The last serious resistance to the Roman power in the East was offered by Mithridates VI., king of Pontus, the most formidable enemy encountered by Rome since the death of Hannibal. The dominions of Mithridates embraced the whole eastern coast of the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus), including the kingdom of Bosporus (Crimea) on the one hand, and Paphlagonia on the other, while the king of Armenia also was closely allied to him by marriage. There were three several "Mithridatic Wars." In the First the Romans were commanded by Sulla (88-84 B.C.), who gained great successes, and forced Mithridates to pay a large sum of money. In the Second ( 83-82), a short and unimportant affair, Murena, the Roman commander, was worsted. The Third broke out B.C. 74, and was successfully conducted by Lucius Licinius Lucullus, the ablest general of the aristocracy.

When this war had continued for several years, the democratic faction (populares) took advantage of some temporary reverses sustained by Lucullus, and of the unpopularity of his administration, to revoke his command and give to the consul of B.C. 67, M'. Acilius Glabrio (the same who had presided at the trial of Verres), the eastern war as his "province." The law effecting this change was proposed by the tribune A. Gabinius, one of the most active demagogues of the time. Another law (lex Gabinia), proposed B.C. 67 by the same politician, required the Senate to appoint a commander of consular rank, with extraordinary powers for three years by land and sea, to suppress the piracy which infested every part of the Mediterranean, having its chief seat in Cilicia. It was understood as a matter of course that Gnaeus (or Cneius) Pompey, who had been living in retirement since his consulship, B.C. 70, would receive this appointment. Pompey accomplished his task with the most brilliant success, and in three months had the seas completely cleared. (See below, ch. xii .)

Meantime Glabrio had shown himself wholly incompetent to conduct the war against Mithridates, and early in B.C. 66, the tribune Caius Manilius proposed a law extending Pompey's command over the entire East. Power like this was quite inconsistent with the republican institutions of Rome and with the established authority of the Senate; so that the law was of course opposed by the aristocracy (optimates), led by Hortensius and Catulus. Cicero vas now praetor. He was no democrat of the school of Gabinius and Caesar; but on the other hand he had no hereditary sympathies with the Senate, and he probably failed to recognize the revolutionary character of the proposition and considered merely its practical advantages. He therefore advocated the passage of the Manilian Law with ardor.

The law was passed, and Pompey fulfilled the most sanguine expectations of his friends. He brought the Mithridatic War to an end, organized the Roman power throughout the East, and returned home, B.C. 61, with greater prestige and glory than had ever been won by any Roman before him.

The Oration on the Manilian Law was Cicero's first political speech. Till now he had been a public-spirited lawyer; from this time on he was essentially a politician, and it is not hard to see how unfavorably his character was influenced by contact with the corrupt politics of that day.

The Oration for the Manilian Law is a famous example of a deliberative oration constructed on a systematic rhetorical plan. I. Exordium (introduction): Chap. 1. II. Narratio (statement of the case): Chap. 2. III. Confirmatio (affirmative argument): Chaps. 3 (sect. 6)- 17 (sect. 50). 1. The character of the war: Chaps. 3 (sect. 6) - 7. 2. The importance of the war: Chaps. 8, 9 . 3. The selection of a commander: Chaps. 10- 17 (sect. 50). IV. Confutatio (answers to objections): Chaps. 17 ( sect. 51) - 23 . V. Peroratio (peroration).

The oration was delivered in a contio or public meeting of Roman citizens held not for voting, but for debate or address merely. A contio could be called by any magistrate who had a matter to lay before the people, and was held regularly in the Comitium or the Forum. After a rogatio (proposition of a law) had been offered, such a meeting was regularly convened in order that the voters might hear the arguments on both sides. Later the comitia voted on the bill, Yes or No.

Thus the present speech in many respects resembled our modern political addresses on important public measures, like the tariff or the currency. It has, however, an official character.

Chap. I. This is Cicero's first appearance before a political assembly. Hitherto he, has given all his time to defending his friends as a lawyer. He rejoices that in this his first political oration he has a subject on which any one, however unpractised, cannot fail to speak well, — the valor and ability of Pompey.

For a discussion of the structure of the opening period, see general Introd., p. xlvii. — frequens conspectus vester , the sight of you in full assembly.

hic locus , the Rostra. The scanty remains of the rostra may be seen at the left of the Temple of Concord.

ad agendum , for public business, i.e. among the many duties of a magistrate there is none more dignified ( amplissimus) than this of addressing the whole people in a political assembly; agere cum populo was the technical expression for transacting business in the comitia or a contio.

ornatissimus , honorable (of private glory as an orator).

Quirites , fellow-citizens: the name by which the Romans were addressed when acting in a civil capacity.

hoc aditu , this avenue (i.e. addressing the people on political questions).

optimo cuique , i.e. to such as the presiding magistrate would permit, for only these had a right to speak in a contio .

rationes , plan: the plural indicates the details of the plan, i.e. the particular considerations that determine a general course of conduct.

cum (temporal), while: § 546 (323, 2); B. 288, I, b; G. 585; H. 600, ii, I (521, 2); H.-B. 524.

auctoritatem : the act of speaking in a contio indicated that the speaker was a proper person to advise the people, and hence it would confer auctoritas ( weight, prestige).

attingere , aspire to.

perfectum ingenio , perfected by force of intellect, i.e. the fruit of fully developed mental power.

elaboratum , carefully wrought (such, therefore, as needed more practice than youth could give).

amicorum temporibus , exigencies of my friends. A Roman lawyer was not regarded as doing a service for hire, but was expected to defend his friends gratuitously. He was, indeed, prohibited from receiving pay; but, though no bargain was made, the obliged party was expected to give a liberal present, in some form or other, to his patronus.

neque . . . et : here the first clause is virtually concessive; we may render while . . . at the same time.

caste , with clean hands.

integre (next line), in good faith (toward the client).

judicio , i.e. their action in electing him.

fructum , i.e. the several grades of office he had already filled: he was now praetor.

dilationem , adjournment There were many things which could break up an assembly and put off the business, especially unfavorable auguries, the announcement of which was a favorite device of politicians. If an election was thus interrupted by adjournment, the votes already taken were null and void and the whole proceeding had to be gone through with again. The comitia at which Cicero was chosen praetor were twice adjourned in this way, so that there were three meetings before the election was complete. At each of these Cicero was the first (primus) of the eight praetors to secure a majority, and hence he was thrice declared elected ( ter renuntiatus sum). primus does not here imply a superiority in rank, for the eight praetors were regarded as colleagues and they determined their functions by lot.

quid aliis , etc., i.e. this action of the voters showed that they approved his course of life, and was a suggestion to others how to attain similar honors.

nunc , opposed to the time referred to in sect. 1 .

ad agendum , for speaking (cf. note on 1.2, above).

forensi usu : the courts were held in the Forum.

quoque , i.e. to forensic as well as to military or political activity.

atque (the strongest of the and's), and further.

illud (nom.) laetandum : the construction illud laetor changed to the passive; § 390, c (238, b); cf. B. 176, 2; G. 333, I, N.1; H. 405 (371, iii); H.-B. 397, 2.

mihi , following insolita.

ratione , manner.

oratio , language.

orationis (1.24), argument (abstract from oro, in its original sense of to speak).

virtute , good qualities generally.

Observe that these two sections, though apparently a mere statement of facts, are so expressed as to contain, in brief and powerful form, the substance of the whole oration. The appointment of Pompey is not a matter for argument, Cicero contends throughout the speech, but an absolute necessity; the condition of affairs demands action, and this is the only action that can avail.

atque (cf. note on 1.19, above), and now (to come to the point).

inde , from that point

vectigalibus ac sociis , tributaries and allies (of the latter some were tributary and others not).

relictus , i.e. before the contest was fully decided.

lacessitus (next line), am assailed, not seriously attacked. By using these words Cicero artfully prepares for the assertion which he is about to make of the need of an energetic commander.

Asiam , i.e. the province of this name, occupying the western half of Asia Minor and bordering on the dominions of Mithridates.

equitibus , etc.: keep the emphasis by changing the construction: Roman equites are daily receiving, etc.

quorum . . . occupatae , whose large properties, invested in managing your revenues, are endangered. The revenues were farmed out to societates (companies) of publicani, who were members of the equestrian order (see sect. 14).

necessitudine : Cicero was of an equestrian family.

Bithyniae : this territory had been bequeathed to the Roman republic by Nicomedes III, B.C. 74.

Ariobarzanis : king of Cappadocia, which had been overrun by Mithridates.

Lucullum : Lucullus was related to both branches of the family of Metellus, and had married Clodia, sister of the notorious Publius Clodius. It was chiefly this mischievous demagogue, who was serving as one of his officers, that stirred up the dissensions and mutinies which robbed Lucullus of the fruits of his victories.

discedere , is on the point of withdrawing.

huic qui successerit , his successor, Glabrio.

non satis paratum , not adequately furnished—an understatement: Glabrio had shown himself thoroughly incompetent, but Cicero was on good terms with him. This was the Glabrio who had presided over the court in the case of Verres.

socus , i.e. Asiatics.

civibus , Romans engaged in business in Asia.

imperatorem (in pred. appos. with unum), as commander.

Having briefly stated the facts (in the narratio, sects. 4, 5), Cicero asks what is to be done (sect. 6). His discussion of this question falls under three heads: (1) the nature of the war (sects. 6 - 19); (2) its magnitude (sects. 20- 26); (3) the choice of a commander (sects. 27 - 50). In the first and second divisions he represents the nature and magnitude of the war in such a way as to make the conclusion under the third head inevitable, — that Pompey must be chosen commander.

This is considered under four heads (defined in sect. 6): there are at stake (1) the dignity and prestige of Rome (sects. 7- 11 ); (2) the safety of the allies (sects. 12 , 13 ); (3) the chief revenues of the state (sects. 14- 16 ); (4) the investments of the publicani, whose embarrassment would cause a financial panic in Rome itself (sects. 17- 19 ).

agitur , is at stake.

certissima : the surest because Asia was the richest and most fruitful of all the provinces; hence the price paid by the publicani for the privilege of farming its taxes was always certain to be large.

quibus amissis : equiv. to a fut. protasis.

ornamenta , ornaments, i.e. "all that exalts and embellishes civilized life."

a vobis : the abl. with a is used instead of the dat. of agent because there is another dat. dependent on consulendum; § 374, N.1 (232, N.); B. 189,1, a; G. 355, R.; H. 431, I (388, N.); H-B. 373, I, a.

The war affects both the dignity and the welfare of Rome. The massacre of Roman citizens by Mitliridates is as yet unpunished. So far no Roman general has succeeded in checking his aggressions. Has the Roman spirit declined? Our ancestors were more active in taking vengeance for insult and wrong.

civis Romanos , etc.: this massacre (B.C. 88), in which 80,000 persons perished, was intended by Mithridates as a step toward the entire expulsion of the Romans from Asia.

regnat : for tense, see § 466(276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 533 (467, 2); H-B. 485.

etenim , for (you will notice).

triumphavit de : not triumphed over, but celebrated a triumph for a victory over. The word is repeated in emphatic antithesis to the clause sed . . . regnaret.

regnaret , was still a king (i.e. in possession of his kingdom).

verum tamen , but still.

quod egerunt , for what they have done: by a Latin idiom quod is here equivalent to propter id quod.

res publica , the public: interest Sulla had hastened to make an unsatisfactory peace, that he might return and restore order in Italy, which was in the power of the Marian faction.

autem , now (in contrast to the action of the Roman generals).

reliquum , that followed.

Bosporanis , the people of Bosporus, a flourishing Grecian state, embracing the Crimea and adjoining lands.

ad eos duces , i.e. Sertorius and his comrades. Sertorius was the ablest general of the Marian faction in the Civil Wars. After the victory of Sulla, and the complete overthrow of his own party elsewhere, he continued to hold Spain, where he attempted to found a new republic, entering into alliance with Mithridates and other enemies of Rome.

gereretur (for fut. indic.): subj. of integral part.

de imperio , for supremacy.

alterius corresponds to altera , 1.6, below.

firmamenti , outward support

roboris , internal strength.

Cn. Pompei : Pompey and Metellus Pius conducted the war against Sertorius from B.C. 77 till B.C. 72 without being able to subdue him. In 72 Sertorius was assassinated by his lieutenant Perperna, whom Pompey had no difficulty in defeating. Cicero, it will be observed, suppresses these details, preferring to give Pompey credit, in general terms, for putting an end to "the danger from Sertorius."

in altera parte , i.e. in the East.

felicitati : observe the chiastic order of the ideas, — felicitati virtuti ; culpae, fortunae.

haec extrema (an intentional euphemism), these late disasters,

tribuenda , attributable. In fact the ill success of Lucullus was in great part due to the machinations of politicians at Rome; he was not properly supported by the home government.

mercatoribus , etc.: abl. abs. expressing cause.

appellati , addressed.

superbius , too haughtily.

The orator is here appealing to the passions of his hearers, and his statements must be interpreted accordingly. In B.C. 148 Roman ambassadors demanded that the Achaean League give up all its recent acquisitions; at which the incensed populace insulted the ambassadors and drove them away. In the war that followed, Corinth was captured by Mummius and destroyed, while Greece was made into a province by the name of Achaia. The insult to the ambassadors was but a pretext for the war, which was, in fact, merely one act in the general Roman policy of conquest. The extinction of the "eye of Greece," too, was not from motives of vengeance, but in order to remove a powerful rival to Roman commerce.

legatum , etc.: M'. Aquilius, the person referred to, had in fact forfeited all claim to the inviolability of an ambassador by actually taking command of an army against Mithridates. He was taken prisoner and put to death (B.C. 88). Aquilius had done service to the state by suppressing the Servile War in Sicily.

Our suffering allies implore aid. For their own sake they beg that the command be entrusted to Pompey.

videte ne : the Latin expresses in the form of a purpose clause ("see to it lest," etc.) what we should put in the form of an indir. quest. ("see whether it be not," etc.).

ut , as, correl. with sic .

illis , i.e. your ancestors.

non posse : subject of sit.

quid? a regular formula of transition, again.

quod , that: § 572, b (333, b); G. 542; H. 588, 3 (540, iv, N.); H.-B. 552, 1.

periculum ac discrimen , a dangerous crisis: the former word signifying the trial; the latter the decision. (See Introd., p. xlv.)

Ariobarzanes : king of Cappadocia. It was the designs of Mithridates upon this kingdom that first brought him into collision with Rome. (Fig. 20 is from a fine bust of some unknown Cappadocian.)

certum , a particular.

cum : causal.

sine summo periculo , i.e. by offending Lucullus and Glabrio.

propter , at hand.

quo : abl. of degree of difference with aegrius .

adventa ipso , by his mere coining.

maritimum , i.e. the war against the pirates, which Pompey had just finished with great glory.

ceterarum provinciarum , i.e. those assigned to Pompey by the Gabinian Law, which gave him power over the entire Mediterranean and the coasts fifty miles inland. This would not include the province of Bithynia, nor the greater part of Asia. The Manilian Law extended his power over the entire East.

quorum . . . commendetis : § 535,f(320,f); B. 282,3; G. 631,1; H. 591, 7 (503, ii, 2); H.-B. 513, 3.

etiam si defendant : subj. of integral part.

non multum , etc.: the expression was hardly too strong for the general type of provincial governors. cf. "The Plunder of Syracuse," (Verr. 2.4.42 , Verr. 2.4.46) where Cicero contrasts the moderation of Marcellus in time of war with the rapacity of Verres in time of peace.

The safety of the largest and surest revenues of Rome is also at stake.

The neatness of Cicero's transitions may be seen to good advantage in this oration. In the present section he passes by a clever turn from the safety of the allies to the safety of the revenues. Our ancestors took all possible pains to defend their allies even when they had suffered nothing themselves: shall we hesitate to defend our allies when our government has been insulted, — especially when on their safety depend our chief revenues?

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.

pecuaria , etc.: cf. the summary of the resources of Asia, p.72, ll.30-32.

portu , decumis , scriptura : these repeat, in inverse order, pecuaria , agri cultura , navigatio .

fructus , income (i.e. to the Romans).

exercent , manage, refers to the societates publicanorum, who took contracts for collecting the revenues; exigunt , collect, refers to the agents and slaves who attended to the details of the collection.

familias : see note on Rosc. Am., p. 15, l. 3. The Roman slaves were not merely rude Gauls and Thracians, but educated Greeks and Asiatics. The latter served in noble families as secretaries, stewards, and tutors, and would naturally be employed by the great tax-collecting corporations as agents and servants.

saltibus ,mountain pastures. Here again three classes of revenue are alluded to: scriptura (in saltibus ),decumae (in agris),portoria (in portubus). Observe the art with which Cicero constantly repeats, in different order and different terms, the same detailed description of the revenues, in order to keep this important point before the minds of his hearers.

custodiis , coast-guards, stationed to prevent smuggling, at the custom-houses and toll-houses.

posse , can: for construction of posse, see § 516, d, 584, b (307, d); G. 248, R.; H.-B. 472, d; the protasis is nisi . . . conservantis (fut. perf.).

The investments of the publicani and others are endangered by this war; hence there is fear of a financial crisis at Rome.

ac ne , etc., nor must you neglect this point either.

cum essem . . . dicturus : see above, sect. 6, where the divisions of the subject are specified.

quod . . . pertinet ,which bears upon, etc. The antecedent is illud .

nam et corresponds to deinde (sect. 18). Two classes are mentioned: (1) the publicani or tax-farmers, and (2) other citizens who have money invested in Asia (sect. 18 ).

rationes ,business enterprises; copias , fortunes.

in illam provinciam , i.e. the farming of the revenues there.

ipsorum per se ,for their own sake (i.e. apart from all question of the safety of the revenues).

nervos : the same figure is seen in our phrase "the sinews of war."

eum . . . ordinem , i.e. the equites these not only farmed the taxes, but they were, in general, the capitalists and bankers of Rome.

ex ceteris ordinibus refers to men of humbler rank who were carrying on business in Asia, as well as to Senators who had money invested (conlocatas) there.

eorum (redundant) limits partim.

humanitatis vestrae : §343, c (214, d); B. 198,3; G. 366; H. 439, 3 (401, N.2); H.-B. 340; sapientiae is in the same construction.

etenim primum introduces the first reason why the losses of private citizens are a matter of public concern; the second reason is introduced by deinde quod (sect. 19).

illud parvi refert , etc., it is of slight consequence that we can afterwards win back in victory: §417 (252, a); B. 211, 3, a; G. 379, 380; H. 449, 3 (408, iii); H.-B. 427, 2, a.

publica either agrees with vectigalia , or may be taken absolutely, omitting the doubtful word vectigalia.

his , i.e. the publicani.

amissis , lost, i.e. as bidders for the revenues.

redimendi ,contracting for the revenues.

deinde : introducing another important point; general credit will invariably suffer when a large class of moneyed men are ruined. The student should remember that Rome was a great commercial centre like London to-day.

initio belli , i.e. in the First Mithridatic War.

memoria , loc. abl.: § 429, 3 (254, a); G. 389; H. 485, I (425, I, 2); H.-B. 436, b.

cum . . . amiserant ,when (as you remember), etc.: § 545(325, a); cf. B. 288, I, a; G. 580; H. 601 (521, ii, I); H-B. 550 and a.

solutione . . . concidisse (brief description of a financial panic), when payment was embarrassed, credit fell. similar panics in recent times may help us conceive the political importance of commerce in antiquity.

non enim possunt : translate (to preserve the emphasis), for it is impossible that.

ut non . . . trahant (clause of result), without dragging (lit. so as not to drag).

prohibete : for the two senses of this verb, see Vocab. (Cf. also defendo ).

id : §362, a (225, a); H.-B. 364, 3 and 4.

ratio pecuniarum ,financial system.

versatur , centres.

pecunus , finances.

illa , i.e. those in Asia; haec , i.e. at Rome.

num . . . sit ,whether you ought to hesitate.

dubitandum sit , impersonal.

incumbere : the usual constr. after non dubito in this sense; § 588, a, N.2 (332, g, N.2); B. 298, b; G. 555, R3; H. 596, I (505, i, 4); cf. H.-B. 586.

fortunae , etc.: with this chapter Cicero closes the discussion "de genere belli." There is no anticlimax, for the stability of the whole Roman financial system was of course more important than either the safety of the allies or the revenues of a single province.

Having shown, in the preceding division, that the war is necessary (i.e. that much is at stake), Cicero now proceeds to prove that it is a dangerous war (i.e. that the outcome is uncertain). To do this he needs only to sketch the history of the contest, ending with the recall of Lucullus and the appointment of Glabrio.

Exploits of Luculus. The war still a great one. Roman reverses and discouragement of the army. Mithridates unsubdued. Luculus superseded by Glabrio.

potest (emphatic position), etc., it may be said, i.e. in answer to the preceding arguments: of course, in order to justify the wisdom of so exceptional a measure as the Manilian Law, it was necessary to show that the war was of sufficient gravity to require the appointment of Pompey. Observe the skillful transition from the genus of the war to its magnitudo .

belli genus , i.e. the war, in its character.

elaborandum est : use the personal construction in translating.

ornatas , equipped; instructas , organised.

obsessam , invested; oppugnatam , attacked (by the active operations of siege): the verb besiege includes both ideas. This was B.C. 74.

ducibus Sertorianis : abl. abs.

ad Italiam : a fleet which Mithridates had despatched for Italy with a contingent furnished by Sertorius, had been defeated by Lucullus near the island of Lemnos.

studio , zeal (for one party); odio , hate (for the other).

proehis : §424, d (259, a); cf. B. 230, 2; G. 394, a.; Cf. H-B. 439, a, 3.

Pontum , i.e. the Euxine Sea.

ex omni aditu ,at every approach.

Sinopen , Amisum: towns on the north coast of Asia Minor.

aditu , approach; adventu , arrival. The fact is, that both Sinope and Amisus had made a very stubborn resistance, which the orator chooses to ignore. A certain vagueness in Cicero's whole account in this and the following chapter is doubtless due to a wish to spare Lucullus.

alios reges : his son Machares, king of Bosporus, and his son-in-law Tigranes, king of Armenia.

salvis , i.e. without harming the allies

integris , i.e. without impairing the revenues.

ita ,of such a kind.

a nullo , etc.: thus Cicero's praise of Lucullus has a definite place in the argument. It is important for him to show that this law can be advocated by one who fully appreciates the merits of Lucullus.

requiretur ,the question will be asked (emph.)

primum : the corresponding particles ("secondly," etc.) are omitted; the next point begins at sect. 23.

Ponto : the old kingdom of Colchis, the scene of Jason's adventures in winning the Golden Fleece, was on the eastern shore of the Euxine and formed a part of Mithridates' kingdom of Pontus.

Medea : see Fig. 22 (from a wall-painting).

quam praedicant ,who, as they tell. (The usual sign of indir. disc. in English, that, cannot be used with a relative.)

persequeretur ,was likely to fallow. This is a subord. clause in indir. disc.; but, even if the story were being told in din disc. (without praedicant), we should still have persequeretur on the principle of informal indir. disc., expressing the thought of Medea: § 592, 3 (341, d), B. 323; G. 628; H. 649, I (528 I) H.-B. 509; this is shown by the use of se (not eam) in l.6.

conlectio dispersa ,the scattered gathering, the phrase vividly expresses the idea of his wandering about to pick them up.

vim auri , etc.: the immense treasures which Mithridates had accumulated in his several fortresses came into the hands of Lucullus, —not money simply, but works of art, etc.

quas et . . . et , equiv. to quas partim... partim.

illum , hos , denote distance and nearness of time. Render in the pass. to keep the emphasis, the one was detained by, etc.

liunc , i.e. Mithridates.

confirmavit , reassured.

erat enim , etc.: explaining the reason why these nations displayed hostility, though the Romans had no designs on them.

eis nationibus , i.e. those near Armenia.

gravis atque vehemens ,potent and very strongly held.

fani : "the temple of the Persian Nanaea, or Anaitis, in Elymais, or the modern Luristan [that part of Susiana nearest to the Euphrates], the most celebrated and the richest shrine in the whole region of the Euphrates." Such a rumor would at once fire the population of the whole East.

urbem : Tigranocerta, the new capital of Tigranes, situated in the southwest part of his kingdom, near the river Tigris. This city was destroyed by Lucullus.

commovebatur ,was affected. After all his successes, Lucullus had made somewhat the same mistake as Napoleon in his Russian expedition, and had found himself in an awkward situation, far from his base of operations, and in the midst of infuriated enemies.

hic ,on this point.

extremum ,the climax.

ut . . . quaereretur , subst. clause of result: § 567(332, head-note); B. 297,3; G. 553,4; H. 571,2 (501, i, 2); cf. H-B. 521, 3, a.

opes . . . misericordiam : a short expression for win them over to pity and call out their resources.

ut . . . videatur , a result-clause following qui . . . regno : the more natural way to express the idea in English would be by a coordinate clause with and therefore.

victus ,when beaten.

incolumis ,at the height of his power.

ut . . . attingeret , in appos. with eo following contentus . We should regularly have quod with the indic.: cf. § 571, a (333, b); G. 542; H. 614 (535, iii); H.-B. 594, c; but the form of the clause appears to be determined by acciderat, which takes a subst. clause of result; § 569, 2 (332, a, 2); B. 297, 2; G. 553, 3; H. 571, I (501, i, 1) 14.-B. 521,3, a.

umquam : not aliquando, on account of the neg. idea implied in praeter spem ; §311 (105, h).

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

poetae : such were Naevius, who wrote a Bellum Punicum, and Ennius, author of Annales, recounting events of Roman history; both lived in the third century B.C.

calamitatem : i.e. the defeat of Triarius (B.C. 67), who was leading reinforcements to Lucullus. Only a severe wound of Mithridates saved the Roman army from utter destruction. As it was, the rout was so complete that no [regular] messenger, etc.

sermone ,common talk.

tamen , i.e. though the defeat was so disastrous.

potuisset : subj. of characteristic; the cont. to fact idea which is also contained in the word would not have required the subj.; § 522, a (311, c); B. 304,3; G. 597, a.3, a; H. 583 (511, I, N.1); H-B. 582, 3,a.

vestro jussu , i.e. by the Gabinian Law (see Introd., p. 66).

imperi : the military imperium could be extended after the term of office by the Senate. The holder of a command thus extended (prorogatum) was called proconsul or propraetor. In this case Lucullus had now held command seven years, from B.C. 74.

conjungant , etc.: this sums up the considerations already urged as to the magnitude of the war (from sect. 23).

integrae , fresh (cf. p.76, ll.20, 21).

The plan of this division is simple but effective. Four things are requisite in a great commander: scientia ,virtus, auctoritas ,felicitas. Pompey has all these qualities in the highest degree: (1) scientia (sect. 28); (2) virtus of every kind (sects. 29-42); (3) auctoritas (sects. 43-46); (4) felicitas (sects. 47,48). Hence he should be appointed (sect. 49), especially since, by Divine Providence, he is at this moment in the East (opportunitas) (sect. 50 ).

By way of transition, Cicero sums up the state of the argument.

satis . . . videor ,I have said enough,I think [to show] why, etc. Observe that the Latin prefers the personal construction (I seem to myself) to our impersonal (it seems to me).

esset , is: imperf. by seq. of tenses after fecisse; §585, a (336, B, N.1); B. 268, 2; G. 518; H. 548 (495, iv); H-B. 483.

restat ut , etc., it remains for me, as it seems, to speak: § 561, N.1 (329, N.) ; G. 553, 4; H. 571, I (501, i, I); H-B. 502, 3, C.

utinam. . . haberetis ,I wish you had: §441 (267); B. 279, 2; G. 260, 261; H. 558, I, 2 (483, I, 2); H.-B. 510 and a.

innocentium : innocens was an almost technical word to express cleanness of hands on the part of an official; we may translate it by blameless or incorruptible .

nunc vero ,but now (i.e. as things stand): opposed to the unfulfilled wish, utinam . . .haberetis.

cum : causal.

unus ,but one.

qui non modo , etc.: this remarkable exaggeration, which puts the exploits of Pompey above those of Alexander, Hannibal, Scipio, and other generals of antiquity, probably suited well enough the temper of the assembly. The student should remember the hyperbole of personal praise and blame characteristic of most political oratory, especially in a "campaign."

virtute , excellence (not valor only).

cujusquam , used on account of the neg. idea in the question quae res, etc. (see note on umquam,p. 77, l. 12, and cf. umquam , below, 1.29).

The four things requisite in a commander are all possessed by Pompey in the highest degree: (1) scientia (experience and knowledge in the art of war).

bello . . . hostibus : loc. abl. expressing the circumstances; we may translate by a clause with when.

ad patris exercitum : Pompey, then seventeen years old, served with his father, Cn. Pompeius Strabo, consul B.C. 89, the last year of the Social War.

summi imperatoris : his father, who commanded on the side of the Senate against Cinna, B.C. 87.

imperator : in B.C. 83 the young Pompey raised an army (chiefly from his father's immense estates in Picenum) and joined Sulla, who complimented him as imperator, although he had not yet held even the quaestorship.

quisquam , used on account of the neg. idea in saepius quam; see note on cujusquam,p. 78, l. 25.

inimico ,a private adversary (e.g. before a court).

imperiis : all Pompey's commands had been either assumed by him or irregularly conferred upon him until he obtained the consulship in B.C. 70.

Civile , Africanum, etc.: Pompey's exploits in these various wars are referred to in the same order but in greater detail below (sects. 30-35), where see notes. The last mentioned, that with the pirates (bellum navale), is of course specially dwelt on (sects. 31 - 35).

Sects. 29-42: (2) The second requisite in a commander: virtus (excellence of all kinds). The virtutes of Pompey include not only virtus bellandi (sects. 29-35), but incorruptibility (sect. 37), self-restraint (sect. 40), wisdom, eloquence, good faith, and humanity (sect. 42 ).

Pompey's virtus bellandi; his former successes (sect. 30); his recent success against the pirates (sects. 31 -33); the celerity of his movements (sects. 34-35).

neque enim illae : Cicero does not mention what the other good qualities are till sect. 36. By an oratorical device he begins as if he did not mean to talk about the ordinary virtutes recognized as necessary for a general, but intended to speak of certain others, equally necessary but perhaps less common (incorruptibility, etc.), for which Pompey was eminent. But he goes on at once to emphasize the possession of the commonly recognized soldierly qualities by Pompey, as if he had forgotten his point in his enthusiasm. Then, with sect. 36, he suddenly pulls himself up, as from a digression, and returns to consider the good qualities he had, as he says, "begun to enumerate." By this method, not only is an air of spontaneity given to the praise of Pompey (as if the orator were carried away by his theme; cf. sect. 3), but the special and rare virtues on which he wishes to lay stress are much emphasized by being, as it were, brought in twice, — a second time when the orator seems in danger of forgetting them (sect. 36 ).

testis est , etc. the enumeration corresponds to that in sect. 28, ll. 12-14, above (Civile, Africanum, etc.).

Italia , Sicilia ., i.e. in the Civil War.

Italia : Pompey raised an army to help Sulla against Cinna and Carbo., the Marian leaders (B.C. 83).

Sicilia , Africa: after Sulla's final victory in Italy, he entrusted to young Pompey the subjugation of Sicily and Africa, where Carbo, with the remnants of his power, had taken refuge. Fig. 23 shows a coin of Pompey, on which is an allegorical head of Africa.

Gallia : this refers to certain hostilities in Gaul when Pompey was on his way to Spain to the war against Sertorius (B.C. 77); these are referred to as bellum Transalpinum in sect. 28.

Hispania : in the war with Sertorius (see, however, note on p. 71, l. 5).

iterum : Pompey, on his way back from Spain (B.C. 71), fell in with the remnants of the troops of Spartacus and cut them to pieces in Cisalpine Gaul; but the whole passage is a rhetorical exaggeration.

omnes orae , etc.: referring to the Piratic War. There is no extravagance in this; the suppression of piracy was the most glorious part of Pompey's career.

servitutis : the slave system of the ancients made captives a lucrative booty in war.

hieme , i.e. he either had to sail in the winter, exposed to the danger of being lost at sea (mortis), or, etc.

tam vetus : the piratical forces were made up of the wreck of those numberless armies beaten and broken up in the wars of the past half-century or more. When the lesser states lost their independence, their bravest men would often prefer the outlaw freedom of piracy to personal slavery, or even to political subjugation. In fact, the pirate state in Cilicia made a sort of republic, unrecognized and defiant.

quis . . . arbitraretur : § 444 (268); B. 277; G. 265; H. 559, 4 (484, v); H.-B. 503.

fuit : for position (which emphasizes the tense), see § 597, d (3) (344, d(3)

licum... transmiserint : like a relative clause of characteristic; translate when, etc.

Brundisio , i.e. the short passage to Greece.

qui : the omitted antecedent ( eos ) is the subject of captos [esse ].

legati : the case is not known; probably not an ambassador, as one would expect from the preceding words, but military aid. The plural is perhaps used rhetorically for the singular.

mercatoribus : see Fig. 24 for a trading vessel (from an ancient relief).

duodecim secures ,two praetors; lit. twelve axes (i.e. twelve lictors). As provincial governors, the praetors were each attended by six lictors; in the city they had but two. For an ancient representation of lictors, see Fig. 25 (from a coin). FiG. 25

vitam ac spiritum : ports of entry are the breath if life to a city which, like Rome, must import its daily supplies of food.

potestatem : acc., because it is implied that they fell into their power.

praetore : who he was is not known.

liberos (a rhetorical use of the plural for the singular): this was a daughter of the distinguished orator Marcus Antonius, who had celebrated a triumph for a victory over the pirates, B.C. 102.

classis ea ,a fleet (not that fleet); followed by a subj. of characteristic ( praepositus esset ).

consul : who he was is not known.

Oceani ostium , the Strait of Gibraltar.

audiatis : for tense. see § 485, c (287, c); B. 268,7; G. 513; H. 550 (495, vi); cf. H.-B. 478.

sunt : plur., agreeing directly with haec, instead of sing. est with the indir. question as subject; Cf. § 576, N. (334, c, R.); G. 468; H. 649, ii, 4 (529, ii, 2); H.-B. 390, c. N.

tanti belli , etc., the rush of so great a war sped over the sea.

Cretensibus : Quintus Metellus, the proconsul (the friend of Verres), had reduced Crete nearly to submission, deriving from this his cognomen Creticus. The Cretans, alienated by his harshness, sent to Pompey, that he, rather than Metellus, might receive their surrender, which Pompey was very willing to do. Civil war nearly broke out between the two commanders in consequence. Pompey, however, who had his hands full in Asia, withdrew from the field and left the honors to his rival.

Not only bellandi virtus is requisite in a commander, but other virtutes as well, all of which Pompey possesses: incorruptibility (sect. 37); self-restraint (sect. 40); wisdom, eloquence, good faith, and humanity (sect. 42).

quid ceterae? how with the others?

paulo ante , i.e. in sect. 29 (see note).

innocentia : see note on innocentium,p. 78, l. 19.

quae , subject of sint (neuter, as referring to antecedents of different genders): translate these.

summa (emphat.), in the highest degree.

putare (in its earlier meaning of reckon: see Vocab.), etc., count (as such).

centuriatus : two centurions commanded each manipulus of 120 men. The centurions were advanced from the ranks by the commander; hence there were opportunities for favoritism and bribery.

veneant , subj. of characteristic.

aerano : the Treasury was in the Temple of Saturn, under the superintendence of the two city quaestors. The actual management of the funds was in the hands of a large body of clerks, scribae, who formed a permanent collegium.

provinciae : dependent on cupiditatem ; apparently the person referred to tried to purchase the influence of the magistrates in order to be allowed to retain his province longer than the regular time; but nothing is known of the case.

in quaestu ,on speculation.

facit . . . ut , etc., shows that you recognize.

recordamini : impen as protasis; §521, b (310, b); B. 302, 4; G. 593, 4; H. 560, 3 (487, 3); H.-B. 497, 2.

quid . . . existimetis : in the direct question it would be the same form, as deliberative subj.; § 444 (268); B. 277; G. 259; H. 557 (486, ii); H.-B. 503.

hibernis : notice the strong antithesis to armis .

judicando : a great part of the imperator's business would l)e deciding cases of extortion by the publicani, who were of the same class ( equites) that held the judicial power in Rome. By not being strict (severus) with them, he might purchase immunity for himself, if brought to trial afterwards on a similar charge.

hic ,in such a case (properly, at this point in my discourse).

manus , vestigium, i.e. not only was there no intentional injury done, but no unintended evils followed in its train.

jam vero : here simply a particle of transition. Pompey's winter quarters are contrasted with such as are referred to above in hibernis (l.14).

sermones , reports, by way of common talk.

ut . . . faciat ,to incur expense in entertaining officers and soldiers.

enim : the connection of thought is, — [and in this he follows old custom] for, etc.

hiemis ,from winter (obj. gen.).

avaritiae , for avarice (subj. gen.): cf. § 348, N., 343, N.1 (217, N.); G. 363, R.2; H. 440, I and 2 (396, ii and iii); H.-B. 344, 354.

celeritatem , speed;

cursum ,extent of travel.

non . . . quaedam . . . aliqui ,it was not that some, etc.

remigum : galleys, worked by oars and independent of the wind, were generally used as war vessels. In the Mediterranean (particularly in the Barbary States) their use was continued till a very late day; and for some purposes they are still employed. Their trained crews of rowers gave them a speed hardly less than that of steam vessels.

amoenitas : used of objects of sight, beauty of scenery, etc.

labor , toil, always with the sense of effort and fatigue.

ceteri , as Verres, for instance (see "The Plunder of Syracuse," pp.48 ff.).

visenda : the passion for travel and sight-seeing was as common among the ancients as in modern times (of. "The Plunder of Syracuse," p. 52, l. 9; p.57, ll. 5-7).

fuisse : of. fuit on p. 81, l. 7 (and note).

hac continentia , i.e. such as his.

jam . . . videbatur ,was now getting to seem.

nunc : notice the emphatic repetition (anaphora ).

servire . . . quam imperare : a rhetorical exaggeration for preferring the condition of subject allies to nominal independence.

consiho , etc.: of. p.83,ll.26, 27.

ipso ,of itself

hoc . . . loco , i.e. the Rostra.

fidem vero , etc.: render and as to his good faith, etc., changing the construction so as to keep the emphasis.

quam , etc.: render when the enemy esteemed it, etc. (contrasting hostes with socios).

pugnantes ,in battle; victi ,in defeat

(3) The third requisite in a commander: auctoritas (prestige). This Pompey possesses in a high degree. It has already shown its effect in the East.

ut . . . ament : clause of result, dependent on commoveri .

judicia ,expressions of opinion (i.e. by conferring offices on him) ; of. what Cicero says of himself in sect. 2 (p. 68, ll.12, 13).

ullam usquam : see note on sect. 27 (p. 78, l. 25).

illius diei : that of the passage of the Lex Gabinia, which conferred upon Pompey the command against the pirates.

commune : as being against pirates, enemies of all mankind.

aliorum exemplis : it is not necessary to cite examples of other generals; Pompey's own history furnishes instances enough.

qui quo die , on the day on which be, etc.: the relatives, admissible in Latin, cannot be literally reproduced in English.

potuisset : §517, c, N.1 (308, c, N.1) B. 304, 3, a, N.; G. 597, R.3, b; of. 14.511, I, N.1 (583); H-B. 582,3,0. The protasis is implied in in summa ubertate, etc.

proelio : the defeat of Triarius (see sect. 25).

provincia , i.e. Asia.

ad eas regiones , i.e. only into the neighborhood, for Pompey's authority did not extend to the seat of war; this force is given by the preposition ad:in would mean into.

perfecturus sit : § 575, a (334, a); cf. B. 269, 3; G. 514, b; H. 649, ii, I (529, ii, 4); 14.-B. 537, d, I.

perfecerit : subj. of characteristic.

illa res : in appos. with the clause quod . . . dediderunt.

Cretensium : towns of the same region or race were often united in leagues or confederacies, chiefly for religious purposes. After the Roman conquest, such communia were sometimes left in existence, and even new ones were organized and allowed to exercise some subordinate political function. The existence of a commune Cretensium is known from inscriptions.

noster imperator : Q. Metellus (see note on p. 83, l. 13).

ad eundem , i.e. to Pompey.

eum quem ,one who.

ei quibus ,while they, etc., i.e. those who were jealous of Pompey's reputation.

potissimum ,rather than to any one else (i.e. rather than to Q. Metellus Pius, who also had a command in Spain and who was much older than Pompey). Nothing further is known of this embassy.

hanc auctoritatem : translate, as to this prestige, though it is really the subject of valituram esse, the whole clause being governed by existimetis .

(4) The fourth requisite in a commander: felicitas .

felicitate : in this quality is implied a special favor of the gods, which it would be presumptuous to arrogate to one's self (hence timide), although Sulla had done so by assuming the cognomen Felix (see Rosc. Am., sect. 12,p. 6, l. 7, and note).

Maximo : Quintus Fabius Maximus, "the shield of Rome"; Marcello: Marcus Claudius Marcellus, "the sword of Rome," both distinguished in the Second Punic War.

Scipioni : either Africanus the elder, or Aemilianus; from sect. 60 it might appear to be the latter.

Mario : Caius Marius, who vanquished Jugurtha, subdued the Cimbri and Teutones, and afterwards (B.C. 88) engaged in civil war with Sulla.

saepius , repeatedly: Marius was consul seven times.

fuit (emphatic), there really has been; §598, d (2) (344, d, 2).

hac moderatione : a shorthand expression for hoc modo moderato, in which moderato would refer merely to the result clause ut videamur.

non ut (not to be confounded with ut non), etc., i.e. not of such a kind as to say, etc., but such, etc.

invisa : because presumptuous.

non sum praedicaturus : this affectation of passing a subject over in silence is called praeteritio.

ut , how (introducing an indir. quest.).

qui . . . auderet : rel. clause of result.

quot et quantas , correl. with tot et tantas above. Translate by the single word as; § 308, h (106, b).

proprium ac perpetuum ,secured to him forever.

cum , introducing the general consideration ( communis ); tum (next line), the particular consideration ( ipsius).

Pompey should be appointed commander in Asia,—especially since he is on the spot. Cicero recapitulates the argument and applies it: since all that I have proved is so, can you hesitate to appoint the general whom Heaven provides, — especially (and here a new and powerful reason is added, as if it were an afterthought) since he is on the spot already?

sit : subj. of characteristic.

quin . . . conferatis : § 558, a, N.2 (332, g, N.2); B. 298, b; G. 555, 2, R.3 H. 596, I (505, I); Cf. H-B. 502, 3, b.

erat deligendus : § 517, c (308, c); B. 304, 3, a; G. 597, R2; 11.582 (51 I, 2); H-B. 582, 3, a, N.1.

nunc ,as things stand.

adsit , habeat , possit : result clauses in appos. with opportunitas .

eis qui habent , i.e. Lucullus, Glabrio, and Marcius Rex, who were still in command of Roman armies in Asia. For mood of habent, see § 593, a, N.1 (342, a, N.); G. 629, R.; H. 652, I (529, ii, N.1, 2).

cur . . . committamus : observe the different mood in the preceding question quid exspectamus ?

Objection of Hortensius, — that supreme power ought not to be given to one man. Answer: Hortensius made a similar objection to the Gabinian Law; yet that law turned out extremely well: acting under its provisions Pompey cleared the sea of pirates. Incidental answer to the objection made to sending Gabinius as lieutenant with Pompey (sects. 57,58 ).

at enim (objection), but, you will say.

adfectus = enjoying.

Catulus : Quintus Lutatius Catulus, at this time the leader of the senatorial party; an estimable man and an experienced statesman, but no soldier. The beneficia amplissima are the successive offices that had been conferred upon him.

Hortensius : the leading lawyer of the time (see oration against Verres).

ratione , view.

auctoritates contrarias : of course there were men of influence on the side of the Manilian Law as well as opposed to it; Cicero brings forward the names of several in sect. 68, below.

ipsa re ac ratione : this appeal from theoretical objections (as Cicero thinks them) to experience (i.e. in the Piratic War) would, of course, be very effective in a public assembly, for theoretical considerations weigh little with such bodies in comparison with facts. Cicero makes it doubly effective by pointing out that his opponents agree with his premises as to the necessity and magnitude of the war and the eminent ability of Pompey as a general, but that they avoid, on these merely technical grounds, what seems to him the obvious conclusion: viz. that Pompey should be appointed.

tribuenda sint : condition with nothing implied (in dir. disc., sunt ).

pro , in accordance with.

in senatu : laws did not require any ratification by the Senate. The expression of opinion by Hortensius must therefore have been in an informal discussion, after the promulgation of the law (i.e. its announcement as a proposed bill).

Gabiniurh : see Introd., p.67 of text.

promulgasset : a bill intended to be brought before either comitia was regularly announced to the Senate and posted in the city two Roman weeks (at least 17 days) before it could be voted on.

ex hoc ipso loco , i.e. in the public discussion of the law, before the vote, in the contio (see sect. 1).

hanc , i.e. which we have now.

an implies a strong negative; § 335, b (211, b); B. 162,4, a; G 457, 1; H. 380, 3 (353, N.4); H.-B. 236.

legati , etc.: observe that Cicero seizes the opportunity to recall briefly to the minds of his hearers certain important facts which he has already dwelt on in greater detail (in sects. 31-33 ).

ex omnibus , etc.: trans. from communication ( commeato , really abl. of specification) with all the provinces.

neque jam (1.6), no longer.

Atheniensium : the Athenian empire of the sea, in the fifth century B.C., resulted from the great victories in the Persian War.

Karthaginiensium : the maritime power of Carthage was at its height in the third century B.C.

Rhodiorum : the city of Rhodes was the chief naval power of the Mediterranean during the last three centuries before Christ: its power was broken B.C. 42, at its capture by Cassius.

permanserit : subj. of characteristic.

Antiochum : Antiochus the Great, king of Syria, defeated at Magnesia, B.C. 190.

Persen : Perses or Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, defeated at Pydna, B.C. 168 .

Karthaginiensis : Carthage was mistress of the sea at the time when her wars with Rome began; but in the First Punic War she was beaten at her own weapons.

ei repeats nos : we, i.e. that nation.

Delos : a very small island in the Aegean Sea, sacred as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. It had an excellent harbor, and this, added to its peculiar sanctity, gave it high importance. It had at all times a flourishing commerce and in the time of Cicero was the great slave market of the world, 10,000 slaves being sometimes sold there in a single day.

eidem repeats nos (1.23, above).

Appia via : the principal highway of Italy, running from Rome to Capua, and thence to Brundisium (see map of Italy, p.1). It was begun by Appius Claudius Caecus, in his censorship, B.C. 312 .

jam ,at length.

pudebat magistratus (acc. pl.): no special case is referred to, but it is implied that any magistrate ought to have felt shame, seeing that the beaks of ships, rostra, were naval trophies.

cum : concessive.

dolori : we should be likely to use a more general word, like feelings, which would be defined by the context. Such differences between two languages in the expression of thought are constantly found.

aliquando ,at last (cf. Cat. 2, sect. 1, l. 1).

obtrectatum esse : the subject of obtrectatum esse is the wish of the opponents to defeat the proposed measure (the appointment of Gabinius as lieutenant); as this wish, if successful, would be (like the affirmative measure) a determination, it is expressed by a purpose clause, ne legaretur .

adhuc : this opposition began in connection with the Gabinian Law and is still continued in connection with the Manilian.

quid liceat , i.e. how far they can safely go.

considerabunt , i.e. before they set themselves against the manifest will of the people.

socius : not as legatus, but simply as partner in his former honor and credit. This association of Gabinius with Pompey is used as an argument for giving him the office of legatus now.

Objection of Catulus, -"precedents should not be violated." Answer: "In time of war the Roman people have always consulted expediency rather than precedent; in Pompey's own case there have already been many violations of precedent."

ut . . . videatur : §569, 2 (332, a, 2); B. 297, 2; G. 553, 4; H. 571, 2 (501, 2); H.-B. 521, 3, a.

auctoritate et sententia , i.e. the weight which one must attach to the opinion of so great a man as Catulus (a kind of hendiadys).

cum . . . quaereret : cf. cum . . . dixistis, just below; § 546, N.3 (323); G. 579; H. 600, ii, I (521; ii, 2); H-B. 524 and c.

si . . . poneretis : fut. protasis; the apod. is the compound sentence si . . .factum esset, in quo spem essetis habituri, which itself consists of a fut. prot. and apod.; § 523 (31r, d); H-B. 582, 4. The tenses depend for their sequence on the perf. cepit.

si . . . esset ,if anything should happen to him (a common euphemism then as now).

eo : §403, c (244, d); B. 218,6; G.401, N.7; H. 474,3 (415, iii, N.1); H.-B. 423, b.

essetis habituri : indir. quest.; for use of periphrastic form, see § 575, a (334, a); B. 269,3; G. 515; H. 649, ii, I (529 , ii,4); H-B. 537, d, I.

quominus. . .hoc magis : §414,a(250,R.); B.223; G.403; H. 479 (423); H.-B. 424.

at enim : see first note on sect. 51.

exempla , precedents; instituta , established customs.

non dicam , etc.: an excellent specimen of the rhetorical device known as praeteritio (cf. note on p. 88, l. 13, above).

paruisse , adcommodasse , i.e. they disregarded precedents in great emergencies.

temporum depends on casus ,consiliorum on rationes (chiastic order).

ab uno imperatore : Scipio Africanus the younger (Aemilianus), who captured Carthage (B.C. 146) and Numantia (B.C. 133). In his time there had been a law that no person should be consul twice in successlon.

ut . . . poneretur : clause of purpose with visum est (here a verb of decreeing).

C. Mario : Marius was chosen consul five years in succession, to carry on the wars here referred to.

The argument in this and the following section is a telling one: "In the case of Pompey himself precedent has often been violated with the full assent of Catulus. Why, then, should Catulus be so scrupulous now, when the highest interests of the state are involved?" For the several occurrences referred to, see notes on sects. 28 -30, above.

privatum , i.e. not a magistrate.

a senatorio gradu : no one could legally enter the Senate until after holding the quaestorship, the minimum age for which was thirty at least, and regularly thirty-six, while Pompey was at the time referred to (B.C. 82) only twenty-three.

in ea provincia , i.e. Africa.

fuit : translate, he showed, etc. (in order to render the abls. of quality, which come in a way foreign to our idiom).

victorem , victorious (pred. adj.).

exercitum deportavit : this was one of the essential conditions of a triumph.

equitem , i.e. not a member of the Senate, having never held a magistracy.

triumphare : the honor of a triumph was restricted to commanders who possessed the imperium by virtue of holding a regular magistracy. Until he was elected consul for the year B.C. 70, Pompey had never had the imperium except by special appointment from the Senate; both his triumphs, therefore, B.C. 80 and 71, were contrary to precedent.

duo consules : Mamercus Lepidus and Decimus Brutus, B.C. 77. Instead of either of these being sent to Spain as proconsul the next year, against Sertorius Pompey, though a simple eques, was designated for that service.

pro consule : when it was desired to retain the services of a magistrate after his term of office had expired, his imperium was extended ( prorogatum) by the Senate, and was held by him pro consule or pro praetore, that is, as having the power of a consul or praetor while no longer actually a magistrate. It was not strictly legal to appoint a private citizen in such a capacity; but sometimes,— as in Pompey's case, —this was done.

quidem , by the way.

non nemo , a man or two.

Philippus , a prominent member of the aristocracy (consul, B.C. 91), distinguished for his wit; a man of liberal temper, but a vehement partisan.

pro consulibus ,in place of both consuls.

mittere : for mitto of the dir. disc. Philippus seems to have put his bon mot into the regular form of a sententia, or formal expression of opinion in the Senate, using the simple present tense, with the qualifying mea sententia ; §467(276,b); B. 259,2; G.227,N.2; H. 530(467, iii, 6); H.-B. 484.

ut . . . fieret : subst. clause of result after the analogy of the subj. with verbs of happening; § 571,c (332,f); G. 553,4; H. 571, I (501, i).

ex senatus consulto : another irregularity, for the comitia were the law-making body and therefore of course had the sole power of exempting from the laws.

legibus solutus ,exempted from the operation of the laws, i.e. those limiting the age of magistrates (leges annales).

magistratum : the legal age of a consul was not below forty-three, and that of a praetor not below forty. Pompey, however, was elected consul (B.C. 70) at the age of thirty-six, which was the regular age for the quaestorship.

iterum : Pompey celebrated his second triumph Dec.31, B.C. 71, and the next day entered upon the consulship.

in ,in the case of.

The judgment of the people should override such objections (sect. 63, l.11-sect. 64, l.25). Pompey alone can retrieve the Roman reputation in the East (sect. 64, l. 26-sect. 67). Favorable opinions of leading men (sect. 68 ).

atque haec , etc., and all these many precedents, so weighty and so new, have been established in the case of this single man (Pompey), and have originated, too, in measures promoted by Q. Catulus and the other, etc. Lit. all these many examples (i.e. acts establishing precedents) have come upon this same man (Pompey) [proceeding] from the [senatorial] approval of Q. Catulus, etc. The Latin tends to compress two or more assertions into a single clause, where in English it is more natural to use separate clauses.

amplissimorum : a regular epithet for dignitaries.

auctoritate , i.e. since they were then prominent members of the Senate.

comprobatam , i.e. the people, in electing Pompey consul, had only followed the example of the Senate in conferring these repeated honors.

judicium ,formal decision, expressed by passing the Gabinian Law.

vel , even .

delegistis : not literally correct. The Gabinian Law merely prescribed that an ex-consul should receive this command: the Senate selected the man. In fact, however, it was a law made for Pompey, and the Senate would not have ventured to appoint anybody else.

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.

requiruntur ,are in demand, i.e. pretexts of war are sought, with cities that we hardly know of; inferatur ,may be fastened.

With Cicero's account of the depredations of the provincial governors, cf. Sheridan's celebrated description in his Speech in Summing up the Evidence on the Second Charge against Warren Hastings: Should a stranger survey the land formerly Sujah Dowlah's, and seek the cause of the calamity — should he ask what monstrous madness had ravaged thus, what widespread war, what desolating foreign foe, what disputed succession, what religious zeal, what fabled monster, had stalked abroad, and, with malice and mortal enmity to man, had withered, with the gripe of death, every growth of nature and humanity, all the means of delight, and each original, simple principle of bare existence, — the answer will be (if any answer dare be given): 'No, alas! not one of these things, — no desolating foreign foe, no disputed succession, no religious superserviceable zeal! This damp of death is the mere effusion of British amity: we sink under the pressure of their support, we writhe under the gripe of their pestiferous alliance!'

libenter , etc., I should be glad to argue this face to face, etc.; § 521, a (310, a); B. 305, 1; G. 600, 1; H. 575, 9 (507, N.7); H.-B. 578, 6.

hostium simulatione ,under a pretence of [the existence of] enemies: notice the chiastic order.

animos ac spiritus ,pride and insolence.

conlatis signis , i.e. an actual warfare.

nisi erit idem ,unless he shall also be one.

idoneus qui . . . mittatur : see note on impetret,p. 91, l. 21 .

pacatam , etc.: in the forcible extension of the Roman Empire, a province was spoken of as pacata when actual resistance had ceased on the part of the conquered.

quae . . . sit , subj. of characteristic; for tense, see § 435, c (287, c); B. 268, 7; G. 513; H. 550 (495, vi); cf. H.-B. 481.

praetores , i.e. propraetors: for, after the time of Sulla, the praetors regularly remained at Rome during their term of office.

publica , i.e. that allowed them for the support of their fleets and armies.

jacturis , expenses, in securing their election.

condicionibus ,corrupt bargains, with creditors, etc.

quasi... non... vldeamus : §524(312); B.307,2;G.602; H. 534 and 2 (513, ii, and N.1); H.-B. 504, 3.

dubitare quin , hesitate. The usual construction in this sense would be with the infin.; § 558, a, N.1 (332,g, N.2); B. 298, b; G. 555, R3; 14.596, I (505, i); cf. H.-B. 502, 3, b, 586.

auctoritatibus , i.e. the opinions of influential men (cf. auctor in the next line).

est vobis auctor ,you have as authority. P. Servilius (Vatia Isauricus) was one of the most reputable men of the time. He held the proconsulship of Cilicia, B.C. 78-75, in which he gained great successes over the pirates. It was probably his intimate knowledge of the region and the kind of warfare, that led him to support this vigorous measure.

debeat : for tense, see § 435, a (287, a); Cf. B. 268, 1; H-B. 481.

Curio : see note on Impeachment of Verres, sect. 18, p. 34, l. 29.

Lentulus : Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus, cos. B.C. 72; not to be confounded with Lentulus Sura, ens. B.C. 71, the accomplice of Catiline.

Cassius : for the character of this family, see note on Verr. 1, sect. 30 ,p. 39, l. 3.

Manilius is encouraged to stand firm. Cicero protests that his own advocacy of the law is disinterested and patriotic.

auctore populo Romano : the Roman people has already shown its opinion of Pompey by passing the Gabinian Law; hence Manilius has the auctoritas of the whole people behind him, as opposed to the auctoritas of a few aristocrats like Hortensius and Catulus (cf. sect. 63).

neve ,and not

iterum : alluding to the former unanimity of the people in passing the Gabinian Law.

de re . . . facultate ,the cause itself or the power of carrying it through.

dubitemus : §535, a (320, a); B. 283, 2; G. 631, a.2; F 591, 1(503, i); Cf. H.-B. 513, 2.

potestate praetoria ,official influence as praetor ; more official than auctoritate.

defero ,put at your service.

templo , i.e. the rostra. The term templum was applied to any place consecrated by regular auspices (augurato). As the public assembly was held augurato, the place of holding it was a consecrated one.

ad rem publicam adeunt ,are engaged in public affairs.

neque quo ,nor because; §540, N.1 (321., a.): B. 286, I, b; G. 541, a.2; H. 588, ii, 2 (516, ii, 2); H-B. 535, 2, b.

honoribus : the term honor is regularly applied to honors conferred by the people, i.e. public offices. These he proposes to earn, not by the arts of a politician, but by fidelity in his profession as an advocate.

pericula relates to the simultates in the next section. It was not possible for him to espouse this democratic measure so earnestly without incurring coolness, at least on the part of the aristocracy.

ut ,so far as a man , etc. (cf. our humanly speaking the Lord willing, and the like.)

ab uno , i.e. he expects no reward in the way of public office from Pompey's influence.

ex hoc loco , i.e. by political activity (cf. sect. sect. 1 ).

mihi : §375(232, a); B. 189, 2; G. 354; H. 431 (388, 1); H.-B. 373, 2.

tantum. . . abest ut. . . videar ,I am so far from seeming: §571, b (332, d); G. 552, a.1; H. 570, 2 (502, 3); cf. H-B. 521, 3, a, footnote 2, (3).

hoc honore , i.e. the praetorship.

oportere ,I am bound: me (l.16) is subject of praeferre, and me praeferre depends on oportere.