The republic of Cicero
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~35,800 words · 170 passages
Cite this work
- APACicero. (n.d.). The republic of Cicero. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/cicero/the-republic-of-cicero
- MLACicero. The republic of Cicero. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/cicero/the-republic-of-cicero.
- ChicagoCicero. The republic of Cicero. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/cicero/the-republic-of-cicero.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
Cicero's Republic: a dialogue on the best form of state, arguing for the mixed constitution that combines monarchy, aristocracy and democracy.
Context and history
This text was lost for more than a thousand years. In 1819 Angelo Mai found it in a Vatican palimpsest, written beneath a commentary of Augustine on the psalms: Cicero had been scraped off to reuse the parchment. It came back very incomplete, and the gaps show. The exception is the ending, the Dream of Scipio, which had survived separately because Macrobius wrote a commentary on it, and which was therefore read throughout the Middle Ages when the rest of the book did not exist.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
having his own ascendancy in view. Cæsar, to make the interest it was thus intended to direct against the independence of the republic, still stronger, made overtures to Cicero, who declined connecting himself with them. At length Cæsar openly declared against him, and favoured the election of Clodius to the tribunate, in the which he succeeded. Being now in authority, he brought forward the law, that whoever had taken away the life of a Roman citizen, uncondemned, should be interdicted bread and water. This was directed against Cicero, in relation to his consular acts respecting the conspirators; and affected him so much, that although the law was in general terms, and his name was not mentioned in it, he changed his garments, and appeared abroad sordidly dressed to attract the compassion of the people. The young Romans of liberal character, to the number of twenty thousand also changed their dress, and accompanied him; soliciting the favour of all in authority, and of the people, against the passage of this law. But the combination of bad men proved too strong against him, and Pompey having refused his protection, Cicero was induced by the advice of his friends, to withdraw himself into a temporary exile from Rome. This humiliating event took place in his forty-ninth year. During his absence his residences both in town and country, which were upon a scale commensurate with his dignity, were despoiled; and together with the furniture appropriated by the consuls and by Clodius. At length the daring insolence of that tribune, and the perpetual broils he occasioned, began to indispose all men against him, except his immediate profligate retainers. Advantage was taken of this to propose in the senate the recall of Cicero; which finally prevailed at a very numerous convocation of the senators and magistrates; Clodius alone giving a dissenting voice.…