Epilogue The Legacy of Cicero nicero's versatility of mind led him to explore every aspect of fj ‘ Falling te fashion of the time he als tumed his hand tothe veting ty tty, the fact that very little of his poetry Survives would suggest that his forts j / but direction were less successful, although it has to be Temembered that, at ta that poets were still experimenting with adapting the Greek hexameter to Latin time, Writing more than a century later, the Roman satirist Juvenal_ gy following line from Cicero's epic poem De Consulatu Snal quotes the © fortunatam natam, me consule, Romam! o fortunate Roman state, born in the year of my consulate! After this, Juvenal goes on to mock the ‘jingle’ of the words fortunatam natam adding the interesting comment: by Antoni gladios potuit contemnere, si sic omnia di t. If he had written everything like that, He could have scorned the swords of Antony, Guvenal, Satires X1234) es: contempsi These lines echo words from one of Cicero’s greatest speech Catilinae in which Cicero throws sladios, nom pertimeseam tuos (see p. 217, lines 69-70), admitting that it was his eloquence which effectively condemned him to Cicero’s reputation as a stylist fluctuated in the centuries after his following the Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century, his emerged as the model for the writing of Latin (the /ingua franca of Euro 19th century), and his thinking on oratorical style and presentation influenced the structure of the English language as used by writers and bl up to the present day. all In politics and in the law-courts, Cicero successfully pursued as the abuse of power, corruption in high places and conspiracy his philosophical works (most of which he translatedAppendix 1 Cicero and Oratory tice of oratory or public speaking is called rhetoric, which was La sical times @S ‘the art of persuasion The word oratory is derived Wal aC eth rare (0 plead; rhetoric is derived from the Greek word pr7tap jo public speaker: i nya» one of tHe greatest orators of Roman times, uses many rhetorical and (Mer, O88 © persuade’ or influence his audience, whether he i addressing the sais vy or at assembly of fellow-citizens Some of these techniques, such as ct 8 irony, exaggeration and invective, would win the attention of his pt jan obvious and direct way. He also plays on the emotions of his listeners jj in thet sympathy oF support and sometimes he even appeals to the Sg atempt 9 BF y would be on his side! His basic aim isto win the argument, but at ps ime he hopes £0 belittle his opponents and to enhance his own standing. Fe Mio in Cicero's oratory are linguistic and stylistic devices, which depend eet on sound and rhythm and on their appeal to the ear. These include fe Be epetion of Key words and phrases, balanced phrases, paired words of sepeasng sound effects (©, assonane, alliteration and rhythmic patterns) sigma verborum (ve the ‘pling up! ofa series fof nouns on verbs). C ofa speech requires a further range of skills: Cicero was well The actual delivery c serateingrtnce of pst ane of oc ail expression and appre gestures. A. COMMON RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES |, Humour ioe ofen aims to amuse his audience with humour — sometimes at his own expense, burmor often designed to mock the target of his attack (e.g. Verres, Catiline, Antony). ‘is involes puns and amusing anecdotes, as well as personal abuse and sarcasm. For example, he amusingly describes his own less than triumphant return from Sicily (ages 9 and 11, lines 11-19), mocks Verres with a pun on the words tectum and lectum (p. 59, lines 50-1), gives a hilarious account of Verres' riotous banquets (pages and, ines 79-83) and describes himself as vehemens ille consul (that well known vilen consul) when denying that he drove Catiline into exile (p. 107, line 63). 2. Sarcasm and Irony Saasm is used to ridicule or sneer at someone in a rather cruel or bitter way, often by Sang the opposite of what one really means. Cicero often uses sarcasm against Verres, imperatoris egregia ac singularis diligentia, she outstanding and ; een oi cient general (p. 63, lines 67-8), and iste novo : that newfangled sort of general of yours (P- 65, lines 89-50) [seas %, 231Introducing Cicero using words which suggest the very opposit Irony may also droll mor suble or less personal than sarcasm, Th. liter 7 u ; aim is ‘meaning, but it is genera irony, Cicero exclaims that war Simpl fomock or nici With heavy irony, With Catling mod inspire dread: ¢ pertimescendum, cum hanc sit habiturus Cati Siac vires! (p. 107, lines 74-5) ect to be feared, as Catiline is going to have this elite corps Af rent-boys) 8 ScOrtorum 3. Inveotive regularly it in slander and personal abuse, some of which w Sie ina Pie British court or even in a political context, Ths ete sence assassination’ may be viewed as a poor substitute for reasoned argumen et it appealed to the Romans and was no doubt effective in influencing the attitude ofan ie towards the individual under attack. ; Cicero states, for example, that consuetudo ac disciplina (association hs ) forced Verres teenage son to be as debauched as his father (p. 67, ng 101). He also lists the many kinds of disreputable characters who, he claims, sles with Catlin (p. 103, lines 37-41); and he suggests that Antony was willing to suffer any indignity to serve Caesar like a slave (p. 205, lines 15-17). 4, Exaggeration This jique is often used by Cicero for dramatic effect to make a point more orcefully or, sometimes, to conceal the weakness of his own case. For example, in 1g Pompey, Cicero doubts whether any speech would do justice to the man's o virtuti Cn, Pompei quae potest oratio par inveniri? (p. 87, line 94) r ey's.allround ability, what speech can be devised adequate to describe i? ¢ni ut nemo ullius ordinis homo nomenclatori notus fuerit qui mihi (p. 137, lines 22-4) ‘in ascending order of importance, building up to € or to heighten the tension. For example, Rome, he develops a damning picture of his 2)Cicero and Oratory ew can produce humorous ¢ we be eble or not at all what wae t BY a deli OH sysio# yurt-room tactic of, " ~ Or tax, se old 00" of appealin, ‘OF Cxamp where the ott ‘been made to stand up and bare hii 'es the brit 2 ee tex mulierum morsu vestgasc°°% the jury yi vestigia I Jury will wma: a ouchery eft the love-bies vee 0 seas yao ©. 69, lines 21g) Meer ag to Emotions appesing : the emotions of his audi tinually plays on the ¢ of his audience, tryi ce cote io his cae, such as indignation, disgust, pride oy wEe® St UP felings 00 to make the listeners feel important by ne on, his re confidential with them; sometimes, he appeals to their pati pgm’ and even the national interest may be involved, ew Y Suggesting that 18 ing etizens, they are bound to share his view, For examel sense that, as ee ole ae on his side against Antony: example, Cicero assumes os A quebit tibi iste populus Romanus, utinam salvis nobis! ect people will snatch and wrest those weapons from you, mosh to see it! I cee sppeasto the emotions through the dramatic effect ofan exclamation, eg (P.208, tines 10-11) and may we survive se, quaso, aliguando rem publicem, M. Antoni! (p. 217 in 66) ge respect forthe Republic at long last, I beg you, Mark Antony! 7.Rhetorical Questions rhetorical question is one where an answer is not actually expected or required, but ‘susually obvious or supplied by the speaker himself. Cicero often uses this technique ‘capture the atention of his listeners by involving them more intimately in the proceedings, srio mock or embarrass particular individuals, e.g. anc tu igitur imperatorem esse defendis, Hortensi? (p. 69, line 116) Doyou plead in his defence, then, Hortensius, that this man is a real general? ‘uid hoe turpis, quid foedius, quid suppliciis omnibus dignius? num exspectas dam te stimulis fodiamus? (p. 205, lines 19-21) ‘ha! could be more disgraceful than this, what more loathsome, what more deserving ‘fal kinds of punishment? Surely you are not waiting for us to prod you with goads? SDigression ero sometimes which are not departs or digresses from the main issue to matters ‘hap sty relevant, but designed to hold the interest of his audience or show offs 233Introducing Cicero | before going on to describe. wider knowledge. For example, eon the then saiiantnan ree earcamenge ay th plates how Scipio restored the sa ana to Segesta after the 8 M8) Gnthage (p= 41 lines 15-19) Sefeat op 9, Praeteritio (Omission) which a speaker or writer claims that he is going to om Thisis a deviee by whit ng or embarrassing to his opponents), but then owt or incident it, Cicero is not averse to such tactics in his speeches. For exampl eae tumed a blind eye to the corrupt practices of Aproniys”,"t*® Verres +s i aleging ht Vl gave several examples of Aprons’ wrong-ding an hen ‘a speaker, with mock modesty, pretends to be less ed or confident than he actually is, ie. he pretends to hesitate following example, Cicero feigns doubt by means of threeIntroducing Cicero ir et satis litteratus (p. 177, ling line 1) ues Romanus nec infacetus Canis, 4 "a Roman night and aman of sharp wit (literally and not without it) Gains Canins: cand quite ult . LINGUISTIC AND STYLISTIC DEVICES i rata ike Cicero i 10 we ANGUBBS 9 SCN eo omitdience and thus ensure that Se ee ipa, ino Was aE Tisteners might miss point if yea ‘emphasised by repetition oF other linguistic techniques. For this purpose, it was not Sesons of style, he makes Frequent use of the following devices: 8 Well as for” 1. The Grouping of ‘Words (a) Paired Words Cicero frequently uses two words of the same or similar meaning, th being stronger than the single word, €.8. ing, the combined effect qui imi nfensane sunt (P- 2 Pn 80) (those) who are infriendly and hostile to him praetor populi Romani ue i ram Gai Prac fl and vile praetor ofthe Roman people fo tne) (b) Tricolon tempora rei publicae, imperatorum penuriam commemorsbit. 12-13) ion the dangers of war, the critical times of the state, the shortage of m diuturnum, tam longe lateque dispersum Cn.Pom ineunte vere suscepit, media aestate Sereay eras he end of winter prepared for a war that was el cent ae pe ey eelta Introducing Cicero Position onan audience, a word is often placed in an um rowing sentence, for example, note the ae Position ig im and also the intrusion of te between cqqqeP tion op fate ang t 2, Emphatic ‘im To make an er nullum and praesidiw benevolentia: mihi crede, praesidium. caritate te et benevolentin civ alls es hom aris. (P- 209, lines 8-9) i vm sepa stion of yours, believe me, is no protection at all. You of pt Pe ctied ‘the affection a? 3, Anaphora repeats the same word or phrase several times for rhetorical effec orto, all nd goodwill of your fellow-ciizens, not by pete to 1Dons, Cicero often rept drive home a point, €-8- metuis, nihil cogitas, nihil laboras. (p. 31, lines 81-2) om Sie things, do not think about them, are not at all troubled by tem, You fear none sacrilegus, sit flagitiorum omnium vitiorumque princeps. (p. 57, li thief, he’s a temple-robber, he's the ring-leader in all oe 4, Asyndeton the omission of conjunctions to link related words, phrases or clauses, is a Asyndeton, of Cicero's style. The staccato effect produces a heightened impact, e.g. feci ut postea cotidie praesentem me viderent, habitavi in oculis, pressi forum. (p. 11, lines 24-5) ‘Tmade sure that after that they saw me in person, I lived in the public eye (and) 1 ‘haunted the forum. Canius postridie familiares suos, venit ipse mature, scalmum nullum videt. lines 21-2) ay Canius invited his friends, came early himself, (but) saw not a single boat. 238