Note 6 — CICERO AGAINST CATILINE
Reading edition
: hominem—cognitum: i.e. hominem novum: the Romans applied the term (novus homo) to the first of a family who had raised himself to a consul office, tam mature: the lex annalis enacted that no one could obtain the quaetorship till he was 31; the aedileship till 37; the praetorship till 41; and the consulship till 43. Cicero means that he obtained these offices as soon as he was eligible to hold them.