Quotes from Cicero's Pro Rege Deiotaro

King Deiotarus is put on trial for trying to kill Caesar. Delivered 45 B.C.

The Latin quotes are selected for interest (int), language (lan), and beauty (bea), and are translated into English. The line numbers are from the Loeb edition, and start counting from line 1 of the section. All translations are by Gus Wiseman (Nafindix), with the exception of any contributions from other users. The sources of the Latin quotes are:


 * 1) Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, vol. XIV, 1931; Latin text with facing English translation by N. H. Watts.
 * 2) M. TVLLI CICERONIS PRO REGE DEIOTARO AD C. CAESAREM ORATIO. https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/cicero/deio.shtml
 * 3) PRO REGE DEIOTARO AD C. CAESAREM ORATIO. http://data.perseus.org/texts/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi034.perseus-lat1

1.1 int/lan/bea
Cum in omnibus causis gravioribus, C. Caesar, initio dicendi commoveri soleam vehementius, quam videtur vel usus vel aetas mea postulare, tum in hac causa ita multa me perturbant, ut, quantum mea fides studii mihi adferat ad salutem regis Deiotari defendendam, tantum facultatis timor detrahat.

Although in all the weightiest cases, Gaius Caesar, when beginning to speak, I am customarily moved more vehemently than my experience and age seem to call for, in this case so many things perturb me that, whatever zeal my enthusiasm gives me for the defense of King Deiotarus, it is counterbalanced by my fears.

1.6 int/lan/bea
Primum dico pro capite fortunisque regis, quod ipsum, etsi non iniquum est in tuo dumtaxat periculo, tamen est ita inusitatum, regem reum capitis esse, ut ante hoc tempus non sit auditum; deinde eum regem quem ornare antea cuncto cum senatu solebam pro perpetuis eius in nostram rem publicam meritis, nunc contra atrocissimum crimen cogor defendere.

In the first place, I speak for the rights and property of a king, and, though itself not inappropriate (considering the danger to yourself), it is so unusual for a king to be on trial for his life as to be unheard of until now. In the second place, the very king whom I used to laud, together with the whole Senate, on account of his long-standing services to our state, now I am forced to defend against an atrocious charge.

2.5 lan
Accedit ut accusatorum alterius crudelitate, alterius indignitate conturber: crudelem Castorem, ne dicam sceleratum et impium, qui nepos avum in capitis discrimen adduxerit adulescentiaeque suae terrorem intulerit ei, cuius senectutem tueri et tegere debebat, commendationemque ineuntis aetatis ab impietate et scelere duxerit; avi servum corruptum praemiis ad accusandum dominum impulerit, a legatorum pedibus abduxerit.

Moreover, I am disturbed by the cruelty of one accuser, the unworthiness of the other. Castor is such a brute (passing over his criminality and indignity) that he would bring his own elderly grandfather's life to trial, which he should have respected and protected, and who, choosing wickedness and impiety to characterize his manhood, would abduct and bribe his grandfather's corrupt slave to testify against his master.

4.1 int/lan
Perturbat me, C. Caesar, etiam illud interdum, quod tamen cum te penitus recognovi, timere desino: re enim iniquum est, sed tua sapientia fit aequissimum: nam dicere apud eum de facinore, contra cuius vitam consilium facinoris inisse arguare, cum per se ipsum consideres, grave est; nemo enim fere est qui sui periculi iudex non sibi se aequiorem quam reo praebeat: sed tua, C. Caesar, praestans singularisque natura hunc mihi metum minuit.

From time to time something else disturbs me, but when I look into your eyes, Gaius Caesar, I am unafraid; for although the situation is really not fair, your wisdom will make it very much so. To speak of a crime before the one whom my client is argued to have attempted to kill is, taken by itself, difficult, as nearly no one who passes judgment on threats to his own life can be fair to the defendant. Yet this fear of mine is diminished by your exceptionally singular nature.

5.1 int/lan/bea
Moveor etiam loci ipsius insolentia, quod tantam causam, quanta nulla umquam in disceptatione versata est, dico intra domesticos parietes, dico extra conventum et eam frequentiam, in qua oratorum studia niti solent: in tuis oculis, in tuo ore voltuque acquiesco, te unum intueor, ad te unum omnis mea spectat oratio:

I am also troubled by the unusual place, namely between the walls of your home, where I am expected to argue such a great case as has never before been under consideration. Here there is no public gathering, no crowd on which the orator's energy depends. In your eyes, for your mouth, and to your face alone I submit; my entire speech is for you.

5.8 int
quae mihi ad spem obtinendae veritatis gravissima sunt, ad motum animi et ad omnem impetum dicendi contentionemque leviora: hanc enim, C. Caesar, causam si in foro dicerem eodem audiente et disceptante te, quantam mihi alacritatem populi Romani concursus adferret!

The strongest ways of obtaining the truth are less effective to move minds or to rouse a vigorous and powerful speech. If I were to advocate this same cause in the forum, albeit with you hearing and passing judgment, such alacrity would the assembly of the Roman People inspire in me!

6.6 lan/bea
Spectarem curiam, intuerer forum, caelum denique testarer ipsum.

I should view the Senate house, gaze upon the forum, and bear witness to the sky itself.

6.8 bea
Sic, cum et deorum immortalium et populi Romani et senatus beneficia in regem Deiotarum recordarer, nullo modo mihi deesse posset oratio.

Counting on the favor of the immortal gods, the Roman people, and the Senate toward King Deiotarus, my words could never fail me.

8.6 lan
fore putabant ut in exulcerato animo facile fictum crimen insideret.

They thought that a festering mind could easily lodge a false charge.

9.1 int/lan/bea
Cum facile orari, Caesar, tum semel exorari soles.

You are easily entreated, Caesar, and, once you have granted a prayer, do not need to be asked again.

11.1 int/bea
cum audiret senatus consentientis auctoritate arma sumpta, consulibus, praetoribus, tribunis plebis, nobis imperatoribus rem publicam defendendam datam, movebatur animo et vir huic imperio amicissimus de salute populi Romani extimescebat, in qua etiam suam esse inclusam videbat: in summo tamen timore quiescendum esse arbitrabatur.

When he heard that, by unanimous authority of the Senate, arms had been taken up, and defense of the state had been entrusted to the consuls, praetors, tribunes of the people, and generals (such as myself), he was greatly perturbed, and, being such a great friend to this empire, became very fearful for the Roman people, knowing that their safety would determine his own. It was under such profound duress that he decided it was best for him to remain silent.

12.7 lan/bea
Quantum nomen illius fuerit, quantae opes, quanta in omni genere bellorum gloria, quanti honores populi Romani, quanti senatus, quanti tui, quis ignorat?

Who does not know the greatness of his name, his wealth, his distinction in every kind of warfare, and his honors from the Roman people, the Senate, and yourself?

12.10 bea
''Tanto ille superiores vicerat gloria, quanto tu omnibus praestitisti; itaque Cn. Pompeii bella, victorias, triumphos, consulatus admirantes numerabamus: tuos enumerare non possumus.''

However much Pompeius had overtaken his predecessors in distinction, your glory has stood out before all. While we admired the count of his wars, victories, triumphs, and consulships, yours are too many to count.

15.4 int/lan/bea
Ut enim omittam cuius tanti sceleris fuerit in conspectu deorum penatium necare hospitem, cuius tantae importunitatis omnium gentium atque omnis memoriae clarissimum lumen exstinguere, cuius tantae ferocitatis victorem orbis terrarum non extimescere, cuius tam inhumani et ingrati animi, a quo rex appellatus esset, in eo tyrannum inveniri—ut haec omittam, cuius tanti furoris fuit, omnis reges, quorum multi erant finitimi, omnis liberos populos, omnis socios, omnis provincias, omnia denique omnium arma contra se unum excitare?

Passing over the scandal of killing a host within sight of one's household gods, the insolence of extinguishing the clearest light of all peoples and all history, the wildness of not revering the conquerer of the whole world, the discourtesy and ungratefulness to act like a tyrant toward the one who pronounced you King—passing over all these, how crazy was it to excite all kings (many of which are neighbors), all free peoples, all allies, all provinces, and all arms everywhere against oneself alone?

16.9 int
Quod igitur facinus nec in hominem imprudentem caderet propter metum praesentis exitii, nec in facinorosum, nisi esset idem amentissimus, id vos et a viro optimo et ab homine minime stulto cogitatum esse confingitis?

This crime, which no ordinary man would commit due to fear of immanent ruin, nor any evil man, unless he were also quite insane, you imagine was conceived of by a very distinguished man of considerable intelligence?

17.3 int
"Cum" inquit "in castellum Blucium venisses et domum regis, hospitis tui, devertisses, locus erat quidam, in quo erant ea composita, quibus te rex munerari constituerat: huc te e balneo, prius quam accumberes, ducere volebat; erant enim armati, qui te interficerent, in eo ipso loco conlocati."

He says, "When you had come to the fort at Blucium and lodged as a guest in the King's home, there was a certain place where his gifts for you had been laid out. He intended to lead you there after your bath and before your dinner, for that was the place where armed men had been hidden to kill you."

17.9
En crimen, en causa, cur regem fugitivus, dominum servus accuset.

Behold the charge that induces a fugitive to accuse a king, a slave his master!

19.6
Nullus erat alius insidiandi locus?

Was there nowhere else to lie in ambush?

20.6
Quid igitur causae excogitari potest cur te lautum voluerit, cenatum noluerit occidere?

What cause can be imagined why he wanted to kill you after bathing, not after eating?

21.5 int
Cum vomere post cenam te velle dixisses, in balneum te ducere coeperunt: ibi enim erant insidiae.

When you wished to vomit after dinner, they began to lead you to the bathroom. There the conspirators were waiting.

25.5 int/lan
"At eo" inquit "tempore ipso Nicaeam Ephesumque mittebat qui rumores Africanos exciperent et celeriter ad se referrent: itaque cum esset ei nuntiatum Domitium naufragio perisse, te in castello circumsederi, de Domitio dixit versum Graecum eadem sententia, qua etiam nos habemus Latinum: pereant amici, dum inimici una intercidant."

At that very time he was supposedly sending men to Nicaea and Ephesus to pick up rumors from Africa and report back quickly; so when he was informed that Domitius had died in a shipwreck and you were besieged in a castle, he uttered a Greek verse which we also have in Latin, "Let my friends die, as long as my enemies die too."

26.5 int/lan/bea
Omnes in illo sunt rege virtutes, quod te, Caesar, ignorare non arbitror, sed praecipue singularis et admiranda frugalitas: etsi hoc verbo scio laudari regem non solere;

All virtues are found in that king, Caesar, as I think you know, but especially admirable is his sobriety (and I know this is hardly a common compliment for a king).

26.12 int
Ut volet quisque, accipiat: ego tamen frugalitatem, id est modestiam et temperantiam, virtutem maximam iudico.

To each his own interpretation, but I think that frugality, by which I mean moderation and discretion, is the greatest of all virtues.

29.10 bea
Vos vestra secunda fortuna, Castor, non potestis sine propinquorum calamitate esse contenti?

Can you ever be content with your own good fortune, Castor, without ruining that your kin?

30.1 int/lan
Sint sane inimicitiae, quae esse non debebant—rex enim Deiotarus vestram familiam abiectam et obscuram e tenebris in lucem evocavit: quis tuum patrem antea, quis esset, quam cuius gener esset, audivit?—sed quamvis ingrate et impie necessitudinis nomen repudiaretis, tamen inimicitias hominum more gerere poteratis, non ficto crimine insectari, non expetere vitam, non capitis arcessere.

Supposing you were enemies (which you should not be, for King Deiotarus brought your family, abject and obscure, from the weeds into the light, and no one had ever heard of your father until he was somebody's son-in-law), however ungratefully and irreverently you resented your relation, still you could have born it like men, instead of conniving a fake capital crime.

33.1 bea
At quam acute conlecta crimina!

Such a finely arranged collection of charges!

34.3 lan/bea
Et quem nos liberi, in summa libertate nati, non modo non tyrannum, sed clementissimum in victoria ducem vidimus, is Blesamio, qui vivit in regno, tyrannus videri potest?

We, born into the highest liberty, are free to see not only no tyrant, but even a leader most merciful in victory, and one in whom a king's subject such as Blesamius could hardly recognize a tyrant.

34.6 int
Nam de statua quis queritur, una praesertim, cum tam multas videat?

Among so many, who complains about a singular statue?

35.4 lan
Non enim iam metuo ne tu illi suscenseas; illud vereor ne tibi illum suscensere aliquid suspicere: quod abest longissime, mihi crede, Caesar.

I no longer fear he will anger you; I only fear that you may suspect something angers him against you, Caesar, which could not be farther from the truth.

35.6 lan
Quid enim retineat per te meminit, non quid amiserit; neque se a te multatum arbitratur, sed, cum existimares multis tibi multa esse tribuenda, quo minus a se, qui in altera parte fuisset, ea sumeres non recusavit.

He remembers what he has retained through you, not what he has lost, nor does he consider that you, his former opponent, have punished him, but realizes without resentment that you were thinking many things were due to many people.

36.9 int
Omnia tu Deiotaro, Caesar, tribuisti, cum et ipsi et filio nomen regium concessisti: hoc nomine retento atque servato nullum beneficium populi Romani, nullum iudicium de se senatus imminutum putat.

You paid Deiotarus in full, Caesar, when you conceded the title of King to him and his son. With this retained and preserved, he cannot feel betrayed by the Roman people or undercut by the Senate.

38.11 lan/bea
Memini enim isdem fere verbis ad me te scribere meque tuis litteris bene sperare non frustra esse iussum.

I recall that in nearly the same words you wrote to me, which helped me to be optimistic.

39.1 int/lan/bea
Laboro equidem regis Deiotari causa, quocum mihi amicitiam res publica conciliavit, hospitium voluntas utriusque coniunxit, familiaritatem consuetudo attulit, summam vero necessitudinem magna eius officia in me et in exercitum meum effecerunt: sed cum de illo laboro tum de multis amplissimis viris, quibus semel ignotum a te esse oportet, nec beneficium tuum in dubium vocari, nec haerere in animis hominum sollicitudinem sempiternam, nec accidere ut quisquam te timere incipiat eorum, qui sint semel a te liberati timore.

I care deeply about the case of King Deiotarus, who was bound to me in friendship by public service, and in hospitality by mutual goodwill, while intimacy has wrought our familiarity, and his great services to me and my army account for our exceptional relation. But when I labor for him it is also for many men of high regard, for whom one pardon should be enough (rather than having to worry that you have changed your mind). Perpetual anxiety should not hang in the minds of men, nor should anyone have to begin to fear you, whom you once freed from fear.

40.1 int/lan/bea
Non debeo, C. Caesar, quod fieri solet in tantis periculis, temptare quonam modo dicendo misericordiam tuam commovere possim; nihil opus est: occurrere solet ipsa supplicibus et calamitosis, nullius oratione evocata.

I should not, Gaius Caesar, test what rhetoric can best move your compassion, as is generally done in such great dangers. The present case does not require it because compassion herself, without needing to be evoked by any special spell, reaches out to the beguiled suppliant.

41.1 bea
quod nomen hi reges ne amitterent te victore timuerunt, retentum vero et a te confirmatum posteris etiam suis tradituros se esse confidunt.

These kings feared losing the title of king if you won, but now, with it retained and confirmed by you, they will even hand it off to their descendants.

43.1 int
quam ob rem si quid eorum, quae obiecta sunt, cogitatum sit, non recusat quin id suum facinus iudices.

If any crime that has been put before us is found to be a willful act of the King, Blesamius has has offerred to confess to it.

43.3 bea
Quocirca, C. Caesar, velim existimes hodierno die sententiam tuam aut cum summo dedecore miserrimam pestem importaturam esse regibus aut incolumem famam cum salute: quorum alterum optare illorum crudelitatis est, alterum conservare clementiae tuae.

And so, Gaius Caesar, I would like you to consider that your verdict of today will bring either deep disgrace and misery to the kings, or unharmed reputation and safety, the former being a mark of cruelty, the latter worthy of your clemency.