Pro Caelio Quiz - 2, 3 & 10

Ac mihi quidem videtur, iudices, hic introitus defensionis adulescentiae M. Caeli maxime convenire,

And indeed, judges, this introduction of defense seems to me to especially suit the youth of Marcus Caelius,

ut ad ea quae accusatores deformandi huius causa et detrahendae spoliandaeque dignitatis gratia dixerunt primum respondeam.

that I should respond first to those things which the accusers said for the sake of disgracing him and for the purpose of disparaging and stripping him of dignity.

Obiectus est pater varie, quod aut parum splendidus ipse aut parum pie tractatus a filio diceretur.

His father has been brought up against him in various ways, he was being said either to be insufficiently splendid or to have not been treated piously enough by his son.

De dignitate M. Caelius notis ac maioribus natu etiam sine mea oratione tacitus facile ipse respondet;

With dignity Marcus Caelius himself easily responds to acquaintances and to those greater in birth without my oration;

quibus autem propter senectutem, quod iam diu minus in foro nobiscumque versatur, non aeque est cognitus,

however, to those whom on account of his old age he is not equally known, because for a long time now he goes around in the forum with us less,

hi sic habeant, quaecumque in equite Romano dignitas esse possit,

So let these people think, whatever dignity is able to be in a Roman knight,

quae certe potest esse maxima, eam semper in M. Caelio habitam esse summam

which certainly is able to be greatest of all, that it was held to be utmost in Marcus Caelius

hodieque haberi non solum a suis sed etiam ab omnibus quibus potuerit aliqua de causa esse notus.

and it is to be held today not only by his own but also by all to whom he was able to be known for any reason.

Nam quod Catilinae familiaritas obiecta Caelio est, longe ab ista suspicione abhorre debet.

As to the fact that the intimacy of Catiline was thrown against Caelius, he ought to shrink far from that suspicion.

Hoc enim adulescente scitis consulatum mecum petisse Catilinam.

For when he was young, you all know Catiline to have sought consulship with me.

Ad quem si accessit aut si a me discessit umquam —

If he came near to him or if ever he departed from me —

quamquam multi boni adulescentes illi homini nequam atque improbo studuerunt —

although many good youths have supported that worthless and wicked man —

tum existimetur Caelius Catilinae nimium familiaris fuisse.

then let Caelius be thought excessively friendly to Catiline.

At enim postea scimus et vidimus esse hunc in illius etiam amicis. Quis negat?

And yet afterwards we know and have seen this man is among the friends of that man. Who can deny it?

Sed ego illud tempus aetatis quod ipsum sua sponte infirmum, aliorum autem libidine infestum est, id hoc loco defendo.

But I now defend that time of life which on its own itself is weak, and moreover is threatened by the desire of others.

Fuit adsiduus mecum praetore me; non noverat Catilinam; Africam tum praetor ille obtinebat.

He was constantly with me when I was praetor; he was not acquainted with Catiline; that man was then holding Africa as praetor.

Secutus est tum annus, causam de pecuniis repetundis Catilina dixit.

Then a year followed, Catiline was on trial concerning extortion.

Mecum erat hic; illi ne advocatus quidem venit umquam.

This one was with me; he did not come to that one even as an advocate.

Deinceps fuit annus quo ego consulatum petivi; petebat Catilina mecum.

So then was the year in which I sought the consulship, Catiline was seeking it with me.

Numquam ad illum accessit, a me numquam recessit.

He never went to that man, he never left from me.