Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §8.2.1-8.2.2

Unexpected Acquittal and the Hissing of Hortensius

Passage 157 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Caelius reports on an unexpected acquittal, the fierce public backlash against the judges, and the heavy hissing Hortensius received at the theater, while also updating Cicero on state affairs, his own campaign for the aedileship, and the request for panthers.

§8.2.1certe, inquam, absolutus est (me †repraesentante pronuntiatum est), et quidem omnibus ordinibus et singulis in uno quoque ordine sententiis.
\n"He has certainly been acquitted," I say ("it was pronounced with me present"), and indeed by all classes and by every single vote in each class.
'ride modo,' inquis.
"Just laugh," you say.
non me hercules; nihil umquam enim tam praeter opinionem, tam quod videretur omnibus indignum, accidit.
No, by Hercules, not I; for nothing has ever happened so contrary to expectation, and so utterly undeserving in the eyes of everyone.
quin ego. cum pro amicitia validissime faverem ei et me iam ad dolendum praeparassem, postquam factum est, obstipui et mihi visus sum captus esse.
Nay, even I, though out of friendship I was most strongly favoring him and had already prepared myself to grieve, after it happened, was astounded, and I felt as though I had lost my senses.
quid alios putas? clamoribus scilicet maximis iudices corripuerunt et ostenderunt plane esse quod ferri non posset.
What do you think of the others? To be sure, they assailed the judges with the loudest shouts, and showed plainly that it was something that could not be tolerated.
itaque relictus legi Liciniae maiore esse periculo videtur.
And so, left to the Licinian law, he seems to be in greater danger.
accessit huc quod postridie eius absolutionem in theatrum Curionis Hortensius introiit, puto, ut suum gaudium gauderemus.
To this was added the fact that on the day after his acquittal Hortensius entered into the theater of Curio, I suppose, so that we might rejoice with him in his joy.
hic tibi " strepitus, fremitus, clamor tonitruum et rudentum sibilus. " hoc magis animadversum est, quod intactus ab sibilo pervenerat Hortensius ad senectutem; sed tum tam bene, ut in totam vitam quoivis satis esset et paeniteret eum iam vicisse. §8.2.2de re p. quod tibi scribam nihil habeo.
At this point, for your benefit:\n"\nA noise, a roaring, a crash of thunder, and the whistling of ropes.\n"\nThis was the more noticed because Hortensius had reached old age untouched by a hiss; but then he was hissed so thoroughly that it would be enough for anyone for a whole lifetime, and he now regretted having won.\n\nConcerning the republic, I have nothing to write to you.
Marcelli impetus resederunt non inertia sed, ut mihi videbantur, consilio.
Marcellus's attacks have subsided, not from inactivity, but, as they seemed to me, by design.
de comitiis consularibus incertissima est existimatio.
The opinion about the consular elections is most uncertain.
ego incidi in competitorem nobilem et nobilem agentem; nam M. Octavius Cn. f. et C. Hirrus mecum petit.
I have run into a competitor who is noble and acts the noble; for Marcus Octavius, son of Gnaeus, and Gaius Hirrus are candidates with me.
hoc ideo scripsi, quod scio te acriter propter Hirrum nuntium nostrorum comitiorum exspectaturum.
I wrote this for the reason that I know you will be eagerly awaiting the news of our elections because of Hirrus.
tu tamen simul ac me designatum audieris, ut tibi curae sit quod ad pantheras attinet rogo.
You, however, as soon as you hear of my election, I ask that you take care of what pertains to the panthers.
syngrapham Sittianam tibi commendo.
I commend to you the bond of Sittius.
commentarium rerum urbanarum primum dedi L. Castrinio Paeto, secundum ei qui has litteras tibi dedit.
I gave the first record of city affairs to Lucius Castrinius Paetus, the second to him who gave this letter to you.

Notes

  1. §8.2.1me †repraesentante — The manuscript reading has a crux. It is generally interpreted as "with me being present" or "by my representing/guaranteeing", referring to Caelius's presence or action at the trial.
  2. §8.2.1singulis in uno quoque ordine sententiis — Refers to the fact that the jury was composed of three orders (senators, equites, and tribuni aerarii), and that he was acquitted by every single vote (sententiae) in each of these orders, indicating a unanimous verdict.
  3. §8.2.1captus — Ellipsis of `mente captus` ("out of one's mind", "delirious"), or meaning "caught unawares", "dumbfounded". It expresses Caelius's sheer astonishment at the unexpected verdict.
  4. §8.2.1tibi — Ethical dative (dativus ethicus), used to draw the reader's (Cicero's) attention, adding a vivid conversational nuance ("look", "there you have it").
  5. §8.2.1tam bene — An ironic expression meaning "[was hissed] so thoroughly" or "so handsomely". The following `ut` clause expresses the result.
  6. §8.2.2nobilem agentem — Meaning "acting the noble" or "playing the aristocrat". It sarcastically refers to his competitor Hirrus, who, despite not being of high noble birth, puts on grand aristocratic airs.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §8.2.1-8.2.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:8.2.1-8.2.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

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