Note 1 — CICERO AGAINST CATILINE

§ 3.— 1: An vero: the original force of an is “or,” and when used interrogatively the sentence is elliptical. Here we may supply: “Am I right in my conjecture or, in fact, did that illustrious man, P. Scipio, chief pontiff, though filling no magistracy, slay Tiberius Gracchus when slightly disturbing the settled order of the State.” We may conveniently translate here an vero by: “while, in fact.” The argument here is a minore ad majus. P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica consul with D. Junius Brutus 138 B.C. Cicero probably adds pontifex maximus to remind his hearers of the high dignity and prudence which a man gifted with this office would possess. He also uses privatus because in contrast to consules, the office of pontifex maximus not being a magistratus. Tiberium Gracchum: see Proper Names —mediocriter labefactantem: Cicero designedly extenuates the guilt of Gracchus to heighten the crimes of Catiline. In fact, the orator represents the guilt of Gracchus in different lights according to the exigencies of his cause: cp. De Leg. Ag., 2, 5, 10: De Off. II., 12, 43. Catilinam: emphatic position: “Catiline, desiring to devastate the world with sword and fire shall we consuls tolerate?” —orbis terrae: there is little difference between orbis terrae and orbis terrarum. —caede atque incendiis: also ferro et igni.