4 Tribal or General Assembly. Two other types of assembly existed, the concilium plebis, which had the same membership as the comitia tributa minus the Patricians, and the comitia curiata, which was largely concerned with legal approvals.
5 “This was the first time” Vell II 3 3
Chapter 2—“Always Be the Best, My Boy, the Bravest”: 106–82 BC
The description of Cicero’s childhood is based on Plutarch together with the evocation of Arpinum in On law (De legibus). The section on education is indebted to E. B. Castle. The historical account draws on Appian, Plutarch, Sallust and Diodorus Siculus.
6 “Whenever I can get out” Leg II 1 “We consider” Leg II 5
7 “With your courage” Leg III 16 36
8 “This is what I prayed for!” Hor Sat 6 1ff.
9 “I am going to make my cognomen” Plut Cic II 1
10 “how our mother in the old days” Fam 351 (XVI 26) “We rule the world” Val Max VI 3
11 Twelve Tables Leg I 21 55
12 “Didn’t you learn your unbridled loquacity” Sall Inv I 2
13 “The time which others spend” Arch VI 13
14 “Caesar and Brutus also wrote” Tac 21 “Our people are like Syrian slaves” De or II 265 “For as far as I can cast my mind back” Arch 148
15 “I love Pomponius” Fam 63 (XIII 1)
16 Crassus’s “swan song” De or III 2–5
17 “We are not asking you to pardon” Plut Sull
18 “No, please, I beg you” Corn Nep IV 1 “He always belonged to the best party” Boiss 137f.
19 “the proscriptions of the rich” Para Stoic VI 2 46
“Victories in the field” Off I 74
“it appeared that the whole institution of the courts” Brut LXXXIX 306
“Seeing that the whole state” Plut Cic III 2
20 “that we do not recklessly and presumptuously assume” De inv II 10 “Always be the best” Homer Il VI 247
Chapter 3—The Forum and the Fray: 81–77 BC
The description of the Forum, as well as being based on personal visits, draws on The Roman Forum (Electa, 1998); and that of Rome on Florence Dupont. The accounts of the Roscius, Verres and Cluentius trials are largely drawn from the relevant speeches by Cicero. For the characters and early careers of Pompey and Crassus, Plutarch has been used.
21 “planted in mountains” Leg ag II 35 96
“Two of my shops” Att 363 XIV 9
22 “not (as most do) to learn my trade in the Forum” Brut XCI 312
“a disreputable victory” Off II 27
23 “Personally, I am always very nervous” Clu XVIII 51 “Why, you always come” Dio XLVI 7
24 “According to the custom of our ancestors” Mod Dig XLVIII 9 9
“He comes down from his mansion” Rosc XLV 132–35
25 “Terentia was never at any time” Plut Cic XX 2
26 “I was at that time very slender” Brut XCI 313
27 “we have learned from them” Leg II 36 C “planned that, if he were finally deprived” Plut Cic IV 2
28 “not only a pleader” Brut XCI 316
Chapter 4—Politics and Foreign Postings: 77–63 BC
The story of Cicero’s early political career derives from Plutarch, his speeches and the correspondence with Atticus.
29 “Just as in the music of harps” Rep II 42
30 “When I was Quaestor” Tusc V XXIII 64–66
31 The incident at Puteoli Planc XXVI, XXVII
32 “his hair swept back in a kind of wave” Plut Pomp II 1/2
33 “Today the eyes of the world” Verr I 16 46–47
“I am afraid I’m no good at solving riddles” Plut Cic VII 6
34 C’s jokes at the Verres trial Plut Cic VII 4–5
“Gentlemen of the jury” Verr II 8 22
35 “It is the judge’s responsibility” Off II 51 “my brother, Quintus” Att I (I 5)
36 “All the pleasure” Att I (I 5)
“I am delighted with my place at Tusculum” Att 2 (I 6)
C’s citrus table Pliny XIII 91
C’s estimate of his income Phil II 16
37 “You know the game I am playing” Att 10 (I 1)
38 “Such is his unbelievable, superhuman genius” Imp Pomp XIII 37 “My handling of C. Macer’s case” Att 9 (I 4)
39 “both that he did not assault the standing” Asc: Pro Cornelio argumentum
Chapter 5—Against Catilina: 63 BC
The account of the Catilinarian conspiracy is largely based on Sallust, Cicero’s Catilinarian speeches and Asconius, together with Appian and Dio Cassius for the general picture.
40 “People naturally prefer you to lie” Comm 48
41 “No one has ever had such a talent for seducing young men” Cat II 4 5
“debauchees, adulterers and gamblers” Sall Cat XIV 2ff.
“There are shouts and screams” Off 1
42 “Catilina had many excellent qualities” Cael V 12
Catilina’s first “conspiracy” is a mysterious affair; for further discussion see Gelzer, pp. 38ff. and S. A. Handford (Sallust, Jugurthine War and Conspiracy of Catiline), pp. 164ff.
43 “We have the jury we want” Att 11 (I 2)
“Can any man be a friend” Asc: In toga candida
44 “I assert” Asc: In toga candida
45 “What I assert” Rab XII 332–34
“I see two bodies” Plut Cic XIII 4–5
46 Catilina reported to sacrifice a boy, Dio XXXVII 147/149
47 “quite overcome by the news” Plut Cic XV 2
48 “I am able to report” Cat I iv 8
49 “I do not intend” Sall Cat XXXVI 1f.
50 “But I must change my tone” Mur XXXV 74
51 “Imprisonment, [Caesar] says” Cat IV iv 8
“ought to distribute the accused around the towns of Italy” App II 6
52 “sluggish of comprehension” Plut Cat I 3 “If we could afford” Sall Cat LIII 4
Chapter 6—Pretty-Boy’s Revenge: 62–58 BC
The events leading to Cicero’s exile are covered by various lives of Plutarch, Dio and, to a lesser extent, Appian but, increasingly, by Cicero’s letters, which now begin to be available in large numbers. Cicero’s speech In Defense of Caelius throws a brilliant light on the Clodian circle.