Cicero in Verrem II Teacher Support

AS GCE in Classics: Latin H039
TEACHER SUPPORT
Cicero, In Verrem II.
1. 53–69
(TRANSLATION PROVIDED)
VERSION 1 JULY 2011
This extract and accompanying notes

provide the source material for Unit 2:
Latin Verse and Prose Literature of the OCR
Advanced Subsidiary GCE in Classics: Latin
H039
CONTENTS
Chronological Table 3
Marcus Tullius Cicero 4
Gaius Verres 5
The Context of the Case 5
Roman Oratory 6
The Text: Cicero, In Verrem II. 1. 53-69 9
Notes 16
Vocabulary 24
2 Cicero, In Verrem II.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
Date Event Source
106BC The birth of Cicero at Arpinum Cic. De Leg. 2.3

Late 90s Rhetorical education at Rome under Cic. De Orat 2.1-3
Lucius Crassus and Marcus Antonius
85BC Cicero completes his education with Cic. Brut. 308-10

the Stoic philosopher Diodotus
81BC Cicero’s first surviving speech Aulus Gellius, Noctes

Pro Quinctio Atticae 15.28
80BC Cicero’s successful defence speech Cic. Pro Rosc. passim

Pro Roscio
79-77BC Cicero studies rhetoric under

Apollonius Molon in Rhodes
75BC Cicero serves as quaestor in Sicily Cic. Verr. 2.3.47

70BC Cicero takes on the case against Verres Cic. Verr. Passim
43BC Cicero is murdered after being put on

the proscribed list of Mark Antony,
Lepidus and Octavian
Cicero, In Verrem II. 3

MARCUS TULLIUS prosecutor at the request of the Sicilians. Cicero

cleverly won the case after the first stage and
CICERO Verres fled from Rome. As such the second round of
Verrine orations, which are divided into five books,
part of which form this year’s set text, were never
More of Cicero’s work survives than any other actually delivered. They serve as a record of what
Roman author and consequently we are able to would have been said.
piece together a great deal about his life from
these sources alone. Plutarch subsequently wrote Cicero’s victory in this case, defended as it was by
one of his Parallel Lives about Cicero and arranged a man called Hortensius, the former champion of
many of the existing sources into a coherent the Roman bar, cemented Cicero’s reputuation
and chronological order. For students wanting hereafter. He subsequently continued up the cursus
to piece together a life of Cicero for themselves I honorum, being elected aedile in 69BC, praetor in
recommend the website www.attalus.org, which 66BC and consul in 63BC. It was in this year that he
catalogues events, people and places from the successfully indicted Cataline, put an end to the
sources in which they are mentioned. For those conspiracy to overthrow the Republic and became
seeking a more imaginative introduction to Cicero’s the self-titled pater patriae.
life and times I recommend the no less scholarly,
but infinitely more enaging historical novels He was then exiled in 58BC for having executed
Imperium and Lustrum by Robert Harris. the conspirators without a trial, was recalled a
year later and then became embroiled in the latter
The following very brief summary of Cicero’s life part of the First Triumvirate under Caesar, Pompey
is drawn from the Oxford Classical Dictionary. and Crassus, seeking to absent himself from the
Cicero was born on 3rd January 106BC near a political machinations which ensued. Unable to
town called Arpinum around 70 miles south-east remain neutral any longer after he returned from
of Rome. It is likely that he would have received his proconsulship of Cilicia in 50BC, he eventually
his earliest education at home but by the late joined the republicans (i.e. Pompey’s party), in
90s after assuming the toga virilis – the mark of a Greece. Caesar’s eventual victory in the Civil War
boy achieving manhood – he was introduced to therefore saw the end of Cicero’s political career,
Quintus Mucius Scaevola for rheortical and legal despite his being pardoned by Caesar.
education in Rome. His education continued with
philosophical instruction during the the 80sBC After Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March
under the Stoic Diodotus before he became active 44BC, Cicero did not hide his contentment and
as an advocate in 81BC, when his first extant speech then openly declared, in a series of passionate
Pro Quinctio was written. It was in the following political pamphlets known as the ‘Philippics’, his
year when Cicero successfully defended Sextus opposition to Antony, even stating that Antony
Roscius in what was politically a very tricky and should have been killed too. After accepting the
risky case, that Cicero’s earned himself a reputation young Octavian’s invitations of allegiance he
as a capable lawyer. was eventually abandoned by Octavian when he
subsequently decided to form a Second Triumvirate
He did take time between 79 and 77BC, however, to with Mark Antony and Lepidus. One of their first
pursue further rhetorical and philosophical training acts was to compile a list of common enemies
in Athens and Rhodes and when he returned to and have them put to death. Antony secured
Rome he was elected as quaestor of Sicily. In the Octavian’s agreement that Cicero should be on
early part of 70BC Cicero returned to Sicily to gather that list. He was killed whilst fleeing to Greece on
evidence against Verres in his capacity as official 7th December 43BC, having lived through 63 of

the most tumultuous and significant years in the misdemeanours did not seem a damning enough
history of Rome and producing an unprecedented indictment of his character and capabilities, the
documentary record of the time in his 774 main cause for his trial, however, was his activity
surviving letters, 58 speeches and several works as governor of Sicily, when he was responsible
of philosophy, poetry and instruction in the art of for systematically exploiting the province. This
oratory. included seizing the possessions of many innocent
Sicilians, increasing the corn tax impositions to such
an extent that corn production in Sicily diminished
GAIUS VERRES as a result as well as a host of other activities and
misdeeds including attempted rape.
Most of what we know about the life of Gaius Verres
comes from Cicero’s Verrine Speeches. Like many
affluent young men from noble families Gaius THE CONTEXT OF THE
Verres was reputed to have misspent much of his
youth in drunken nocturnal revels, and to have CASE
kept salubrious company with pimps, gamblers
and rebels (Cic. In Verrem 2.1.33). He achieved the The first Verrine oration was the only one to
quaestorship in the year 84 BC, before becoming a actually be delivered since it was so effective that
deputy in Asia, a city praetor and finally a praetor in Verres did not even turn up to hear the remaining
Sicily, the gross mismanagement of which leads to speeches which Cicero had prepared1. The first
his prosecution by Cicero in the Verrine speeches speech focuses not on the crime of extortion for
(Cic. In Verrem 2.1.34). During his quaestorship which Verres was being convicted but on two other
we learn that Verres defrauded Cnaeus Carbo, the things:
consul whose quaestor he was, and went over to
Sulla with a large sum of money, (Cic. In Verrem 1. Cicero’s knowledge of the attempts by
1.2.11, 1.2.38, 2.1.11, 2.1.34-40, 2.1.77). Some years the defence to prevent the case going ahead on
later in 80BC Verres was sent as proquaestor to technical grounds, to ensure the combination
Dolabella in Cilicia (a region on the south-east of the judge and jury could be altered to ensure
coast of Anatolia) and is said to have looted various Verres’ acquittal, and
allied states along the way including Aspendos, 2. the reliability of an entirely senatorial jury at
which is mentioned in section 53 of this set text. a time when they were under scrutiny due to
Continuing a decade’s worth of fraud, extortion allegations of bribery and corruption.
and improper behaviour we learn from Cicero
that Verres (Cic. In Verrem 2.1.95-102) extorted This approach turned out to be a stroke of genius
money from various parts of Asia through improper as the jury were keen to acquit themselves by
taxation of corn in Lycia, Pamphylia, Piscidia, and showing a hard line against Verres.
all Phrygia. In the year 74BC, Verres is alleged to
have deprived various heirs apparent of their
fortunes (Cic. In Verrem 2.1.104-118, 2.1.122-127,
2.1.155-157) as well as attempting to make money
from the restoration of temples, most notably
the Temple of Castor (Cic. In Verrem, 2.1.127-154).
These inheritance tricks continue into the following
year as he stops Dion of Halaesa from receiving
an inheritance (Cic. In Verrem 2.1.27-28, 2.2.19-
24). As if these legal loopholes, and administrative
1 Pseudo-Asconius Verr.I.153.24-8

ROMAN ORATORY memoria

the solid understanding of the topics
and words in mind
pronuntiatio the modulation of the body and the
Aristotle divided rhetoric into three genres voice appropriate to the dignity of
(Rhetoric 1.3): deliberative, forensic and epideictic. the words and topics.
What distinguished them from one another
was actually the audience who was observing. Once the speech has been developed Cicero then
Deliberative rhetoric was employed when a speaker says that there are six parts to the structure of that
wished to persuade statesmen of some future speech (De Inv. 1.19 et passim):
action, forensic rhetoric was employed when a
speaker wished to convince jurymen about past exordium an introduction, preparing the minds
events, whereas epideictic rhetoric was employed of the listeners appropriately for the
purely to be judged as skilful in its own right. remaining speech
Cicero’s legal speeches therefore come under the narratio the revelation of the deeds done, or
title of forensic rhetoric. seem to have been done
partitio the division into topics
Along with sixteen books of letters to his friends, confirmatio the part of the speech which adds
several philosophical works, some poems of plausibility, authority and
questionable merit and the 58 speeches which confirmation to the argument
survive, Cicero also wrote extensively about the reprehensio the part of the speech in which the
art of speech which made him so famous. His first adversary’s confirmatio is refuted or
work was the De Inventione, which was a “treatise weakened
on some techniques of rhetorical argument” (OCD conclusio the end of the whole speech when
3rd Edition). The De Oratore (55BC), Brutus and the threads are drawn to together
Orator (46BC) are broader philosophical works (enumeratio), great hatred is roused
which “present an idealized picture of the orator against a man (indignatio) and there
as a liberally educated master of his art” (OCD 3rd is a complaint (conquestio) designed
Edition) while the minor work Partitiones oratoriae to rouse pity.
was a fictionalised dialogue “in which Cicero
instructs his son in the elements of the art” (OCD While this is very informative of the structural
3rd Edition). elements of a speech there is little so far which
explicitly outlines the rhetorical devices which
In the De Oratore (2.128) Cicero outlines for us the Cicero employed, or the common topoi – rhetorical
three qualities which a speech must have to be commonplaces - used for arousing indignation
effective. He says it needs to be able to (docere) and pity. For this we must turn to other writers who
inform, (movere) stir and (delectare) delight and in more explicitly outline these tricks of the trade.
the earlier De Inventione he outlines for us the five First of all there is the anonymous Rhetorica ad
stages for structuring such a speech (De Inv.1.9). Herrenium which used to be falsely attributed to
These are: Cicero. In this we can learn about the principle of
amplification, which is the use of commonplaces to
inventio the conceiving of topics which are stir the hearers.
either true or seem to be true, which
make the case probable
dispositio the arrangement of these discovered
topics in order
elocutio the adaptation of appropriate words
and sentences to fit the inventio

“(1) The first commonplace is taken from authority, (7) By means of the seventh commonplace we
when we call to mind of what great concern the show it is a foul crime, cruel, sacrilegious, and
matter under discussion has been to the immortal tyrannical; such a crime as the outraging of women,
gods, or to our ancestors, or kings, states, barbarous or one of those crimes that incite wars and life-and
nations, sages, the Senate; and again, especially death struggles with enemies of the state.
how sanction has been provided in these matters
by laws. (8) By means of the eighth commonplace we show
that it is not a common but a unique crime, base,
(2) The second commonplace is used when we nefarious, and unheard of, and therefore must be
consider who are affected by these acts on which the more promptly and drastically avenged.
our charge rest; whether all men, which is a most
shocking thing; or our superiors, such as are those (9) The ninth commonplace consists of comparison
from whom the commonplace of authority is taken; of wrongs, as when we shall say it is a more heinous
or our peers, those in the same situation as we with crime to debauch a free-born person than to steal
respect to qualities of character, physical attributes, a sacred object, because the one is done from
and external circumstances; or our inferiors, whom unbridled licentiousness and the other from need.
in all these respects we excel.
(10) By the tenth commonplace we shall examine
(3) By means of the third commonplace we ask sharply, incriminatingly, and precisely, everything
what would happen if the same indulgence should that took place in the actual execution of the deed
be granted to all culprits, and show what perils and and all the circumstances that usually attend such
disadvantages would ensue from indifference to an act, so that by the enumeration of the attendant
this crime. circumstances the crime may seem to be taking
place and the action to unfold before our eyes.” 1
(4) By means of the fourth commonplace we show
that if we indulge this man, many others will be the It is worth noting how many of these
more emboldened to commit crimes — something commonplaces you can find in the comparatively
which the anticipation of a judicial sentence has small section of the text which you will be studying
hitherto checked. for AS.
(5) By the fifth commonplace we show that if once Once a speech had been researched, structured
judgement is pronounced otherwise than as we and had begun to integrate some of the topoi
urge, there will be nothing which can remedy mentioned above, the orator then had at his
the harm or correct the jurors’ error. Here it will disposal several hundred stylistic devices which
be in point for us to make a comparison with could be used to embellish his words. The best
other mistakes, so as to show that other mistakes source for discussion of these is Quintilian’s
can either be moderated by time or corrected Institutiones Oratoriae.
designedly, but that so far as the present mistake is
concerned, nothing will serve either to alleviate or
to amend it.
(6) By means of the sixth commonplace we show

that the act was done with premeditation, and
declare that for an intentional crime there is
1 The translation is lifted from http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/
no excuse, although a rightful plea of mercy is Roman/Texts/Rhetorica_ad_Herennium/1*.html (1st May 2011 16:25)
provided for an unpremeditated act. and is itself a copy of the English translation of the 1954 version of the
text in the Loeb Classical Library, which is now in the public domain.

Some of these devices are as follows: known as a ‘tricolon crescens’ or ‘tricolon crescendo’.
apostrophe when an orator speaks directly to polyptoton the use of a word several times
someone, breaking the flow of his speech – the in quick succession with different inflections,
effect says Quintilian is designed to attract the designed to draw attention to that item
attention of the listener so he does not grow bored. praeteritio the feigned claim by an orator not to
mention that Verres, for instance, has committed
repetition words may be repeated at the some crime or crimes, but in claiming he is not
beginning or end of sentences or phrases that going to mention it, he actually does so.
either seek to amplify a point or to present an
antithesis, or opposite point of view. tautology saying the same thing more than
once in order to leave the listener in no doubt as to
anaphora this is one specific type of repetition the point you are trying to make.
where a word or phrase is repeated at the
beginning of successive clauses, it is quite often the rhetorical question used to drive home
used in conjunction with the tricolon crescens. This a point very emphatically; questions require
is the sort of place where one imagines the orator answers, so put the questioned person ‘on the
banging his fist on the table or lectern, if he used spot’; in a rhetorical question, the answer would
one, at each repetition. be impossible, awkward or embarrassing for the
person being questioned.
asyndeton the omission of conjunctions from a
list is used to express anything forcefully, and the Each of these devices appears at least once in this
items on the list are meant to be appear numerous set text and an explanation of the effect is given
as a result; the list seems exhaustive polysyndeton in the notes at the back. There are many hundreds
the use of numerous conjunctions in a list produces of these devices available to the orator and the
a similar effect to asyndeton and is designed to following website http://www.public.iastate.
highlight the extent of the items being covered. edu/~goodwin/classical/listoflists.html provides
an excellent source based Orator’s Toolkit for those
polysyndeton the use of numerous conjunctions in keen to research this topic further.
a list produces a similar effect to asyndeton and is
designed to highlight the extent of the items being
covered.
pleonasm the use of copious words beyond

what is actually necessary to convey meaning.
antithesis the opposition of ideas designed to

highlight the conflict between two words or states
of affairs.
exclamation calling out to someone.
tricolon delivering ideas in threes; when

there is a sense that the second point is more
forceful, important or emphasised than the first,
and the third point more than the second, this is

THE TEXT: CICERO, IN VERREM II. 1. 53-69

[53] Aspendum vetus oppidum et nobile in Pamphylia [53] You know that Aspendus is an ancient and noble town
scitis esse, plenissimum signorum optimorum. Non in Pamphylia, full of very fine statues. I do not say that one
dicam illinc hoc signum ablatum esse et illud: hoc dico, statue or another was taken away from thence: this I say,
nullum te Aspendi signum, Verres, reliquisse, omnia ex that you, O Verres, left not one statue at Aspendus; that
fanis, ex locis publicis, palam, spectantibus omnibus, everything from the temples and from all public places was
plaustris evecta exportataque esse. Atque etiam illum openly seized and carried away on wagons, the citizens
Aspendium citharistam, de quo saepe audistis id quod all looking on. And he even carried off that harp-player
est Graecis hominibus in proverbio, quem omnia ‘intus of Aspendus, of whom you have often heard the saying,
canere’ dicebant, sustulit et in intimis suis aedibus which is a proverb among the Greeks, who used to say that
posuit, ut etiam illum ipsum suo artificio superasse he could sing everything within himself, and put him in
videatur. the inmost part of his own house, so as to appear to have
surpassed the statue itself in trickery.
[54] Pergae fanum antiquissimum et sanctissimum [54] At Perga we are aware that there is a very ancient and
Dianae scimus esse: id quoque a te nudatum ac very holy temple of Diana. That too, I say, was stripped
spoliatum esse, ex ipsa Diana quod habebat auri and plundered by you; and all the gold which there was on
detractum atque ablatum esse dico. Diana herself was taken off and carried away. What, in the
name of mischief, can such audacity and inanity mean?
Quae, malum, est ista tanta audacia atque amentia! In the very cities of our friends and allies, which you visited
Quas enim sociorum atque amicorum urbis adisti under the pretext of your office as lieutenant, if you had
legationis iure et nomine, si in eas vi cum exercitu stormed them by force with an army, and had exercised
imperioque invasisses, tamen, opinor, quae signa atque military rule there, still, I think, the statues and ornaments
ornamenta ex iis urbibus sustulisses, haec non in tuam which you took away, you would have carried, not to your
domum neque in suburbana amicorum, sed Romam in own house, nor to the suburban villas of your friends, but
publicum deportasses. to Rome for the public use.
[55] Quid ego de M. Marcello loquar, qui Syracusas, [55] Why should I speak of Marcus Marcellus, who took
urbem ornatissimam, cepit? quid de L. Scipione, Syracuse, that most beautiful city? why of Lucius Scipio,
qui bellum in Asia gessit Antiochumque, regem who waged war in Asia, and conquered Antiochus, a most
potentissimum, vicit? quid de Flaminino, qui regem powerful monarch? why of Flaminius, who subdued Philip
Philippum et Macedoniam subegit? quid de L. Paulo, the king, and Macedonia? why of Lucius Paullus, who
qui regem Persen vi ac virtute superavit? quid de L. with his might and valour conquered king Perses? why of
Mummio, qui urbem pulcherrimam atque ornatissimam, Lucius Mummius, who overthrew that most beautiful and
Corinthum, plenissimam rerum omnium, sustulit, elegant city Corinth, full of all sorts of riches, and brought
urbisque Achaiae Boeotiaeque multas sub imperium many cities of Achaia and Boeotia under the empire and
populi Romani dicionemque subiunxit? Quorum domus, dominion of the Roman people?—their houses, though
cum honore ac virtute florerent, signis et tabulis pictis they were rich in virtue and honour, were empty of statues
erant vacuae; at vero urbem totam templaque deorum and paintings. But we see the whole city, the temples of the
omnesque Italiae partes illorum donis ac monumentis gods, and all parts of Italy, adorned with their gifts, and
exornatas videmus. with memorials of them.
[56] Vereor ne haec forte cuipiam nimis antiqua et [56] I am afraid all this may seem to some people too
iam obsoleta videantur; ita enim tum aequabiliter ancient, and long ago obsolete. For at that time all men
omnes erant eius modi ut haec laus eximiae virtutis were so uniformly disposed in the same manner, that
et innocentiae non solum hominum, verum etiam this credit of eminent virtue and incorruptibility appears

temporum illorum esse videatur. P. Servilius, vir to belong, not only to those men, but also to those
clarissimus, maximis rebus gestis, adest de te times. Publius Servilius, a most illustrious man, who has
sententiam laturus: Olympum vi, copiis, consilio, virtute performed the noblest exploits, is present. He will deliver
cepit, urbem antiquam et omnibus rebus auctam et his opinion on your conduct. He, by his power, had forces;
ornatam. Recens exemplum fortissimi viri profero; nam his wisdom and his valour took Olympus, an ancient city,
postea Servilius imperator populi Romani Olympum and one strengthened and embellished in every possible
urbem hostium cepit quam tu in isdem illis locis legatus manner. I am bringing forward recent example of a most
quaestorius oppida pacata sociorum atque amicorum distinguished man. For Servilius, as a general of the Roman
diripienda ac vexanda curasti. people, took Olympus after you, as lieutenant of the
quaestor in the same district, had taken care to harass and
plunder all the cities of our friends and allies even when
they were at peace.
[57] Tu quae ex fanis religiosissimis per scelus et [57] The things which you carried off from the holiest
latrocinium abstulisti, ea nos videre nisi in tuis temples with wickedness, and like a robber, we cannot see,
amicorumque tuorum tectis non possumus: P. Servilius except in your own houses, or in those of your friends. The
quae signa atque ornamenta ex urbe hostium vi et statues and decorations which Publius Servilius brought
virtute capta belli lege atque imperatorio iure sustulit, away from the cities of our enemies, taken by his courage
ea populo Romano adportavit, per triumphum vexit, and valour, according to the laws of war and his own rights
in tabula publica ad aerarium perscribenda curavit. as commander-in-chief, he brought home for the Roman
Cognoscite ex litteris publicis hominis amplissimi people; he carried them in his triumph, and took care
diligentiam. Recita. RATIONES RELATAE P. SERVILI. Non that a description of them should be engraved on public
solum numerum signorum, sed etiam unius cuiusque tablets and hid up in the treasury. You may learn from
magnitudinem, figuram, statum litteris definiri vides. public documents the industry of that most honourable
Certe maior est virtutis victoriaeque iucunditas quam man. Read—“The accounts delivered by Publius Servilius.”
ista voluptas quae percipitur ex libidine et cupiditate. You see not only the number of the statues, but the size,
Multo diligentius habere dico Servilium praedam populi the figure, and the condition of each one among them
Romani quam te tua furta notata atque perscripta. accurately described in writing. Certainly, the delight
arising from virtue and from victory is much greater than
that pleasure which is derived from licentiousness and
covetousness. I say that Servilius took much more care to
have the booty of the Roman people noted and described,
than you took to have your plunder catalogued.
[58] Dices tua quoque signa et tabulas pictas ornamento [58] You will say that your statues and paintings were also
urbi foroque populi Romani fuisse. Memini; vidi an ornament to the city and forum of the Roman people.
simul cum populo Romano forum comitiumque I recollect: I, together with the Roman people, saw the
adornatum ad speciem magnifico ornatu, ad sensum forum and place for holding the assemblies adorned with
cogitationemque acerbo et lugubri; vidi conlucere embellishments, in appearance indeed magnificent, but
omnia furtis tuis, praeda provinciarum, spoliis sociorum to one’s senses and thoughts bitter and melancholy. I saw
atque amicorum. Quo quidem tempore, iudices, iste everything glittering with your thefts, with the plunder of
spem maximam reliquorum quoque peccatorum nactus the provinces, with the spoils of our allies and friends. At
est; vidit enim eos qui iudiciorum se dominos dici which time, O judges, that fellow conceived the hope of
volebant harum cupiditatum esse servos. committing his other crimes. For he saw that these men,
who wished to be called the masters of the courts of law,
were slaves to these desires.

[59] Socii vero nationesque exterae spem omnem [59] But the allies and foreign nations then first abandoned
tum primum abiecerunt rerum ac fortunarum suarum, the hope of saving any of their property and fortunes,
propterea quod casu legati ex Asia atque Achaia because, as it happened, there were at that time very
plurimi Romae tunc fuerunt, qui deorum simulacra ex many ambassadors from Asia and Achaia at Rome, who
suis fanis sublata in foro venerabantur, itemque cetera worshipped in the forum the images of the gods which
signa et ornamenta cum cognoscerent, alia alio in had been taken from their temples. And so also, when
loco lacrimantes intuebantur. Quorum omnium hunc they recognised the other statues and ornaments, they
sermonem tum esse audiebamus, nihil esse quod wept, as they beheld the different pieces of their property
quisquam dubitaret de exitio sociorum atque amicorum, in a different place. And from all those men we then used
cum quidem viderent in foro populi Romani, quo in loco to hear discourses of this sort:—“That it was impossible
antea qui sociis iniurias fecerant accusari et condemnari for any one to doubt of the ruin of our allies and friends,
solebant, ibi esse palam posita ea quae ab sociis per when men saw in the forum of the Roman people, in which
scelus ablata ereptaque essent. formerly those men used to be accused and condemned
who had done any injury to the allies, those things now
openly placed which had been wickedly seized and taken
away from the allies.”
[60] Hic ego non arbitror illum negaturum signa se [60] Here I do not expect that he will deny that he has
plurima, tabulas pictas innumerabiles habere; sed, many statues, and countless paintings. But, as I fancy, he is
ut opinor, solet haec quae rapuit et furatus est non accustomed at times to say that he purchased these things
numquam dicere se emisse, quoniam quidem in which he seized and stole; since indeed he was sent at
Achaiam, Asiam, Pamphyliam sumptu publico et the public expense, and with the title of ambassador, into
legationis nomine mercator signorum tabularumque Achaia, Asia, and Pamphylia as a purchaser of statues and
pictarum missus est. et istius et patris eius accepi paintings. I have all the accounts both of that fellow and of
tabulas omnes, quas diligentissime legi atque digessi, his father, of money received, which I have most carefully
patris, quoad vixit, tuas, quoad ais te confecisse. Nam read and arranged; those of your father, as long as he lived,
in isto, iudices, hoc novum reperietis. Audimus aliquem you own, as far as you say that you have made them up.
tabulas numquam confecisse; quae est opinio hominum For in that man, O judges, you will find this new thing. We
de Antonio falsa, nam fecit diligentissime; verum sit hoc hear that some men have never kept accounts; which is a
genus aliquod, minime probandum. Audimus alium non mistaken opinion of men with respect to Antonius; for he
ab initio fecisse, sed ex tempore aliquo confecisse; est kept them most carefully. But there may be men of that
aliqua etiam huiusce rei ratio. Hoc vero sort, but they are by no means to be approved of. We hear
that some men have not kept them up from the beginning,
novum et ridiculum est, quod hic nobis respondit cum but after some time have made them up; there is a way
ab eo tabulas postularemus, usque ad M. Terentium et C. of accounting for this too. But this is unprecedented and
Cassium consules confecisse, postea destitisse. absurd which this man gave us for an answer, when we
demanded his accounts of him: “That he kept them up to
the consulship of Marcus Terentius and Gaius Cassius; but
that, after that, he gave up keeping them.”
[61] Alio loco hoc cuius modi sit considerabimus; nunc [61] In another place we will consider what sort of a reply
nihil ad me attinet; horum enim temporum in quibus this is; at present I am not concerned with it; for of the
nunc versor habeo tabulas et tuas et patris. Plurima times about which I am at present occupied I have the
signa pulcherrima, plurimas tabulas optimas deportasse accounts, both yours and those of your father. You cannot
te negare non potes. Atque utinam neges! Unum deny that you carried off very many most beautiful statues,
ostende in tabulis aut tu aut patris tui emptum esse: very many admirable paintings. I wish you would deny it.

vicisti. Ne haec quidem duo signa pulcherrima quae Show in your accounts or in those of your father that any
nunc ad impluvium tuum stant, quae multos annos one of them was purchased, and you have gained your
ante valvas Iunonis Samiae steterunt, habes quo modo cause. There is not even any possibility of your having
emeris, haec, inquam, duo quae in aedibus tuis sola iam bought those two most beautiful statues which are now
sunt, quae sectorem exspectant, relicta ac destituta a standing in your court, and which stood for many years
ceteris signis. by the folding doors of the Samian Juno; these two, I say,
which are now the only statues left in your house, which
are waiting for the broker, left alone and deserted by the
other statues.
[62] At, credo, in hisce solis rebus indomitas cupiditates [62] But, I suppose in these matters alone had he this
atque effrenatas habebat: ceterae libidines eius ratione irrepressible and unbridled covetousness; his other desires
aliqua aut modo continebantur. Quam multis istum were restrained by some reason and moderation. To how
ingenuis, quam multis matribus familias in illa taetra many noble virgins, to how many matrons do you think
atque impura legatione vim attulisse existimatis? Ecquo he offered violence in that foul and obscene lieutenancy?
in oppido pedem posuit ubi non plura stuprorum In what town did he set his foot that he did not leave more
flagitiorumque suorum quam adventus sui vestigia traces of his rapes and atrocities than he did of his arrival?
reliquerit? Sed ego omnia quae negari poterunt But I will pass over everything which can be denied; even
praetermittam; etiam haec quae certissima sunt et those things which are most certain and most evident I
clarissima relinquam; unum aliquod de nefariis istius will omit; I will select one of his abominable deeds, in order
factis eligam, quo facilius ad Siciliam possim aliquando, that I may the more easily at last arrive at Sicily, which has
quae mihi hoc oneris negotique imposuit, pervenire. imposed the burden of this business on me.
[63] Oppidum est in Hellesponto Lampsacum, iudices, in [63] There is a town on the Hellespont, O judges, called
primis Asiae provinciae clarum et nobile; homines autem Lampsacus, among the first in the province of Asia for
ipsi Lampsaceni cum summe in omnes cives Romanos renown and for nobleness. And the citizens themselves
officiosi, tum praeterea maxime sedati et quieti, prope of Lampsacus are most especially kind to all Roman
praeter ceteros ad summum Graecorum otium potius citizens, and also are an especially quiet and orderly race;
quam ad ullam vim aut tumultum adcommodati. almost beyond all the rest of the Greeks inclined to the
Accidit, cum iste a Cn. Dolabella efflagitasset ut se most perfect ease, rather than to any disorder or tumult. It
ad regem Nicomedem regemque Sadalam mitteret, happened, when he had prevailed on Cnaeus Dolabella to
cumque iter hoc sibi magis ad quaestum suum quam ad send him to king Nicomedes and to king Sadala, and when
rei publicae tempus adcommodatum depoposcisset, ut he had begged this expedition, more with a view to his own
illo itinere veniret Lampsacum cum magna calamitate gain than to any advantage for the republic, that in that
et prope pernicie civitatis. Deducitur iste ad lanitorem journey he came to Lampsacus, to the great misfortune
quendam hospitem, comitesque eius item apud and almost ruin of the city. He is conducted to the house
ceteros hospites conlocantur. Ut mos erat istius, atque of a man named Janitor as his host; and his companions
ut eum suae libidines flagitiosae facere admonebant, also, are billeted on other entertainers. As was the fellow’s
statim negotium dat illis suis comitibus, nequissimis custom, and as his lusts always instigating him to commit
turpissimisque hominibus, uti vi some wickedness prompted him, he immediately gives
deant et investigent ecqua virgo sit aut mulier digna a commission to his companions, the most worthless
quam ob rem ipse Lampsaci diutius commoraretur. and infamous of men, to inquire and find out whether
there is any virgin woman worthy of his staying longer at
Lampsacus for her sake.

[64] Erat comes eius Rubrius quidam, homo factus ad [64] He had a companion of the name of Rubrius, a man
istius libidines, qui miro artificio, quocumque venerat, made for such vices as his, who used to find out all these
haec investigare omnia solebat. Is ad eum rem istam things for him wherever he went, with wonderful address.
defert, Philodamum esse quendam, genere, honore, He brings him the following news,—that there was a man
copiis, existimatione facile principem Lampsacenorum; of the name of Philodamus, in birth, in rank, in wealth,
eius esse filiam, quae cum patre habitaret propterea and in reputation by far the first man among the citizens
quod virum non haberet, mulierem eximia of Lampsacus; that his daughter, who was living with
pulchritudine; sed eam summa integritate pudicitiaque her father because she had not yet got a husband, was a
existimari. Homo, ut haec audivit, sic exarsit ad id woman of extraordinary beauty, but was also considered
quod non modo ipse numquam viderat, sed ne exceedingly modest and virtuous. The fellow, when he
audierat quidem ab eo qui ipse vidisset, ut statim ad heard this, was so inflamed with desire for that which he
Philodamum migrare se diceret velle. Hospes lanitor, qui had not only not seen himself, but which even he from
nihil suspicaretur, veritus ne quid in ipso se offenderetur, whom he heard of it had not seen himself, that he said he
hominem summa vi retinere coepit. Iste, qui hospitis should like to go to Philodamus immediately. Janitor, his
relinquendi causam reperire non posset, alia sibi ratione host, who suspected nothing, being afraid that he must
viam munire ad stuprum coepit; Rubrium, delicias have given him some offence himself, endeavoured with
suas, in omnibus eius modi rebus adiutorem suum et all his might to detain him. Verres, as he could not find
conscium, parum laute deversari dicit; ad Philodamum any pretext for leaving his host’s house began to pave
deduci iubet. his way for his meditated violence by other steps. He says
that Rubrius, his most loved friend, his assistant in all such
matters, and the partner of his counsels, is lodged with but
little comfort. He orders him to be conducted to the house
of Philodamus.
[65] Quod ubi est Philodamo nuntiatum, tametsi erat [65] But when this is reported to Philodamus, although he
ignarus quantum sibi ac liberis suis iam tum mali was ignorant what great misfortune was at that moment
constitueretur, tamen ad istum venit; ostendit munus being contrived for him and for his children, still he comes
illud suum non esse; se, cum suae partes essent to him,—represents to him that that is not his office,—that
hospitum recipiendorum, tum ipsos tamen praetores when it was his turn to receive guests, he was accustomed
et consules, non legatorum adseculas, recipere to receive the praetors and consuls themselves, and not
solere. Iste, qui una cupiditate raperetur, totum illius the attendants of lieutenants. Verres, as he was hurried
postulatum causamque neglexit; per vim ad eum, on by that one desire alone, disregarded all his demands
qui recipere non debebat, Rubrium deduci imperavit. and allegations, and ordered Rubrius to be introduced by
Hic Philodamus, posteaquam ius suum obtinere non force into the house of a man who had a right to refuse
potuit, ut humanitatem consuetudinemque suam him admittance. On this, Philodamus, when he could not
retineret laborabat. Homo, qui semper hospitalissimus preserve his rights, studied at least to preserve his courtesy
amicissimusque nostrorum hominum existimatus esset, and affability. He who had always been considered most
noluit videri ipsum illum Rubrium invitus domum suam hospitable and most friendly towards our people, did not
recepisse; magnifice et ornate, ut erat in primis inter like to appear to have received even this fellow Rubrius into
suos copiosus, convivium comparat; rogat Rubrium his house unwillingly; he prepares a banquet magnificently
ut quos ei commodum sit invitet, locum sibi soli, si and luxuriously, being, as he was, among the richest of all
videatur, relinquat; etiam filium suum, lectissimum his fellow-citizens; he begs Rubrius to invite whoever were
adulescentem, foras ad propinquum suum quendam agreeable to himself; to leave, if he pleased, just room for
mittit ad cenam. himself alone. He even sends his own son, a most excellent
youth, out to one of his relations to supper.

[66] Rubrius istius comites invitat; eos omnis Verres [66] Rubrius invites Verres’s companions; Verres informs
certiores facit quid opus esset. Mature veniunt, them all what there was to be done. They come early. They
discumbitur. Fit sermo inter eos, et invitatio ut Graeco sit down to supper. Conversation takes place among them,
more biberetur; hortatur hospes, poscunt maioribus and an invitation is given to drink in the Greek fashion. The
poculis, celebratur omnium sermone laetitiaque host encourages them; they demand wine in larger goblets;
convivium. Posteaquam satis calere res Rubrio visa est, the banquet proceeds with the conversation and joy of
“Quaeso”, inquit, “Philodame, cur ad nos filiam tuam non every one. When the business appeared to Rubrius to have
intro vocari iubes?” Homo, qui et summa gravitate et got warm enough, “I would know of you, O Philodamus,”
iam id aetatis et parens esset, obstipuit hominis improbi says he, “why you do not bid your daughter to be invited
dicto. Instare Rubrius. Tum ille, ut aliquid responderet, in hither to us?” The man, who was both a most dignified
negavit moris esse Graecorum ut in convivio virorum man, and of mature age, and a parent, was amazed at the
accumberent mulieres. Hic tum alius ex alia parte, “Enim speech of the rascal. Rubrius began to urge it. Then he, in
vero ferendum hoc quidem non est; vocetur mulier!” et order to give some answer, said that it was not the custom
simul servis suis Rubrius ut ianuam clauderent et ipsi ad of the Greeks for women to sit down at the banquets of
foris adsisterent imperat. men. On this some one else from some other part of the
room cried out, “But this is not to be borne; let the women
be summoned.” And immediately Rubrius orders his slaves
to shut the door, and to stand at the doors themselves.
[67] Quod ubi ille intellexit, id agi atque id parari ut filiae [67] But when Philodamus perceived that what was
suae vis adferretur, servos suos ad se vocat; his imperat intended and being prepared was, that violence should
ut se ipsum neglegant, filiam defendant; excurrat aliquis be offered to his daughter, he calls his servants to him, he
qui hoc tantum domestici mali filio nuntiet. Clamor bids them disregard him and defend his daughter, and
interea fit tota domo; inter servos Rubri atque hospitis orders some one to run out and bear the news to his son
iactatur domi suae vir primarius et homo honestissimus; of this overpowering domestic misfortune. Meantime an
pro se quisque manus adfert; aqua denique ferventi uproar arises throughout the whole house; a fight takes
a Rubrio ipso Philodamus perfunditur. Haec ubi filio place between the slaves of Rubrius and his host. That
nuntiata sunt, statim exanimatus ad aedis contendit, ut noble and most honourable man is buffeted about in his
et vitae patris et pudicitiae sororis succurreret; omnes own house; every one fights for his own safety. At last
eodem animo Lampsaceni, simul ut hoc audierunt, quod Philodamus has a quantity of boiling water thrown over
eos cum Philodami dignitas tum iniuriae magnitudo him by Rubrius himself. When the news of this is brought
movebat, ad aedis noctu convenerunt. Hic lictor istius to the son, half dead with alarm he instantly hastens home
Cornelius, qui cum eius servis erat a Rubrio quasi to bring aid to save the life of his father and the modesty
in praesidio ad auferendam mulierem conlocatus, of his sister. All the citizens of Lampsacus, with the same
occiditur; servi non nulli vulnerantur; ipse Rubrius in spirit, the moment they heard of it, because both the worth
turba sauciatur. Iste, qui sua cupiditate tantos tumultus of Philodamus and the enormity of the injury excited them,
concitatos videret, cupere aliqua evolare, si posset. assembled by night at his house. At this time Cornelius,
the lictor of Verres, who had been placed with his slaves by
Rubrius, as if on guard, for the purpose of carrying off the
woman, is slain; some of the slaves are wounded; Rubrius
himself is wounded in the crowd. Verres, when he saw such
an uproar excited by his own cupidity, began to wish to
escape some way or other if he could.

[68] Postridie homines mane in contionem conveniunt; [68] The next morning men come early to the public
quaerunt quid optimum factu sit; pro se quisque, ut assembly; they ask what is best to be done; every one
in quoque erat auctoritatis plurimum, ad populum delivered his own opinions to the people according as each
loquebatur; inventus est nemo cuius non haec et individual had the most weight. No one was found whose
sententia esset et oratio, non esse metuendum, si istius opinion and speech was not to this purpose:—“That it need
nefarium scelus Lampsaceni ulti vi manuque essent, not be feared, if the Lampsacenes had avenged that man’s
ne senatus populusque Romanus in eam civitatem atrocious wickedness by force and by the sword, that the
animadvertendum putaret; quodsi hoc iure legati populi senate and Roman people would have thought they ought
Romani in socios nationesque exteras uterentur, ut to chastise their city. And if the lieutenants of the Roman
pudicitiam liberorum servare ab eorum libidine tutam people were to establish this law with respect to the allies,
non liceret, quidvis esse perpeti satius quam in tanta vi and to foreign nations,—that they were not to be allowed
atque acerbitate versari. to preserve the chastity of their children unpolluted by their
lusts, it was better to endure anything rather than to live in
a state of such violence and bitterness.”
[69] Haec cum omnes sentirent, et cum in eam rationem [69] As all were of this opinion, and as every one spoke in
pro suo quisque sensu ac dolore loqueretur, omnes ad this tenor, as his own feelings and indignation prompted
eam domum in qua iste deversabatur profecti sunt; each individual, all immediately proceeded towards the
caedere ianuam saxis, instare ferro, ligna et sarmenta house where Verres was staying. They began to beat the
circumdare ignemque subicere coeperunt. Tunc cives door with stones, to attack it with weapons, to surround
Romani, qui Lampsaci negotiabantur, concurrunt; orant it with wood and faggots, and to apply fire to it. Then
Lampsacenos ut gravius apud eos nomen legationis the Roman citizens who were dwelling as traders at
quam iniuria legati putaretur; sese intellegere hominem Lampsacus run together to the spot; they entreat the
illum esse impurum ac nefarium, sed quoniam nec citizens of Lampsacus to allow the name of the lieutenancy
perfecisset quod conatus esset, neque futurus esset to have more weight with them than the insult of the
Lampsaci postea, levius eorum peccatum fore si lieutenant; they say that they were well aware that he
homini scelerato pepercissent quam si legato non was an infamous and wicked man, but as he had not
pepercissent.1 accomplished what he had attempted, and as he was not
going to be at Lampsacus any longer, their error in sparing
a wicked man would be less than that of not sparing a
lieutenant.
1 Source: www.thelatinlibrary.com/cicero/verres.2.1.shtml

NOTES of musical performance (see the note on this in the

vocabulary list) and also the fact that the statue was
so skilfully and beautifully sculpted that one could see
CHAPTER 53 by the look on its face that it was fully absorbed in the
beauty and meaning of its music, placing the music
Aspendus – a city in Pamphylia which the defendant deep in its heart; Verres outdid that- he placed the
Verres plundered of its statuary and art during his pro- whole statue deep in his house.
quaestorship of Cilicia (OCD 3rd Edition).
CHAPTER 54
Pamphylia – ‘land of all tribes’, the southern coastal
plain of modern Turkey between Antalya and Side. It Pergae – near modern Asku, a city of Pamphylia on the
was part of the Roman province of Asia from its creation river Cestrus, which was supposedly founded by the
in 133BC and around 80BC it was attached to Cilicia ‘mixed multitude’ of Greeks who wandered across Asia
(OCD 3rd Edition). Minor after the Trojan War (OCD 3rd Edition).
Ciliicia – a district of southern Asia Minor (OCD 3rd antiquissimum et sanctissimum – the pair of
Edition). superlatives are designed to add to the pervasive image
of Verres as a disgraceful temple robber with no sense
plenissimum – very full – hyperbole to highlight the of morality or appreciation of cultural heritage. The use
significant robbery which Verres perpetrates. of superlatives is a common byt important feature of
Cicero’s word choice.
nullum signum – “not one statue” – a hyperbole: did
Verres really take every single statue from Aspendos or nudatum - the notion of denuding the goddess Diana
is Cicero exaggerating for effect? is blasphemous in itself and also perhaps has echoes of
the myth of Actaeon who was eventually torn apart by
ex publicis locis . . . palam . . . spectantibus omnibus his own hounds; a further example of Verres’ sacrilege
- notice the descriptions which highlight Verres’ for material gain.
shamelessness; he is happy to steal from public places,
openly and with everyone watching. quae . . .amentia! – this exclamation is typical of Cicero
demonstrating moral indignation or outrage.
Verres – legate of Cn. Cornelius Dolabella in Cilicia,
and eventually his pro-quaestor; he helped Dolabella amentia – “mindlessness” 1 is an anti-Stoic concept, the
plunder the province and then turned informer during condition in which we live when we are the subject of
his subsequent prosecution. our passions. Again Cicero here is demonstrating his
spiritual and intellectual appreciation of Greek culture in
signorum – “the charge of stealing a signum is shocking contrast to Verres’ baser understanding of the value of
in and of itself: anyone who could do this, was quite its material culture.
simply out of civilisation itself, a man utterly lacking in
morals”. quas enim . . . deportasses – antithesis – Cicero draws
a contrast here between Verres’ plundering of cities
Aspendium citharistam – Cicero’s knowledge of which were Rome’s allies and furnishing his own and
the stolen citharista being proverbial to the Greeks his friends’ houses, and the more expected response
for its ability to sing to itself is an example of Cicero of plundering enemy cities and then delivering up the
demonstrating his knowledge of Greek culture and plunder for the public benefit of Rome.
customs, which will be continually contrasted with
Verres’ knowledge of the purely material value of Greek
culture, i.e. the paintings and pictures which he pillages.
The reference to the statue’s ability intus canere and
the subsequent comparison of it to Verres may be a fine
example of Cicero’s effective wordplay and humour.
The phrase intus canere suggests both a technique 1 See Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes III.10

vi cum exercitu imperioque - the antithesis is Titus Quintius Flamininus defeated King Philip of
strengthened by the tricolon of expressions of Macedonia and magnanimously declared that Greece
force which would usually be expected of someone was free from his shackles at the Isthmian Games of
plundering a city; none of which Verres uses- particularly 196BC. According to Valerius Maximus in his work
not the more nearly legal force behind exercitu and Memorable Deeds and Sayings (Book IV.8.5) “he ordered
imperio. all the Greek cities, which were under the control of
King Philip, to be free and free from tribute” (author’s
A further contrast is established between the selfish translation).
and self-serving aims of Verres and the more noble
alternative through the use of tuam and publicam. Lucius Aemilius Paulus conquered King Perseus (or
Perses) of Macedon at Pydna in 168 BC, successfully
CHAPTER 55 bringing the Third Macedonian War to a close. As a
result he was awarded the title Macedonicus. For more
One of Cicero’s more popular rhetorical techniques information see Livy’s History of Rome, Book 44ff. (OCD
is to give weight to his argument through the use 3rd Edition).
of precedents thereby supporting his case against a
defendant. The entirety of Chapter 55 catalogues a Lucius Mummius Achaicus conquered Corinth in
series of Roman generals whose famous victories in and 146BC, and according to Cicero, both here and in the
around Greece brought both great renown for Rome De Officiis (2.22.76) chose to adorn Italy with its spoils
and also a horde of treasure for the public benefit. We rather than his own house. It seems likely that they were
are meant to see these as the models which Verres actually also given to his friends and set up in his own
fails to emulate and the good reputation they won for home but Cicero chooses not to mention that here (OCD
Rome as besmirched by his contrary activity. By such 3rd Edition).
a paratactic arrangement of ‘good’ generals and then
Verres himself, we are invited to make an unsatisfactory pulcherrimam . . . ornatissimam . . . plenissimam –
comparison. notice the tricolon of superlatives which signify what a
great haul of treasure Mummius carried off from Corinth
Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Roman commander, and therefore the legacy he bestowed on Rome. This is
responsible for the capture of Syracuse in 212BC as part in direct contrast to the self-interested plundering by
of the First Punic War. Plutarch’s Life of Marcellus chapter Verres.
21 tells how he brought back many beautiful offering
from the city which led to the softening of the Roman Achaia – official name for the Roman province of
people 2. Greece, commemorating Rome’s defeat of the Achaean
confederacy in 146BC (OCD 3rd Edition).
Lucius Cornelius Scipio, Roman general, who along
with his brother Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, led Boeotia – a region in central Greece.
the Roman forces to victory at the Battle of Magnesia
against Antiochus III, the ruler of the Seleucid Empire. cum honore . . . erant vacuae – notice again the
As a result he was awarded the title Asiagenes. For antithesis which Cicero sets up between metaphysical
more information see Livy’s History of Rome, Book 37ff qualities such as honour and virtue and the material
or Appian’s History of Rome, chapters 21ff. (OCD 3rd possessions which undermine them- and observe the
Edition). word choice and word order which he uses.
2 http://www.livius.org/cg-cm/claudius/marcellus.html

CHAPTER 56 do while the private hording of goods is the preserve of

a self-interested and indulgent miser.
nimis antiqua et iam obsoleta - notice how Cicero
combats any criticism that may arise from resorting ex fanis religiosissimis – according to Frazel3 there is
to the hackneyed literary trope or cliché of a glorious a rhetorical commonplace of the temple-robber which
golden age of valour and virtuous men in times gone Cicero would have been aware of from his study of
by. By utilising the very contemporary example of one Greek preliminary exercises called the progymnasmata.
of the jurors of Verres’ case, Publius Servilius, Cicero The idea being that goods and locations are presented
actually turns what is a rhetorical commonplace into a as sacred (whether or not they were) and as such the
very effective putdown. character presented as the thief is implicitly caricatured
as a sacrilegious thug. Notice here the superlative
Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus – “Publius Servilius, religiosissimis and the further description of temples to
an energetic man, was sent, after his consulate, into add those in chapters 53 and 54.
Cilicia and Pamphilia. He reduced Cilicia, besieged and
took the most eminent cities of Lycia, amongst them scelus et latrocinium¬ – pleonasm here to highlight
Phaselis, Olympus, and Corycus. The Isauri he also Verres’ heinous criminality, and latrocinium perhaps has
attacked, and compelled to surrender, and, within three the feel of a particularly uncivilised variety of crime- the
years, put an end to the war. He was the first of the kind of thing Romans did not do, but pirates and native
Romans that marched over Mount Taurus. On his return, brigands did.
he was granted a triumph, and acquired the surname
of Isauricus” from Eutropius’ Abridgement of Roman tu . . . tuis . . . tuorum – notice the prevalence of the
History translated with notes by the Rev. John Selby pronoun and pronominal adjective here to demonstrate
Watson, London: Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Convent Verres’ selfishness and the exclusivity of his possession
Garden (1853). of items which could be publically enjoyed, or at least
the contrast being drawn between Verres’ less moral and
clarissimus, maximis . . . fortissimo – notice once Servilius’ more moral actions.
again the superlatives which Cicero bestows upon
Servilius and his deeds implicitly in contradistinction P. Servilius . . . curavit – the sentence in asyndeton
to Verres, and all the more effective because he is his goes to show the lengths to which a man of strength
contemporary and one of the jury. and courage (vi et virtute) goes to ensure that items for
public consumption are just that; not only does he bring
vi, copiis, consilio, virtute – the asyndeton here the items to Rome, he bears them in triumph for all to
serves to suggest an exhaustive list of Servilius’ see and then ensures they are fully accounted for in the
qualities and resources: he has strength, the forces, the public treasury. What a magnanimous tricolon!
resourcefulness and the courage which Verres lacks.
certe . . . cupiditate - Cicero sets up a direct comparison
diripienda . . . vexanda – essentially tautologous between the morally elevated sense of joy (iucunditas)
here, and the meanings of the two verbs reinforce derived from courage and victory – the attitude and
each other, “you took pains to ensure that the pacified action of the ‘good’ general – and the morally base sense
cities of our allies and friends should be plundered and of pleasure (voluptas) derived from passion and greed
ravaged” (author’s translation). These actions clash with – the attitude and action of the self-serving materialist
the attitudes and actions of a ‘good’ general such as Verres. He closes with a comparison seemingly between
Servilius. the comprehensiveness of their accounting practices,
which is actually symbolic of the far deeper distinction
CHAPTER 57 between their differing moral fibre.
In this chapter Cicero yet again attempts to set up a

distinction, this time not between the actions and
attitudes of a ‘good’ general and a bad one, but between
the public and the private display of goods. A public 3 Frazel, Thomas D., (2009) The Rhetoric of Cicero’s In Verrem, Vande-
display is presented as the civically responsible thing to hoeck & Ruprecht: Göttingen

CHAPTER 58 CHAPTER 59
ornamento fuisse – predicative dative + dative – to be natio – “used commonly in a more limited sense than
an adornment to (Terry Bird). gens, and sometimes as identical with it; cf.: gens,
populus; usually applied by Cicero to distant and
ad speciem – “in terms of appearance”. barbarous people” (Lewis&Short).
ad sensum cogitationemque – “in terms of deorum . . . fanis . . . venerabantur – notice the

consideration and thought”. peppering of religious vocabulary to further remove any
doubt of the sacrilegious nature of Verres’ actions.
The distinction between ‘appearance’ and ‘consideration’
further demonstrates the dichotomy between nihil esse quod quisquam dubitaret – “there was
the shallow materialist Verres and the considered no doubt that anyone could feel at all” an effective
metaphysician Cicero, both are Greek gifts but the latter pleonastic way of saying that it was absolutely true.
is of a higher moral order than the former.
The description of the implied criminality of the
furtis . . . praeda . . . spoliis – tautologous tricolon to entire Roman people as a result of the actions of one
further emphasise and dramatise Verres’ brigandry. man, Verres, further burdens the jury with the moral
tuis... provinciae... sociorum atque amicorum make this imperative to convict him and to dispel any criticisms
a tricolon crescendo, growing in terms of the number of about the nature of a jury made up entirely of men of
people covered by each element in it, and the contrast his own rank, senators.
between Verres and his victims.
CHAPTER 60
iste – “Cicero’s custom in speeches is to refer to his
enemy by name as infrequently as possible, unless for Achaia – see chapter 56.
special effect; normally expressions such as ‘that man’
(iste) are preferred” D.H.Berry Cicero: Political Speeches Asia – the Roman province of Asia originally consisted
(2006) OUP: Oxford. of Mysia, the Troad, Aeolis, Lydia, Ionia, much of Caria,
the islands along the coast and at least the land corridor
reliquorum . . . peccatorum – the rest of the Verrine from Pisidia to Pamphylia. It was bequeathed by Attalus
speeches deal with the host of other crimes of which III of Pergamum to the Romans in 133BC. (OCD 3rd
Verres is accused. These include: his debauched youth, Edition).
defection to Sulla, looting, extortion, interference
with inheritance, defrauding temples, mugging two Pamphylia – see chapter 53.
Syrian princes, illegally punishing Roman citizens and
attempting rape (Cic. In Verrem, passim). Achaiam, Asiam, Pamphyliam – the asyndeton of
provinces is designed to emphasise the geographical
eos qui iudiciorum se dominos dici volebant – Cicero extent of Verres’ thefts.
here effectively exploits the low public opinion from
which the senatorial jury are currently suffering. At the M. Antonius – the famous orator who is one of the
very beginning of the first Verrine Oration (In Verrem models for Cicero’s De Oratore, grandfather of the
1.1.1) Cicero reveals the crisis of confidence in the triumvir, worked his way up the cursus honorum to
Roman judicial system that existed at that time among consul.
Romans as well as foreign peoples. There was a belief
that no wealthy man, even if guilty, could be convicted Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus along with Caius
due to a kind of senatorial protectionism, and Cicero Cassius Longinus was consul in 73BC.
was appealing to the Senate to prove by convicting
Verres, that it was above such things.

audimus aliquem . . . audimus alium . . . hoc vero CHAPTER 62

novum et ridiculum est – Cicero builds a description
of three different accounting methods: not keeping cupiditas – desire in a bad sense (Lewis&Short).
accounts at all, starting them only later, or starting them
off but then stopping. The third approach is designed to indomitas . . . effrenatas . . . – “untamed . . . unbridled . .
sound absurd; this is, of course, Verres’ method. Coupled .” – favourite rhetorical adjectives of Cicero, used against
with the numerical hyperboles at the beginning of the his great antagonist Catiline, for example, to suggest all
chapter, plurima and innumerabilis, Verres is made to that is uncivilised, un-Roman and out of control. There is
seem all the more fraudulent for not accouting for so certainly an animality to effrenatas.
many items.
mater familias like paterfamilias uses the archaic
CHAPTER 61 genitive of familia; mater familias means something
like mistress of the house or matron.
nunc nihil ad me attinet – “for the present time it is
of no concern to me” – the entirety of Chapter 60 was ecquo – used in impassioned interrogation with a
a kind of extended praeteritio: Cicero takes the time sense of “is there a single?” (Lewis&Short).
to discredit Verres’ accounting practices in order to
undermine his character, only to tell us at the beginning taetra atque impura – both words carry a negative
of Chapter 61 that it is not relevant to current subject moral connotation and are almost synonymous
matter of his case. providing a good example of tautology.
plurima . . . plurimas . . . – the polyptoton of the stuprum – violation - always implying the infliction of
quantitative (and superlative) adjective plurimi is again dishonour on the subject, whether male or female, not
designed to highlight the extent of Verres’ theft. used of dealings with prostitutes, etc.
utinam neges . . . vicisti – Cicero’s dramatic exclamation stuprorum flagitiorumque – not interchangeable
adds a characteristic element of theatricality to this part and as such not tautologous, but closely related and as
of the speech, “If only you did say it was not so. . . then such a good example of pleonasm to highlight Verres’
you have won”. Cicero’s faux entreaty for Verres to acquit disgraceful character.
himself by just providing one piece of evidence is of
course designed to mock and undermine the defendant. sed ego omnia quae negari poterunt praetermittam
– a good example of praeteritio – the rheoritcal device
ne . . . quidem . . .habes [dicere] quo modo emeris – through which, by saying you will pass over a list
“you do not even have a means to say how you bought”. of shameful acts, one actually mentions the host of
shameful acts.
pulcherrima . . . quae multos annos ante valvas
Iunonis Samiae steterunt – again Cicero uses the quo facilius possim – “so that I may more easily. . . .”
superlative adjective as well as the formerly sacred
location of the two statues in question to demonstrate Sicilia – Verres was governor of Sicily and, according
the profanity of Verres’ activities as well as constructing to Cicero, was so avaricious that Sicilians only had the
an ethical discourse about the acquisition of art given its possessions left which Verres had failed to notice during
nature as cultural property 4. his tenure. Sicilian law, the law of the Roman Senate
and a general sense of human justice were all flouted
sola . . . relicta . . . destituta . . . – three further by Verres and he invented a spurious edict which
adjectives designed to convey how culturally bereft the allowed him to take possession of inheritance if either
world is now that the statues which Verres seized have the testamentary papers were not sealed correctly, or
been sold into private collections or are standing out of if they failed to be produced. He also adjusted the Lex
sight waiting to be sold. Hieronica – a produce tax – as well as the corn tax to
enable him to impose a more burdensome levy on the
4 See Miles, Margaret M. “Cicero’s Prosecution of Gaius Verres: A Roman
View of the Ethics of Acquisition of Art” in International Journal of Cul- province. For a full account of the charges against Verres
tural Property (2002), 11: 28-49 you should read the entirety of the Verrine Orations,

which are littered with these accusations and more. quaestor C. Malleolus, Verres, who had been Dolabella’s
legatus, became his pro-quaestor. In Verres Dolabella
CHAPTER 63 found an active and unscrupulous agent, and, in return,
connived at his excesses. But the proquaestor proved as
The story which forms the second part of the faithless to Dolabella as he had been to Carbo ; turned
prescribed text is the first part of a two part story evidence against him on his prosecution by M. Scaurus
of Verres’ victim Philodamus. In this part Verres in b. c. 78, and by shifting his own crimes to the praetor’s
attempts to have sex with Philodamus’ young and account, and stipulating for a pardon for himself, mainly
beautiful daughter, in the second (outside the contributed to the verdict against Dolabella.” 5
prescription for this examination) we hear of the
show trial and then execution of Philodamus and his efflagitasset this is an important word choice; Verres,
son, at Verres’ instigation. sensing the access it would give him to places where he
could fulfil his range of evil desires, ‘badgered’ Dolabella
Cicero shows consummate skill in narration in these into giving him the job of dealing with the two kings.
paragraphs. The story moves quickly but effectively,
with all the important details being included, and libidines flagitiosae – the choice of the adjective is
completely plausibly. The scene in which it takes designed to further elucidate the dissolute character of
place is carefully set and the contrast in character Verres: one’s libidines – unlawful or inordinate desires
between the evil Verres and his henchmen on the – were perhaps inevitably flagitiosae – disgraceful/
one hand, and Philodamus, his family and the scandalous but Cicero wishes to drive the point home as
people of Lampsacus on the other is very clearly forcefully as he can.
made indeed. As a result, the story is told very
persuasively, the aim being to turn all those who Notice the contrast between the company that Verres
hear it against Verres. keeps – nequissimis turpissimisque hominibus – and
those that he targets, a virgo and a mulier digna.
The methods by which Cicero achieves this aim of
persuasion should be closely noted as the story is CHAPTER 64
studied.
Rubrius – one of Verres’ companions otherwise
Hellesponto - the Sea of Helle, the Hellespont, so unknown.
named after Helle, who was drowned in it, the modern
Dardanelles (Lewis&Short). Philodamus – a citizen of Lampsacus otherwise
unknown.
Lampsacus – a strategically positioned town in Mysia
(part of the Roman province of Asia), on the Hellespont, genere, honore, copiis, existimatione – notice the
now modern day Lamsaki (Lewis&Short) asyndeton here which focuses the speaker’s and hearer’s
Notice the highly favourable description of Lampsacus attentions alike right on to the key words used, perhaps
with its accumulation of positive (though perhaps giving each one an emphasis of its own which might
persuasively idealised) characteristics – in primis . have been lessened by the insertion of conjunctions–
. . cum . . . tum . . . praeter ceteros . . . all designed the list of Philodamus’ virtuous qualities is designed to
to make Verres’ treatment of the town all the more make his assault at the hands of the scandalous Verres
disgraceful. all the more morally repugnant.
Nicomedes - son of Prusias, a king of Bithynia Similarly the mentioning of the pure characteristics
(Lewis&Short). of the daughter is designed to make the eventual
stuprum all the more abhorrent. She is described as
Sadala – a king of Thrace (Lewis&Short). a mulierem eximia pulchritudine; sed eam summa
integritate pudicitiaque existimari – “a woman of
Cnaeus Cornelius Dolabella – “praetor of Cilicia in 80- uncommon beauty, yet she is thought to have the
79BC, and one of the most rapacious and oppressive of 5 From the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
the provincial governors. On the death of the regular edited by William H. Smith

utmost chastity and virtue” i.e. beautiful as she was, she The polysyndeton in tricolon - et summa gravitate et
had never used her beauty in any seductive or alluring iam id aetatis et parens esset – serves to highlight
way towards men, but had maintained her virginity and exactly why Rubrius’ request for Philodamus’ daughter
respectability. to attend is quite so offensive, if it needed spelling out.
non modo . . . sed ne . . . quidem . . . ¬– a more negavit moris esse Graecorum ut in convivio virorum
indignant variation of the more common non solum . . . accumberent mulieres – Philodamus’ response is quite
sed etiam . . . – the whimsy by which Verres is willing to right. The only women traditionally associated with
be guided to perform the insulting and arrogant act of Greek symposia were ‘hetairai’ or high-class prostitutes
rape shows just how insubstantial his moral fibre really and no respectable female citizens are depicted as
was. present on the plentiful vase paintings. Given these
associations, that Rubrius asks Philodamus to invite
viam munire – “to pave the way” (C.D.Yonge, 1903). his daughter to the party is to be considered deeply
insulting and offensive.
CHAPTER 65
The menacing and tasteless nature of the scene is
suae partes – “his turn” (C.D.Yonge,1903). skilfully built up:
(i) the drunkness
ius obtinere – “to maintain his right” (Lewis&Short). (ii) the inappropriate request
(iii) the taking of offence
The abuse of Philodamus’ hospitality (remember the (iv) the insistence
sanctity of the host-guest relationship in a range of (v) the outnumbering
Classical Literature beginning with Homer) is made all (vi) the use of those superior numbers.
the more acute through Cicero’s superlative description
of CHAPTER 67
1. his character,
2. his attempts to act appropriately as a host despite If chapter 65 was a catalogue of Philodamus’ virtuous
the abuse of his right to refuse a guest of lower deeds, so Chapter 67 is a catalogue of Verres’ and his
standing than a praetor or consul as well as his entourage’s shameful ones. The entire chapter is a very
3. his uncommon generosity– hospitalissimus fast paced retelling of the violence which ensued as
amicissimusque . . . magnifice et ornate . . . rogat a result of Verres’ botched plan to violate Philodamus’
Rubrium ut quos ei commodum sit invitet etc... As daughter, the narrative being full of the description of
such the second half of the chapter essentially takes movement and emotion.
on the character of a catalogue of virtuous deeds.
hoc tantum domestici mali – “this great domestic
CHAPTER 66 misfortune” (C.D. Yonge, 1903).
Graeco more – to drink “in the Greek style” was to drink manus adfert – “attack” (C.D.Yonge, 1903).
for the sake of getting drunk. At a Greek drinking party
or symposium, tables were arranged in a particular CHAPTER 68
manner, certain topics of conversation were deemed
more appropriate than others and someone was elected non esse metuendum ne senatus populusque
to be the symposiarch in charge of the ceremony. Romanus in eam civitatem animadvertendum
There are various sources which you can consult for the putaret – “they should not be scared that the Roman
rules associated with a symposium including Plutarch’s senate and people would think they ought to punish
Sympotic Questions. that city”.
iam id aetatis . . . esset – “he had reached that age Chapter 68 largely contains indirect speech relaying
(maturity)” (Lewis&Short). the supposedly unanimous verdict of the Lampascenes
that their life is not worth living if the Roman senate
and people tolerate the violation of chastity. Not only

is this invented speech a rhetorically dramatic device

which allows Cicero to lend his own opinion to others
briefly, but it also serves to support Cicero’s verdict on
the poor public opinion under which the senatorial jury
is currently labouring, that they are corrupt and money
rather than justice is their primary motivation (see note
on Chapter 58). Again Cicero is encouraging the jury
to use this case against Verres as an opportunity to
vindicate their character.
CHAPTER 69
The shame of having the resident Roman traders of

Lampsacus defend the outrageous acts of their legatus,
who was actually meant to be safeguarding their
welfare, puts a final disgraceful gloss on the whole
proceedings. That they have to appeal to the nominal
rank of Roman legatus as an honourable position,
despite the filthy and wicked acts of the man himself,
shows the dire state which great Roman institutions are
in, entirely due to the acts of the men who staff those
institutions; again we (and the jury) are presumably
meant to make the connection with the current crisis of
the senatorial jury’s reputation.
The violence that the behaviour of Verres provoked from
the town of Lampsacus, which in Chapter 63 Cicero had
taken pains to inform us was clarum et nobile, whose
inhanitants were sedati et quieti and praeter ceteros
ad summum Graecorum otium . . . accomodati, is
clearly designed to shame the jury into a conviction.
The violent retribution they take delivered as an

exhaustive list – caedere ianuam saxis, instare ferro,
ligna et sarmenta circumdare ignemque subicere
coeperunt – goes someway to demonstrate via their
physical behaviour the great emotional damage
and pain which we are meant to understand the
Lampascenes have suffered at the hands of Verres.
Notice the plethora of morally charged words which

punctuate this chapter: iniuria, impurum, nefarium,
peccatum, scelerato.

VOCABULARY
a, ab by, from
abicio, abicere, abieci, abiectus to throw away, give up
ac and
accidit it happens, it happened
accipio, accipere, accepi, acceptus to accept, receive
accumbo, -ere, -cubui, -cubitus to recline at table for the purpose of dinner
accuso, accusare, accusavi, accusatus to accuse
acerbitas, -tatis (f.) bitterness
acerbus, -a, -um harsh, bitter, unripe
Achaia, -ae (f.) the province of Achaia, in the northern part of the Peloponnesus, on the
Gulf of Corinth
ad (+ acc) to
adcommodatus, -a, -um inclined; fitting
adeo, ire, i(v)i, itus to approach, attack
adfero, -ferre, -tuli, -latus to bring against
adiutor, -is (m.) helper
admoneo, -ere, -ui, -itus to advise
adorno, 1. to adorn
adsecula, -ae (m.) attendant, servant, hanger on
adsisto, -ere, astiti to post oneself, to stand
adsum to be present
adulescens, -ntis (m.) youth
adventus, -us (m.) arrival
aedes, -is sometimes used for a part of the domus, a room, an apartment, chamber
aequabiliter justly
aerarium, -i (n.) the place in the temple of Saturn at Rome where the public treasure was
kept, the treasury
aetas, -atis (f.) time of life, ‘maturity’, age
ago, -ere, egi, actus to do
aio to say
aliquando sometime, hereafter
aliqui, aliqua, aliquod some
aliquis, aliquae, aliquod someone, something
alius, alia, aliud other
amentia, -ae (f.) madness
amicissimus, -a, -um most friendly
amicus, -i (m.) friend
amplissimus, -a, -um distinguished, very distinguished, honourable, most honourable
animadverto (here) to blame, chastise, punish
animus, i (m.) mind, spirit
annus, -i (m.) year
ante before
antea (adv.) formerly
Antiochus, -i Syrian king
antiquus, -a, -um old, ancient
Antonius See notes
apporto, 1. to bring, carry or convey to
apud among, at the house of

aqua, -ae (f.) water

arbitror, -ari, arbitratus to be of the opinion, to believe
artificium, -ii (n.) ingenuity, craft, cunning
Asia, -ae (f.) Asia Minor
Aspendius, -a, -um (adj.) of Aspendos; a harper of Aspendos was distinguished in antiquity for
playing with the fingers of the left hand (instead of the plectrum), and
on the side of the instrument turned inwards, and accordingly concealed
from the view of the spectators. Hence, ‘Aspendius’ was used proverbially of
a man that took more thought for his own than for others’ advantage
(Lewis& Short)
Aspendos, -i (f.) a town built by the Argives, in Pamphylia, on the Eurymedon, now Minugat
at but
atque and
attinet it concerns
auctoritas, -atis authority
audacia, -ae (f.) boldness
audio, 4. to hear
aufero, auferre, abstuli, ablatus to steal, take away
augeo, -ere, auxi, auctus to strenghten
aurum, -i (n.) gold
aut either, or
autem but
bellum, -i (n.) war
bibo, bibere, bibi to drink
Boeotia, -ae (f.) Bœotia, a district of Greece proper, whose capital was Thebes, the birthplace
of Bacchus and Hercules
caedo, -ere, cecidi, caesum to beat, strike, cudgel
calamitas, -tatis (f.) misfortune
caleo, -ere, ui to be warm
capio, capere, cepi, captus to capture
Cassius, -ii (m.) See notes
casu (set phrase) by chance
causa, -ae (f.) cause, reason
celebro, 1. to celebrate, engage in
cena, -ae (f.) dinner
certe (adv.) certainly
certus, -a, -um certain
ceterus, -a, -um the other, the rest
circumdo, 1. to surround
citharista, -ae (f.) cithara player
civis, -is (c.) citizen
civitas, -tatis (f.) state, city
clamor, -oris (m.) shout, uproar
clarus, -a, -um clear, evident
claudo, -ere, -si, -sus to close
coepi, -isse to begin
cogitatio, -ionis (f.) thought, reflection
cognosco, ere, cognovi, cognitus, 3. to learn, to see, to understand
colluco, -ere, to shine, to be bright
comes, itis (m.) companion, friend
comes, -itis (m.) companion, friend

comitium, -ii (n.) the assembly of the Romans

commodus, -a, -um agreeable
commoror, 1. to linger
comparo, 1. to make ready, furnish, provide
concito, 1. to stir up
concurro, -ere, concurri, concursum to run together
condemno, 1. to condemn
conficio, -ere, -fec, -fectus to make, put together, prepare
conloco, 1. to billet, locate
conor, 1. to try
conscius, -a, -um accomplice, accessory, confidante
considero, 1. to examine
consilium, -i (n.) determination, resolve
constituo, -ere, constitui, constitutus to set, place, fix
consuetudo, -inis (f.) customary manner
consul, -is (m.) consul
contendo, -ere, -di, -tum to hurry
contineo, -ere, -tinui, -tentum to hold or keep in check
contio, -nis (f.) meeting, public assembly
convenio, -ire, -veni to meet, to gather together
convivium, -ii (n.) banquet
copiae, -arum (f.) wealth, riches
copiosus, -a, -um rich
Corinthus, -i (m.) Corinth
credo, -ere, credidi, creditus to trust, believe in
cum + abl. with
cum + subj when, since, although
cupiditas, cupiditatis (f.) lust, avarice, covetousness, desire
cupio, 3.5 to want, desire
cur why?
curo, 1. to take pains to ensure
de about
debeo, -ere, debui, debitus to owe, to ought
deduco,-ere, -xi, -ctus to lead away
defendo, -ere, -di, -sus to defend
defero, -ferre, tuli, latus to remove, take down
definio, 4. to define
deliciae, -arum (f.) dear friend, precious fellow, minion
denique finally
deporto, 1. to carry off
deposco, -ere, -poposci to demand, to request earnestly
desisto, -ere, -stiti, -stitus to cease
destituo, -ere, -ui, -utum to forsake, abandon
detraho, -ere, detraxi, detractus to drag away
deus, i (m.) god
deversor, 1. to lodge as a guest
Diana, -ae (f.) Diana, goddess of the hunt, sister of Apollo
dicione (appears in acc, gen, dat, abl sing and plur once) authority, sovereignty
dico, -ere, dixi, dictus, 3. to say, to call
dictum, -i (n.) remark
digero, -ere, -gessi, -gestum to arrange, set in order

dignitas, -tatis (f.) character, merit

dignus, -a, -um worthy
diligens, -entis industrious, careful
diligentia, -ae (f.) diligence, industry
diripiendus, -a, -um to be torn asunder
discumbo, -ere, -cubui, -cubitus to recline at table for the purpose of dinner
diutius (comparative adv.) for longer
do, dare, dedi, datus to give
Dolabella See notes
dolor, -is grief
domesticus, -a, -um at home, domestic
dominus, -i (m.) master
domus, - us house
donum, -i (n.) gift
dubito, 1. to doubt
duo, duae, duo two
ecquis, ecquid is there any?
efflagito, 1. to demand urgently, request earnestly
effrenatus, -a, -um unbridled
ego (pronoun) I
eligo, -ere, elegi, electus to choose
emo, -ere, emi, emptus to buy
enim (conj.) for
eripio, -ere, -ripui, -reptum to snatch away, to take away
et and
etiam (conj.) even
eveho, -ere, evexi, evectus, 3. to carry out
evolo, 1. to escape
ex or e (indecl.) from
exanimatus dead
exardeo, -ere, -rsi, - rsus to be on fire, burn, blaze
excurro (see curro) to run out
exemplum, -i (n.) example
exercitus, -us (m.) army
eximius, -a, -um extraordinary, distinguished, excellent
existimatio, -nis (f.) reputation
existimo, 1. to value, estimate, reckon
exitium, -ii (n.) ruin, destruction
exorno, 1. to adorn
exporto, 1. to export
exspecto, 1. to wait for
exter or exterus of another country, foreign, strange
facile (adv.) easily
facilius (adv.) more easily
facio, -ere, feci, factus to make, do
factus, -us (m.) deed
falsus, -a, -um false
familia, -ae or -as family
fanum, i (n.) a place dedicated to some deity by forms of consecration, a sanctuary,
temple
ferrum, -i (n.) weapon

ferveo, -ere, -bui to be boiling hot

figura, -ae (f.) figure
filia, -ae (f.) daughter
filium, -i (m.) son
flagitiosus, -a, -um shameful, disgraceful
flagitium, -ii (n.) shameful act, atrocity
Flamininus See notes
floreo, 2. to flourish
foras (adv.) out of doors
foris, -is (f.) door, gate
forte perhaps
fortissimus, -a, -um very brave
fortuna, -ae (f.) fortune, luck
forum, i (n.) forum
furor, -ari, furatus est to steal, purloin, filter
furtum, -i (n.) theft, robbery
genus, -eris (n.) birth, descent
gero, gerere, gessi, gestus to achieve, to wage
Graecus, i (m.) a Greek
gravis, -e serious
gravitas, -tatis (m.) dignity
habeo, -ere, habui, habitus to have
habito, 1. to live
Hellespontus, i (m.) the Hellespont
hic, haec, hoc this
hice, haece, hoce the more emphatic form of hic, haec, hoc
homo, hominis (m.) man
honestus, -a, -um respected, honored
honor, -oris (m.) honour
hortor, 1. to urge, encourage
hospes, -itis (m.) host
hospitalis, -e hospitable
hostis, -is enemy
humanitas, -tatis (f.) humanity
iacto, 1. to throw about, cast about
iam now, already, at that time
ianua, -ae (f.) door
ibi there
ignarus, -a, -um unaware
ignis, -is fire
ille, illa, illud that
illinc from there
imperator, -oris (m.) general
imperatorius, -a, -um of or pertaining to a general
imperium, -ii (n.) military command
impero, 1. (+dat.) I order, command
impluvium, -ii (n.) here: hallway
impono (see pono) to impose
improbus, -a, -um vile, wicked, base
impurus, -a, -um unclean, filthy, foul
in + abl. in, on

in + acc. into, onto

in summe in the highest
indomitus, -a, -um inconquerable
ingenuus or-a free-born man or woman
initium, -ii (n.) the beginning
iniuria, -ae (f.) injury, injustice
innocentia, -ae (f.) incorruptibility
innumerabilis, -e countless
inquam I say
inquit he said
insto, -are, -stiti, -status to urge, insist upon, to pursue a matter; to attack
integritas, -tatis (f.) (of females) chastity
intellego, -ere, -xi, -ctus to understand
inter between, among
interea meanwhile
intimus, -a, -um innermost
intro to the inside
intueor, -eri, -itus to look upon
intus canere Lewis & Short: carmen intus canere, to sing for one’s self, i. e. to consult only
one’s own advantage
invado, -ere, -vasi, -vasus to invade
invenio, -ire, -veni, -ventus to find
investigo, 1. to track, trace out, search after
invitatio, -ionis (f.) invitation, challenge, enticement
invito, 1. to invite
invitus, -a, -um unwilling
ipse, -a, -um himself, herself, itself
is, ea, id this or that
is, ea, id this, that
isdem, eadem, idem the same
iste, ista, istud that
ita (adv.) so
Italia, -ae (f.) Italy
item also, likewise, in the same manner
iter, itineris (n.) journey
iubeo, -ere, iussi, iussus to order
iucunditas, -itatis (f.) joy
iudex, -icis (m.) judge
iudicium, -ii (n.) a court of justice, judgement
Iuno, -nis (f.) Juno
ius, iuris (n.) legal right, power, authority
Janitor a citizen called Janitor
laboro, 1. to work, to take pains
lacrimo, 1. to cry, to weep
laetitia, -ae (f.) happiness, joy
Lampsaceni, -orum (m.) the inhabitants of Lampsacus
Lampsacus, -i (f.) a city of Mysia, on the Hellespont, now Lamsaki
latrocinium, -ii (n.) robbery
laus, laudis (f.) praise
laute (adv.) elegantly, sumptuously
lectus, -a, -um excellent, very good

legatio, -ionis an embassy, a diplomatic mission

legatus deputy
legatus, -i (m.) ambassador, lieutenant
lego, -ere, legi, lectus to collect, to survey
levis, -e light
lex, legis (f.) law
liberi, -orum (m.pl.) children
libido, -inis (f.) passion, wantoness
licet it is lawful, it is allowed
lictor, -is (m.) bodyguard
lignum, -i (n.) firewood
littera, -ae (f.) document, letter
locus, i (m.) place
loquor, loqui, locutus sum to speak
lugubris, -e mournful, disastrous, mean
M. Claudius Marcellus See notes
Macedonia, -ae (f.) Macedonia
magis (adv.) more
magnificus, -a, -um splendid, rich, fine
magnitudo, -inis (f.) size
magnus, -a, -um big, great
maior, -us (comparative of magnus) greater, larger
maiores ancestors
malum, i (n.) an evil, mischief
malum, i (n.) an exclamation: alas! misery!
mane (adv.) in the morning
manus, -us (f.) hand, band of men
mater, matris (f.) mother
mature (adv.) early
maximus, -a, -um
(superlatve of magnus) greatest, largest
memini, -isse I remember
mercator, -is (m.) merchant
metuo, -ere to fear
migro, 1. to be off to, to transfer to
minime (adv.) not at all
mirus, -a, -um amazing
mitto, -ere, misi, missus to send
modus, i (m.) manner; measure, moderation
monumentum, i (n.) monument
mos, moris (m.) custom, habit, manner
moveo, -ere, movi, motus to move
mulier, -is (f.) woman
multo by far
multus, -a, -um much, many
Mummius, -ii (m.) See notes
munus, -eris (n.) service, duty
nam for
nanciscor, nancisci, nactus sum to meet with, to light upon
natio, -ionis (f.) race, nation, people
ne (conj.) so that not, that, in case, lest

nec not
nefarium, -ii (n.) crime, sin
nefarius, -a, -um sinful
neglego, -ere, -xi, -ctum to disregard, neglect
nego, 1. to say that. . . not, to deny
negotio, 1. to do business
negotium, -ii (n.) business; task
nemo no-one
neque neither . . . nor
nequissimus, -a, -um most worthless, wretched
Nicomedes, -is (m.) Son of Prusias, a king of Bithynia
nihil (adv.) nothing
nimis (adv.) too
nisi unless, if not, except
nobilis, -e noble
noctu by night
nolo, nolle, nolui to not want
nomen, -inis (n.) name
nomine with the title, pretext, excuse
non not
non solum . . . sed etiam . . . not only . . . but also . . .
nos (pronoun) we
noster, -ra, -rum our
noto, 1. to note down
novus, -a, -um unheard of, unusual, unprecedented
nudo, 1. to strip
nullus, -a, -um no
numerus, -i (m.) number
numquam (adv.) never
nunc (adv.) now
nuntio, 1. to announce, report
ob (prep. + acc.) on account of
obsoletus, -a, -um obsolete, redundant
obstipesco, -ere, -pui to be stupified
obtineo, -ere, -tinui, -tentus to preserve
occido, -ere, occisi, occisus to kill
offendo, -ere, -di, -sus to hurt, offend
officiosus, -a, -um full of courtesy
Olympus, -i (m.) Olympus
omnis, -is, -e all
onus, -eris (n.) burden
opinio, -nis (f.) opinion
opinor, 1. to think
oppidum, -i (m.) town
optimus, -a, -um excellent, very good
opus, operis (n.) work, task, deed
oratio, -ionis speech
ornamentum, -i (n.) ornament
ornatus, -a, -um ornate, beautiful
ornatus, -us (m.) decoration, ornament, adornment
oro, 1. to beg

ostendo, -ere, -di, -sus and tus to show

otium, -ii (n.) ease, leisure
paco, 1. to pacify
palam (adv.) openly
Pamphylia, -ae (f.) a country on the sea-coast of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia
Pamphylia, -ae (f.) Pamphylia
parco, -ere, peperci to spare
parens, -ntis (m.) parent
paro, 1. to prepare
pars, partis (f.) part
parum (adv.) too little, insufficiently
pater, patris (m.) father
paulo (adv.) a little
peccatum, -i (n.) sin, transgression
per through
percipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum to feel
perficio, -ere, -feci, -fectus to accomplish
perfundo, -ere, -fudi, -fusum to pour over
Perga, -ae (f.) Perga, ancient Greek city in Anatolia and the capital of Pamphylia
pernicies, -ei (f.) destruction, death, ruin, overthrow
perpetior, perpeti, perpessus sum to endure, to bear steadfastly
perscribo, -ere, scripsi, scriptus to write out in full, to enter, to regsiter
Perses, -ae (m.) king of Macedonia
pervenio, 3.5 to reach, arrive at
pes, pedis foot
Philippus king of Macedonia
Philodamus See notes
pictus, -a, -um painted
plaustrum, -i (n.) waggon
plenissimus, -a, -um very full
plurimus, -a, -um very many, very much
plus, pluris more
poculum, -i (n.) wine-cup
pono, ponere, posui, positus to place, put
populus, -i (m.) people
posco, -ere, poposci to demand
possum, posse, potui to be able
postea after
posteaquam after
postridie on the following day
postulatum, -i (n.) demand
postulo, 1. to demand
potentissimus, -a, -um most powerful
potius rather
praeda, -ae (f.) property taken in war, booty, spoil, plunder
praesidium, -ii (n.) garrison, protection
praeter beyond
praeterea in addition, besides
praetermitto, -ere, -misi, -missus to permit to go by
praetor, -is (m.) praetor
primarius eminent, distinguished

primum for the first time

primus, -a, -um first
princips, -ipis the first, chief, the most eminent
pro + acc. on behalf of
probo, 1. to approve of
profero, ferre, tuli, latus to bring forward
proficiscor, proficisci, profectus sum to set out
prope near
propinquus, -a, -um a relation, relative
propterea (adv.) because, on that account
proverbium, -ii (n.) An old saying, a saw, maxim, adage, proverb
provincia, -ae (f.) province
publicus, -a, -um public
pudicitia, -ae (f.) shame, modesty, virtue
pugna, -ae (f.) fight
pulcherrimus, -a, -um most beautiful
pulchritudo, -inis beauty
puto, 1. think
quaero, -ere, quaesivi, quaesitus to look for, enquire
quaeso, -ere, ivi or ii to ask, beg, pray, beseech
quaestorius quaestorian, of quaestor rank
quaestus, -us (m.) profit, gain, advantage
quam how
quantus, -a, -um how big, how great
quasi as if
qui, quae, quod who, which
quid what
quidam, quaedam, quoddam a certain
quidem certainly, in fact, indeed
quidvis whatever
quietus, -a, -um calm, quiet
quispiam, quispiam, quidpiam someone, something
quisquam, quaequam, quidquam any
quisque, quaeque, quodque each
quoad (adv.) for as long as
quocumque (adv.) to whatever place
quodsi that if; and if
quoniam (adv.) since
quoque (conj.) also
rapio, -ere, rapui, raptus to snatch, seize
ratio, -ionis (f.) account, way of understanding; reason; method
recens, recentis recent
recipio, -ere, cepi, -ceptus to receive
recito, 1. to read out, recite
refero, -ferre, -tuli, -latus to note down, register, record
religiosissimus, -a, -um most holy
relinquo, relinqure, reliqui, relictus, 3. to leave behind
reliquus, -a, -um the rest, the remainder
reperio, -ire, repperi, repertus to find out, discover
res, rei (f.) deed, thing, way, affair, property, news
respondeo, -ere, -si, -sus to reply, to respond

stuprum, -i (n.) violation

sub beneath, under
subicio, -ere, -ieci, -iectus to lay, supply
subigo, -ere, -egi, -actus to subjugate
subiungo, -ere, -xi, -ctus to bring under
suburbanum, -i (n.) an estate near Rome, a suburban villa
succurro, -ere, -curri, -cursus to help
sum, esse, fui to be
summus, -a, -um highest
sumptus, -us (m.) expense
supero, 1. to surmount, surpass
suspicor, 1. to suspect
suus, -a, -um his, her, its, their
Syracusae, -arum the city of Syracuse in Sicily, now Siragossa
tabula (f.) tablet, book of account
tabula picta (f.) painting
taeter, -ra, -rum offensive, repulsive, foul
tamen however
tametsi (conj.) although
tantus, -a, -um so great
tectum, i (n.) lit. roof, often house
templum, i (n.) temple
tempus, -oris (n.) time; (or in moral sense) state, position
Terentius See notes
tollo, -ere, sustuli, sublatus to take away, remove
totus, -a, -um whole
triumphus, -i (m.) triumphal procession
tu you
tum then, at that time
tumultus, -i (m.) disorder, tumult
tunc then, at that time
turba, -ae (f.) crowd, mob
turpis, -e disgraceful, shameful, base
tutus, -a, -um safe
tuus, -a, -um your
ubi when, where
ulciscor, ulti, ultus sum to take vengeance on, punish
ullus, -a, -um any
unus, -a, -um one
urbs, urbis (f.) city
34
usque ad up until Cicero, In Verrem II.
ut in order to, so that, as, when
uti see ut
utinam oh that! I wish that! if only! would to heaven! would that!
utor, uti, usus sum to employ
vacuus, -a, -um devoid of, empty of
valva, ae (f.) folding door
veho, ere, vexi, vectus, 3. to bring, carry or convey
veneror, -ari, -atus sum to worship
venio, 4. to come
vereor, eri, veritus sum to fear

retineo, -ere, -ui, -tentum to detain, hold back; to keep, retain

rex, regis (m.) king
ridiculus, -a, -um laughable, silly, absurd
rogo, 1. to ask (for)
Roma, -ae (f.) Rome
Romanus, -i (m.) a Roman
Rubrius See notes
Sadala, -ae (m.) a king of Thrace
saepe (adv.) often
Samius, -a, -um of Samos
sanctus, -a, -um sacred, holy
sarmentum, -i (n.) brushwood
satis enough
satius (comparative adv.) better, more satisfactory
saucio, 1. to wound, injure
saxum, -i (n.) rock
sceleratus, -a, -um wicked
scelus, -eris (n.) crime
scio, scire, scivi, scitus to know
Scipio See notes
se himself, herself, itself
sector, -is (m.) a cutthroat or a bidder, purchaser at a public sale of goods
sed but
sedatus, -a, -um composed, moderate, calm, quiet
semper always
senatus, -us (m.) senate
sensus, -us (m.) moral sense, common feelings of humanity
sententia, -ae (f.) opinion, judgement
sentio, -ire, sensi, sensus to feel, experience, suffer
sermo, -onis (m.) speech, talk, conversation
servo, 1. to serve
servus, -i (m.) slave
sese himself, herself, itself
si if
sic thus, so
Sicilia, -ae (f.) Sicily
signum, -i (n.) figure, statue, picture etc...
simul together with, at the same time
simulacrum, -i (n.) likeness, image, statue
socius, -ii (m.) ally
soleo, -ere, - , solitus to be accustomed
solus, -a, -um only, alone
soror, -oris (f.) sister
species, -iei (f.) appearance
specto, 1. to watch
spes, -ei hope
spolio, 1. to plunder, rob
spolium, -ii (n.) booty, spoil
statim immediately
status, -us (m.) condition
sto, stare, steti, status to stand

vero indeed, in truth

Verres the defendant, Gaius Verres
versor, 1. to be occupied; to be turned upside down
verum but
vestigium, -ii (n.) trace
vetus, -eteris old
vexo, 1. to annoy, harrass
via, -ae (f.) street
viam munire to pave the way
victoria, -ae (f.) victory
video, -ere, vidi, visus, 3. to see
vim afferre to use force against
vinco, -ere, vici, victus to win, to conquer
vir, viri (m.) husband, man
virgo, virginis (f.) young girl
virtus, -tutis (m.) virtue
vis (f.) violence, force
vita, -ae (f.) life
vivo, vivere, vixi, to live
voco, 1. to call
volo, velle, volui to want
voluptas, -atis (f.) pleasure
vulnero, -are, -avi, -atus to wound, injure.

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Cicero in Verrem II Teacher Support

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What is the context of the case against Verres?

What is the context of the case against Verres?

Who was Cicero and what was his background?

Who was Cicero and what was his background?

AS GCE in Classics: Latin H039

This extract and accompanying notes

Marcus Tullius Cicero 4

The Context of the Case 5

The Text: Cicero, In Verrem II. 1. 53-69 9

2 Cicero, In Verrem II.

106BC The birth of Cicero at Arpinum Cic. De Leg. 2.3

85BC Cicero completes his education with Cic. Brut. 308-10

81BC Cicero’s first surviving speech Aulus Gellius, Noctes

80BC Cicero’s successful defence speech Cic. Pro Rosc. passim

79-77BC Cicero studies rhetoric under

75BC Cicero serves as quaestor in Sicily Cic. Verr. 2.3.47

43BC Cicero is murdered after being put on

Cicero, In Verrem II. 3

MARCUS TULLIUS prosecutor at the request of the Sicilians. Cicero

4 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 5

ROMAN ORATORY memoria

6 Cicero, In Verrem II.

(6) By means of the sixth commonplace we show

Cicero, In Verrem II. 7

pleonasm the use of copious words beyond

antithesis the opposition of ideas designed to

exclamation calling out to someone.

tricolon delivering ideas in threes; when

8 Cicero, In Verrem II.

THE TEXT: CICERO, IN VERREM II. 1. 53-69

Cicero, In Verrem II. 9

10 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 11

12 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 13

14 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 15

NOTES of musical performance (see the note on this in the

16 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 17

CHAPTER 56 do while the private hording of goods is the preserve of

In this chapter Cicero yet again attempts to set up a

18 Cicero, In Verrem II.

ad sensum cogitationemque – “in terms of deorum . . . fanis . . . venerabantur – notice the

Cicero, In Verrem II. 19

audimus aliquem . . . audimus alium . . . hoc vero CHAPTER 62

20 Cicero, In Verrem II.

Cicero, In Verrem II. 21

22 Cicero, In Verrem II.

is this invented speech a rhetorically dramatic device

The shame of having the resident Roman traders of

The violent retribution they take delivered as an

Notice the plethora of morally charged words which

Cicero, In Verrem II. 23

24 Cicero, In Verrem II.

aqua, -ae (f.) water

Cicero, In Verrem II. 25

comitium, -ii (n.) the assembly of the Romans