#gaius verres
Chapter 20: A Day In Court
By the morning Cicero was due to present his opening statement, word of Cicero’s prosecution had spread throughout Rome. As a result, the forum was crowded with spectators as I laid out my master’s papers on the prosecutor’s table.
At the defense table, Gaius Verres sat scowling angrily at Cicero as his advocate, Quintus Hortensius Hortalus, pointedly ignored his competition.
Between them, as magistrate, Marcus Acilius Glabrio called the court to order. As urban praetor, Glabrio would act as judge, which pleased Cicero immensely. While Glabrio was not a man of great intellect, he was known to be fair and honest – qualities that were becoming increasingly rare in Rome.
As the prosecutor, Cicero would speak first. He stood and paused, allowing the tension to build. It was a trick he had learned under the great Appolonius Molon, and used it to great advantage.
“Fellow Romans,” he said, finally. “I am here today representing not just one man, but a multitude of men. Men who have devoted their lives to the enrichment of their families, communities and country. Men not unlike many of you here today, but with one great difference. They are not citizens of Rome, but of Sicily – a nation that has, for generations, served Rome faithfully, becoming the breadbasket of the republic!“
“In exchange for their labors, Rome has protected and governed their island, recognizing that their prosperity mirrors our own. Yet in the governorship of Gaius Verres, that compact has been broken, leaving Sicily in a ruinous state and its people crying out for justice!”
“Now, my friends, most of you know me – and you know that I am a man who has always been a defender of others, not a prosecutor! But the scale of the crimes committed by Gaius Verres is so massive – so blatant in its greed – that I am unable to look the other way.“
“We know that our senior magistrates, upon drawing their assigned province, often have ambitions that include making a profit. And who can blame them, eh? Running for office is an expensive business in Rome! And who among you can say you have not been wooed by those of us wearing the toga candida? A free meal here, a gift there? Even a few coins under the table, eh?”
The crowd laughed.
“But there is a limit, my friends. There is profit, and there is uncontrolled greed! There is good-natured principle, and there is obscenity! Gaius Verres, in his theft of Sicily’s treasures and his rape of its wealthiest and most respected citizens, crossed that line!”
Cicero stood next to the defense’s table and continued as Verres scowled.
“As I said, the scope and scale of Gaius Verres’ transgressions against the people of Sicily are beyond compare in the history of the republic,” Cicero continued. “However, because of that scale – the sheer number of crimes to be documented and witnesses to be deposed, it is my request that we delay these proceedings so that I may continue gathering valuable evidence for the prosecution.”
Hortensius sat up quickly, then stood.
“What is this?” he asked, arrogantly. “You bring charges of corruption against my client, then admit to this court that you do not have sufficient evidence to pursue those charges? I cannot see any reason to delay.”
“No reason?” Cicero countered. “Until recently, the presence of Gaius Verres in Sicily created an environment in which few of his victims would speak out. Now that he has left his post, I wish to travel to Sicily so that I may interview these additional victims.”
Glabrio pondered Cicero’s request.
“I will not have this proceeding dragged out overlong,” he said. “However, your point is well taken, Cicero. I will allow you 90 days to gather your evidence, at which time this court will reconvene. But take heed – no additional delays will be tolerated.”
“None will be needed,” Cicero replied.
“I object to this unnecessary delay,” Hortensius complained, his hands fluttering in the air. “Every day this court delays is another day in which my client’s reputation continues to be unfairly maligned.”
“I’m sure he’ll live,” Glabrio said, then looked at Cicero. “Ninety days. Until then, this court is adjourned.”
Chapter 8: The Senate of Rome
The senators took their seats in the Curia Hostilia, where the Roman Senate had gathered since the formation of the republic.
Once a plain building of plain stone, the Senate House now boasted a veneer of black marble on its interior walls and risers. Gilded columns painted to imitate stone soared heavenward to support a gilt ceiling that sparked from the light from high windows on both sides. A wide center aisle led to a large dais on the far end opposite the entrance, where a golden statue of winged victory stood behind the ivory inlaid cerule chair used by the presiding consul.
As the day’s business was light, the presiding consul, Gaius Scribonius Curio, wasted little time in getting to Cicero’s measure, reading it out as Cicero stood. The boni looked on in disdain as he walked down the steps to the central aisle to speak, and my master later told me that, even though he was one of the greatest speakers in Rome, that walk was one of the longest in his life.
“Conscript Fathers,” Cicero began, respectfully. “This morning, I received an old friend from my time as praetor of Sicily, Sosethius of Thermae. When I knew him, only a year ago, he was a wealthy businessman and a respected member of his community. Indeed, he was such a great friend of Rome that he regularly hosted visiting dignitaries and officials in his homes across Sicily – and I know this because I, myself, was one of them, and was shown great hospitality and kindness.”
“Yet, when he arrived this morning, it was not the Sosethius of memory who came calling, but instead a broken man, in mourning for all he had lost at the hands of a monster who has abused his power and raped Sicily for all he could squeeze from it.”
A few murmurs filled the house as the realization set in as to whom Cicero referenced.
“Not only was Sosethius deprived of his property and livelihood,” Cicero continued, raising his voice slightly, “but he was also charged – unjustly and without proof, to my knowledge – with treason by this same official, in an effort to not only cover the tracks of his abuses, but silence any possibility of Rome discovering his activities.”
“Yet Sosethius managed to reach Rome himself, penniless and hopeless – seeking nothing more than our famed Roman justice,” Cicero said. “Which is the purpose behind the measure I propose today. For if he is tried in abstentia, he will be sentenced to an untimely – and unfair death that will ….”
“I believe I will speak now,” Hortensius said, standing. As a senior member of the house and former consul, his claim took precedence, leaving Cicero no choice but to yield the floor.
“I find it fascinating that this young man feels it his place to cast dispersion upon an esteemed member of this House, Gaius Verres, when said member is not present to defend himself,” Hortensius said. “Obviously it is an attempt to villify, once again, any member of the Roman aristocracy by an upstart of low birth!”
“Oh, but my dear Quintus Hortensius,” Cicero said with a broad smile, “I do not recall ever mentioning the name Gaius Verres! Or is my memory suddenly failing me?”
The junior senators and back benchers roared with laughter and stomped their feet in approval, while the aristocratic boniscowled.
“Yet, since you have brought his name into our discussion, I will not deny that it is he – whom the Senate has entrusted with the role of governor – who has been painted in such a negative light. Yet I completely agree with your objection. He is NOT here to defend himself. But that is precisely my point! I am simply asking that my friend, Sosethius, be granted the same courtesy you now ask for Verres. Or is there to be one standard for aristocrats and another for everyone else?”
The laughter grew louder, and the consul had to raise his voice to quiet the chamber – at which time, Quintus Catulus rose.
Recognized, he began an attack on Cicero that caused my master to blush with anger. Yet he remained calm, and even managed a smile as he returned to his seat. Obviously, Catulus was attempting to talk out the remainder of the session. Yet Cicero was content, having made his point – and an honest effort to protect his friend from prosecution.
Chapter 5: A Turning Point (Pt. 2)
Cicero swallowed hard, not believing his ears. It was common for provincial governors to pad their purses at the expense of their provinces, but outright theft was rarely seen.
“Gaius Verres?” Cicero asked. “Are you quite sure?”
Sosethius leapt to his feet and leaned over Cicero’s desk.
“Do you think I don’t know who robbed me of everything I own?” he asked, angrily. “Yes, it was the governor himself!”
“Please, my friend,” Cicero said, trying to calm him. “Sit down and tell me everything.”
The story came tumbling out of Sosethius, and Cicero nodded to me to begin taking notes.
“Well, about three months ago, I received a letter from the governor,” the man said. “He had heard about my collection of bronzes, and wished to see them.”
“I recall it,” Cicero said, nodding. “You had some very fine pieces.”
“It was my life, senator!” he said. “Thirty years of travelling and searching and haggling! Corinthian and Delian bronzes, pictures, silver. Works by Myron and Polycleitus! Silver cups by Mentor! Of course, Verres was complimentary, but I didn’t think anything of it until we were having dinner and I heard noises from the courtyard. A wagon had pulled up and Verres’ men were loading it up with everything!”
“You did not complain?”
“Who to? The governor?” Sosethius said, shaking his head. “No, senator. I knew better. I was alive, which, from what I hear, is better than he left many of his targets. No – I simply swallowed my losses.”
“So why did you …?” Cicero began.
“Because it didn’t end there,” Sosethius said, standing irritably. “Do you remember the statues in the town square? Verres wanted permission to remove them to his residence in Syracuse, and asked me to approach the town council. I told him I could not, in all honor, do so, and he left in anger. Three days later, I received a summons for trial on the fifth day of October.”
“On what charge?” Cicero asked, dumfounded.
“Forgery!” the old man moaned. “Verres had approached an old enemy of mine, Agathinus, and convinced him to testify against me. I thought to face him down, but then I heard that Verres himself would be the judge, and had already fixed on a punishment. I was to be publicly whipped.”
“So you fled,” Cicero said, nodding.
“That same night,” Sosethius said. “But I was convicted in abstentia, fined five thousand in gold and sentenced to flogging. Verres also claimed there was fresh evidence against me – this time for spying for the rebels in Spain! He plans to crucify me, senator!”
“I need your help, Marcus Cicero,” Sosethius continued. “I will be doomed if I am tried in Sicily, where Verres controls the courts. And everyone tells me that Marcus Tullius Cicero is the second-best lawyer in Rome!”
“Do they indeed?” Cicero replied, stung. “So why settle for second best? Why not go straight to Hortensius?”
“I did,” Sosethius said. “He turned me down. You see, he is representing Verres!”
