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Cicero · Pro Caelio

Pro Caelio 32

Final appeal for father and son

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Cael. 32.1Cōnservāte igitur reī pūblicae, iūdicēs, cīvem bonārum artium, bonārum partium, bonōrum virōrum.Preserve for the state, then, judges, a citizen devoted to good arts, to the good party, and to good men. Cael. 32.1Prōmittō hoc vōbīs et reī pūblicae spondeō, sī modo nōs ipsī reī pūblicae satis fēcimus, numquam hunc ā nostrīs ratiōnibus sēiūnctum fore.I promise you this and pledge it to the state, provided only that I myself have done my duty to the state, that this man will never be separated from my policies. Cael. 32.1Quod cum frētus nostrā familiāritāte prōmittō, tum quod dūrissimīs sē ipse lēgibus iam obligāvit.I promise this both because I rely on our friendship and because he has already bound himself by the strictest of laws. Cael. 32.78Nōn enim potest quī hominem cōnsulārem, cum ab eō rem pūblicam violātam esse dīceret, in iūdicium vocārit ipse esse in rē pūblicā cīvis turbulentus;For a man who has summoned a consular to trial, alleging that the state was violated by him, cannot himself be a turbulent citizen in the state; Cael. 32.78nōn potest quī ambitū nē absolūtum quidem patiātur esse absolūtum ipse impūne umquam esse largītor.a man who will not allow even one acquitted of bribery to be acquitted cannot himself ever be a briber with impunity.

Cael. 32.78Habet ā M. Caeliō rēs pūblica, iūdicēs, duās accūsātiōnēs vel obsidēs perīculī vel pignora voluntātis.The state has from Marcus Caelius, judges, two prosecutions, either as hostages against danger or as pledges of his goodwill. Cael. 32.78Quā rē ōrō obtestorque vōs, iūdicēs, ut quā in cīvitāte paucīs hīs diēbus Sex. Clōdius absolūtus est, quem vōs per biennium aut ministrum sēditiōnis aut ducem vīdistis, hominem sine rē, sine fidē, sine spē, sine sēde, sine fortūnīs, ōre, linguā, manū, vītā omnī inquinātum, quī aedīs sacrās, quī cēnsum populī Rōmānī, quī memoriam pūblicam suīs manibus incendit, quī Catulī monumentum adflīxit, meam domum dīruit, meī frātris incendit, quī in Palātiō atque in urbis oculīs servitia ad caedem et ad īnflammandam urbem incitāvit: in eā cīvitāte nē patiāminī illum absolūtum muliebrī grātiā, M. Caelium libīdinī muliebrī condōnātum, nē eadem mulier cum suō coniuge et frātre et turpissimum latrōnem ēripuisse et honestissimum adulēscentem oppressisse videātur.Therefore I beg and implore you, judges, that in a state in which, within these last few days, Sextus Clodius was acquitted, whom for two years you have seen as either the agent or the leader of sedition, a man without property, without credit, without hope, without home, without fortune, polluted in mouth, tongue, hand and his whole life, who with his own hands set fire to sacred buildings, to the census of the Roman people, to the public records, who wrecked the monument of Catulus, demolished my house and set fire to my brother's, who on the Palatine and before the eyes of the city stirred up slaves to massacre and to setting the city ablaze: in that state, do not allow that man to have been acquitted through a woman's favour and Marcus Caelius to be sacrificed to a woman's lust, lest the same woman, with her husband and brother, seem both to have rescued a most foul brigand and to have crushed a most honourable young man.

Cael. 32.79Quod cum huius vōbīs adulēscentiam prōposueritis, cōnstituitōte ante oculōs etiam huius miserī senectūtem quī hōc ūnicō fīliō nītitur, in huius spē requiēscit, huius ūnīus cāsum pertimēscit;And when you have set before yourselves this young man's youth, place before your eyes also the old age of this unhappy man here, who leans on this only son, rests in his hope, dreads the fall of him alone; Cael. 32.79quem vōs supplicem vestrae misericordiae, servum potestātis, abiectum nōn tam ad pedēs quam ad mōrēs sēnsūsque vestrōs, vel recordātiōne parentum vestrōrum vel līberōrum iūcunditāte sustentāte, ut in alterīus dolōre vel pietātī vel indulgentiae vestrae serviātis.him, a suppliant of your mercy, a slave to your power, cast down not so much at your feet as before your character and feelings, sustain him, either by the memory of your parents or by the delight you take in your children, so that in another's grief you may indulge either your filial devotion or your fatherly tenderness. Cael. 32.79Nōlīte, iūdicēs, aut hunc iam nātūrā ipsā occīdentem velle mātūrius exstinguī volnere vestrō quam suō fātō, aut hunc nunc prīmum flōrēscentem firmātā iam stirpe virtūtis tamquam turbine aliquō aut subitā tempestāte pervertere.Do not, judges, wish either that this man, already setting by nature herself, should be extinguished sooner by a wound from you than by his own fate, or that this young man, now for the first time flowering, with the stem of virtue already strengthened, should be overturned as if by some whirlwind or sudden storm.

Cael. 32.80Cōnservāte parentī fīlium, parentem fīliō, nē aut senectūtem iam prope dēspērātam contempsisse aut adulēscentiam plēnam speī maximae nōn modo nōn aluisse vōs vērum etiam perculisse atque adflīxisse videāminī.Preserve the son for the father, the father for the son, lest you seem either to have scorned an old age now almost past hope, or not only to have failed to nurture a youth full of the highest hope but even to have struck it down and crushed it. Cael. 32.80Quem sī nōbīs, sī suīs, sī reī pūblicae cōnservātis, addictum, dēditum, obstrictum vōbīs ac līberīs vestrīs habēbitis omniumque huius nervōrum ac labōrum vōs potissimum, iūdicēs, frūctūs ūberēs diūturnōsque capiētis.If you preserve him for me, for his family, for the state, you will have him bound, devoted and obligated to you and your children, and you above all, judges, will reap rich and lasting fruits of all his energies and labours.

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Grammar in this passage: indirect statement ×6, gerunds and gerundives ×1, ablative absolute ×1

Latin vocabulary for this passage (202 words)
cōnservō, -servāre, -servāvī, -servātuspreserve, keep
igitur, conj.therefore
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
pūblicus, -a, -umpublic, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
iūdex, iūdicis, m.judge
cīvis, -is, m. and f.citizen, fellow-citizen, subject
bonus, -a, -umgood
ars, artis, f.art
pars, partis, f.part, side, direction
vir, virī, m.man
prōmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missussend or put forth, promise
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
vōsplur. of tū
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
spondeō, -ēre, spopondī, spōnsuspromise solemnly; stand surety, guarantee (a debt)
sī, conj.if
modo, adv.only
nōsplur. of ego
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
satis, adv.enough, sufficiently
faciō, facere, fēcī, factusmake, do; iter facere, see iter
numquam, adv.never
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
noster, -tra, -trumour
ratiō, -ōnis, f.plan, means, method, manner; reason; account
sēiungō, -iungere, -iūnxī, -iūnctusseparate, disconnect
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
frētus, -a, -um (+ abl.)relying on
familiāritās, -ātis f.close friendship
tum, adv.then, at that time
quod, conj.that, in that, because
dūrus, -a, -umhard; harsh; difficult
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
lēx, lēgis f.law
iam, adv.now, already
obligō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbind, oblige; mortgage, pledge
nōn, adv.not
enim, conj.for
possum, posse, potuībe able, have power, can
homō, hominis, m.man
cōnsulāris, -eof a consul, consular; as noun: ex-consul; comitia cōnsulāria: the consular elections
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
violō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusharm, violate
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictussay, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
iūdicium, -ī n.trial, court; judgment
vocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuscall, summon
turbulentus, -a, -umdisorderly, unruly
ambitus, -ūs m.canvassing for office; bribery at elections (lēgēs ambitus: the bribery laws)
nē, adv.not; nē ... quidem, not ... even; conj., that not, lest
absolvō, -ere, -solvī, -solūtusrelease, set free; acquit (of: gen.)
quidem, adv.in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
patior, patī, passus, bearsuffer, allow
impūne (adv.)without punishment
umquam, adv.ever
largītor, -ōris m.a lavish giver; one who buys favour with gifts
habeō, -ēre, -uī, -itushave, hold; consider
duo, -ae, -o, plur. adj.two
accūsātiō, -ōnis f.accusation, charge
velor; vel … vel: either … or
obses, obsidis m./f.hostage
perīculum, -ī, n.danger, peril, risk
pignus, -oris n.pledge, token, keepsake
voluntās, -tātis, f.wish, will
ōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusspeak; beg, pray
obtestor, -testārī, -testātuscall to witness; beseech, implore
que, enclitic conj.and
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
cīvitās, -tātis, f.state
paucī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.few
diēs, -ēī, m. and f.day
per, prep, with ace.through, by means of
biennium, -ī n.period of two years
aut, conj.or; aut ... aut, either ... or
minister, -trī m.servant, attendant, helper
sēditiō, -ōnis f.riot, mutiny, discord
dux, ducis, m. and f.leader, commander
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsussee; pass., seem
sine, prep. with abl.without
fidēs, -eī f.faith, trust; pledge
spēs, speī, f.hope
sēdēs, -is, f.seat, abode
fortūna, -ae, f.fortune
ōs, ōris, n.mouth
lingua, -ae f.tongue; language
manus, -ūs, f.hand
vīta, -ae, f.life
omnis, -eall, every
inquinō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuspollute, soil, defile
aedēs, -is f.temple (sg.); house (pl.)
sacer, sacra, sacrumsacred, holy
cēnsus, -ūs m.count, census
populus, -ī m.people, nation
Rōmānus, -a, -umRoman
memoria, -ae, f.memory
suus, -a, -umhis, her, its, or their own; his, her, its, their
incendō, -ere, -cendī, -cēnsumset on fire, burn
monumentum, -ī n.memorial, monument; record
afflīgō, -ere, -flīxī, -flīctusstrike against, damage, wreck
meus, -a, -ummy, mine
domus, -ūs, f.house, home
dīruō, -ruere, -ruī, -rutuspull down, demolish
frāter, frātris, m.brother
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
urbs, urbis, f.city
oculus, -ī, m.eye
servitium, -ī n.slavery; (pl.) slaves
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
caedēs, -is, f.cutting down, killing, slaughter
īnflammō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusset on fire; inflame, excite
incitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumstir up, provoke
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
muliebris, -eof a woman, womanly; (n. pl.) a woman's part
grātia, -ae, f.favor; gratitude, thanks; plur., thanks; grātiās agere, to give thanks, thank; grātiam referre, to return a favor, show gratitude, requite
libīdō, -inis f.desire, lust; caprice
condōnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumforgive, overlook (for someone's sake)
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
mulier, mulieris, f.woman
cum, prep, with abl.with
coniūnx, coniugis, m. and f.spouse, husband, wife
turpis, -edisgraceful
latrō, -ōnis, m.robber
ēripiō, -ripere, -ripuī, -reptussnatch out or away, rescue
honestus, -a, -umrespected, honourable
adulēscēns, -entis, m.youth, young man
opprimō, -primere, -pressī, -pressuspress against, overpower, crush
adulēscentia, -ae, f.youth
prōpōnō, -pōnere, -posuī, -positusput or set before, offer, propose; set forth, say
cōnstituō, -stituere, -stituī, -stitūtusset together or up; appoint; determine
ante, prep, with acc. and adv.before
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
miser, misera, miserumwretched, unhappy
senectūs, -tūtis f.old age
ūnicus, -a, -umone and only; unique, unequalled
fīlius, -ī, m.son
nītor, -ī, nīxus sum (+ abl.)rely on
requiēscō, -ere, -quiēvī, -quiētumrest, take a rest
ūnus, -a, -umone; only, alone
cāsus, -ūs, m.fall; chance, accident
pertimēscō, -ere, -timuībecome very afraid, dread
supplex, -icisbegging, as a suppliant
vester, -tra, -trumyour
misericordia, -ae, f;pity, compassion
servus, -ī, m.slave, servant
potestās, -ātis f.power, authority
abiciō, -icere, -iēcī, -iectusthrow away
tam, adv.so
pēs, pedis, m.foot
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
mōs, mōris, m.way, manner, habit, custom
sēnsus, -ūs m.feeling, sensation; perception; sentiment
recordātiō, -ōnis f.recollection, remembering
parēns, -entis m./f.parent
līberī, -ōrum, m. plur.children
iūcunditās, -ātis f.delight, pleasure, joy; pleasantness, charm
sustentō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumhold out, endure
alter, -era, -erumone or the other (of two); another, second
dolor, -ōris, m.pain, grief; anger
pietās, -ātis f.dutifulness, devotion to family and gods
indulgentia, -ae f.kindness, indulgence, favour
serviō, -ire, -īvī, -ītusbe subject to, serve
nōlō, nōlle, nōluīnot wish, be unwilling
nātūra, -ae, f.nature, character
occīdō, -cīdere, -cīdī, -cīsuscut down, kill
volō, velle, voluīwish
mātūrē (adv.; superl. mātūrrimē)early, quickly
exstinguō, -ere, -stīnxī, -stīnctusput out, extinguish; destroy
vulnus, vulneris, n.wound
fātum, -ī, n.destiny, fate
nunc, adv.now
prīmum, adv.first, in the first place
flōrēscō, -erebegin to flower, come into bloom, flourish
firmō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusstrengthen, secure
stirps, stirpis f.stock, root; family, race
virtūs, -tūtis, f.manliness, courage, bravery
tamquam (adv., conj.)as, just as; as if
turbō, turbinis, m.whirlwind, hurricane
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.some, any
subitus, -a, -umsudden
tempestās, -tātis, f.weather; storm, tempest
pervertō, -ere, -vertī, -versusoverturn; corrupt, ruin
prope (adv. and prep. + acc.)near, nearly
dēspērō, -spērāre, -spērāvī, -spērātusdespair
contemnō, -ere, -tempsī, -temptusdespise, scorn, think little of
plēnus, -a, -umfull
magnus, -a, -umlarge, big, great, mighty; loud
alō, -ere, -uī, -tusnourish
vērum (conj.)but, but in fact; nōn modo ... vērum etiam: not only ... but also
percellō, -ere, -culī, -culsusstrike down; dismay, crush
adflīgō, -flīgere, -flīxi, -flīctusdash to, shatter
addīcō, -ere, -dīxī, -dictus(of omens) give assent, be favourable; award
dēditus, -a, -umdevoted, given up (to)
obstringō, -ere, -strīnxī, -strictumbind, put under obligation
nervus, -ī, m.sinew, muscle
labor, -ōris, m.labor, toil
potissimum (adv.)above all, in preference to all others
frūctus, -ūs, m.enjoyment; fruit
ūber, -eris n.teat, breast
diūturnus, -a, -umlong-lasting
capiō, capere, cēpī, captustake, catch, seize; receive, suffer; adopt
Cicero, Pro Caelio. Latin text: A. C. Clark, M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes I (Oxford, 1908), public domain; digital text from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA. Word analysis: drafted by our own tagger (trained on the hand-checked texts on this site), with every doubtful word checked by hand. English translation and section titles: written for this app, each checked against the Latin by a second reader.