Home About Network of subjects Linked subjects heatmap Book indices included Search by subject Search by reference Browse subjects Browse texts

Tiresias: The Ancient Mediterranean Religions Source Database



2296
Cicero, On Invention, 2.142


tere accipi demonstrabit. et quemadmodum ei dice- bamus, qui ab scripto diceret, hoc fore utilissimum, si quid de aequitate ea, quae cum adversario staret, derogasset, sic huic, qui contra scriptum dicet, pluri- mum proderit, ex ipsa scriptura aliquid ad suam cau- sam convertere aut ambigue aliquid scriptum osten- dere; deinde ex illo ambiguo eam partem, quae sibi prosit, defendere aut verbi definitionem inducere et illius verbi vim, quo urgeri videatur, ad suae causae commodum traducere aut ex scripto non scriptum aliquid inducere per ratiocinationem, de qua post di-And, as we said that this would be exceedingly useful to the man who was relying on the letter of the law, to detract in some degree from that equity which appeared to be on the side of the adversary; so also it will be of the greatest advantage to the man who is speaking in opposition to the letter of the law, to convert something of the exact letter of the law to his own side of the argument, or else to show that something has been expressed ambiguously. And afterwards, to take that portion of the doubtful expression which may serve his own purpose, and defend it; or else to introduce some definition of a word, and to bring over the meaning of that word which seems unfavourable to him to the advantage of his own cause; or else, from what is set down in the law to introduce something which is not set down by means of ratiocination, which we will speak of presently.


Intertexts (texts cited often on the same page as the searched text):

8 results
1. Hebrew Bible, Exodus, 20.2 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)

20.2. אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃ 20.2. לֹא תַעֲשׂוּן אִתִּי אֱלֹהֵי כֶסֶף וֵאלֹהֵי זָהָב לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם׃ 20.2. I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
2. Cicero, On Invention, 2.58, 2.116-2.141, 2.143-2.154, 2.160 (2nd cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)

2.58. admodum oportet egerit. quare in iure plerumque ver- santur. ibi enim et exceptiones postulantur et agendi potestas datur et omnis conceptio privatorum iudi- ciorum constituitur. in ipsis autem iudiciis rarius incidunt et tamen, si quando incidunt, eiusmodi sunt, ut per se minus habeant firmitudinis, confirmentur autem assumpta alia aliqua constitutione: ut in quodam iudicio, cum veneficii cuiusdam nomen esset de- latum et, quia parricidii causa subscripta esset, extra ordinem esset acceptum, in accusatione autem alia quaedam crimina testibus et argumentis confirmaren- tur, parricidii autem mentio solum facta esset, defensor in hoc ipso multum oportet et diu consistat: cum de nece parentis nihil demonstratum esset, indignum facinus esse ea poena afficere reum, qua parricidae afficiuntur; id autem, si damnaretur, fieri necesse esse, quoniam et id causae subscriptum et ea re nomen extra ordinem sit acceptum. 2.116. In scripto versatur controversia, cum ex scriptio- nis ratione aliquid dubii nascitur. id fit ex ambiguo, ex scripto et sententia, ex contrariis legibus, ex ratio- cinatione, ex definitione. Ex ambiguo autem nascitur controversia, cum, quid senserit scriptor, obscurum est, quod scriptum duas pluresve res significat, ad hunc modum: paterfami- lias, cum filium heredem faceret, vasorum argenteo- rum centum pondo uxori suae sic legavit: heres meus uxori meae vasorum argenteorum pondo cen- tum, quae volet, dato . post mortem eius vasa ma- gnifica et pretiose caelata petit a filio mater. ille se, quae ipse vellet, debere dicit. primum, si fieri poterit, demonstrandum est non esse ambigue scrip- tum, propterea quod omnes in consuetudine sermo- nis sic uti solent eo verbo uno pluribusve in eam sen- tentiam, in quam is, qui dicet, accipiendum esse demon- 2.117. strabit. deinde ex superiore et ex inferiore scriptura docendum id, quod quaeratur, fieri perspicuum. quare si ipsa separatim ex se verba considerentur, omnia aut pleraque ambigua visum iri; quae autem ex omni considerata scriptura perspicua fiant, haec ambigua non oportere existimare. deinde, qua in sententia scriptor fuerit, ex ceteris eius scriptis et ex factis, dic- tis, animo atque vita eius sumi oportebit et eam ipsam scripturam, in qua inerit illud ambiguum, de quo quae- retur, totam omnibus ex partibus pertemptare, si quid aut ad id appositum sit, quod nos interpretemur, aut ei, quod adversarius intellegat, adversetur. nam facile, quid veri simile sit eum voluisse, qui scripsit, ex omni scriptura et ex persona scriptoris atque iis rebus, quae personis attributae sunt, considerabitur. 2.118. deinde erit demonstrandum, si quid ex re ipsa dabitur facultatis, id, quod adversarius intellegat, multo minus commode fieri posse, quam id, quod nos accipimus, quod illius rei neque administratio neque exitus ullus exstet; nos quod dicamus, facile et commode transigi posse; ut in hac lege—nihil enim prohibet fictam exempli loco ponere, quo facilius res intellegatur—: meretrix coronam auream ne habeto; si habuerit, publica esto, contra eum, qui meretricem publicari dicat ex lege oportere, possit dici neque administrationem esse ullam publicae meretricis neque exitum legis in mere- trice publicanda, at in auro publicando et admini- strationem et exitum facilem esse et incommodi nihil inesse. 2.119. ac diligenter illud quoque adtendere oportebit, num illo probato, quod adversarius intellegat, res uti- lior aut honestior aut magis necessaria ab scriptore neglecta videatur. id fiet, si id, quod nos demon- strabimus, honestum aut utile aut necessarium demon- strabimus, et si id, quod ab adversariis dicetur, minime eiusmodi esse dicemus. deinde si in lege erit ex amb- iguo controversia, dare operam oportebit, ut de eo, quod adversarius intellegat, alia in re lege cautum esse doceatur. 2.120. permultum autem proficiet illud demon- strare, quemadmodum scripsisset, si id, quod adver- sarius accipiat, fieri aut intellegi voluisset, ut in hac causa, in qua de vasis argenteis quaeritur, possit mulier dicere nihil adtinuisse adscribi quae volet, si heredis voluntati permitteret. eo enim non adscripto nihil esse dubitationis, quin heres, quae ipse vellet, daret. amentiae igitur fuisse, cum heredi vellet cavere, id adscribere, quo non adscripto nihilominus heredi caveretur. 2.121. quare hoc genere magnopere talibus in causis uti oportebit: hoc modo scripsisset, isto verbo usus non esset, non isto loco verbum istud con- locasset. nam ex his sententia scriptoris maxime perspicitur. deinde quo tempore scriptum sit, quaeren- dum est, ut, quid eum voluisse in eiusmodi tempore veri simile sit, intellegatur. post ex deliberationis partibus, quid utilius et quid honestius et illi ad scri- bendum et his ad conprobandum sit, demonstrandum; et ex his, si quid amplificationis dabitur, communi- bus utrimque locis uti oportebit. Ex scripto et sententia controversia consistit, cum alter verbis ipsis, quae scripta sunt, utitur, alter ad id, quod scriptorem sensisse dicet, omnem adiungit dictionem. 2.122. scriptoris autem sententia ab eo, qui sen- tentia se defendet, tum semper ad idem spectare et idem velle demonstrabitur; tum ex facto aut ex eventu aliquo ad tempus id, quod instituit, accommodabitur. semper ad idem spectare, hoc modo: paterfamilias cum liberorum haberet nihil, uxorem autem haberet, in testamento ita scripsit: si mihi filius genitur unus pluresve, is mihi heres esto . deinde quae assolent. postea: si filius ante moritur, quam in tutelam suam venerit, tum mihi, * dicet, heres esto . filius natus non est. ambigunt adgnati cum eo, qui est heres, si filius ante, quam in tutelam veniat, mor- 2.123. tuus sit. in hoc genere non potest hoc dici, ad tem- pus et ad eventum aliquem sententiam scriptoris opor- tere accommodari, propterea quod ea sola esse demon- stratur, qua fretus ille, qui contra scriptum dicit, suam esse hereditatem defendit. aliud autem genus est eorum, qui sententiam inducunt, in quo non simplex voluntas scriptoris ostenditur, quae in omne tempus et in omne factum idem valeat, sed ex quodam facto aut eventu ad tempus interpretanda dicitur. ea par- tibus iuridicialis assumptivae maxime sustinetur. nam tum inducitur comparatio, ut in eo, qui, cum lex ape- riri portas noctu vetaret, aperuit quodam in bello et auxilia quaedam in oppidum recepit, ne ab hostibus opprimerentur 2.124. si foris essent, quod prope muros hostes castra haberent; tum relatio criminis, ut in eo milite, qui, cum communis lex omnium hominem occi- dere vetaret, tribunum militum suum, qui vim sibi afferre conaretur, occidit; tum remotio criminis, ut in eo, qui, cum lex, quibus diebus in legationem pro- ficisceretur, praestituerat, quia sumptum quaestor non dedit, profectus non est; tum concessio per purgatio- nem et per inprudentiam, ut in vituli immolatione, et per vim, ut in nave rostrata, et per casum, ut in Eurotae magnitudine. quare aut ita sententia induce- tur, ut unum quiddam voluisse scriptor demonstre- tur, aut sic, ut in eiusmodi re et tempore hoc voluisse doceatur. 2.125. Ergo is, qui scriptum defendet, his locis plerumque omnibus, maiore autem parte semper poterit uti: pri- mum scriptoris conlaudatione et loco communi, nihil eos, qui iudicent, nisi id, quod scriptum, spectare oportere; et hoc eo magis, si legitimum scriptum pro- feretur, id est aut lex ipsa aut aliquid ex lege; postea, quod vehementissimum est, facti aut intentionis adver- sariorum cum ipso scripto contentione, quid scriptum sit, quid factum, quid iuratus iudex; quem locum mul- tis modis variare oportebit, tum ipsum secum admi- rantem, quidnam contra dici possit, tum ad iudicis officium revertentem et ab eo quaerentem, quid prae- terea audire aut exspectare debeat; tum ipsum ad- versarium quasi in testis loco producendo, hoc est interrogando, utrum scriptumne neget esse eo modo, an ab se contra factum esse aut contra contendi neget; 2.126. utrum negare ausus sit, se dicere desiturum. si neu- trum neget et contra tamen dicat: nihil esse quo hominem inpudentiorem quisquam se visurum arbi- tretur. in hoc ita commorari conveniet, quasi nihil praeterea dicendum sit et quasi contra dici nihil possit, saepe id, quod scriptum est, recitando, saepe cum scrip- to factum adversarii confligendo atque interdum acri- ter ad iudicem ipsum revertendo. quo in loco iudici demonstrandum est, quid iuratus sit, quid sequi debeat: duabus de causis iudicem dubitare oportere, si aut scriptum sit obscure aut neget aliquid adversarius; 2.127. cum et scriptum aperte sit et adversarius omnia con- fiteatur, tum iudicem legi parere, non interpretari legem oportere. Hoc loco confirmato tum diluere ea, quae contra dici poterunt, oportebit. contra autem dicetur, si aut pror- sus aliud sensisse scriptor et scripsisse aliud demon- strabitur, ut in illa de testamento, quam posuimus, controversia, aut causa assumptiva inferetur, quamob- rem scripto non potuerit aut non oportuerit optem- perari. 2.128. Si aliud sensisse scriptor, aliud scripsisse dicetur, is, qui scripto utetur, haec dicet: non oportere de eius voluntate nos argumentari, qui, ne id facere possemus, indicium nobis reliquerit suae voluntatis; multa in- commoda consequi, si instituatur, ut ab scripto rece- datur. nam et eos, qui aliquid scribant, non existi- maturos id, quod scripserint, ratum futurum, et eos, qui iudicent, certum, quod sequantur, nihil habituros, si semel ab scripto recedere consueverint. quodsi voluntas scriptoris conservanda sit, se, non adver- sarios, a voluntate eius stare. nam multo propius accedere ad scriptoris voluntatem eum, qui ex ipsius eam litteris interpretetur, quam illum, qui sententiam scriptoris non ex ipsius scripto spectet, quod ille suae voluntatis quasi imaginem reliquerit, sed domesticis suspicionibus perscrutetur. 2.129. Sin causam afferet is, qui a sententia stabit, pri- mum erit contra dicendum: quam absurdum non negare contra legem fecisse, sed, quare fecerit, cau- sam aliquam invenire; deinde conversa esse omnia: ante solitos esse accusatores iudicibus persuadere, ad- finem esse alicuius culpae eum, qui accusaretur, cau- sam proferre, quae eum ad peccandum impulisset;— 2.130. nunc ipsum reum causam afferre, quare deliquerit. deinde hanc inducere partitionem, cuius in singulas partes multae convenient argumentationes: primum, nulla in lege ullam causam contra scriptum accipi con- venire; deinde, si in ceteris legibus conveniat, hanc esse eiusmodi legem, ut in ea non oporteat; postremo, si in hac quoque lege oporteat, hanc quidem causam accipi minime oportere. Prima pars his fere locis confirmabitur: scriptori neque ingenium neque operam neque ullam faculta- tem defuisse, quo minus aperte posset perscribere id, quod cogitaret; non fuisse ei grave nec difficile eam causam excipere, quam adversarii proferant, si quic- quam excipiendum putasset: 2.131. consuesse eos, qui leges scribant, exceptionibus uti. deinde oportet recitare leges cum exceptionibus scriptas et maxime videre, ecquae in ea ipsa lege, qua de agatur, sit exceptio ali- quo in capite aut apud eundem legis scriptorem, quo magis probetur eum fuisse excepturum, si quid exci- piendum putaret; et ostendere causam accipere nihil aliud esse nisi legem tollere, ideo quod, cum semel causa consideretur, nihil attineat eam ex lege con- siderare, quippe quae in lege scripta non sit. quod si sit institutum, omnibus dari causam et potestatem peccandi, cum intellexerint vos ex ingenio eius, qui contra legem fecerit, non ex lege, in quam iurati sitis, rem iudicare; deinde et ipsis iudicibus iudicandi et ceteris civibus vivendi rationes perturbatum iri 2.132. si semel ab legibus recessum sit; nam et iudices neque, quid sequantur, habituros, si ab eo, quod scriptum sit, recedant, neque, quo pacto aliis probare possint, quod contra legem iudicarint; et ceteros cives, quid agant, ignoraturos, si ex suo quisque consilio et ex ea ratione, quae in mentem aut in libidinem venerit, non ex communi praescripto civitatis unam quamque rem administrabit; postea quaerere ab iudicibus ipsis, quare in alienis detineantur negotiis; cur rei publicae munere impediantur, quo setius suis rebus et commo- dis servire possint; cur in certa verba iurent; cur certo tempore conveniant, cur certo discedant, nihil quis- quam afferat causae, quo minus frequenter operam rei publicae det, nisi quae causa in lege excepta sit; an se legibus obstrictos in tantis molestiis esse aequum censeant, adversarios nostros leges neglegere con- 2.133. cedant; deinde item quaerere ab iudicibus, si eius rei causa, propter quam se reus contra legem fecisse dicat, exceptionem ipse in lege adscribat, passurine sint; postea hoc, quod faciat, indignius et inpuden- tius esse, quam si adscribat; age porro, quid? si ipsi vellent iudices adscribere, passurusne sit populus? atque hoc esse indignius, quam rem verbo et litteris mutare non possint 2.134. eam re ipsa et iudicio maximo commutare; deinde indignum esse de lege aliquid derogari aut legem abrogari aut aliqua ex parte com- mutari, cum populo cognoscendi et probandi aut in- probandi potestas nulla fiat; hoc ipsis iudicibus in- vidiosissimum futurum; non hunc locum esse neque hoc tempus legum corrigendarum; apud populum haec et per populum agi convenire; quodsi nunc id agant, velle se scire, qui lator sit, qui sint accepturi; se f actiones videre et dissuadere velle; quodsi haec cum summe inutilia tum multo turpissima sint, legem, cuicuimodi sit, in praesentia conservari ab iudicibus, post, si displiceat, a populo corrigi convenire; deinde, si scriptum non exstaret, magnopere quaereremus ne- que isti, ne si extra periculum quidem esset, credere- mus; nunc cum scriptum sit, amentiam esse eius rei, qui peccarit, potius quam legis ipsius verba cogno- scere. his et huiusmodi rationibus ostenditur causam extra scriptum accipi non oportere. 2.135. Secunda pars est, in qua est ostendendum, si in cete- ris legibus oporteat, in hac non oportere. hoc de- monstrabitur, si lex aut ad res maximas, utilissimas, honestissimas, religiosissimas videbitur pertinere; aut inutile aut turpe aut nefas esse tali in re non diligen- tissime legi optemperare; aut ita lex diligenter per- scripta demonstrabitur, ita cautum una quaque de re, ita, quod oportuerit, exceptum, ut minime conveniat quicquam in tam diligenti scriptura praeteritum ar- bitrari. Tertius est locus ei, qui pro scripto dicet, maxime necessarius, per quem oportet ostendat, si conveniat causam contra scriptum accipi, eam tamen minime oportere, quae ab adversariis afferatur. 2.136. qui locus id- circo est huic necessarius, quod semper is, qui contra scriptum dicet, aequitatis aliquid afferat oportet. nam summa inpudentia sit eum, qui contra quam scriptum sit aliquid probare velit, non aequitatis praesidio id facere conari. si quid igitur ex hac ipsa quippiam ac- cusator derogat, omnibus partibus iustius et probabi- lius accusare videatur. nam superior oratio hoc omnis faciebat, ut, iudices etiamsi nollent, necesse esset; haec autem, etiamsi necesse non esset, ut vellent contra iudicare. 2.137. id autem fiet, si, quibus ex locis culpa de- monstrabitur esse in eo, qui comparatione aut remotione aut relatione criminis aut concessionis partibus se defendet—de quibus ante, ut potuimus, diligenter perscripsimus—, si de iis locis, quae res postulabit, ad causam adversariorum inprobandam transferemus; aut causae et rationes afferentur, quare et quo consilio ita sit in lege aut in testamento scriptum, ut sententia quoque et voluntate scriptoris, non ipsa solum scrip- tura causa confirmata esse videatur; aut aliis quoque constitutionibus factum coarguetur. 2.138. Contra scriptum autem qui dicet, primum inducet eum locum, per quem aequitas causae demonstretur; aut ostendet, quo animo, quo consilio, qua de causa fecerit; et, quamcumque causam assumet, assumptio- nis partibus se defendet, de quibus ante dictum est. atque in hoc loco cum diutius commoratus sui facti rationem et aequitatem causae exornaverit, tum ex his locis fere contra adversarios dicet oportere causas accipi. demonstrabit nullam esse legem, quae aliquam rem inutilem aut iniquam fieri velit; omnia supplicia, quae ab legibus proficiscantur, culpae ac malitiae vin- 2.139. dicandae causa constituta esse; scriptorem ipsum, si exsistat, factum hoc probaturum et idem ipsum, si ei talis res accidisset, facturum fuisse; ea re legis scriptorem certo ex ordine iudices certa aetate prae- ditos constituisse, ut essent, non qui scriptum suum recitarent, quod quivis puer facere posset, sed qui cogitatione assequi possent et voluntatem interpre- tari; deinde illum scriptorem, si scripta sua stultis hominibus et barbaris iudicibus committeret, omnia summa diligentia perscripturum fuisse; nunc vero, quod intellegeret, quales viri res iudicaturi essent, idcirco eum, quae perspicua videret esse, non adscrip- sisse: 2.140. neque enim vos scripti sui recitatores, sed vo- luntatis interpretes fore putavit; postea quaerere ab adversariis: quid, si hoc fecissem? quid, si hoc acci- disset? eorum aliquid, in quibus aut causa sit honestissima aut necessitudo certissima: tamenne ac- cusaretis? atqui lex nusquam excepit; non ergo omnia scriptis, sed quaedam, quae perspicua sint, tacitis exceptionibus caveri; deinde nullam rem ne- que legibus neque scriptura ulla, denique ne in ser- mone quidem cotidiano atque imperiis domesticis recte posse administrari, si unus quisque velit verba spectare et non ad voluntatem eius, qui ea verba habuerit 2.141. accedere; deinde ex utilitatis et honestatis partibus ostendere, quam inutile aut quam turpe sit id, quod adversarii dicant fieri oportuisse aut oportere, et id, quod nos fecerimus aut postulemus, quam utile aut quam honestum sit; deinde leges nobis caras esse non propter litteras, quae tenues et obscurae notae sint voluntatis, sed propter earum rerum, quibus de scriptum est, utilitatem et eorum, qui scripserint, sa- pientiam et diligentiam; postea, quid sit lex, descri- bere, ut ea videatur in sententiis, non in verbis con- sistere; et iudex is videatur legi optemperare, qui sen- tentiam eius, non qui scripturam sequatur; deinde, quam indignum sit eodem affici supplicio eum, qui propter aliquod scelus et audaciam contra leges fecerit, et eum, qui honesta aut necessaria de causa non ab sententia, sed ab litteris legis recesserit; atque his et huiusmodi rationibus et accipi causam et in hac lege accipi et eam causam, quam ipse afferat, opor- 2.143. cemus. quacumque autem in re, quamvis leviter probabili, scripto ipso se defenderit, cum aequitate causa abundabit, necessario multum proficiet, ideo quod, si id, quo nititur adversariorum causa, subduxe- rit, omnem eius illam vim et acrimoniam lenierit ac diluerit. Loci autem communes ceteris ex assumptionis parti- bus in utramque partem convenient. praeterea autem eius, qui a scripto dicet: leges ex se, non ex eius, qui contra commiserit, utilitate spectari oportere et legibus antiquius haberi nihil oportere. contra scrip- tum: leges in consilio scriptoris et utilitate com- muni, non in verbis consistere; quam indignum sit aequitatem litteris urgeri, quae voluntate eius, qui scripserit, defendatur. 2.146. poena adiciatur aut in utra maior poena statuatur; nam maxime conservanda est ea, quae diligentissime sancta est; deinde, utra lex iubeat, utra vetet; nam saepe ea, quae vetat, quasi exceptione quadam corrigere videatur illam, quae iubet; deinde, utra lex de genere omni, utra de parte quadam; utra communiter in plures, utra in aliquam certam rem scripta videatur; nam quae in partem aliquam et quae in certam quandam rem scripta est, propius ad causam accedere videtur et ad iudicium magis pertinere; de- inde, ex lege utrum statim fieri necesse sit, utrum habeat aliquam moram et sustentationem; 2.149. agnatum gentiliumque esto . Quidam iudicatus est pa- rentem occidisse et statim, quod effugiendi potestas non fuit, ligneae soleae in pedes inditae sunt; os autem ob- volutum est folliculo et praeligatum; deinde est in car- cerem deductus, ut ibi esset tantisper, dum culleus, in quem coniectus in profluentem deferretur, compararetur. interea quidam eius familiares in carcerem tabulas af- ferunt et testes adducunt; heredes, quos ipse iubet, scribunt; tabulae obsigtur. de illo post suppli- cium sumitur. inter eos, qui heredes in tabulis scripti sunt, et inter agnatos de hereditate controversia est. Hic certa lex, quae testamenti faciendi iis, qui in eo loco sint, adimat potestatem, nulla profertur. ex ce- teris legibus et quae hunc ipsum supplicio eiusmodi afficiunt et quae ad testamenti faciendi potestatem pertinent, per ratiocinationem veniundum est ad eius- modi rationem, ut quaeratur, habueritne testamenti fa- ciendi potestatem. 2.153. contra ratiocinationem huiusmodi: coniecturam divinationem esse et stulti scriptoris esse non posse om- nibus de rebus cavere, quibus velit. Definitio est, cum in scripto verbum aliquod est positum, cuius de vi quaeritur, hoc modo: lex: qui in adversa tempestate navem reliquerint, omnia amittunto; eorum navis et onera sunto, qui in nave remanserint . Duo quidam, cum iam in alto navigarent, et cum eorum alterius navis, alterius onus esset, naufragum quendam natantem et manus ad se tendentem animum adverterunt; misericordia commoti navem ad eum adplicarunt, hominem ad se sustulerunt. 2.160. Prudentia est rerum bonarum et malarum neutra- rumque scientia. partes eius: memoria, intellegentia, providentia. memoria est, per quam animus repetit illa, quae fuerunt; intellegentia, per quam ea perspicit, quae sunt; providentia, per quam futurum aliquid videtur ante quam factum est. Iustitia est habitus animi communi utilitate con- servata suam cuique tribuens dignitatem. eius initium est ab natura profectum; deinde quaedam in con- suetudinem ex utilitatis ratione venerunt; postea res et ab natura profectas et ab consuetudine probatas legum metus et religio sanxit.
3. Anon., Rhetorica Ad Herennium, 2.13-2.14 (1st cent. BCE - 1st cent. BCE)

2.13.  When the intention of the framer appears at variance with the letter of a text, speaking in support of the letter we shall employ the following topics: first, after the Statement of Facts, a eulogy of the framer and then the reading aloud of the text; next the questioning of our adversaries: Are they duly aware that this text was in a law, will, contract, or any other document involved in the cause?; then a comparison of the text with the admitted act of our adversaries: Which should the judge follow — a document carefully draughted, or an interpretation cunningly invented? After that the interpretation devised and given to the text by our adversaries will be disparaged and weakened. Then the question will be raised: What risk would the writer have run by adding an entry of that kind had he really intended it, or was it impossible to write it out in full? Then we shall ascertain the writer's situation and present the reason why he had in mind what he wrote, and show that that text is clear, concise, apt, complete, and planned with precision. Thereupon we shall cite examples of judgements rendered in favour of the text, although adversaries raised the issue of spirit and intention. Finally, we shall show the danger of departing from the letter of the text. The commonplace here is that against one who, though confessing that he has violated the mandates of a statute or the directions of a will, yet seeks to defend his act. 2.14.  In favour of the intention we shall speak as follows: first we shall praise the framer for deft conciseness in having written only what was necessary; he did not think it necessary to write what could be understood without a text. Next we shall say that to follow the words literally and to neglect the intention is the method of a pettifogger. Then, we shall contend, the letter either cannot be carried out, or at least not without violation of Statute Law, Legal Custom, the Law of Nature, or Equity — all these, as no one will deny, the writer wished to be most strictly observed; but on the contrary, what we have done is absolutely just. Further, the interpretation of our adversaries is either no interpretation, or is unreasonable, unjust, impracticable, or inconsistent with past or subsequent interpretations, or is in disagreement with the common law or with other generally binding rules of law or with previous decisions. Next we shall cite instances of decisions rendered in favour of the intention and contrary to the letter, and then read and explain laws or contracts which had been written down in concise form and yet in which the intention of the framer is understood. The commonplace here is that against one who reads a text and does not interpret the writer's intention.
4. Mishnah, Avot, 4.22 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)

4.22. He used to say: the ones who were born are to die, and the ones who have died are to be brought to life, and the ones brought to life are to be judged; So that one may know, make known and have the knowledge that He is God, He is the designer, He is the creator, He is the discerner, He is the judge, He the witness, He the complait, and that He will summon to judgment. Blessed be He, before Whom there is no iniquity, nor forgetting, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes, for all is His. And know that all is according to the reckoning. And let not your impulse assure thee that the grave is a place of refuge for you; for against your will were you formed, against your will were you born, against your will you live, against your will you will die, and against your will you will give an account and reckoning before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He."
5. Quintilian, Institutes of Oratory, 1.4.2, 1.8.2, 1.8.5, 7.6.9 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)

1.4.2.  in either case the method is the same. This profession may be most briefly considered under two heads, the art of speaking correctly and the interpretation of the poets; but there is more beneath the surface than meets the eye. 1.8.2.  In this portion of my work I will give but one golden rule: to do all these things, he must understand what he reads. But above all his reading must be manly, combining dignity and charm; it must be different from the reading of prose, for poetry is song and poets claim to be singers. But this fact does not justify degenerating into sing-song or the effeminate modulations now in vogue: there is an excellent saying on this point attributed to Gaius Caesar while he was still a boy: "If you are singing, you sing badly: if you are reading, you sing. 1.8.5.  It is therefore an admirable practice which now prevails, to begin by reading Homer and Vergil, although the intelligence needs to be further developed for the full appreciation of their merits: but there is plenty of time for that since the boy will read them more than once. In the meantime let his mind be lifted by the sublimity of heroic verse, inspired by the greatness of its theme and imbued with the loftiest sentiments. 7.6.9.  But just as the advocate who rests his case on the intention of the law must wherever possible impugn the letter of the law, so he who defends the letter of the law must also seek to gain support from the intention. Again, in cases concerned with wills it sometimes happens that the intention of the testator is clear, though it has not been expressed in writing: an example of this occurs in the trial of Curius, which gave rise to the well-known argument between Lucius Crassus and Scaevola.
6. Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, 1.4.2 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)

1.4.2.  in either case the method is the same. This profession may be most briefly considered under two heads, the art of speaking correctly and the interpretation of the poets; but there is more beneath the surface than meets the eye.
7. Anon., Genesis Rabba, 8.3 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE)

8.3. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם (בראשית א, כו), בְּמִי נִמְלָךְ, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ נִמְלָךְ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנֵי סַנְקְלִיטִים, וְלֹא הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דָבָר חוּץ מִדַּעְתָּן. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר בְּמַעֲשֵׂה כָּל יוֹם וָיוֹם נִמְלַךְ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ סַנְקַתַּדְרוֹן, וְלֹא הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דָבָר חוּץ מִדַּעְתּוֹ. רַבִּי אַמֵּי אָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ נִמְלַךְ, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁבָּנָה פָּלָטִין עַל יְדֵי אַרְדְּכָל, רָאָה אוֹתָהּ וְלֹא עָרְבָה לוֹ, עַל מִי יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְרַעֵם לֹא עַל אַרְדְּכָל, אֶתְמְהָא, הֱוֵי וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. אָמַר רַב אַסֵּי מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה לוֹ סְחוֹרָה עַל יְדֵי סַרְסוּר וְהִפְסִיד, עַל מִי יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְרָעֵם לֹא עַל הַסַּרְסוּר, אֶתְמְהָא, הֱוֵי וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל לִבּוֹ. 8.3. Let us make a human”—with whom did He rule/nimlokh? R’ Yehoshua in the name of R’ Levi said: With the work/m’la’khah of the heavens and the earth . . . R’ Shmuel bar Nachman said: With the work/ma`aseh of each and every day..."
8. Anon., Exodus Rabbah, 15.12 (4th cent. CE - 9th cent. CE)

15.12. דָּבָר אַחֵר, הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר לִי וְלָכֶם הִיא הַגְּאֻלָּה, כִּבְיָכוֹל אֲנִי נִפְדֵיתִי עִמָּכֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ז, כג): אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ לְּךָ מִמִּצְרַיִם גּוֹיִם וֵאלֹהָיו, וְקִבְעוּ הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לִי וְלָכֶם, שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה דַּם הַפֶּסַח וּמְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: דַּבְּרוּ אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּתְהֵא שִׂמְחַתְכֶם שְׁלֵמָה, אֲפִלּוּ מִי שֶׁהוּא עָנִי. שֶׂה תָמִים זָכָר בֶּן שָׁנָה, שֶׂה, בִּשְׁבִיל (בראשית כב, ח): אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה לוֹ הַשֶֹּׂה וגו'. תָּמִים, לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לב, ד): הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ. זָכָר, שֶׁהוּא הוֹרֵג כָּל בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם שֶׁל מִצְרַיִם וְחָס עַל בְּכוֹרֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. מִן הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן הָעִזִּים תִּקָּחוּ, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֲנִי הוֹרֵג הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה הַשְּׁבִי וְהַשִּׁפְחָה, כָּךְ רְשׁוּת בְּיֶדְכֶם לִטֹּל מִכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתֶּם רוֹצִים וְיִהְיוּ מְשַׁמְרִין אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁהוּא לָכֶם שִׂמְחָה [נסחה אחרת: שמירה] גְּדוֹלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת. וְשַׁחֲטוּ אוֹתוֹ, אַתֶּם שׁוֹחֲטִים פֶּסַח וַאֲנִי שׁוֹחֵט בְּכוֹרִים. וְלָקְחוּ מִן הַדָּם וְנָתְנוּ עַל שְׁתֵּי הַמְזוּזֹת, שֶׁאֲנִי פּוֹסֵחַ וּמֵגֵן עֲלֵיכֶם. וְיִהְיוּ זְהִירִין בּוֹ, שֶׁבַּלַּיְלָה הוּא נֶאֱכָל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְאָכְלוּ אֶת הַבָּשָׂר בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה צְלִי אֵשׁ, בִּשְׁבִיל אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהִצַּלְתִּיו מִכִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ. וּמַצּוֹת, בִּשְׁבִיל שָׂרָה שֶׁעָשְׂתָה לְמַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת עֻגוֹת וְלֹא טָעֲמוּ לֶחֶם. מְרֹרִים, בִּשְׁבִיל יַעֲקֹב, שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּרְדְּפוּ בָּנָיו בְּמִצְרַיִם כָּךְ רְדָפוֹ עֵשָׂו. וְלֹא תוֹתִירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד בֹּקֶר, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵינִי מְשַׁיֵּר נְשָׁמָה בִּבְכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם, כָּךְ לֹא תוֹתִירוּ מִמֶּנוּ עַד בֹּקֶר. מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר לְבָנָיו הֱיוּ יוֹדְעִים שֶׁאֲנִי דָן דִּינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת וּמְחַיֵּב, הַקְרִיבוּ לִי דּוֹרוֹן שֶׁאִם תַּעֲלוּ לְפָנַי לַבִּימָה שֶׁאַעֲבִיר אִילוֹגִין שֶׁלָּכֶם לְאַחֵר. כָּךְ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת אֲנִי מִתְעַסֵּק וּמוֹדִיעַ אֲנִי הֵיאַךְ אֲנִי חָס עֲלֵיכֶם בְּרַחֲמִים בְּדַם פֶּסַח וּבְדַם מִילָה, וַאֲנִי מְכַפֵּר עַל נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם, שֶׁהָעֲבָרָה שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹבֵר קָשָׁה הִיא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְעָבַרְתִּי בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, וְכֵן יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמֵר (תהלים ט, י): וִיהִי ה' מִשְׁגָּב לַדָּךְ מִשְׂגָּב לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה.


Subjects of this text:

subject book bibliographic info
allegorical interpretation Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
arrangement and reasoning of rhetoric Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 101, 128
cicero, on rhetorical reasoning Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 101, 128, 260
controversiae Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
declamation Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
declamatory enemies Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
enmity Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
fortunatianus, consultus Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
gamaliel of yavneh, rabban, on nonconformity Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 101
grammar Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
heavenly court advocates, in rabbinic literature Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
heavenly court advocates Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
hermagoras Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
hermagoras von temnos Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
hermeneutics, as rhetorical topoi Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 101
hermeneutics Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
hermogenes of tarsus Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 101
hidary, richard Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 128
homer Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
iulius victor, c. Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
lawyers and legal system, capital cases Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 128
lawyers and legal system, roman court system Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
lieberman, saul, on rabbinic courts Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
martianus minneus felix capella Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
moses Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
origen Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
protagoras Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
quintilian Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
quintilian (m. fabius quintilianus) Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
rhetoric Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
sententiae Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
sherira gaon Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 128
shimon bar yoḥai, r., in defense of israel Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
sinai Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260
sophistopolis Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
stam/stammaim Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 128
sulpicius victor Pausch and Pieper, The Scholia on Cicero’s Speeches: Contexts and Perspectives (2023) 98
torture Michalopoulos et al., The Rhetoric of Unity and Division in Ancient Literature (2021) 135
virgil Pollmann and Vessey, Augustine and the Disciplines: From Cassiciacum to Confessions (2007) 207
yehoshua ben levi, r.' Hidary, Rabbis and Classical Rhetoric: Sophistic Education and Oratory in the Talmud and Midrash (2017) 260