81 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Huic hominī parcētis igitur, iūdicēs, cuius tanta peccāta sunt ut iī quibus iniūriās fēcerit neque lēgitimum tempus exspectāre ad ulcīscendum neque vim tantam dolōris in posterum differre potuerint? Circumsessus es. Ā quibus? Ā Lampsacēnīs. Barbarīs hominibus, crēdō, aut iīs quī populī Rōmānī nōmen contemnerent. Immō vērō ab hominibus et nātūrā et cōnsuētūdine et disciplīnā lēnissimīs, porrō autem populī Rōmānī condiciōne sociīs, fortūnā servīs, voluntāte supplicibus: ut perspicuum sit omnibus, nisi tanta acerbitās iniūriae, tanta vīs sceleris fuisset ut Lampsacēnī moriendum sibi potius quam perpetiendum putārent, numquam illōs in eum locum prōgressūrōs fuisse ut vehementius odiō libīdinis tuae quam lēgātiōnis metū movērentur.

study aids

Cicero begins this and the following paragraph with a direct appeal to the judges, to alleviate the monotony of his remorseless. . . [full essay]

Grammar and Syntax:

What types (pl.!) of ablative are condicione sociis, fortuna servis, voluntate supplicibus?

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Discuss the factors that, according to Cicero, shape the character and the actions of the Lampsacenes, both normally and in the situation of crisis triggered by Verres.

notes

Huic homini parcetis, igitur, iudices … : Cicero continues in his anthropological idiom, suggesting to the judges that they have to pass a verdict on a wicked human being, rather than a former magistrate or senatorial peer. The theme of ‘sparing’ has already occurred twice during the episode: the Roman citizens plead with the Lampsacenes to spare Verres in order to avoid punitive sanctions (§ 69) and Cicero suggests that Fortune has spared Verres for legal punishment in Rome (§ 70). Now, however, the time of leniency is over.

neque legitimum tempus exspectare ad ulciscendum neque vim tantam doloris in posterum differre: two parallel infinitive phrases depending on potuerint, with two *chiastic variations: (a) legitimum (b) tempus – (b) vim (a) tantam; (a) exspectare (b) ad ulciscendum – (b) in posterum (a) differre.

vocabulary

CORE VOCABULARY

peccātum, -ī, [peccō], n., fault, transgression, sin.

lēgitimus, -a, -um, [lēx], adj., legal, lawful, legitimate; just, proper.

ulcīscor, ulcīscī, ultus sum, 3, dep., take vengeance on, punish; avenge, requite.

circumsedeō, -sedēre, -sēdī, -sessum, [circum + sedeō], 2, a., sit around; surround, besiege, beset.

Lampsacenis citizens of Lampsacusm a Greek town located on the eastern side of the Hellespont.

barbarus, -a, -um, [βάρβαρος], adj., unintelligible; strange, foreign; of foreigners, barbarian; barbarous, cruel, savage, rude, uncivilized.

Rōmānus, -a, -um, [Rōma], adj., of Rome, Roman, Latin. As subst., Rōmānus, -ī, m., Roman.

immō, adv., nay indeed, nay, on the contrary, no indeed. immō vērō, nay rather, nay more.

lēnis, -e, adj., soft, gentle, mild, smooth, calm; kind, moderate.

porro at distance, further on, far off, onward; of old, formerly, hereafter; again;

supplex, -icis, [sub, cf. plicō], adj., bending the knee, begging; entreating; submissive, suppliant. As subst., m., suppliant, petitioner.

perspicuum transparent, clear; evident;

acerbitās, -ātis, [acerbus], f., bitterness; harshness, severity; pl., sorrows, anguish, affliction.

potius [potis], adv., comp., rather, more.

perpetiendum endure to the full;

prōgredior, -gredī, -gressus sum, [prō + gradior], 3, dep., go forth, go forward, proceed, advance.

vehementer, comp. vehementius, sup. vehementissimē, [vehemēns], adv., eagerly, impetuously, vehemently; strongly, exceedingly, very much, extremely.

lēgātiō, -ōnis, [lēgō], f., embassy, legation.

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