tacere, literarum memoriam 21 flagitare : et quum habeas am-
plissimi viri 22 religionem, integerrimi municipii 23 jusjuran-
dum fidemque, ea, quae depravari nullo modo possunt, repu-
diare ; tabulas, qiias idem dicis solere corrumpi, desiderare.
At domicilium 2 ' 1 Romas non habuit. Is qui tot annis ante ci-
vitatem datam, sedem omnium rerum ac fortunarum suarum
Roma? 25 collocavit ? At non est protessus. 26 Immo vero iis
tabulis protessus, qua^ sola? ex ilia 27 professione collegioque
praetorum, obtinent publicarum tabularum auctoritatem.
V. Nam quum Appii 1 tabulae negligentius asservatae dice-
rentur, Gabinii, 2 quamdiu incolumis 3 t'uit, levitas, 4 post darn-
nationem calamitas, 5 omnem tabularum fidem resignasset : 6
Metellus, homo sanctissimus modestissimusque 7 omnium,
19. Italico] Called otherwise, So-
cial or Marsic.
20. l^abulurio] An adj. subintell.
loco ; ' archives."
21. Literarum memoriam'] Sc. ta-
bulas.
22. Viri] L. Luculli.
23. Municipii] Heracleae. For,
by the Julian law, each federate state
became a corporate city. Inf. 5.
24. At domicilium] The second
point against which the defence is
directed.
25. Roma] Al. in Italia, the
wording of the law, which suits the
argument better. For, if long before
the freedom of Heraclea was conferred
on him, he had made Home the seat of
his fortunes, a fortiori, he had a resi-
dence in Italy at the time of Carbo's
law.
26. At non est professus] The third
point ; which is disproved by the
registration appearing on the books
of the most respectable of the praetors,
Metellus Pius.
27. Soltc ex ilia, c] The census
on Carbo's law passing, was, no
doubt, very extensive, and would em-
ploy all the praetors. Metellus's was
the 07i ly registration-list among the
whole, and among (or with) the col-
lege of praetors, that continued to
possess public authority. This he pro-
ceeds to prove. * Nam, &c/ ' Solae
ex,' as Brut. Ep. 15. Solon legum
scriptor solus ex septem ;' not as
Dune. ' 6v,' which makes the autho-
rity of the tables depend upon Ar-
chias's enrolment, and then his en-
rolment on them !
Sicr. V. 1. Appii] ClaudiiPul-
chri, coss. of the year in which Sylla
resigned. He was defeated by Spax-
tacus in the Servile war. Em. con-
ceives him to be either the father or
uncle of P. Clodius.
2. Gabinii] P. Capitonis, Cax:il.
20, accused, by L. Piso, of extortion
in Achaia.
3. Incolumis] Explained by ' post
damnationem.'
4. Levitas] Corruption. Em. Clav.
5. Culamitas] Manil. 6. Here ' con-
fiscation of his property.'
6. Resignasset] ' llesignare' is,
properly, to break a seal. The pra>
tors, it is probable, affixed their seals
to the registration. The transition
to fides' is easy.
7. Modestissimus] Qui legum dili-
gentissimus obscrvator esset. Em.
56
M. T. CICERONIS ORATIO
tanta diligentia fuit, ut ad L. Lentulum 8 praetorem et ad ju
dices venerit, et unius nominis litura se commotum esse dix-
erit. His igitur tabulis riullam lituram in nomen 9 A. Licinii
videtis. Quae quum ita sint, 10 quid est, quod de ejus civitate
dubitetis, praesertim quum aliis quoque in civitatibus fuerit
adscriptus ? Etenim quum mediocribus multis, et aut nulla,
aut humili aliqua arte 11 preeditis, gratuito civitatem in Grae-
cia 12 homines impertiebantur, Rheginos credo, aut Locren-
ses, 13 aut Neapolitanos, aut Tarentinos, quod scenicis artifici-
bus largiri solebant, id huic, summa ingenii praedito gloria, 11
noluisse. Quid ? quum ceteri, non modo post civitatem da-
Clav. ; contrasted with the negli-
gence and ' levity' of his colleagues.
8. L. Lentulam] Praetorem cum
P. Gabinius de repetundis esset dam-
natus. Krn. But when was this? Praetor
eo anno quo lex Carbonis et Silvani
lata est. Sthutx. But this would make
Metellus and Lentulus colleagues.
Why then should he go to Lentulus
about ' the erasure?' We may con-
jecture that some time after the law
passed, Metellus was called on to
give similar testimony to the present
in the praetor's (LentulUs's) court, in
the case of an individual whose name
was erased ; or the fact of ' an era-
sure' appearing on the tables may
have been a legitimate subject for the
decision of that court.
9. In nomen'] For ' in nomine.'
Manil. 12. in potestatem,' for' in po-
testate.' Gell. i. 7, and, xvii. 2.
10. Qua cum ita sint] These three
points being established, (vid. supr.
n. 14.24. 26.) why doubt his citizen-
ship, especially as his claim could
be established in a similar manner,
through several other cities, in which
(as 1 said above, c. 3.) he was en-
rolled. For it cannot be supposed
that those cities would deny to him
what they have conceded to other
foreigners of the lowest grade. And
when, not only after citizenship was
granted to foreigners, by the law of
Silv. and Carbo (when the novelty of
the thing opened the door to imposi-
tion,) but even after the Papian
law had banished them from Rome,
others, nevertheless, pretending to be
Rhegini, &c. , contrived to get them-
selves clandestinely enrolled on ' the
tables' of those free towns which were
kept by the praetors, and thereby to
continue in the city; shall Archias,
the genuine citizen of those states,
though his attachment to Heraclea
induced him to rest his plea on it,
be expelled ?
11. Humili arte] Sc. players. So
' scenicis artificibus' inf. Yal. Max. ii.
4.
12. In Gnrcia] Sc. Magna Grae-
cia. The opposition is not between
Greece and the Rhegini, &c. who
were not of Greece, but between
Magna Graecia in general, and the
four cities of which Archias was a
citizen. Yid. c. 3.
13. Locrenses] A people of Locri,
a town of Bruttii, in the south of Italy.
They joined the Romans in the war
with Pyrrhus ; and though their city
was occupied by the Carthaginians in
the second Punic war, the feeling of
the people was so much in favour of
the Romans, that that people after-
wards restored them their liberty and
laws. Liv. xxix. 16.
14. Summa. .....gloria] Opposed
PRO ARCHIA POETA, Cap. 5.
57
tam, sed etiam post legem Papiam, 15 aliquo modo in eorum
municipiorum tabulas irrepserint : hie, qui ne utitur quidem
illis, in quibus est scriptus, quod semper se Heracleensem
esse voluit, rejicietur ? Census 16 nostros requiris scilicet.
Est enim obscurum, proximis censorious, 17 hunc cum claris-
simo imperatore, L. Lucullo, apud exercitum fuisse : superi-
oribus, 18 cumeodem qucestore luisse in x\sia: primis, 19 Julio
et Crasso, nullam populi partem esse censam. Sed, quoni-
am 20 census non jus civitatis confirmat, ac tantummodo indi-
cat, eum, qui sit census, [ita] se jam turn gessisse pro cive : 21
iis temporibus, qua? tu c - criminaris ne ipsius quidem judicio
eum in civium Romanorum jure esse versatum, et testamen-
tum saepe fecit 23 nostris legibus, 2 * et adiit hereditates 25 civi-
um Romanorum, et in beneficiis 26 ad aerarium delatus est a L.
Lucullo pra3tore et consule.
to ' gratuito,' supr.
15. Post civitatem Papiam]
The interval was about twenty-four
years. Introd. 3.
16. Census] An additional obj.
For if Archias were a Roman citizen
sioce 664, his name would appear on
the censor's books ; but it did not.
Cic. refutes this by showing, either
that he was not at Home when the
census was held, or that when he was
at Rome, it was neglected.
17. Ptot. cens.] The nearest to
the present time ; sc. Cn. Lentulus
Clodianus and L. Gellius, who were
censors, a. u. 683, in the consulship
of Crass, and Pomp., and of course,
during the third Mithrid. war.
18. Superioribus] L. Marcius
Philippus, M. Perpenna, a. u. 667,
the year of Marius's death, when
Lucullus was quaestor of Sylla, in the
first Mithrid. war.
19. Primis'] L. Jul. Ca;sar and P.
Licin. Crassus, in 664, the year of
Silvanus'sand Carbo's law. The cen-
sus was prevented by the public dis-
turbances ; and hence the early ap-
pointment of Philip and Perpenna
above.
20. Sed quoniam] Gratius argued
that the non-enrolment of Ar-
chias amounted to a confession of his
having no just claim. Cic. shows,
that though Arch, does not appear
by his ' census,' as claiming to be a
Roman citizen, yet he does what ia
equivalent. He made a will ; ob-
tained bequests ; was recommended
to the treasury, &c.
21. Gessisse pro cive] Which he
might not be.
22. Qua tu] Al. queis. Eta.
would understand dicendo. But
translate it ' during which.'
23. Testamentum fecit] Which
' peregrini' could not do.
24. Nostris Legibus] More Ro-
mano. Passer.
25. Adiit hered.] Another thing
denied to ' peregrini.'
26. In benejiciis] As a foreigner
could not serve in the Roman army,
Archias, whose services were honour-
ably noticed by his general, could not
have been a foreigner. * Beneficia'
meant ' the list of persons recom-
mended, by the general, to the trea-
sury for their public services. ' In
beneficiis,' therefore, is not to be ren-
dered ' for favours,' as it does not ap-
pear to have conferred any emolument.
58
M. T. CICERONIS ORATIO
VI. Quaere argumenta, si qua potes. Nunquam enim hie
neque suo, 1 neque amicorum 2 judicio revincetur.
Quaeres a nobis, Grati, cur tanto opere hoc homine delec-
temur. Quia 3 suppeditat 4 nobis, ubi et animus ex hoc forensi
strepitu reficiatur, et aures convicio 5 defessae conquiescanr.
An tu existimas aut suppetere nobis posse quod quotidie di-
camus, 6 in tanta varietate remm, nisi animos nostros doctrina
excolamus, 7 aut ferre animos tantam posse contentionem, nisi
eos doctrina eadem relaxemus J 6 Ego vero fateor, me his stu-
diis esse deditum : ceteros pudeat, si qui ita se literis abdide-
runt, 9 ut nihil possint ex his neque ad communem afferre fruc-
tum, 10 neque in adspectum 11 lucemque proferre. Me autem
quid pudeat, qui tot annos ita vivo, judices, ut ab nullius un-
quam me tempore 12 aut commodo, 13 aut otium meum ab-
straxerit, aut voluptas avocarit, aut denique somnus retarda-
rit? Quare quis tandem me reprehendat, aut quis mihi
jure succenseat, 14 si, quantum ceteris ad suas res obeundas,
Fam. v. 20.
Sect. VI. 1. Neque tuo] For
Gratius urged his non-enrolment as a
tacit admission of his being a pere-
grinus.'
2. Xeq. amicorum'] For Lucullus,
by his recommendation, declared him
a citizen.
3. Quia"] The first cause of his love
of learning.
4. Suppeditat] (Sub. pedibus po-
nere) ' supplies ;' where ubi imports
id quo; and conquiescant,' not sim-
ply ' enjoy repose,' but ' pleasurable
relaxation :' * non cessatio ab opere
sed quies animi, securitas et volup-
tas significatur.' Forcel. ' Suppedi-
to' is often intransitive. Cat. ii. 11,
* rebus quibus nos suppeditamus, &c.'
Off. i. 4. ' Parare quae suppeditent
ad cultum.' Perhaps it may be so
here : * Because he is a never failing
supply to us when, &c.'
5. Convicio] (A voce, qu. convo-
cium) Maledictis. Passer. Clamore
caussidicorum Gram. Others read
convitio and derive it, but improba-
bly, from ' vitium.'
6. Quotidie dicamus] For Cio.
pleaded daily.
7. Doctrina excolamus] Quint.
Frat. i. Excolit doctrina vel vitiosis-
simam naturam.
8. lielaxemus] Phil. ii. 16. ' Ho-
mines, si modo homines, interdum
animis relaxantur.' It is opposed to
' contentio,' keeping the mind on the
stretch.
9. Se literis abdiderunt] In li-
teris delituerunt. Fam. 7. Se totuiu
in literis abdere. Passer.
10. Communem j'ructum] The
great end of all study. Hence Virg.
places such persons in Elysium, * qui
vitam excoluere per artes ;' and Per-
sius remarks, ' Scire tuum nihil est,
nisi te scire hoc sciat alter.' Passer.
11. Neque in aspectum] Sc. so-
phists, rhetoricians, &c
12. Tempore] No man's danger.
Manil. 1.
13. Commodo] Al. commodum,
which, as Cic. usually joins synony-
mous words, is the more probable
reading.
14. Succenseat] This meaning is,
perhaps, deduced from succensus, sub-
intel. iru.
PRO ARCHIA POETA, Cap. 6.
59
quantum ad festos dies ludorum celebrandos, quantum ad
alias voluptates, et ad ipsam requiem animi et corporis con-
ceditur temporum, quantum alii tribunt tempestivis 15 convi-
viis, quantum denique aleae, 16 quantum pilae ; tantum milii
egomet ad haec studia recolenda 17 sumpsero ? Atque hoe
adeo mihi concedendum est magis, quod ex his studiis haec
quoque crescit 18 oratio et facultas, 19 quae, quantacunque est in
me, nunquam amicorum periculis defuit. Quae si cui levior 20
videtur, ilia quidem certe, quae summa sunt, ex quo fonte
hauriam, sentio. Nam, nisi multorum praeceptis, 21 multisque
literis 22 mihi ab adolescentia suasissem, nihil esse in vita magno
opere expetendum, nisi laudem atque honestatem, in ea au-
lem persequenda omnes cruciatus corporis, omnia pericula
mortis atque exsilii, parvi esse ducenda : nunquam me pro
salute vestra in tot ac tantas dimicationes, atqne in hos pro-
fligatorum hominum quotidianos impetus objecisseuu
Sed pleni omnes sunt libri, plena? sapientium voces, plena
exemplorum vetustas; quae jacerent in tenebris omnia, nisi li-
terarum lumen accederet.* 3 Quam multas nobis imagines, non
solum ad intuendum, 24 verum etiam ad imitandum, 25 fortissi-
13. Tempestivis] Properly, ' be-
gan in due time.' But that varying by
fashion from sun-set, when labour
was done, to three, or even two
o'clock, (Exul ab octava Marius bibit.
Juv. i. 49, i. e. from two o'clock,) at
length came to be considered the
hour of bans vivtuis. De Senec. 14.
Ego vero propter sermonis delectati-
onem, tempestivisquoqueconviviis de-
lector.' So that with the wiser part,
* the feast of reason' was the motive
of these early banquets. The num-
ber of those, however, who had not
this motive, was quite sufficient to
bring them into disrepute. Transl.
' early.'
16. A lees'] ' Alea' is, l.adie; 2.
any game of chance.
17. Recolenda] Revise. Ex in-
tervallo repetenda ; proprie enim in-
termissa recoluntur. Manut.
18. Crescit] Al. censetur, i. e. ses-
timatur.' Quint., x. 1., remarks, po-
etarum lectionem oratoribus pluri-
mum conferre.'
19. Oratio et facultas] A Tlend.
for ' facultas orationis.' This is the
second cause for his love of learning.
20. Qh<e * cui levior] Cicero's
third reason for his love of learning
is, that ilia quae summa sunt the
patriotism by which he lately saved
his country sprang from that source.
Quae si cui, &c.' then is used merely
for transition, as if he said, some
may doubt of the value of oratory, and
the studies to which it owes its im-
provement. To them 1 offer an ir-
refragable proof of the value of Ar-
chias's pursuits, in the love of glory,
the contempt of dangers, exile, and
death, which stimulated me lately in
my arduous struggle for my country.'
21. Multorum prccceptis] Philo-
sophic dogmas which he had heard.
22. Multisq. Uteris] Poetry, his-
tory, &c., which he had read.
23. Accederet] Al. accenderet.
24. Ad intuendum] Voluptatis
gratia. Manut.
25. Ad imicandum] Ut eorum ex-
60
M. T. CICERONIS ORATIO
morum virorum expressas, 26 scriptores et Graeci et Latini re-
liquerunt ! quas ego mihi semper in admin istran da republics
proponens, animum et mentem meam ipsa cogitatione 87 homi-
num excellentium conformabam.
VII. Quaeret quispiam : l H Quid ? illi ipsi summi viri,
qtforum virtutes 2 literis prodita? sunt, istane doctrina, quam
tu laudibus effers, eruditi fuerunt ?" Difficile est 2 hoc de
omnibus confirmare ; sed tamen est certum, quid respon-
deam. Ego multos 3 homines excellenti animo ac virtute fu-
isse, et sine doctrina, naturae ipsius habitu prope divino, per
se ipsos et moderatos et graves 4 exstitisse fateor. Etiam il-
lud adjungo, saepius ad laudem atque virtutem naturam sine
doctrina, quam sine natura valuisse doctrinam. Atque idem
ego contendo, quum ad naturam eximiam atque illustrem ac-
cesserit ratio quaedam 5 conformatioque doctrin.T, turn illud
nescio quid praeclarum ac singulare solere exsistere : ex hoc
esse hunc numero, quern patres nostri viderunt, divinum ho-
minem, Africanum : 6 ex hoc C. Laelium, 7 L. Furium, 8 mo-
emplo laudabibter vivamus. Hor.
Epist. ii. 1.248. ' Nee magis expres-
si, &c.' Mama.
26. Expiessas] Prominente* ; iic-
rvirHfiiva^. Patser. But this ap-
plies well 1o statues only. Trans,
therefore, delineated,' ' portrayed.'
27. Cogitatione'] i. e. By studying
the great characters of history he was
able to conform his actions to their
precepts. Hor. Pectus praeceptis
format amicis.'
Sect. VII. 1. Quaret quispi-
am ?] But it will be asked, were all
great men learned ? No, says Cic,
not in every instance. Nay, I admit
the superiority of genius over mere
learning. But let us have both, and
mark the result, ' turn illud nescio
quid praeclarum solere existere.'
This is his ' certum quid respon-
deam.' Hor. decides similarly,
Ego nee studium sine divite
vena ;
Nee rude quid prosit video ingenium,
&c. DeA.P. 409.
2. Virtutes] Res gestas et egregia
fortitudinis facinora. Dclph.
2. Difficile est] For among great
men some were learned ; some not.
To this is opposed 'certum quid re-
spondeam,' as above.
3. Multos] For it was a long time
before ' Graecia capta ferum victorem
cepitet artes, &c.' M. Cato, the cen-
sor, in the second Punic war, was
among the first that cultivated letters.
4. Moderatos et graves] Those
qualities, Cic. hints, arise from learn-
ing. So inf. ' moderatissimos homines
et contentissiroos.' The former in-
cludes all the virtues that command
self respect ; the latter, the respect of
mankind.
5. Ratio qnazdam] A proper ac-
quaintance with.
6. Africanum] Sc. Minorem. For
Cic. says ' quern patres nostri vide-
runt.' But the elder began his career
k.v. 535, a century and a half be-
fore this time ; the younger was slain
in 624. Cic. says of him,de Off. i. 32.
' Is eloquentia cumulavit bellicam
gloriam ;' and Hor. 'Virtus Scipiadse;
mitis sapientia Laeli.'
7. C. Lcclius] was called Sapiens,
PRO ARCHIA POETA, Cap. 8.
61
deratissimos homines et continentissimos : ex hoc fortissi-
mum virum, et illis temporibus doctissimum, M. Catonem
ilium senem : 9 qui profecto, si nihil ad percipiendam colen-
damque virtutem literis adjuvarentur, nunquam se ad earum
studium contulissent. Quod si 10 non hie tantus fructus osten-
deretur, et si ex his studiis delectatio sola peteretur, tamen,
ut opinor, hanc animi adversionem 11 humanissimam ac libe-
ralissimam judicaretis. 12 Nam cetera? 13 neque tempo rum 14
sunt, neque aetatum 15 omnium, neque locorum : 16 ha?c stud i a
adolescentiam alunt, 17 senectutem oblectant, 18 secundas res
ornant, adversis perfugium 19 ac solatium praebent, delectant
domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobiscum, peregrinan-
tur, 20 rusticantur.
VIII. Quod si ipsi 1 haec neque attingere, 2 neque sen-
su nostro gustare 3 possemus, tamen ea mirari deberemus,
from his love of philosophy and let-
ters. He was consul x. u. 613, and
is celebrated for his knowledge of
augury. Phil. ii. 33, and De Amic.
8. L. Ftirius] called ' Philus,' a
celebrated Latin scholar, and patron
of learned men. Brut. 28. He was
consul a. u. 617.
9. Senem] He learned Greek in
his old age, (Acad. iv. 2. Cum Grae-
cas litteras M. Catonem in senectute
didicisse acceperam) and died at the
age of eighty-five.
10. Quod si, #<?.] If the study of
letters offered no advantages, yet as
an agreeable recreation, letters ought
to be cultivated ; and, of course,
Archias patronised.
11. Adversionem] Al. remissi-
onem, referring to studiis,' pre-
ceding.
12. Judicaretis] Judicare debere-
tis. Manut.
13. Cetera] Sc. Artes.
14. Temporum] E. g. Eloquence is
no longer heard in the din of war ;
and its artagain is useless in peace.
But Homer was equally the delight
of Alexander, and of Pericles.
15. JEtatum] Hor. de Art. Poet,
v. 155 175.
16. Locorum] For the camp, the
VOL. I.
senate, the court, have each their pe-
culiar pursuits; but poetry gains ac-
cess to them all.
17. Alunt] Al. Agunt, i.e. Trai-
tfaywySoi ; ^instituunt. Lamb. ; or
rather, as Ern. excitant.'
18. Senectutem Bblectant] Y'zpov-
TtQ afisaoi miseri. Passer.
19. Adversis perfugium] Hor.
Minuuntur atrae Carmine curae; an d,
O, laborum Dulce lenimen.
20. Peregrinantur] In opposition
to ' remaining in one's native land ;'
but ' rusticantur,' to ' remaining in
the city.'
Sect. VIII 1. Quodsi ipsi, <Sfc]
i. e. Admitting we cannot all have a
taste for poetry, yet ought we to ad-
mire that taste in others ; similarly
to what occurred in the case of Bos-
cius, whom thousands admired that
could not imitate his performance ;
and recollect the superior nature of
Archias's acquirements ; the differ-
ence between the body and the soul,
&c.
2. Attingere] 1. To come in con-
tact with. 2. Apply the mind to,
study slightly. 3. (As inf. 9. and
11.) commence; treat cursorily, and
3. Gustare] To sip, to relish ;
which we apply, similatly, to a taste
G
62
M. T. CICERONIS ORATIO
etiam quum in aliis videremus. Quis nostrum tarn animo
agresti ac duro fuit ut Roscii 4 morte nuper non commovere-
tur? qui quum esset senex mortuus, tamen, propter excellen-
tem artem ac venustatem, 5 videbatur omnino mori non debu-
isse. Ergo ille corporis motu tantum amorem sibi concilia-
rat a nobis omnibus : nos animorum incredibiles motus ce-
leritatemque ingeniorum 6 negligemus ? Quoties ego hunc
Archiam vidi, judices, (utar enim vestra benignitate, quo-
niam me in hoc novo genere dicendi tarn diligenter attendi-
tis-,) quoties ego hunc vidi, quum literam scripsisset nul-
lam, 7 magnum numerum optimorum versuum de iis ipsis
rebus, quae turn agerentur, 8 dicere ex tempore ! 9 quoties re-
vocatum 10 eandem rem dicere, commutatis verbis atque sen-
tentiis ! u Qua? vero accurate cogitateque scripsisset, ea sic
vidi probari, ut ad veterum scriptorum 1 * laudem pervenirent.
Hunc ego non diligam ? non admirer? non omni ratione de-
fendendum putem ? Atqui sic a summis hominibus eruditis-
simisque accepimus, ceterarum rerum studia, et doctrina, et
for learning. Cic. joins them, Ccel.
12. Qui priraoribus labris gustas-
sent et extremis digitis attigissent.'
4. Roscii] Q. Roscius, a native of
Lanuvium ; the Garrick of the Ro-
mans. He was the first that wore a
mask on the stage ; which he did to
conceal his personal defects. De Or.
iii. 59. He was an instructor of Cic.
in pronunciation and gesture, who
says of him, De Or. i. 28., * Eo praes-
tantiae pervenit ut quicumque in
aliqua arte excelleret, is in suo ge-
nere ' Roscius' diceretur.' His talents
procured him a seat in the senate, and
Cic. testified his gratitude to him by
defending him in a civil action ; a
part of which defence is still extant.
Vid. pro Q. Rose. Com.
5. Venustatem] Modestia ad vul-
tum et mores ; venustas ad naturam
corporis refertur. Donat.
6. Celeritatem ingeniorum] How
swift is a glance of the mind ! Cowp.
7. Literam 7iullam] i, e. Had com-
mitted nothing to writing.
8. Qua turn agerentur] Conse-
quently his verses could not have
been premeditated.
9. Dicere ex tempore] Quint, x. 7.
Hanc [dicendi ex tempore] faculta-
tem non in prosa inodo multi sunt
consecuti, sed etiam in carmine ; ut
Antipater Sidonius et Licinius Ar-
chias. Credendum enim Cic. est ;
non quia nostris quoque temporibus
non et fecerint quidam hoc, et faci-
anu De Or. iii. 50. Versus hexame-
tros, aliosque variis modis atque nu
meris fundere ex tempore. The same
talent is still found in the modern
Improvisator!.
10. Revocatum] Called back to
repeat ; encored. ' Revocari' dicun-
tur qui eandem rem altera vice di-
cunt. Em.
1 1. Sententiis] Sententia pronun-
ciatum quo sensus integer in verbis
exprimitur. Forcel. ; a thought ; a
phrase expressing a thought. Arch,
clothed the same facts in a different
costume.
12. Vet. scriptorum] Antiquorum
poetarum. Nam antiquitas proxime
ad deos accedit. Hence the general
complaint of deterioration by time.
PRO ARCHIA POETA, Cap. 9.
63
praeceptis, et arte constare : poetam natura ipsa 13 valere, et
mentis viribus excitari, et quasi divine- quodam spiritu in-
flari. 14 Quare suo jure 15 noster ille Ennius 16 sanctos 17 appellat
poetas, quod quasi deorum aliquo dono atque munere 18 com-
mendati nobis esse videantur. Sit igitur, judices, sanctum
apud vos, humanissimos homines, hoc poeta? nomen, quod
nulla unquam barbaria 18 violavit. Saxa et solitudines voci 19
respondent ; bestiae saepe 20 immanes cantu flectuntur atque
consistunt : 21 nos instituti rebus optimis non poetarum voce
moveamur ? Homerum Colophonii 22 civem esse dicunt su-
um : Chiisuum vindicant, Salaminii repetunt, Smyrnaei vero
suum esse confirmant, itaque etiam delubrum 23 ejus in op-