Gaius Verres was a Roman senator and former governor of Sicily who was accused of abuse of power. Cicero, serving as prosecutor on behalf of the Sicilians, took the case against Verres. In this extract, Cicero accuses Verres of relentless and widespread theft:
negō in Siciliā tōtā, tam locuplētī, tam vetere prōvinciā,
tot oppidīs, tot familiīs tam cōpiōsīs, ūllum argenteum vās, ūllum
Corinthium aut Dēliacum fuisse, ūllam gemmam aut margarītam,
quicquam ex aurō aut ebore factum, signum ūllum aēneum,
marmoreum, eburneum, negō ūllam pictūram neque in tabulā
neque in textilī quīn conquīsierit, īnspexerit, quod placitum sit
abstulerit.
Below is the translation by Peterson (1917)
I say that in all Sicily, in all that wealthy and ancient
province, that in that number of towns and families of such exceeding riches,
there was no silver vessel, no Corinthian or Delian plate, no jewel
or pearl, nothing made of gold or ivory, no statue of
marble or brass or ivory, no picture whether painted
or embroidered, that he did not seek out, that he did not inspect, that,
if he liked it, he did not take away.
- gemma, -ae [1/f]: jewel; gem
- margarita, -ae [1/f]: pearl
- pictūra, -ae [1/f] (1) in tabulā / (2) in textilī: a picture (1) on a panel i.e. painted (2) on cloth (the translator gives this as ‘embroidered’)
- textile, -is [3/n]: cloth; canvas; fabric
However, we can take a second look at a slightly more
precise translation because this well-known extract is a typical example of
Cicero’s oratory style. There are three features discussed: [a] rhetorical
anaphora [b] alliteration [c] tricolon
[1] negō in Siciliā tōtā, tam
locuplētī, tam vetere prōvinciā, tot oppidīs, tot familiīs
tam cōpiōsīs, (1) ūllum argenteum vās, (2) ūllum
Corinthium aut Dēliacum fuisse, (3) ūllam gemmam aut margarītam, quicquam
ex aurō aut ebore factum, signum ūllum (1) aēneum, (2) marmoreum,
(3) eburneum, [2] negō ūllam pictūram neque in tabulā neque
in textilī quīn (1) conquīsierit, (2) īnspexerit, quod placitum sit (3) abstulerit.
[1] I say that in all Sicily — so rich,
so ancient a province, with so many towns and so many
wealthy households — there was not any / not a single silver vessel, not
one piece of Corinthian or Delian ware, not one gem or pearl, not
anything made of gold or ivory, not any (1) bronze, (2) marble,
or (3) ivory statue;
[2] I say there was no painting, neither
on panel nor on fabric / cloth, that he did not (1) search out, (2) examine,
and, if it pleased him, (3) carry off.”
[a] He repeats the opening verb (negō: I say … not), a
technique known as rhetorical anaphora, the same word or phrase repeated
at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases.
[b] alliteration, the repetition of initial
consonants:
- in Siciliā tōtā, tam locuplētī, tam vetere prōvinciā, tot oppidīs, tot familiīs tam cōpiōsīs
- neque in tabulā neque in textilī
[c] The tricolon: this is a common rhetorical device
in Cicero’s speeches, and has been used by politicians and advertisers ever
since - three parallel words, phrases,
or clauses that are roughly equal in length and structure. If you’ve ever been
to a London market, the stallholders will loudly attract you with their wares
using the same technique that Cicero uses!
“(1) I’m not asking for £20, (2) I’m not asking for £15, (3)
I’m not even asking for £8 …D’you know what I’m asking for? £6, you
can’t say fairer than that!”
When the three parts increase in length or intensity, it’s
called a tricolon crescēns (ascending tricolon or climax).
Cicero repeats words and grammatical endings (ūllum / ūllam;
-um; -am; -eum; -erit):
- (1) ūllum argenteum vās, (2) ūllum Corinthium aut Dēliacum … (3) ūllam gemmam aut margarītam
- signum ūllum (1) aēneum, (2) marmoreum,
(3) eburneum
This last one is a good example of a tricolon crescēns
- conquīsierit, (2) īnspexerit, … (3) abstulerit i.e. (1) he looked for it (2) he inspected it and, the last word in the entire statement – the climax of the denunciation – (3) he stole it
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/290524-level-2-side-note.html
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/05/290424-tomb-of-scipio-barbatus-im-lovin.html
The entire statement is ‘encircled’ by his opening and
closing remarks which essentially summarise his argument:
in Siciliā tōtā │ in all of Sicily … absulerit
│ he stole
We’re overwhelmed by the list of precious metals and
objects: silver, jewels, pearls, gold, ivory, marble, brass, painted and
embroidered pictures. In other words, if Verres saw it, he took it. Not unlike
that the old London market stall holder wanting you to buy what’s on offer,
Cicero wants to ‘sell’ his argument.
Do you think Cicero won the case?
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