CICERO, MARCUS TULLIUS.:

MAR. TUL. CICERONIS ACTIONU IN VERREM LIBRI SEPTEM, additis argumentis Asconii, & partitionibus Bart. Latomi, in singulas actiones.

      Parisiis, apud Fran. Gryphium, 1538. LATIN TEXT. 8vo, 220 x 165 mm, 8¾ x 6½ inches, title page plus 152 pages numbered on the rectos only (making a total of 304 pages), full old calf, spine rebacked and old spine laid down, 2 labels with gilt lettering and gilt decoration between raised bands to spine, the top label has been replaced, faded gilt rules to edges of covers, marbled endpapers. Binding rubbed and scuffed, corners worn, inner paper hinges strengthened with similar matching marbled paper, book-plate to first pastedown, the first 5 pages including title page have inner and outer margins expertly repaired, with no loss of text, the title page is also affected with light old ink stains which are slightly visible on the recto but worse on the verso, the following page also has some very light old ink scribble, but all text is legible, the 3rd page also has a repaired tear that runs into the text affecting a few letters and the text has slightly dropped making this small section a little difficult to read, pages 16 and 17 have modern repair to inner margins and part of lower margin, page 16 has a small closed tear and tiny hole with loss of 3 letters, pages 61 and 68 also have margins repaired with no loss of text, some light age-browning throughout, heavier to a few pages, occasional spotting to margins, 2 tiny worm holes go through most of the book with some loss of letters but the text can still be easily understood, mostly they affect the blank space between the lines of text, on 12 pages they have joined to form a tiny track.This is a partially repaired copy of a very rare book. 1 copy only found in the major UK libraries. Not found in H. M. Adams, Catalogue of Books Printed on the Continent of Europe, 1501-1600 in Cambridge Libraries. MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO (106-43) was a townsman of Marius. He belonged to the Equites, and received a good education under the best Greek teachers. As he ripened into manhood, he chose in politics the party opposed to Caesar, and for a profession he selected the bar, hoping to gain fame as a speaker before the Senate, and finally to become one of its members. He took part in the Social War (89), but during the troubled times that followed he remained quietly engaged in literary pursuits. His first public oration (80), the defence of Roscius, who was falsely accused of murdering his father, was a great success, and guaranteed for him a brilliant future. Cicero improved the next few years by study and travel in Asia and Greece. Shortly after his return, in 75, he was elected Quaestor, and thus became a member of the Senate. His year of office he spent in Sicily, in the performance of his duties. There he obtained an insight into the corrupt extortions of the Roman governors. Five years later, he conducted his famous case against Verres. VERRES had been a follower of Sulla, and during the proscriptions had amassed some property. Afterwards he held official positions in Greece and Asia, where he became notorious for his greediness and cruelty. With the money thus acquired, he had bought his election to the praetorship, became Senator, and was sent by his colleagues to govern Sicily. His government there may have been no worse than that of many other proconsuls in the different provinces, but we have a fuller account of it owing to the prosecution of Cicero, whose speeches against Verres are preserved. Verres was Governor of Sicily for three years. In his official position, he was judge of all civil and criminal cases. Every suit brought before him he gave to the party that could pay him best. Property was confiscated on false charges, and works of art of great value were stolen. By such a course Verres collected, it is said, property to the value of $4,000,000. Two thirds of this he expected to spend in silencing accusations. The rest he hoped to enjoy in peace. Images sent on request.