Pro S. Roscio Amerino

k
CH. XXXV.] NOTES. 109
on a historic main verb. The perfect represents voluit (in cur voluit),
and the actual result rather than the natural consequence is thus
emphasised.
12. nisi hoc = hoc tamen.
15. non : with nunc primum.
16. palmas : the "victories" of a gladiator ; used sarcastically
with reference to murders and other crimes.
; 17. lemniscatam : "deeked with ribands"; a, pcdma lemniscata
? was apalm-branch (the usual token of victory) adorned with ribands
1 and presented to a general or gladiator when his victory had been
S one out of the common. Cicero of course here implies that the
murder of Roscius was one which brought Capito more profit than
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{ usual. quae Roma ei deferatur : the neighbourhood of Ameria had
l hitherto been the scene of Capito's murders. It is implied that it
Avas more difficult for a gladiator to win a victory at Rorae than in
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* other parts of Italy.
20. quem contra morem maiorum minorem annis sexaginta de
ponte in Tiberim deiecerit : tlie centuries composing the comitia
centuriata voted in the Campus Martius ; and the voters passed
by means of pontes or narrow railed galleries to their separate
voting eompartments (consaepta), of which there was one for each
century. The centuries in each class consisted of iuniores (from
18 to 45 years of age) and of seniores (from 46 to 60). Since the
assembly was essentially a military one, those over the age of
compulsory service, i.e. over 60, should not logically have had any
part in it. But it is certain that the list of seniores contained the
names of men over 60, and the younger men would often thrust them
back from the voting-galleries, on the ground that those who could
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no longer fight ought not to be allowed a voice in the decision of
questions. To this hustling from the pontes of the old men
by the young the expression sexagenarios de ponte deicere was trans-
! ferred by way of a pun ; for the expression itself originated in an
; old custom by which every year on the Ides of May the Pontifices
; and the Vestal Virgins threw into the Tiber from the Pons Suhlicivs
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twenty-four Argei, which were figures of men made of rushes.
These figures probably took the place of the sexagenarians who were
1 actually thrown into the Tiber in the early days of human sacrifice.
21. si prodierit : i.e. as witness.
22. proditurmn esse : sc. eum as subject. audiet : Cicero threatens
that in his cross-examination of the witnesses on the opposite side
(testium interrogatio) he will bring to light all the crimes of Capito,
and in this way shake his credibility as a witness.
23. volumen : "roll." quod conscripsisse : advocateswereaccustomed
to " coach " their witnesses before the trial by giving them a
list of the questions likely to be put to them by the opposite side ;
here, however, Cicero implies that Erucius intends knowingly to
produce a lying witness, and that he has instructed him in the false
evidence that he is to give.
26. pro testimonio : " as evidence. "