Matheson Collection > Pro S. Roscio Amerino

74 CICERO : PRO ROSCIO. [cH. IV.
IV., §§ 9-11. Argument. — The burden ofthe defence is one that is
almost too greatfor my powers ; but I will carry it through to the end,
if only I can rely on your attention and sympaihy.
[Consult the Index for Fannius.]
Ch. IV. — 2. commode : "tactfuUy." graviter : "foreibly," so as
to make an impression oii the minds of the jury.
4. impedimento : predicative dative ; with this the three other
datives are eonstructed as indirect objects.
5. natura pudorque : hendiadys (see note on 3, 16), "natural
modesty."
8. bona cum venia : " with favourable indulgence," " with kindly
forbearance."
10. oneris : partitive genitive with phis.
11. adlevabitis : i.e. by sympathetic attention.
12. non spero : "I do not expect." It is only in negative clauscs
that Cicero uses spero of unfavourable occurrences.
13. animo : ablative of respect.
14. perferam : "I will carry through to the end " ; this meaning
is not coramon in classical prose.
15. officii : subjective genitive (" the burden my duty imposes").
cum fide : " with confidence " in my powers.
18. M. Fanni : see Introd., § 7.
19. cum huic eidem quaesbioni iudex praeesses : i.e. as ivdex
quaestionis in j)lace of the praetors, since there were not enough
praetors to suliiee for the presidency of all the courts. If the occa-
sion herereferred to was before the Lex Comdia of 81 B.c. (as seems
likely from 5, 5), Fannius would probably have been president of a
special coramission established by the people (cp. popxdo Romano)
for the trial of some particular murder case, since there seems to
have been no permanent quaestio inter sicarios before the Lex Comelid
of 81 B.C. But if, as is improbable (see next note), the reference is
to a tirae afler the passing of the Lex Cornelia of 81 B.C., Fannius
raust have presided as ordinary iudex quaestionis in the murder
court established by SuUa. See Introd., § 7.
V., §§ 11-14. Argument.— TAere are further reasons luhy you
shoidd show yourselves severe jiidges in this trial ; the people expect it,
and the consequences ofa lenient verdict may be disastrous. Think of
the position of the accusers and that of the defendant. I will now set
hefcn-e you the history of the case.
1 Ch. V. — 4. longo intervallo iudicium inter sicarios hoc primum
I committitur : the Lex Cornelia de sicariis et vewfcis, by which was
I established the quaestio perpetua, or standing court, for the trial of
\ assassination, poisoning, aiid arson (including the crime of parrici-
\ dium, with which Roscius was cliarged), was passed in 81 b.c, and
t tlie prcsent trial seems to have bcen the first one that took placo