Rosc. Am. 41.1Etenim, quoniam fidem magistrī cognōstis, cognōscite nunc discipulī aequitātem.Indeed, since you have learned the master's good faith, learn now the pupil's fairness. Rosc. Am. 41.1Dīxī iam anteā saepe numerō postulātōs esse ab istīs duōs servōs in quaestiōnem.I have said before that two slaves were repeatedly demanded from these men for examination under torture. Rosc. Am. 41.1Tū semper, T. Roscī, recūsāstī.You, Titus Roscius, have always refused. Rosc. Am. 41.1Quaerō abs tē: "Eīne quī postulābant indignī erant quī impetrārent, an is tē nōn commovēbat prō quō postulābant, an rēs ipsa tibi inīqua vidēbātur?"I ask you: 'Were those who demanded them unworthy to obtain their request, or did the man on whose behalf they demanded them not move you, or did the request itself seem unfair to you?' Rosc. Am. 41.1Postulābant hominēs nōbilissimī atque integerrimī nostrae cīvitātis quōs iam anteā nōmināvī;Those who demanded them were the noblest and most upright men of our state, whom I have already named; Rosc. Am. 41.1quī ita vīxērunt tālēsque ā populō Rōmānō putantur ut quicquid dīcerent nēmō esset quī nōn aequum putāret.men who have so lived and are so regarded by the Roman people that, whatever they said, there would be no one who did not think it fair.
Rosc. Am. 41.1Postulābant autem prō homine miserrimō atque īnfēlīcissimō quī vel ipse sēsē in cruciātum darī cuperet, dum dē patris morte quaererētur.And they demanded them on behalf of a most wretched and unfortunate man, who would even wish himself to be handed over to torture, provided an inquiry were made into his father's death. Rosc. Am. 41.120Rēs porrō abs tē eius modī postulābātur ut nihil interesset, utrum eam rem recūsārēs an dē maleficiō cōnfitērēre.Moreover, the thing demanded of you was such that it made no difference whether you refused it or confessed to the crime. Rosc. Am. 41.120Quae cum ita sint, quaerō abs tē quam ob causam recūsārīs.Since this is so, I ask you why you refused. Rosc. Am. 41.120Cum occīditur Sex. Roscius ibīdem fuērunt.When Sextus Roscius was killed, they were on the spot. Rosc. Am. 41.120Servōs ipsōs, quod ad mē attinet, neque arguō neque pūrgō;The slaves themselves, as far as I am concerned, I neither accuse nor clear; Rosc. Am. 41.120quod ā vōbīs oppugnārī videō nē in quaestiōnem dentur, suspīciōsum est;that I see you fighting to prevent their being handed over for examination is suspicious; Rosc. Am. 41.120quod vērō apud vōs ipsōs in honōre tantō sunt, profectō necesse est sciant aliquid, quod sī dīxerint perniciōsum vōbīs futūrum sit.but that they are held in such honour by you yourselves means that they must surely know something which, if they told it, would be ruinous to you.
Rosc. Am. 41.120— In dominōs quaerī dē servīs inīquum est.— It is unfair for slaves to be examined against their masters. Rosc. Am. 41.120— At nōn quaeritur;— But they are not being examined so; Rosc. Am. 41.120Sex. enim Roscius reus est;for Sextus Roscius is the defendant; Rosc. Am. 41.120neque enim, cum dē hōc quaeritur, in dominōs quaeritur ;for when the inquiry concerns him, it is not an inquiry against their masters; Rosc. Am. 41.120vōs enim dominōs esse dīcitis.for you say that you are their masters. Rosc. Am. 41.120— Cum Chrȳsogonō sunt.— They are with Chrysogonus. Rosc. Am. 41.120— Ita crēdō;— So I believe; Rosc. Am. 41.120litterīs eōrum et urbānitāte Chrȳsogonus dūcitur ut inter suōs omnium dēliciārum atque omnium artium puerulōs ex tot ēlegantissimīs familiīs lēctōs velit hōs versārī, hominēs paene operāriōs, ex Amerīnā disciplīnā patris familiae rūsticānī.Chrysogonus is so taken with their learning and refinement that he wants them, men who are practically labourers, trained in the Amerian school of a country householder, to mix among his own young slaves, skilled in every delight and every art, chosen from so many most elegant households. Rosc. Am. 41.121Nōn ita est profectō, iūdicēs;It is surely not so, gentlemen; Rosc. Am. 41.121nōn est vērī simile ut Chrȳsogonus hōrum litterās adamārit aut hūmānitātem, nōn ut reī familiāris negōtiō dīligentiam cognōrit eōrum et fidem.it is not likely that Chrysogonus has fallen in love with their learning or culture, nor that he has come to know their diligence and fidelity in managing his household affairs.
Rosc. Am. 41.121Est quiddam quod occultātur;There is something that is being concealed; Rosc. Am. 41.121quod quō studiōsius ab istīs opprimitur et absconditur, eō magis ēminet et appāret.and the more eagerly it is suppressed and hidden by these men, the more it stands out and appears. Rosc. Am. 41.121Quid igitur?What then?