388. si…ducerere (389): the pres. (vs. past) contrary to fact condition makes Cicero’s point more vivid.
Persas:the Persians.
extrema: the partitive use of the adj.
389. deprensus: deprehendere, to seize, arrest.
390. si…profuisset…potuit (396): MIXED CONDITION.
ignoto:unknown, strange (a stranger); dat. with profuisset, from prosum, prodesse, to be useful, benefit, profit.
apud…positos (392): TRICOLON CRESCENS.
396. adsequi: to overtake, reach, attain, gain.
397. tenues: lit., thin, slender; here, poor.
obscuro loco: i.e., of humble origin.
398. quo: adv. with eis as antecedent = ad quos.
399. cognitoribus: cognitor, attorney, witness to one’s identity.
400. fiducia: confidence, reliance, trust.
401. existimationis: existimatio, public opinion.
neque…solum (402): = et non solum.
Roman citizenship provides protection throughout the world.
Hoc teneo, hic haereo, iudices. Hoc sum contentus uno; 385 omitto ac neglego cetera; sua confessione induatur ac iuguletur necesse est. Qui esset ignorabas; speculatorem esse suspicabare. Non quaero qua suspicione: tua te accuso oratione. Civem Romanum se esse dicebat. Si tu, apud Persas aut in extrema India deprensus, Verres, ad supplicium ducerere, quid aliud clamitares, 390 nisi te civem esse Romanum? et si tibi ignoto apud ignotos, apud barbaros, apud homines in extremis atque ultimis gentibus positos, nobile et illustre apud omnis nomen civitatis tuae profuisset—ille, quisquis erat, quem tu in crucem rapiebas, qui tibi esset ignotus, cum civem se Romanum esse diceret, apud 395 te praetorem, si non effugium, ne moram quidem mortis, mentione atque usurpatione civitatis, adsequi potuit? (V. 166)
The value of Roman citizenship is threatened by Verres’ action.
Homines tenues, obscuro loco nati, navigant; adeunt ad ea loca quae numquam antea viderunt, ubi neque noti esse eis quo venerunt, neque semper cum cognitoribus esse possunt. Hac 400 una tamen fiducia civitatis, non modo apud nostros magistratus, qui et legum et existimationis periculo continentur, neque apud civis solum Romanos, qui et sermonis et iuris et multarum rerum societate iuncti sunt, fore se tutos arbitrantur; sed, quocumque venerint, hanc sibi rem praesidio sperant futuram. 405 Tolle hanc spem, tolle hoc praesidium civibus Romanis, constitue nihil esse opis in hac voce, “Civis Romanus sum,” posse impune praetorem aut alium quemlibet supplicium quod velit in eum constituere qui se civem Romanum esse dicat, quod eum quis ignoret: iam omnis provincias, iam omnia regna, iam omnis 410 liberas civitates, iam omnem orbem terrarum, qui semper nostris hominibus maxime patuit, civibus Romanis ista defensione praecluseris. (V. 167–68)
403. quocumque: adv., to whatever place, wherever.
404. rem: i.e., their Roman citizenship.
405. tolle…praecluseris (412): this highly climactic sent., characterized by extensive use of ANAPHORA, ASYNDETON, and TRICOLON CRESCENS, has the force of a FUT. MORE VIVID CONDITION, with a series of imper. vbs. directed at Catiline in the protasis (tolle…tolle…constitue) and the fut. perf. praecluseris (from praecludere) in the apodosis, (if you) take away…you will soon have closed.
constitue: the imper. (decide, determine) governs the parallel IND. STATES., nihil esse and posse…praetorem aut alium quemlibet.
406. opis: with nihil, no force.
407. quemlibet: quilibet, any (you please).
408. constituere: COMPL. INF. with posse.
409. quis: = aliquis.
413. plura: sc. dicam.
quasi tu…fueris: Cicero continues to address Verres. The vb. is perf. subjunct. in a CL. OF IMAGINED COMPARISON; related to conditions, these els. are introduced by quasi or velut si and generally take vbs. in the pres. or pres. perf. tense, where Eng. would more often employ the plpf., as if you had been.
414. infestus: dangerous, hostile (to).
generi:class, society; i.e., Verres has become the public enemy (hostis) of all Roman citizens, not merely the personal enemy of Gavius alone.
416. quid…attinuit: attinere, to pertain to; with the inf. cls. (te iubere…et…addere), lit., what did it pertain to that you ordered…and that you added = what was the point of your ordering…and adding.
more atque instituto: HENDIADYS, in accordance with their established practice (ABL. OF ACCORDANCE).
417. fixissent: figere, to attach, fasten, fix, set up.
418. fretum: strait, channel.
hoc: obj. of addere and in appos. with the IND. STATE. te…deligere.
420. idcirco: adv., on that account, therefore; the word often serves, as here, as antecedent to a purpose cl., for this reason…that…. This accusation amplifies Cicero’s characterization of Verres’ cruelty.
422. post conditam Messanam (423): lit., after Messana having been founded = (for the first time) since the founding of Messana.
425. divisa: sc. esse.
servitutis: crucifixion was the form of execution for slaves.
