Latin Prose - Cicero Pro Roscio U6 Text

hoc consilio atque adeo hac amentia impulsi, quem ipsi, cum cuperent, non potuerunt occidere, eum iugulandum vobis tradiderunt.

spurred on by this plan and this madness to such an extent, they have handed him over to you to be murdered, a man who they themselves, who, although they might wish it, were not able to kill.

quid primum querar aut unde potissimum, iudices, ordiar aut quod aut a quibus auxilium petam? deorumne immortalium, populine Romani, vestramne qui summam potestatem habetis hoc tempore fidem implorem?

what should I complain about first, jurors, or from where in particular should I begin, or what help might I seek and from whom? Should I call upon the good faith (support) of the immortal Gods, of the people of Rome, or your support, who hold the utmost power at this time?

pater occisus nefarie, domus obsessa ab inimicis, bona adempta, possessa, direpta, fili vita infesta, saepe ferro atque insidiis appetita. quid ab his tot maleficiis sceleris abesse videtur?

His father was wickedly murdered, his house besieged by enemies, his goods were seized, possessed, plundered, the life of his son is wretched (in danger), often under attack by violence and trickery. what criminality seems to be missing from these so wicked deeds?

tamen haec aliis nefariis cumulant atque adaugent, crimen incredibile confingunt, testis in hunc et accusatores huiusce pecunia comparant; hanc condicionem misero ferunt ut optet utrum malit cervices Roscio dare an insutus in culleum per summum dedecus vitam amittere.

however they increase and aggravate these things with other wicked deeds, they make up an unbelievable charge, and provide witnesses and prosecutors against him with this man’s own money; they offer the poor man this proposition that he might choose whether he prefers to give up his neck to Titus Roscius sewn up in a sack or to loose his life through an utmost disgrace.

patronos huic defuturos putaverunt; desunt; qui libere dicat, qui cum fide defendat, id quod in hac causa satis est, non deest profecto, iudices.

they thought that supporters would be lacking for this man; and indeed they are; but someone who speaks freely, who defends him in good faith, that which in this case is enough, is certainly not lacking, jurors.

et forsitan in suscipienda causa temere impulsus adulescentia fecerim; quoniam quidem semel suscepi, licet, hercules undique omnes minae terrores periculaque impendeant omnia, succurram ac subibo.

and perhaps in undertaking this case I have acted rashly driven on by youthful impulse; nevertheless since I have taken it on, even though, by Hercules, all manner of threats, terrors, and dangers hang over me on all sides, I shall run to help and undertake them.

certum est deliberatumque quae ad causam pertinere arbitror, omnia non modo dicere verum etiam libenter audacter libereque dicere; nulla res tanta exsistet, iudices, ut possit vim mihi maiorem adhibere metus quam fides.

I have resolved and decided, not only to say all those things which I think are relevant to the case but also to speak willingly bravely and freely; nothing so great exists, jurors, that fear is able to apply more force to me than my sense of duty.

etenim quis tam dissoluto animo est qui haec cum videat tacere ac neglegere possit? patrem meum, cum proscriptus non esset, iugulastis, occisum in proscriptorum numerum rettulistis, me domo mea per vim expulistis, patrimonium meum possidetis.

for indeed who is so lacking in moral fibre that on seeing these things he can remain silent and take no action? You slaughtered my father, when he had not been proscribed, after his death you recorded him among those enlisted, you drove me out of my house through force, and you are still in possession of my inheritance.

quid voltis amplius? etiamne ad subsellia cum ferro atque telis venistis ut hic aut iuguletis aut condemnetis?

what more do you want? have you even come to the court room with iron and weapons so that you can kill me here or have me condemned?