Cicero, On Pompey’s Command (De Imperio), 27-49. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, Commentary, and Translation

Reviewed by Rosina Catalan, Adjunct Professor, Butler University on 12/1/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This is an excellent text for students to gain experience and knowledge of Cicero and other important figures in Late Republic Rome. The text is comprehensive in that it fully covers the historical information necessary to read Cicero's treatment of Pompey while supporting the undergraduate student with helpful grammatical notes and translation guidance. The grammar and vocabulary notations are extensive, relevant, and helpful.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The commentaries are very accurate. The grammar notes are concise and correct. Furthermore, the introduction serves as a complete introductory lesson to Pompey, his role in Roman history, and Cicero's support of him.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

While it is true that Cicero is part of the undergraduate Latin canon, few students read Cicero's speech On Pompey's Command in particular and often read his speech on Catiline instead. Cicero, as an important figure in the Golden Age of Roman literature, is a standard text and therefore this book will remain relevant for some time to come. Additionally, because this text is so well researched, with up-to-date references and well-chosen readings, this text can be considered useful for decades.

Clarity rating: 5

The commentaries have been written with the undergraduate Latin student in mind. The grammatical explanations are precise, and the concepts are broken down when necessary. The sections titled "Stylistic Appreciation" are most helpful. They serve to enhance the experience of a reader with limited exposure to Cicero's rhetorical devices. Students will be able to make connections with other speeches in history based on their experiences with this text.

Consistency rating: 5

The format of each translation passage is consistent. Once a student is accustomed to reading the text, relying on the vocabulary, and understanding the grammatical notes, an instructor is able to guide their class through the study questions and discuss the stylistic nuances of Cicero's rhetoric. The consistent format of this text is reliable and easily understood.

Modularity rating: 5

The readings range from small, one-paragraph passages, to longer passages full of the subordinate clauses. The passages are organized under topics that make choosing them easy - one can choose a passage based on its historical significance, or its use of rhetorical devices, or even its grammatical structures. The passages are the right size for in-class sight reading or for general preparation.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization of this books is easy to understand for students and compiled in a logical format which is easy for instructors to use.

Interface rating: 4

The interface for the pdf is excellent, the interface for the html version is adequate. The text prints to a pdf in a clear way (each new passage at the top of a page - new passages begin at the top of a page and the text is free from orphaned lines). The notes are in a convenient proximity to the text. The html version can be a little hard to follow in terms of scrolling to see a vocabulary note at the same time as the passage.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Both the Latin and the English texts are free from grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Reading Cicero's speech on Pompey's command is not just reading an account of a Roman general by a Latin author considered part of the Latin canon. It is also an opportunity to discuss the locations and cultures of a variety of places in the ancient Mediterranean.

Comments

This is an excellent text that I plan to adopt the next time I teach Intermediate Latin.

Reviewed by Christina Franzen, Associate Professor, Marshall University on 11/30/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This is an excellent, comprehensive introduction, text, and commentary on "De Imperio." The introduction is extremely thorough and not only will familiarize undergraduate students with historical context, but it provide students with deep knowledge and semantic range of some of the key Roman concepts and Latin terms Cicero relies on throughout his speech. The vocabulary help and the study questions at the end of each section are also thorough and rightfully focus on grammatical and thematic elements prominent in the text. The commentary also focuses on grammatical help, historical context, and thematic issues, a range of advice and guidance that I value in a commentary greatly. While some commentaries focus either on grammar or context exclusively, this edition is thorough, satisfying, and erudite in its variety of notes.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

As far as commentaries go, this text is extremely accurate, and, as noted above, the grammatical, thematic, and historical context, as well as the page by page vocabulary help and discussion questions are helpful, accurate, and comprehensive. I found nothing objectionable at all, and all of it rang true in its discussion of nuanced Roman concepts and vocabulary. The introduction is well written and packed with information (I even learned some things myself).

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This is one of the best, most comprehensive, and relevant intermediate/upper level Latin texts and commentaries I've ever seen (especially commentaries on Cicero's works). The editor quotes from up to date scholarship, and I see no issue at all in the ways in which it may be updated. The layout is clear and the sections are broken up in such a way that it would be easy to make changes.

Clarity rating: 5

While aimed at students are in the second to fourth year Latin, who will be familiar with at least some working knowledge of Roman history and Latin oratorical terms, it's extremely clear in its explanations of new concepts and has a layout which breaks up the Latin text t into digestible chunks. The editor enlisted the help of his undergraduate students in the drafting of the text and commentary at Cambridge University (UK), who I'm sure guided the information content precisely to an undergraduate audience.

Consistency rating: 5

The text and commentary are very consistent in terms of the historical, political, and oratorical terminology and framework of late Republican Rome. The introduction and commentary use frequent vocabulary and concepts of Cicero in both places (as well as the discussion questions), such as auctoritas, dignitas, and virtus, which familiarize students with such important and vital Republican values.

Modularity rating: 5

While the introduction is rather long, it does contain important information for students. The Latin text itself is divided into digestible chunks; relevant vocabulary follows immediately as well as the discussion questions; and the commentary is well laid out but delayed until the end of the book, after the Latin text is presented. Though I do find less experienced readers of Latin do better with the commentary right below its relevant Latin text, withholding of the commentary until the end works fine too, especially since vocabulary is provided throughout.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The introduction, text, and commentary are indeed presented in a logical and clear fashion which is easy to access and comprehensible for students.

Interface rating: 5

There are no significant interface issues which are distracting or confusing.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The grammar and text itself of the book (and grammatical help for the Latin) are free from errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive, but because it's specifically about translating Latin into grammatically correct English, its scope is very limited with regard to discussion of race and ethnicity.

Comments

Overall, it's a great commentary, and I plan to use it in the future.