Pro S. Roscio Amerino

102 CICEEO : PRO
ROSCIO. [OH. XXX.
XXX., §§ 83-85. Argcment.— If we turn to the question of where
the guilt really lies, I say that, while you, Erucius, canfind no motive
for Sextus Roscius committing the murder, 1 do find one for Titua
Roscius ; the question of the severe judge, Lucius Gassius, '
' Who
interested party ? " should be asked in this case.
[Consult the Index for Cassius.]
is the
Ch. XXX.— 1. fides " : sense of duty." Here begins the second o£
the three main divisions of the speech. In this part (Ch. XXX.-
XLII.) Cicero turns from defence to attack, and endeavours to show
that the murder was really committed by the two Roscii, Capito and
Magnus.
2. alios potius : i.e. more distinguished men than the two
Roscii.
3. crescere : "to advance my position." Since an accusation in a
causa publica was regarded as a service to the State, young men of
promise were accustomed to make such aceusations the first steps
in their political career. quod : adversative, = ab hoc. certum est
sc. mihi, "I am resolved."
4. utrumvis : i.e. either to accuse or to defend.
5. sua virtute : "by
his own unaided merits."
8. iam intelleges : this forms the apodosis to desinamus and
quaeramus, though the sentences are not expressed in regular
conditional form.
9. certum crimen : "a real charge," as opposed to a fictitious one
{crimen commenticitim, 15, 6).
10. neque omnia dicam et : an idiom that also occurs in Greek ;
in English et must be rendered by "but."
11. neque . . . id : == ac ne id quidem.
12. signi : possessive genitive used predicatively.
13. causam : "motive."
16. istic : on the side of the prosecution.
17. viderimus : the future perfect of video is often used of an
action postponed ; in this usage it differs hardly at all in meaning
from the simple future. paratum esse : sc. eum.
18. alias palmas : the murder of Sex. Roscius is ironically alluded
to as a "victory," which Capito may reckon among his other
successes as a gladiator. See 6, 30 and .32.
21. in causis : i.e. when he was quaesitor or iudex quaestionis in a
quaestio perpetua, in which capacity he would assist the verdict of
the iudices by occasional i eniarks.
22. bono : predicative dative, accompanied by cui as dative of
indirect object ; cuibono? means literally " to whom does it serve
as a benefit?"i.e. " who gains byit?" sic : = talis, and is used
predicatively.
23. spe atque emolimiento : hendiadys [i.e. two words are used
coordinately to express one idea), " hope of advantage."
24. quaesitorem : i. e. the president of a quaestio, either as praetor
or as iudex quaestimiis.
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