[§57]. Dinotatas: so the MSS., probably correctly, though Forc. does not recognise the word. Most edd. change it into denotatas. Artem: τεχνην, a set of rules. In proverbio: so venire in proverbium, in proverbii usum venire, proverbii locum obtinere, proverbii loco dici are all used. Salvis rebus: not an uncommon phrase, e.g. Ad Fam. IV. 1. Gallinas: cf. fragm. [19] of the Acad. Post. The similarity of eggs was discussed ad nauseam by the sceptics and dogmatists. Hermagoras the Stoic actually wrote a book entitled, ωι σκοπια (egg investigation) η περι σοφιστειας προς Ακαδημαικους, mentioned by Suidas.
[§58]. Contra nos: the sense requires nos, but all Halm's MSS. except one read vos. Non internoscere: this is the reading of all the MSS., and is correct, though Orelli omits non. The sense is, "we are quite content not to be able to distinguish between the eggs, we shall not on that account be led into a mistake for our rule will prevent us from making any positive assertion about the eggs." Adsentiri: for the passive use of this verb cf. [39]. Par est: so Dav. for per, which most MSS. have. The older edd. and Orelli have potest, with one MS. Quasi: the em. of Madv. for the quam si of the MSS. Transversum digitum: cf. [116]. Ne confundam omnia: cf. [53], [110]. Natura tolletur: this of course the sceptics would deny. They refused to discuss the nature of things in themselves, and kept to phenomena. Intersit: i.e. inter visa. In animos: Orelli with one MS. reads animis; if the MSS. are correct the assertion of Krebs and Allgayer (Antibarbarus, ed. 4) "imprimere wird klas sisch verbunden in aliqua re, nicht in aliquam rem," will require modification. Species et quasdam formas: ειδη και γενη, quasdam marks the fact that formas is a trans. I have met with no other passage where any such doctrine is assigned to a sceptic. As it stands in the text the doctrine is absurd, for surely it must always be easier to distinguish between two genera than between two individuals. If the non before vos were removed a better sense would be given. It has often been inserted by copyists when sed, tamen, or some such word, comes in the following clause, as in the famous passage of Cic Ad Quintum Fratrem, II. 11, discussed by Munro, Lucr. p. 313, ed. 3.
[§59]. Illud vero perabsurdum: note the omission of est, which often takes place after the emphatic pronoun. Impediamini: cf. n. on [33]. A veris: if visis be supplied the statement corresponds tolerably with the Academic belief, if rebus be meant, it is wide of the mark. Id est ... retentio: supposed to be a gloss by Man., Lamb., see however nn. on I. [6], [8]. Constitit: from consto, not from consisto cf. [63] qui tibi constares. Si vera sunt: cf. [67], [78], [112], [148]. The nonnulli are Philo and Metrodorus, see [78]. Tollendus est adsensus: i.e. even that qualified assent which the Academics gave to probable phenomena. Adprobare: this word is ambiguous, meaning either qualified or unqualified assent. Cf. n. on [104]. Id est peccaturum: "which is equivalent to sinning," cf. I. [42]. Iam nimium etiam: note iam and etiam in the same clause.
[§60]. Pro omnibus: note omnibus for omnibus rebus. Ista mysteria: Aug. Contra Ac. III. 37, 38 speaks of various doctrines, which were servata et pro mysteriis custodita by the New Academics. The notion that the Academic scepticism was merely external and polemically used, while they had an esoteric dogmatic doctrine, must have originated in the reactionary period of Metrodorus (of Stratonice), Philo, and Antiochus, and may perhaps from a passage of Augustine, C. Ac. III. 41 (whose authority must have been Cicero), be attributed to the first of the three (cf. Zeller 534, n.). The idea is ridiculed by Petrus Valentia (Orelli's reprint, p. 279), and all succeeding inquirers. Auctoritate: cf. [8], [9]. Utroque: this neuter, referring to two fem. nouns, is noticeable, see exx. in Madv. Gram. 214 c.
[§61]. Amicissimum: "because you are my dear friend". Commoveris: a military term, cf. De Div. II. 26 and Forc., also Introd. p. [53]. Sequere: either this is future, as in [109], or sequeris, the constant form in Cic. of the pres., must be read. Approbatione omni: the word omni is emphatic, and includes both qualified and unqualified assent, cf. [59]. Orbat sensibus: cf. [74], and D.F. I. 64, where Madv. is wrong in reproving Torquatus for using the phrase sensus tolli, on the ground that the Academics swept away not sensus but iudicium sensuum Cimmeriis. Goer. qu. Plin. N.H. III. 5, Sil. Ital. XII. 131, Festus, s.v. Cimmerii, to show that the town or village of Cimmerium lay close to Bauli, and probably induced this mention of the legendary people. Deus aliquis: so the best edd. without comment, although they write deus aliqui in [19]. It is difficult to distinguish between aliquis and aliqui, nescio quis and nescio qui, si quis and si qui (for the latter see n. on [81]). As aliquis is substantival, aliqui adjectival, aliquis must not be written with impersonal nouns like terror (T.D. IV. 35, V. 62), dolor (T.D. I. 82, Ad Fam. VII. 1, 1), casus (De Off. III. 33). In the case of personal nouns the best edd. vary, e.g. deus aliqui (T.D. I. 23, IV. 35), deus aliquis (Lael. 87, Ad Fam. XIV. 7, 1), anularius aliqui ([86] of this book), magistratus aliquis (In Verr. IV. 146). With a proper name belonging to a real person aliquis ought to be written (Myrmecides in [120], see my n.). Dispiciendum: not despiciendum, cf. M.D.F. II. 97, IV. 64, also De Div. II. 81, verum dispicere. Iis vinculis, etc. this may throw light on fragm. [15] of the Acad. Post., which see.
[§62]. Motum animorum: n. on [34]. Actio rerum: here actio is a pure verbal noun like πραξις, cf. De Off. I. 83, and expressions like actio vitae (N.D. I. 2), actio ullius rei ([108] of this book), and the similar use of actus in Quintilian (Inst. Or. X. 1, 31, with Mayor's n.) Iuratusque: Bait. possibly by a mere misprint reads iratus. Comperisse: this expression of Cic., used in the senate in reference to Catiline's conspiracy, had become a cant phrase at Rome, with which Cic. was often taunted. See Ad Fam. V. 5, 2, Ad Att. I. 14, 5. Licebat: this is the reading of the best MSS., not liquebat, which Goer., Kl., Or. have. For the support accorded by Lucullus to Cic. during the conspiracy see [3], and the passages quoted in Introd. p. [46] with respect to Catulus, in most of which Lucullus is also mentioned.
[§63]. Quod ... fecerat, ut: different from the constr. treated by Madv. Gram. 481 b. Quod refers simply to the fact of Lucullus' admiration, which the clause introduced by ut defines, "which admiration he had shown ... to such an extent that, etc." Iocansne an: this use of ne ... an implies, Madv. says (on D.F. V. 87), more doubt than the use of ne alone as in vero falsone. Memoriter: nearly all edd. before Madv. make this mean e memoria as opposed to de scripto; he says, "laudem habet bonae et copiosae memoriae" (on D.F. I. 34). See Krebs and Allgayer in the Antibarbarus, ed. 4. Censuerim: more modest than censeo, see Madv. Gram. 380. Tantum enim non te modo monuit: edd. before Madv., seeing no way of taking modo exc. with non, ejected it. Madv. (Em. 160) retains it, making it mean paulo ante. On the other hand, Halm after Christ asserts that tantum non = μονον ου occurs nowhere else in Cic. Bait. therefore ejects non, taking tantum as hoc tantum, nihil praeterea. Livy certainly has the suspected use of tantum non. Tribunus: a retort comes in [97], [144]. Antiochum: cf. I. [13]. Destitisse: on the difference between memini followed by the pres. and by the perf. inf. consult Madv. Gram. 408 b, obs. 2.
[§§64]—[71]. Summary. Cic. much moved thus begins. The strength of Lucullus argument has affected me much, yet I feel that it can be answered. First, however, I must speak something that concerns my character ([64]). I protest my entire sincerity in all that I say, and would confirm it by an oath, were that proper ([65]). I am a passionate inquirer after truth, and on that very account hold it disgraceful to assent to what is false. I do not deny that I make slips, but we must deal with the sapiens, whose characteristic it is never to err in giving his assent ([66]). Hear Arcesilas' argument: if the sapiens ever gives his assent he will be obliged to opine, but he never will opine therefore he never will give his assent. The Stoics and Antiochus deny the first of these statements, on the ground that it is possible to distinguish between true and false ([67]). Even if it be so the mere habit of assenting is full of peril. Still, our whole argument must tend to show that perception in the Stoic sense is impossible ([68]). However, a few words first with Antiochus. When he was converted, what proof had he of the doctrine he had so long denied? ([69]) Some think he wished to found a school called by his own name. It is more probable that he could no longer bear the opposition of all other schools to the Academy ([70]). His conversion gave a splendid opening for an argumentum ad hominem ([71]).
[§64]. Quadam oratione: so Halm, also Bait. after the best MSS., not quandam orationem as Lamb., Orelli. De ipsa re: cf. de causa ipsa above. Respondere posse: for the om. of me before the infin, which has wrongly caused many edd. either to read respondere (as Dav., Bait.) or to insert me (as Lamb.), see n. on I. [7].
[§65]. Studio certandi: = φιλονεικια. Pertinacia ... calumnia: n. on [14]. Iurarem: Cic. was thinking of his own famous oath at the end of his consulship.