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B. W. Frier, The rise of the Roman jurists: studies in Cicero's Pro Caecina. Princeton: University Press, 1985. Pp. xxiv + 317. ISBN 0-691-03578-4.

But M.'s method also has its advantages, and, in particular, it allows a moving picture of Cicero's presentation of his own ethos: first we see the persona of the powerless champion of the desperate bravely opposing the unscrupulous use of power and influence; then follows the consularis and pater patriae who defends his clients largely by identifying their position with his own; next, in the post reditum speeches, a tone of self-justification becomes apparent as Cicero associates both himself and his client with the res publica; finally, from Mil. onwards, Cicero has to accommodate his own ethos to that of more powerful men until eventually, in the Philippics, the persona of a patriot emerges with a new authority. M. traces these developments clearly, although more attention might have been paid to the social status of Cicero's clients: when Cicero became consul he found that not only did he at last have the auctoritas he needed for effective oratory, but he was now also in a position to attract clients who could exert considerable auctoritas of their own (cf. Att. iv. 15. 9). Certain themes constantly recur in M.'s discussions, and are rightly emphasized: the identification of client with patron; the importance of highlighting typically 'Roman' characteristics in the man one is defending (and of representing one's opponent as failing to behave in a 'Roman' fashion); thirdly, Cicero's presentation of every issue in polarized, antithetical terms (the so-called 'disjunctive mode'), with no opportunity given for ambiguity or qualified judgements. Here too M. might have taken his argument further and gone on to ask whether such a presentation simply represents the way in which Cicero saw and interpreted the world, or whether this attitude was recognized by Cicero as simplistic but nevertheless adopted because of its usefulness in a court-of-law. Now for one or two points of detail. M. repeatedly asserts (6, 16, 26, 108, 163) that the Romans believed character to be 'essentially constant'. This view has been questioned by A. R. Hands (CQ n.s. 24 (1974), 312-17) and C. Gill (CQ n.s. 33 (1983), 469-87), and it should be borne in mind that it was very much in the orator's interest to promote the view that individuals never act 'out of character': argumenta ex vita depended on the assumption that 'if my client has lived honestly in the past, he cannot have committed the crime alleged'. Those passages, therefore, in which Cicero assumes the immutability of character should not be used as evidence for a general belief. P. 49: on Cicero's election to the consulship he was not 'the first "new man" to be so honored in a very long time'; in spite of the impression given by Cicero's writings, there had in fact been five novi homines who had made it to the consulship since Marius (cf. T. P. Wiseman, New Men in the Roman Senate, I3g BC-AD 14 (1971), 203). P. 60: the exordium of Mur. is best viewed as consisting of §§ 1-2, salute tueatur, not §§ 1-10. Cicero's exordia became progressively briefer as he rose to fame; by 63 B.C. there was scarcely any need for him to render his audiences attenti and dociles with lengthy openings. P. 73, 'C. Cornelius': his praenomen is in fact unknown (RE iv. 1250. 59). Finally, a bibliographic addition: we now have C. B. R. Pelling (Ed.), Characterization and Individuality in Greek Literature (1990), containing D. A. Russell, 'Ethos in Oratory and Rhetoric' (197-212). Trials of Character provides an attractive overview of a notable aspect of ancient oratory. It will be a popular book among undergraduates, who will read only the sections on their set speeches; they will not lose out especially, since many of the more important points are reiterated with each new speech that is discussed. It is unfortunate, however, that quotations are given in English, the Latin for no apparent reason being relegated to the notes at the end. The book is subtitled The Eloquence of Ciceronian Ethos; the removal of the Latin may perhaps be of little consequence for the reader's understanding of the ethos, but it undoubtedly masks the subtlety and reduces the impact of Cicero's eloquence.