§1si quid est in me ingeni, iudices, quod sentio quam sit exiguum, aut si qua exercitatio dicendi, in qua me non infitior mediocriter esse versatum, aut si huiusce rei ratio aliqua ab optimarum artium studiis ac disciplina profecta, a qua ego nullum confiteor aetatis meae tempus abhorruisse, earum rerum omnium vel in primis hic A. Licinius fructum a me repetere prope suo iure debet.
If there is any talent in me, gentlemen of the jury, which I feel how slight it is, or if there is any practice in speaking, in which I do not deny that I have been moderately versed, or if there is any theoretical knowledge of this subject derived from the study and discipline of the finest arts, from which I confess that no period of my life has shrunk, this Aulus Licinius has a right, almost in his own name, to demand from me the fruit of all those things especially.
nam quoad longissime potest mens mea respicere spatium praeteriti temporis et pueritiae memoriam recordari ultimam, inde usque repetens hunc video mihi principem et ad suscipiendam et ad ingrediendam rationem horum studiorum exstitisse.
For as far back as my mind can look at the space of past time and recall the earliest memory of childhood, starting from that very point I see that this man was my primary leader both in undertaking and in entering upon the path of these studies.
quod si haec vox huius hortatu praeceptisque conformata non nullis aliquando saluti fuit, a quo id accepimus quo ceteris opitulari et alios servare possemus, huic profecto ipsi, quantum est situm in nobis, et opem et salutem ferre debemus.
But if this voice, shaped by this man's encouragement and precepts, has at some time been a source of safety to some, we surely ought to bring help and safety to this very man, from whom we received that by which we could help others and save some, to the extent of our ability.
§2ac ne quis a nobis hoc ita dici forte miretur, quod alia quaedam in hoc facultas sit ingeni neque haec dicendi ratio aut disciplina, ne nos quidem huic uni studio penitus umquam dediti fuimus.
And lest anyone should marvel that this is said by us in this way, because there is in this man some other kind of natural ability, and not this study of speaking or discipline, not even we ourselves have ever been entirely devoted to this single study alone.
etenim omnes artes quae ad humanitatem pertinent habent quoddam commune vinclum et quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur.
For indeed, all the arts which pertain to humanity have a certain common bond, and are held together, as it way, by a certain mutual relationship.
§3sed ne cui vestrum mirum esse videatur, me in quaestione legitima et in iudicio publico, cum res agatur apud praetorem populi Romani, lectissimum virum, et apud severissimos iudices, tanto conventu hominum ac frequentia hoc uti genere dicendi quod non modo a consuetudine iudiciorum verum etiam a forensi sermone abhorreat, quaeso a vobis ut in hac causa mihi detis hanc veniam accommodatam huic reo, vobis, quem ad modum spero, non molestam, ut me pro summo poeta atque eruditissimo homine dicentem hoc concursu hominum litteratissimorum, hac vestra humanitate, hoc denique praetore exercente iudicium, patiamini de studiis humanitatis ac litterarum paulo loqui liberius, et in eius modi persona quae propter otium ac studium minime in iudiciis periculisque tractata est uti prope novo quodam et inusitato genere dicendi.
But lest it should seem strange to any of you that in a legal inquiry and in a public court, when the case is being tried before a praetor of the Roman people, a most distinguished man, and before most severe judges, in so great an assembly and crowd of people, I use this style of speaking which is at variance not only with the custom of the courts but also with the language of the forum, I entreat of you that in this cause you will grant me this indulgence, suitable to this defendant, and, as I hope, not troublesome to you, to allow me, speaking on behalf of a most eminent poet and most learned man, before this assembly of most literary men, with your humanity, and finally while this praetor is conducting the trial, to speak a little more freely about the studies of humanity and literature, and, in a character of this kind which, on account of leisure and study, has been least involved in trials and dangers, to use an almost new and unusual style of speaking.
§4quod si mihi a vobis tribui concedique sentiam, perficiam profecto ut hunc A. Licinium non modo non segregandum, cum sit civis, a numero civium verum etiam, si non esset, putetis asciscendum fuisse.
And if I feel that this is granted and conceded to me by you, I will certainly bring it about that you will think that this Aulus Licinius not only should not be excluded from the number of citizens, since he is a citizen, but also, if he were not, ought to have been admitted.
nam ut primum ex pueris excessit Archias atque ab eis artibus quibus aetas puerilis ad humanitatem informari solet, se ad scribendi studium contulit, primum Antiochiae— nam ibi natus est loco nobili—celebri quondam urbe et copiosa atque eruditissimis hominibus liberalissimisque studiis adfluenti, celeriter antecellere omnibus ingeni gloria coepit.
For as soon as Archias departed from childhood, and from those arts by which the boyish age is accustomed to be trained to humanity, he applied himself to the study of writing, first at Antioch—for he was born there of a noble family—a city once famous and wealthy, and rich in most learned men and most liberal studies, and he quickly began to excel all in the glory of his talent.
post in ceteris Asiae partibus cunctaque Graecia sic eius adventus celebrabantur ut famam ingeni exspectatio hominis, exspectationem ipsius adventus admiratioque superaret.
Afterwards, in the other parts of Asia and throughout Greece, his arrivals were so celebrated that the expectation of the man surpassed the fame of his talent, and the arrival of himself and admiration surpassed expectation.
§5erat Italia tum plena Graecarum artium ac disciplinarum, studiaque haec et in Latio vehementius tum colebantur quam nunc isdem in oppidis, et hic Romae propter tranquillitatem rei publicae non neglegebantur.
Italy was then full of Greek arts and disciplines, and these studies were then cultivated in Latium more vigorously than they are now in the same towns, and here in Rome they were not neglected on account of the tranquility of the republic.
itaque hunc et Tarentini et Locrenses et Regini et Neapolitani civitate ceterisque praemiis donarunt, et omnes qui aliquid de ingeniis poterant iudicare cognitione atque hospitio dignum existimarunt.
Therefore, both the Tarentines, the Locrians, the Rhegians, and the Neapolitans presented him with citizenship and other rewards, and all who were able to judge anything concerning talents thought him worthy of their acquaintance and hospitality.
hac tanta celebritate famae cum esset iam absentibus notus, Romam venit Mario consule et Catulo.
When, with this great celebrity of fame, he was already known to those who had not seen him, he came to Rome in the consulship of Marius and Catulus.
nactus est primum consules eos quorum alter res ad scribendum maximas, alter cum res gestas tum etiam studium atque auris adhibere posset.
He met first those consuls, of whom the one could supply the greatest achievements to be written about, the other not only achievements but also interest and ears.
statim Luculli, cum praetextatus etiam tum Archias esset, eum domum suam receperunt.
Immediately the Luculli received him into their house, although Archias was even then wearing the praetexta.
dedit etiam hoc non solum lumen ingeni ac litterarum verum etiam naturae atque virtutis ut domus, quae huius adulescentiae prima favit, eadem esset familiarissima senectuti.
This also gave a luster not only to his talent and letters, but also to his nature and virtue, so that the house which first favored his youth was the same that was most familiar to his old age.