Cicero Latin Analysis Lines 1-24

egreditur in Centuripina quadriremi Cleomenes e portu

Cleomenes leaves the harbour in a Centuripine quadrireme – emphatic first position – represents shock at the sudden action

sequitur Segestana navis, Tyndaritana, Herbitensis, Heracliensis, Apolloniensis, Haluntina

The other ships follow behind – asyndeton – shows there are many ships and suggests lots of illegal activity, exaggerating the scene

praeclara classis in speciem, sed inops et infirma propter dimissionem propugnatorum atque remigum

The fleet looked splendid in appearance but was weak and powerless because there were no sailors or rowers – pleonasm – emphasises weakness and the fleet’s uselessness

tam diu in imperio suo classem iste praetor diligens vidit quam diu convivium eius flagitiosissimum praetervecta est

He only watched the fleet while his scandalous feast passed by – superlative – shows how Verres is the most scandalous man and reveals Cicero’s sarcasm towards his laziness

ipse autem, qui visus multis diebus non esset, tum se tamen in conspectum nautis paulisper dedit

After many days unseen, he briefly appeared in view of the sailors – contrast – criticises Verres for pretending to lead while actually neglecting his duty

stetit soleatus praetor populi Romani cum pallio purpureo tunicaque talari muliercula nixus in litore

The Roman governor stood in sandals and a purple cloak, leaning on a woman on the shore – alliteration – builds up shock through sound and shows his royal arrogance and drunken laziness, both hated by Romans

iam hoc istum vestitu Siculi civesque Romani permulti saepe viderant

Many Sicilians and Romans had often seen him like this – prefix, enclosing order – shows he had done it many times and is surrounded by his own mistakes

egreditur in Centuripina quadriremi Cleomenes e portu

Cleomenes leaves the harbour in a Centuripine quadrireme – emphatic first position – represents shock and draws immediate attention to the event

sequitur Segestana navis, Tyndaritana, Herbitensis, Heracliensis, Apolloniensis, Haluntina

The other ships follow in order – historic present – makes the scene lively and continuous, giving immediacy

Sequitur Segestana navis, Tyndaritana, Herbitensis, Heracliensis, Apolloniensis, Haluntina

The Segestan ship follows – emphatic position – gives a sense of importance and order

praeclara classis in speciem, sed inops et infirma propter dimissionem propugnatorum atque remigum

The fleet looked splendid but was weak and powerless – sarcasm – mocks Verres for having a supposedly fine fleet with no strength

tam diu in imperio suo classem iste praetor diligens vidit quam diu convivium eius flagitiosissimum praetervecta est

He only watched his fleet for as long as his scandalous banquet floated by – derogatory pronoun – referring to him by job not name shows mockery and disrespect

ipse autem, qui visus multis diebus non esset, tum se tamen in conspectum nautis paulisper dedit

After being unseen for many days, he briefly appeared before the sailors – contrast – criticises him for his short, insincere appearance instead of real commitment

stetit soleatus, praetor populi Romani cum pallio purpureo tunicaque talari muliercula nixus in litore

The Roman governor stood in slippers with a purple cloak and long tunic, leaning on a woman – alliteration – builds up shock; purple suggests royalty and luxury hated by Romans

stetit soleatus praetor populi Romani cum pallio purpureo tunicaque talari muliercula nixus in litore

The governor leaned on a woman – physical imagery – symbolises drunkenness and lack of control

iam hoc istum vestitu Siculi civesque Romani permulti saepe viderant

Many Sicilians and Romans had often seen him like this – prefix and pluperfect – stresses repetition and that this happened many times

iam hoc istum vestitu Siculi civesque Romani permulti saepe viderant

Many Sicilians and Romans had often seen him dressed this way – enclosing order – symbolises him being surrounded by his own faults and mistakes

posteaquam paulum provecta classis est

Fleet advanced only a little – alliteration – weak emotional Cicero showing they're getting nowhere

et Pachynum quinto die denique adpulsa

Finally reached Pachynum on fifth day – time expression – shows how long it's taking, "at last" exaggeration

coacti fame radices palmarum agrestium colligebant

Sailors forced by hunger gathered roots – perfect passive participle – shows desperation of sailors

quarum erat in illis locis multitudo

Abundance in those places – abundance vocabulary – stresses extent of time they've been abused

et iis miseri perditique alebantur

Wretched and ruined men fed on them – synonymous adjectives – stresses how abused sailors are, pleonasm

Cleomenes autem qui alterum se Verrem putaret

Meanwhile Cleomenes thought himself another Verres – contrast conjunction – shows Verres' indifference while sailors suffer

cum luxurie ac nequitia tum etiam imperio

Luxury, wickedness, supreme command – tricolon – stresses Verres controls them but does nothing

similiter totos dies in litore tabernaculo posito perpotabat

Whole days tent pitched on shore drinking – alliteration – creates disgust at his behaviour

totos dies in litore tabernaculo posito perpotabat

Whole days on shore drinking – time expression – shows how long they've been partying

ecce autem repente ebrio Cleomene esurientibus ceteris

Suddenly drunk Cleomenes starving others – quick simultaneous words – emphatic contrast effect

nuntiatur piratarum esse navis in portu Odysseae

Pirates in Odyssea's port announced – antistrophe – shows long delay reaching pirates

nostra autem classis erat in portu Pachyni

Our fleet was in Pachynus port – possessive pronoun – affects Romans not just Sicily

non re sed nomine speravit

Not reality but name he hoped – contrast – damning judgement on his pretence

reperta est eadem istius hominis avarissimi ratio

Same greediest man's plan discovered – emphatic first position – dramatic reveal mocks irrational "ratio"

nam erant perpauci reliqui

Very few remained – scarcity expression – shows total failure