Cicero Lines 25-35 - Translation

Cicero, Against Verres 2.5.106

procedit iste repente e praetorio inflammatus scelere furore crudelilate;

That man came forth suddenly from the praetor’s headquarters, inflamed with wickedness, madness and cruelty;

in forum venit, naurachos vocari iubet.

he came into the forum and he ordered the ship’s captains to be called.

qui nihil metuerent, nihil suspicarentur, statim accurrent.

Who since they feared nothing and suspected nothing, ran up immediately.

iste hominibus miseris innocentibus inici catenas imperat.

That man ordered chains to be cast upon the wretched, innocent men.

implorare illi fidem praetoris, et quare id faceret rogare.

They implored the protection of the praetor and asked why he was doing that.

tum iste hoc causae dicit, quod classem praedonibus prodidissent.

Then that man said this was the reason, it was because they had betrayed the fleet to the pirates.

fit clamor et admiratio populi tantam esse in homine impudentiam atque audaciam ut aut aliis causam calamitatis attriburet quae omnis propter avaritiam ipsius accidisset, aut, cum ipse praedonum socius arbitraretur, aliis proditionis crimen inferret;

Shouting and amazement arose from the people that there was great shamelessness and effrontery that he should either attribute to others the cause of the disaster which had happened entirely because of his own greed, or, since he himself was considered to be an ally of the pirates, that he should bring an accusation of betrayal against others;

deinde hoc quinto decimos die crimen esse natum postquam classis esset amissa.

furthermore, that this charge had originated on the fifteenth day after the fleet had been lost.