Back in the sack

 'Pro Roscio' was the shortened title of the first proper Latin book I ever read, from pages that are back beside me now this morning, the two words still overwritten by hand in bright blue ink on a grey cloth cover faded by schoolboy use and abuse. Why? Well, there has arrived at the TLS a bright green-and-yellow copy of this speech, Pro Sexto Roscio, that Cicero gave in 80 BC; and tonight, in celebration of that, I'm going to read it again.

Celebration? Yes, absolutely. There is...