In thus attacking Chrysogonus, Cicero is not assailing the cause of the nobility. On the contrary, that cause is honored by resistance to him. His insolence and power are unbearable. It was not to advance such slaves as he that Sulla fought and conquered.
vereor: for emphat. position cf. credo, p.2, l. 1. imperitior: § 291, a (93, a) ; B. 240, 1 ; G. 297, 2; H. 498 (444, 1); H.-B. 241, 2. tametsi, and yet. meo jure, with perfect right -(as belonging to that party) ; jure alone would mean justly ; meo limits it to the speaker's own case. The passage that follows is interesting, as showing the way in which Cicero regarded the general principles at stake in the Civil War, and the excesses of the victorious party. pro mea, etc., to the extent of my poor and feeble ability. ut componeretur, that reconciliation should be made: a clause of result in appos. with id: § 567, 568 (332 and headnote) ; B. 297 and 3; G. 557; H. 571,4 (501, iii); H.-B. 521,3,a. qui vicerunt, who did (in fact) conquer: the subj. here would mean, whatever party might conquer: § 593, a, N.1 (342, N.) ; G. 629, E. ; H. 652, I (529, ii, N.1). humilitatem, not merely low rank, but meanness and vulgarity ; dignitate, personal worth, from birth and services ; amplitudine (next line), rank or position-prominence in the state. With all his arrogance, blood-thirstiness, and narrow conservatism, Sulla was, in fact, the representative of orderly government against anarchy and mob-law. perditi civis erat (pred. gen.), it was the part of a bad citizen: § 343, C (214, d) ; B. 198, 3; G. 366; H. 439 (401, 402); H.-B. 340. quibus incolumibus (abl. abs.), by whose safety. retineretur, would be preserved: fut. Cond., the protasis being quibus incolumibus: § 516,f (307,f); G. 596, ; H. 575,9 (507, N.7); H.-B. 580, b. quae, i.e. the reinstating of the nobility. felicitate: see note on p. 6, l. 7.
quod animadversum est (impers.) in eos, that those have been punished (a euphemistic expression for the proscription). Observe the chiastic order of ideas ; (a) the punishment ; (b) the persons on whom it was inflicted; (b1) the persons rewarded; (a1) the reward. quae, referring to both the punishment and the reward just spoken of. in eo studio partium, in favor of that party: studium is the regular word for siding with a particular party. id actum est, this was the object. idcirco, antecedent to the purpose clause. ut . . . facerent, purpose clause in appos. with id. postremi, the lowest (in class or character). tum vero: here the apodosis begins. nihil horum est, none of these things is true (i.e. is the fact). ornabitur. Nothing can exceed the skill with which, throughout this oration, Cicero keeps before the minds of the jury the distinction between the great cause of Sulla and the nobility and the unscrupulous greed of some of Sulla's partisans. His continual allusions to his client's hereditary friendships with the aristocracy have this end, among others, in view.
male: to speak ill is to utter abuse or calumny. causam . . . communicare, identify their cause with that of etc. equestrem, referring to the struggle for the judicia and the extensive sympathy of the equites with the party of Marius. Cf. note to Verr., p. 28, l. 2. servi: Chrysogonus had been Sulla's slave. versabatur, displayed itself. quam viam munitet (indir. quest.): for road-building, both literal and figurative, the Romans used the engineering term munire. fidem, etc., your honor (good faith), your oath, and your courts ; i.e. after getting possession of political power, these low-born fellows were now aiming at the courts, the one security of public faith and good government. jusjurandum: the jurors were under oath to give a righteous judgment. hicine (emphat.), here, i.e. in the courts (as opposed to politics). neque . . . possit: Cicero does not wish to encourage him by admitting for a moment that he can really do anything in this case: it is the fact that he has dared to hope to accomplish something that is an outrage. verear: subj. because it expresses not a real reason, but one introduced for the sole purpose of being contradicted: § 540, N.3 (321, R.); B. 286, I, b; G. 541, N.2; H. 588, ii (516, 2); H.-B. 535,2, b. talis viros: cf. p. 13, l. 8.
exspectata, so long waited for. For some years (B.C. 87-83), while Sulla was in the East, the Marian faction had full control at Rome, and a reign of terror prevailed. servoli, diminutive of contempt. bona, estates; fortunas (more generally), wealth. id actum est: cf. p. 19, l. 22. senserim, sided with them: this verb, with its noun sententia, often refers to political opinions. inermis, i.e. had he taken up arms, his regret would have been deeper. cuique, to every man in proportion as he is, etc.: § 313, b (93, c); cf. B. 252,5, c; G. 318, ; H. 515, 2 (458, I); H.-B. 278, 2, b. probe novit: note the strong sarcasm, which points the distinction between the noble cause which was at stake and the sordid motives of Chrysogonus. resistetur, impersonal. ille: here indefinite, referring to the supposed person who thinks himself attacked. rationem, interests (so that what touches one touches the other): a mercantile figure, as we might say, "who thinks his accounts are mixed up with his." laeditur, etc., is injured by being separated, etc.
