census: the lists of citizens made out by the censors for purposes of taxation. These were, of course, excellent evidence on a question of citizenship; but they were not needed in this case. requiris: cf. desideras in the same sense in sect. 8 (p. 158, l. 6). est obscurum (ironical), it is not generally known. proximis, abl. of time: translate by under. The censors referred to were L. Gellius and Cn. Lentulus (B.C. 70). clarissimo: observe the art with which Cicero here again calls attention to the connection of Archias with the distinguished Romans any one of whom could at any moment have procured him the citizenship if he had not already possessed it. apud exercitum, i.e. in the war against Mithridates (see Pompey's Military Command). superioribus, sc. censoribus. New censors were regularly appointed every five years; those here referred to were Q. Marcius Philippus and M. Perperna (B.C. 86). In the present instance the succession had been interfered with by Sulla, but restored in B.C. 70. in Asia: this was in the First Mithridatic War, in which Lucullus served as quaestor to Sulla. primis, i.e. the first after the passage of the lex Plautia-Papiria: these were L. Julius Caesar and P. Crassus (B.C. 89). esse versatum (sc. eum), had availed himself of: this clause is the obj. of criminaris. testamentum, etc., acts which no foreigner could do. in beneficiis, etc., his name was reported for a reward from the state (i.e. on the ground of some special merit); this, of course, implied citizenship. suo, etc., i.e. Archias and his friends knew that he was a citizen and had acted as such, whatever might be said on the other side. At this point Cicero practically rests his case. The remainder of his speech is devoted to the praise of poetry and literature. This eulogy is, however, skillfully connected with the argument. Literature is useful in the state, he contends, and poets are particularly in favor with great men. Hence Archias could not have failed to receive the citizenship as a gift from some of his illustrious Roman friends if he had not held it already. Since he is a citizen, so eminent and useful a man should be protected in his rights.
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Select Orations of. Cicero. Allen and Greenough's Edition. Revised by J. B. Greenough and G. L. Kittredge, with a special vocabulary by J. B. Greenough.
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