Iam iam, Dolābella, neque mē tuī neque tuōrum līberōrum, quōs tū miserōs in egestāte atque in sōlitūdine relīquistī, miserērī potest. Verrēsne tibi tantī fuit ut eius libīdinem hominum innocentium sanguine luī vellēs? Idcircōne exercitum atque hostem relinquēbās ut tuā vī et crūdēlitāte istīus hominis improbissimī perīcula sublevārēs? Quod enim eum tibi quaestōris in locō cōnstituerās, idcircō tibi amīcum in perpetuum fore putāstī? nesciēbās ab eō Cn. Carbōnem cōnsulem, cuius rē vērā quaestor fuerat, nōn modo relictum sed etiam spoliātum auxiliīs, pecūniā, nefāriē oppugnātum et prōditum? Expertus igitur es istīus perfidiam tum cum ipse sē ad inimīcōs tuōs contulit, cum in tē homō ipse nocēns ācerrimum testimōnium dīxit, cum ratiōnēs ad aerārium nisi damnātō tē referre nōluit.
study aids
Grammar and Syntax:
- Explain the case and function of tanti.
- Explain the grammar and syntax of nisi damnato te.
Style and Theme:
- Collect all instances of personal pronouns and possessive adjectives in the paragraph and explore their role in Cicero’s rhetoric.
- Describe the tone in which Cicero attacks Dolabella.
- How does Cicero employ Roman political norms and recent history against Verres and Dolabella?