly to the most distant lands; but those circumstances which are wont to delay other men did not delay him. No avarice turned him aside from his intended route in pursuit of some plunder or other; no lust led him away in pursuit of pleasure; no luxury allured him to seek its delights; the illustrious reputation of no city tempted him to make its acquaintance; even labour did not turn him aside to seek rest. Lastly, as for the statues, and pictures, and other embellishments of Greek cities, which other men think worth carrying away, he did not think them worthy even of a visit from him.

Notes on the current edition

De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites

1. quae H: qua π: quali ψ: qualis cett.

2. eae hae Eb σ

3. urbis nobilitas H

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

propter socios (emphat.): these wars have a place in the argument solely on account of their motive. The events referred to are the following: Antiochus the Great, king of Syria, was defeated by Scipio Asiaticus at Magnesia, B.C. 190. Philip V, king of Macedonia, was defeated by Flamininus, at Cynoscephalae, B.C. 197. The Aetolians had helped Rome against Philip, and then joined Antiochus against her; they were obliged to submit after the battle of Magnesia. Carthage had been forced into a third war in B.C. 149, and was taken and destroyed by Scipio Aemilianus in B.C. 146.

agatur , etc., it is a question of your richest revenues. The province of Asia, like Sicily, paid as a tax the tenth of all products ( decumae). The collection of this was farmed out by the censors to companies of publicani belonging to the equestrian order. All other provinces regularly paid a stipendium, or fixed tax, which they raised themselves.

tanta , only so great.

eis , abl. with contenti.

via contenti , i.e. they will hardly pay the costs of their own defence.

Asia : this description of Asia Minor is no longer true, for bad government and bad cultivation have exhausted its natural wealth.

pastionis , pasture land, let to publicans, who paid a tax called scriptura.

exportantur : the portoria were tolls and customs duties paid upon goods both exported and imported; the rate was 2 1/2, or (in Sicily) 5 per cent ad valorem.

M. Tullius Cicero De Imperio Cn. Pompei Ad Quirites 40

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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