18. reconciliare: here, not reconcile, but win back.
existimationem: existimatio,judgment, good name, reputation.
20. depeculatorem: depeculator, plunderer, embezzler.
aerari: aerarium,treasury.
Asiae atque Pamphyliae (21): the Roman province of Asia and Pamphylia, during Cicero’s day part of the province of Cilicia (of which Cicero himself became proconsular governor in 51–50 B.C.), were both in Asia Minor, where Verres had served the corrupt governor Dolabella.
21. praedonem: praedo, robber; the allusion is to Verres’ term as praetor urbanus in 74 B.C.
labem atque perniciem (22): from labes and pernicies, ruin and destruction.
22. religiose: adv., conscientiously.
23. haerebit: haerere, to cling, stick, persist.
24. quam ob rem (25): here = cur.
25. proficere: to gain, accomplish.
26. intellegere non possum: because the current praetor (Manius Acilius Glabrio) and panel (consilium) are reliable.
27. reiectione: reiectio, challenging, rejection; during the selection of a panel, prospective jurors could be challenged and rejected.
27. ea spe…ut (28): lit., with such hope…that; the cl. is in appos. with unum illud.
28. praeditum: endowed (with) + abl.; freely, his hopes were such that.
constitueret: constituere,to place, establish, determine, decide.
29. sibi…adiumento: adiumentum, help, assistance; DAT. OF REF. + DAT. OF PURPOSE (together sometimes called the DOUBLE DAT.).
fore: a common alternate form for futurum esse.
32. quae…possit (34): REL. CL. OF RESULT.
34. aliqua ex parte: in any way, even partially.
36. indicia: proofs, evidence.
39. aliquando: adv., at some time, at any time, ever, at last.
40. hoc praetore: ABL. ABS.; the governor of Sicily was a propraetor (i.e., a former praetor).
41. communia: common to all men, universal.
43. imprudentiam: lit., lack of foresight.
superfuit: superesse,to be more than enough (for).
44. nutum: nod (of approval), command.
pecuniae:sums of money.
45. aratorum: arator, plowman, farmer, tenant; in Sicily much of the land was regarded as owned by the state and was rented out to the aratores for a tithe of their crops.
bonis:goods.
instituto: institutum, practice, custom.
coactae: sc. sunt; Cicero and other writers frequently omitted forms of sum in the perf. pass. system, employing only the perf. pass. partic. (so existimati, cruciati, etc., later in this sent.).
15 Huic ego causae, iudices, cum summa voluntate et exspectatione populi Romani, actor accessi, non ut augerem invidiam ordinis sed ut infamiae communi succurrerem. Adduxi enim hominem in quo reconciliare existimationem iudiciorum amissam, redire in gratiam cum populo Romano, satisfacere exteris 20 nationibus possetis—depeculatorem aerari, vexatorem Asiae atque Pamphyliae, praedonem iuris urbani, labem atque perniciem provinciae Siciliae. De quo si vos vere ac religiose iudicaveritis, auctoritas ea, quae in vobis remanere debet, haerebit. Quid iste speret et quo animum intendat facile perspicio. Quam 25 ob rem vero se confidat aliquid proficere posse, hoc praetore et hoc consilio, intellegere non possum. Unum illud intellego (quod populus Romanus in reiectione iudicum iudicavit) ea spe istum fuisse praeditum ut omnem rationem salutis in pecunia constitueret, hoc erepto praesidio ut nullam sibi rem adiumento fore 30 arbitraretur. (I.1–10, excerpts)
A summary of Verres’ crimes, especially in Sicily.
Etenim quod est ingenium tantum, quae tanta facultas dicendi aut copia, quae istius vitam, tot vitiis flagitiisque convictam, iam pridem omnium voluntate iudicioque damnatam, aliqua ex parte possit defendere?
35 Iam vero omnium vitiorum suorum plurima et maxima constituit monumenta et indicia in provincia Sicilia, quam iste per triennium ita vexavit ac perdidit ut ea restitui in antiquum statum nullo modo possit, vix autem per multos annos innocentisque praetores aliqua ex parte recreari aliquando posse videatur. 40 Hoc praetore, Siculi neque suas leges neque nostra senatus consulta neque communia iura tenuerunt. Tantum quisque habet in Sicilia quantum hominis avarissimi et libidinosissimi aut imprudentiam subterfugit aut satietati superfuit. Nulla res per triennium nisi ad nutum istius iudicata est. Innumerabiles pecuniae 45 ex aratorum bonis novo nefarioque instituto coactae; socii fidelissimi in hostium numero existimati; cives Romani servilem in modum cruciati et necati; homines nocentissimi propter pecunias iudicio liberati; honestissimi atque integerrimi, absentes rei facti, indicta causa, damnati et eiecti; portus 50 munitissimi, maximae tutissimaeque urbes piratis praedonibusque patefactae; nautae militesque Siculorum, socii nostri atque amici, fame necati; classes optimae atque opportunissimae, cum magna ignominia populi Romani, amissae et perditae. Idem iste praetor monumenta antiquissima, partim regum 55 locupletissimorum, quae illi ornamento urbibus esse voluerunt, partim etiam nostrorum imperatorum, quae victores civitatibus Siculis aut dederunt aut reddiderunt, spoliavit nudavitque omnia. Neque hoc solum in statuis ornamentisque publicis fecit, sed etiam delubra omnia sanctissimis religionibus consecrata 60 depeculatus est. In stupris vero et flagitiis, nefarias eius libidines commemorare pudore deterreor. (I. 10–14, excerpts)
46. socii: not allies in the international sense, but non-Roman members of communities within the Roman state which had special rights such as local independence.
existimati: existimare,to estimate, think, consider.
47. cruciati: cruciare, to crucify, torture; it was illegal to inflict serious physical punishment on a Roman citizen except as a result of a trial by peers at Rome.
48. integerrimi: integer, untouched, blameless, honest.
