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Cicero · Pro Marcello

Pro Marcello 6

Two victories compared

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Marc. 6.1Atque huius quidem reī M. Mārcellō sum testis.And of this, indeed, I am a witness on Marcus Marcellus' behalf. Marc. 6.1Nostrī enim sēnsūs ut in pāce semper, sīc tum etiam in bellō congruēbant.For our feelings, just as always in peace, so then too in war were in agreement. Marc. 6.1Quotiēns ego eum et quantō cum dolōre vīdī, cum īnsolentiam certōrum hominum tum etiam ipsīus victōriae ferōcitātem extimēscentem!How often and with how much grief I saw him dreading both the arrogance of certain men and also the ferocity of victory itself! Marc. 6.1Quō grātior tua līberālitās, C. Caesar, nōbīs quī illa vīdimus dēbet esse.All the more welcome, then, Gaius Caesar, ought your generosity to be to us who saw those things. Marc. 6.1Nōn enim iam causae sunt inter sē, sed victōriae comparandae.For now it is not the causes that are to be compared with each other, but the victories. Marc. 6.17Vīdimus tuam victōriam proeliōrum exitū terminātam: gladium vāgīnā vacuum in urbe nōn vīdimus.We have seen your victory ended with the outcome of the battles: we have not seen a sword out of its sheath in the city.

Marc. 6.17Quōs āmīsimus cīvīs, eōs vīs Mārtis perculit, nōn īra victōriae, ut dubitāre dēbeat nēmō quīn multōs, sī posset, C. Caesar ab īnferīs excitāret, quoniam ex eādem aciē cōnservat quōs potest.The citizens we have lost were struck down by the violence of Mars, not by the anger of victory, so that no one ought to doubt that Gaius Caesar would raise many from the dead, if he could, since from the same battle line he preserves those he can. Marc. 6.17Alterīus vērō partis nihil amplius dīcō quam id quod omnēs verēbāmur, nimis īrācundam futūram fuisse victōriam.Of the other side I say nothing more than what we all feared, that its victory would have been too wrathful. Marc. 6.18Quīdam enim nōn modo armātīs sed interdum etiam ōtiōsīs minābantur, nec quid quisque sēnsisset, sed ubi fuisset cōgitandum esse dīcēbant;For some were threatening not only those in arms but sometimes even those who stayed at home, and they said that one should consider not what each man had thought, but where he had been; Marc. 6.18ut mihi quidem videantur dī immortālēs, etiam sī poenās ā populō Rōmānō ob aliquod dēlictum expetīvērunt, quī cīvīle bellum tantum et tam lūctuōsum excitāvērunt, vel plācātī iam vel satiātī aliquandō omnem spem salūtis ad clēmentiam victōris et sapientiam contulisse.so that it seems to me, at least, that the immortal gods, even if they exacted punishment from the Roman people for some wrongdoing — they who stirred up so great and so grievous a civil war — have now, either appeased or at last sated, placed all hope of safety in the clemency and wisdom of the victor.

Marc. 6.19Quā rē gaudē tuō istō tam excellentī bonō et fruere cum fortūnā et glōriā tum etiam nātūrā et mōribus tuīs;Therefore rejoice in this so excellent blessing of yours, and enjoy both your fortune and glory and also your nature and character; Marc. 6.19ex quō quidem maximus est frūctus iūcunditāsque sapientī.from this indeed comes the greatest reward and delight for a wise man. Marc. 6.19Cētera cum tua recordābere, etsī persaepe virtūtī, tamen plērumque fēlīcitātī tuae grātulābere: dē nōbīs quōs in rē pūblicā tēcum simul esse voluistī quotiēns cōgitābis, totiēns dē maximīs tuīs beneficiīs, totiēns dē incrēdibilī līberālitāte, totiēns dē singulārī sapientiā cōgitābis: quae nōn modo summa bona sed nīmīrum audēbō vel sōla dīcere.When you recall your other achievements, though you will very often congratulate your virtue, still you will mostly congratulate your good fortune: as often as you think of us, whom you have wished to be in the commonwealth together with you, so often will you think of your very great kindnesses, so often of your incredible generosity, so often of your singular wisdom: things which I will venture to call not only the highest goods but, surely, even the only ones.

Marc. 6.19Tantus est enim splendor in laude vērā, tanta in magnitūdine animī et cōnsilī dignitās ut haec ā virtūte dōnāta, cētera ā fortūnā commodāta esse videantur.For so great is the splendour in true praise, so great the dignity in greatness of soul and of counsel, that these seem to have been bestowed by virtue, the rest lent by fortune. Marc. 6.20Nōlī igitur in cōnservandīs virīs bonīs dēfetīgārī, nōn cupiditāte praesertim aliquā aut prāvitāte lapsīs, sed opīniōne officī stultā fortasse, certē nōn improbā, et speciē quādam reī pūblicae.Do not, then, grow weary of preserving good men, especially those who have fallen not through any desire or depravity, but through a notion of duty, foolish perhaps, certainly not wicked, and through a certain semblance of the commonwealth. Marc. 6.20Nōn enim tua ūlla culpa est, sī tē aliquī timuērunt, contrāque summa laus, quod minimē timendum fuisse sēnsērunt.For it is no fault of yours if some have feared you, and on the contrary it is your highest praise that they have perceived that you were least to be feared.

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Grammar in this passage: gerunds and gerundives ×4, purpose clauses ×1, indirect statement ×2

Latin vocabulary for this passage (190 words)
atque, ac (conj.)and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants)
hic, haec, hoc, dem. pron.this; ille ... hīc, that ... this, the former ... the latter
quidem, adv.in fact, indeed, certainly; nē ... quidem, not ... even
rēs, reī, f.thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really
sum, esse, fuī, futūrusbe
testis, -is m./f.witness
noster, -tra, -trumour
enim, conj.for
sēnsus, -ūs m.feeling, sensation; perception; sentiment
ut, conj.as; when; that; ita ut, as
in, prep. with acc. and abl.with acc.: into, onto, against; with abl.: in, on
pāx, pācis f.peace
semper, adv.always
sīc, adv.so, thus
tum, adv.then, at that time
etiam, adv.and now, also, too, even
bellum, -ī, n.war
congruō, -ere, -uīagree, fit, coincide
quotiēns (adv.)how many times; as often as
ego, meī, pers. pron.I
is, ea, id, dem. pron.this, that; he, she, it, they
et, conj.and; et ... et, both ... and
quantus, -a, -umhow great or much?
cum, prep, with abl.with
dolor, -ōris, m.pain, grief; anger
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsussee; pass., seem
cum, conj.when, while, after; since; although
īnsolentia, -ae f.arrogance, insolence
certus, -a, -umdetermined, fixed, certain; certiōrem facere, to make more certain, inform
homō, hominis, m.man
ipse, ipsa, ipsum, intensive pron.self, himself, herself, itself, themselves; often to be rendered by very
victōria, -ae, f.victory
ferōcitās, -ātis f.fierceness, boldness, high spirit
extimēscō, -ere, -timuībecome very afraid of, dread
quī, quae, quod, rel. pron.who, which
grātus, -a, -umpleasing, grateful
tuus, -a, -umthy, thine, your
līberālitās, -ātis f.generosity
nōsplur. of ego
ille, illa, illud, dem. pron.that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc
dēbeō, -ēre, -uī, -itusowe; with infin., ought
nōn, adv.not
iam, adv.now, already
causa, -ae, f.cause, reason; abl. causā, for the sake of
inter, prep, with acc.among, between
suī, sibi, sē or sēsē, reflexive pron.himself, herself, itself, themselves
sed, conj.but
comparō, -parāre, -parāvī, -parātusprepare, collect
proelium, -ī, n.battle, combat; proelium committere, to join battle
exitus, -ūs m.way out; outcome, end
terminō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusbound, set the limits of
gladius, -ī, m.sword
vāgīna, -ae f.sheath, scabbard
vacuus, -a, -umempty
urbs, urbis, f.city
āmittō, -mittere, -mīsī, -missussend away, lose
cīvis, -is, m. and f.citizen, fellow-citizen, subject
vīs, vīs, f.violence, force; virtue, potency, efficacy; plur. vīrēs, -ium, strength; omnibus vīribus, with all one's strength, with might and main
percellō, -ere, -culī, -culsusstrike down; dismay, crush
īra, -ae, f.anger, wrath
dubitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusdoubt, hesitate
nēmō, nēminis, m. and f.no one, nobody
quīn, conj.so that ... not, but that, but
multus, -a, -ummuch, great; plur., many
sī, conj.if
possum, posse, potuībe able, have power, can
ā, ab (prep. + abl.)away from, from; by (ā only before consonants)
īnferī, -ōrum, m. plur.inhabitants of the underworld, the dead, the shades
excitō, -citāre, -citāvī, -citātuscall out, arouse
quoniam, conj.since now, since
ex, ē (prep. + abl.)out of, from; of (ē only before consonants)
īdem, eadem, idem, dem. pron.the same; sometimes to be translated likewise, also
aciēs, -ēī, f.line of battle
cōnservō, -servāre, -servāvī, -servātuspreserve, keep
alter, -era, -erumone or the other (of two); another, second
vērō, adv.in truth, indeed; however
pars, partis, f.part, side, direction
nihil, n., indecl.nothing
amplius (adv.)more, further
dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictussay, speak; diem dīcere, to appoint or set a day
quam, adv.how? as; than; with superl., as ... as possible
omnis, -eall, every
vereor, -ērī, -itusfear
nimis (adv.)too much, too
īrācundus, -a, -umhot-tempered
quīdam, quaedam, quoddam, indef. pron.a certain, certain
modo, adv.only
armātus, -a, -umarmed
interdum (adv.)sometimes
ōtiōsus, -a, -umat leisure, quiet; as noun: a peaceful citizen
minor, -ārī, -ātus sumthreaten (someone: dat.; with something: abl.)
neque or nec, conj.and not, nor; neque ... neque, neither ... nor; neque enim, for ... not
quis, quid, interrog. pron.who? which? what?
quisque, quaeque, quidque, indef. pron.each
sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsusperceive, feel
ubi, adv.where; conj., when
cōgitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusconsider, think over
deus, -ī, m.god
immortālis, -eimmortal
poena, -ae, f.penalty, punishment
populus, -ī m.people, nation
Rōmānus, -a, -umRoman
ob, prep. with acc.on account of, for; in compounds, to, against
aliquī, -qua, -quod, indef. pron. adj.some, any
dēlictum, -ī n.offence, crime
expetō, -ere, -petīvī, -petītusseek eagerly, desire
cīvīlis, -eof citizens; bellum cīvīle: civil war
tantus, -a, -umso great or much
tam, adv.so
lūctuōsus, -a, -ummournful, causing grief
velor; vel … vel: either … or
plācō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuscalm, appease
satiō, -āre, -āvī, -ātusfill, satisfy; satiārī, eat one's fill
aliquandō, adv.at some time or other; finally, at length
spēs, speī, f.hope
salūs, salūtis, f.safety, deliverance, escape
ad, prep. with acc.to, toward; at, near; for
clēmentia, -ae, f.mercy, kindness
victor, -ōris m.conqueror, victor
sapientia, -ae f.wisdom, good sense
cōnferō, cōnferre, contulī, conlātusbring together; grant, confer; sē cōnferre, to betake oneself, make one's way
gaudeō, gaudēre, gāvīsusbe glad, rejoice
iste, ista, istud, dem. pron.that of yours, that
excellō, -erebe superior, excel
bonum, -ī n.a good thing, advantage; (pl.) goods
fruor, -ī, frūctus sum (+ abl.)enjoy
fortūna, -ae, f.fortune
glōria, -ae, f.glory
nātūra, -ae, f.nature, character
mōs, mōris, m.way, manner, habit, custom
magnus, -a, -umlarge, big, great, mighty; loud
frūctus, -ūs, m.enjoyment; fruit
iūcunditās, -ātis f.delight, pleasure, joy; pleasantness, charm
que, enclitic conj.and
sapiēns, -entiswise; as noun, a wise man, a philosopher
cēterī, -ae, -a, plur. adj.the other, the remaining, the rest of
recordor, -ārī, -ātus sumcall to mind, remember
etsī, conj.even if, although
persaepe (adv.)very often
virtūs, -tūtis, f.manliness, courage, bravery
tamen, adv.however, yet, nevertheless
plērumque (adv.)generally, mostly
fēlīcitās, -ātis f.good fortune, luck
grātulor, -ārī, -ātus sumcongratulate
dē, prep, with abl.down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of
pūblicus, -a, -umpublic, of the state (rēs pūblica: the state)
tū, tuī, pers. pron.thou, you
simul, adv.at the same time; simul atque or ac, as soon as
volō, velle, voluīwish
totiēns (adv.)so often, so many times
beneficium, -ī, n.well-doing, kindness, service, benefit
incrēdibilis, eincredible
singulāris, -esingle; remarkable
summus, -a, -umuppermost, highest, greatest
nīmīrum (adv.)of course, no doubt, evidently (often ironic)
audeō, audēre, ausus sumdare
sōlus, -a, -umalone
splendor, -ōris m.brightness, light
laus, laudis f.praise, glory
vērus, -a, -umtrue; rē vērā, in truth, in fact
magnitūdō, -tūdinis, f.greatness, size
animus, -ī, m.mind; heart; spirit, courage
cōnsilium, -ī, n.advice; plan, design, purpose; prudence
dignitās, -ātis f.rank, standing, prestige
dōnō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumgive; present (someone with something)
commodō, -āre, -āvī, -ātuslend, provide, supply
nōlō, nōlle, nōluīnot wish, be unwilling
igitur, conj.therefore
vir, virī, m.man
bonus, -a, -umgood
dēfatīgō, -āre, -āvī, -ātumwear out, exhaust
cupiditās, -tātis, f.desire, longing, eagerness
praesertim (adv.)especially
aut, conj.or; aut ... aut, either ... or
prāvitās, -ātis f.depravity, wickedness; perversity
lābor, lābī, lapsusslip, glide, fall
opīniō, -ōnis, f.opinion, expectation; reputation
officium, -ī, n.service; duty
stultus, -a, -umfoolish, stupid
fortasse (adv.)perhaps
certē (adv.)certainly, surely; at any rate
improbus, -a, -umwicked, shameless; persistent, relentless; as noun: rogue
speciēs, -ēī, f.sight, appearance, shape
ūllus, -a, -umany
culpa, -ae f.fault, blame
aliquis, -quid, indef. pron.someone, any one, something, anything, some, any
timeō, -ēre, -uīfear
contrā, prep, with acc.against, contrary to
quod, conj.that, in that, because
minimē, adv.least, very little; by no means, not at all
Cicero, Pro Marcello. Latin text: A. C. Clark, M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes II (Oxford, 1918), 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.