M. Tullius Cicero, Pro A. Cluentio, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 146

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[146] Vt tibi¹ concedam hoc indignum esse quod cuius modi sit iam videro, tu mihi concedas necesse est multo esse indignius in ea civitate quae legibus contineatur² discedi ab³ legibus. hoc enim vinculum est huius dignitatis qua fruimur in re publica, hoc fundamentum libertatis, hic fons aequitatis; mens et animus et consilium et sententia civitatis posita est in legibus. Vt corpora nostra sine mente, sic⁴ civitas sine lege suis partibus ut⁵ nervis ac sanguine et⁶ membris uti non potest. legum ministri magistratus, legum⁷ interpretes iudices, legum denique⁸ idcirco omnes servi sumus⁹ ut liberi esse possimus.

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

Translations (1)

For A. Cluentius Perseus (Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Volume 2. Yonge, Charles Duke, translator. London: Bell, 1856.) — 146 focus

[146] Although I should grant to you that it would be a scandalous thing, (and the fact I will examine into presently,) still you must inevitably grant to me that it is a much more scandalous thing that the laws should be departed from in that state which is entirely held together by the laws; for this is the bond of this dignity which we enjoy in the republic, this is the foundation of our liberty, this is the source of justice. The mind, and spirit, and wisdom, and intentions of the city are all situated in the laws. As our bodies cannot, if deprived of the mind, so the state, if deprived of law, cannot use its separate parts, which are to it as its sinews, its blood, and its limbs. The ministers of the law are the magistrates; the interpreters of the law are the judges; lastly, we are all servants of the laws, for the very purpose of being able to be freemen.

Notes on the current edition

Pro A. Cluentio

1. sibi Σψ2a

2. contineatur P Σψ2a: teneatur M μ

3. ab P: a M μa

4. sic ita Quintil. v. 11. 25

5. ut om. ΣBs ( contra Quintil.)

6. et sanguine P ( contra Quintil.)

7. et legum ΣB ψ2a

8. legum denique M μa: LEGIB. NIQ. P: legibus denique Baiter

9. servi sumus M μa: servimus P

M. Tullius Cicero Pro A. Cluentio 146

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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