Marcus Tullius Cicero [Cicero or Tully]
106-43 BC *executed by 2nd Triumvirate (specifically Mark Antony)
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Republican Era/Golden Age of Latin Literature)
M. TVLLI CICERONIS PRO A. CAECINA ORATIO
[1] Si, quantum in agro locisque desertis audacia potest,
[If, as much as boldness can do in the field, and deserted places,]
tantum in foro atque in iudiciis impudentia valeret,
[as imprudence should prevail in the market, and in the courts,]
non minus nunc in causa cederet A. Caecina Sex. Aebuti impudentiae,
[no less, now, should Aelius Caecina feel ill to the imprudence of Sextus Aebutius,]
quam tum in vi facienda cessit audaciae.
[which, at that time, the power of boldness yielded to brute violence.]
Verum et illud considerati hominis esse putavit,
[And however, he though that particular condition of the man ought to be considered,]
qua de re iure disceptari oporteret,
[by which matter it would have to be achieved,]
armis non contendere,
[not by contending in battle,]
et hoc constantis, quicum vi et armis certare noluisset, eum iure iudicioque superare.
[and by prevailing, in the court of law, over this matter consistently, for which he had beforehand not wanted to fight over through the force of arms.]
[2] Ac mihi quidem cum audax praecipue fuisse videtur Aebutius in convocandis hominibus et armandis,
[And really, in my opinion, does Aebutius seem to been especially bold in his gathering people up and arming them,]
tum impudens in iudicio,
[at that time, rash in his judgment,]
non solum quod in iudicium venire ausus est
[not only because he dares to come to court,]
—nam id quidem tametsi improbe fit in aperta re, tamen malitia est iam usitatum
[on that, this practice really happens quite wrongfully, in the open, although it's already been used with malice, and frequently,]
—sed quod non dubitavit id ipsum quod arguitur confiteri;
[but also that he did not doubt the act itself would have to be admitted to;]
