[1] The guilt of the defendant is antecedently improbable. His character does not suit the crime. No motive has been shown. The alleged ill-will between the father and the son has not been proved and is unlikely.

[21] ejus modi , quo uno maleficio , of such a kind, that in this one crime (rel. clause of result).

voltu , by a look.

si . . . postularet , . . . cogebant , would compel it if the case required: see § 517 , b (308, b); cf. B. 304, 3; G. 597, R.3; H. 583, I (5

); H.-B. 582, I and 3, a; jura cogebant is equivalent to a verb of necessity, and hence the imperf. indic. in the apodosis appears with the imperf. subj. in the protasis.

auditum sit , a general condition; subj. because integral part of the result clause.

tu (emphatic), you, a professional prosecutor.

censes : the word used to express deliberate judgment, after discussion or the like.

mores , character, as resulting from habits of life; naturam (next line), natural disposition.

tu : emphatic, as opposed to the general run of accusers. Cicero is here using the famous "argument from probability," a favorite with ancient orators and rhetoricians from the fifth century B.C. "For example, if a physically weak man be accused of an assault, he is to ask the jury, 'Is it probable that a weakling like me should have attacked anybody?' while if the accused is a strong man he is to claim that it is improbable that he should have committed an assault in a case where his strength was sure to be used as a presumption against him."

[22] Here the "argument from probability" is very skillfully carried out. In sect. 22 Cicero draws such a contrast between the nature of the crime and the character of the defendant as to appeal powerfully to the imagination of the jury as well as to their reason, Describing briefly and vividly the three types of men who might be recognized as likely to commit such a murder (the weak-minded stripling led astray by evil companions, the hardened cut-throat, the ruined debauchee), he points to the life and character of Roscius as having nothing in common with any of these. This leads up at once to the question of motive: if Roscius's character was so little suited to the crime, the motive must have been extraordinarily powerful ; but no motive at all has been shown (sect. 23 ).

patrem , etc.: to preserve the emphasis we may render a parricide has been committed by Sex. Roscius .

qui homo ? what sort of man (is it who has committed such a crime) ?

adulescentulus : the diminutive suggests a weak stripling led astray ( inductus ) ; the defendant was, in fact, a man of forty.

nequam , with hominibus.

major : anomalous for the more usual plus or amplius; § 407 , c (247, c); B. 217, 3; G. 311, R.4; H.471, 4 (417, I, N.2) ; H.-B 416, d.

vetus (emphatic), old (in the sense of the English derivative inveterate).

videlicet , no doubt, of course.

de luxuria : for constr. see note on de parricidio ( p. 8, l. 7 ).

cuiquam : words in italics are not in the manuscripts, but are supplied by modern scholars (from conjecture) as being necessary to the construction or the sense.

objecit : the accuser had made it a point in his argument that the defendant was of a morose temper, shunning all society and burying himself in the country. Cicero deftly turns these assertions to the advantage of his client.

officio , sense of duty, and consequent discharge of it; especially used with reference to filial duty ( pietas ).

[23] In ancient trials, as at present, it was particularly important to show a motive in order to secure a conviction for murder, Erucius had alleged two motives, ill-feeling between father and son, and intended disinheritance. In this section (and in the two chapters that follow, omitted in this edition) Cicero disposes of the former; in ch. 19 (also omitted) he argues that there is no evidence that the elder Roscius meant to disinherit his son. In chs. 20 and 21 (omitted) he goes on to say that the prosecutor has shown no case and to inveigh against him for bringing a baseless charge.

justam . sufficient or well-grounded.

illud , this (referring forward to the inf. clause following), i.e. the point previously treated; hoc , the new point now introduced.

odio . . . parenti : § 382 ,1(233, a); B. 191,2; G. 356; H. 433 (390, i); H.-B. 360 and b.

eodem , to the same point (as that treated in the preceding section).

displiceret , was disliked by .

qui odisset , in that he hated (according to their argument): see § 592 , 3 (341, d); B.323; G. 628; H. 649, i (528,1); H.-B. 535, 1, a.

constantissimus (opposed to amens ), most steady-minded ("level-headed").

illud refers forward (as usual) to causam fuisse .

jam , by this time.

Erucius had to show not only a strong motive, but, in the case of so unnatural a crime, to bring the clearest testimony as to the facts — where, how, by whose means, when the murder was committed. A recent case of acquittal (sect. 26 ), even against strong circumstantial evidence, since absolute proof is needed to establish such a charge. Enormity of the crime, as shown by the severity of the legal punishment (sects. 28 - 29 ). Yet Erucius has no evidence to offer — he has not even established a plausible motive.

[24] quod , referring to id in 1.5: cf. in English, " whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."

jam prope cotidiana , which have now came to be an almost everyday affair.

quae , etc.: the question which is referred to in quod . . . quaeritur .

convenisse . . . videntur , seem to have converged upon one spot and to agree together: the phrase inter se may express any sort of reciprocal relation; § 301 , f (196, f); B. 245, 1; G. 221 ; H. 502, 1 (448, N.); H.-B. 266.

ingenio , talent (i.e. power in putting the case).

cum , not only.

ostendatur : § 569 , 2, N.2 (331, f R.); B. 295, 6 and 8; G. 535, R.2; H. 564, ii, I (502, 1); H.-B. 502, 3, c.

[25] sint , exist.

exstent : Cf. note on ostendatur , above.

expressa vestigia , distinct footprints.

ratione , manner, i.e. the whole plan of the act.

suspicionibus : governed by reclamitat , which, on account of its meaning, takes an indir. obj.

esse , that there should be, etc.

feras : notice the emphatic position. The emphasis may be expressed in English either by changing the verb to the passive (in order to keep feras at the beginning of the clause) or by turning thus: even in the case of wild beasts, etc.

[26] As an example of what cogent proof is required to overcome the presumption against the possibility of so unnatural a crime as parricide, Cicero cites a recent case in which strong circumstantial evidence was held insufficient.

ita , so very.

non obscurum , respectable .

servus : here used as adj.; § 321 , c (188, d); G. 288, R.; H.495, 3 (441, 3); H.-B. 240, 2, b.

pertineret , subj. of characteristic.

id aetatis , i.e. too old for the sound sleep of childhood; § 397 , a (240, b); B. 185, 2 ; G. 336, N.2; H.416, 2 (378, 2); H.-B. 388, b.

autem , on the other hand ,

propter , near by.

neutrumne sensisse , the idea that etc.: infin. of exclam., § 462 (274); B. 334; G. 534; H. 616, 3 (539, iii); H.-B. 596. Cf. Aeneid 1.37 .

potissimum , of all others: cf. sect. 1 , l. 3.

[27] porro . . . conveniret , could naturally fall (really in the same constr. as pertineret , l. 1, above).

judicio (abl. of means), on the trial (more lit. by the court).

potuisset , subj. of characteristic (in direct disc. potuerit ).

non modo . . . possunt , not only cannot, etc.: § 327 , 1 (219, a); B. 343, 2, a; G. 482, R.1; H. 656, 3 (552, 2); H.-B. 299; the verb is sufficiently negatived by ne .

[28] quo . . . eo , the less . . . the more.

multis = many other (implied in the generalizing cum, not-only, followed by tum , but also).

armis , abl. of specification.

tum , but also (correlative with cum in l. 17).

vel : in the emphasizing use, to strengthen maxime ; § 291 , c (93, b); B. 240, 3; G. 303; H. (444, 3); H.-B. 241, 3, a.

singulare , special (lit. unique).

sapientiam , acc. of exclamation.

rerum natura , the universe, represented by air ( caelum ), fire ( solem ), water, and earth, the elements "from which all things are said to be produced" ( omnia nata esse , l.26).

ademerint , subord. clause in ind. disc.

dicuntur : for mood, see § 593 , a (342, a); cf. B. 314, 4; G. 629, R., b; H. 652, I (529, ii, N.1); cf. H.-B. 535, 1, d.

[29] obicere , cast forth to .

ne bestiis . . . uteremur , lest we should find the very beasts more savage ( immanioribus , in predicate apposition).

attigissent , subj. of integral part.

sic nudos , naked as they were.

ipsum , even that.

violata , defiled.

expiari : sea water, as well as running water, was regarded as having a ceremonially purifying quality, an opinion prevailing in various religions, and found in the forms of ablution, baptism, and the like.

putantur : for mood cf. dicuntur , 1.27, above.

tam . . . volgare , so cheap or so common.

cujus . . . reliquerint , clause of result.

etenim , i.e. it needs no argument to show, etc.

ejectis , to castaways .

ita , in such a way.

[30] talibus viris , "to this intelligent jury."

ne causam quidem , not even a motive (to say nothing of evidence of guilt).

emptores , the purchasers (of the confiscated property), i.e. men having the strongest interest in his conviction, with Chrysogonus himself as their presiding officer.

venisses , you should have come: § 439 , b (266, e); G. 272, 3; H.558, I (483, 2, N.); H.-B. 512, b.

utrum . . . an , i.e. which is it—the nature of the question or the character of the court [another compliment to the jury] — that you do not see?

ne . . . quidem : § 327 , I (209, a, 1); B, 347. 2; G. 445; H.656, 2 (553, 2); H.-B. 298, 2, a.

[31] 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.

[32] ipse percussit , did he strike the fatal blow himself?

ipsum , sc. percussisse.

per alios : for abl. of means, when persons are intended, see § 405 , b (246, b) ; G. 401; H.468, 3 (415,1, N.1); H.-B. 380, d.

indidemne Ameria , from Ameria there ? (lit. the someplace).

hosce sicarios , these cut-throats here of ours.

convenit , i.e. to bargain for the murder.

unde , i.e. on whom did he draw for the money ? All such banking business being in a manner public, the sum could be traced, as by cheques and the like in modern times.

caput , fountain-head .

tibi , dat. instead of poss. gen.: § 377 (235, a); B. 181, I, N.; G. 350, I; H. 425, 4, N. (384, 4, N.2); H.-B. 368.

veniat , with facito ( fac) for simple imperat.: § 449 , c (269, g) ; cf. G. 553, I ; cf. H. 561, 2 (489, 2). The fut. form of the imperat. is used, because the accuser is bidden to reflect on the point raised, so that there is a distinct reference to future time: § 449 (269, d); B. 281, 1, a; G. 268, 2; H. 560, 4 (487, 2); H.-B. 496.

agrestem , boorish (see next clause).

in oppido constitisse , stayed in any town; oppidum is distinguished both from urbs, the great city, and vicus, a country village; it would be a place of some society and cultivation.

[33] qua in re , on this point .

praetereo , etc.: an excellent example of the rhetorical device called praeteritio ("omission"). The speaker dwells upon the point while pretending to pass it over in silence.

poterat , might, i.e. if I chose to use it: § 522 , a (31 1, c) ; B. 304,3; G. 597, R.3; H.583 (511,1, N.3); H.-B. 382, 3,a.

victu arido , dry or meagre way of living.

inculta , uncouth.

possis , potential subj., § 446 (

, a) ; B. 280; G. 257, I; H.552 (485); H. -B. 517, 1.

in urbe (emphatic), i.e. not in the country, where Roscius was.

exsistat, erumpat , dependent on necesse est .

erumpat , burst forth: a strong word is used on account of audacia , reckless during .

autem , on the other hand .

agrestem : see note on l. 3

parsimoniae , thrift (in a good sense).

[34] missa facio , I let that-pass ( missa agreeing with haec , obj. of facio ) ; such phrases are often used colloquially or with emphasis, for the simple verb: § 497 , c (292, d) ; G. 537 ; H.-B. 605, 4.

illud quaero , THIS is what I want to know.

per quos : these words are the interrogative expression with which the clause grammatically begins ; is homo is put first for emphasis.

suspiciose , i.e. so as to look suspicious.

in his rebus , but in these circumstances, i.e. those in our case (emphatic position).

suspicio . . . culpam : i.e. in so clear a case I will not ask Erucius for proof of guilt ; if he can show any suspicious circumstance, it shall suffice.

credo , I suppose: ironical, as usual when parenthetical.

causa dicitur , the defendant is on trial (a technical term: lit. the case is argued, i.e. by the defendant).

[35] admiserit : § 569 (332, a) ; B. 297, 2 ; G. 553, 4; H. 571, I (501, i, vi); H.-B. 521, 3, a, footnote 2

quod , that.

quod : the antecedent is id ( p. 15, l. 1 ); the clause ut . . . polliceatur is in apposition with quod .

quaestionem , question, in the technical sense, i.e. examination by torture, the regular legal way of examining slaves. An accused person could, of his own accord, offer his slaves for that purpose ( polliceri ): in this Case Roscius had lost his slaves, and so was deprived of that privilege.

unus puer , as much as a single slave.

minister , i.e. to wait upon him. - familia: this word, in its primary meaning, properly embraced the entire body of free persons, Clients, and slaves, under the patriarchal rule of the paterfamilias. In time, the meaning was divided, applying either (1) to the family proper — the paterfamilias, with his wife, children, etc. ; or (2) to a body (or gang) of slaves. The latter is the meaning here.

Scipio , Metelle : these were, probably, P. Scipio Nasica, father of Metellus Scipio (a leader on Pompey's side in the Civil War), and his cousin, Q. Metellus Nepos, brother of Caecilia (sect. 50 ), and father of the Celer and Nepos referred to in the orations against Catiline.

advocatis , called in (as friends of the accused) ; agentibus , taking active part. The demand seems to have been formal, and these friends were present to attest it.

meministisne :

ne = nonne ; § 332 , c (210, d); B. 162, 2, c; G. 454, N.5 ; H.-B. 231, b, N.1. - T. Roscium, i.e. Magnus.

sectantur , are in the train of

quid facitis : up to this point Cicero appears to be merely accounting for the fact (which might have made against his case) that the younger Roscius had not offered his slaves for examination. With this abrupt question he shows the true bearing of the refusal of Magnus, retorting suddenly the countercharge, which he carries out in a chapter here omitted. The effect on a jury of such an appeal as Dubitate, etc., must have been very great.

[36] aureum : the Greek name Chrysogonus means gold-born.

latuit : because his was the only name that appeared.

alii quoque , i.e. other purchasers of confiscated estates.

ut mihi , etc., i.e. I have no occasion to say anything of the purchasers of confiscated estates in general, for this case, by its atrocity, is taken out of the common category ( haec enim causa , etc., 1.24, below).

sectorum : these were the purchasers of confiscated property in the lump, who afterwards divided it ( seco) to sell again in detail.

[37] venierunt , from veneo not venio.

si enim haec , for if such remarks, etc.. i.e. if I may be allowed to speak freely.

tantus homo , such a great-person: a hint that more important men than he had suffered. In fact, all the really eminent victims of the Civil War had perished before the proscription.

qui (adv.), how?

Valeria : the law by which Sulla was made perpetual dictator and invested with absolute power of life and death ( B.C. 82); it was proposed by L. Valerius Flaccus as interrex. Laws were designated by the gentile name of their proposer ; all laws, for example, carried by L. Cornelius Sulla were known as Leges Corneliae.

Cornelia : this appears to have been enacted some time after the lex Valeria, in order to regulate the details of the proscription. Cicero's ignorance of the law is no doubt affected.

novi , I know the thing or person ; scio , I know the fact : I am not acquainted with the law, and do not know which it is .

proscripti sunt : the indic. must mean those already proscribed when the law was passed. Future cases of proscription would have been referred to by the subj. or fut. perf. (see Verr. ii, chs. xli, xlii).

in . . . praesidiis , among the armed forces, etc.

dum , so long as: § 556 , ? (276, e, N.) ; G. 569; H. 603, i (519, i) ; H.-B. 550 and b.

veteres , those of the regular code; novas , those of the Sullan revolution.

occisum esse, indir. disc. with constat ; the subject accusative is omitted.

[38] in eum , i.e. Sulla Here it is necessary for the orator to proceed with great caution: even if not himself present, Sulla would watch sharply the first case before his own criminal court.

ab initio , from the beginning of this trial (see sect. 12 ); omni tempore , throughout his whole career.

ut ementiretur , . . . passus non sit , clauses in appos. with haec omnia : for the change of tense, see § 475 , a (279, d).

apud adversarios , in the enemy's ranks (= in praesidiis , above).

postea : the passage referred to appears to have been lost out of the oration, probably in the gap in ch. xlv. The scholiast represents Chrysogonus as saying that he had used the property in building a villa at Veii.

[39] Kalendas Junias, acc. in the same constr. as diem .

tabulas : confiscated property belonged to the state, and public records of its seizure and sale were, of course, kept.

nulla , not at all: § 290 (191); B. 239; G. 325, R.6; H. 513, 3 (457, 3); H.-B. 245.

redierunt = relata sunt.

facetius , more cleverly: in the case supposed, the pretended proscription would never have occurred and the property would have been taken without even the forms of law.

ante tempus , too early, i.e. before it is time to raise so trivial a question as that of a title to property (Roscius is now on trial for his life).

reduviam curem (proverbial), treat a sore finger, i e. in a case of life and death I deal only with some trifling ailment. For mood see § 535 , e (320, e); B. 283, 3; G. 586 H. 592 (517); H.-B. 523.

non . . . rationem . . . ducit , he does not take account (a mercantile phrase).

[40] partim . . . pro me , partly in my own name. To avoid entangling the case of his client with politics, Cicero makes himself responsible for everything that may have a political bearing ; he was a well-known partisan of the nobility and could afford to speak freely.

quae-que : not from quisque .

ad omnis pertinere , concerns all .

sensu ac dolore , feeling and pain, i.e. painful feeling (so-called hendiadys).

jam , with the fut., presently.

[41] ego , opposed to Roscio.

diem : fem.; § 97 , a (73); B. 53; G. 64; H.135(123); H.-B. 101.

praefinita , fixed in advance, as the limit ( finio).

patronum , i.e. Sulla see note on libertum , p. 6, l. 10 .

conferre , throw the responsibility for.

egerit , will effect, fut. perf. for fut.: § 516 , C, N. (307, c, R.) ; G. 244; H. 540 (473); cf. H.-B. 490.

imprudente : cf. p. 5, l. 28 .

[42] placet , do I like ? i.e. do I think it right?

imprudentia , want of foresight.

etenim si , etc. (the apod. is quid miramur , p. 17, l. 32 ). The comparison that follows is perhaps somewhat strained ; but it accords with the habits of thought of the ancients, to whom the powers of a supreme ruler appeared in a manner divine. (Cf. the language used of Caesar in the Oration for Marcellus.) The tone in which kings were addressed in modern literature until very recent times may be compared (see, e.g., Bacon's dedication of his Advancement of Learning to James I).

pernicii , for perniciei: § 98 , N. (74, a); B. 52, 2; G. 63, N.1; H. 134, 2 and 3 (121, 1); cf. H.-B. 100, 3.

vi ipsa . . . rerum , by the very violence of the elements, - the agents or powers which he has to control.

cum is causal, but may be translated when.

nisi , here as often (more commonly with forte or vero) introducing a reductio ad absurdum: § 525 , b and N. (315, b arid N.) ; G. 591, R.4; H.-B. 578.3, a.

quod , pron.: the anteced. is id .

possit , adepta . . . sit , informal indir. disc., as expressing the thought of the person surprised: § 592 (341); B. 323; G. 662; H. 649. i (528); H.-B. 535, 1, a.

si . . . sit , clause with mirum : § 572 , b, N. (333, R.) ; G. 542, N.1.

[43] vereor : for emphat. position cf. credo , p.2, l. 1.

imperitior : § 291 , a (93, a) ; B. 240, 1 ; G. 297, 2; H. 498 (444, 1); H.-B. 241, 2.

tametsi , and yet.

meo jure , with perfect right -(as belonging to that party) ; jure alone would mean justly ; meo limits it to the speaker's own case. The passage that follows is interesting, as showing the way in which Cicero regarded the general principles at stake in the Civil War, and the excesses of the victorious party.

pro mea , etc., to the extent of my poor and feeble ability.

ut componeretur , that reconciliation should be made: a clause of result in appos. with id: § 567 , 568 (332 and headnote) ; B. 297 and 3; G. 557; H. 571,4 (501, iii); H.-B. 521,3,a.

qui vicerunt , who did (in fact) conquer: the subj. here would mean, whatever party might conquer: § 593 , a, N.1 (342, N.) ; G. 629, E. ; H. 652, I (529, ii, N.1).

humilitatem , not merely low rank, but meanness and vulgarity ; dignitate , personal worth, from birth and services ; amplitudine (next line), rank or position-prominence in the state. With all his arrogance, blood-thirstiness, and narrow conservatism, Sulla was, in fact, the representative of orderly government against anarchy and mob-law.

perditi civis erat (pred. gen.), it was the part of a bad citizen: § 343 , C (214, d) ; B. 198, 3; G. 366; H. 439 (401, 402); H.-B. 340.

quibus incolumibus (abl. abs.), by whose safety.

retineretur , would be preserved: fut. Cond., the protasis being quibus incolumibus : § 516 ,f (307,f); G. 596, ; H. 575,9 (507, N.7); H.-B. 580, b.

quae , i.e. the reinstating of the nobility.

felicitate : see note on p. 6, l. 7 .

[44] quod animadversum est (impers.) in eos , that those have been punished (a euphemistic expression for the proscription). Observe the chiastic order of ideas ; (a) the punishment ; (b) the persons on whom it was inflicted; (b1) the persons rewarded; (a1) the reward.

quae , referring to both the punishment and the reward just spoken of.

in eo studio partium , in favor of that party: studium is the regular word for siding with a particular party.

id actum est , this was the object .

idcirco , antecedent to the purpose clause.

ut . . . facerent , purpose clause in appos. with id.

postremi , the lowest (in class or character).

tum vero : here the apodosis begins.

nihil horum est, none of these things is true (i.e. is the fact).

ornabitur . Nothing can exceed the skill with which, throughout this oration, Cicero keeps before the minds of the jury the distinction between the great cause of Sulla and the nobility and the unscrupulous greed of some of Sulla's partisans. His continual allusions to his client's hereditary friendships with the aristocracy have this end, among others, in view.

[45] male : to speak ill is to utter abuse or calumny .

causam . . . communicare , identify their cause with that of etc.

equestrem , referring to the struggle for the judicia and the extensive sympathy of the equites with the party of Marius. Cf. note to Verr., p. 28, l. 2 .

servi : Chrysogonus had been Sulla's slave.

versabatur , displayed itself .

quam viam munitet (indir. quest.): for road-building, both literal and figurative, the Romans used the engineering term munire .

fidem , etc., your honor (good faith), your oath, and your courts ; i.e. after getting possession of political power, these low-born fellows were now aiming at the courts, the one security of public faith and good government.

jusjurandum : the jurors were under oath to give a righteous judgment.

hicine (emphat.), here, i.e. in the courts (as opposed to politics).

neque . . . possit : Cicero does not wish to encourage him by admitting for a moment that he can really do anything in this case: it is the fact that he has dared to hope to accomplish something that is an outrage.

verear : subj. because it expresses not a real reason, but one introduced for the sole purpose of being contradicted: § 540 , N.3 (321, R.); B. 286, I, b; G. 541, N.2; H. 588, ii (516, 2); H.-B. 535,2, b.

talis viros : cf. p. 13, l. 8 .

[46] exspectata , so long waited for. For some years ( B.C. 87-83), while Sulla was in the East, the Marian faction had full control at Rome, and a reign of terror prevailed.

servoli , diminutive of contempt.

bona , estates; fortunas (more generally), wealth.

id actum est : cf. p. 19, l. 22 .

senserim, sided with them: this verb, with its noun sententia , often refers to political opinions.

inermis , i.e. had he taken up arms, his regret would have been deeper.

cuique , to every man in proportion as he is, etc.: § 313 , b (93, c); cf. B. 252,5, c; G. 318, ; H. 515, 2 (458, I); H.-B. 278, 2, b.

probe novit : note the strong sarcasm, which points the distinction between the noble cause which was at stake and the sordid motives of Chrysogonus.

resistetur , impersonal.

ille : here indefinite, referring to the supposed person who thinks himself attacked.

rationem , interests (so that what touches one touches the other): a mercantile figure, as we might say, "who thinks his accounts are mixed up with his."

laeditur , etc., is injured by being separated, etc.