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Cicero Chapter 59 Summative Assignment Diction
Aetas Unus
Cicero uses the word “lectulo” in the line “Repertī sunt duo equitēs Rōmānī, quī tē istā cūrā līberārent et sēsē illā ipsā nocte paulō ante lūcem mē in meō lectulō interfectūrōs esse pollicērentur.” (59B) Lectulo, a dimunitive, means “little bed”. By making himself seem small and innocent, only sleeping in his little bed, he makes Cataline’s men and by extension Cataline seem like villains attacking a harmless man.
Cicero uses the word “aperte” in the line “Nunc iam apertē rem pūblicam ūniversam petis” (59D) to emphasize how brazen Cataline is with his attacks on Rome. Instead of merely stating that Cataline wishes ill on the Romans, Cicero leaves nothing open to interpretation as he accuses Cataline of brazenly and openly - and therefore with clear knowledge of his wrongdoing - attacking the republic.
