O Cicero, si sic dixisses, non ego barbatos pisces Massiliae ederem!

Latin Learning Latin
1

Hi to all.
Some latin teachers (and websites) say that when Titus Annius Milo read a transcription of Cicero’s “Pro Milone” in his place of exile, he said (alluding to the fact the transcription was very different from the “ipsissima verba”):
“O Cicero, si sic dixisses, non ego barbatos pisces Massiliae ederem!”
“Oh Cicero, had you spoken thus, I wouldn’t be eating carps in Marseille!”
Is there some basis to this legend? Who started it?

2

ὁ Μίλων τῷ λόγῳ πεμφθέντι οἱ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐντυχών (ἐπεφυγάδευτο γὰρ) ἀντεπέστειλε1 λέγων ὅτι ἐν τύχῃ αὐτῷ ἐγένετο τὸ μὴ ταῦθ᾿ οὕτω καὶ ἐν τῷ δικαστηρίῳ λεχθῆναι· οὐ γὰρ ἂν τοιαύτας ἐν τῇ Μασσαλίᾳ (ἐν ᾗ κατὰ τὴν φυγὴν ἦν) τρίγλας ἐσθίειν, εἴπερ τι τοιοῦτον ἀπελελόγητο.

When Milo, in banishment, had read the speech sent to him by Cicero, he wrote back saying that it was lucky for him those words had not been spoken in that form in the court; for he should not be eating such mullets in Massilia (where he was passing his exile), if any such defence had been made.

Dio Cassio 40.54.3

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Thank you for your answer!

4

I am sorry I dont know the source of the Latin. I think “barbatos pisces” is wrongly translated as “carp”. τρίγλη is red mullet which is “Mullus barbatus” a much prized fish in antiquity ( and indeed today). It would seem odd for Milo ensconced in Marseille to laud the Carp which is a fresh water fish which could probably be found in many places, I think the Romans farmed them in ponds. It is likely he had in mind a fish found in the surrounding sea. I also dont think that Carp are “bearded”, even if they might sometimes be “breaded”.

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The translation of “barbatus piscis” as “carp” is mine, I just thought about carps because they have this -don’t think it’s the right term- moustache :mrgreen: :

.
But then, there are also catfishes:

However, since Marseille is near the see, your translation is more accurate, especially when we look at the Greek, and consider in some Romance Languages we have a transliteration of the Greek term
I’m not into Greek, but I’m glad to finally know the source of this sentence!