Source edition
Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Volume 6. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1911.
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA (per Perseus's terms)
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
In this oration, Cicero defends the legitimacy of the Roman citizenship of the Greek poet Archias. Addressing the plaintiff's formal accusations regarding irregularities in Archias's registration, Cicero presents the legal facts while passionately advocating for the intrinsic value of literature and humanistic studies (humanitas). The first half of the speech establishes the legal grounds of Archias's citizenship, detailing his integration into Roman high society and his lawful registration. In the second half, Cicero shifts to a broader defense of the liberal arts, arguing that poetry provides mental restoration, fosters noble character, and immortalizes the great military achievements of Rome. Ultimately, he connects the legitimacy of citizenship with the sanctity of the poet, appealing to the jurors to protect Archias as an invaluable asset to the Roman state.