![[b&w bust]](cicero.jpg)
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Greece
45,000 BC to 440 BC: Heracles : Argonauts : Theban cycle : Trojan cycle : Homer : Hesiod : 'Homeric' hymns : Sappho : Aesop : [map] : Aeschylus : Pindar : Herodotus
440 BC to 322 BC: Sophocles : Euripides : Thucydides : Aristophanes : Xenophon
427 BC to 322 BC: Plato and Aristotle
322 BC to present: Plutarch
Rome
200,000 BC to 44 BC: Plautus : Ennius : Cato : Terence : Varro : Julius Caesar
106 BC to 43 BC: #Cicero
44 BC to 17 AD: Nepos : Lucretius : Sallust : Catullus : Vitruvius : Virgil : Horace : Augustus : Livy : Priapea : Tibullus : Sulpicia : Seneca the Elder : Propertius : Ovid
19 BC to present: Velleius : Phaedrus : Valerius Maximus : Seneca the Younger : Petronius : Pliny the Elder : Silius Italicus : Frontinus : Persius : Lucan : Quintilian : Josephus : Martial : Valerius Flaccus : Statius : Rufus : Tacitus : Pliny the Younger : Suetonius : Juvenal : Marcus Aurelius : Apuleius : Gellius : Florus : Cassius Dio : Justin : Historia Augusta : Ammianus : Aurelius Victor : Eutropius : Augustine : Claudian
"Well, I admit that I don't agree with the new pronunciation. I never did. A lot of nonsense, in my opinion. Making boys say 'Kickero' at school when for the rest of their lives they'll say 'Cicero'-- if they ever say it at all." --'Goodbye, Mr Chips' [info]
bios: Pers: 106-49 49-44 44-43, Beck, Italian, Plutarch [ditto]
sequence: UTex, UAH
archives: Latin, German
quotes: rhetoric
criticism: Beck, Catullus
bibliography: UTex
youth: [Perseus]
Aratea (no-date)
poem, not found online
De Inventione (c84)
analysis of oratory, dismissed by C as juvenilia
"...when I consider the disasters of our own republic, and when I call to mind also the ancient calamities of the most important states, I see that it is by no means the most insignificant portion of their distresses which has originated from the conduct of the most eloquent men."
Latin etext: Perseus, Wright, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, Peitho
Commentaries:
Pro Quinctio (Speech as the advocate of Publius Quinctius, 81BC)
supposedly 25yo Cicero's first, a partnership case
"...the fact is, that I, who have neither sufficient experience nor much ability, am brought into comparison with a most eloquent advocate; and that Publius Quinctius, who has but small influence, no riches, and few friends, is contending with a most influential adversary."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Roscio Amerino (Oration for Sextus Roscius of Ameria, 80BC)
C won acquittal over a powerful and greedy opponent's malicious charge of parricide
"There is this reason, also, that perhaps the request to undertake this cause was made to the others so that they thought they could comply or refuse without prejudice to their duty; but those men applied to me who have the greatest weight with me by reason of their friendship with me, of the kindnesses they have done me, and of their own dignity; whose kindness to me I could not be ignorant of whose authority I could not despise, whose desires I could not neglect."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
79-77: 27yo Cicero studies rhetoric and philosophy in Athens, befriends Atticus, marries Terentia. (C went on to coin many useful Latin philosophical terms.) [Nepos on Atticus]
Plutarch says C carefully studied the backgrounds of all prominent citizens, and came to be feared for his sarcastic wit.
Pro Roscio comoedo (Speech for Q. Roscius the actor, c77)
"...For his accounts are just as much condemned who omits to make an entry of the truth, as his who puts down what is false. But see now to what, relying on the abundance and cogency of my arguments, I am now coming..."
Latin etext: Perseus, Latin
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
fictionalised: Saylor's "Roman Blood" [Amazon]
76: 30yo C elected quaestor
75: quaestorship in Sicily
early career: {Perseus]
Pro Tullio (incomplete, 72?)
boundary dispute (family member against veteran?)
"Now, since Quinctius has thought it not foreign to the subject to introduce so many statements, false for the most part and most wickedly invented, concerning the life and habits and character of Marcus Tullius, Fabius must pardon me for many reasons, if I do not now appear to spare his character so much, or to show the same regard for it now as I did previously."
Latin etext: Perseus
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
In Quintus Caecilium (Speech against Q Caecilius, 70)
this prosecution (incl the next two docs as well) of a corrupt governor in Sicily established C's reputation [info]
"They said that the time had come for me to defend not only the advantages they enjoyed, but even the life and safety of the whole province, that they had now not even any gods in their cities to whom they could flee, because Caius Verres had carried off their most sacred images from the very holiest temples."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Rutgers, UAH, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
In C. Verrem Actio I (70)
after this speech, Verres fled to Marseilles (Massilia)
"...an opinion has now become established, pernicious to us, and pernicious to the republic, which has been the common talk of every one, not only at Rome, but among foreign nations also-- that in the courts of law as they exist at present, no wealthy man, however guilty he may be, can possibly be convicted."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
In C. Verrem Actio II (5 books, 70)
C published these anyway, even though the case was won
"...no one believed that anyone would be so audacious, so frantic, and so impudent, as, after having been convicted of such nefarious crimes, and by so many witnesses, to venture to present himself to the eyes of the judges, or to show his face to the Roman people."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib ToC, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Fonteio (69 or 54?)
defends governor of Gaul on charges of corruption
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Caecina (69)
regarding inheritance-laws for land
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Letters (68-42)
Translations: [ToC], PGut, extracts
Epistulae ad Atticum (16 books, 397 letters, 68-43BC)
"As to what you say in your letter about your sister, she will herself bear me witness what pains I have taken that my brother Quintus should show her proper affection. Thinking him somewhat inclined to be angry with her, I wrote to him in such a way as I thought would not hurt his feelings as a brother, while giving him some good advice as my junior, and remonstrating with him as being in the wrong. The result is that, from frequent letters since received from him, I feel confident that everything is as it ought and as we should wish it to be."
Latin etext: Perseus [ToC], LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus [ToC 68-52]
Commentaries:
66: 40yo C becomes praetor {Perseus]
De Imperio Cn. Pompei (or Pro Lege Manilia) (66 or 69?)
purely political speech supporting Pompey for commander of eastern war against Mithridates
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro A. Cluentio Habito (66)
brilliant defense of rich man accused of poisoning stepfather
"For while we are dealing with the accusations, it is only the safety of Aulus Cluentius that is at stake; but by the odium sought to be excited against him, the common safety of all men is imperilled."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
63: 42yo C elected consul, shifting right against Crassus, Caesar, and Catiline {Perseus] [more]
De Lege Agraria Contra Rullum (3 parts; 63 or 72?)
opposing land-redistribution
"See, now, in the second chapter of this law, how that profligate debauchee is disturbing the republic-- how he is ruining and dissipating the possessions left us by our ancestors; so as to be not less a spendthrift in the patrimony of the Roman people than in his own."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Rabirio Perduellionis Reo (63)
defending the 'emergency' powers of the Senate, as exercised 37 years earlier; opposed by Caesar
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus Perseus
Commentaries:
63: reformer Catiline again defeated for consul, plots coup [Perseus]
fictionalised in Saylor's "Catalina's Riddle" [Amazon]
In Catilinam (4 parts; 8Nov-5Dec 63)
C exposes Catiline conspiracy, leading to five executions without trial [Sallust] [Perseus]
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, UTex
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Murena (63)
defends consul against charge of bribery
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Sulla (62)
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro A. Licinia Archia Poeta (or Pro Archia) (62 or 59?)
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, UTex
Translations: Perseus, French
Commentaries:
62: start of feud with Clodius [Perseus]
Epistulae ad Quintum Fratrem (Letters to brother Quintus; 3 books, 28 letters, 60-54)
from 61-59, 42yo Q was serving as governor of Asia Minor
"And as I confess the mistake to have been mine, it lies with your wisdom and kindness to remedy it, and to see that my imprudence is turned to advantage by your careful performance of your duties. And truly, if you exert yourself in every direction to earn men's good word, not with a view to rival others, but henceforth to surpass yourself, if you rouse your whole mind and your every thought and care to the ambition of gaining a superior reputation in all respects, believe me, one year added to your labour will bring us, nay, our posterity also, a joy of many years' duration."
Latin etext: Perseus [ToC], LatLib ToC, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus [ToC]
Commentaries:
Quintus to C: [English] [ditto?]
60: C writes narcissistic autobiographical poem (lost) "O happy Rome, born to my consulship!"
60: C rejects Caesar's offer to join '1st triumvirate' (Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar)
Pro Flacco (59)
defense of praetor accused of extortion
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
58: C accepts exile in Macedonia, accused of executions w/o trial in Catiline case; property confiscated; C overwhelmed with self-pity [Perseus] [letters]
57: Pompey arranges C's recall [Perseus]
Post Reditum in Senatu (57)
thanking senate for recall
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Post Reditum ad (in?) Quirites (57)
thanks people for recall ('quirites' = old-fashioned term for 'Romans')
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
57: challenges triumvirs [Perseus]
De Domo Sua (late 57)
seeking damages for confiscated property
"You have got to decide this day whether you prefer for the future to deprive frantic and profligate magistrates of the protection of wicked and unprincipled citizens, or even to arm them with the cloak of religion and of the respect due to the immortal gods."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
De Haruspicum Responsis (On the answers of the soothsayers; late 57)
again regarding lost property
"Against these furies and firebrands, with these destructive monsters and pests, which have been (I may almost say) desolating this empire, I do say that I have undertaken inexpiable war..."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Sestio (56)
attempts to rally aristocrats against triumvirs
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
In Vatinium (56)
against Vatinius, who'd accused Sestius
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Caelio (56)
sensational poisoning-case involving (probably) Catullus's 'Lesbia' (aka Clodia). C shifts all the blame to the the woman for her loose morals.
"If I am to proceed in the old-fashioned way and manner of pleading, then I must summon up from the shades below one of those bearded old men-- not men with those little bits of imperials which she takes such a fancy to, but a man with that long shaggy beard which we see on the ancient statues and images-- to reproach the woman, and to speak in my stead, lest she by any chance should get angry with me."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
56: C forced to make peace with triumvirs [Perseus]
De Provinciis Consularibus (56)
supports Caesar's command in Gaul
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Balbo (56)
supports favors for a friend of the triumvirs
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
In Pisonem (56)
attacks an old enemy, the now-recalled ex-governor of Macedonia
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
De Oratore (3 books; by end of 55)
replacement for his juvenile 'De Inventione'
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Cn. Plancio (54 or 56?)
defends a friend on charges of corruption
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Rabirio Postumo (54 or 46?)
defends a supporter of Caesar on charge of extortion
"If the king had had any honesty, nothing would have been considered more sagacious than the conduct of Postumus; but because the king deceived him he is said to have acted as madly as possible; so that it appears now that nothing is a proof of a man being wise, unless he can foresee the future."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Scauro (54, fragments)
governor of Sardinia, charge of extortion
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
55: another narcissistic autobiographical poem (also lost)
54: brother Quintus in Gaul [essay]
De Re Publica (De republica; late 50s)
"Thus, the kings attract us by affection, the nobles by talent, the people by liberty; and in the comparison it is hard to choose the best."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, excerpts
Commentaries:
Somnium Scipionis (Scipio's dream): [English] [Latin] zip "In a word, if you escape the impious machinations of your relatives, you will, in the quality of dictator, establish order and tranquility in the commonwealth."
De Partitione Oratoria (late 50s)
brief essay on rhetoric for his son
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
53: C elected augur [Perseus]
52: 18Jan: Clodius killed in battle with Milo (circumstances disputed: slideshow)
this controversy is tastefully fictionalised by Steven Saylor in "A Murder on the Appian Way" [Amazon] with Cicero, Milo, Clodia, Pompey, Marc Antony, and Julius Caesar in speaking roles
Pro Milone (52)
written after losing his nerve-- and the case-- with the defendant Milo suffering exile for the murder of Clodius in a political gangwar.
"...this novel appearance of a new manner of trial alarms my eyes, which, wherever they fall, seek for the former customs of the forum and the ancient practice in trials. For your assembly is not surrounded by a circle of bystanders as usual; we are not attended by our usual company."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries: Asconius
De Optimo Genere Oratorum (52 or 46-44)
on the best kind of orators
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
De Legibus (On the Laws, 52-45)
"This, then, as it appears to me, has been the decision of the wisest philosophers-- that law was neither a thing to be contrived by the genius of man, nor established by any decree of the people, but a certain eternal principle, which governs the entire universe, wisely commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, excerpts
Commentaries:
51: C governor of Cilicia [Perseus] [essay]
50: returns to Rome briefly until civil war breaks out
Letters (51-49)
Translations: [ToC]
Letters (48-44)
Translations: [ToC]
47: Caesar allows C to return to Rome
Pro M. Marcello (46)
thanks Caesar for pardoning Marcellus
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
46: C divorces Terentia and marries his ward, Publia
45: beloved daughter Tullia dies, C divorces Publia for failing to grieve [letter]
Brutus (c45)
history of Roman oratory
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UTex, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Orator (c45)
a picture of the accomplished speaker
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Topica (c45)
matters relating to commonplaces, based on Aristotle
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Q. Ligario (45)
convinces Caesar to acquit Ligarius
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Pro Rege Deiotaro (In behalf of King Deiotarus; 45)
defends tetrarch ('king') of Galatia on charge of attempting to murder Caesar
"In the first place, I am speaking in defence of the life and fortunes of a king; and although there is no particular injustice in such a fact, especially when it is oneself who is in danger yet it is so unusual for a king to be tried for his life, that up to this time no such thing has ever been heard of."
Latin etext: Perseus
Translations: Perseus, bi-Italian
Commentaries:
De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (The Extremes of Good and Evil, 45)
comparing philosophical schools
the common printers' 'greeked' text "lorem ipsum dolor' etc comes from this work [Cecil] [bilingual]
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, extract [ditto]
Commentaries:
Academica (2 parts, 45)
critique of 'new' Athens Academy
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Tusculanae Disputationes (45-44)
the conditions of happiness
"Why is it no one is in love with either an ugly youngster or a beautiful old man?"
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, extracts
Commentaries:
De Senectute (On Old Age, 44)
"To myself, indeed, the composition of this book has been so delightful that it has not only wiped away all the disagreeables of old age, but has even made it luxurious and delightful too."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH
Translations: Perseus, Fordham, PGut, Bartleby, bi-Italian
Commentaries:
De Divinatione (2 parts, 44)
on fate and prediction
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
De Natura Deorum (44)
comparing philosophical views of the gods
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, TPG, extract
Commentaries:
De Fato (On fate; 44)
(fragments)
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries:
Letters (44-43)
Translations: [ToC]
De Officiis (Nov 44)
on moral philosophy, for his son
"For all that, if you will read my philosophical books, you will be helped; my philosophy is not very different from that of the Peripatetics (for both they and I claim to be followers of Socrates and Plato). As to the conclusions you may reach, I leave that to your own judgment (for I would put no hindrance in your way), but by reading my philosophical writings you will be sure to render your mastery of the Latin language more complete..."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus, Stoics
Commentaries:
Laelius (de Amicitia; On Friendship; late 44)
"The truth is, the memory of Socrates is held in honour for the admirable doctrine he delivered, but Cato's for the glorious deeds he performed."
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo, UAH, UTex, Magreyn
Translations: Perseus, Fordham, Fordham2, PGut, Bartleby, bi-Italian
Commentaries:
44: assassination of the despotic Caesar; Mark Antony contends with Brutus, Cassius, and Octavian (Augustus); C takes reins of senatorial party
Philippics I-XIV (14 orations against Marcus Antonius; 44-43)
the first attempts a conciliatory tone:
"I pass over many other things, all excellent-- for I am hastening to come to a very extraordinary act of virtue of Marcus Antonius. He utterly abolished from the constitution of the republic the Dictatorship, which had by this time attained to the authority of regal power. And that measure was not even offered to us for discussion. He brought with him a decree of the senate, ready drawn up, ordering what he chose to have done: and when it had been read, we all submitted to his authority in the matter with the greatest eagerness; and, by another resolution of the senate, we returned him thanks in the most honourable and complimentary language."
the rest of the series back Octavian and incite war against Antony
Latin etext: Perseus, LatLib, Archeo
Translations: Perseus [ToC], 2nd
Commentaries:
Epistulae ad Brutum (43)
These are to the very same et-tu-Brute Brutus, a year after he stabbed Caesar.
The Perseus translations are all in volume 4 of the collected letters [ToC]
"L. Clodius, tribune-designate, is much attached to me, or, to speak with more empressement, loves me dearly. And when I am assured of that I feel certain-- for you know me-- that you will conclude that I love him: for nothing seems to me less human than not to give an answering affection to those by whom one's love is challenged..."
Latin etext: Perseus [ToC], LatLib ToC, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus [ToC]
Commentaries: authenticity debate
43: Octavian makes peace with Antony, Cicero executed and his head displayed in Forum [Shakespeare]
Epistulae ad Familiares (16 books, 400+ letters to his friends)
published posthumously by M. Tullius Tiro, freed ex-slave of Cicero
Latin etext: Perseus [ToC], LatLib ToC, Archeo, Biblio
Translations: Perseus
Commentaries: Harris
Commentariolum Petitionis
Epistula ad Octavianum
Paradoxa Stoicorum
Rhetorica ad Herennium
In defense of Caius Cornelius (fragments)
"It is a case in which the virtue and dignity of Caius Curio takes away all suspicion; and so does the youth of Quintus Metellus, embellished as it is with every quality calculated to attract the highest and most universal praise."
no Latin
Translations: Perseus
Against Publius Clodius and Caius Curio
Translations: Perseus
lost works: Pontius Glaucus (juv. poem), De consulatu (60), De temporibus suis (55), panegyric on Cato the Younger (46), translations of Demosthenes and Aeschines, Consolatio (45), Hortensius (45)
C's reputation gradually revived after 150AD, praised by Petrarch c1340; admired by Milton, Hume, and Gibbon [legacy]
c1850AD: Mommsen praises Caesar, attacks Cicero as weakling [passim] [debate]
c1980AD: Louis MacNeice praises C as "the one sympathetic figure in a period of thugs and crooks, a doomed liberal who had the courage of his culture" [cite]
histories: timelines, Gibbon, timeline, messy
essays: AHB
Latin: pronunciation, grammar basics, vocab, obscenities
occ = MC Howatson's Oxford Companion to Classical Literature
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