Abstract

The book deals primarily with the prose rhythm in Cicero’s orations by performing a colometric analysis and draws on prose rhythm for continuous text interpretation. The core thesis is that Latin word accent already has a constitutive function in respect to prose rhythm of classical Latin. Even in the case of Cicero, a set of five so-called “clausulas” is proven to be essentially sufficient for a rhythmic analysis (in the context of the Trias of compositio, concinnitas and numerus).This is illustrated primarily by an interpretation of the first 300 cola of Pro Quinctio, de lege agraria (second speech) and the 14th Philippic.