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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:45:05 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:45:05 -0700 |
| commit | 4641b0bf39cf4b77405805902c7ce77cc5198d83 (patch) | |
| tree | a5f9b0717ea4f49bf8a8e19c703a658478af89e1 | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/21629-8.txt b/21629-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10134b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/21629-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7542 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best of the World's Classics, +Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome + +Author: Various + +Editor: Henry Cabot Lodge + Francis W. Halsey + +Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21629] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEST OF THE WORLD'S CLASSICS *** + + + + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + [Illustration: MARCUS AURELIUS] + + [Illustration: CÆSAR] + + [Illustration: CICERO] + + [Illustration: SENECA] + + + + THE BEST + + _of the_ + + WORLD'S CLASSICS + + RESTRICTED TO PROSE + + + + HENRY CABOT LODGE + + _Editor-in-Chief_ + + + FRANCIS W. HALSEY + + _Associate Editor_ + + + With an Introduction, Biographical and + Explanatory Notes, etc. + + + IN TEN VOLUMES + + Vol. II + + + ROME + + + + + + FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY + + FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY + + * * * * * + + + + +The Best of the World's Classics + +VOL. II + +ROME + +234 B.C.--180 A.D. + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS + + +VOL. II--ROME + + +CATO THE CENSOR--(Born in 234 B.C., died in 149.) + +Of Work on a Roman Farm. (From "De Re Rustica." Translated by Dr. E. +Wilson) + + +CICERO--(Born in 106 B.C., assassinated in 43.) + +I The Blessings of Old Age. + (From the "Cato Major." Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +II On the Death of His Daughter Tullia. (A letter to Sulpicius) + +III Of Brave and Elevated Spirits. + (From Book I of the "Offices." Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +IV Of Scipio's Death and of Friendship. + From the "Dialog on Friendship." (Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + + +JULIUS CÆSAR--(Born in 100 B.C., assassinated in 44.) + +I The Building of the Bridge Across the Rhine. + (From Book IV of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and W. S. Bohn) + +II The Invasion of Britain. + (From Book V of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated by + McDivett and Bohn) + +III Overcoming the Nervii. + (From Book II of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and Bohn) + +IV The Battle of Pharsalia and the Death of Pompey. + (From Book III of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and Bohn) + + +SALLUST--(Born about 86 B.C., died about 34.) + +I The Genesis of Catiline. + (From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. Watson) + +II The Fate of the Conspirators. + (From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. Watson) + + +Livy--(Born in 59 B.C., died in 17 A.D.) + +I Horatius Cocles at the Bridge. + (From Book II of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. Spillan + and Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +II Hannibal's Crossing of the Alps. + (From Book XXI of the "History of Rome." Translated by Spillan and + Edmonds) + +III Hannibal and Scipio at Zama. + (From Book XXX of the "History of Rome." Translated by Spillan and + Edmonds) + +SENECA--(Born about 4 B.C., died in 65 A.D.) + +I Of the Wise Man. + (From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +II Of Consolation for the Loss of Friends. + (From Book VI of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +III To Nero on Clemency. + (From the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +IV The Pilot. + (From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge) + +V Of a Happy Life. + (From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + + +PLINY THE ELDER--(Born in 23 A.D., perished in the Eruption of Vesuvius.) + +I The Qualities of the Dog. + (From the "Natural History." Translated by Bostock and Riley) + +II Three Great Artists of Greece. + (From the "Natural History." Translated by Bostock and Riley) + + +QUINTILIAN--(Born about 35 A.D., died about 95.) + + The Orator Must Be a Good Man. + (From Book XII, Chapter I, of the "Institutes." Translated by J. S. + Watson) + + +TACITUS--(Born about 55 A.D., died about 117.) + +I From Republican to Imperial Rome. + (From Book I of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +II The Funeral of Germanicus. + (From Book III of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +III The Death of Seneca. + (From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +IV The Burning of Rome by Order of Nero. + (From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +V The Burning of the Capitol at Rome. + (From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation revised) + +VI The Siege of Cremona. + (From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation revised) + +VII Agricola. + (The Oxford translation revised) + + +PLINY THE YOUNGER--(Born in 63 A.D., died in 113.) + +I Of the Christians in His Province. + (From the "Letters." The Melmoth translation revised) + +II To Tacitus on the Eruption of Vesuvius. + (From the "Letters." The Melmoth translation revised) + + +SUETONIUS--(Lived in the first half of the second century A.D.) + +I The Last Days of Augustus. + (From the "Lives of the Cæsars." Translated by Alexander Thomson, + revised by Forester) + +II The Good Deeds of Nero. + (From the "Lives of the Cæsars." Translated by Thomson, revised by + Forester) + +III The Death of Nero. + (From the "Lives of the Cæsars." Translated by Thomson, revised by + Forester) + + +MARCUS AURELIUS--(Born in 121 A.D., died in 180.) + + His Debt to Others. + (From the "Meditations." Translated by George Long) + + * * * * * + + + + +ROME + +234 B.C.--180 A.D. + + * * * * * + + + + +CATO, THE CENSOR + + Born in Tusculum, Italy, in 234 B.C., died in 149; + celebrated as statesman, general, and writer; questor under + Scipio in 204; Consul in 195; served in Spain in 194; censor + in 184; ambassador to Carthage in 150; one of the chief + instigators of the third Punic war; among his writings are + "De Re Rustica" and "Origines."[1] + +OF WORK ON A ROMAN FARM[2] + + +When the owner of the farm and slaves visits his country villa, after +saluting the household god, he should the same day, if possible, go +round the farm; if not the same day, he should do so the day after. On +seeing how the farm is being cultivated, and what work has been done +or left undone, he should call for his steward and inquire for his +account of what work has been done and what remains to be done. He +should ask whether the work has been completed in good time and +whether what is left uncompleted can be finished. He should find what +wine has been made, and what wheat stored. When he has gone into these +particulars, he should ask for an account of the days spent in +accomplishing the work. + +If the work does not seem satisfactory and the steward should excuse +himself by declaring that he has done his best, that the slaves were +good for nothing, that the weather was bad, that some slaves had run +away, that he himself had been called off on public service, and +should allege other such excuses, he should still be strictly called +to account. He should be asked if on rainy or tempestuous days he had +seen that indoor operations had been carried on. Had the wine-casks +been scoured and lined with pitch; had the house-cleaning been done; +had the grain been taken from the thrashing-floor to the granary; had +manure been thrown from the stables and cow-houses and piled into +heaps; had the seed been winnowed; had any rope been made; had the old +rope been repaired, and had he seen that the slaves mended their coats +and caps. He should be reminded that on religious festivals old +ditches might have been cleared out, the public road mended, briers +cut down, the garden dug over, the meadow cleared, the trees trimmed, +thorns pulled up by the roots, the grain ground and a general clearing +up carried through. He should also be told that when slaves were sick +their rations should be cut down. + +When the matters have been settled to the master's satisfaction, he +should take measures to see that what has not been done be at once +accomplished. He should then proceed to consider the account of the +farm, and a consideration of the amount of grain which has been +prepared for fodder. He should have returns made of wine and +olive-oil, and learn how much has been consumed, how much sold, how +much is left over and may be put on sale. If there is a deficit any +year, he should order it to be made up from the outside, and whatever +is above the needs of the farm sold. If there is anything to let out +on contract, he should order this to be done, and concerning the work +which he wishes to be thus accomplished he should give his order in +writing. As regards the cattle he should order them to be sold by +auction, and in the same way should sell the oil, if the price of oil +has risen; likewise the superfluous wine and corn of the estate. He +should also order to be sold worn-out bulls, blemished cattle, +blemished sheep, wool, hides, any plow that is old, old tools, old +slaves, slaves who are diseased, or anything else which is useless, +for the owner of a farm must be a seller and not a purchaser. + +The owner of a farm and of slaves must begin to study in early manhood +the cultivation and sowing of the land. He should, however, think a +long time before building his villa, but not about farming his +property, which he should set about at once. Let him wait until his +thirty-sixth year and then build, provided his whole property is under +cultivation. So build that neither the villa be disproportionately +small in comparison with the farm nor the farm in comparison with the +villa. It behooves a slave-owner to have a well-built country house, +containing a wine-cellar, a place for storing olive-oil, and casks in +such numbers that he may look forward with delight to a time of +scarcity and high prices, and this will add not only to his wealth, +but to his influence and reputation. He must have wine-presses of the +first order, that his wine may be well made. When the olives have been +picked, let oil be at once made or it will turn out rancid. Recollect +that every year the olives are shaken from the trees in great number +by violent storms. If you gather them up quickly and have vessels +ready to receive them, the storm will have done them no harm and the +oil will be all the greener and better. If the olives be on the ground +or even on the barn floor too long, the oil made from them will be +fetid. Olive-oil will be always good and sweet if it be promptly made. + +The following are the duties of a steward: He must maintain strict +discipline, and see that the festivals are observed. While he keeps +his hands off the property of a neighbor, let him look well to his +own. The slaves are to be kept from quarreling. If any of them commits +a fault, he should be punished in a kindly manner. The steward must +see that the slaves are comfortable and suffer neither from cold nor +hunger. By keeping them busy he will prevent them from running into +mischief or stealing. If the steward sets his face against evil doing, +evil will not be done by them. His master must call him to task if he +let evil doing go unpunished. If one slave do him any service, he +should show gratitude that the others may be encouraged to do right. +The steward must not be a gadder or a diner-out, but must give all his +attention to working the slaves, and considering how best to carry out +his master's instructions.... + +It is at times worth while to gain wealth by commerce, were it not so +perilous; or by usury, were it equally honorable. Our ancestors, +however, held, and fixt by law, that a thief should be condemned to +restore double, a usurer quadruple. We thus see how much worse they +thought it for a citizen to be a money-lender than a thief. Again, +when they praised a good man, they praised him as a good farmer or a +good husbandman. Men so praised were held to have received the highest +praise. For myself, I think well of a merchant as a man of energy and +studious of gain; but it is a career, as I have said, that leads to +danger and ruin. However, farming makes the bravest men and the +sturdiest soldiers, and of all sources of gain is the surest, the most +natural, and the least invidious, and those who are busy with it have +the fewest bad thoughts.[3] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Cato was Rome's first thoroughly national author. He is +usually classed as the creator of Latin prose. Other Roman authors of +his time wrote in Greek. Cato bitterly opposed Greek learning, +declaring that, when Greece should give Rome her literature, she would +"corrupt everything." On Cato's mind no outside literary influence +ever prevailed. He has been called "the most original writer that Rome +ever produced."] + +[Footnote 2: From "De Re Rustica." Translated for this work by Dr. +Epiphanius Wilson.] + +[Footnote 3: The translation of this paragraph is taken from +Cruttwell's "History of Roman Literature."] + + + + +CICERO + + Born in 106 B.C., assassinated in 43; celebrated as orator, + philosopher, statesman, and man of letters; served in the + social war in 89; traveled in Greece and Asia in 79-77; + questor in Sicily in 75; accused Verres in 70; prætor in 60; + as Consul supprest Catiline's conspiracy in 63; banished in + 58; recalled in 57; proconsul in Cicilia in 51-50; joined + Pompey in 49; pronounced orations against Mark Antony in + 44-43; proscribed by the Second Triumvirate in 43; of his + orations fifty-seven are extant, with fragments of twenty + others; other extant works include "De Oratore," "De + Republica," "Cato Major," "De Officiis," and four + collections of letters. + + +I + +THE BLESSINGS OF OLD AGE[4] + + +Nor even now do I feel the want of the strength of a young man, no +more than when a young man I felt the want of the strength of the bull +or of the elephant. What one has, that one ought to use; and whatever +you do, you should do it with all your strength. For what expression +can be more contemptible than that of Milo[5] of Crotona, who, when he +was now an old man, and was looking at the prize-fighters exercising +themselves on the course, is reported to have looked at his arms, +and, weeping over them, to have said, "But these, indeed, are now +dead." Nay, foolish man, not these arms so much as yourself; for you +never derived your nobility from yourself, but from your chest and +your arms. Nothing of the kind did Sextus Ælius ever say, nothing of +the kind many years before did Titus Coruncanius, nothing lately did +Publius Crassus; by whom instructions in jurisprudence were given to +their fellow citizens, and whose wisdom was progressive even to their +latest breath. For the orator, I fear lest he be enfeebled by old age; +for eloquence is a gift not of mind only, but also of lungs and +strength. On the whole, that melodiousness in the voice is graceful, I +know not how, even in old age; which, indeed, I have not lost, and you +see my years. + +Yet there is a graceful style of eloquence in an old man, +unimpassioned and subdued, and very often the elegant and gentle +discourse of an eloquent old man wins for itself a hearing; and if you +have not yourself the power to produce this effect, yet you may be +able to teach it to Scipio and Lælius. For what is more delightful +than old age surrounded with the studious attention of youth? Shall we +not leave even such a resource to old age, as to teach young men, +instruct them, train them to every department of duty? an employment, +indeed, than which what can be more noble? But, for my part, I thought +the Cneius and Publius Scipios,[6] and your two grandfathers, L. +Æmilius and P. Africanus, quite happy in the attendance of noble +youths; nor are any preceptors of liberal accomplishments to be deemed +otherwise than happy, tho their strength hath fallen into old age and +failed; altho that very failure of strength is more frequently caused +by the follies of youth than by those of old age; for a lustful and +intemperate youth transmits to old age an exhausted body. Cyrus too, +in Xenophon, in that discourse which he delivered on his deathbed when +he was a very old man, said that he never felt that his old age had +become feebler than his youth had been. I recollect, when a boy, that +Lucius Metellus,[7] who, when four years after his second consulship +he had been made "pontifex maximus," and for twenty-two years held +that sacerdotal office, enjoyed such good strength at the latter +period of his life, that he felt no want of youth. There is no need +for me to speak about myself, and yet that is the privilege of old +age, and conceded to my time of life. + +Do you see how, in Homer, Nestor very often proclaims his own virtues? +for he was now living in the third generation of men; nor had he +occasion to fear lest, when stating the truth about himself, he should +appear either too arrogant or too talkative; for, as Homer says, from +his tongue speech flowed sweeter than honey; for which charm he stood +in need of no strength of body; and yet the famous chief of Greece +nowhere wishes to have ten men like Ajax, but like Nestor; and he does +not doubt if that should happen, Troy would in a short time perish. + +But I return to myself. I am in my eighty-fourth year. In truth I +should like to be able to make the same boast that Cyrus did; but one +thing I can say, that altho I have not, to be sure, that strength +which I had either as a soldier in the Punic war or as questor in the +same war, or as Consul in Spain, or, four years afterward, when as +military tribune I fought a battle at Thermopylæ, in the consulship of +Marcus Acilius Glabrio; yet, as you see, old age has not quite +enfeebled me or broken me down: the senate-house does not miss my +strength, nor the rostra, nor my friends, nor my clients, nor my +guests; for I have never agreed to that old and much-praised proverb +which advises you to become an old man early if you wish to be an old +man long. I for my part would rather be an old man for a shorter +length of time than be an old man before I was one. And, therefore, no +one as yet has wished to have an interview with me to whom I have been +denied as engaged. + +But I have less strength than either of you two. Neither even do you +possess the strength of Titus Pontius the centurion; is he, therefore, +the more excellent man? Only let there be a moderate degree of +strength, and let every man exert himself as much as he can; and in +truth that man will not be absorbed in regretting the want of +strength. Milo, at Olympia, is said to have gone over the course while +supporting on his shoulders a live ox. Whether, then, would you rather +have this strength of body, or Pythagoras' strength of intellect, +bestowed upon you? In a word, enjoy that blessing while you have it; +when it is gone, do not lament it, unless, indeed, young men ought to +lament the loss of boyhood, and those a little advanced in age the +loss of adolescence. There is a definite career in life, and one way +of nature, and that a simple one; and to every part of life its own +peculiar period has been assigned; so that both the feebleness of +boys, and the high spirit of young men, and the steadiness of now fixt +manhood, and the maturity of old age, have something natural which +ought to be enjoyed in their own time. I suppose that you hear, +Scipio, what your grandfather's host, Masinissa,[8] is doing at this +day, at the age of ninety. When he has commenced a journey on foot, he +never mounts at all; when on horseback, he never dismounts; by no +rain, by no cold, is he prevailed upon to have his head covered; that +there is in him the greatest hardiness of frame; and therefore he +performs all the duties and functions of a king. Exercise, therefore, +and temperance, even in old age, can preserve some remnant of our +pristine vigor. + +Is there no strength in old age? neither is strength exacted from old +age. Therefore, by our laws and institutions, our time of life is +relieved from those tasks which can not be supported without strength. +Accordingly, so far are we from being compelled to do what we can not +do that we are not even compelled to do as much as we can. But so +feeble are many old men that they can not execute any task of duty or +any function of life whatever; but that in truth is not the peculiar +fault of old age, but belongs in common to bad health. How feeble was +the son of Publius Africanus, he who adopted you. What feeble health, +or rather no health at all, had he! and had that not been so, he would +have been the second luminary of the state; for to his paternal +greatness of soul a richer store of learning had been added. What +wonder, therefore, in old men if they are sometimes weak when even +young men can not escape that. + +We must make a stand, Scipio and Lælius, against old age, and its +faults must be atoned for by activity; we must fight, as it were, +against disease, and in like manner against old age. Regard must be +paid to health; moderate exercises must be adopted; so much of meat +and drink must be taken that the strength may be recruited, not +opprest. Nor, indeed, must the body alone be supported, but the mind +and the soul much more; for these also, unless you drop oil on them as +on a lamp, are extinguished by old age. And our bodies, indeed, by +weariness and exercise, become opprest; but our minds are rendered +buoyant by exercise. For as to those of whom Cæcilius speaks, "foolish +old men," fit characters for comedy, by these he denotes the +credulous, the forgetful, the dissolute, which are the faults not of +old age, but of inactive, indolent, drowsy old age. As petulance and +lust belong to the young more than to the old, yet not to all young +men, but to those who are not virtuous; so that senile folly, which is +commonly called dotage, belongs to weak old men, and not to all. Four +stout sons, five daughters, so great a family, and such numerous +dependents, did Appius manage, altho both old and blind; for he kept +his mind intent like a bow, nor did he languidly sink under the weight +of old age. He retained not only authority, but also command, over +his family; the slaves feared him; the children respected him; all +held him dear; there prevailed in that house the manners and good +discipline of our fathers. For on this condition is old age honored if +it maintains itself, if it keeps up its own right, if it is +subservient to no one, if even to its last breath it exercises control +over its dependents. For, as I like a young man in whom there is +something of the old, so I like an old man in whom there is something +of the young; and he who follows this maxim, in body will possibly be +an old man, but he will never be an old man in mind. + +I have in hand my seventh book of Antiquities; I am collecting all the +materials of our early history; of all the famous causes which I have +defended; I am now completing the pleadings;[9] I am employed on a law +of augurs, of pontiffs, of citizens. I am much engaged also in Greek +literature, and, after the manner of the Pythagoreans, for the purpose +of exercising my memory, I call to mind in the evening what I have +said, heard, and done on each day. These are the exercises of the +understanding; these are the race-courses of the mind; while I am +perspiring and toiling over these, I do not greatly miss my strength +of body. I attend my friends, I come into the senate very often, and +spontaneously bring forward things much and long thought of, and I +maintain them by strength of mind, not of body; and if I were unable +to perform these duties, yet my couch would afford me amusement, when +reflecting on those matters which I was no longer able to do, but that +I am able is owing to my past life; for, by a person who always lives +in these pursuits and labors, it is not perceived when old age steals +on. Thus gradually and unconsciously life declines into old age; nor +is its thread suddenly broken, but the vital principle is consumed by +length of time. + +Then follows the third topic of blame against old age, that they say +it has no pleasures. Oh, noble privilege of age! if indeed it takes +from us that which is in youth the greatest defect. For listen, most +excellent young men, to the ancient speech of Archytas[10] of +Tarentum, a man eminently great and illustrious, which was reported to +me when I, a young man, was at Tarentum with Quintus Maximus. He said +that no more deadly plague than the pleasure of the body was inflicted +on men by nature; for the passions, greedy of that pleasure, were in a +rash and unbridled manner incited to possess it; that hence arose +treasons against one's country, hence the ruining of states, hence +clandestine conferences with enemies--in short, that there was no +crime, no wicked act, to the undertaking of which the lust of +pleasure did not impel; but that fornications and adulteries and every +such crime were provoked by no other allurements than those of +pleasure. And whereas either nature or some god had given to man +nothing more excellent than his mind, that to this divine function and +gift, nothing was so hostile as pleasure; since where lust bore sway, +there was no room for self-restraint; and in the realm of pleasure, +virtue could by no possibility exist. And that this might be the +better understood, he begged you to imagine in your mind any one +actuated by the greatest pleasure of the body that could be enjoyed; +he believed no one would doubt but that so long as the person was in +that state of delight, he would be able to consider nothing in his +mind, to attain nothing by reason, nothing by reflection; wherefore +that there was nothing so detestable and so destructive as pleasure, +inasmuch as that when it was excessive and very prolonged, it +extinguished all the light of the soul. + +Nearchus of Tarentum, our host, who had remained throughout in +friendship with the Roman people, said he had heard from older men +that Archytas held this conversation with Caius Pontius the Samnite, +the father of him by whom, in the Caudian[11] battle, Spurius +Postumius and Titus Veturius, the consuls, were overcome, on which +occasion Plato the Athenian had been present at that discourse; and I +find that he came to Tarentum in the consulship of Lucius Camillus and +Appius Claudius.[12] Wherefore do I adduce this? that we may +understand that if we could not by reason and wisdom despise pleasure, +great gratitude would be due to old age for bringing it to pass that +that should not be a matter of pleasure which is not a matter of duty. +For pleasure is hostile to reason, hinders deliberation, and, so to +speak, closes the eyes of the mind, nor does it hold any intercourse +with virtue. I indeed acted reluctantly in expelling from the senate +Lucius Flaminius, brother of that very brave man Titus Flaminius,[13] +seven years after he had been Consul; but I thought that his +licentiousness should be stigmatized. For that man, when he was Consul +in Gaul, was prevailed on at a banquet by a courtezan to behead one of +those who were in chains, condemned on a capital charge. He escaped in +the censorship of his brother Titus, who had immediately preceded me; +but so profligate and abandoned an act of lust could by no means be +allowed to pass by me and Flaccus, since with private infamy it +combined the disgrace of the empire. + +I have often heard from my elders, who said that, in like manner, +they, when boys, had heard from old men, that Caius Fabricius was wont +to wonder that when he was ambassador to King Pyrrhus, he had heard +from Cineas the Thessalian that there was a certain person at Athens +who profest himself a wise man, and that he was accustomed to say that +all things which we did were to be referred to pleasure; and that +hearing him say so, Manius Curius and Titus Coruncanius were +accustomed to wish that that might be the persuasion of the Samnites +and Pyrrhus[14] himself, that they might the more easily be conquered +when they had given themselves up to pleasure. Manius Curius had lived +with Publius Decius, who, five years before the consulship of the +former, had devoted himself for the commonwealth in his fourth +consulship. Fabricius had been acquainted with him, and Coruncanius +had also known him, who, as well from his own conduct in life, as from +the great action of him whom I mention, Publius Decius, judged that +there was doubtless something in its own nature excellent and +glorious, which should be followed for its own sake, and which, +scorning and despising pleasure, all the worthiest men pursued.... + +But why do I refer to others? Let me now return to myself. First of +all, I always had associates in clubs; and clubs were established when +I was questor, on the Idæan worship of the great mother being adopted. +Therefore I feasted with my associates altogether in a moderate way, +but there was a kind of fervor peculiar to that time of life, and as +that advances, all things will become every day more subdued. For I +did not calculate the gratification of those banquets by the pleasures +of the body so much as by the meetings of friends and conversations. +For well did our ancestors style the reclining of friends at an +entertainment, because it carried with it a union of life, by the name +"convivium" better than the Greeks do, who call this same thing as +well by the name of "compotatio" as "concoenatio"; so that what in +that kind (of pleasures) is of the least value that they appear most +to approve of. + +For my part, on account of the pleasure of conversation, I am +delighted also with seasonable entertainments, not only with those of +my own age, of whom very few survive, but with those of your age, and +with you; and I give great thanks to old age, which has increased my +desire for conversation, and taken away that of eating and drinking. +But even if such things delight any person (that I may not appear +altogether to have declared war against pleasure, of which perhaps a +certain limited degree is even natural), I am not aware that even in +these pleasures themselves old age is without enjoyment. For my part, +the presidencies established by our ancestors delight me; and that +conversation, which after the manner of our ancestors, is kept up over +our cups from the top of the table; and the cups, as in the Symposium +of Xenophon, small and dewy, and the cooling of the wine in summer, +and in turn either the sun, or the fire in winter--practises which I +am accustomed to follow among the Sabines also--and I daily join a +party of neighbors, which we prolong with various conversation till +late at night, as far as we can. But there is not, as it were, so +ticklish a sensibility of pleasures in old men. I believe it; but then +neither is there the desire. However, nothing is irksome unless you +long for it. Well did Sophocles, when a certain man inquired of him +advanced in age whether he enjoyed venereal pleasures, reply, "The +gods give me something better; nay, I have run away from them with +gladness, as from a wild and furious tyrant." For to men fond of such +things, it is perhaps disagreeable and irksome to be without them; but +to the contented and satisfied it is more delightful to want them than +to enjoy them; and yet he does not want who feels no desire; therefore +I say that this freedom from desire is more delightful than enjoyment. + +But if the prime of life has more cheerful enjoyment of those very +pleasures, in the first place they are but petty objects which it +enjoys, as I have said before; then they are those of which old age, +if it does not abundantly possess them, is not altogether destitute. +As he is more delighted with Turpio Ambivius, who is spectator on the +foremost bench, yet he also is delighted who is in the hindmost; so +youth having a close view of pleasures is perhaps more gratified; but +old age is as much delighted as is necessary in viewing them at a +distance. However, of what high value are the following circumstances, +that the soul, after it has served out, as it were, its time under +lust, ambition, contention, enmities, and all the passions, shall +retire within itself, and, as the phrase is, live with itself? But if +it has, as it were, food for study and learning, nothing is more +delightful than an old age of leisure. I saw Caius Gallus, the +intimate friend of your father, Scipio, almost expiring in the +employment of calculating the sky and the earth. How often did +daylight overtake him when he had begun to draw some figure by night, +how often did night, when he had begun in the morning! How it did +delight him to predict to us the eclipses of the sun and the moon, +long before their occurrence! What shall we say in the case of +pursuits less dignified, yet, notwithstanding, requiring acuteness! +How Nævius did delight in his Punic war! how Plautus in his +Truculentus! how in his Pseudolus! I saw also the old man Livy,[15] +who, tho he had brought a play upon the stage six years before I was +born, in the consulship of Cento and Tuditanus, yet advanced in age +even to the time of my youth. Why should I speak of Publius Licinius +Crassus' study both of pontifical and civil law? or of the present +Publius Scipio, who within these few days was created chief pontiff? +Yet we have seen all these persons whom I have mentioned, ardent in +these pursuits when old men. But as to Marcus Cethegus, whom Ennius +rightly called the "marrow of persuasion," with what great zeal did we +see him engage in the practise of oratory, even when an old man! What +pleasures, therefore, arising from banquets, or plays, or harlots, are +to be compared with these pleasures? And these, indeed, are the +pursuits of learning, which too, with the sensible and well educated, +increase along with their age; so that is a noble saying of Solon, +when he says in a certain verse, as I observed before, that he grew +old learning many things every day--than which pleasure of the mind, +certainly, none can be greater. + +I come now to the pleasures of husbandmen, with which I am excessively +delighted, which are not checked by any old age, and appear in my +mind to make the nearest approach to the life of a wise man. For they +have relation to the earth, which never refuses command, and never +returns without interest that which it hath received; but sometimes +with less, generally with very great interest. And yet for my part it +is not only the product, but the virtue and nature of the earth itself +that delight me, which, when in its softened and subdued bosom it has +received the scattered seed, first of all confines what is hidden +within it, from which harrowing, which produces that effect, derives +its name (_occatio_); then, when it is warmed by heat and its own +compression, it spreads it out, and elicits from it the verdant blade, +which, supported by the fibers of the roots, gradually grows up, and, +rising on a jointed stalk, is now enclosed in a sheath, as if it were +of tender age, out of which, when it hath shot up, it then pours forth +the fruit of the ear, piled in due order, and is guarded by a rampart +of beards against the pecking of the smaller birds. Why should I, in +the case of vines, tell of the plantings, the risings, the stages of +growth? That you may know the repose and amusement of my old age, I +assure you that I can never have enough of that gratification. For I +pass over the peculiar nature of all things which are produced from +the earth; which generates such great trunks and branches from so +small a grain of the fig or from the grape-stone, or from the minutest +seeds of other fruits and roots; shoots, plants, twigs, quicksets, +layers, do not these produce the effect of delighting any one even to +admiration? The vine, indeed, which by nature is prone to fall, and is +borne down to the ground, unless it be propt, in order to raise +itself up, embraces with its tendrils, as it were with hands, whatever +it meets with, which, as it creeps with manifold and wandering course, +the skill of the husbandmen pruning with the knife, restrains from +running into a forest of twigs, and spreading too far in all +directions. + +Accordingly, in the beginning of spring, in those twigs which are +left, there rises up as it were at the joints of the branches that +which is called a bud, from which the nascent grape shows itself, +which, increasing in size by the moisture of the earth and the heat of +the sun, is at first very acid to the taste, and then as it ripens +grows sweet, and being clothed with its large leaves does not want +moderate warmth, and yet keeps off the excessive heat of the sun; than +which what can be in fruit on the one hand more rich, or on the other +hand more beautiful in appearance? Of which not only the advantage, as +I said before, but also the cultivation and the nature itself delight +me; the rows of props, the joining of the heads, the tying up and +propagation of vines, and the pruning of some twigs, and the grafting +of others, which I have mentioned. Why should I allude to irrigations, +why to the diggings of the ground, why to the trenching by which the +ground is made much more productive? Why should I speak of the +advantage of manuring? I have treated of it in that book which I wrote +respecting rural affairs, concerning which the learned Hesiod has not +said a single word, tho he has written about the cultivation of the +land. But Homer, who, as appears to me, lived many ages before, +introduces Lærtes soothing the regret which he felt for his son by +tilling the land and manuring it. Nor indeed is rural life delightful +by reason of corn-fields only and meadows and vineyards and groves, +but also for its gardens and orchards; also for the feeding of cattle, +the swarms of bees, and the variety of all kinds of flowers. Nor do +plantings only give me delight, but also graftings, than which +agriculture has invented nothing more ingenious.... + +Was then their old age to be pitied who amused themselves in the +cultivation of land? In my opinion, indeed, I know not whether any +other can be more happy; and not only in the discharge of duty, +because to the whole race of mankind the cultivation of the land is +beneficial; but also from the amusement, which I have mentioned, and +that fulness and abundance of all things which are connected with the +food of men, and also with the worship of the gods; so that, since +some have a desire for these things, we may again put ourselves on +good terms with pleasure. For the wine-cellar of a good and diligent +master is always well stored; the oil-casks, the pantry also, the +whole farmhouse is richly supplied; it abounds in pigs, kids, lambs, +hens, milk, cheese, honey. Then, too, the countrymen themselves call +the garden a second dessert. And then what gives a greater relish to +these things is that kind of leisure labor, fowling and hunting. Why +should I speak of the greenness of meadows, or the rows of trees, or +the handsome appearance of vineyards and olive grounds? Let me cut the +matter short. Nothing can be either more rich in use or more elegant +in appearance than ground well tilled, to the enjoyment of which old +age is so far from being an obstacle that it is even an invitation and +allurement. For where can that age be better warmed either by basking +in the sun or by the fire, or again be more healthfully refreshed by +shades or waters? Let the young, therefore, keep to themselves their +arms, horses, spears, clubs, tennis-ball, swimmings, and races; to us +old men let them leave out of many amusements the _tali_ and +_tesseræ_; and even in that matter it may be as they please, since old +age can be happy without these amusements.... + +What, therefore, should I fear if after death I am sure either not to +be miserable or to be happy? Altho who is so foolish, even if young, +as to be assured that he will live even till the evening? Nay, that +period of life has many more probabilities of death that ours has; +young men more readily fall into diseases, suffer more severely, are +cured with more difficulty, and therefore few arrive at old age. Did +not this happen so we should live better and more wisely, for +intelligence, and reflection, and judgment reside in old men, and if +there had been none of them, no states could exist at all. But I +return to the imminence of death. What charge is that against old age, +since you see it to be common to youth also? I experienced not only in +the case of my own excellent son, but also in that of your brothers, +Scipio, men plainly marked out for the highest distinction, that death +was common to every period of life. Yet a young man hopes that he will +live a long time, which expectation an old man can not entertain. His +hope is but a foolish one; for what can be more foolish than to regard +uncertainties as certainties, delusions as truths? An old man indeed +has nothing to hope for; yet he is in so much the happier state than +a young one; since he has already attained what the other is only +hoping for. The one is wishing to live long, the other has lived long. + +And yet, good gods! what is there in man's life that can be called +long? For allow the latest period; let us anticipate the age of the +kings of Tartessii. For there dwelt, as I find it recorded, a man +named Arganthonius at Gades;[16] who reigned for eighty years, and +lived 120. But to my mind, nothing whatever seems of long duration to +which there is any end. For when that arrives, then the time which has +passed has flown away; that only remains which you have secured by +virtue and right conduct. Hours indeed depart from us, and days and +months and years; nor does past time ever return, nor can it be +discovered what is to follow. Whatever time is assigned to each to +live, with that he ought to be content; for neither need the drama be +performed entire by the actor in order to give satisfaction, provided +he be approved in whatever act he may be; nor need the wise man live +till the _plaudite_. For the short period of life is long enough for +living well and honorably, and if you should advance further, you need +no more grieve than farmers do when the loveliness of spring-time hath +passed, that summer and autumn have come. For spring represents the +time of youth, and gives promise of the future fruits; the remaining +seasons are intended for plucking and gathering in those fruits. Now +the harvest of old age, as I have often said, is the recollection and +abundance of blessings previously secured. In truth everything that +happens agreeably to nature is to be reckoned among blessings. What, +however, is so agreeable to nature as for an old man to die which even +is the lot of the young, tho nature opposes and resists. And thus it +is that young men seem to me to die just as when the violence of flame +is extinguished by a flood of water; whereas old men die, as the +exhausted fire goes out, spontaneously, without the exertion of any +force; and as fruits when they are green are plucked by force from the +trees, but when ripe and mellow drop off, so violence takes away their +lives from youths, maturity from old men--a state which to me indeed +is so delightful that the nearer I approach to death, I seem, as it +were, to be getting sight of land, and at length, after a long voyage, +to be just coming into harbor. + +Of all the periods of life there is a definite limit; but of old age +there is no limit fixt; and life goes on very well in it, so long as +you are able to follow up and attend to the duty of your situation, +and, at the same time, to care nothing about death; whence it happens +that old age is even of higher spirit and bolder than youth. Agreeable +to this was the answer given to Pisistratus,[17] the tyrant, by Solon, +when on the former inquiring, "in reliance on what hope he so boldly +withstood him," the latter is said to have answered, "on old age." The +happiest end of life is this--when the mind and the other senses +being unimpaired, the same nature which put it together takes asunder +her own work. As in the case of a ship or a house, he who built them +takes them down most easily; so the same nature which has compacted +man most easily breaks him up. Besides, every fastening of glue, when +fresh, is with difficulty torn asunder, but easily when tried by time. +Hence it is that that short remnant of life should be neither greedily +coveted nor without reason given up; and Pythagoras forbids us to +abandon the station or post of life without the orders of our +commander, that is, of God.[18] There is indeed a saying of the wise +Solon in which he declares that he does not wish his own death to be +unattended by the grief and lamentation of friends. He wishes, I +suppose, that he should be dear to his friends. But I know not whether +Ennius does not say with more propriety, + + "Let no one pay me honor with tears, nor + celebrate my funeral with mourning." + +He conceives that a death ought not to be lamented when immortality +follows. Besides, a dying man may have some degree of consciousness, +but that for a short time, especially in the case of an old man; after +death, indeed, consciousness either does not exist or it is a thing to +be desired. But this ought to be a subject of study from our youth to +be indifferent about death, without which study no one can be of +tranquil mind. For die we certainly must, and it is uncertain whether +or not on this very day. He, therefore, who at all hours dreads +impending death, how can he be at peace in his mind? concerning which +there seems to be no need of such long discussion, when I call to mind +not only Lucius Brutus, who was slain in liberating his country; nor +the two Decii, who spurred on their steeds to a voluntary death; nor +Marcus Atilius,[19] who set out to execution that he might keep a +promise pledged to the enemy; nor the two Scipios, who even with their +very bodies sought to obstruct the march of the Carthaginians; nor +your grandfather Lucius Paulus,[20] who by his death atoned for the +temerity of his colleague in the disgraceful defeat at Cannæ; nor +Marcus Marcellus,[21] whose corpse not even the most merciless foe +suffered to go without the honor of sepulture; but that our legions, +as I have remarked in my Antiquities, have often gone with cheerful +and undaunted mind to that place from which they believed that they +should never return. Shall, then, well-instructed old men be afraid of +that which young men, and they not only ignorant, but mere peasants, +despise? On the whole, as it seems to me indeed, a satiety of all +pursuits causes a satiety of life. There are pursuits peculiar to +boyhood; do therefore young men regret the loss of them? There are +also some of early youth; does settled age, which is called middle +life, seek after these? There are also some of this period; neither +are they looked for by old age. There are some final pursuits of old +age; accordingly, as the pursuits of the earlier parts of life fall +into disuse, so also do those of old age; and when this has taken +place, satiety of life brings on the seasonable period of death. + +Indeed, I do not see why I should not venture to tell you what I +myself think concerning death; because I fancy I see it so much the +more clearly in proportion as I am less distant from it. I am +persuaded that your fathers, Publius Scipio and Caius Lælius, men of +the greatest eminence and very dear friends of mine, are living, and +that life too which alone deserves the name of life. For while we are +shut up in this prison of the body, we are fulfilling, as it were, the +function and painful task of destiny; for the heaven-born soul has +been degraded from its dwelling-place above, and, as it were, buried +in the earth, a situation uncongenial to its divine and immortal +nature. But I believe that the immortal gods have shed souls into +human bodies, that beings might exist who might tend the earth, and by +contemplating the order of the heavenly bodies might imitate it in the +manner and regularity of their lives. Nor have reason and argument +alone influenced me thus to believe, but likewise the high name and +authority of the greatest philosophers. I used to hear that Pythagoras +and the Pythagoreans, who were all but our neighbors, who were +formerly called the Italian philosophers, had no doubt that we +possess souls derived from the universal divine mind. Moreover, the +arguments were conclusive to me which Socrates delivered on the last +day of his life concerning the immortality of the soul--he who was +pronounced by the oracle of Apollo the wisest of all men. But why say +more? I have thus persuaded myself, such is my belief; that since such +is the activity of our souls, so tenacious their memory of things past +and their sagacity regarding things future, so many arts, so many +sciences, so many discoveries, that the nature which comprizes these +qualities can not be mortal; and since the mind is ever in action and +has no source of motion, because it moves itself, I believe that it +never will find any end of motion, because it never will part from +itself; and that since the nature of the soul is uncompounded, and has +not in itself any admixture heterogeneous and dissimilar to itself, I +maintain that it can not undergo dissolution; and if this be not +possible, it can not perish; and it is a strong argument that men know +very many things before they are born, since when mere boys, while +they are learning difficult subjects, they so quickly catch up +numberless ideas, that they seem not to be learning them then for the +first time, but to remember them, and to be calling them to +recollection. Thus did our Plato argue.... + +Let me, if you please, revert to my own views. No one will ever +persuade me that either your father, Paulus, or two grandfathers, +Paulus and Africanus, or the father of Africanus, or his uncle, or the +many distinguished men whom it is unnecessary to recount, aimed at +such great exploits as might reach to the recollection of posterity +had they not perceived in their mind that posterity belonged to them. +Do you suppose, to boast a little of myself, after the manner of old +men, that I should have undergone such great toils, by day and night, +at home and in service, had I thought to limit my glory by the same +bounds as my life? Would it not have been far better to pass an easy +and quiet life without any toil or struggle? But I know not how my +soul, stretching upward, has ever looked forward to posterity, as if, +when it had departed from life, then at last it would begin to live. +And, indeed, unless this were the case, that souls were immortal, the +souls of the noblest of men would not aspire above all things to an +immortality of glory. + +Why need I adduce that the wisest man ever dies with the greatest +equanimity, the most foolish with the least? Does it not seem to you +that the soul, which sees more and further, sees that it is passing to +a better state, while that body whose vision is duller, does not see +it? I, indeed, am transported with eagerness to see your fathers, whom +I have respected and loved; nor in truth is it those only I desire to +meet whom I myself have known; but those also of whom I have heard or +read, and have myself written. Whither, indeed, as I proceed, no one +assuredly should easily force me back, nor, as they did with Pelias, +cook me again to youth. For if any god should grant me that from this +period of life I should become a child again and cry in the cradle, I +should earnestly refuse it; nor in truth should I like, after having +run, as it were, my course, to be called back to the starting-place +from the goal. For what comfort has life? What trouble has it not, +rather? But grant that it has; yet it assuredly has either satiety or +limitation (of its pleasures). For I am not disposed to lament the +loss of life, which many men, and those learned men too, have often +done; neither do I regret that I have lived, since I have lived in +such a way that I conceive I was not born in vain; and from this life +I depart as from a temporary lodging, not as from a home. + +For nature has assigned it to us as an inn to sojourn in, not a place +of habitation. Oh, glorious day! when I shall depart to that divine +company and assemblage of spirits, and quit this troubled and polluted +scene. For I shall go not only to those great men of whom I have +spoken before, but also to my son Cato, than whom never was better man +born, nor more distinguished for pious affection, whose body was +burned by me, whereas, on the contrary, it was fitting that mine +should be burned by him. But his soul not deserting me, but oft +looking back, no doubt departed to those regions whither it saw that I +myself was destined to come. This, tho a distress to me, I seemed +patiently to endure; not that I bore it with indifference, but I +comforted myself with the recollection that the separation and +distance between us would not continue long. For these reasons, O +Scipio (since you said that you with Lælius were accustomed to wonder +at this), old age is tolerable to me, and not only not irksome, but +even delightful. And if I am wrong in this, that I believe the souls +of men to be immortal, I willingly delude myself; nor do I desire that +this mistake, in which I take pleasure, should be wrested from me as +long as I live; but if I, when dead, shall have no consciousness, as +some narrow-minded philosophers imagine, I do not fear lest dead +philosophers should ridicule this my delusion. But if we are not +destined to be immortal, yet it is a desirable thing for a man to +expire at his fit time. For, as nature prescribes a boundary to all +other things, so does she also to life. Now old age is the +consummation of life, just as of a play, from the fatigue of which we +ought to escape, especially when satiety is super-added. This is what +I had to say on the subject of old age, to which may you arrive! that, +after having experienced the truth of those statements which you have +heard from me, you may be enabled to give them your approbation. + + + + +II + +ON THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER TULLIA[22] + + +Yes, my dear Servius, I could indeed wish you had been with me, as you +say, at the time of my terrible trial. How much it was in your power +to help me if you had been here, by sympathizing with, and I may +almost say, sharing equally in my grief, I readily perceive from the +fact that after reading your letter I now feel myself considerably +more composed; for not only was all that you wrote just what is best +calculated to soothe affliction, but you yourself in comforting me +showed that you too had no little pain at heart. Your son Servius, +however, has made it clear, by every kindly attention which such an +occasion would permit of, both how great his respect was for myself +and also how much pleasure his kind feeling for me was likely to give +you; and you may be sure that, while such attentions from him have +often been more pleasant to me, they have never made me more grateful. + +It is not, however, only your arguments and your equal share--I may +almost call it--in this affliction which comforts me, but also your +authority; because I hold it shame in me not to be bearing my trouble +in a way that you, a man endowed with such wisdom, think it ought to +be borne. But at times I feel broken down, and I scarcely make any +struggle against my grief, because those consolations fail me which +under similar calamities were never wanting to any of those other +people whom I put before myself as models for imitation. Both Fabius +Maximus, for example, when he lost a son who had held the consulship, +the hero of many a famous exploit; and Lucius Paulus, from whom two +were taken in one week; and your own kinsman Gallus; and Marcus Cato, +who was deprived of a son of the rarest talents and the rarest +virtue--all these lived in times when their individual affliction was +capable of finding a solace in the distinctions they used to earn from +their country. + +For me, however, after being stript of all those distinctions which +you yourself recall to me, and which I had won for myself by +unparalleled exertions, only that one solace remained which has been +torn away. My thoughts were not diverted by work for my friends, or by +the administration of affairs of state; there was no pleasure in +pleading in the courts; I could not bear the very sight of the Senate +House; I felt, as was indeed too true, that I had lost all the harvest +of both my industry and my success. But whenever I wanted to recollect +that all this was shared with you and other friends I could name, and +whenever I was breaking myself in and forcing my spirit to bear these +things with patience, I always had a refuge to go to where I might +find peace, and in whose words of comfort and sweet society I could +rid me of all my pains and griefs. Whereas now, under this terrible +blow, even those old wounds which seemed to have healed up are +bleeding afresh; for it is impossible for me now to find such a refuge +from my sorrows at home in the business of the state as in those days +I did in that consolation of home, which was always in store whenever +I came away sad from thoughts of state to seek for peace in her +happiness. And so I stay away both from home and from public life; +because home now is no more able to make up for the sorrow I feel when +I think of our country than our country is for my sorrow at home. I am +therefore looking forward all the more eagerly to your coming, and +long to see you as early as may possibly be; no greater alleviation +can be offered me than a meeting between us for friendly intercourse +and conversation. I hope, however, that your return is to take place, +as I hear it is, very shortly. As for myself, while there are abundant +reasons for wanting to see you as soon as possible, my principal one +is in order that we may discuss together beforehand the best method of +conduct for present circumstances, which must entirely be adapted to +the wishes of one man only, a man nevertheless who is far-seeing and +generous, and also, as I think I have thoroughly ascertained, to me +not at all ill-disposed and to you extremely friendly. But admitting +this, it is still a matter for much deliberation what is the line--I +do not say of action, but of keeping quiet--that we ought by his good +leave and favor to adopt. Farewell! + + + + +III + +OF BRAVE AND ELEVATED SPIRITS[23] + + +A spirit altogether brave and elevated is chiefly discernible by two +characters. The first consists in a low estimate of mere outward +circumstances, since it is convinced that a man ought to admire, +desire, or court nothing but what is virtuous and becoming; and that +he ought to succumb to no man, nor to any perturbation either of +spirit or fortune. The other thing is that, possest of such a spirit +as I have just mentioned, you should perform actions which are great +and of the greatest utility, but extremely arduous, full of +difficulties and danger both to life and the many things which +pertain to life. + +In the latter of those two characters consist all the glory, the +majesty, and, I add, the utility; but the causes and the efficient +means that form great men is in the former, which contains the +principles that elevate the soul, and gives it a contempt for +temporary considerations. Now, this very excellence consists in two +particulars: you are to deem that only to be good is to be virtuous, +and that you be free from all mental irregularity. For we are to look +upon it as the character of a noble and an elevated soul, to slight +all those considerations that the generality of mankind account great +and glorious, and to despise them, upon firm and durable principles; +while strength of mind and greatness of resolution are discerned in +bearing those calamities which, in the course of man's life, are many +and various, so as not to be driven from your natural disposition, nor +from the dignity of a wise man; for it is not consistent that he who +is not subdued by fear should be subjugated by passion, nor that he +who has shown himself invincible by toil should be conquered by +pleasure. Wherefore, we ought to watch and avoid the love of money; +for nothing so truly characterizes a narrow, groveling disposition as +to love riches; and nothing is more noble and more exalted than to +despise riches if you have them not, and if you have them, to employ +them in beneficence and liberality. + +An inordinate passion for glory, as I have already observed, is +likewise to be guarded against; for it deprives us of liberty, the +only prize for which men of elevated sentiments ought to contend. +Power is so far from being desirable in itself that it sometimes ought +to be refused, and sometimes to be resigned. We should likewise be +free from all disorders of the mind, from all violent passion and +fear, as well as languor, voluptuousness, and anger, that we may +possess that tranquillity and security which confer alike consistency +and dignity. Now, many there are, and have been, who, courting that +tranquillity which I have mentioned here, have withdrawn themselves +from public affairs and taken refuge in retirement. Among these, some +of the noblest and most prominent of our philosophers; and some +persons, of strict and grave dispositions, were unable to bear with +the manners either of the people or their rulers; and some have lived +in the country, amusing themselves with the management of their +private affairs. Their aim was the same as that of the powerful, that +they might enjoy their liberty, without wanting anything or obeying +any person; for the essence of liberty is to live just as you +please.... + +But, since most persons are of opinion that the achievements of war +are more glorious than civil affairs, this judgment needs to be +restricted; for many, as generally is the case with high minds and +enterprising spirits, especially if they are adapted to military life +and are fond of warlike achievements, have often sought opportunities +of war from their fondness for glory; but if we are willing to judge +truly, many are the civil employments of greater importance, and of +more renown, than the military. + +For tho Themistocles is justly praised--his name is now more +illustrious than that of Solon, and his glorious victory at Salamis +is mentioned preferably to the policy of Solon, by which he first +confirmed the power of the Areopagus--the one should not be considered +more illustrious than the other; for the one availed his country only +for once--the other is lastingly advantageous; because by it the laws +of the Athenians, and the institutions of their ancestors, are +preserved. Now, Themistocles could not have stated any respect in +which he benefited the Areopagus, but Solon might with truth declare +that Themistocles had been advantaged by him; for the war was carried +on by the counsels of that senate which was constituted by Solon. + +We may make the same observation with regard to Pausanias[24] and +Lysander among the Lacedæmonians; for all the addition of empire which +their conquests are supposed to have brought to their country is not +to be compared to the laws and economy of Lycurgus; for indeed, owing +to these very causes they had armies more subordinate and courageous. +In my eyes, Marcus Scaurus (who flourished when I was but a boy) was +not inferior to Caius Marius;[25] nor, after I came to have a concern +in the government, Quintus Catulus[26] to Cneius Pompey. An army +abroad is but of small service, unless there be a wise administration +at home. Nor did that good man and great general Africanus perform a +more important service to his country when he razed Numantia than did +that private citizen P. Nasica[27] when at the same period he killed +Tiberius Gracchus. An action which it is true was not merely of a +civil nature; for it approaches to a military character, as being the +result of force and courage; but it was an action performed without an +army, and from political considerations.... + +Now all that excellence which springs from a lofty and noble nature is +altogether produced by the mental and not by the corporeal powers. +Meanwhile, the body ought to be kept in such action and order as that +it may be always ready to obey the dictates of reason and wisdom, in +carrying them into execution, and in persevering under hardships. But +with regard to that _honestas_ we are treating of, it consists wholly +in the thoughtful application of the mind, by which the civilians who +preside over public affairs are equally serviceable to their country +as they who wage wars. For it often happens that by such counsels wars +are either not entered into or they are brought to a termination; +sometimes they are even undertaken, as the third Punic war was by the +advice of Marcus Cato, whose authority was powerful, even after he was +dead. + +Wisdom in determining is therefore preferable to courage in fighting; +but in this we are to take care that we are not swayed by an aversion +to fighting rather than by a consideration of expediency. Now in +engaging in war we ought to make it appear that we have no other view +than peace. But the character of a brave and resolute man is not to be +ruffled with adversity, and not to be in such confusion as to quit his +post, as we say, but to preserve a presence of mind, and the exercise +of reason, without departing from his purpose. And while this is the +characteristic of a lofty spirit, so this also is that of a powerful +intellect; namely, to anticipate futurity in thought, and to conclude +beforehand what may happen on either side, and, upon that, what +measures to pursue, and never be surprized so as to say, "I had not +thought of that." Such are the operations of a genius, capacious and +elevated; of such a one as relies on its own prudence and counsel; but +to rush precipitately into the field, and to encounter an enemy with +mere physical force has somewhat in it that is barbarous and brutal. +When the occasion, however, and its necessity compel it, we should +resist with force, and prefer death to slavery or dishonor. + + + + +IV + +OF SCIPIO'S DEATH AND OF FRIENDSHIP[28] + + +Should I say that I am not distrest by the loss of Scipio, +philosophers may determine with what propriety I should do so; but +assuredly I should be guilty of falsehood. For I am distrest at being +bereaved of such a friend, as no one, I consider, will ever be to me +again, and, as I can confidently assert, no one ever was; but I am not +destitute of a remedy. I comfort myself, and especially with this +consolation, that I am free from that error by which most men, on the +decease of friends, are wont to be tormented; for I feel that no evil +has happened to Scipio; it has befallen myself, if indeed it has +happened to any. Now to be above measure distrest at one's own +troubles is characteristic of the man who loves not his friend, but +himself. In truth, as far as he is concerned, who can deny that his +end was glorious? for unless he had chosen to wish for immortality, of +which he had not the slightest thought, what did he fail to obtain +which it was lawful for a man to wish for? A man who, as soon as he +grew up, by his transcendent merit far surpassed those sanguine hopes +of his countrymen which they had conceived regarding him when a mere +boy, who never stood for the consulship, yet was made Consul twice; on +the first occasion, before his time; on the second, at the proper age +as regarded himself, tho for the commonwealth almost too late; who, by +overthrowing two cities,[29] most hostile to our empire, put an end +not only to all present but all future wars. What shall I say of his +most engaging manners; of his dutiful conduct to his mother; his +generosity to his sisters; his kindness to his friends; his +uprightness toward all? These are known to you; and how dear he was to +the state was displayed by its mourning at his death.... + +The authority of the ancients has more weight with me, either that of +our own ancestors, who paid such sacred honors to the dead, which +surely they would not have done if they thought those honors did in no +way affect them, or that of those who once lived in this country, and +enlightened, by their institutions and instructions, Magna Græcia[30] +(which now indeed is entirely destroyed, but then was flourishing), +or of him who was pronounced by the oracle of Apollo to be the wisest +of men, who did not say first one thing and then another, as is +generally done, but always the same; namely, that the souls of men are +divine, and that when they have departed from the body, a return to +heaven is opened to them, and the speediest to the most virtuous and +just. This same opinion was also held by Scipio; for he indeed, a very +few days before his death, as if he had a presentiment of it, when +Philus and Manilius were present, and many others, and you also, +Scævola, had gone with me, for three days descanted on the subject of +government; of which discussion the last was almost entirely on the +immortality of souls, which he said he had learned in sleep through a +vision from Africanus. If this be the fact, that the spirit of the +best man most easily flies away in death, as from the prison-house and +chains of the body, whose passage to the gods can we conceive to have +been readier than that of Scipio? Wherefore, to be afflicted at this +his departure, I fear, would be the part rather of an envious person +than of a friend.... + +But yet I so enjoy the recollection of our friendship that I seem to +have lived happily because I lived with Scipio, with whom I had a +common anxiety on public and private affairs, and with whom my life +both at home and abroad was associated, and there existed that, +wherein consists the entire strength of friendship, an entire +agreement of inclinations, pursuits, and sentiments. That character +for wisdom, therefore, which Fannius a little while ago mentioned does +not so delight me, especially since it is undeserved, as the hope that +the recollection of our friendship will last forever. And it is the +more gratifying to me because scarcely in the history of the world are +three or four pairs of friends mentioned by name; and I indulge in the +hope that the friendship of Scipio and Lælius will be remembered.... + +I can only urge you to prefer friendship to all human possessions; for +there is nothing so suited to our nature, so well adapted to +prosperity or adversity. But first of all, I am of opinion that except +among the virtuous friendship can not exist; I do not analyze this +principle too closely, as they do who inquire with too great nicety +into those things, perhaps with truth on their side, but with little +general advantage; for they maintain that there is no good man but the +wise man. Be it so, yet they define wisdom to be such as no mortal has +ever attained to; whereas we ought to contemplate those things which +exist in practise and in common life, and not the subjects of fictions +or of our own wishes. I would never pretend to say that Caius +Fabricius, Marius Curius, and Titus Coruncanius, whom our ancestors +esteemed wise, were wise according to the standard of these moralists. +Wherefore let them keep to themselves the name of wisdom, both +invidious and unintelligible, and let them allow that these were good +men--nay, they will not even do that; they will declare that this can +not be granted except to a wise man. + +Let us therefore proceed with our dull genius, as they say. Those who +so conduct themselves and so live that their honor, their integrity, +their justice, and liberality are approved; so that there is not in +them any covetousness, or licentiousness, or boldness; and that they +are of great consistency, as those men whom I have mentioned +above--let us consider these worthy of the appellation of good men, as +they have been accounted such, because they follow (as far as men are +able) nature, which is the best guide of a good life. For I seem to +myself to have this view, that we are so formed by nature that there +should be a certain social tie among all; stronger, however, as each +approaches nearer us. Accordingly, citizens are preferable to +foreigners, and relatives to strangers; for with the last-named, +Nature herself has created a friendly feeling, tho this has not +sufficient strength. For in this respect friendship is superior to +relationship, because from relationship benevolence can be withdrawn +and from friendship it can not; for with the withdrawal of benevolence +the very name of friendship is done away, while that of relationship +remains. Now how great the power of friendship is may be best gathered +from this consideration, that out of the boundless society of the +human race, which Nature herself has joined together, friendship is a +matter so contracted, and brought into so narrow a compass, that the +whole of affection is confined to two, or at any rate to very few. + +Now friendship is nothing else than a complete union of feeling on all +subjects, divine and human, accompanied by kindly feeling and +attachment, than which, indeed, I am not aware whether, with the +exception of wisdom, anything better has been bestowed on man by the +immortal gods. Some men prefer riches, others good health, others +influence, others again honors, many prefer even pleasures; the last, +indeed, is the characteristic of beasts; while the former are fleeting +and uncertain, depending not so much on our own purpose as on the +fickleness of fortune. Whereas those who place the supreme good in +virtue, therein do admirably; but this very virtue itself both begets +and constitutes friendship; nor without this virtue can friendship +exist at all. Now let us define this virtue according to the usage of +life and of our common language; and let us not measure it, as certain +learned persons do, by pomp of language; and let us include among the +good those who are so accounted--the Paulli, the Catos, the Galli, the +Scipios, and the Phili; with these men ordinary life is content; and +let us pass over those who are nowhere found to exist. Among men of +this kind, therefore, friendship finds facilities so great that I can +scarcely describe them. + +In the first place--to whom can life be "worth living," as Ennius +says, who does not repose on the mutual kind feeling of some friend? +What can be more delightful than to have one to whom you can speak on +all subjects just as to yourself? Where would be the great enjoyment +in prosperity if you had not one to rejoice in it equally with +yourself? And adversity would indeed be difficult to endure without +some one who would bear it even with greater regret than yourself. In +short, all other objects that are sought after are severally suited to +some one single purpose--riches, that you may spend them; power that +you may be courted; honors, that you may be extolled; pleasures, that +you may enjoy them; good health, that you may be exempt from harm, and +perform the functions of the body. Whereas friendship comprizes the +greatest number of objects possible; wherever you turn yourself, it is +at hand; shut out of no place, never out of season, never irksome; and +therefore we do not use fire and water, as they say, on more occasions +than we do friendship. And I am not now speaking of commonplace or +ordinary friendship (tho even that brings delight and benefit), but of +real and true friendship, such as belonged to those of whom very few +are recorded; for prosperity, friendship renders more brilliant, and +adversity more supportable, by dividing and communicating it. + +And while friendship embraces very many and great advantages, she +undoubtedly surpasses all in this, that she shines with a brilliant +hope over the future, and never suffers the spirit to be weakened or +to sink. Besides, he who looks on a true friend looks, as it were, +upon a kind of image of himself; wherefore friends, tho absent, are +still present; tho in poverty, they are rich; tho weak, yet in the +enjoyment of health; and, what is still more difficult to assert, tho +dead they are alive; so entirely does the honor, the memory, the +regret of friends attend them; from which circumstance the death of +the one seems to be happy, and the life of the other praiseworthy; +nay, should you remove from nature the cement of kind feelings, +neither a house nor a city will be able to stand; even the cultivation +of the land will not continue. If it be not clearly perceived how +great is the power of friendship and concord, it can be distinctly +inferred from quarrels and dissensions; for what house is there so +established, or what state so firmly settled, that may not utterly be +overthrown by hatred and dissension? From which it may be determined +how much advantage there is in friendship. They relate, indeed, that a +certain learned man of Agrigentum[31] promulgated in Greek verses the +doctrine that all things which cohere throughout the whole world, and +all things that are the subjects of motion, are brought together by +friendship, and are dispelled by discord; and this principle all men +understand, and illustrate by their conduct. Therefore, if at any time +any act of a friend has been exhibited, either in undergoing or in +sharing dangers, who is there that does not extol such an act with the +highest praise?... + +Now if such be the influence of integrity, that we love it even in +those whom we have never seen, and, what is much more, even in an +enemy, what wonder if men's feelings are affected when they seem to +discover the goodness and virtue of those with whom they may become +connected by intercourse? altho love is confirmed by the reception of +kindness, and by the discovery of an earnest sympathy, and by close +familiarity, which things being added to the first emotion of the mind +and the affections, there is kindled a large amount of kindly feeling. +And if any imagine that this proceeds from a sense of weakness, so +that there shall be secured a friend, by whom a man may obtain that +which he wants, they leave to friendship a mean and, indeed, if I may +so speak, anything but respectable origin, when they make her to be +born of indigence and want; were this the case, then in proportion as +a man judged that there were the least resources in himself, precisely +in that degree would he be best qualified for friendship, whereas the +fact is far otherwise. For just as a man has most confidence in +himself, and as he is most completely fortified by worth and wisdom, +so that he needs no one's assistance, and feels that all his resources +reside in himself, in the same proportion he is most highly +distinguished for seeking out and forming friendships. For what did +Africanus want of me? Nothing whatever, nor indeed did I need aught +from him; but I loved him from admiration of his excellence; he in +turn perhaps was attached to me from some high opinion which he +entertained of my character, and association fostered our affection. +But altho many and great advantages ensued, yet it was not from any +hope of these that the causes of our attachment sprang; for as we are +beneficent and liberal not to exact favor in return (for we are not +usurers in kind actions), but by nature are inclined to liberality, +thus I think that friendship is to be desired, not attracted by the +hope of reward, but because the whole of its profit consists in love +only. From such opinions, they who, after the fashion of beasts, refer +everything to pleasure, widely differ, and no great wonder, since they +can not look up to anything lofty, magnificent, or divine who east +all their thoughts on an object so mean and contemptible. + +Therefore let us exclude such persons altogether from our discourse; +and let us ourselves hold this opinion, that the sentiment of loving +and the attachment of kind feelings are produced by nature when the +evidence of virtue has been established; and they who have eagerly +sought the last-named draw nigh and attach themselves to it, that they +may enjoy the friendship and character of the individual they have +begun to love, and that they may be commensurate and equal in +affection, and more inclined to confer a favor than to claim any +return. And let this honorable struggle be maintained between them; so +not only will the greatest advantages be derived from friendship, but +its origin from nature rather than from a sense of weakness will be at +once more impressive and more true. For if it were expediency that +cemented friendships, the same when changed would dissolve them; but +because nature can never change, therefore true friendships are +eternal.... + +Listen, then, my excellent friends, to the discussion which was very +frequently held by me and Scipio on the subject of friendship; altho +he indeed used to say that nothing was more difficult than that +friendship should continue to the end of life; for it often happened +either that the same course was not expedient to both parties or that +they held different views of politics; he remarked also that the +characters of men often changed, in some cases by adversity, in +others by old age becoming oppressive; and he derived an authority +for such notions from a comparison with early life, because the +strongest attachments of boys are constantly laid aside with the +prætexta; even if they should maintain it to manhood, yet sometimes it +is broken off by rivalry, for a dowried wife, or some other advantage +which they can not both attain. And even if men should be carried on +still further in their friendship, yet that feeling is often +undermined should they fall into rivalry for preferments; for there is +no greater enemy to friendship than covetousness of money, in most +men, and even in the best, an emulous desire of high offices and +glory, in consequence of which the most bitter enmities have often +arisen between the dearest friends. For great dissensions, and those +in most instances justifiable, arise when some request is made of +friends which is improper, as, for instance, that they should become +either the ministers of their lust or their supporters in the +perpetration of wrong; and they who refuse to do so, it matters not +however virtuously, yet are accused of discarding the claims of +friendship by those persons whom they are unwilling to oblige; but +they who dare to ask anything of a friend, by their very request seem +to imply that they would do anything for the sake of that friend; by +the complaining of such persons, not only are long-established +intimacies put an end to, but endless animosities are engendered. All +these many causes, like so many fatalities, are ever threatening +friendship, so that, he said, to escape them all seemed to him a proof +not merely of wisdom, but even of good fortune.... + +Let this, therefore, be established as a primary law concerning +friendship, that we expect from our friends only what is honorable, +and for our friends' sake do what is honorable; that we should not +wait till we are asked; that zeal be ever ready, and reluctance far +from us; but that we take pleasure in freely giving our advice; that +in our friendship, the influence of our friends, when they give good +advice, should have great weight; and that this be employed to +admonish not only candidly, but even severely, if the case shall +require, and that we give heed to it when so employed; for, as to +certain persons whom I understand to have been esteemed wise men in +Greece, I am of opinion that some strange notions were entertained by +them; but there is nothing which they do not follow up with too great +subtlety; among the rest, that excessive friendships should be +avoided, lest it should be necessary for one to feel anxiety for many; +that every one has enough, and more than enough, of his own affairs; +that to be needlessly implicated in those of other people is +vexatious; that it was most convenient to hold the reins of friendship +as loose as possible, so as either to tighten or slacken them when you +please; for they argue that the main point toward a happy life is +freedom from care, which the mind can not enjoy if one man be, as it +were, in travail for others. + +Nay, they tell us that some are accustomed to declare, still more +unfeelingly (a topic which I have briefly touched upon just above), +that friendships should be cultivated for the purpose of protection +and assistance, and not for kind feeling or affection; and therefore +the less a man possesses of independence and of strength, in the same +degree he most earnestly desires friendships; that thence it arises +that women seek the support of friendship more than men, and the poor +more than the rich, and persons in distress rather than those who are +considered prosperous. Admirable philosophy! for they seem to take +away the sun from the world who withdraw friendship from life; for we +receive nothing better from the immortal gods, nothing more +delightful; for what is this freedom from care?--in appearances, +indeed, flattering; but, in many eases, in reality to be disdained. +Nor is it reasonable to undertake any honorable matter or action lest +you should be anxious, or to lay it aside when undertaken; for if we +fly from care, we must fly from virtue also; for it is impossible that +she can, without some degree of distress, feel contempt and +detestation for qualities opposed to herself; just as kind-heartedness +for malice, temperance for profligacy, and bravery for cowardice. +Accordingly, you see that upright men are most distrest by unjust +actions; the brave with the cowardly; the virtuous with the +profligate; and, therefore, this is the characteristic of a +well-regulated mind, both to be well pleased with what is excellent +and to be distrest with what is contrary. Wherefore, if trouble of +mind befall a wise man (and assuredly it will, unless we suppose that +all humanity is extirpated from his mind), what reason is there why we +should altogether remove friendship from life, lest because of it we +should take upon ourselves some troubles? for what difference is +there (setting the emotions of the mind aside), I do not say between a +man and a beast, but between a man and a stone, or log, or anything of +that kind? For they do not deserve to be listened to who would have +virtue to be callous and made of iron, as it were, which indeed is, as +in other matters, so in friendship also, tender and susceptible; so +that friends are loosened, as it were, by happy events, and drawn +together by distresses. + +Wherefore the anxiety which has often to be felt for a friend is not +of such force that it should remove friendship from the world, any +more than that the virtues, because they bring with them certain cares +and troubles, should therefore be discarded. For when it produces +friendship (as I said above), should any indication of virtue shine +forth, to which a congenial mind may attach and unite itself--when +this happens, affection must necessarily arise. For what is so +unmeaning as to take delight in many vain things, such as preferments, +glory, magnificent buildings, clothing and adornment of the body, and +not to take an extreme delight in a soul endued with virtue, in such a +soul as can either love or (so to speak) love in return? for there is +nothing more delightful than the repayment of kindness and the +interchange of devotedness and good offices. Now if we add this, which +may with propriety be added, that nothing so allures and draws any +object to itself as congeniality does friendship, it will of course be +admitted as true that the good must love the good, and unite them to +them selves, just as if connected by relationship and nature; for +nothing is more apt to seek and seize on its like than nature. +Wherefore this certainly is clear, Fannius and Scævola (in my +opinion), that among the good a liking for the good is, as it were, +inevitable; and this indeed is appointed by Nature herself as the very +fountain of friendship. + +But the same kind disposition belongs also to the multitude; for +virtue is not inhuman, or cruel, or haughty, since she is accustomed +to protect even whole nations, and to adopt the best measures for +their welfare, which assuredly she would not do did she shrink from +the affection of the vulgar. And to myself, indeed, those who form +friendships with a view to advantage seem to do away with its most +endearing bond; for it is not so much the advantage obtained through a +friend as the mere love of that friend which delights; and then only +what has proceeded from a friend becomes delightful if it has +proceeded from zealous affection; and that friendship should be +cultivated from a sense of necessity is so far from being the case +that those who, being endowed with power and wealth, and especially +with virtue (in which is the strongest support of friendship), have +least need of another, are most liberal and generous. Yet I am not +sure whether it is requisite that friends should never stand in any +need; for wherein would any devotedness of mine to him have been +exerted if Scipio had never stood in need of my advice or assistance +at home or abroad? Wherefore friendship has not followed upon +advantage, but advantage on friendship. + +Persons, therefore, who are wallowing in indulgence will not need to +be listened to if ever they shall descant upon friendship, which they +have known neither by experience nor by theory. For who is there, by +the faith of gods and men, who would desire, on the condition of his +loving no one, and himself being loved by none, to roll in affluence, +and live in a superfluity of all things? For this is the life of +tyrants, in which undoubtedly there can be no confidence, no +affection, no steady dependence on attachment; all is perpetually +mistrust and disquietude--there is no room for friendship. For who can +love either him whom he fears or him by whom he thinks he himself is +feared? Yet are they courted, solely in hypocrisy, for a time; +because, if perchance (as it frequently happens) they have been +brought low, then it is perceived how destitute they were of friends. +And this, they say, Tarquin[32] exprest; that when going into exile, +he found out whom he had as faithful friends, and whom unfaithful +ones, since then he could no longer show gratitude to either party; +altho I wonder that, with such haughtiness and impatience of temper, +he could find one at all. And as the character of the individual whom +I have mentioned could not obtain true friends, so the riches of many +men of rank exclude all faithful friendship; for not only is Fortune +blind herself, but she commonly renders blind those whom she +embraces.... + +He who, therefore, shall have shown himself in both cases, as regards +friendship, worthy, consistent, and stedfast; such a one we ought to +esteem of a class of persons extremely rare--nay, almost godlike. Now, +the foundation of that stedfastness and constancy, which we seek in +friendship, is sincerity. For nothing is stedfast which is insincere. +Besides, it is right that one should be chosen who is frank and +good-natured, and congenial in his sentiments; one, in fact, who is +influenced by the same motives, all of which qualities have a tendency +to create sincerity. For it is impossible for a wily and tortuous +disposition to be sincere. Nor in truth can the man who has no +sympathy from nature, and who is not moved by the same considerations, +be either attached or steady. To the same requisites must be added +that he shall neither take delight in bringing forward charges nor +believe them when they arise, all of which causes belong to that +consistent principle of which now for some time I have been treating. +Thus the remark is true which I made at first that friendship can +exist only among the good; for it is the part of a good man (whom at +the same time we may call a wise man) to observe these two rules in +friendship: first, that there shall be nothing pretended or simulated +(for even to hate openly better becomes the ingenuous man than by his +looks to conceal his sentiments); in the next place, that not only +does he repel charges when brought (against his friends) by any one, +but is not himself suspicious, ever fancying that some infidelity has +been committed by his friend. To all this there should be added a +certain suavity of conversation and manners, affording, as it does, no +inconsiderable zest to friendship. Now solemnity and gravity on all +occasions, certainly, carry with them dignity; but friendship ought to +be easier and more free and more pleasant, and tending more to every +kind of politeness and good nature.... + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: From the "Cato Major, an Essay on Old Age." Translated by +Cyrus R. Edmonds. This work is composed in the form of a dialog, in +which, in the person of Cato the Censor as speaker, the benefits of +old age are pointed out.] + +[Footnote 5: A famous athlete who was many times crowned at the +Pythian and Olympian games.] + +[Footnote 6: Cneius Scipio was Consul in 222, and with Marcellus +completed the conquest of Cisalpine Gaul. He served with his brother +Publius Cicero against the Carthaginians in Spain, where, after +several victories, both were slain in 212 B.C.] + +[Footnote 7: Lucius Metellus, a Roman general who defeated the +Carthaginians at Panormus, now Palermo, Sicily, in 250 B.C.] + +[Footnote 8: Masinissa, king of a small territory in northern Africa, +was at first an ally of Carthage against Rome, but afterward became an +ally of Rome against Carthage.] + +[Footnote 9: The translator explains that the speeches here referred +to, as collected and published by Cato, numbered about 150. Cato was +known to his contemporaries as "the Roman Demosthenes." Later writers +often referred to him as "Cato the orator."] + +[Footnote 10: Archytas was a Greek philosopher, eminent also as +statesman, mathematician, and general. He lived about 400 B.C., and is +credited with having saved the life of Plato through his influence +with Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. He was seven times general of +the army of Tarentum and successful in all his campaigns; eminent also +for domestic virtues. He is pronounced by a writer in Smith's +"Dictionary" to have been "among the very greatest men of antiquity." +He was drowned while making a voyage in the Adriatic.] + +[Footnote 11: Caudium was a Samnite town near which the Romans were +defeated by Pontius Herennius.] + +[Footnote 12: Not the Appius Claudius from whom the Appian Way and one +of the great aqueducts were named. The older Appius Claudius, here +referred to, lived in the century that followed Plato.] + +[Footnote 13: Titus Flaminius, general and statesman, was Consul in +198 B.C. It was not Titus, but Caius Flaminius, who built the famous +circus and road bearing his name. Caius lived at an earlier period.] + +[Footnote 14: Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, the eminent military genius, +who several times defeated the Romans before he was finally overthrown +by them at Beneventum in 275 B.C.] + +[Footnote 15: Livius Andronicus, who lived in Rome about 240 B.C.] + +[Footnote 16: A small island (now a peninsula), lying off the coast of +Spain. It is to-day called Cadiz, but anciently was known as Erythia, +Tartessus, and Gades. It was founded about 1100 B.C., by the +Phenicians, of whose western commerce it was the center.] + +[Footnote 17: The tyrant of Athens who reigned thirty-three years and +died about 527 B.C.] + +[Footnote 18: Melmoth has commented on this passage that, altho +suicide too generally prevailed among the Greeks and Romans, the +wisest philosophers condemned it. "Nothing," he says, "can be more +clear and explicit" than the prohibition imposed by Pythagoras, +Socrates, and Plato.] + +[Footnote 19: Better known as the famous Regulus, whose alleged speech +to the "Conscript Fathers" has been declaimed by generations of +schoolboys.] + +[Footnote 20: Lucius Paulus died at the battle of Cannæ, which was +precipitated by his colleague Terentius Varro in 260 B.C., 40,000 +Romans being killed by the Carthaginians.] + +[Footnote 21: Marcellus, a Roman consul, who fought against Hannibal +and was killed in an ambuscade.] + +[Footnote 22: Cicero's daughter was born about 79 B.C., and thrice +married, the last time to Dolabella, who has been described as "one of +the most profligate men of a profligate age." She was divorced from +Dolabella in 44 B.C., gave birth to a son soon afterward, and died in +the same year. Cicero's letter was written in reply to one which he +had received from Servius Sulpicius, a celebrated Roman jurist. Cicero +intended to erect a temple as a memorial to Tullia, but the death of +Cæsar and the unsettled state of public affairs that ensued, and in +which Cicero was concerned, prevented him from doing so.] + +[Footnote 23: From Book I of the "Offices." Translated by Cyrus R. +Edmonds.] + +[Footnote 24: Pausanias, a Spartan general, was the son of +Cloembrotus, the king of Sparta, killed at the battle of Leuctra. +Pausanias commanded at Platæa; but having conducted a treasonable +correspondence with Xerxes, was starved to death as a punishment.] + +[Footnote 25: The general who contended against Sulla in the Civil +war.] + +[Footnote 26: Catulus was consul with Marius in 102 B.C. He acted with +Sulla during the Civil war.] + +[Footnote 27: Nasica, "a fierce and stiff-necked aristocrat," was of +the family of Scipios. When the consuls refused to resort to violence +against Tiberius Gracchus, it was he who led the senators forth from +their meeting-place against the popular assembly outside, with whom +ensued a fight, in which Gracchus was killed by a blow from a club. +Nasica left Rome soon after, seeking safety. After spending some time +as a wandering exile, he died at Pergamus.] + +[Footnote 28: From the Dialogue on "Friendship." Translated by Cyrus +E. Edmonds. Lælius, a Roman who was contemporary with the younger +Scipio, is made the speaker in the passage here quoted. Lælius, was a +son of Caius Lælius, the friend and companion of the elder Scipio, +whose actions are so interwoven with those of Scipio that a writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says, "It is difficult to relate them +separately." The younger Lælius was intimate with the younger Scipio +in a degree almost as remarkable as his father had been with the +elder. The younger, immortalized by Cicero's treatise on Friendship, +was born about 186 B.C., and was a man of fine culture noted as an +orator. His personal worth was so generally esteemed that it survived +to Seneca's day. One of Seneca's injunctions to a friend was that he +should "live like Lælius."] + +[Footnote 29: Scipio Africanus minor by whom Carthage was destroyed in +146 B.C., and Numantia, a town of Spain, was destroyed in 133 B.C. +From the letter he obtained the surname of Numantinus.] + +[Footnote 30: Magna Græcia was a name given by the ancients to that +part of southern Italy which, before the rise of the Roman state, was +colonized by Greeks. Its time of greatest splendor was the seventh and +sixth centuries B.C.; that is, intermediate between the Homeric age +and the Periclean. Among its leading cities were Cumæ, Sybaris, Locri, +Regium, Tarentum, Heraclea, and Pæstum. At the last-named place +imposing ruins still survive.] + +[Footnote 31: Empedocles, philosopher, poet, and historian, who lived +et Agrigentum in Sicily, about 490-430 B.C., and wrote a poem on the +doctrines of Pythagoras. A legend has survived that he jumped into the +crater of Etna, in order that people might conclude, from his complete +disappearance, that he was a god. Matthew Arnold's poem on this +incident is among his better-known works.] + +[Footnote 32: Tarquinius Superbus, seventh and last King of Rome, +occupied the throne for twenty-five years, and as a consequence of the +rape of Lucretia by his son Sextus was banished about 509 B.C.] + + + + +JULIUS CÆSAR + + Born in 100 B.C.; assassinated in 44; famous as general, + statesman, orator, and writer; served in Mitylene in 80; + captured by pirates in 76; questor in 68; pontifex maximus + in 63; propretor in Spain in 61; member of the First + Triumvirate in 60; Consul in 59; defeated the Helvetii in + 58; invaded Britain in 55 and 54; crossed the Rhine in 55; + crossed the Rubicon and began the Civil war in 49; dictator + from 49 to 45; defeated Pompey in 48; reformed the calendar + in 46; refused the diadem in 44; assassinated in the senate + house in 44.[33] + + +I + +THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE RHINE[34] + + +Cæsar, for those reasons which I have mentioned, had resolved to cross +the Rhine; but to cross by ships he neither deemed to be sufficiently +safe nor considered consistent with his own dignity or that of the +Roman people. Therefore, altho the greatest difficulty in forming a +bridge was presented to him, on account of the breadth, rapidity, and +depth of the river, he nevertheless considered that it ought to be +attempted by him, or that his army ought not otherwise to be led over. +He devised this plan of a bridge: he joined together, at the distance +of two feet, two piles, each a foot and half thick, sharpened a little +at the lower end, and proportioned in length to the depth of the +river. + +After he had, by means of engines, sunk these into the river, and fixt +them at the bottom, and then driven them in with rammers, not quite +perpendicularly, like a stake, but bending forward and sloping, so as +to incline in the direction of the current of the river; he also +placed two [other piles] opposite to these, at the distance of forty +feet lower down, fastened together in the same manner, but directed +against the force and current of the river. Both these, moreover, were +kept firmly apart by beams two feet thick (the space which the binding +of the piles occupied), laid in at their extremities between two +braces on each side; and in consequence of these being in different +directions and fastened on sides the one opposite to the other, so +great was the strength of the work, and such the arrangement of the +materials, that in proportion as the greater body of water dashed +against the bridge, so much the closer were its parts held fastened +together. These beams were bound together by timber laid over them in +the direction of the length of the bridge, and were [then] covered +with laths and hurdles; and, in addition to this, piles were driven +into the water obliquely, at the lower side of the bridge, and these +serving as buttresses, and being connected with every portion of the +work, sustained the force of the stream; and there were others also +above the bridge, at a moderate distance, that if trunks of trees or +vessels were floated down the river by the barbarians for the purpose +of destroying the work, the violence of such things might be +diminished by these defenses, and might not injure the bridge. + +Within ten days after the timber began to be collected, the whole work +was completed, and the whole army led over. Cæsar, leaving a strong +guard at each end of the bridge, hastens into the territories of the +Sigambri. In the mean time, ambassadors from several nations come to +him, whom, on their suing for peace and alliance, he answers in a +courteous manner, and orders hostages to be brought to him. But the +Sigambri, at the very time the bridge was begun to be built, made +preparations for a flight (by the advice of such of the Tenchtheri and +Usipetes as they had among them), and quitted their territories and +conveyed away all their possessions, and concealed themselves in +deserts and woods. + +Cæsar, having remained in their territories a few days, and burned all +their villages and houses, and cut down their corn, proceeded into the +territories of the Ubii; and having promised them his assistance, if +they were ever harassed by the Suevi,[35] he learned from them these +particulars: that the Suevi, after they had by means of their scouts +found that the bridge was being built, had called a council, according +to their custom, and sent orders to all parts of their state to +remove from the towns and convey their children, wives, and all their +possessions into the woods, and that all who could bear arms should +assemble in one place; that the place thus chosen was nearly the +center of those regions which the Suevi possest; that in this spot +they had resolved to await the arrival of the Romans, and give them +battle there. When Cæsar discovered this, having already accomplished +all these things on account of which he had resolved to lead his army +over--namely, to strike fear into the Germans, take vengeance on the +Sigambri, and free the Ubii from the invasion of the Suevi, having +spent altogether eighteen days beyond the Rhine, and thinking he had +advanced far enough to serve both honor and interest--he returned into +Gaul, and cut down the bridge. + + + + +II + +THE INVASION OF BRITAIN[36] + + +The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say +that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island +itself; the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the +country of the Belgæ[37] for the purpose of plunder and making war; +almost all of whom are called by the names of those states from which +being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there +and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is +countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part +very like those of the Gauls; the number of cattle is great. They use +either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their +money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; +but the quantity of it is small; they employ brass, which is imported. +There, as in Gaul, is timber of every description, except beech and +fir. They do not regard it lawful to eat the hare and the cock and the +goose; they, however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The +climate is more temperate than in Gaul, the cold being less severe. + +The island is triangular in its form, and one of its sides is opposite +to Gaul. One angle of this side, which is in Kent, whither almost all +ships from Gaul are directed, [looks] to the east; the lower looks to +the south. This side extends about 500 miles. Another side lies toward +Spain,[38] and the west, on which part is Ireland, less, as is +reckoned, than Britain, by one half; but the passage [from it] into +Britain is of equal distance with that from Gaul. In the middle of +this voyage is an island which is called Mona;[39] many smaller +islands besides are supposed to lie [there], of which islands some +have written that at the time of the winter solstice it is night +there for thirty consecutive days. We, in our inquiries about that +matter, ascertained nothing, except that, by accurate measurements +with water, we perceived the nights to be shorter there than on the +continent. The length of this side, as their account states, is 700 +miles. The third side is toward the north, to which portion of the +island no land is opposite; but an angle of that side looks +principally toward Germany. This side is considered to be 800 miles in +length. Thus the whole island is [about] 2,000 miles in circumference. + +The most civilized of all these nations are they who inhabit Kent, +which is entirely a maritime district, nor do their customs differ +much from Gallic. Most of the inland inhabitants do not sow corn, but +live on milk and flesh, and are clad with skins. All the Britains, +indeed, dye themselves with wood, which occasions a bluish color, and +thereby have a more terrible appearance in fight. They wear their hair +long, and have every part of their body shaved except their head and +upper lip. Ten and even twelve have wives common to them, and +particularly brothers among brothers, and parents among their +children; but if there be any issue by these wives, they are reputed +to be the children of those by whom respectively each was first +espoused when a virgin. + +The horse and charioteers of the enemy contended vigorously in a +skirmish with our cavalry on the march; yet so that our men were +conquerors in all parts, and drove them to their woods and hills; but, +having slain a great many, they pursued too eagerly, and lost some of +their men. However, the enemy, after some time had elapsed, when our +men were off their guard, and occupied in the fortification of the +camp, rushed out of the woods, and making an attack upon those who +were placed on duty before the camp, fought in a determined manner; +and two cohorts being sent by Cæsar to their relief, and these +severally the first of two legions, when these had taken up their +position at a very small distance from each other, as our men were +disconcerted by the unusual mode of battle, the enemy broke through +the middle of them most courageously, and retreated thence in safety. +That day, Q. Laberius Durus, a tribune of the soldiers, was slain. The +enemy, since more cohorts were sent against them, were repulsed. + +In the whole of this method of fighting since the engagement took +place under the eyes of all and before the camp, it was perceived that +our men, on account of the weight of their arms, inasmuch as they +could neither pursue [the enemy when] retreating, nor dare quit their +standards, were little suited to this kind of enemy; that the horse +also fought with great danger, because they [the Britons] generally +retreated even designedly, and, when they had drawn off our men a +short distance from the legions, leapt from their chariots and fought +on foot in unequal [and to them advantageous] battle. But the system +of cavalry engagement is wont to produce equal danger, and indeed the +same, both to those who retreat and those who pursue. To this was +added, that they never fought in close order, but in small parties and +at great distances, and had detachments placed [in different parts], +and then the one relieved the other, and the vigorous and fresh +succeeded the wearied. + +The following day the enemy halted on the hills, a distance from our +camp, and presented themselves in small parties, and began to +challenge our horse to battle with less spirit than the day before. +But at noon, when Cæsar had sent three legions, and all the cavalry +with C. Trebonius, the lieutenant, for the purpose of foraging, they +flew upon the foragers suddenly from all quarters, so that they did +not keep off [even] from the standards and the legions. Our men, +making an attack on them vigorously, repulsed them; nor did they cease +to pursue them until the horse, relying on relief, as they saw the +legions behind them, drove the enemy precipitately before them, and, +slaying a great number of them, did not give them the opportunity +either of rallying, or halting, or leaping from their chariots. After +this retreat the auxiliaries departed; nor after that time did the +enemy ever engage with us in very large numbers. + +Cæsar, discovering their design, leads his army into the territories +of Cassivelaunus[40] to the river Thames, which river can be forded in +one place only, and that with difficulty. When he had arrived there, +he perceives that numerous forces of the enemy were marshaled on the +other bank of the river; the bank also was defended by sharp +stakes[41] fixt in front, and stakes of the same kind fixt under the +water were covered by the river. These things being discovered from +[some] prisoners and deserters, Cæsar, sending forward the cavalry, +ordered the legions to follow them immediately. But the soldiers +advanced with such speed and such ardor, tho they stood above the +water by their heads only, that the enemy could not sustain the attack +of the legions and of the horse, and quitted the banks, and committed +themselves to flight. + +Cassivelaunus, as we have stated above, all hope [rising out] of +battle being laid aside, the greater part of his forces being +dismissed, and about 4,000 charioteers only being left, used to +observe our marches and retire a little from the road, and conceal +himself in intricate and woody places, and in those neighborhoods in +which he had discovered we were about to march, he used to drive the +cattle and the inhabitants from the fields into the woods; and, when +our cavalry, for the sake of plundering and ravaging the more freely, +scattered themselves among the fields, he used to send out charioteers +from the woods by all the well-known roads and paths, and, to the +great danger of our horse, engaged with them; and this source of fear +hindered them from straggling very extensively. The result was that +Cæsar did not allow excursions to be made to a great distance from the +main body of the legions, and ordered that damage should be done to +the enemy in ravaging their lands and kindling fires only so far as +the legionary soldiers could, by their own exertion and marching, +accomplish it. + +In the mean time the Trinobantes,[42] almost the most powerful state +of those parts, from which the young man Mandubratius, embracing the +protection of Cæsar, had come to the continent of Gaul to [meet] him +(whose father, Imanuentius, had possest the sovereignty in that state, +and had been killed by Cassivelaunus; he himself had escaped death by +flight) send ambassadors to Cæsar, and promise that they will +surrender themselves to him and perform his command: they entreat him +to protect Mandubratius from the violence of Cassivelaunus, and send +to their state some one to preside over it, and possess the +government. Cæsar demands forty hostages from them, and corn for his +army, and sends Mandubratius to them. They speedily performed the +things demanded, and sent hostages to the number appointed, and the +corn. + +The Trinobantes, being protected and secured from any violence of the +soldiers, the Cenimagni, the Segontiaci, the Ancalites, the +Bibroci, and the Cassi, sending embassies, surrender themselves to +Cæsar.[43] From them he learns that the capital town of Cassivelaunus +was not far from that place, and was defended by woods and morasses, +and a very large number of men and of cattle had been collected in it. +(Now the Britons, when they have fortified the intricate woods, in +which they are wont to assemble for the purpose of avoiding the +incursion of an enemy with an entrenchment and a rampart, call them a +town.) Thither he proceeds with his legions; he finds the place +admirably fortified by nature and art; he, however, undertakes to +attack it in two directions. The enemy, having remained only a short +time, did not sustain the attack of our soldiers, and hurried away on +the other side of the town. A great amount of cattle was found there, +and many of the enemy were taken and slain in their flight.... + + + + +III + +OVERCOMING THE NERVII[44] + + +Cæsar, having sent his cavalry on before, followed closely after them +with all his forces; but the plan and order of the march were +different from that which the Belgæ had reported to the Nervii.[45] +For as he was approaching the enemy, Cæsar, according to his custom, +led on [as the van] six legions unencumbered by baggage; behind them +he had placed the baggage-trains of the whole army; then the two +legions which had been last raised closed the rear, and were a guard +for the baggage-train. Our horse, with the slingers and archers, +having passed the river, commenced action with the cavalry of the +enemy. While they from time to time betook themselves into the woods +to their companions, and again made an assault out of the wood upon +our men, who did not dare to follow them in their retreat further than +the limit to which the plain and open parts extended; in the mean time +the six legions which had arrived first, having measured out the work, +began to fortify the camp. When the first part of the baggage-train of +our army was seen by those who lay hidden in the woods, which had been +agreed on among them as the time for commencing action, as soon as +they had arranged their line of battle and formed their ranks within +the woods, and had encouraged one another, they rushed out suddenly +with all their forces and made an attack upon our horse. The latter +being easily routed and thrown into confusion, the Nervii ran down to +the river with such incredible speed that they seemed to be in the +woods, the river, and close upon us almost at the same time. And with +the same speed they hastened up the hill to our camp and to those who +were employed in the works. + +Cæsar had everything to do at one time: the standard to be displayed, +which was the sign when it was necessary to rim to arms; the signal to +be given by the trumpet; the soldiers to be called off from the works; +those who had proceeded some distance for the purpose of seeking +materials for the rampart, to be summoned; the order of battle to be +formed; the soldiers to be encouraged; the watchword to be given. A +great part of these arrangements was prevented by the shortness of +time and the sudden approach and charge of the enemy. Under these +difficulties two things proved of advantage: [first] the skill and +experience of the soldiers, because, having been trained by former +engagements, they could suggest to themselves what ought to be done as +conveniently as receive information from others; and [secondly] that +Cæsar had forbidden his several lieutenants to depart from the works +and their respective legions before the camp was fortified. These, on +account of the near approach and the speed of the enemy, did not then +wait for any command from Cæsar, but of themselves executed whatever +appeared proper. + +Cæsar, having given the necessary orders, hastened to and fro into +whatever quarter fortune carried him, to animate the troops, and came +to the tenth legion. Having encouraged the soldiers with no further +speech than that "they should keep up the remembrance of their wonted +valor, and not be confused in mind, but valiantly sustain the assault +of the enemy"; as the latter were not farther from them than the +distance to which a dart could be cast, he gave the signal for +commencing battle. And having gone to another quarter for the purpose +of encouraging [the soldiers], he finds them fighting. Such was the +shortness of the time, and so determined was the mind of the enemy on +fighting, that time was wanting not only for affixing the military +insignia, but even for putting on the helmets and drawing off the +covers from the shields. To whatever part any one by chance came from +the works (in which he had been employed), and whatever standards he +saw first, at these he stood, lest in seeking his own company he +should lose the time for fighting. + +The army having been marshaled, rather as the nature of the ground and +the declivity of the hill and the exigency of the time than as the +method and order of military matters required, while the legions in +the different places were withstanding the enemy, some in one quarter, +some in another, and the view was obstructed by the very thick hedges +intervening, as we have before remarked, neither could proper reserves +be posted, nor could the necessary measures be taken in each part, nor +could all the commands be issued by one person. Therefore, in such an +unfavorable state of affairs, various events of fortune followed.... + +At the same time, our horsemen, and light-armed infantry, who had been +with those who, as I have related, were routed by the first assault of +the enemy, as they were betaking themselves into the camp, met the +enemy face to face, and again sought flight into another quarter; and +the camp-followers, who from the Decuman Gate, and from the highest +ridge of the hill had seen our men pass the river as victors, when, +after going out for the purposes of plundering, they looked back and +saw the enemy parading in our camp, committed themselves precipitately +to flight; at the same time there arose the cry and shout of those who +came with the baggage-train; and they (affrighted) were carried some +one way, some another. By all these circumstances the cavalry of the +Treviri were much alarmed (whose reputation for courage is +extraordinary among the Gauls, and who had come to Cæsar, being sent +by their state as auxiliaries), and, when they saw our camp filled +with a large number of the enemy, the legions hard prest and almost +held surrounded, the camp-retainers, horsemen, slingers, and Numidians +fleeing on all sides divided and scattered, they, despairing of our +affairs, hastened home, and related to their state that the Romans +were routed and conquered, [and] that the enemy were in possession of +their camp and baggage-train. + +Cæsar proceeded, after encouraging the tenth legion, to the right +wing, where he perceived that his men were hard prest, and that in +consequence of the standards of the twelfth legion being collected +together in one place, the crowded soldiers were a hindrance to +themselves in the fight; that all the centurions of the fourth cohort +were slain, and the standard-bearer killed, the standard itself lost, +almost all the centurions of the other cohorts either wounded or +slain, and among them the chief centurion of the legion, P. Sextius +Baculus, a very valiant man, who was so exhausted by many and severe +wounds that he was already unable to support himself; he likewise +perceived that the rest were slackening their efforts, and that some, +deserted by those in the rear, were retiring from the battle and +avoiding the weapons; that the enemy [on the other hand], tho +advancing from the lower ground, were not relaxing in front, and were +[at the same time] pressing hard on both flanks; he perceived also +that the affair was at a crisis; and that there was not any reserve +which could be brought up; having therefore snatched a shield from one +of the soldiers in the rear (for he himself had come without a +shield), he advanced to the front of the line, and addressing the +centurions by name, and encouraging the rest of the soldiers, he +ordered them to carry forward the standards, and extend the companies, +that they might the more easily use their swords. On his arrival, as +hope was brought to the soldiers and their courage restored, while +every one for his own part, in the sight of his general, desired to +exert his utmost energy, the impetuosity of the enemy was a little +checked. + +Cæsar, when he perceived that the seventh legion, which stood close by +him, was also hard prest by the enemy, directed the tribunes of the +soldiers to effect a junction of the legions gradually, and make their +charge upon the enemy with a double front, which having been done +since they brought assistance the one to the other, nor feared lest +their rear should be surrounded by the enemy, they began to stand +their ground more boldly, and to fight more courageously. In the mean +time, the soldiers of the two legions which had been in the rear of +the army, as a guard for the baggage-train, upon the battle being +reported to them, quickened their pace, and were seen by the enemy on +the top of the hill; and Titus Labienus, having gained possession of +the camp of the enemy, and observed from the higher ground what was +going on in our camp, sent the tenth legion as a relief to our men +who, when they had learned from the flight of the horse and the +sutlers in what position the affair was, and in how great danger the +camp and the legion and the commander were involved, left undone +nothing [which tended] to despatch. + +By their arrival, so great a change of matters was made that our men, +even those who had fallen down exhausted with wounds, leaned on their +shields, and renewed the fight; then the camp-retainers, tho unarmed, +seeing the enemy completely dismayed, attacked [them tho] armed; the +horsemen too, that they might by their valor blot out the disgrace of +their flight, thrust themselves before the legionary soldiers in all +parts of the battle. But the enemy, even in the last hope of safety, +displayed such great courage that when the foremost of them had +fallen, the next stood upon them prostrate, and fought from their +bodies; when these were overthrown, and their corpses heaped up +together, those who survived cast their weapons against our men +[thence] as from a mound, and returned our darts which had fallen +short between [the armies]; so that it ought not to be concluded that +men of such great courage had injudiciously dared to pass a very broad +river, ascend very high banks, and come up to a very disadvantageous +place; since their greatness of spirit had rendered these actions +easy, altho in themselves very difficult. + +This battle being ended, and the nation and name of the Nervii being +almost reduced to annihilation, their old men, who together with the +boys and women we have stated to have been collected together in the +fenny places and marshes, on this battle having been reported to +them, since they were convinced that nothing was an obstacle to the +conquerors, and nothing safe to the conquered, sent ambassadors to +Cæsar by the consent of all who remained, and surrendered themselves +to him; and in recounting the calamity of their state said that their +senators were reduced from 600 to three; that from 60,000 men they +[were reduced] to scarcely 500 who could bear arms, whom Cæsar, that +he might appear to use compassion toward the wretched and the +suppliant, most carefully spared, and ordered them to enjoy their own +territories and towns, and commanded their neighbors that they should +restrain themselves and their dependents from offering injury or +outrage [to them].... + + + + +IV + +THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA AND THE DEATH OF POMPEY[46] + +(48 B.C.) + + +Pompey, because he was encamped on a hill, drew up his army at the +very foot of it, ever in expectation, as may be conjectured, that +Cæsar would expose himself to this disadvantageous situation. Cæsar, +seeing no likelihood of being able to bring Pompey to an action, +judged it the most expedient method of conducting the war to decamp +from that post, and to be always in motion; with this hope, that by +shifting his camp and removing from place to place, he might be more +conveniently supplied with corn, and also that by being in motion he +might get some opportunity of forcing them to battle, and might by +constant marches harass Pompey's army, which was not accustomed to +fatigue.[47] These matters being settled, when the signal for marching +was given, and the tents struck, it was observed that shortly before, +contrary to his daily practise, Pompey's army had advanced farther +than usual from his entrenchments, so that it appeared possible to +come to an action on equal ground. Then Cæsar addrest himself to his +soldiers, when they were at the gates of the camp, ready to march out. +"We must defer," says he, "our march at present, and set our thoughts +on battle, which has been our constant wish; let us then meet the foe +with resolute souls. We shall not hereafter easily find such an +opportunity." He immediately marched out at the head of his troops. + +Pompey also, as was afterward known, at the unanimous solicitation of +his friends, had determined to try the fate of a battle. For he had +even declared in council a few days before that, before the battalions +came to battle, Cæsar's army would be put to the rout. When most +people exprest their surprize at it, "I know," says he, "that I +promise a thing almost incredible; but hear the plan on which I +proceed, that you may march to battle with more confidence and +resolution. I have persuaded our cavalry, and they have engaged to +execute it, as soon as the two armies have met, to attack Cæsar's +right wing on the flank, and enclosing their army on the rear throw +them into disorder, and put them to the rout, before we shall throw a +weapon against the enemy. By this means we shall put an end to the +war, without endangering the legions, and almost without a blow. Nor +is this a difficult matter, as we far outnumber them in cavalry." At +the same time, he gave them notice to be ready for battle on the day +following, and since the opportunity which they had so often wished +for was now arrived, not to disappoint the opinion generally +entertained of their experience and valor.... + +Cæsar, observing his former custom, had placed the tenth legion on the +right, the ninth on the left, altho it was very much weakened by the +battles at Dyrrachium.[48] He placed the eighth legion so close to the +ninth as almost to make one of the two, and ordered them to support +each other. He drew up on the field eighty cohorts, making a total of +twenty-two thousand men. He left two cohorts to guard the camp. He +gave the command of the left wing to Antonius, of the right to P. +Sulla, and of the center to Cn. Domitius; he himself took his post +opposite Pompey. At the same time, fearing, from the disposition of +the enemy which we have previously mentioned, lest his right wing +might be surrounded by their numerous cavalry, he rapidly drafted a +single cohort from each of the legions composing the third line, +formed of them a fourth line, and opposed them to Pompey's cavalry, +and, acquainting them with his wishes, admonished them that the +success of that day depended on their courage. At the same time, he +ordered the third line and the entire army not to charge without his +command; that he would give the signal whenever he wished them to do +so.... + +But our men, when the signal was given, rushed forward with their +javelins ready to be launched, but perceiving that Pompey's men did +not run to meet their charge, having acquired experience by custom, +and being practised in former battles, they of their own accord +repressed their speed, and halted almost midway, that they might not +come up with the enemy when their strength was exhausted, and after a +short respite they again renewed their course, and threw their +javelins, and instantly drew their swords, as Cæsar had ordered them. +Nor did Pompey's men fail in this crisis, for they received our +javelins, stood our charge, and maintained their ranks; and, having +launched their javelins, had recourse to their swords. At the same +time, Pompey's horse, according to their orders, rushed out at once +from his left wing, and his whole host of archers poured after them. +Our cavalry did not withstand their charge; but gave ground a little, +upon which Pompey's horse prest them more vigorously, and began to +file off in troops, and flank our army. When Cæsar perceived this, he +gave the signal to his fourth line, which he had formed of the six +cohorts. They instantly rushed forward and charged Pompey's horse with +such fury that not a man of them stood; but all wheeling about, not +only quitted their post, but galloped forward to seek a refuge in the +highest mountains. By their retreat the archers and slingers, being +left destitute and defenseless, were all cut to pieces. The cohorts, +pursuing their success, wheeled about upon Pompey's left wing, while +his infantry still continued to make battle, and attacked them in the +rear. + +At the same time, Cæsar ordered his third line to advance, which till +then had not been engaged, but had kept their post. Thus, new and +fresh troops having come to the assistance of the fatigued, and others +having made an attack on their rear, Pompey's men were not able to +maintain their ground, but all fled,[49] nor was Cæsar deceived in his +opinion that the victory, as he had declared in his speech to his +soldiers, must have its beginning from those six cohorts, which he had +placed as a fourth line to oppose the horse. For by them the cavalry +were routed; by them the archers and slingers were cut to pieces; by +them the left wing of Pompey's army was surrounded, and obliged to be +the first to flee. But when Pompey saw his cavalry routed, and that +part of his army on which he reposed his greatest hopes thrown into +confusion, despairing of the rest, he quitted the field, and retreated +straightway on horseback to his camp, and calling to the centurions, +whom he had placed to guard the prætorian gate, with a loud voice, +that the soldiers might hear: "Secure the camp," says he, "defend it +with diligence, if any danger should threaten it; I will visit the +other gates, and encourage the guards of the camp." Having thus said, +he retired into his tent in utter despair, yet anxiously waiting the +issue. + +Cæsar having forced the Pompeians to flee into their entrenchment, and +thinking that he ought not to allow them any respite to recover from +their fright, exhorted his soldiers to take advantage of fortune's +kindness, and to attack the camp. Tho they were fatigued by the +intense heat, for the battle had continued till midday, yet, being +prepared to undergo any labor, they cheerfully obeyed his command. The +camp was bravely defended by the cohorts which had been left to guard +it, but with much more spirit by the Thracians and foreign +auxiliaries. For the soldiers who had fled for refuge to it from the +field of battle, affrighted and exhausted by fatigue, having thrown +away their arms and military standards, had their thoughts more +engaged on their further escape than on the defense of the camp. Nor +could the troops who were posted on the battlements long withstand the +immense number of our darts, but fainting under their wounds quitted +the place, and under the conduct of their centurions and tribunes +fled, without stopping, to the high mountains which adjoined the camp. + +In Pompey's camp you might see arbors in which tables were laid, a +large quantity of plate set out, the floors of the tents covered with +fresh sods, the tents of Lucius Lentulus and others shaded with ivy, +and many other things which were proofs of excessive luxury, and a +confidence of victory, so that it might readily be inferred that they +had no apprehensions of the issue of the day, as they indulged +themselves in unnecessary pleasures, and yet upbraided with luxury +Cæsar's army, distrest and suffering troops, who had always been in +want of common necessaries. Pompey, as soon as our men had forced the +trenches, mounting his horse, and stripping off his general's habit, +went hastily out of the back gate of the camp, and galloped with all +speed to Larissa. Nor did he stop there, but with the same despatch, +collecting a few of his flying troops, and halting neither day nor +night, he arrived at the seaside, attended by only thirty horse, and +went on board a victualing bark, often complaining, as we have been +told, that he had been so deceived in his expectation that he was +almost persuaded that he had been betrayed by those from whom he had +expected victory, as they began the flight. + +Cæsar, having possest himself of Pompey's camp, urged his soldiers not +to be too intent on plunder, and lose the opportunity of completing +their conquest. Having obtained their consent, he began to draw lines +round the mountain. The Pompeians distrusting the position, as there +was no water on the mountain, abandoned it, and all began to retreat +toward Larissa, which Cæsar perceiving divided his troops, and +ordering part of his legions to remain in Pompey's camp, sent back a +part to his own camp, and, taking four legions with him, went by a +shorter road to intercept the enemy; and having marched six miles, +drew up his army. But the Pompeians, observing this, took a post on a +mountain, whose foot was washed by a river. Cæsar having encouraged +his troops, tho they were greatly exhausted by incessant labor the +whole day, and night was now approaching, by throwing up works cut off +the communication between the river and the mountain, that the enemy +might not get water in the night. As soon as the work was finished, +they sent ambassadors to treat about a capitulation. A few senators +who had espoused that party made their escape by night. + +At break of day, Cæsar ordered all those who had taken post on the +mountain to come down from the higher grounds into the plain and pile +their arms. When they did this without refusal, and, with, +outstretched arms, prostrating themselves on the ground, with tears, +implored his mercy, he comforted them and bade them rise, and having +spoken a few words of his own clemency to alleviate their fears, he +pardoned them all, and gave orders to his soldiers that no injury +should be done to them, and nothing taken from them. Having used this +diligence, he ordered the legions in his camp to come and meet him, +and those which were with him to take their turn of rest, and go back +to the camp, and the same day went to Larissa. + +In that battle, no more than two hundred privates were missing, but +Cæsar lost about thirty centurions, valiant officers. Crastinus, also, +of whom mention was made before, fighting most courageously, lost his +life by the wound of a sword in the mouth, nor was that false which he +declared when marching to battle; for Cæsar entertained the highest +opinion of his behavior in that battle, and thought him highly +deserving of his approbation. Of Pompey's army, there fell about +fifteen thousand; but upward of twenty-four thousand were made +prisoners; for even the cohorts which were stationed in the forts +surrendered to Sulla. Several others took shelter in the neighboring +states. One hundred and eighty stands of colors and nine eagles were +brought to Cæsar. Lucius Domitius, fleeing from the camp to the +mountains, his strength being exhausted by fatigue, was killed.... + +Cæsar thought he ought to postpone all business and pursue Pompey, +whithersoever he should retreat, that he might not be able to provide +fresh forces, and renew the war; he therefore marched on every day, as +far as his cavalry were able to advance, and ordered one legion to +follow him by shorter journeys. A proclamation was issued by Pompey at +Amphipolis[50] that all the young men of that province, Grecians and +Roman citizens, should take the military oath; but whether he issued +it with an intention of preventing suspicion, and to conceal as long +as possible his design of fleeing farther, or to endeavor to keep +possession of Macedonia by new levies, if nobody pursued him, it is +impossible to judge. He lay at anchor one night, and calling together +his friends in Amphipolis, and collecting a sum of money for his +necessary expenses, upon advice of Cæsar's approach, set sail from +that place, and arrived in a few days at Mitylene.[51] Here he was +detained two days, and having added a few galleys to his fleet he went +to Cilicia, and thence to Cyprus. There he is informed that, by the +consent of all the inhabitants of Antioch[52] and Roman citizens who +traded there, the castle had been seized to shut him out of the town; +and that messengers had been dispatched to all those who were reported +to have taken refuge in the neighboring states, that they should not +come to Antioch; that if they did so, it would be attended with +imminent danger to their lives. The same thing had happened to Lucius +Lentulus, who had been Consul the year before, and to Publius +Lentulus, a consular senator, and to several others at Rhodes,[53] who +having followed Pompey in his flight, and arrived at the island, were +not admitted into the town or port; and having received a message to +leave that neighborhood, set sail much against their will; for the +rumor of Cæsar's approach had now reached those states. + +Pompey, being informed of these proceedings, laid aside his design of +going to Syria, and having taken the public money from the farmers of +the revenue, and borrowed more from some private friends, and having +put on board his ships a large quantity of brass for military +purposes, and two thousand armed men, whom he partly selected from the +slaves of the tax farmers, and partly collected from the merchants, +and such persons as each of his friends thought fit on this occasion, +he sailed for Pelusium.[54] It happened that King Ptolemy,[55] a +minor, was there with a considerable army, engaged in war with his +sister Cleopatra, whom a few months before, by the assistance of his +relatives and friends, he had expelled from the kingdom; and her camp +lay at a small distance from his. To him Pompey applied to be +permitted to take refuge in Alexandria, and to be protected in his +calamity by his powerful assistance, in consideration of the +friendship and amity which had subsisted between his father and him. +But Pompey's deputies, having executed their commission, began to +converse with less restraint with the king's troops, and to advise +them to act with friendship to Pompey, and not to think meanly of his +bad fortune. In Ptolemy's army were several of Pompey's soldiers, of +whom Gabinius[56] had received the command in Syria, and had brought +them over to Alexandria, and at the conclusion of the war had left +with Ptolemy the father of the young king. + +The king's friends, who were regents of the kingdom during the +minority, being informed of these things, either induced by fear, as +they afterward declared, lest Pompey should corrupt the king's army, +and seize on Alexandria[57] and Egypt, or despising his bad fortune, +as in adversity friends commonly change to enemies, in public gave a +favorable answer to his deputies, and desired him to come to the king; +but secretly laid a plot against him, and dispatched Achillas, captain +of the king's guards, a man of singular boldness, and Lucius +Septimius, a military tribune, to assassinate him. Being kindly +addrest by them, and deluded by an acquaintance with Septimius, +because in the war with the pirates the latter had commanded a company +under him, he embarked in a small boat, with a few attendants, and was +there murdered by Achillas and Septimius. In like manner, Lucius +Lentulus was seized by the king's order, and put to death in +prison.... + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 33: Cicero, whose praise of Cæsar as a writer has been +shared by many readers since his time, described Cæsar's works as +"unadorned, straightforward, and elegant, their ornament being stript +off as it were a garment." Cæsar did his work so well that "he has +deterred all men of sound taste from touching him."] + +[Footnote 34: From Book IV of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." +Translated by McDivett and W. S. Bohn. The site of this bridge is +believed to be in the neighborhood of Cologne.] + +[Footnote 35: The Suevi were migratory Germans who, in Cæsar's time, +occupied the eastern banks of the Rhine in and about the present +country of Baden.] + +[Footnote 36: From Book V of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."] + +[Footnote 37: The Belgæ comprised various tribes that lived between +the Seine and the Rhine and were the most warlike of the Gauls.] + +[Footnote 38: Cæsar's error here has often been commented on, Spain +lying to the south, rather than to the west, of Britain.] + +[Footnote 39: Now known as the Isle of Man.] + +[Footnote 40: Cassivelaunus was a chieftain of the Britons who had +been entrusted with the supreme command against Cæsar. His own +territory lay north of the Thames.] + +[Footnote 41: Bede, the learned Benedictine, who lived in the eighth +century, says that, in his time, remains of these stakes were still to +be seen.] + +[Footnote 42: These people occupied what are now the counties of Essex +and Middlesex.] + +[Footnote 43: The translator notes that Tacitus has remarked that +Britain was surveyed, rather than conquered, by Cæsar. He gives the +honor of its real conquest to his own father-in-law, Agricola. While +the Roman armies "owe much to the military virtues of Agricola as +displayed in England, Cæsar," adds the translator, "did what no one +had done before him; he levied tribute upon the Britons and +effectually paved the way for all that Rome subsequently accomplished +in this island."] + +[Footnote 44: From Book II of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."] + +[Footnote 45: The Nervii were one of the Belgic tribes and are +understood to have been the most warlike of them all.] + +[Footnote 46: From Book III of the "Commentaries on the Civil War." +Pharsalia is a district of Thessaly in Greece. Cæsar's army numbered +22,000 legionaries and 1,000 cavalry; Pompey's, 45,000 legionaries and +7,000 cavalry.] + +[Footnote 47: Pompey's army having been recruited from aristocratic +families and their dependents, was not so much accustomed to the +severities of war as were the soldiers of Cæsar, recruited largely +from the populace.] + +[Footnote 48: The modern Durazzo, a seaport on the Adriatic in +Albania. It was founded by colonies from Corfu about 625 B.C. and +became important afterward as a terminus of one of the great Roman +roads. Pompey here defeated Cæsar a short time before he was himself +defeated at Pharsalia.] + +[Footnote 49: Cæsar on this occasion is said to have advised his +soldiers to aim at the faces of Pompey's cavalry, who, being composed +principally of the young noblemen of Rome, dreaded a scar in the face +more than death itself.] + +[Footnote 50: Amphipolis, a city of Macedonia, originally Thracian, +but colonized from Athens. It was situated three miles inland from the +Ægean Sea.] + +[Footnote 51: Mitylene was the capital of the island of Lesbos, and an +important maritime power in ancient times.] + +[Footnote 52: Arrowsmith describes Antioch as, not only the capital of +Syria, but at one time of Western Asia. It was for years the third +city of the world in beauty, size, and population. It was here that +the followers of Christ first received the name of Christians (in A.D. +39), having before been called Nazarenes and Galileans. In a +neighboring grove stood a famous temple to Apollo and Diana.] + +[Footnote 53: Rhodes is the largest island in the Ægean Sea after +Crete and Euboea. Its capital, having the same name and situated +near the northern end of the island, was famous for a bronze statue of +the sun called the Colossus, which was one of the "seven wonders of +the world."] + +[Footnote 54: Pelusium was an ancient city of Egypt, situated in the +delta of the Nile, strongly fortified and regarded as the gate to +Egypt, on its eastern frontier. It lay in the midst of marshes formed +by the overflow of the river, and continued its importance, in a +military sense, until the waters of the river found their way into the +Damietta branch.] + +[Footnote 55: Ptolemy XII, who came to the throne of Egypt co-jointly +with his sister Cleopatra in 51 B.C. He expelled Cleopatra in 49, and +in 48 Cæsar reinstated her. In the war which ensued, he was defeated +and drowned in the Nile.] + +[Footnote 56: Gabinius was a Roman tribune who had proposed the +statute bearing his name which gave to Pompey command of the +Mediterranean coast for the suppression of pirates.] + +[Footnote 57: Alexandria was founded in 331 B.C. by Alexander the +Great. Its principal street, 2,000 feet wide, was adorned with "some +of the most costly edifices and structures of marble which perhaps the +world ever saw." Many of these marbles were subsequently taken to Rome +and Constantinople. Alexandria for a long period was the center of +commerce for all merchandise passing between Europe and the East. As a +city of learning, it possest a famous library, which at one period +comprized 700,000 volumes.] + + + + +SALLUST + + Born in Italy about 86 B.C.; died about 34; elected tribune + in 52; expelled from the Senate by the censors in 50, + probably for being an active partizan of Cæsar; accompanied + Cæsar on his African campaign in 46; became governor of + Numidia, where he is said to have amassed a fortune + unjustly; author of histories of the Catiline conspiracy and + the war with Jugurtha.[58] + + +I + +THE GENESIS OF CATILINE[59] + + +Of the city of Rome, as I understand, the founders and earliest +inhabitants were the Trojans, who, under the conduct of Æneas, were +wandering about as exiles from their country, without any settled +abode; and with these were joined the Aborigines, a savage race of +men, without laws or government, free, and owning no control. How +easily these two tribes, tho of different origin, dissimilar language, +and opposite habits of life, formed a union when they met within the +same walls is almost incredible. But when their state, from an +accession of population and territory and an improved condition of +morals, showed itself tolerably flourishing and powerful, envy, as is +generally the case in human affairs, was the consequence of its +prosperity. The neighboring kings and people, accordingly, began to +assail them in war, while a few only of their friends came to their +support; for the rest, struck with alarm, shrunk from sharing their +dangers. But the Romans, active at home and in the field, prepared +with alacrity for their defense. They encouraged one another, and +hurried to meet the enemy. They protected, with their arms, their +liberty, their country, and their homes. And when they had at length +repelled danger by valor, they lent assistance to their allies and +supporters, and procured friendships rather by bestowing favors than +by receiving them. + +They had a government regulated by laws. The denomination of their +government was monarchy. Chosen men, whose bodies might be enfeebled +by years, but whose minds were vigorous in understanding, formed the +council of the state; and these, whether from their age, or from the +similarity of their duty, were called Fathers. But afterward, when the +monarchical power, which had been originally established for the +protection of liberty and for the promotion of the public interest, +had degenerated into tyranny and oppression, they changed their plan, +and appointed two magistrates, with power only annual; for they +conceived that, by this method, the human mind would be least likely +to grow overbearing through want of control. + +At this period every citizen began to seek distinction, and to display +his talents with greater freedom; for, with princes, the meritorious +are greater objects of suspicion than the undeserving, and to them the +worth of others is a source of alarm. But when liberty was secured, it +is almost incredible how much the state strengthened itself in a short +space of time, so strong a passion for distinction had pervaded it. +Now, for the first time, the youth, as soon as they were able to bear +the toils of war, acquired military skill by actual service in the +camp, and took pleasure rather in splendid arms and military steeds +than in the society of mistresses and convivial indulgence. To such +men no toil was unusual, no place was difficult or inaccessible, no +armed enemy was formidable; their valor had overcome everything. But +among themselves the grand rivalry was for glory; each sought to be +first to wound an enemy, to scale a wall, and to be noticed while +performing such an exploit. Distinction such as this they regarded as +wealth, honor, and true nobility. They were covetous of praise, but +liberal of money; they desired competent riches, but boundless glory. +I could mention, but that the account would draw me too far from my +subject, places in which the Roman people, with a small body of men, +routed vast armies of the enemy; and cities which, tho fortified by +nature, they carried by assault.... + +By these two virtues, intrepidity in war and equity in peace, they +maintained themselves and their state; of their exercise of which +virtues, I consider these as the greatest proofs: that, in war, +punishment was oftener inflicted on those who attacked an enemy +contrary to orders, and who, when commanded to retreat, retired too +slowly from the contest, than on those who had dared to desert their +standards, or, when prest by the enemy, to abandon their posts; and +that, in peace, they governed more by conferring benefits than by +exciting terror, and, when they received an injury, chose rather to +pardon than to revenge it. + +But when, by perseverance and integrity, the republic had increased +its power; when mighty princes had been vanquished in war; when +barbarous tribes and populous states had been reduced to subjection; +when Carthage, the rival of Rome's dominion, had been utterly +destroyed, and sea and land lay everywhere open to her sway, Fortune +then began to exercise her tyranny, and to introduce universal +innovation. To those who had easily endured toils, dangers, and +doubtful and difficult circumstances, ease and wealth, the objects of +desire to others, became a burden and a trouble. At first the love of +money, and then that of power, began to prevail, and these became, as +it were, the sources of every evil. For avarice subverted honesty, +integrity, and other honorable principles, and in their stead, +inculcated pride, inhumanity, contempt of religion, and general +venality. Ambition prompted many to become deceitful; to keep one +thing concealed in the breast, and another ready on the tongue; to +estimate friendships and enmities, not by their worth, but according +to interest; and to carry rather a specious countenance than an honest +heart. These vices at first advanced but slowly, and were sometimes +restrained by correction; but afterward, when their infection had +spread like a pestilence, the state was entirely changed, and the +government, from being the most equitable and praiseworthy, became +rapacious and insupportable. + +At first, however, it was ambition, rather than avarice, that +influenced the minds of men--a vice which approaches nearer to virtue +than the other. For of glory, honor, and power, the worthy is as +desirous as the worthless; but the one pursues them by just methods; +the other, being destitute of honorable qualities, works with fraud +and deceit. But avarice has merely money for its object, which no wise +man has ever immoderately desired. It is a vice which, as if imbued +with deadly poison, enervates whatever is manly in body or mind. It is +always unbounded and insatiable, and is abated neither by abundance +nor by want. + +But after Lucius Sulla, having recovered the government by force of +arms, proceeded, after a fair commencement, to a pernicious +termination, all became robbers and plunderers; some set their +affections on houses, others on lands; his victorious troops knew +neither restraint nor moderation, but inflicted on the citizens +disgraceful and inhuman outrages. Their rapacity was increased by the +circumstance that Sulla, in order to secure the attachment of the +forces which he had commanded in Asia, had treated them, contrary to +the practise of our ancestors, with extraordinary indulgence and +exemption from discipline; and pleasant and luxurious quarters had +easily, during seasons of idleness, enervated the minds of the +soldiery. Then the armies of the Roman people first became habituated +to licentiousness and intemperance, and began to admire statues, +pictures, and sculptured vases; to seize such objects alike in public +edifices and private dwellings; to spoil temples; and to cast off +respect for everything, sacred and profane. Such troops, accordingly, +when once they obtained the mastery, left nothing to the vanquished. +Success unsettles the principles even of the wise, and scarcely would +those of debauched habits use victory with moderation.... + +In so populous and so corrupt a city, Catiline, as it was very easy to +do, kept about him, like a body-guard, crowds of the unprincipled and +desperate. For all those shameless, libertine, and profligate +characters who had dissipated their patrimonies by gaming, luxury, and +sensuality; all who had contracted heavy debts, to purchase immunity +for their crimes or offenses; all assassins or sacrilegious persons +from every quarter, convicted or dreading conviction for their evil +deeds; all, besides, whom their tongue or their hand maintained by +perjury or civil bloodshed; all, in fine, whom wickedness, poverty, or +a guilty conscience disquieted, were the associates and intimate +friends of Catiline. And if any one, as yet of unblemished character, +fell into his society, he was presently rendered, by daily intercourse +and temptation, similar and equal to the rest. But it was the young +whose acquaintance he chiefly courted, as their minds, ductile and +unsettled from their age, were easily ensnared by his stratagems. For +as the passions of each, according to his years, appeared excited, he +furnished mistresses to some, bought horses and dogs for others, and +spared, in a word, neither his purse nor his character, if he could +but make them his devoted and trustworthy supporters. There were some, +I know, who thought that the youth who frequented the house of +Catiline were guilty of crimes against nature; but this report arose +rather from other causes than from any evidence of the fact.... + +Depending on such accomplices and adherents, and knowing that the load +of debt was everywhere great, and that the veterans of Sulla,[60] +having spent their money too liberally, and remembering their spoils +and former victory, were longing for a civil war, Catiline formed the +design of overthrowing the government. There was no army in Italy; +Pompey was fighting in a distant part of the world;[61] he himself had +great hopes of obtaining the consulship; the Senate was wholly off its +guard; everything was quiet and tranquil, and all these circumstances +were exceedingly favorable for Catiline.... + + + + +II + +THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS[62] + + +When the Senate, as I have stated, had gone over to the opinion of +Cato, the Consul, thinking it best not to wait till night, which was +coming on, lest any new attempts should be made during the interval, +ordered the triumvirs to make such preparations as the execution of +the conspirators required. He himself, having posted the necessary +guards, conducted Lentulus[63] to the prison; and the same office was +performed for the rest by the prætors. + +There is a place in the prison, which is called the Tullian +dungeon,[64] and which, after a slight ascent to the left, is sunk +about twelve feet under ground. Walls secure it on every side, and +over it is a vaulted roof connected with stone arches; but its +appearance is disgusting and horrible, by reason of the filth, +darkness, and stench. When Lentulus had been let down into this place, +certain men, to whom orders had been given, strangled him with a +cord. Thus this patrician who was of the illustrious family of the +Cornelii, and who had filled the office of Consul at Rome, met with an +end suited to his character and conduct. On Cethegus, Statilius, +Gabinius, and Coeparius, punishment was inflicted in a similar +manner. + +During these proceedings at Rome, Catiline, out of the entire force +which he himself had brought with him, and that which Manlius had +previously collected, formed two legions, filling up the cohorts as +far as his numbers would allow; and afterward, as any volunteers, or +recruits from his confederates, arrived in his camp, he distributed +them equally throughout the cohorts, and thus filled up his legions, +in a short time, with their regular number of men, tho at first he had +not had more than two thousand. But, of his whole army, only about a +fourth part had the proper weapons of soldiers; the rest, as chance +had equipped them, carried darts, spears, or sharpened stakes. + +As Antonius[65] approached with his army, Catiline directed his march +over the hills, encamping, at one time, in the direction of Rome, at +another in that of Gaul. He gave the enemy no opportunity of fighting, +yet hoped himself shortly to find one, if his accomplices at Rome +should succeed in their objects. Slaves, meanwhile, of whom vast +numbers had at first flocked to him, he continued to reject, not only +as depending on the strength of the conspiracy, but as thinking it +impolitic to appear to share the cause of citizens with runagates. + +When it was reported in his camp, however, that the conspiracy had +been discovered at Rome, and that Lentulus, Cethegus, and the rest +whom I have named had been put to death, most of those whom the hope +of plunder or the love of change had led to join in the war fell away. +The remainder Catiline conducted, over rugged mountains and by forced +marches, into the neighborhood of Pistoria, with a view to escape +covertly, by crossroads, into Gaul. + +But Quintus Metellus Celer, who, with a force of three legions, had, +at that time, his station at Picenum, suspected that Catiline, from +the difficulties of his position, would adopt precisely the course +which we have just described. When, therefore, he had learned +Catiline's route from some deserters, he immediately broke up his +camp, and took his post at the very foot of the hills, at the point +where Catiline's descent would be, in his hurried march into Gaul.[66] +Nor was Antonius far distant, as he was pursuing, tho with a large +army, yet through plainer ground, and with fewer hindrances, the enemy +in retreat. + +Catiline, when he saw that he was surrounded by mountains and by +hostile forces, that his schemes in the city had been unsuccessful, +and that there was no hope either of escape or of succor, thinking it +best, in such circumstances, to try the fortune of a battle, resolved +upon engaging, as speedily as possible, with Antonius.... + +When he had spoken, he ordered, after a short delay, the signal for +battle to be sounded, and led down his troops, in regular order, to +the level ground. Having then sent away the horses of all the cavalry, +in order to increase the men's courage by making their danger equal, +he himself, on foot, drew up his troops suitably to their numbers and +the nature of the ground. As a plain stretched between the mountains +on the left, with a rugged rock on the right, he placed eight cohorts +in front, and stationed the rest of his force, in close order, in the +rear. From among these he removed all the ablest centurions, the +veterans, and the stoutest of the common soldiers that were regularly +armed into the foremost ranks. He ordered Caius Manlius to take the +command on the right, and a certain officer of Fæsulæ on the left; +while he himself, with his freedmen and the colonists, took his +station by the eagle, which Caius Marius was said to have had in his +army in the Cimbrian war. + +On the other side, Caius Antonius, who, being lame, was unable to be +present in the engagement, gave the command of the army to Marcus +Petreius, his lieutenant-general. Petreius ranged the cohorts of +veterans, which he had raised to meet the present insurrection, in +front, and behind them the rest of his force in lines. Then, riding +round among his troops, and addressing his men by name, he encouraged +them, and bade them remember that they were to fight against unarmed +marauders, in defense of their country, their children, their temples, +and their homes. Being a military man, and having served with great +reputation for more than thirty years, as tribune, prefect, +lieutenant, or prætor, he knew most of the soldiers and their +honorable actions, and, by calling these to their remembrance, roused +the spirits of the men. + +When he had made a complete survey, he gave the signal with the +trumpet, and ordered the cohorts to advance slowly. The army of the +enemy followed his example; and when they had approached so near that +the action could be commenced by the light-armed troops, both sides, +with a loud shout, rushed together in a furious charge. They threw +aside their missiles, and fought only with their swords. The veterans, +calling to mind their deeds of old, engaged fiercely in the closest +combat. The enemy made an obstinate resistance; and both sides +contended with the utmost fury. Catiline, during this time, was +exerting himself with his light troops in the front, sustaining such +as were prest, substituting fresh men for the wounded, attending to +every exigency, charging in person, wounding many an enemy, and +performing at once the duties of a valiant soldier and a skilful +general. + +When Petreius, contrary to his expectation, found Catiline attacking +him with such impetuosity, he led his prætorian cohort against the +center of the enemy, among whom, being thus thrown into confusion, and +offering but partial resistance, he made great slaughter, and ordered, +at the same time, an assault on both flanks. Manlius and the Fæsulan, +sword in hand, were among the first that fell; and Catiline, when he +saw his army routed, and himself left with but few supporters, +remembering his birth and former dignity, rushed into the thickest of +the enemy, where he was slain, fighting to the last. + +When the battle was over, it was plainly seen what boldness and what +energy of spirit had prevailed throughout the army of Catiline; for, +almost everywhere, every soldier, after yielding up his breath, +covered with his corpse the spot which he had occupied when alive. A +few, indeed, whom the prætorian cohort had dispersed, had fallen +somewhat differently, but all with wounds in front. Catiline himself +was found, far in advance of his men, among the dead bodies of the +enemy; he still breathed, and exprest in his countenance the +fierceness of spirit which he had shown during his life. Of his whole +army, neither in the battle, nor in flight, was any free-born citizen +made prisoner, for they had spared their own lives no more than those +of the enemy. + +Nor did the army of the Roman people obtain a joyful or bloodless +victory; for all their bravest men were either killed in the battle or +left the field severely wounded. + +Of many who went from the camp to view the ground or plunder the +slain, some, in turning over the bodies of the enemy, discovered a +friend, others an acquaintance, others a relative; some, too, +recognized their enemies. Thus, gladness and sorrow, grief and joy, +were variously felt throughout the whole army. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 58: Quintilian thought Sallust had rivaled Thucydides, but +it has generally been held that he rather imitated him. The +resemblance lies in the main in the language he employs. Cruttwell +remarks "that the deep insight of the Athenian into the connection of +events is far removed from the popular rhetoric in which the Roman +deplores the decline of virtue."] + +[Footnote 59: From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson. Catiline came of an old but impoverished patrician family. In +the first Civil War, he had joined Sulla, and in the time of the +proscription is said to have killed with his own hand his +brother-in-law. In 67 B.C. he was governor of Africa; in 64 he joined +P. Antronius in an attempt to murder the consuls-elect; in 64 he was +himself defeated for the consulship.] + +[Footnote 60: These were men to whom Sulla had given land as rewards +for services, but who from extravagance had fallen into debt. Cicero +said nothing could help them but the resurrection of Sulla from the +dead.] + +[Footnote 61: Pompey was then conducting his campaign against +Mithridates.] + +[Footnote 62: From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson.] + +[Footnote 63: Lentulus, who came of the ancient and noble Cornelian +family, was one of the chiefs of the Catiline conspiracy. In 71 B.C. +he was Consul, but in the next year was ejected from the Senate for +"infamous life and manners."] + +[Footnote 64: The Tullian dungeon at Rome was built by King Ancus +Martius and enlarged by Servius Tullius, from whom it derived its +name. It still exists as a subterranean chapel beneath the small +church of San Pietro in Carcere. The church tradition is that St. +Peter was imprisoned in this dungeon.] + +[Footnote 65: Not the triumvir, but his uncle, Caius Antonius, a man +who after the conspiracy made a scandalous record, and in consequence +was surnamed "Hybrida." He was Consul with Cicero, and is believed to +have been one of the original Catiline conspirators, but Cicero gained +him over to his own side by promising him the rich province of +Macedonia. As Consul, Antonius was under the necessity of leading the +army against Catiline; but, owing to unwillingness to fight against +his former friend (Sallust says owing to lameness) he gave the +immediate command on the day of battle to his legate, Petreius. The +father of this Antonius and the grandfather of Mark Antony, the +triumvir, was Mark Antony, the orator, frequently referred to by +Cicero as one of the greatest of Roman orators.] + +[Footnote 66: That is, northern Italy, which In ancient times had been +occupied by Gallic people. Pistoria was an Etruscan town lying at the +foot of the Apennines.] + + + + +LIVY + + Born In Padua in 59 B.C.; died there in 17 A.D.; one of the + most famous of the Roman historians; his work, embracing the + period from the founding of the city, comprized one hundred + and forty-two books, of which only thirty-five have come + down to us; he spent over forty years in writing the + history; he wrote also philosophical dialogs and a work on + rhetorical training.[67] + + +I + +HORATIUS COCLES AT THE BRIDGE[68] + +(About 510 B.C.) + + +The Sublician bridge[69] well-nigh afforded a passage to the enemy, +had it not been for one man, Horatius Cocles, given by fortune on that +day as a defense of Rome. He happened to be posted on guard at the +bridge and when he saw the Janiculum taken by a sudden assault, and +that the enemy were pouring down thence in full speed, and that his +own party in terror and confusion were abandoning their arms and +ranks--laying hold of them one by one, standing in their way, and +appealing to the faith of gods and men, he declared "that their flight +would avail them nothing if they deserted their post; if they passed +the bridge and left it behind them, there would soon be more of the +enemy in the Palatium and Capitol than in the Janiculum; for that +reason he advised and charged them to demolish the bridge, by their +sword, by fire, or by any means whatever; that he would stand the +shock of the enemy as far as could be done by one man." + +He then advanced to the first entrance of the bridge, and being easily +distinguished among those who showed their backs in retreating from +the fight, facing about to engage the foe hand to hand, by his +surprizing bravery he terrified the enemy. Two indeed a sense of shame +kept with him--Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius--men eminent for +their birth, and renowned for their gallant exploits. + +With them he for a short time stood the first storm of the danger, and +the severest brunt of the battle. But as they who demolished the +bridge called upon them to retire, he obliged them also to withdraw to +a place of safety on a small portion of the bridge still left. Then +casting his stern eyes round all the officers of the Etrurians in a +threatening manner, he sometimes challenged them singly, sometimes +reproached them all: "the slaves of haughty tyrants, who, regardless +of their own freedom, came to oppress the liberty of others." They +hesitated for a considerable time, looking round one at the other, to +commence the fight; shame then put the army in motion, and a shout +being raised, they hurled their weapons from all sides on their single +adversary; and when they all stuck in the shield held before him, and +he with no less obstinacy kept possession of the bridge with firm +step, they now endeavored to thrust him down from it by one push, when +at once the crash of the falling bridge, at the same time a shout of +the Romans raised for joy at having completed their purpose, checked +their ardor with sudden panic. Then Cocles says, "Holy father +Tiberinus, I pray that thou wouldst receive these arms and this thy +soldier in thy propitious stream." Armed as he was, he leapt into the +Tiber, and, amid showers of darts hurled on him, swam across safe to +his party, having dared an act which is likely to obtain more fame +than belief with posterity. The state was grateful toward such valor; +a statue was erected to him in the Comitium, and as much land was +given to him as he plowed around in one day. The zeal of private +individuals also was conspicuous among the public honors. For amid the +great scarcity, each person contributed something to him according to +his supply at home, depriving himself of his own support. + + + + +II + +HANNIBAL'S CROSSING OF THE ALPS[70] (218 B.C.) + + +From the Druentia, by a road that lay principally through plains, +Hannibal arrived at the Alps without molestation from the Gauls who +inhabit those regions. Then, tho the scene had been previously +anticipated from report (by which uncertainties are wont to be +exaggerated), yet the height of the mountains when viewed so near, and +the snows almost mingling with the sky, the shapeless huts situated on +the cliffs, the cattle and beasts of burden withered by the cold, the +men unshorn and wildly drest, all things, animate and inanimate, +stiffened with frost, and other objects more terrible to be seen than +described, renewed their alarm. + +To them, marching up the first acclivities, the mountaineers appeared +occupying the heights overhead, who, if they had occupied the more +concealed valleys, might, by rushing out suddenly to the attack, have +occasioned great flight and havoc. Hannibal orders them to halt, and +having sent forward Gauls to view the ground, when he found there was +no passage that way, he pitches his camp in the widest valley he could +find, among places all rugged and precipitous. Then, having learned +from the same Gauls, when they had mixed in conversation with the +mountaineers, from whom they differed little in language and manners, +that the pass was only beset during the day, and that at night each +withdrew to his own dwelling, he advanced at the dawn to the heights, +as if designing openly and by day to force his way through the defile. +The day then being passed in feigning a different attempt from that +which was in preparation, when they had fortified the camp in the same +place where they had halted, as soon as he perceived that the +mountaineers had descended from the heights, and that the guards were +withdrawn, having lighted for show a greater number of fires than was +proportioned to the number that remained, and having left the baggage +in the camp, with the cavalry and the principal part of the infantry, +he himself with a party of light-armed soldiers, consisting of all the +most courageous of his troops, rapidly cleared the defile, and took +posts on those very heights which the enemy had occupied. + +At dawn of light the next day the camp broke up, and the rest of the +army began to move forward. The mountaineers, on a signal being given, +were now assembling from their forts to their usual station, when +they suddenly behold part of the enemy overhanging them from above, in +possession of their former position, and the others passing along the +road. Both these objects, presented at the same time to the eye and +the mind, made them stand motionless for a little while; but when they +afterward saw the confusion in the pass, and that the marching body +was thrown into disorder by the tumult which itself created, +principally from the horses being terrified, thinking that whatever +terror they added would suffice for the destruction of the enemy, they +scramble along the dangerous rocks, as being accustomed alike to +pathless and circuitous ways. Then indeed the Carthaginians were +opposed at once by the enemy and by the difficulties of the ground; +and each striving to escape first from the danger, there was more +fighting among themselves than with their opponents. The horses, in +particular, created danger in the lines, which being terrified by the +discordant clamors that the groves and reechoing valleys augmented, +fell into confusion; and if by chance struck or wounded, they were so +dismayed that they occasioned a great loss both of men and baggage of +every description; and as the pass on both sides was broken and +precipitous, this tumult threw many down to an immense depth, some +even of the armed men; but the beasts of burden, with their loads, +were rolled down like the fall of some vast fabric. + +Tho these disasters were shocking to view, Hannibal, however, held his +place for a little, and kept his men together, lest he might augment +the tumult and disorder: but afterward, when he saw the line broken, +and that there was danger that he should bring over his army preserved +to no purpose if deprived of their baggage, he hastened down from the +higher ground; and tho he had routed the enemy by the first onset +alone, he at the same time increased the disorder in his own army; but +that tumult was composed in a moment, after the roads were cleared by +the flight of the mountaineers, and presently the whole army was +conducted through, not only without being disturbed, but almost in +silence. He then took a fortified place, which was the capital of that +district, and the little villages that lay around it, and fed his army +for three days with the corn and cattle he had taken; and during these +three days, as the soldiers were neither obstructed by the +mountaineers, who had been daunted by the first engagement, nor yet +much by the ground, he made considerable way. + +He then came to another state, abounding, for a mountainous country, +with inhabitants, where he was nearly overcome, not by open war, but +by his own arts of treachery and ambuscade. Some old men, governors of +forts, came as deputies to the Carthaginian, professing, "that having +been warned by the useful example of the calamities of others, they +wished rather to experience the friendship than the hostilities of the +Carthaginians; they would, therefore, obediently execute his commands, +and begged that he would accept of a supply of provisions, guides of +his march, and hostages for the sincerity of their promises." +Hannibal, when he had answered them in a friendly manner, thinking +that they should neither be rashly trusted nor yet rejected, lest if +repulsed they might openly become enemies, having received the +hostages whom they proffered, and made use of the provisions which +they of their own accord brought down to the road, followed their +guides, by no means as among a people with whom he was at peace, but +with his line of march in close order. The elephants and cavalry +formed the van of the marching body; he himself, examining everything +around, and intent on every circumstance, followed with the choicest +of his infantry. When they came into a narrower pass, lying on one +side beneath an overhanging eminence, the barbarians, rising at once +on all sides from their ambush, assail them in front and rear, both at +close quarters and from a distance, and roll down huge stones on the +army. The most numerous body of men prest on the rear; against whom +the infantry facing about and directing their attack made it very +obvious that, had not the rear of the army been well supported, a +great loss must have been sustained in that pass. Even as it was, they +came to the extremity of danger, and almost to destruction; for while +Hannibal hesitated to lead down his division into the defile, because, +tho he himself was a protection to the cavalry, he had not in the same +way left any aid to the infantry in the rear; the mountaineers, +charging obliquely, and on having broken through the middle of the +army, took possession of the road; and one night was spent by Hannibal +without his cavalry and baggage.... + +On the standards being moved forward at daybreak, when the army +proceeded slowly over all places entirely blocked up with snow, and +languor and despair strongly appeared in the countenances of all, +Hannibal, having advanced before the standards, and ordered the +soldiers to halt on a certain eminence, whence there was a prospect +far and wide, pointed out to them Italy and the plains of the Po, +extending themselves beneath the Alpine mountains; and said "that they +were now surmounting not only the ramparts of Italy, but also of the +city of Rome; that the rest of the journey would be smooth and +down-hill; that after one, or, at most, a second battle, they would +have the citadel and capital of Italy in their power and possession." +The army then began to advance, the enemy now making no attempts +beyond petty thefts, as opportunity offered. But the journey proved +much more difficult than it had been in the ascent, as the declivity +of the Alps, being generally shorter on the side of Italy, is +consequently steeper; for nearly all the road was precipitous, narrow, +and slippery, so that neither those who made the least stumble could +prevent themselves from falling, nor, when fallen, remain in the same +place, but rolled, both men and beasts of burden, one upon another. + +They then came to a rock much more narrow, and formed of such +perpendicular ledges that a light-armed soldier, carefully making the +attempt, and clinging with his hands to the bushes and roots around, +could with difficulty lower himself down. The ground, even before very +steep by nature, had been broken by a recent falling away of the earth +into a precipice of nearly a thousand feet in depth. Here when the +cavalry halted, as if at the end of their journey, it was announced to +Hannibal, wondering what obstructed the march, that the rock was +impassable. Having then gone himself to view the place, it seemed +clear to him that he must lead his army, by however great a circuit, +through the pathless and untrodden regions around it. But this route +also proved impracticable; for while the new snow of a moderate depth +remained on the old, which had not been removed, their footsteps were +planted with ease as they walked upon the new snow, which was soft and +not too deep; but when it was dissolved by the trampling of so many +men and beasts of burden, they then walked on the bare ice below, and +through the dirty fluid formed by the melting snow. Here there was a +wretched struggle, both on account of the slippery ice not affording +any hold to the step, and giving way beneath the foot more readily by +reason of the slope; and whether they assisted themselves in rising by +their hands or their knees, their supports themselves giving way, they +would tumble again; nor were there any stumps or roots near by +pressing against which one might with hand or foot support oneself; so +that they only floundered on the smooth ice and amidst the melted +snow. The beasts of burden sometimes also cut into this lower ice by +merely treading upon it, at others they broke it completely through, +by the violence with which they struck in their hoofs in their +struggling, so that most of them, as if taken in a trap, stuck in the +hardened and deeply frozen ice. + +At length, after the men and beasts of burden had been fatigued to no +purpose, the camp was pitched on the summit, the ground being cleared +for that purpose with great difficulty, so much snow was there to be +dug out and carried away. The soldiers being then set to make a way +down the cliff, by which alone a passage could be effected, and it +being necessary that they should cut through the rocks, having felled +and lopped a number of large trees which grew around, they make a huge +pile of timber; and as soon as a strong wind fit for exciting the +flames arose, they set fire to it, and, pouring vinegar on the heated +stones, they render them soft and crumbling. They then open a way with +iron instruments through the rock thus heated by the fire, and soften +its declivities by gentle windings, so that not only the beasts of +burden, but also the elephants, could be led down it. Four days were +spent about this rock, the beasts nearly perishing through hunger; for +the summits of the mountains are for the most part bare, and if there +is any pasture the snows bury it. The lower parts contain valleys, and +some sunny hills, and rivulets flowing beside woods, and scenes more +worthy of the abode of man. There the beasts of burden were sent out +to pasture, and rest given for three days to the men, fatigued with +forming the passage; they then descended into the plains, the country +and the dispositions of the inhabitants being now less rugged. + +In this manner chiefly they came to Italy, in the fifth month (as some +authors relate) after leaving New Carthage, having crossed the Alps +in fifteen days. What number of forces Hannibal had when he had passed +into Italy is by no means agreed upon by authors. Those who state them +at the highest make mention of a hundred thousand foot and twenty +thousand horse; those who state them at the lowest, of twenty thousand +foot and six thousand horse. Lucius Cincius Alimentus, who relates +that he was made prisoner by Hannibal, would influence me most as an +authority did he not confound the number by adding the Gauls and +Ligurians. Including these (who, it is more probable, flocked to him +afterward, as some authors assert), he says that eighty thousand foot +and ten thousand horse were brought into Italy; and that he had heard +from Hannibal himself that, after crossing the Rhone, he had lost +thirty-six thousand men, and an immense number of horses and other +beasts of burden among the Taurini,[71] the next nation to the Gauls, +as he descended into Italy. + + + + +III + +HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO AT ZAMA[72] + +(202 B.C.) + + +Hannibal had by this time arrived at Adrumetum,[73] from which place, +after employing a few days there in refreshing his soldiers, who had +suffered from the motion by sea, he proceeded by forced marches to +Zama, roused by the alarming statements of messengers, who brought +word that all the country round Carthage was filled with armed troops. +Zama is distant from Carthage a five days' journey. Some spies, whom +he had sent out from this place, being intercepted by the Roman guard, +and brought before Scipio, he directed that they should be handed over +to the military tribunes, and, after having been desired fearlessly to +survey everything, he conducted them through the camp wherever they +chose; then, asking them whether they had examined everything to their +satisfaction, he assigned them an escort, and sent them back to +Hannibal. Hannibal received none of the circumstances which were +reported to him with feelings of joy; for they brought word that, as +it happened, Masinissa had joined the enemy that very day, with six +thousand infantry and four thousand horse; but he was principally +dispirited by the confidence of his enemy, which, doubtless, was not +conceived without some ground. Accordingly, tho he himself was the +originator of the war, and by his coming had upset the truce which had +been entered into, and cut off all hopes of a treaty, yet, concluding +that more favorable terms might be obtained if he solicited peace +while his strength was unimpaired than when vanquished, he sent a +message to Scipio requesting permission to confer with him. + +Their armed attendants having retired to an equal distance, they met, +each attended by one interpreter, being the greatest generals not only +of their own times, but of any to be found in the records of the times +preceding them, and equal to any of the kings or generals of any +nation whatever. When they came within sight of each other they +remained silent for a short time, thunderstruck, as it were, with +mutual admiration. At length Hannibal thus began: + +"Since fate hath so ordained it, that I, who was the first to wage war +upon the Romans, and who have so often had victory almost within my +reach, should voluntarily come to sue for peace, I rejoice that it is +you, above all others, from whom it is my lot to solicit it. To you, +also, amidst the many distinguished events of your life, it will not +be esteemed one of the least glorious that Hannibal, to whom the gods +had so often granted victory over the Roman generals, should have +yielded to you; and that you should have put an end to this war, which +has been rendered remarkable by your calamities before it was by +ours. In this, also, fortune would seem to have exhibited a +disposition to sport with events, for it was when your father was +Consul that I first took up arms; he was the first Roman general with +whom I engaged in a pitched battle; and it is to his son that I now +come unarmed to solicit peace. It were, indeed, most to have been +desired that the gods should have put such dispositions into the minds +of our fathers, that you should have been content with the empire of +Italy, and we with that of Africa; nor, indeed, even to you, are +Sicily and Sardinia of sufficient value to compensate you for the loss +of so many fleets, so many armies, so many and such distinguished +generals. + +"But what is past may be more easily censured than retrieved. In our +attempts to acquire the possessions of others, we have been compelled +to fight for our own; and not only have you had a war in Italy, and we +also in Africa, but you have beheld the standards and arms of your +enemies almost in your gates and on your walls, and we now, from the +walls of Carthage, distinctly hear the din of a Roman camp. What, +therefore, we should most earnestly deprecate, and you should most +devoutly wish for, is now the case: peace is proposed at a time when +you have the advantage. We who negotiate it are the persons whom it +most concerns to obtain it, and we are persons 'whose arrangements, be +they what they will, our states will ratify. All we want is a +disposition not averse from peaceful counsels. So far as relates to +myself, time (for I am returning to that country an old man which I +left a boy),[74] and prosperity, and adversity, have so schooled me +that I am more inclined to follow reason than fortune. But I fear your +youth and uninterrupted good fortune, both of which are apt to inspire +a degree of confidence ill comporting with pacific counsels. Rarely +does that man consider the uncertainty of events whom fortune hath +never deceived. What I was at Trasimenus and at Cannæ that you are +this day. Invested with command when you had scarcely yet attained the +military age, tho all your enterprises were of the boldest +description, in no instance has fortune deserted you. Avenging the +death of your father and uncle, you have derived from the calamity of +your house the high honor of distinguished valor and filial duty. You +have recovered Spain, which had been lost, after driving thence four +Carthaginian armies. When elected Consul, tho all others wanted +courage to defend Italy, you crossed over into Africa, where, having +cut to pieces two armies, having at once captured and burned two camps +in the same hour, having made prisoner Syphax, a most powerful king, +and seized so many towns of his dominions and so many of ours, you +have dragged me from Italy, the possession of which I had firmly held +for now sixteen years.... + +"Formerly, in this same country, Marcus Atilius would have formed one +among the few instances of good fortune and valor, if, when +victorious, he had granted a peace to our fathers when they requested +it; but by not setting any bounds to his success, and not checking +good fortune, which was elating him, he fell with a degree of ignominy +proportioned to his elevation. It is, indeed, the right of him who +grants, and not of him who solicits it, to dictate the terms of peace; +but perhaps we may not be unworthy to impose upon ourselves the fine. +We do not refuse that all those possessions on account of which the +war was begun should be yours--Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, with all the +islands lying in any part of the sea, between Africa and Italy. Let us +Carthaginians, confined within the shores of Africa, behold you, since +such is the pleasure of the gods, extending your empire over foreign +nations, both by sea and land. I can not deny that you have reason to +suspect the Carthaginian faith, in consequence of their insincerity +lately in soliciting a peace and while awaiting the decision. The +sincerity with which a peace will be observed depends much, Scipio, on +the person by whom it is sought. Your Senate, as I hear, refused to +grant a peace, in some measure, because the deputies were deficient in +respectability. It is I, Hannibal, who now solicit peace, who would +neither ask for it unless I believed it expedient, nor will I fail to +observe it for the same reason of expedience on account of which I +have solicited it. And in the same manner as I, because the war was +commenced by me, brought it to pass that no one regretted it till the +gods began to regard me with displeasure, so will I also exert myself +that no one may regret the peace procured by my means." + +In answer to these things the Roman general spoke nearly to the +following effect: "I was aware that it was in consequence of the +expectation of your arrival that the Carthaginians violated the +existing faith of the truce and broke off all hope of a peace. Nor, +indeed, do you conceal the fact; inasmuch as you artfully withdraw +from the former conditions of peace every concession except what +relates to those things which have for a long time been in our own +power. But as it is your object that your countrymen should be +sensible how great a burden they are relieved from by your means, so +it is incumbent upon me to endeavor that they may not receive, as the +reward of their perfidy, the concessions which they formerly +stipulated, by expunging them now from the conditions of the peace. +Tho you do not deserve to be allowed the same conditions as before, +you now request even to be benefited by your treachery. Neither did +our fathers first make war respecting Sicily, nor did we respecting +Spain. In the former case, the danger which threatened our allies, the +Mamertines, and in the present the destruction of Saguntum, girded us +with just and pious arms. That you were the aggressors, both you +yourselves confess and the gods are witnesses, who determined the +issue of the former war, and who are now determining, and will +determine, the issue of the present according to right and justice. As +to myself, I am not forgetful of the instability of human affairs, but +consider the influence of fortune, and am well aware that all our +measures are liable to a thousand casualties. But as I should +acknowledge that my conduct would savor of insolence and oppression +if I rejected you on your coming in person to solicit peace, before I +crossed over into Africa, you voluntarily retiring from Italy, and +after you had embarked your troops, so now, when I have dragged you +into Africa almost by manual force, notwithstanding your resistance +and evasions, I am not bound to treat you with any respect. Wherefore, +if in addition to those stipulations on which it was considered that a +peace would at that time have been agreed upon, and what they are you +are informed, a compensation is proposed for having seized our ships, +together with their stores, during a truce, and for the violence +offered to our ambassadors, I shall then have matter to lay before my +council. But if these things also appear oppressive, prepare for war, +since you could not brook the conditions of peace." + +Thus, without effecting an accommodation, when they had returned from +the conference to their armies, they informed them that words had been +bandied to no purpose, that the question must be decided by arms, and +that they must accept that fortune which the gods assigned them. + +When they had arrived at their camps, they both issued orders that +their soldiers should get their arms in readiness and prepare their +minds for the final contest; in which, if fortune should favor them, +they would continue victorious, not for a single day, but forever. +"Before tomorrow night," they said, "they would know whether Rome or +Carthage should give laws to the world; and that neither Africa nor +Italy, but the whole world, would be the prize of victory; that the +dangers which threatened those who had the misfortune to be defeated +were proportioned to the rewards of the victors." For the Romans had +not any place of refuge in an unknown and foreign land, and immediate +destruction seemed to await Carthage if the troops which formed her +last reliance were defeated. To this important contest, the day +following, two generals, by far the most renowned of any, and +belonging to two of the most powerful nations in the world, advanced +either to crown or overthrow, on that day, the many honors they had +previously acquired.... + +While the general was busily employed among the Carthaginians, and the +captains of the respective nations among their countrymen, most of +them employing interpreters among troops intermixed with those of +different nations, the trumpets and cornets of the Romans sounded; and +such a clamor arose that the elephants, especially those in the left +wing, turned round upon their own party, the Moors and Numidians. +Masinissa had no difficulty in increasing the alarm of the terrified +enemy, and deprived them of the aid of their cavalry in that wing. A +few, however, of the beasts which were driven against the enemy, and +were not turned back through fear, made great havoc among the ranks of +the velites, tho not without receiving many wounds themselves; for +when the velites, retiring to the companies, had made way for the +elephants, that they might not be trampled down, they discharged their +darts at the beasts, exposed as they were to wounds on both sides, +those in the van also keeping up a continual discharge of javelins; +until, driven out of the Roman line by the weapons which fell upon +them from all quarters, these elephants also put to flight even the +cavalry of the Carthaginians posted in their right wing. Lælius, when +he saw the enemy in disorder, struck additional terror into them in +their confusion. + +The Carthaginian line was deprived of the cavalry on both sides, when +the infantry, who were now not a match for the Romans in confidence or +strength, engaged. In addition to this there was one circumstance, +trifling in itself, but at the same time producing important +consequences in the action. On the part of the Romans the shout was +uniform, and on that account louder and more terrific; while the +voices of the enemy, consisting as they did of many nations of +different languages, were dissonant. The Romans used the stationary +kind of fight, pressing upon the enemy with their own weight and that +of their arms; but on the other side there was more of skirmishing and +rapid movement than force. + +Accordingly, on the first charge, the Romans immediately drove back +the line of their opponents; then pushing them with their elbows and +the bosses of their shields, and pressing forward into the places from +which they had pushed them, they advanced a considerable space, as tho +there had been no one to resist them, those who formed the rear urging +forward those in front when they perceived the line of the enemy +giving way, which circumstance itself gave great additional force in +repelling them. On the side of the enemy, the second line, consisting +of the Africans and Carthaginians, were so far from supporting the +first line when giving ground, that, on the contrary, they even +retired, lest their enemy, by slaying those who made a firm +resistance, should penetrate to themselves also. Accordingly, the +auxiliaries suddenly turned their backs, and facing about upon their +own party, fled some of them into the second line, while others slew +those who did not receive them into their ranks, since before they did +not support them, and now refused to receive them. + +And now there were, in a manner, two contests going on together, the +Carthaginians being compelled to fight at once with the enemy and with +their own party. Not even then, however, did they receive into their +line the terrified and exasperated troops; but, closing their ranks, +drove them out of the scene of action to the wings and the surrounding +plain, lest they should mingle these soldiers, terrified with defeat +and wounds, with that part of their line which was firm and fresh. But +such a heap of men and arms had filled the space in which the +auxiliaries a little while ago had stood that it was almost more +difficult to pass through it than through a close line of troops. The +spearmen, therefore, who formed the front line, pursuing the enemy as +each could find a way through the heap of firms and men, and streams +of blood, threw into complete disorder the battalions and companies. +The standards, also, of the principes had begun to waver when they saw +the line before them driven from their ground. Scipio, perceiving +this, promptly ordered the signal to be given for the spearmen to +retreat, and, having taken his wounded into the rear, brought the +principes and triarii to the wings, in order that the line of +spearmen in the center might be more strong and secure. Thus a fresh +and renewed battle commenced, inasmuch as they had penetrated to their +real antagonists, men equal to them in the nature of their arms, in +their experience in war, in the fame of their achievements, and the +greatness of their hopes and fears. But the Romans were superior both +in numbers and courage, for they had now routed both the cavalry and +the elephants, and, having already defeated the front line, were +fighting against the second.... + +Hannibal, after performing this, as it were, his last work of valor, +fled to Adrumetum, whence, having been summoned to Carthage, he +returned thither in the six and thirtieth year after he had left it +when a boy, and confest in the senate house that he was defeated, not +only in the battle, but in the war, and that there was no hope o± +safety in anything but obtaining peace. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 67: "The most eloquent of all historians," says Cruttwell. +Livy understood the spirit of ancient times, making it real to modern +minds because he possest "antiquity of soul." In his own day Livy's +popularity was almost limitless. Pliny the Younger recalled that a man +once traveled to Rome from Cadiz with the express purpose of seeing +Livy. Having seen him he returned home at once, caring for nothing +else in Rome.] + +[Footnote 68: From Book II of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. "Cocles" was a nick-name meaning the +"one-eyed." With this story every school-boy has been made familiar +through Macaulay's "Lay," beginning: + + "Lars Porsena of Clusium + By the Nine Gods he swore + That the great house of Tarquin + Should suffer wrong no more." +] + +[Footnote 69: Authorities differ as to the site of this bridge. +"Larousse" has a map which identifies it as the site now occupied by +the Æmilian bridge, at the base of the Palatine, near the mouth of the +Cloaca Maxima; but the "Encyclopædia Britannica," in a map of ancient +Rome, places it farther down the Tiber near the center of the base of +the Aventine. Murray's "Handbook of Rome" agrees with the +"Britannica." This bridge was the first one built at Rome, and is +ascribed to King Ancus Martius.] + +[Footnote 70: From Book XXI of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. The identity of the pass through which +Hannibal crossed has been the subject of much controversy. A writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says the account in Polybius "will be found, on +the whole, to agree best with the supposition that Hannibal crossed by +the Little St. Bernard." At the same time, "there are some +difficulties" attending this inference.] + +[Footnote 71: A tribe living in the upper valley of the Po, near +Turin.] + +[Footnote 72: From Book XXX of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds.] + +[Footnote 73: Adrumetum lay in what is now Tunis and was originally a +Phenician city. It was older than Carthage. For many centuries it was +a chief seaport for northern Africa. It is now known as Susa.] + +[Footnote 74: Hannibal, who when a boy of nine had left Carthage for +Spain with his father, Hamilcar Barca, at that time took an oath upon +an altar declaring eternal hostility to Rome. In the year of Zama he +was forty-five years old.] + + + + +SENECA + + Born in Spain about 4 B.C.; died near Rome in 65 A.D.; + celebrated as a Stoic and writer; taken to Rome when a + child; a senator in Caligula's reign; banished to Corsica by + Claudius in 41; recalled in 49, and entrusted with the + education of Nero; after Nero's accession in 54 virtually + controlled the imperial government, exercising power in + concert with the Prætorian prefect, Burrus; on the + assassination of Burrus in 62 petitioned for leave to retire + from court, and virtually did withdraw; on being charged + with complicity in the conspiracy of Piso, he committed + suicide in obedience to Nero's order; his extant writings + are numerous, and include "Benefits," "Clemency," and "Minor + Essays."[75] + + +I + +OF THE WISE MAN[76] + + +I might truly say, Serenus, that there is as wide a difference between +the Stoics and the other sects of philosophers as there is between men +and women, since each class contributes an equal share to human +society, but the one is born to command, the other to obey. The other +philosophers deal with us gently and coaxingly, just as our +accustomed family physicians usually do with our bodies, treating them +not by the best and shortest method, but by that which we allow them +to employ; whereas the Stoics adopt a manly course, and do not care +about its appearing attractive to those who are entering upon it, but +that it should as quickly as possible take us out of the world, and +lead us to that lofty eminence which is so far beyond the scope of any +missile weapon that it is above the reach of Fortune herself. "But the +way by which we are asked to climb is steep and uneven." What then? +Can heights be reached by a level path? Yet they are not so sheer and +precipitous as some think. It is only the first part that has rocks +and cliffs and no apparent outlet, just as many hills seen from a long +way off appear abruptly steep and joined together, because the +distance deceives our sight, and then, as we draw nearer, those very +hills which our mistaken eyes had made into one gradually unfold +themselves, those parts which seemed precipitous from afar assume a +gently sloping outline. When just now mention was made of Marcus Cato, +you whose mind revolts at injustice were indignant at Cato's own age +having so little understood him, at its having allotted a place below +Vatinius to one who towered above both Cæsar and Pompey; it seemed +shameful to you, that when he spoke against some law in the Forum his +toga was torn from him, and that he was hustled through the hands of a +mutinous mob from the Rostra as far as the arch of Fabius,[77] +enduring all the bad language, spitting, and other insults of the +frantic rabble. + +I then answered, that you had good cause to be anxious on behalf of +the commonwealth, which Publius Clodius on the one side, Vatinius and +all the greatest scoundrels on the other, were putting up for sale, +and, carried away by their blind covetousness, did not understand that +when they sold it they themselves were sold with it; I bade you have +no fears on behalf of Cato himself, because the wise man can neither +receive injury nor-insult, and it is more certain that the immortal +gods have given Cato as a pattern of a wise man to us, than that they +gave Ulysses or Hercules to the earlier ages; for these our Stoics +have declared were wise men, unconquered by labors, despisers of +pleasure, and superior to all terrors. Cato did not slay wild beasts, +whose pursuit belongs to huntsmen and countrymen, nor did he +exterminate fabulous creatures with fire and sword, or live in times +when it was possible to believe that the heavens could be supported on +the shoulders of one man. In an age which had thrown off its belief in +antiquated superstitions, and had carried material knowledge to its +highest point, he had to struggle against that many-headed monster, +ambition, against that boundless lust for power which the whole world +divided among three men could not satisfy. He alone withstood the +vices of a worn-out state sinking into ruin through its own bulk; he +upheld the falling commonwealth as far as it could be upheld by one +man's hand, until at last his support was withdrawn, and he shared the +crash which he had so long averted, and perished together with that +from which it was impious to separate him--for Cato did not outlive +freedom, nor did freedom outlive Cato. Think you that the people could +do any wrong to such a man when they tore away his prætorship or his +toga? when they bespattered his sacred head with the rinsings of their +mouths? The wise man is safe, and no injury or insult can touch +him.... + +Consider now, whether any thief, or false accuser, or headstrong +neighbor, or rich man enjoying the power conferred by a childless old +age, could do any injury to this man, from whom neither war nor an +enemy whose profession was the noble art of battering city walls could +take away anything. Amid the flash of swords on all sides, and the +riot of the plundering soldiery, amid the flames and blood and ruin of +the fallen city, amid the crash of temples falling upon their gods, +one man was at peace. You need not therefore account that a reckless +boast, for which I will give you a surety, if my word goes for +nothing. Indeed, you would hardly believe so much constancy or such +greatness of mind to belong to any man; but here a man comes forward +to prove that you have no reason for doubting that one who is but of +human birth can raise himself above human necessities, can tranquilly +behold pains, losses, diseases, wounds, and great natural convulsions +roaring around him, can bear adversity with calm and prosperity with +moderation, neither yielding to the former nor trusting to the latter, +that he can remain the same amid all varieties of fortune, and think +nothing to be his own save himself, and himself too only as regards +his better part.... + +You have no cause for saying, as you are wont to do, that this wise +man of ours is nowhere to be found; we do not invent him as an unreal +glory of the human race, or conceive a mighty shadow of an untruth, +but we have displayed and will display him just as we sketch him, tho +he may perhaps be uncommon, and only one appears at long intervals; +for what is great and transcends the common ordinary type is not often +produced; but this very Marcus Cato himself, the mention of whom +started this discussion, was a man who I fancy even surpassed our +model. Moreover, that which hurts must be stronger than that which is +hurt. Now wickedness is not stronger than virtue; therefore the wise +man can not be hurt. Only the bad attempt to injure the good. Good men +are at peace among themselves; bad ones are equally mischievous to the +good and to one another. If a man can not be hurt by one weaker than +himself, and a bad man be weaker than a good one, and the good have no +injury to dread, except from one unlike themselves; then, no injury +takes effect upon the wise man; for by this time I need not remind you +that no one save the wise man is good.... + +The nobler a man is by birth, by reputation, or by inheritance, the +more bravely he should bear himself, remembering that the tallest men +stand in the front rank in battle. As for insults, offensive language, +marks of disgrace, and such like disfigurements, he ought to bear them +as he would bear the shouts of the enemy, and darts or stones flung +from a distance, which rattle upon his helmet without causing a wound; +while he should look upon injuries as wounds, some received on his +armor and others on his body, which he endures without falling or even +leaving his place in the ranks. Even tho you be hard prest and +violently attacked by the enemy, still it is base to give way; hold +the post assigned to you by nature. You ask, what this post is? it is +that of being a man. The wise man has another help, of the opposite +kind to this; you are hard at work, while he has already won the +victory. Do not quarrel with your own good advantage, and, until you +shall have made your way to the truth, keep alive this hope in your +minds, be willing to receive the news of a better life, and encourage +it by your admiration and your prayers; it is to the interest of the +commonwealth of mankind that there should be some one who is +unconquered, some one against whom fortune has no power. + + + + +II + +OF CONSOLATION FOR THE LOSS OF FRIENDS[78] + + +Why should I lead you on through the endless series of great men and +pick out the unhappy ones, as tho it were not more difficult to find +happy ones? for how few households have remained possest of all their +members to the end? what one is there that has not suffered some loss? +Take any one year you please and name the Consuls for it; if you like, +that of Lucius Bibulus[79] and Julius Cæsar; you will see that, tho +these colleagues were each other's bitterest enemies, yet their +fortunes agreed. Lucius Bibulus, a man more remarkable for goodness +than for strength of character, had both his sons murdered at the same +time, and even insulted by the Egyptian soldiery, so that the agent of +his bereavement was as much a subject for tears as the bereavement +itself. Nevertheless Bibulus, who during the whole of his year of +office had remained hidden in his house, to cast reproach upon his +colleague Cæsar on the day following that upon which he heard of both +his sons' deaths, came forth and went through the routine business of +his magistracy. Who could devote less than one day to mourning for +two sons? Thus soon did he end his mourning for his children, altho he +had mourned a whole year for his consulship. Gaius Cæsar, after having +traversed Britain, and not allowed even the ocean to set bounds to his +successes, heard of the death of his daughter, which hurried on the +crisis of affairs. Already Cnæus Pompey stood before his eyes, a man +who would ill endure that any one besides himself should become a +great power in the state, and one who was likely to place a check upon +his advancement, which he had regarded, as onerous even when each +gained by the other's rise: yet within three days' time he resumed his +duties as general, and conquered his grief as quickly as he was wont +to conquer everything else. + +Why need I remind you of the deaths of the other Cæsars, whom fortune +appears to me sometimes to have outraged in order that even by their +deaths they might be useful to mankind, by proving that not even they, +altho they were styled "sons of gods," and "fathers of gods to come," +could exercise the same power over their own fortunes which they did +over those of others? The Emperor Augustus lost his children and his +grandchildren, and after all the family of Cæsar had perished was +obliged to prop his empty house by adopting a son: yet he bore his +losses as bravely as tho he were already personally concerned in the +honor of the gods, and as tho it were especially to his interest that +no one should complain of the injustice of Heaven. Tiberius Cæsar lost +both the son whom he begot and the son whom he adopted, yet he +himself pronounced a panegyric upon his son from the Rostra, and +stood in full view of the corpse, which merely had a curtain on one +side to prevent the eyes of the high priest resting upon the dead +body, and did not change his countenance, tho all the Romans wept: he +gave Sejanus, who stood by his side, a proof of how patiently he could +endure the loss of his relatives. See you not what numbers of most +eminent men there have been, none of whom have been spared by this +blight which prostrates us all: men, too, adorned with every grace of +character, and every distinction that public or private life can +confer. It appears as tho this plague moved in a regular orbit, and +spread ruin and desolation among us all without distinction of +persons, all being alike its prey. Bid any number of individuals tell +you the story of their lives: you will find that all have paid some +penalty for being born. + +I know what you will say, "You quote men as examples: you forget that +it is a woman that you are trying to console." Yet who would say that +nature has dealt grudgingly with the minds of women and stunted their +virtues? Believe me, they have the same intellectual power as men, and +the same capacity for honorable and generous action. If trained to do +so, they are just as able to endure sorrow or labor. Ye good gods, do +I say this in that very city in which Lucretia and Brutus removed the +yoke of kings from the necks of the Romans? We owe liberty to Brutus, +but we owe Brutus to Lucretia--in which Cloelia,[80] for the +sublime courage with which she scorned both the enemy and the river, +has been almost reckoned as a man. + +The statue of Coelia, mounted on horseback, in the busiest of +thoroughfares, the Sacred Way, continually reproaches the youth of the +present day, who never mount anything but a cushioned seat in a +carriage, with journeying in such a fashion through that very city in +which we have enrolled even women among our knights. If you wish me to +point out to you examples of women who have bravely endured the loss +of their children, I shall not go far afield to search for them: in +one family I can quote two Cornelias, one the daughter of Scipio, and +the mother of Gracchi, who made acknowledgment of the birth of her +twelve children by burying them all; nor was it so hard to do this in +the case of the others, whose birth and death were alike unknown to +the public, but she beheld the murdered and unburied corpses of both +Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus, whom even those who will not +call them good must admit were great men. Yet to those who tried to +console her and called her unfortunate, she answered, "I shall never +cease to call myself happy, because I am the mother of the Gracchi." +Cornelia, the wife of Livius Drusus,[81] lost by the hands of an +unknown assassin a young son of great distinction, who was treading in +the footsteps of the Gracchi, and was murdered in his own house just +when he had so many bills half-way through the process of becoming +law: nevertheless she bore the untimely and unavenged death of her son +with as lofty a spirit as he had shown in carrying his laws. + +Will you not, Marcia, forgive Fortune because she has not refrained +from striking you with the darts which she launched at the Scipios, +and the mothers and daughters of the Scipios, and with which she has +attacked the Cæsars themselves? Life is full of misfortunes; our path +is beset with them: no one can make a long peace, nay, scarcely an +armistice with fortune. You, Marcia, have borne four children; now +they say that no dart which is hurled into a close column of soldiers +can fail to hit one--ought you then to wonder at not having been able +to lead along such a company without exciting the ill will of Fortune, +or suffering loss at her hands?... + +Think how great a blessing is a timely death, how many have been +injured by living longer than they ought. If sickness had carried off +that glory and support of the empire, Cnæus Pompey, at Naples, he +would have died undoubted head of the Roman people, but as it was, a +short extension of time cast him down from his pinnacle of fame: he +beheld his legions slaughtered before his eyes: and what a sad relic +of that battle, in which the Senate formed the first line, was the +survival of the general. He saw his Egyptian butcher, and offered his +body, hallowed by so many victories, to a guardsman's sword, altho, +even had he been unhurt, he would have regretted his safety: for what +could have been more infamous than that a Pompey should owe his life +to the clemency of a king? If Marcus Cicero had fallen at the time +when he avoided those dangers which Catiline aimed equally at him and +at his country, he might have died as the savior of the commonwealth +which he had set free: if his death had even followed upon that of his +daughter, he might have died happy. He would not then have seen swords +drawn for the slaughter of Roman citizens, the goods of the murdered +divided among the murderers, that men might pay from their own purse +the price of their own blood, the public auction of the Consul's spoil +in the civil war, the public letting out of murder to be done, +brigandage, war, pillage, hosts of Catilines. Would it not have been a +good thing for Marcus Cato if the sea had swallowed him up when he was +returning from Cyprus after sequestrating the king's hereditary +possessions, even if that very money which he was bringing to pay the +soldiers in the civil war had been lost with him? He certainly would +have been able to boast that no one would dare to do wrong in the +presence of Cato: as it was, the extension of his life for a very few +more years forced one who was born for personal and political freedom +to flee from Cæsar and to become Pompey's follower. Premature death +therefore did him no evil: indeed, it put an end to the power of any +evil to hurt him.... + +Born for a very brief space of time, we regard this life as an inn +which we are soon to quit that it may be made ready for the coming +guest, Do I speak of our lives, which we know roll away incredibly +fast? Reckon up the centuries of cities: you will find that even those +which boast of their antiquity have not existed for long. All human +works are brief and fleeting: they take up no part whatever of +infinite time. Tried by the standard of the universe, we regard this +earth of ours, with all its cities, nations, rivers, and seaboard, as +a mere point: our life occupies less than a point when compared with +all time, the measure of which exceeds that of the world, for indeed +the world is contained many times in it. Of what importance, then, can +it be to lengthen that which, however much you add to it, will never +be much more than nothing? We can only make our lives long by one +expedient, that is, by being satisfied with their length: you may tell +me of long-lived men, whose length of days has been celebrated by +tradition, you may assign a hundred and ten years apiece to them: yet +when you allow your mind to conceive the idea of eternity, there will +be no difference between the shortest and the longest life, if you +compare the time during which any one has been alive with that during +which he has not been alive. In the next place, when he died his life +was complete; he had lived as long as he needed to live: there was +nothing left for him to accomplish. + + + + +III + +TO NERO ON CLEMENCY[82] + + +You, Cæsar, can boldly say that everything which has come into your +charge has been kept safe, and that the state has neither openly nor +secretly suffered any loss at your hands. You have coveted a glory +which is most rare, and which has been obtained by no emperor before +you, that of innocence. Your remarkable goodness is not thrown away, +nor is it ungratefully or spitefully undervalued. Men feel gratitude +toward you: no one person ever was so dear to another as you are to +the people of Rome, whose great and enduring benefit you are. You +have, however, taken upon yourself a mighty burden: no one any longer +speaks of the good times of the late Emperor Augustus, or the first +years of the reign of Tiberius, or proposes for your imitation any +model outside yourself: yours is a pattern reign. This would have been +difficult had your goodness of heart not been innate, but merely +adopted for a time; for no one can wear a mask for long, and +fictitious qualities soon give place to true ones. Those which are +founded upon truth, become greater and better as time goes on. + +The Roman people were in a state of great hazard as long as it was +uncertain how your generous disposition would turn out: now, however, +the prayers of the community are sure of an answer, for there is no +fear that you should suddenly forget your own character. Indeed, +excess of happiness makes men greedy, and our desires are never so +moderate as to be bounded by what they have obtained: great successes +become the stepping-stones to greater ones, and those who have +obtained more than they hoped, entertain even more extravagant hopes +than before; yet by all your countrymen we hear it admitted that they +are now happy, and moreover, that nothing can be added to the +blessings that they enjoy, except that they should be eternal. Many +circumstances force this admission from them, altho it is the one +which men are least willing to make: we enjoy a profound and +prosperous peace, the power of the law has been openly asserted in the +sight of all men, and raised beyond the reach of any violent +interference: the form of our government is so happy, as to contain +all the essentials of liberty except the power of destroying itself. +It is nevertheless your clemency which is most especially admired by +the high and low alike: every man enjoys or hopes to enjoy the other +blessings of your rule according to the measure of his own personal +good fortune, whereas from your clemency all hope alike: no one has so +much confidence in his innocence, as not to feel glad that in your +presence stands a clemency which is ready to make allowance for human +errors.... + +Since I have made mention of the gods, I shall state the best model +on which a prince may mold his life to be, that he deal with his +countrymen as he would that the gods may deal with himself. Is it then +desirable that the gods should show no mercy upon sins and mistakes, +and that they should harshly pursue us to our ruin? In that case what +king will be safe? Whose limbs will not be torn asunder and collected +by the sooth-sayers If, on the other hand, the gods are placable and +kind, and do not at once avenge the crimes of the powerful with +thunderbolts, is it not far more just that a man set in authority over +other men should exercise his power in a spirit of clemency and should +consider whether the conditions of the world is more beauteous and +pleasant to the eyes on a fine calm day, or when everything is shaken +with frequent thunder-claps and when lightning flashes on all sides! +Yet the appearance of a peaceful and constitutional reign is the same +as that of the calm and brilliant sky. A cruel reign is disordered and +hidden in darkness, and while all shake with terror at the sudden +explosions, not even he who caused all this disturbance escapes +unharmed. It is easier to find excuses for private men who obstinately +claim their rights; possibly they may have been injured and their rage +may spring from their wrongs; besides this, they fear to be despised, +and not to return the injuries which they have received looks like +weakness rather than clemency; but one who can easily avenge himself, +if he neglects to do so, is certain to gain praise for goodness of +heart. Those who are born in a humble station may with greater freedom +exercise violence, go to law, engage in quarrels, and indulge their +angry passions; even blows count for little between two equals; but in +case of a king, even loud clamor and unmeasured talk are +unbecoming.... + +Such was Augustus when an old man, or when growing old: in his youth +he was hasty and passionate, and did many things upon which he looked +back with regret. No one will venture to compare the rule of the blest +Augustus to the mildness of your own, even if your youth be compared +with his more than ripe old age: he was gentle and placable, but it +was after he had dyed the sea at Actium with Roman blood; after he had +wrecked both the enemy's fleet and his own at Sicily; after the +holocaust of Perusia and the proscriptions. But I do not call it +clemency to be wearied of cruelty; true clemency, Cæsar, is that which +you display, which has not begun from remorse at its past ferocity, on +which there is no stain, which has never shed the blood of your +countrymen: this, when combined with unlimited power, shows the truest +self-control and all-embracing love of the human race as of one's +self, not corrupted by any low desires, any extravagant ideas, or any +of the bad examples of former emperors into trying, by actual +experiment, how great a tyranny you would be allowed to exercise over +his countrymen, but inclining rather to blunting your sword of empire. + +You, Cæsar, have granted us the boon of keeping our state free from +bloodshed, and that of which you boast, that you have not caused one +single drop of blood to flow in any part of the world, is all the more +magnanimous and marvelous because no one ever had the power of the +sword placed in his hands at an earlier age. Clemency, then, makes +empires besides being their most trustworthy means of preservation. +Why have legitimate sovereigns grown old on the throne, and bequeathed +their power to their children and grandchildren, while the sway of +despotic usurpers is both hateful and short-lived? What is the +difference between the tyrant and the king--for their outward symbols +of authority and their powers are the same--except it be that tyrants +take delight in cruelty, whereas kings are only cruel for good reasons +and because they can not help it.... + +Nothing can be imagined which is more becoming to a sovereign than +clemency, by whatever title and right he may be set over his fellow +citizens. The greater his power, the more beautiful and admirable he +will confess his clemency to be: for there is no reason why power +should do any harm, if only it be wielded in accordance with the laws +of nature. Nature herself has conceived the idea of a king, as you may +learn from various animals, and especially from bees, among whom the +king's cell is the roomiest, and is placed in the most central and +safest part of the hive; moreover, he does no work, but employs +himself in keeping the others up to their work. If the king be lost, +the entire swarm disperses: they never endure to have more than one +king at a time, and find out which is the better by making them fight +with one another: moreover the king is distinguished by his statelier +appearance, being both larger and more brilliantly colored than the +other bees. + +The most remarkable distinction, however, is the following: bees are +very fierce, and for their size are the most pugnacious of creatures, +and leave their stings in the wounds which they make, but the king +himself has no sting: nature does not wish him to be savage or to seek +revenge at so dear a rate, and so has deprived him of his weapon and +disarmed his rage. She has offered him as a pattern to great +sovereigns; for she is wont to practise herself in small matters, and +to scatter abroad tiny models of the hugest structures. We ought to be +ashamed of not learning a lesson in behavior from these small +creatures, for a man, who has so much more power of doing harm than +they, ought to show a correspondingly greater amount of self-control. +Would that human beings were subject to the same law, and that their +anger destroyed itself together with its instruments, so that they +could only inflict a wound once, and would not make use of the +strength of others to carry out their hatreds; for their fury would +soon grow faint if it carried its own punishment with it, and could +only give rein to its violence at the risk of death. Even as it is, +however, no one can exercise it with safety, for he must needs feel as +much fear as he hopes to cause, he must watch every one's movements, +and even when his enemies are not laying violent hands upon him he +must bear in mind that they are plotting to do so, and he can not have +a single moment free from alarm. Would any one endure to live such a +life as this, when he might enjoy all the privileges of his high +station to the general joy of all men, without fear? for it is a +mistake to suppose that the king can be safe in a state where nothing +is safe from the king; he can only purchase a life without anxiety +for himself by guaranteeing the same for his subjects. He need not +pile up lofty citadels, escarp steep hills, cut away the sides of +mountains, and fence himself about with many lines of walls and +towers: clemency will render a king safe even upon an open plain. The +one fortification which can not be stormed is the love of his +countrymen.... + +The reason why cruelty is the most hateful of all vices is that it +goes first beyond ordinary limits, and then beyond those of humanity; +that it devises new kinds of punishments, calls ingenuity to aid it in +inventing devices for varying and lengthening men's torture, and takes +delight in their sufferings: this accursed disease of the mind reaches +its highest pitch of madness when cruelty itself turns into pleasure +and the act of killing a man becomes enjoyment. Such a ruler is soon +cast down from his throne; his life is attempted by poison one day and +by the sword the next; he is exposed to as many dangers as there are +men to whom he is dangerous, and he is sometimes destroyed by the +plots of individuals, and at others by a general insurrection. Whole +communities are not roused to action by unimportant outrages on +private persons; but cruelty which takes a wider range, and from which +no one is safe, becomes a mark for all men's weapons. Very small +snakes escape our notice, and the whole country does not combine to +destroy them; but when one of them exceeds the usual size and grows +into a monster, when it poisons fountains with its spittle, scorches +herbage with its breath, and spreads ruin wherever it crawls, we +shoot at it with military engines. Trifling evils may cheat us and +elude our observation, but we gird up our loins to attack great ones. +One sick person does not so much as disquiet the house in which he +lies; but when frequent deaths show that a plague is raging, there is +a general outcry, men take to flight and shake their fists angrily at +the very gods themselves. If a fire breaks out under one single roof, +the family and the neighbors pour water upon it; but a wide +conflagration which has consumed many houses must be smothered under +the ruins of a whole quarter of a city.... + +I have been especially led to write about clemency, Nero Cæsar, by a +saying of yours, which I remember having heard with admiration and +which I afterward told to others: a noble saying, showing a great mind +and great gentleness, which suddenly burst from you without +premeditation, and was not meant to reach any ears but your own, and +which displayed the conflict which was raging between your natural +goodness and your imperial duties. Your præfect Burrus[83], an +excellent man who was born to be the servant of such an emperor as you +are, was about to order two brigands to be executed, and was pressing +you to write their names and the grounds on which they were to be put +to death; this had often been put off, and he was insisting that it +should then be done. When he reluctantly produced the document and +put it in your equally reluctant hands, you exclaimed: "Would that I +had never learned my letters!" O what a speech, how worthy to be heard +by all nations, both those who dwell within the Roman Empire, those +who enjoy a debatable independence upon its borders, and those who +either in will or in deed fight against it! It is a speech which ought +to be spoken before a meeting of all mankind, whose words all kings +and princes ought to swear to and obey: a speech worthy of the days of +human innocence, and worthy to bring back that golden age. Now in +truth we ought all to agree to love righteousness and goodness, +covetousness, which is the root of all evil, ought to be driven away, +piety and virtue, good faith and modesty ought to resume their +interrupted reign, and the vices which have so long and so shamefully +ruled us ought at last to give way to an age of happiness and purity. + + + + +IV + +THE PILOT[84] + + +A tempest and storme hurt a Pilot, but notwithstanding they make him +not worse. Certaine Stoicks do thus answer against this, that a Pilot +is made worse by a tempest and by a storme, because that thing which +he had purposed he cannot effect, nor keep on his course. Worse is he +made, not in his skill, but in his work. To whom the Aristotelian: +therefore, saith he, pouertie and dolour, and what soeuer such like +thing there shall be, shall not take vertue from him, but shall hinder +his working thereof. + +This were rightly said, except the condition of a Pilot and of a +wise-man were unlike. For the purpose of him is in leading his life, +not without faile to effect that which he assayeth to doe, but to doe +all things aright. It is the purpose of the Pilot, without faile to +bring a ship into a hauen. They be seruile arts, they ought to +performe that which they promise. Wisedome is mistresse and +gouernesse. The arts doe serve to, wisedome commandeth our life. I +judge that we must answere after another sort, namely that neyther the +skill of the gouernour is made worse by any tempest, nor yet the very +administration of art. The gouernour hath not promised prosperous +successe unto thee, but his profitable endeuour, and skill to gouerne +the ship. This appeareth the more, by how much the more some force of +fortune hath hindered him. He that hath beene able to say this, O +Neptune, this ship was neuer but right, hath satisfied skill. A +tempest hindereth not the work of a pilot, but the successe. + +What therefore sayeth thou? Doth not that thing hurt a Pilot, which +hindereth him from entring the Port? Which causeth his endeuours to be +vaine? Which eyther beareth him back, or detaineth and disarmeth him? +It hurteth him not as Pilot, but as one that doth saile. Otherwise it +doth not so much hinder, as shew the Pilot's skill. For euery one +can, as they say, be a pilot in the calme. These things hinder the +ship; not a pilot as he is a pilot. Two persons a pilot hath; the one +common with all who haue gone aboard the same ship, wherein he +himselfe also is a passenger; the other proper as he is gouernour. The +tempest hurteth him as he is a passenger not as a Pilot. Furthermore +the art of a Pilot is another good, it appertaineth to those whom he +carrieth: as the art of a Physitian appertaineth to those whom he doth +cure. Wisedome is a common good; and is proper to ownes selfe, for +those with whom he doth liue. Therefore peraduenture a Pilot is hurt, +whose promised seruice to others is let by a tempest. + +A wise man is not hurt by pouertie, nor by doulour, nor by other +tempests of life. For not all workes of him be hindered, but only +those that pertain to other men; alwayes is he himself indeed, the +greatest of all, when fortune hath opposed herselfe unto him, then +manageth he the businesse of wisdome itselfe: which wisdome we haue +said to be both anothers and his owne good. Furthermore not then +indeed is he hindered to profite other men, when some necessities do +presse him. Through pouertie he is hindred to teach, how a +Commonwealth may be managed: but he teacheth that thing, how pouertie +is to be managed. His worke is extended all his life long. Thus no +fortune, no thing excludeth the acts of a wise-man. For he doth not +that verie thing, whereby he is forbidden to do other things. He is +fit for both chances: a gouernour of the bad, an ouercommer of the +good. So I say hath he exercised himselfe, that he sheweth vertue as +well in prosperous as in aduerse affaires; neyther looketh he upon +the matter thereof, but upon itselfe. Therefore neither pouerty nor +doulour, nor any other thing which turneth back the unskilfull, and +driuest them headlong, hindereth them. Hast thou rather he should be +pressed? He maketh use of it. Not only of iuorie did Phidias know how +to make images: he made them of brasse. If marble were unto him, if +thou hadst offered baser matter, he would haue made such a one +thereof, as could be made of that which was the best. + +So a wise-man will show uertue, if he may, in wealth, if not in +pouertie: if he shall be able, in his countrie; if not in banishment; +if he can, being a commander; if not, being a souldier: if he can +being sound; if not, being weaker what fortune soeuer he shall +entertaine, he will performe some memorable thing thereby. Certain +tamers there be of wild beasts, who teach the fiercest creatures, and +which terrifie a man when they meet him, to suffer the yoake: and not +wanted to have shaken fiercenesse off, do tame them, euer to keep them +companie. The master useth often to thrust out his hand to Lions; they +kisse it. The keeper commandeth his tyger; the Ethiopian Player +commandeth his elephants to fall upon their knees, and to walke upon a +rope; so a wise-man is skilfull to subdue euil things. Dolour, +pouertie, ignominie, prison, banishment, when they come unto him, are +made tame. + + + + +V + +OF A HAPPY LIFE[85] + + +All men, brother Gallio, wish to live happily, but are dull at +perceiving exactly what it is that makes life happy: and so far is it +from being easy to attain to happiness that the more eagerly a man +struggles to reach it the further he departs from it, if he takes the +wrong road; for, since this leads in the opposite direction, his very +swiftness carries him all the further away. We must therefore first +define clearly what it is at which we aim: next we must consider by +what path we may most speedily reach it, for on our journey itself, +provided it be made in the right direction, we shall learn how much +progress we have made each day, and how much nearer we are to the goal +toward which our natural desires urge us. But as long as we wander at +random, not following any guide except the shouts and discordant +clamors of those who invite us to proceed in different directions, our +short life will be wasted in useless roamings, even if we labor both +day and night to get a good understanding. Let us not therefore decide +whither we must tend, and by what path, without the advice of some +experienced person who has explored the region which we are about to +enter, because this journey is not subject to the same conditions as +others; for in them some distinctly understood track and inquiries +made of the natives make it impossible for us to go wrong, but here +the most beaten and frequented tracks are those which lead us astray. +Nothing, therefore, is more important than that we should not, like +sheep, follow the flock that has gone before us, and thus proceed not +whither we ought, but whither the rest are going.... + +True wisdom consists in not departing from nature and in molding our +conduct according to her laws and model. A happy life, therefore, is +one which is in accordance with its own nature, and can not be brought +about unless in the first place the mind be sound and vigorous, +enduring all things with most admirable courage suited to the times in +which it lives, careful of the body and its appurtenances, yet not +troublesomely careful. It must also set due value upon all the things +which adorn our lives, without overestimating any one of them, and +must be able to enjoy the bounty of Fortune without becoming her +slave.... + +A happy life consists in a mind which is free, upright, undaunted, and +stedfast beyond the influence of fear or desire, which thinks nothing +good except honor, and nothing bad except shame, and regards +everything else as a mass of mean details which can neither add +anything to nor take anything away from the happiness of life, but +which come and go without either increasing or diminishing the highest +good? A man of these principles, whether he will or no, must be +accompanied by a continual cheerfulness, a high happiness, which +comes indeed from on high because he delights in what he has, and +desires no greater pleasures than those which his home affords. Is he +not right in allowing these to turn the scale against petty, +ridiculous, and short-lived movements of his wretched body? on the day +on which he becomes proof against pleasure he also becomes proof +against pain. See, on the other hand, how evil and guilty a slavery a +man is forced to serve who is dominated in turn by pleasures and +pains, those most untrustworthy and passionate of masters. We must, +therefore, escape from them into freedom. This nothing will bestow +upon us save contempt of Fortune; but if we attain to this, then there +will dawn upon us those invaluable blessings, the repose of a mind +that is at rest in a safe haven, its lofty imaginings, its great and +steady delight at casting out errors and learning to know the truth, +its courtesy and its cheerfulness, in all of which we shall take +delight, not regarding them as good things, but as proceeding from the +proper good of man.... + +Why do you put together two things which are unlike and even +incompatible one with another? virtue is a lofty quality, sublime, +royal, unconquerable, untiring: pleasure is low, slavish, weakly, +perishable; its haunts and homes are the brothel and the tavern. You +will meet virtue in the temple, the market-place, the senate-house, +manning the walls, covered with dust, sunburnt, horny-handed: you will +find pleasure skulking out of sight, seeking for shady nooks at the +public baths, hot chambers, and places which dread the visits of the +ædile, soft, effeminate, reeking of wine and perfumes, pale or +perhaps painted and made up with cosmetics. The highest good is +immortal: it knows no ending, and does not admit of either satiety or +regret: for a right-thinking mind never alters or becomes hateful to +itself, nor do the best things ever undergo any change: but pleasure +dies at the very moment when it charms us most: it has no great scope, +and therefore it soon cloys and wearies us, and fades away as soon as +its first impulse is over: indeed, we can not depend upon anything +whose nature is to change. Consequently, it is not even possible that +there should be any solid substance in that which comes and goes so +swiftly and which perishes by the very exercise of its own functions, +for it arrives at a point at which it ceases to be, and even while it +is beginning always keeps its end in view.... + +A man should be unbiassed and not to be conquered by external things: +he ought to admire himself alone, to feel confidence in his own +spirit, and so to order his life as to be ready alike for good or bad +fortune. Let not his confidence be without knowledge, nor his +knowledge without stedfastness: let him always abide by what he has +once determined, and let there be no erasure in his doctrine. It will +be understood, even tho I append it not, that such a man will be +tranquil and composed in his demeanor, high-minded and courteous in +his actions. Let reason be encouraged by the senses to seek for the +truth, and draw its first principles from thence: indeed it has no +other base of operations or place from which to start in pursuit of +truth: it must fall back upon itself. Even the all-embracing universe +and God who is its guide extends Himself forth into outward things, +and yet altogether returns from all sides back to Himself. Let our +mind do the same thing: when, following its bodily senses, it has by +means of them sent itself forth into the things of the outward world, +let it remain still their master and its own. By this means we shall +obtain a strength and an ability which are united and allied together; +we shall derive from it that reason which never halts between two +opinions, nor is dull in forming its perceptions, beliefs, or +convictions. Such a mind, when it has ranged itself in order, made its +various parts agree together, and, if I may so express myself, +harmonized them, has attained to the highest good: for it has nothing +evil or hazardous remaining, nothing to shake it or make it stumble: +it will do everything under the guidance of its own will, and nothing +unexpected will befall it, but whatever may be done by it will turn +out well, and that, too, readily and easily, without the doer having +recourse to any underhand devices: for slow and hesitating purpose. +You may, then, boldly declare that the highest good is singleness of +mind: for where agreement and unity are, there must the virtues be: it +is the vices that are at war with one another.... + +It is the act of the generous spirit to proportion its efforts not to +its own strength, but to that of human nature, to entertain lofty +aims, and to conceive plans which are too vast to be carried into +execution even by those who are endowed with gigantic intellects, who +appoint for themselves the following rules: "I will look upon death or +upon a comedy with the same expression of countenance: I will submit +to labors, however great they may be, supporting the strength of my +body by that of my mind: I will despise riches when I have them as +much as when I have them not; if they be elsewhere I will not be more +gloomy, if they sparkle around me I will not be more lively than I +should otherwise be: whether Fortune comes or goes I will take no +notice of her: I will view all lands as tho they belonged to me, and +my own as tho they belonged to all mankind: I will so live as to +remember that I was born for others, and will thank Nature on this +account: for in what fashion could she have done better for me? she +has given me alone to all, and all to me alone. Whatever I may +possess, I will neither hoard it greedily nor squander it recklessly. +I will think that I have no possessions so real as those which I have +given away to deserving people: I will not reckon benefits by their +magnitude or number, or by anything except the value set upon them by +the receiver: I never will consider a gift to be a large one if it be +bestowed upon a worthy object. I will do nothing because of public +opinion, but everything because of conscience: whenever I do anything +alone by myself I will believe that the eyes of the Roman people are +upon me while I do it. In eating and drinking my object shall be to +quench the desires of Nature, not to fill and empty my belly. I will +be agreeable with my friends, gentle and mild to my foes: I will grant +pardon before I am asked for it, and will meet the wishes of honorable +men half-way. I will bear in mind that, the world is my native city, +that its governors are the gods, and that they stand above and around +me, criticizing whatever I do or say. Whenever either Nature demands +my breath again, or reason bids me dismiss it, I will quit this life, +calling all to witness that I have loved a good conscience, and good +pursuits; that no one's freedom, my own least of all, has been +impaired through me." He who sets up these as the rules of his life +will soar aloft and strive to make his way to the gods: of a truth, +even tho he fails, yet he + + "Fails in a high emprise." + +But you, who hate both virtue and those who practise it, do nothing at +which we need be surprized, for sickly lights can not bear the sun, +nocturnal creatures avoid the brightness of day, and at its first +dawning become bewildered and all betake themselves to their dens +together: creatures that fear the light hide themselves in crevices. +So croak away, and exercise your miserable tongues in reproaching good +men: open wide your jaws, bite hard: you will break many teeth before +you make any impression.... + +Where, indeed, can fortune invest riches more securely than in a place +from whence they can always be recovered without any squabble with +their trustee? Marcus Cato, when he was praising Curius and +Coruncanius and that century in which the possession of a few small +silver coins were an offense which was punished by the Censor, himself +owned four million sesterces; a less fortune, no doubt, than that of +Crassus, but larger than of Cato the Censor. If the amounts be +compared, he had outstript his great-grandfather further than he +himself was outdone by Crassus, and if still greater riches had +fallen to his lot, he would not have spurned them, for the wise man +does not think himself unworthy of any chance presents: he does not +love riches, but he prefers to have them; he does not receive them +into his spirit, but only into his house: nor does he cast away from +him what he already possesses, but keeps them, and is willing that his +virtue should receive a larger subject-matter for its exercise.... + +Cease, then, forbidding philosophers to possess money: no one has +condemned wisdom to poverty. The philosopher may own ample wealth, but +will not own wealth that which has been torn from another, or which is +stained with another's blood: his must be obtained without wronging +any man, and without its being won by base means; it must be alike +honorably come by and honorably spent, and must be such as spite could +alone shake its head at. Raise it to whatever figure you please, it +will still be an honorable possession, if, while it includes much +which every man would like to call his own, there be nothing which any +one can say is his own. Such a man will not forfeit his right to the +favor of Fortune, and will neither boast of his inheritance nor blush +for it if it was honorably acquired; yet he will have something to +boast of, if he throw his house open, let all his countrymen come +among his property, and say, "If any one recognizes here anything +belonging to him, let him take it." What a great man, how excellently +rich will he be, if after this speech he possesses as much as he had +before! I say, then, that if he can safely and confidently submit his +accounts to the scrutiny of the people, and no one can find in them +any item upon which he can lay hands, such a man may boldly and +unconcealedly enjoy his riches. The wise man will not allow a single +ill-won penny to cross his threshold; yet he will not refuse or close +his door against great riches, if they are the gift of fortune and the +product of virtue: what reason has he for grudging them good quarters: +let them come and be his guests: he will neither brag of them nor hide +them away: the one is the part of a silly, the other of a cowardly and +paltry spirit, which, as it were, muffles up a good thing in its lap. +As he is capable of performing a journey upon his own feet, but yet +would prefer to mount a carriage, just so he will be capable of being +poor, yet will wish to be rich; he will own wealth, but will view it +as an uncertain possession which will some day fly away from him. He +will not allow it to be a burden either to himself or to any one else: +he will give it--why do you prick up your ears? why do you open your +pockets?--he will give it either to good men or to those whom it may +make into good men. He will give it after having taken the utmost +pains to choose those who are fittest to receive it, as becomes one +who bears in mind that he ought to give an account of what he spends +as well as of what he receives. He will give for good and commendable +reasons, for a gift ill bestowed counts as a shameful loss: he will +have an easily opened pocket, but not one with a hole in it, so that +much may be taken out of it, yet nothing may fall out of it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 75: Seneca's influence on writers in his own day was +notable. He seems almost to have superseded Cicero as a model. Critics +of our day, while recognizing all this and the charm of his style, +have found in his philosophy a lack of sincere qualities. An old +question is that of his relations to Christianity. So much in his +writings partakes of the spirit of the Apostles that he has been +credited with having been influenced by them. It is known that his +brother Gallio met St. Paul in Corinth and that Burrus, the colleague +and intimate friend of Seneca, was the captain of the Prætorian guards +before whom St. Paul was brought in Rome. Cruttwell dismisses the +claim, believing that Seneca's philosophy was "the natural development +of the thoughts of his predecessors in a mind at once capacious and +smitten with the love of virtue." Philosophy to Seneca was "altogether +a question of practise." Like other thinkers of his day, "he cared +nothing for consistency of opinion, everything for impressiveness of +application."] + +[Footnote 76: From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart.] + +[Footnote 77: Quintilius Fabius, the general, who before the battle of +Cannæ commanded in Italy against Hannibal. He was famous for avoiding +pitched battles and hence the term "Fabian policy."] + +[Footnote 78: From Book VI of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart. Marcia, to whom this letter was addrest, was "a respectable +and opulent lady," the daughter of Cremutius Cordus.] + +[Footnote 79: Made Consul with Julius Cæsar in 59 B.C. He represented +the aristocratic party and bitterly opposed some of the measures of +Cæsar. In the war with Pompey he joined his forces to those of +Pompey.] + +[Footnote 80: A legendary maiden delivered as hostage to Lars Porsena +of Clusium, but who escaped by swimming across the Tiber.] + +[Footnote 81: Marcus Livius Drusus was a politician, who in 91 B.C. +became tribune of the plebs. He was about to bring forward a proposal +giving citizenship to the Italians when he was assassinated, an event +which precipitated the Social War.] + +[Footnote 82: From the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart. +"This," says Alexander Thomson, the eighteenth-century translator of +Suetonius, "appears to have been written in the beginning of the reign +of Nero, on whom the author bestows some high encomiums which at that +time seem not to have been destitute of foundation."] + +[Footnote 83: Burrus in 52 A.D. had been made sole Prætorian Præfect +by Claudius and, conjointly with Seneca, was entrusted with the +education of Nero. It was his influence with the Prætorian Guards that +secured to Nero in 54 the independent succession. He was put to death +by poison, under orders from Nero, who had been offended by the +severity of his moral conduct.] + +[Footnote 84: From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge. Printed +here with the spelling and punctuation of the first edition (1613).] + +[Footnote 85: From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart. This essay addrest to Gallio, Seneca is thought to +have intended "as a vindication of himself against those who +calumniated him on account of his riches and manner of living."] + + + + +PLINY THE ELDER + + Born in Como, in 23 A.D.; perished in the eruption of + Vesuvius in 79; celebrated as naturalist; commanded cavalry + in Germany at the age of twenty-three; procurator in Spain + under Nero; wrote voluminously on military tactics, history, + grammar and natural science; his death due to his efforts to + observe more closely the eruption; of all his writings only + his "Natural History" in thirty-seven books has survived. + + +I + +THE QUALITIES OF THE DOG[86] + + +Among the animals that are domesticated with mankind there are many +circumstances that are deserving of being known: among these there are +more particularly that most faithful friend of man, the dog, and the +horse. We have an account of a dog that fought against a band of +robbers in defending its master; and altho it was pierced with wounds, +still it would not leave the body, from which it drove away all birds +and beasts. Another dog, in Epirus, recognized the murderer of its +master in the midst of an assemblage of people, and, by biting and +barking at him, extorted from him a confession of his crime. A king of +the Garamantes,[87] also, was brought back from exile by two hundred +dogs, which maintained the combat against all his opponents. The +people of Colophon[88] and Castabala[89] kept troops of dogs for the +purposes of war; and these used to fight in the front rank and never +retreat; they were the most faithful of auxiliaries, and yet required +no pay. After the defeat of the Cimbri[90] their dogs defended their +movable houses, which were carried upon wagons. Jason, the Lycian, +having been slain, his dog refused to take food, and died of famine. A +dog, to which Darius gives the name of Hyrcanus, upon the funeral pile +of King Lysimachus being lighted, threw itself into the flames; and +the dog of King Hiero[91] did the same. Philistus also gives a similar +account of Pyrrhus, the dog of the tyrant Gelon; and it is said also, +that the dog of Nicomedes, King of Bithynia[92], tore Consingis, the +wife of that king, in consequence of her wanton behavior, when toying +with her husband. + +Dogs are the only animals that are sure to know their masters, and if +they suddenly meet him as a stranger, they will instantly recognize +him. They are the only animals that will answer to their names, and +recognize the voices of the family. They recollect a road along which +they have passed, however long it may be. Next to man there is no +living creature whose memory is so retentive. By sitting down on the +ground we may arrest their most impetuous attack, even when prompted +by the most violent rage. + +In daily life, we have discovered many other valuable qualities in +this animal; but its intelligence and sagacity are more especially +shown in the chase. It discovers and traces out the tracks of the +animal, leading by the leash the sportsman who accompanies it straight +up to the prey; and as soon as ever it has perceived it, how silent it +is, and how secret but significant is the indication which it gives, +first by the tail and afterward by the nose! + +When Alexander the Great was on his Indian expedition, he was +presented by the King of Albania with a dog of unusual size; being +greatly delighted with its noble appearance, he ordered bears, and +after them wild boars, and then deer, to be let loose before it; but +the dog lay down and regarded them with a kind of immovable contempt. +The noble spirit of the general became irritated by the sluggishness +thus manifested by an animal of such vast bulk, and he ordered it to +be killed. The report of this reached the king, who accordingly sent +another dog, and at the same time sent word that its powers were to be +tried, not upon small animals, but upon the lion or the elephant; +adding, that he had originally but two, and that if this one were put +to death, the race would be extinct. Alexander, without delay, +procured a lion, which in his presence was instantly torn to pieces. +He then ordered an elephant to be brought, and never was he more +delighted with any spectacle; for the dog, bristling up its hair all +over the body, began by thundering forth a loud barking, and then +attacked the animal, leaping at it first on the one side and then on +the other, attacking it in the most skilful manner, and then again +retreating at the opportune moment, until at last the elephant, being +rendered quite giddy by turning round and round, fell to the earth, +and made it quite reecho with its fall. + + + + +II + +THREE GREAT ARTISTS OF GREECE[93] + + +Apelles,[94] of Cos, surpassed all the other painters who either +preceded or succeeded him. Single-handed, he contributed more to +painting than all the others together, and even went so far as to +publish some treatises on the principles of the art. The great point +of artistic merit with him was his singular charm of gracefulness, and +this too, tho the greatest of painters were his contemporaries. In +admiring their works and bestowing high eulogiums upon them, he used +to say that there was still wanting in them that equal of beauty so +peculiar to himself, and known to the Greeks as "Charis"; others, he +said, had acquired all the other requisites of perfection, but in +this one point he himself had no equal. He also asserted his claim to +another great point of merit; admiring a picture by Protogenes, which +bore evident marks of unbounded laboriousness and the most minute +finish, he remarked that in every respect Protogenes was fully his +equal, or perhaps his superior, except in this, that he himself knew +when to take his hand off a picture--a memorable lesson, which teaches +us that over-carefulness may be productive of bad results. His candor, +too, was equal to his talent; he acknowledged the superiority of +Melanthius[95] in his grouping, and of Asclepiodorus in the niceness +of his measurements, or in other words, the distances that ought to be +left between the objects represented. + +A circumstance that happened to him in connection with Protogenes[96] +is worthy of notice. The latter was living at Rhodes, when Apelles +disembarked there, desirous of seeing the works of a man whom he had +hitherto only known by reputation. Accordingly, he repaired at once to +the studio; Protogenes was not at home, but there happened to be a +large panel upon the easel ready for painting, with an old woman who +was left in charge. To his inquiries she made answer that Protogenes +was not at home; and then asked whom she should name as the visitor. +"Here he is," was the reply of Apelles; and seizing a brush, he traced +with color upon the panel an outline of a singularly minute fineness. +Upon his return the old woman mentioned to Protogenes what had +happened. The artist, it is said, upon remarking the delicacy of the +touch, instantly exclaimed that Apelles must have been the visitor, +for that no other person was capable of executing anything so +exquisitely perfect. So saying, he traced within the same outline a +still finer outline, but with another color; and then took his +departure, with instructions to the woman to show it to the stranger +if he returned, and to let him know that this was the person whom he +had come to see. + +It happened as he anticipated--Apelles returned; and vexed at finding +himself thus surpassed, he took up another color and split both of the +outlines, leaving no possibility of anything finer being executed. +Upon seeing this, Protogenes admitted that he was defeated, and at +once flew to the harbor to look for his guest. He thought proper, too, +to transmit the panel to posterity, just as it was; and it always +continued to be held in the highest admiration by all--artists in +particular. I am told that it was burned in the first fire which took +place at Cæsar's palace on the Palatine Hill; but in former times I +have often stopt to admire it. Upon its vast surface it contained +nothing whatever except the three outlines, so remarkably fine as to +escape the sight: among the most elaborate works of numerous other +artists it had all the appearance of a blank space; and yet by that +very fact it attracted the notice of every one, and was held in higher +estimation than any other painting there. + +It was a custom with Apelles, to which he most tenaciously adhered, +never to let any day pass, however busy he might be, without +exercising himself by tracing some outline or other; a practise which +has now passed into a proverb. It was also a practise with him, when +he had completed a work, to exhibit it to the view of the passers-by +in some exposed place; while he himself, concealed behind the picture, +would listen to the criticisms that were passed upon it: it being his +opinion that the judgment of the public was preferable to his own, as +being the more discerning of the two. It was under these +circumstances, they say, that he was censured by a shoemaker for +having represented the shoes with one shoe-string too little. The next +day, the shoemaker, quite proud at seeing the former error corrected, +thanks to his advice, began to criticize the leg; upon which Apelles, +full of indignation, popped his head out, and reminded him that a +shoemaker should give no opinion beyond the shoes--a piece of advice +which has equally passed into a proverbial saying. In fact, Apelles +was a person of great amenity of manners--a circumstance which +rendered him particularly agreeable to Alexander the Great, who would +often come to his studio. He had forbidden himself by public edict, as +already stated, to be represented by any other artist. On one +occasion, however, when the prince was in his studio, talking a great +deal about painting without knowing anything about it, Apelles quietly +begged that he would quit the subject, telling him that he would get +laughed at by the boys who were there grinding the colors; so great +was the influence which he rightfully possest over a monarch who was +otherwise of an irascible temperament. And yet, irascible as he was, +Alexander conferred upon him a very signal mark of the high estimation +in which he held him: for having, in his admiration of her +extraordinary beauty, engaged Apelles to paint Pancaste undraped--the +most beloved of all his concubines--the artist while so engaged fell +in love with her; upon which, Alexander, perceiving this to be the +ease, made him a present of her: thus showing himself, tho a great +king in courage, a still greater one in self-command--this action +redounding no less to his honor than any of his victories. + +Superior to all the statues not only of Praxiteles,[97] but of any +other artist that ever existed, is his Cnidian Venus; for the +inspection of which, many persons before now have purposely undertaken +a voyage to Cnidos. The artist made two statues of the goddess, and +offered them both for sale: one of them was represented with drapery, +and for this reason was preferred by the people of Cos, who had the +choice; the second was offered them at the same price, but on the +grounds of propriety and modesty they thought fit to choose the other. +Upon this, the Cnidians purchased the rejected statue, and immensely +superior has it always been held in general estimation. At a later +period, King Nicomedes wished to purchase this statue of the Cnidians, +and made them an offer to pay off the whole of their public debt, +which was very large. They preferred, however, to submit to any +extremity rather than part with it; and with good reason, for by this +statue Praxiteles has perpetuated the glory of Cnidos. The little +temple in which it is placed is open on all sides, so that the +beauties of the statue admit of being seen from every point of +view--an arrangement which was favored by the goddess herself, it is +generally believed. + +Among all nations which the fame of the Olympian Jupiter has reached, +Phidias[98] is looked upon, beyond all doubt, as the most famous of +artists; but to let those who have never seen his works know how +deservedly he is esteemed, we will take this opportunity of adducing a +few slight proofs of the genius which he displayed. In doing this we +shall not appeal to the beauty of his Olympian Jupiter, nor yet to the +vast proportions of his Athenian Minerva, six-and-twenty cubits in +height, and composed of ivory and gold: but it is to the shield of +this last statue that we shall draw attention; upon the convex face of +which he has chased a combat of the Amazons, while upon the concave +side of it he has represented the battle between the gods and the +giants. Upon the sandals, again, we see the wars of the Lapithæ and +Centaurs; so careful has he been to fill every smallest portion of his +work with some proof or other of his artistic skill. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 86: From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.] + +[Footnote 87: A name applied to tribes living in Africa east of the +desert of Sahara.] + +[Footnote 88: An Ionian city of Asia, distant seventy miles from +Ephesus.] + +[Footnote 89: An interior town of Cilicia, in Asia Minor.] + +[Footnote 90: The home of this warlike people appears to have been +Jutland.] + +[Footnote 91: The tyrant king of Syracuse, successor to Gelon.] + +[Footnote 92: A country of Asia Minor occupying a part of the Black +Sea coast.] + +[Footnote 93: From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.] + +[Footnote 94: Apelles lived in the time of Philip and Alexander the +Great. Cos is an island in the Ægean Sea.] + +[Footnote 95: A painter of the Sicyonian school who flourished in the +third century B.C.] + +[Footnote 96: Protogenes, a native of Caria, in Asia Minor, was +celebrated as a painter at Rhodes in the second half of the fourth +century B.C.] + +[Footnote 97: Praxiteles was born in Athena about the end of the fifth +century and continued active as an artist until the time at Alexander +the Great. Nearly sixty of his works are mentioned in ancient +writings, but only two have been identified in modern times.] + +[Footnote 98: Phidias was born in Athens about 500 B.C. and died about +430.] + + + + +QUINTILIAN + + Born in Spain about 35 A.D.; died about 95; celebrated as + rhetorian; educated in Rome, where he taught oratory for + twenty years; patronized by the emperors Vespasian and + Domitian; his most celebrated work the "Institutio + Oratoria."[99] + + +THE ORATOR MUST BE A GOOD MAN[100] + + +Let the orator, then, whom I propose to form, be such a one as is +characterized by the definition of Marcus Cato, _a good man skilled in +speaking_. + +But the requisite which Cato has placed first in this definition, that +an orator should be _a good man_, is naturally of more estimation and +importance than the other. It is of importance that an orator should +be good, because, should the power of speaking be a support to evil, +nothing would be more pernicious than eloquence alike to public +concerns and private, and I myself, who, as far as is in my power, +strive to contribute something to the faculty of the orator, should +deserve very ill of the world, since I should furnish arms, not for +soldiers, but for robbers. May I not draw an argument from the +condition of mankind? Nature herself, in bestowing on man that which +she seems to have granted him preeminently, and by which she appears +to have distinguished us from all other animals, would have acted, not +as a parent, but as a stepmother, if she had designed the faculty of +speech to be the promoter of crime, the oppressor of innocence, and +the enemy of truth; for it would have been better for us to have been +born dumb, and to have been left destitute of reasoning powers, than +to have received endowments from providence only to turn them to the +destruction of one another. + +My judgment carries me still further; for I not only say that he who +would answer my idea of an orator must be a good man, but that no man, +unless he be good, can ever be an orator. To an orator discernment and +prudence are necessary; but we can certainly not allow discernment to +those, who when the ways of virtue and vice are set before them, +prefer to follow that of vice; nor can we allow them prudence, since +they subject themselves, by the unforeseen consequences of their +actions, often to the heaviest penalty of the law, and always to that +of an evil conscience. But if it be not only truly said by the wise, +but always justly believed by the vulgar, that no man is vicious who +is not also foolish, a fool, assuredly, will never become an orator. + +It is to be further considered that the mind can not be in a condition +for pursuing the most noble of studies, unless it be entirely free +from vice; not only because there can be no communion of good and evil +in the same breast, and to meditate at once on the best things and the +worst is no more in the power of the same mind than it is possible +for the same man to be at once virtuous and vicious; but also because +a mind intent on so arduous a study should be exempt from all other +cares, even such as are unconnected with vice; for then, and then +only, when it is free and master of itself, and when no other object +harasses and distracts its attention, will it be able to keep in view +the end to which it is devoted. But if an inordinate attention to an +estate, a too anxious pursuit of wealth, indulgence in the pleasures +of the chase, and the devotion of our days to public spectacles, rob +our studies of much of our time (for whatever time is given to one +thing is lost to another), what effect must we suppose that ambition, +avarice, and envy will produce, whose excitements are so violent as +even to disturb our sleep and our dreams? Nothing indeed is so +preoccupied, so unsettled, so torn and lacerated with such numerous +and various passions, as a bad mind; for when it intends evil, it is +agitated with hope, care, and anxiety, and when it has attained the +object of its wickedness, it is tormented with uneasiness, and the +dread of every kind of punishment. + +No man, certainly, will doubt, that it is the object of all oratory, +that what is stated to the judge may appear to him to be true and +just; and which of the two, let me ask, will produce such a conviction +with the greater ease, the good man or the bad? A good man, doubtless, +will speak of what is true and honest with greater frequency; but even +if, from being influenced by some call of duty, he endeavors to +support what is fallacious (a case which, as I shall show, may +sometimes occur), he must still be heard with greater credit than a +bad man. But with bad men, on the other hand, dissimulation sometimes +fails, as well through their contempt for the opinion of mankind, as +through their ignorance of what is right; hence they assert without +modesty, and maintain their assertions without shame; and, in +attempting what evidently can not be accomplished, there appears in +them a repulsive obstinacy and useless perseverance; for bad men, as +well in their pleadings as in their lives, entertain dishonest +expectations; and it often happens, that even when they speak the +truth, belief is not accorded them, and the employment of advocates of +such a character is regarded as a proof of the badness of a cause. + +I must, however, notice those objections to my opinion, which appear +to be clamored forth, as it were, by the general consent of the +multitude. Was not then Demosthenes, they ask, a great orator? yet we +have heard that he was not a good man. Was not Cicero a great orator? +yet many have thrown censure upon his character. To such questions how +shall I answer? Great displeasure is likely to be shown at any reply +whatever; and the ears of my audience require first to be propitiated. +The character of Demosthenes, let me say, does not appear to me +deserving of such severe reprehension, that I should believe all the +calumnies that are heaped upon him by his enemies, especially when I +read his excellent plans for the benefit of his country and the +honorable termination of his life. Nor do I see that the feeling of an +upright citizen was, in any respect, wanting to Cicero. As proofs of +his integrity, may be mentioned his consulship, in which he conducted +himself with so much honor, his honorable administration of his +province; his refusal to be one of the twenty commissioners; and, +during the civil wars, which fell with great severity on his times, +his uprightness of mind, which was never swayed, either by hope or by +fear, from adhering to the better party, or the supporters of the +commonwealth. He is thought by some to have been deficient in courage, +but he has given an excellent reply to this charge, when he says that +he was timid, not in encountering dangers, but in taking precautions +against them; an assertion of which he proved the truth at his death, +to which he submitted with the noblest fortitude. But even should the +height of virtue have been wanting to these eminent men, I shall reply +to those who ask me whether they were orators as the Stoics reply when +they are asked whether Zeno, Cleanthes, and Chrysippus were wise men; +they say that they were great and deserving of veneration, but that +they did not attain the highest excellence of which human nature is +susceptible. + +Pythagoras desired to be called, not wise, like those who preceded +him, but a lover of wisdom. I, however, in speaking of Cicero, have +often said, according to the common mode of speech, and shall continue +to say, that he was a perfect orator, as we term our friends, in +ordinary discourse, good and prudent men, tho such epithets can be +justly given only to the perfectly wise. But when I have to speak +precisely, and in conformity with the exactness of truth, I shall +express myself as longing to see such an orator as he himself also +longed to see; for tho I acknowledge that Cicero stood at the head of +eloquence, and that I can scarcely find a passage in his speeches to +which anything can be added, however many I might find which I may +imagine that he would have pruned (for the learned have in general +been of opinion that he had numerous excellences and some faults, and +he himself says that he had cut off most of his juvenile exuberance), +yet, since he did not claim to himself, tho he had no mean opinion of +his merits, the praise of perfection, and since he might certainly +have spoken better if a longer life had been granted him, and a more +tranquil season for composition, I may not unreasonably believe that +the summit of excellence was not attained by him, to which, +notwithstanding, no man made nearer approaches. If I had thought +otherwise, I might have maintained my opinion with still greater +determination and freedom. Did Marcus Antonius declare that he had +seen no man truly eloquent, tho to be eloquent is much less than to be +a perfect orator; does Cicero himself say that he is still seeking for +an orator, and merely conceives and imagines one; and shall I fear to +say that in that portion of eternity which is yet to come something +may arise still more excellent than what has yet been seen? I take no +advantage of the opinion of those who refuse to allow great merit to +Cicero and Demosthenes even in eloquence; tho Demosthenes, indeed, +does not appear sufficiently near perfection even to Cicero himself, +who says that he sometimes nods; nor does Cicero appear so to Brutus +and Calvus, who certainly find fault with his language. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 99: Quintilian is notable as a writer who was not influenced +by his great contemporary Seneca, whom he disliked and harshly +criticized for literary defects. Quintilian modeled his own style on +that of Cicero, altho at times he dropt back unconsciously into that +of Seneca.] + +[Footnote 100: From Book XII, Chapter I, of the "Institutes of +Oratory." Translated by J. S. Watson.] + + + + +TACITUS + + Born about 55 A.D.; died about 117; celebrated as historian + and orator; prætor in 88; Consul in 97; a friend of the + younger Pliny; son-in-law of Agricola; his extant works + include a dialog of oratory, a biography of Agricola, + "Germania," a history of Rome from Galba to Domitian, and + his "Annals," which are a history of the Julian + dynasty.[101] + + +I + +FROM REPUBLICAN TO IMPERIAL ROME[102] + + +Kings held dominion in the city of Rome from its foundation: Lucius +Brutus instituted liberty and the consulate. Dictatorships were +resorted to in temporary emergencies: neither the power of the +decemvirs continued in force beyond two years, nor the consular +authority of the military tribunes for any length of time. The +domination of Cinna did not continue long, nor that of Sulla: the +influence of Pompey and Crassus quickly merged in Cæsar: the arms of +Lepidus and Antony in Augustus, who, with the title of prince, took +under his command the commonwealth, exhausted with civil dissensions. +But the affairs of the ancient Roman people, whether prosperous or +adverse, have been recorded by writers of renown. Nor were there +wanting authors of distinguished genius to have composed the history +of the times of Augustus, till by the spirit of flattery, which became +prevalent, they were deterred. As to Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and +Nero, whilst they yet reigned the histories of their times were +falsified through fear; and after they had fallen, they were written +under the influence of recent detestation. Thence my own design of +recounting a few incidents respecting Augustus, and those toward the +latter part of his life; and, after that, of giving a history of the +reign of Tiberius and the rest; uninfluenced by resentment and +partiality, as I stand aloof from the causes of them. + +When, after the fall of Brutus and Cassius, there remained none to +fight for the commonwealth; when Sextus Pompeius was utterly defeated +at Sicily; and Lepidus being deprived of his command, and Mark Antony +slain, there remained no leader even to the Julian party but Octavius; +having put off the name of triumvir, styling himself Consul, and +pretending that all he aimed at was the jurisdiction attached to the +tribuneship for the protection of the commons; when he had cajoled the +soldiery by donations, the people by distribution of corn, and men in +general by the charms of peace, he (Octavius) began by gradations to +exalt himself over them; to draw to himself the functions of the +senate and of the magistrate, and the framing of the laws; in which +he was thwarted by no man: the boldest spirits having fallen in some +or other of the regular battles, or by proscription; and the surviving +nobility being distinguished by wealth and public honors, according to +the measure of their promptness to bondage; and as these innovations +had been the cause of aggrandizement to them, preferring the present +state of things with safety to the revival of ancient liberty with +personal peril. Neither were the provinces averse to that condition of +affairs; since they mistrusted the government of the senate and +people, on account of the contentions among the great and the avarice +of the magistrates: while the protection of the laws was enfeebled and +borne down by violence, intrigue, and bribery. + +Moreover, Augustus, as supports to his domination, raised his sister's +son, Claudius Marcellus,[103] a mere youth, to the dignity of pontiff +and curule ædile; aggrandized by two successive consulships Marcus +Agrippa,[104] a man meanly born, but an accomplished soldier, and the +companion of his victories; and soon, on the death of Marcellus, chose +him for his son-in-law. The sons of his wife, Tiberius Nero and +Claudius Drusus, he dignified with the title of Imperator, tho there +had been no diminution in the members of his house. For into the +family of the Cæsars he had already adopted Lucius and Caius, the sons +of Agrippa; and tho they had not yet laid aside the puerile garment, +vehement had been his ambition to see them declared princes of the +Roman youth, and even designed to the consulship; while he affected to +decline the honors for them. Upon the decease of Agrippa, they were +cut off, either by a death premature but natural, or by the arts of +their stepmother Livia; Lucius on his journey to the armies in Spain, +Caius on his return from Armenia, ill of a wound: and as Drusus had +been long since dead, Tiberius Nero was the only survivor of his +stepsons. On him every honor was accumulated (to that quarter all +things inclined); he was by Augustus adopted for his son, assumed +colleague in the empire, partner in the tribunitian authority, and +presented to the several armies; not from the secret machinations of +his mother, as heretofore, but at her open suit For over Augustus, now +very aged, she had obtained such absolute sway, that he banished into +the isle of Planasia his only surviving grandson, Agrippa Posthumus; a +person destitute indeed of liberal accomplishments, and a man of +clownish brutality with great bodily strength, but convicted of no +heinous offense. The emperor, strange to say, set Germanicus, the son +of Drusus, over eight legions quartered upon the Rhine, and ordered +that he should be engrafted into his family by Tiberius by adoption, +tho Tiberius had then a son of his own on the verge of manhood; but +the object was that he might stand firm by having many to support and +protect him. War at that time there remained none, except that in +Germany, kept on foot rather to blot out the disgrace sustained by the +loss of Quintilius Varus, with his army, than from any ambition to +enlarge the empire, or for any advantage worth contending for. In +profound tranquillity were affairs at Rome. The magistrates retained +their wonted names; of the Romans, the younger sort had been born +since the battle of Actium, and even most of the old during the civil +wars: how few were then living who had seen the ancient free state! + +The character of the government thus totally changed; no traces were +to be found of the spirit of ancient institutions. The system by which +every citizen shared in the government being thrown aside, all men +regarded the orders of the prince as the only rule of conduct and +obedience; nor felt they any anxiety for the present, while Augustus, +yet in the vigor of life, maintained the credit of himself and house, +and the peace of the state. But when old age had crept over him, and +he was sinking under bodily infirmities--when his end was at hand, and +thence a new source of hopes and views was presented--some few there +were who began to talk idly about the blessings of liberty: many +dreaded a civil war--others longed for one; while far the greatest +part were occupied in circulating various surmises reflecting upon +those who seemed likely to be their masters: "That Agrippa was +naturally stern and savage, and exasperated by contumely; and neither +in age nor experience equal to a task of such magnitude. Tiberius, +indeed, had arrived at fulness of years, and was a distinguished +captain, but possest the inveterate and inherent pride of the +Claudian family; and many indications of cruel nature escaped him, in +spite of all his arts to disguise it; that even from his early infancy +he had been trained up in an imperial house; that consulships and +triumphs had been accumulated upon him while but a youth. Not even +during the years of his abode at Rhodes, where under the plausible +name of retirement, he was in fact an exile, did he employ himself +otherwise than in meditating future vengeance, studying the arts of +simulation, and practising secret and abominable sensualities. That to +these considerations was added that of his mother, a woman with the +ungovernable spirit peculiar to her sex; that the Romans must be under +bondage to a woman, and moreover to two youths, who would meanwhile +oppress the state, and, at one time or other, rend it piecemeal." + +While the public mind was agitated by these and similar discussions, +the illness of Augustus grew daily more serious, and some suspected +nefarious practises on the part of his wife. For some months before, a +rumor had gone abroad that Augustus, having singled out a few to whom +he communicated his purpose, had taken Fabius Maximus for his only +companion, had sailed over to the island of Planasia, to visit +Agrippa; that many tears were shed on both sides, many tokens of +mutual tenderness shown, and hopes from thence conceived that the +youth would be restored to the household gods of his grandfather. That +Maximus had disclosed this to Martia, his wife--she to Livia; and that +the emperor was informed of it: and that Maximus, not long after, +dying (it is doubtful whether naturally or by means sought for the +purpose), Martia was observed, in her lamentations at his funeral, to +upbraid herself as the cause of her husband's destruction. Howsoever +that matter might have been, Tiberius was scarce entered Illyrium when +he was summoned by a letter from his mother, forwarded with speed, nor +is it fully known whether, at his return to Nola,[105] he found +Augustus yet breathing, or already lifeless. For Livia had carefully +beset the palace, and all the avenues to it, with vigilant guards; and +favorable bulletins were from time to time given out, until, the +provisions which the conjuncture required being completed, in one and +the same moment were published the departure of Augustus, and the +accession of Tiberius. + + + + +II + +THE FUNERAL OF GERMANICUS[106] + +(19 A.D.) + + +Agrippina,[107] continuing her course without the least intermission +through all the perils and rigors of a sea-voyage in the winter, +arrived at the island Corcyra, situated over against the shores of +Calabria. Unable to moderate her grief, and impatient from +inexperience of affliction, she spent a few days there to tranquillize +her troubled spirit; when, on hearing of her arrival, all the intimate +friends of her family, and most of the officers who had served under +Germanicus, with a number of strangers from the neighboring municipal +towns, some thinking it due as a mark of respect to the prince, but +the greater part carried along with the current, rushed to the city of +Brundusium, the readiest port in her way, and the safest landing. As +soon as the fleet appeared in the deep, instantly were filled, not the +port alone and adjacent parts of the sea, but the walls and roofs, and +wherever the most distant prospect could be obtained, with a sorrowing +multitude, earnestly asking each other "whether they should receive +her on landing in silence, or with some expression of feeling?" Nor +was it clearly determined what course would be most suitable to the +occasion, when the fleet came slowly in, not as usual in sprightly +trim, but all wearing the impress of sadness. When she descended from +the ship, accompanied by her two infants,[108] and bearing in her hand +the funeral urn, her eyes fixt stedfastly upon the earth, one +simultaneous groan burst from the whole assemblage; nor could you +distinguish relations from strangers, nor the wailings of men from +those of women; nor could any difference be discerned, except that +those who came to meet her, in the vehemence of recent grief, +surpassed the attendants of Agrippina, who were exhausted with +continued mourning. + +Tiberius had dispatched two prætorian cohorts, with directions that +the magistrates of Calabria, with Apulians and Campanians, should pay +their last offices of respect to the memory of his son; upon the +shoulders, therefore, of the tribunes and centurions his ashes were +borne; before them were carried the ensigns unadorned, and the fasces +reversed. As they passed through the colonies, the populace in black, +the knights in their purple robes, burned precious raiment, perfumes, +and whatever else is used in funeral solemnities, according to the +ability of the place; even they whose cities lay remote from the +route, came forth, offered victims, and erected altars to the gods of +the departed, and with tears and ejaculations testified their sorrow. +Drusus came as far as Terracina, with Claudius the brother of +Germanicus, and those of his children who had been left at Rome.[109] +The Consuls, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Aurelius[110] (for they had +now entered upon their office), the senate, and great part of the +people, filled the road--a scattered procession, each walking and +expressing his grief as inclination led him; in sooth, flattery was an +utter stranger here, for all knew how real was the joy, how hollow the +grief, of Tiberius for the death of Germanicus. + +Tiberius and Livia[111] avoided appearing abroad--public lamentation +they thought below their dignity--or perhaps they apprehended that if +their countenances were examined by all eyes their hypocrisy would be +detected. That Antonia, mother to the deceased, bore any part in the +funeral, I do not find either in the historians or in the journals, +tho, besides Agrippina and Drusus, and Claudius, his other relations +are likewise there recorded by name; whether by sickness she was +prevented, or whether her soul, vanquished by sorrow, could not bear +to go through the representation of such an over-powering calamity. I +would rather believe her constrained by Tiberius and Livia, who left +not the palace, that they might seem to grieve alike and that the +grandmother and uncle might appear to have followed her example in +staying at home. + +The day on which his remains were deposited in the tomb of Augustus, +at one time exhibited the silence of perfect desolation; at another, +the uproar of vociferous lamentation; the streets of the city were +crowded, one general blaze of torches glared throughout the Campus +Martius; there the soldiers under arms, the magistrates without the +insignia of office, and the people ranged according to their tribes, +passionately exclaimed, "that the commonwealth was utterly lost, that +henceforth there remained no hope," so openly and so boldly that you +would have believed they had forgotten those who ruled over them. But +nothing pierced Tiberius more deeply than the warm interest excited +in favor of Agrippina, while they gave her such titles as "the +ornament of her country, the only blood of Augustus, an unparalleled +example of primitive virtue"; and, looking up to heaven and the gods, +they implored "the preservation of her issue, and that they might +outlive their oppressors." + +There were those who missed the pomp of a public funeral, and compared +with this the superior honors and magnificence displayed by Augustus +in that of Drusus, the father of Germanicus; observing, "that he +himself had traveled, in the depth of winter, as far as Ticinus, and, +continuing by the corpse, had with it entered the city; around his +bier were crowded the images of the Claudii and Julii; he was mourned +in the forum; his encomium pronounced on the rostra; all the honors +invented by our ancestors, or added by their posterity, were heaped +upon him. But to Germanicus were denied the ordinary solemnities, and +such as were due to every distinguished Roman. Certainly his corpse +was burned in a foreign country because of the long journey, in such a +manner as it was, but afterward it was but just to have compensated +the scantiness of the first ceremony by the increased solemnity of the +last; his brother met him but one day's journey, his uncle not, even +at the gate. Where were those observances of the ancients, the +effigies of the dead laid in state on a bed, hymns composed in memory +of departed virtue, with encomiums and tears? Where at least the +ceremonial of sorrow?" + +All this was known to Tiberius, and to suppress the reflections of the +populace, he admonished them in an edict, "that many illustrious +Romans had died for the commonwealth, but none so universally and +vehemently regretted; and that it was to the honor of himself and all +others, if bounds were observed. The same things which became private +families and small states, became not princes and an imperial people; +that it was not unseemly to lament in the first transport of sorrow, +nay, relief was afforded by weeping, but it was now time to recover +and compose their minds. Thus the deified Julius, upon the loss of an +only daughter;[112] thus the deified Augustus, upon the premature +death of his grandsons, had both concealed their sorrow. More ancient +examples were unnecessary; how often had the Roman people sustained +with equanimity the slaughter of their armies, the death of their +generals, and entire destruction of illustrious families--princes were +mortal, the commonwealth was eternal--they should therefore resume +their customary vocations." And because the spectacle of the +Megalesian games was at hand, he added, "that they should even lay +aside their grief for amusements." + +The vacation ended, public affairs were resumed; Drusus departed for +the army in Illyricum, the minds of all men impatiently looking for +vengeance upon Piso; and amidst many complaints, that while he was +roaming at large through the delightful regions of Asia and Greece, he +was undermining by contemptuous and artful delay the evidences of his +crimes; for it was generally known that Martina, that notorious +trafficker in sorceries, and sent, as I have above related, by Cneius +Sentius to Rome, had died suddenly at Brundusium; that poison lay +concealed in a knot of her hair. + + + + +III + +THE DEATH OF SENECA[113] + +(65 A.D.) + + +The next death added by Nero was that of Plautius Lateranus, consul +elect; and with such precipitation, that he would not allow him to +embrace his children, nor the usual brief interval to choose his mode +of death. He was dragged to the place allotted for the execution of +slaves, and there, by the hand of Statius the tribune, slaughtered. In +his death he maintained the most invincible silence, not charging his +executioner with participation in the design for which he suffered. +The destruction of Seneca followed, to the infinite joy of the prince; +not because he had ascertained that he was a party to the conspiracy, +but that he might assail him with the sword, since poison had failed: +for Natalis only had named him; and his disclosure amounted but to +this, "that he had been sent by Piso[114] to visit Seneca, then +indisposed, to complain that he was refused admittance; and to +represent, that it would be better if they maintained their friendship +by intercourse: that to this Seneca replied, that talking to each +other and frequent interviews were to the service of neither; but upon +the safety of Piso his own security rested." Granius Silvanus, tribune +of a pretorian cohort, was ordered to represent this to Seneca, and to +demand of him, "whether he admitted the words of Natalis, and his own +answers." Seneca had that very day, either from chance or design, +returned from Campania, and rested at a villa of his, four miles from +Rome: thither arrived the tribune toward evening, and beset the villa +with his men; and then, as he sat at table with Pauline his wife, and +two friends, delivered his orders from the emperor. + +Seneca replied, "that Natalis had in truth been sent to him, and in +the name of Piso complained, that he was debarred from visiting him; +and that he had excused himself on the score of illness and his love +of retirement; but he had no motive to declare that he preferred the +safety of a private man to his own security; nor was his disposition +prone to flattery; as no man better knew than Nero, who had +experienced more frequent proofs of the freedom than the servility of +Seneca." + +When this answer was by the tribune reported to Nero, in presence of +Poppæa[115] and Tigellinus, who composed the cabinet council, the +raging tyrant asked, whether Seneca meditated a voluntary death? the +tribune averred "that he had manifested no symptoms of fear; and +neither in his words nor looks did he detect any indication of +regret." He was therefore commanded to return, and tell him he was +doomed to die. Fabius Rusticus writes, "that the tribune did not +return by the road he went, but turning off went to Fenius, captain of +the guards, and stating to him the emperor's orders, asked whether he +should obey him; and was by him admonished to execute them"; thus +displaying that want of spirit which by some fatality prevailed +universally; for Silvanus too was one of the conspirators, and yet was +contributing to multiply the atrocities he had conspired to avenge. He +avoided, however, seeing and speaking to Seneca; but sent in a +centurion to apprize him of his final doom. + +Seneca undismayed, called for tables to make his will; and, as this +was prohibited by the centurion, turning to his friends, he told them, +"that since he was debarred from requiting their services, he +bequeathed them that which alone was now left him, but which yet was +the fairest legacy he had to leave them--the example of his life: and +if they kept it in view, they would reap the fame due to honorable +acquirements and inviolable friendship." At the same time he +endeavored to repress their tears and restore their fortitude, now by +soothing language, and now in a more animated strain and in a tone of +rebuke, asking them, "where were the precepts of philosophy? where the +rules of conduct under impending evils, studied for so many years? +For who was unapprized of the ferocious disposition of Nero? Nor could +anything else be expected after he had murdered his mother and brother +than that he should proceed to destroy his nursing father and +preceptor." + +After these and similar reasonings addrest to the company in general, +he embraced his wife; and after a brief but vigorous effort to get the +better of the apprehensions that prest upon him at that moment, he +besought and implored her "to refrain from surrendering herself to +endless grief; but endeavor to mitigate her regret for her husband by +means of those honorable consolations which she would experience in +the contemplation of his virtuous life." Paulina, on the contrary, +urged her purpose to die with him, and called for the hand of the +executioner. When Seneca, unwilling to impede her glory, and also from +affection, as he was anxious not to leave one who was dear to him +above everything, exposed to the hard usage of the world, thus addrest +her: "I had pointed out to you how to soften the ills of life; but you +prefer the renown of dying: I will not envy you the honor of the +example. Tho both display the same unflinching fortitude in +encountering death; still the glory of your exit will be superior to +mine." After this, both had the veins of their arms opened with the +same stroke. As the blood flowed slowly from the aged body of Seneca, +attenuated as it was too by scanty sustenance, he had the veins of his +legs and hams also cut; and unable to bear up under the excessive +torture, lest by his own sufferings he should overpower the +resolution of his wife, and by witnessing her anguish be betrayed into +impatience himself, he advised her to retire into another chamber. His +eloquence continued to flow during the latest moments of his +existence, and summoning his secretaries, he dictated many things, +which, as they have been published in his own words, I forbear to +exhibit in other language. + + + + +IV + +THE BURNING OF ROME BY ORDER OF NERO[116] + +(64 A.D.) + + +There followed a dreadful disaster; whether fortuitously, or by the +wicked contrivance of the prince[117] is not determined, for both are +asserted by historians: but of all the calamities which ever befell +this city from the rage of fire, this was the most terrible and +severe. It broke out in that part of the Circus which is contiguous to +mounts Palatine and Coelius; where, by reason of shops in which were +kept such goods as minister aliment to fire, the moment it commenced +it acquired strength, and being accelerated by the wind, it spread at +once through the whole extent of the Circus: for neither were the +houses secured by enclosures, nor the temples environed with walls, +nor was there any other obstacle to intercept its progress; but the +flame, spreading every way impetuously, invaded first the lower +regions of the city, then mounted to the higher; then again ravaging +the lower, it baffled every effort to extinguish it, by the rapidity +of its destructive course, and from the liability of the city to +conflagration, in consequence of the narrow and intricate alleys, and +the irregularity of the streets in ancient Rome.[118] Add to this, the +wailings of terrified women, the infirm condition of the aged, and the +helplessness of childhood: such as strove to provide for themselves, +and those who labored to assist others; these dragging the feeble, +those waiting for them; some hurrying, others lingering; altogether +created a scene of universal confusion and embarrassment: and while +they looked back upon the danger in their rear, they often found +themselves beset before, and on their sides: or if they had escaped +into the quarters adjoining, these too were already seized by the +devouring flames; even the parts which they believed remote and +exempt, were found to be in the same distress. At last, not knowing +what to shun, or where to seek sanctuary, they crowded the streets, +and lay along in the open fields. Some, from the loss of their whole +substance, even the means of their daily sustenance, others, from +affection for their relations, whom they had not been able to snatch +from the flames, suffered themselves to perish in them, tho they had +opportunity to escape. Neither dared any man offer to check the fire: +so repeated were the menaces of many who forbade to extinguish it; and +because others openly threw firebrands, with loud declarations "that +they had one who authorized them"; whether they did it that they might +plunder with the less restraint, or in consequence of orders given. + +Nero, who was at that juncture sojourning at Antium,[119] did not +return to the city till the fire approached that quarter of his house +which connected the palace with the gardens of Mæcenas;[120] nor could +it, however, be prevented from devouring the house and palace, and +everything around. But for the relief of the people, thus destitute, +and driven from their dwellings, he opened the fields of Mars and the +monumental edifices erected by Agrippa,[121] and even his own gardens. +He likewise reared temporary houses for the reception of the forlorn +multitude: and from Ostia and the neighboring cities were brought, up +the river, household necessaries; and the price of grain was reduced +to three sesterces the measure. All which proceedings, tho of a +popular character, were thrown away, because a rumor had become +universally current, "that the very time when the city was in flames, +Nero, going on the stage of his private theater, sang 'The Destruction +of Troy,' assimilating the present disaster to that catastrophe of +ancient times." + +At length, on the sixth day, the conflagration was stayed at the foot +of Esquilliæ, by pulling down an immense quantity of buildings, so +that an open space, and, as it were, void air, might check the raging +element by breaking the continuity. But ere the consternation had +subsided the fire broke out afresh, with no little violence, but in +regions more spacious, and therefore with less destruction of human +life: but more extensive havoc was made of the temples, and the +porticoes dedicated to amusement. This conflagration, too was the +subject of more censorious remark, as it arose in the Æmilian +possessions of Tigellinus: and Nero seemed to aim at the glory of +building a new city, and calling it by his own name: for, of the +fourteen sections into which Rome is divided, four were still standing +entire, three were leveled with the ground, and in the seven others +there remained only here and there a few remnants of houses, shattered +and half-consumed. + +It were no easy task to recount the number of tenements and temples +which were lost: but the following, most venerable for antiquity and +sanctity, were consumed: that dedicated by Servius Tullius to the +Moon; the temple and great altar consecrated by Evander the Arcadian +to Hercules while present; the chapel vowed by Romulus to Jupiter +Stator; the palace of Numa,[122] with the temple of Vesta, and in it +the tutelar gods of Rome. Moreover, the treasures accumulated by so +many victories, the beautiful productions of Greek artists, ancient +writings of authors celebrated for genius, and till then preserved +entire, were consumed: and tho great was the beauty of the city, in +its renovated form, the older inhabitants remembered many decorations +of the ancient which could not be replaced in the modern city. There +were some who remarked that the commencement of this fire showed +itself on the fourteenth before the calends of July, the day on which +the Senones set fire to the captured city. Others carried their +investigation so far as to determine that an equal number of years, +months, and days intervened between the two fires. + +To proceed: Nero appropriated to his own purposes the ruins of his +country, and founded upon them a palace; in which the old-fashioned, +and, in those luxurious times, common ornaments of gold and precious +stones, were not so much the objects of attraction as lands and lakes; +in one part, woods like vast deserts: in another part, open spaces and +expansive prospects. The projectors and superintendents of this plan +were Severus and Celer, men of such ingenuity and daring enterprise as +to attempt to conquer by art the obstacles of nature, and fool away +the treasures of the prince: they had even undertaken to sink a +navigable canal from the lake Avernus to the mouth of the Tiber, over +an arid shore, or through opposing mountains: nor indeed does there +occur anything of a humid nature for supplying water, except the +Pomptine marshes; the rest is either craggy rock or a parched soil: +and had it even been possible to break through these obstructions, the +toil had been intolerable, and disproportioned to the object. Nero, +however who longed to achieve things that exceeded credibility, +exerted all his might to perforate the mountains adjoining to Avernus: +and to this day there remain traces of his abortive project. + +But the rest of the old site not occupied by his palace, was laid out, +not as after the Gallic fire, without discrimination and regularity, +but with the lines of streets measured out, broad spaces left for +transit, the height of the buildings limited, open areas left, and +porticoes added to protect the front of the clustered dwellings: these +porticoes Nero engaged to rear at his own expense, and then to deliver +to each proprietor the areas about them cleared. He moreover proposed +rewards proportioned to every man's rank and private substance, and +fixt a day within which, if their houses, single or clustered, were +finished, they should receive them: he appointed the marshes of Ostia +for a receptacle of the rubbish, and that the vessels which had +conveyed grain up the Tiber should return laden with rubbish; that the +buildings themselves should be raised to a certain portion of their +height without beams, and arched with stone from the quarries of Gabii +or Alba, that stone being proof against fire: that over the water +springs, which had been improperly intercepted by private individuals, +overseers should be placed, to provide for their flowing in greater +abundance, and in a greater number of places, for the supply of the +public: that every housekeeper should have in his yard means for +extinguishing fire; neither should there be party-walls, but every +house should be enclosed by its own walls. These regulations, which +were favorably received, in consideration of their utility, were also +a source of beauty to the new city: yet some there were who believed +that the ancient form was more conducive to health, as from the +narrowness of the streets and the height of the buildings the rays of +the sun were more excluded; whereas now, the spacious breadth of the +streets, without any shade to protect it, was more intensely heated in +warm weather. + +Such were the provisions made by human counsels. The gods were next +addrest with expiations and recourse had to the Sibyl's books. By +admonition from them to Vulcan, Ceres, and Proserpina, supplicatory +sacrifices were made, and Juno propitiated by the matrons, first in +the Capitol, then upon the nearest shore, where, by water drawn from +the sea, the temple and image of the goddess were besprinkled; and the +ceremony of placing the goddess in her sacred chair, and her vigil, +were celebrated by ladies who had husbands. But not all the relief +that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could +bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, +availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have +ordered the conflagration. + +Hence, to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and +punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly +called Christians,[123] who were hated for their enormities. Christus, +the founder of that name was put to death as a criminal by Pontius +Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius: but the +pernicious superstition, represt for a time, broke out again, not only +through Judea where the mischief originated, but through the city of +Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow, from all +quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. +Accordingly, first those were seized who confest they were Christians; +next, on their information a vast multitude were convicted, not so +much on the charge of burning the city, as of hating the human race. +And in their deaths they were also made the subjects of sport, for +they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death +by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when day declined, +burned to serve for nocturnal lights. Nero offered his own gardens for +that spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately +mingling with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else +standing in his chariot. Whence a feeling of compassion arose toward +the sufferers, tho guilty and deserving to be made examples of by +capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the +public good, but victims to the ferocity of one man.[124] + +In the mean time, in order to supply money, all Italy was pillaged, +the provinces ruined: both the people in alliance with us, and the +states which are called free. Even the gods were not exempt from +plunder on this occasion, their temples in the city being despoiled, +and all their gold conveyed away, which the Roman people, in every +age, either in gratitude for triumphs, or in fulfilment of vows, had +consecrated, in times of prosperity, or in seasons of dismay. Through +Greece and Asia, indeed, the gifts and oblations, and even the statues +of the deities were carried off; Acratus and Secundus Carinas being +sent into those provinces for the purpose: the former, Nero's +freedman, a prompt instrument in any iniquity; the other, acquainted +with Greek learning, as far as relates to lip-knowledge, but unadorned +with virtuous accomplishments. Of Seneca it was reported, "that to +avert from himself the odium of this sacrilege, he prayed to retire to +a seat of his, remote from Rome, and being refused, feigned +indisposition, as tho his nerves were affected, and confined himself +to his chamber." Some authors have recorded, "that a freedman of his, +named Cleonicus, had, by the command of Nero, prepared poison for his +master, who escaped it, either from the discovery made by the +freedman, or from the caution inspired by his own apprehensions, as he +supported nature by a diet perfectly simple, satisfying the cravings +of hunger by wild fruits, and the solicitations of thirst from the +running brook." + + + + +V + +THE BURNING OF THE CAPITOL AT ROME[125] + +(69 A.D.) + + +Martialis had scarcely reentered the Capitol when the furious soldiers +appeared before it, without a general, and each man acting on his own +suggestions. Having rapidly passed the forum, and the temples that +overlook it, they marched up the opposite hill, as far as the first +gates of the citadel. On the right side of the ascent, a range of +porticoes had been built in ancient times. Going out upon the roof of +those, the besieged threw a shower of stones and tiles. The assailants +had no weapons but their swords, and to fetch engines and missiles +seemed a tedious delay. They threw brands into the portico that jutted +near them. They followed up the fire, and would have forced their way +through the gate of the Capitol, which the fire had laid hold of, if +Sabinus had not placed as a barrier in the very approach, in lieu of a +wall, the statues, those honorable monuments of our ancestors, which +were pulled down wherever they could be found. They then assaulted the +Capitol in two different quarters near the grove of the asylum, and +where the Tarpeian rock is ascended by a hundred steps. Both attacks +were unforeseen. + +That by the asylum was the nearer and most vigorous. Nor could they be +stopt from climbing up the contiguous buildings, which being raised +high under the idea of undisturbed peace, reach the basement of the +Capitol. Here a doubt exists whether the fire was thrown upon the +roofs by the storming party or the besieged, the latter being more +generally supposed to have done it, to repulse those who were climbing +up, and had advanced some way. The fire extended itself thence to the +porticoes adjoining the temples; soon the eagles that supported the +cupola caught fire, and as the timber was old they fed the flame. Thus +the Capitol, with its gates shut, neither stormed, nor defended, was +burned to the ground. + +From the foundation of the city to that hour, the Roman republic had +felt no calamity so deplorable, so shocking, as that, unassailed by a +foreign enemy, and, were it not for the vices of the age, with the +deities propitious, the temple of Jupiter supremely good and great, +built by our ancestors with solemn auspices, the pledge of empire, +which neither Porsena,[126] when Rome surrendered to his arms, nor the +Gauls,[127] when they captured the city, were permitted to violate, +should be now demolished by the madness of the rulers of the state. +The Capitol was once before destroyed by fire during a civil war; but +it was from the guilty machinations of private individuals. Now it +was besieged publicly, publicly set fire to; and what were the motives +for the war? what was the object to be gained, that so severe a +calamity was incurred? Warred we in our country's cause?--Tarquinius +Priscus, during the war with the Sabines, built it in fulfillment of a +vow, and laid the foundations more in conformity with his +anticipations of the future grandeur of the empire, than the limited +extent of the Roman means at that time. Servius Tullius, assisted by +the zeal of the allies of Rome, and after him Tarquin the Proud, with +the spoils of Suessa Pometia, added to the building. But the glory of +completing the design was reserved for the era of liberty. When +tyrants were swept away, Horatius Pulvilus, in his second consulship, +dedicated the temple, finished with such magnificence that the wealth +of after ages graced it with new embellishments, but added nothing to +its dimensions. Four hundred and fifteen years afterward, in the +consulship of Lucius Scipio and Caius Norbanus, it was burned to the +ground, and again rebuilt on the old foundation. Sulla having now +triumphed over his opponents, undertook to build it, but nevertheless +did not dedicate it; the only thing wanting to crown his felicity. +That honor was reserved for Lutatius Catulus, whose name, amidst so +many works of the Cæsars, remained legible till the days of Vitellius. +Such was the sacred building which was at this time reduced to ashes. + + + + +VI + +THE SIEGE OF CREMONA[128] + +(69 A.D.) + + +When they came to Cremona, they found a new and enormous difficulty. +In the war with Otho, the German legions had formed a camp round the +walls of the town, and fortified it with lines of circumvallation. New +works were added afterward. The victors stood astonished at the sight, +and even the generals were at a stand, undecided what orders to give. +With troops harassed by exertions through the night and day, to carry +the place by storm was difficult, and, without succors at hand, might +be dangerous; but if they marched to Bedriacum, the fatigue would be +insupportable, and the victory would end in nothing. To throw up +intrenchments was dangerous, in the face of an enemy, who might +suddenly sally forth and put them to the rout, while employed on the +work in detached parties. A difficulty still greater than all arose +from the temper of the men, more patient of danger than delay: +inasmuch as a state of security afforded no excitement, while hope +grew out of enterprise, however perilous; and carnage, wounds and +blood, to whatever extent, were counterbalanced by the insatiable +desire of plunder. + +Antonius[129] determined upon the latter course and ordered the +rampart to be invested. The attack began at a distance with a volley +of stones and darts, with the greater loss to the Flavians, on whom +the enemy's weapons were thrown with advantage from above. Antonius +presently assigned portions of the rampart and the gates to the +legions that by this mode of attack in different quarters, valor and +cowardice might be distinguished, and a spirit of emulation in honor +animate the army. The third and seventh legions took their station +nearest the road to Bedriacum; the seventh and eighth Claudian, a +portion more to the right hand of the rampart; the thirteenth were +carried by their own impetuosity to the gate that looked toward +Brixia.[130] Some delay then took place while they supplied themselves +from the neighboring villages with pickaxes, spades, and hooks, and +scaling-ladders. They then formed a close military shell with their +shields raised above their heads, and under that cover advanced to the +ramparts. The Roman art of war was seen on both sides. The Vitellians +rolled down massy stones, with which, having disjoined and shaken the +shell, they inserted their long poles and spears; till at last, the +whole frame and texture of the shields being dissolved, they strewed +the ground with numbers of the crusht and mangled assailants.... + +Severe in the extreme was the conflict maintained by the third and +the seventh legions. Antonius in person led on a select body of +auxiliaries to the same quarter. The Vitellians were no longer able to +sustain the shock of men all bent on victory, and seeing their darts +fall on the military shell, and glide off without effect, at last they +rolled down their battering-engine on the heads of the besiegers. For +the moment, it dispersed and overwhelmed the party among which, it +fell; but it also drew after it, in its fall, the battlements and +upper parts of the rampart. An adjoining tower, at the same time, +yielded to the effect of stones which struck it, and left a breach, at +which the seventh legion, in the form of a wedge, endeavored to force +their way, while the third hewed down the gate with axes and swords. +The first man that entered, according to all historians, was Caius +Volusius, a common soldier of the third legion. He gained the summit +of the rampart, and, bearing down all resistance, in the view of all +beckoned with his hand, and cried aloud that the camp was captured. +The rest of the legion followed him with resistless fury, the +Vitellians being panic-struck, and throwing themselves headlong from +the works. The whole space between the camp and the walls of Cremona +was filled with slain.[131] + +And now a new form of difficulty was presented by the high walls of +the city, and towers of stone, the gates secured by iron bars, and +troops brandishing their arms; the inhabitants, a large and numerous +body, all devoted to Vitellius; and a conflux of people from all parts +of Italy at the stated fair which was then held. The latter was +regarded by the garrison as an aid, from the increase of numbers; but +inflamed the ardor of the besiegers on the score of booty. Antonius +ordered his men to take combustibles, and set fire to the most elegant +edifices without the city; if, peradventure, the inhabitants, seeing +their mansions destroyed, would be induced to abandon the adverse +cause. In the houses that stood near the walls, of a height to +overlook the works, he placed the bravest of his troops; and from +those stations beams, tiles and firebrands were thrown down to drive +the defenders of the walls from their posts. + +The legions under Antonius now formed a military shell, while the rest +poured in a volley of stones and darts; when the spirit of the +besieged gradually gave way. The men highest in rank were willing to +make terms for themselves, lest, if Cremona was taken by storm, they +should receive no quarter, and the conquerors, disdaining vulgar +lives, should fall on the tribunes and centurions, from whom the +largest booty was to be expected. The common men, as usual, careless +about future events, and safe in their obscurity, still held out. +Roaming about the streets, or lurking in private houses, they did not +sue for peace even when they had given up the contest. The principal +officers took down the name and images of Vitellius. Cæcina, for he +was still in confinement, they released from his fetters, and desired +his aid in pleading their cause with the conqueror. He heard their +petition with disdain, swelling with insolence, while they importuned +him with tears; the last stage of human misery, when so many brave +and gallant men were obliged to sue to a traitor for protection! They +then hung out from the walls the fillets and badges of supplicants. +When Antonius ordered a cessation of hostilities, the garrison brought +out their eagles and standards; a mournful train of soldiers without +their aims, their eyes riveted to the ground, followed them. The +conquerors gathered round them, and first heaped reproaches upon them, +and threatened violence to their persons; but afterward, when they saw +the passiveness with which they received the insults, and that the +vanquished, abandoning all their former pride, submitted to every +indignity, the thought occurred that these very men lately conquered +at Bedriacum, and used their victory with moderation. But when Cæcina +came forth, decorated with his robes, and preceded by his lictors, who +opened a way for him through the crowd, the indignation of the victors +burst into a flame. They reproached him for his pride, his cruelty, +and even for his treachery: so detested is villainy. Antonius opposed +the fury of his men, and sent him under escort to Vespasian. + +Meanwhile, the common people of Cremona, in the midst of so many +soldiers, were subjected to grievous oppressions, and were in danger +of being all put to the sword, if the rage of the soldiery had not +been assuaged by the entreaties of their leaders. Antonius called them +to an assembly, when he spoke of the conquerors in lofty terms, and of +the vanquished with humanity; of Cremona he said nothing either way. +But the army, adding to their love of plunder an inveterate aversion +to the people, were bent on the extirpation of the inhabitants. In +the war against Otho they were deemed the abettors of Vitellius; and +afterward, when the thirteenth legion was left among them to build an +amphitheater, with the usual insolence of the lower orders in towns, +they had assailed them with offensive ribaldry. The spectacle of +gladiators exhibited there by Cæcina inflamed the animosity against +the people. Their city, too, was now for the second time the seat of +war; and, in the heat of the last engagement, the Vitellians were +thence supplied with refreshments; and some of their women, led into +the field of battle by their zeal for the cause, were slain. The +period, too, of the fair had given to a colony otherwise affluent an +imposing appearance of accumulated wealth. Antonius, by his fame and +brilliant success, eclipsed all the other commanders: the attention of +all was fixt on him alone. He hastened to the baths to wash off the +blood; and on observing that the water was not hot enough, he said +that they would soon grow hotter. The expression was caught up: a +casual word among slaves had the effect of throwing upon him the whole +odium of having given a signal for setting fire to Cremona, which was +already in flames. + +Forty thousand armed men had poured into it. The number of drudges and +camp-followers was still greater, and more abandoned to lust and +cruelty. Neither age nor dignity served as a protection; deeds of lust +were perpetrated amidst scenes of carnage, and murder was added to +rape. Aged men and women that had passed their prime, and who were +useless as booty, were made the objects of brutal sport. If a mature +maiden, or any one of comely appearance, fell in their way, after +being torn piecemeal by the rude hands of contending ruffians, they at +last were the occasion of their turning their swords against each +other. While eagerly carrying off money or massy gold from the +temples, they were butchered by others stronger than themselves. Not +content with the treasures that lay open to their view, some forced +the owners to discover their hidden wealth, and dig up their buried +riches. Numbers carried flaming torches, and, as soon as they had +brought forth their booty, in their wanton sport set the gutted houses +and plundered temples on fire. In an army differing in language and +manners, composed of Roman citizens, allies, and foreign auxiliaries, +all the diversities of passions were exhibited. Each had his separate +notions of right and wrong; nor was anything unlawful. Four days did +Cremona minister to their rapacity. When everything else, sacred and +profane, was leveled in the conflagration, the temple of Memphitis +alone remained standing, outside of the walls; saved either by its +situation, or the influence of the deity. + +Such was the fate of Cremona, two hundred and eighty-six years from +its foundation. It was built during the consulship of Tiberius +Sempronius and Publius Cornelius, at the time when Hannibal threatened +an irruption into Italy, as a bulwark against the Gauls inhabiting +beyond the Po, or any other power that might break in over the Alps. +The colony, as might be expected, grew and flourished in the number of +its settlers, from the contiguity of rivers, the fertility of its +soil, from alliances and intermarriages with the neighboring people; +never having suffered from foreign wars, but a sad sufferer from civil +dissensions. Antonius, shrinking from the infamy of this horrible +transaction (for the detestation it excited was increasing), issued an +edict forbidding all manner of persons to detain the citizens of +Cremona as prisoners of war. At the same time the booty was rendered +valueless by a resolution adopted throughout Italy, not to purchase +the captives taken on that occasion. The soldiers then began to murder +them. However, when this was known, the prisoners were eagerly +ransomed by their friends and relations. The survivors in a short time +returned to Cremona. The temples and public places were rebuilt, at +the recommendation of Vespasian, by the munificence of the burgesses. + + + + +VII + +AGRICOLA[132] + + +Cnæus Julius Agricola was born at the ancient and illustrious colony +of Forum Julii. Both his grandfathers were imperial procurators, an +office which confers the rank of equestrian nobility. His father, +Julius Græcinus, of the senatorian order, was famous for the study of +eloquence and philosophy; and by these accomplishments he drew on +himself the displeasure of Caius Cæsar,[133] for, being commanded to +undertake the accusation of Marcus Silanus--on his refusal, he was +put to death. His mother was Julia Procilla, a lady of exemplary +chastity. Educated with tenderness in her bosom, he passed his +childhood and youth in the attainment of every liberal art. He was +preserved from the allurements of vice, not only by a naturally good +disposition, but by being sent very early to pursue his studies at +Massilia;[134] a place where Grecian politeness and provincial +frugality are happily united. I remember he was used to relate, that +in his early youth he should have engaged with more ardor in +philosophical speculation than was suitable to a Roman and a senator, +had not the prudence of his mother restrained the warmth and vehemence +of his disposition: for his lofty and upright spirit, inflamed by the +charms of glory and exalted reputation, led him to the pursuit with +more eagerness than discretion. Reason and riper years tempered his +warmth; and from the study of wisdom, he retained what is most +difficult to compass--moderation. + +He learned the rudiments of war in Britain, under Suetonius Paulinus, +an active and prudent commander, who chose him for his tent companion, +in order to form an estimate of his merit. Nor did Agricola, like many +young men, who convert military service into wanton pastime, avail +himself licentiously or slothfully of his tribunitial title, or his +inexperience, to spend his time in pleasures and absences from duty; +but he employed himself in gaining a knowledge of the country, making +himself known to the army, learning from the experienced, and +imitating the best; neither pressing to be employed through vainglory, +nor declining it through timidity; and performing his duty with equal +solicitude and spirit. At no other time in truth was Britain more +agitated or in a state of greater uncertainty. Our veterans +slaughtered, our colonies burned, our armies cut off--we were then +contending for safety, afterward for victory. During this period, +altho all things were transacted under the conduct and direction of +another, and the stress of the whole, as well as the glory of +recovering the province, fell to the general's share, yet they +imparted to the young Agricola skill, experience, and incentives; and +the passion for military glory entered his soul; a passion ungrateful +to the times, in which eminence was unfavorably construed, and a great +reputation was no less dangerous than a bad one. + +Departing thence to undertake the offices of magistracy in Rome, he +married Domitia Decidiana, a lady of illustrious descent, from which +connection he derived credit and support in his pursuit of greater +things. They lived together in admirable harmony and mutual affection; +each giving the preference to the other; a conduct equally laudable in +both, except that a greater degree of praise is due to a good wife, in +proportion as a bad one deserves the greater censure. The lot of +questorship gave him Asia for his province, and the proconsul Salvius +Titianus[135] for his superior; by neither of which circumstances was +he corrupted, altho the province was wealthy and open to plunder, and +the proconsul, from his rapacious disposition, would readily have +agreed to a mutual concealment of guilt. His family was there +increased by the birth of a daughter, who was both the support of his +house, and his consolation; for he lost an elder-born son in +infancy.... + +On his return from commanding the legion he was raised by Vespasian to +the patrician order, and then invested with the government of +Aquitania, a distinguished promotion, both in respect to the office +itself, and the hopes of the consulate to which it destined him. It is +a common supposition that military men, habituated to the unscrupulous +and summary processes of camps, where things are carried with a strong +hand, are deficient in the address and subtlety of genius requisite in +civil jurisdiction. Agricola, however, by his natural prudence, was +enabled to act with facility and precision even among civilians. He +distinguished the hours of business from those of relaxation. When the +court or tribunal demanded his presence, he was grave, intent, awful, +yet generally inclined to lenity. When the duties of his office were +over, the man of power was instantly laid aside. Nothing of sternness, +arrogance, or rapaciousness appeared; and, what was a singular +felicity, his affability did not impair his authority, nor his +severity render him less beloved. To mention integrity and freedom +from corruption in such a man, would be an affront to his virtues. He +did not even court reputation, an object to which men of worth +frequently sacrifice, by ostentation or artifice: equally avoiding +competition with his colleagues, and contention with the procurators. +To overcome in such a contest he thought inglorious; and to be put +down, a disgrace. Somewhat less than three years were spent in this +office, when he was recalled to the immediate prospect of the +consulate; while at the same time a popular opinion prevailed that the +government of Britain would be conferred upon him; an opinion not +founded upon any suggestions of his own, but upon his being thought +equal to the station. Common fame does not always err, sometimes it +even directs a choice. When Consul,[136] he contracted his daughter, a +lady already of the happiest promise, to myself, then a very young +man; and after his office was expired I received her in marriage. He +was immediately appointed governor of Britain, and the pontificate was +added to his other dignities.... + +His decease was a severe affliction to his family, a grief to his +friends, and a subject of regret even to foreigners, and those who had +no personal knowledge of him. The common people too, and the class who +little interest themselves about public concerns, were frequent in +their inquiries at his house during his sickness, and made him the +subject of conversation at the forum and in private circles; nor did +any person either rejoice at the news of his death, or speedily forget +it. Their commiseration was aggravated by a prevailing report that he +was taken off by poison. I can not venture to affirm anything certain +of this matter; yet, during the whole course of his illness, the +principal of the imperial freedmen and the most confidential of the +physicians was sent much more frequently than was customary with a +court whose visits were chiefly paid by messages; whether that was +done out of real solicitude, or for the purposes of state inquisition. +On the day of his decease, it is certain that accounts of his +approaching dissolution were every instant transmitted to the emperor +by couriers stationed for the purpose; and no one believed that the +information, which so much pains was taken to accelerate, could be +received with regret. He put on, however, in his countenance and +demeanor, the semblance of grief: for he was now secured from an +object of hatred, and could more easily conceal his joy than his fear. +It was well known that on reading the will, in which he was nominated +co-heir with the excellent wife and most dutiful daughter of Agricola, +he exprest great satisfaction, as if it had been a voluntary testimony +of honor and esteem: so blind and corrupt had his mind been rendered +by continual adulation, that he was ignorant none but a bad prince +could be nominated heir to a good father. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 101: "If by eloquence is meant the ability to persuade, then +Tacitus," according to Cruttwell, "is the most eloquent historian that +ever existed." His portraits, especially those of Tiberius and Nero, +have been severely criticized by French and English writers, but while +his verdicts have been shaken, they have not been reversed. The world +still fails to doubt their substantial reality. Tacitus, adds +Cruttwell, has probably exercised upon readers a greater power than +any other writer of prose whom Rome produced.] + +[Footnote 102: From Book I of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 103: Marcellus was the son of Octavia by her husband C. +Claudius Marcellus. He married Julia, a daughter of Augustus.] + +[Footnote 104: Agrippa was the leading administrative mind under +Augustus, with whom he had served in the Civil War and in the battle +Actium. The Pantheon, the only complete building of Imperial Rome that +still survives, was finished and dedicated by him. He married as his +third wife Julia, the widow of Marcellus.] + +[Footnote 105: Nola lay sixteen miles northeast of Naples. The +reference is to Drusus, son of Tiberius, and to Germanicus, at that +time commanding on the Rhine.] + +[Footnote 106: From Book III of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 107: This Agrippina was the daughter of Agrippa and Julia. +She married Germanicus, became the mother of Caligula, and was a woman +of lofty character, who died by voluntary starvation after having been +exiled by Tiberius.] + +[Footnote 108: It has been conjectured that the two children of +Germanicus here referred to were Caligula, who had gone to the East +with his father, and Julia, who was born in Lesbos.] + +[Footnote 109: These children were Nero, Drusus, Agrippina and +Drusilla.] + +[Footnote 110: Not the Emperor of that name, who was not born until +121 A.D.] + +[Footnote 111: Mother of Tiberius by a husband whom she had married +before she married Augustus.] + +[Footnote 112: Julia, daughter of Julius Cæsar by his wife Cornelia.] + +[Footnote 113: From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 114: Caius Piso, lender of an unsuccessful conspiracy +against Nero in 65. Other famous Romans of the name of Piso are +Lucius, censor, consul and author; another Lucius whose daughter was +married to Julius Cæsar; and Cneius, governor of Syria, who was +accused of murdering Germanicus.] + +[Footnote 115: Poppæa Sabina, who once was the wife of Otho and +mistress of Nero. She was afterward divorced from Otho and married to +Nero in 62 A.D. She died from the effects of a kick given by Nero.] + +[Footnote 116: From Book XV at the "Annals." The Oxford translator +revised.] + +[Footnote 117: Nero.] + +[Footnote 118: Suetonius relates that, when some one repeated to Nero +the line "When I am dead, let fire devour the world," he replied, "Let +it be whilst I am living." That author asserts that Nero's purpose +sprung in part from his dislike of old buildings and narrow streets. +During the progress of the fire several men of consular rank met +Nero's domestic servants with torches and combustibles which they were +using to start fires, but did not dare to stay their hands. Livy +asserts that, after it was destroyed by the Gauls, Rome had been +rebuilt with narrow winding streets.] + +[Footnote 119: A city in the central Apennines, six miles from Lake +Fucinus.] + +[Footnote 120: Near the Esquiline.] + +[Footnote 121: The house, gardens, baths and the Pantheon of Agrippa +are here referred to. Nero's gardens were near the Vatican.] + +[Footnote 122: The palace of Numa, on the Palatine hill, had been the +mansion of Augustus.] + +[Footnote 123: Carlyle, in his essay on Voltaire, refers to this +passage as having been "inserted as a small, transitory, altogether +trifling circumstance, in the history of such a potentate as Nero"; +but it has become "to us the most earnest, sad and sternly significant +passage that we know to exist in writing."] + +[Footnote 124: Claudius already had expelled the Jews from Rome and +included in their number the followers of Christ. But his edict was +not specifically directed against the Christians. Nero was the first +emperor who persecuted them as professors of a new faith.] + +[Footnote 125: From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Pliny, Josephus and Dio all agree that the Capitol was set on +fire by the followers of Vitellius.] + +[Footnote 126: Porsena did not actually get into Rome, being induced +to raise the siege when only at its gates.] + +[Footnote 127: The capture of Rome by the Gauls under Brennus took +place in 390 B.C. The destruction of the Capitol in the first Civil +War occurred in 83 B.C., during the consulship of Lucius Scipio and +Caius Norbaius. The fire was not started as an act of open violence, +however, but by clandestine incendiaries.] + +[Footnote 128: From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Near Cremona had been fought the first battle of Bedriacum by +the armies of Vitellius and Otho, rivals for the imperial throne, Otho +being defeated. A few months later on the same field the army of +Vitellius was overthrown by Vespasian, who succeeded him as emperor. +Vitellius retired to Cremona, which was then placed under siege by +Vespasian, and altho strongly fortified, captured.] + +[Footnote 129: Antonius Primus, the chief commander of Vespasian's +forces.] + +[Footnote 130: The modern Brescia.] + +[Footnote 131: According to Josephus 30,000 of the Vitellians perished +and 4,500 of the followers of Vespasian.] + +[Footnote 132: From the Oxford translation revised.] + +[Footnote 133: Caligula, not Caius Julius Cæsar, is here referred to, +he also having borne the name of Caius.] + +[Footnote 134: Now Marseilles, founded by Phoenicians, who +introduced, there a degree of Greek culture which long made the city +famous.] + +[Footnote 135: A brother of the Emperor Otho.] + +[Footnote 136: Agricola was Consul in 77 A.D., and had for colleague +Domitian, afterward Emperor.] + + + + +PLINY THE YOUNGER + + Born at Como, in 63 A.D.; died in 113; nephew of the elder + Pliny; Consul in 100; governor of Bithynia and Pontus in + 111; friend of Trajan and Tacitus; his letters and a eulogy + of Trajan alone among his writings have survived. + + +I + +OF THE CHRISTIANS IN HIS PROVINCE[137] + + +It is my invariable rule, Sir, to refer to you in all matters where I +feel doubtful; for who is more capable of removing my scruples, or +informing my ignorance? Having never been present at any trials +concerning those who profess Christianity, I am unacquainted not only +with the nature of their crimes, or the measure of their punishment, +but how far it is proper to enter into an examination concerning them. +Whether, therefore, any difference is usually made with respect to +ages, or no distinction is to be observed between the young and the +adult; whether repentance entitles them to a pardon; or if a man has +been once a Christian, it avails nothing to desist from his error; +whether the very profession of Christianity, unattended with any +criminal act, or only the crimes themselves inherent in the profession +are punishable; on all these points I am in great doubt. In the +meanwhile, the method I have observed toward those who have been +brought before me as Christians is this: I asked them whether they +were Christians; if they admitted it, I repeated the question twice, +and threatened them with punishment; if they persisted, I ordered them +to be at once punished: for I was persuaded whatever the nature of +their opinions might be, a contumacious and inflexible obstinacy +certainly deserved correction. There were others also brought before +me possest with the same infatuation, but being Roman citizens I +directed them to be sent to Rome. + +But this crime spreading (as is usually the case) while it was +actually under prosecution, several instances of the same nature +occurred. An anonymous information was laid before me, containing a +charge against several persons, who upon examination denied they were +Christians, or had ever been so. They repeated after me an invocation +to the gods, and offered religious rites with wine and incense before +your statue (which for that purpose I had ordered to be brought, +together with those of the gods), and even reviled the name of Christ: +whereas there is no forcing, it is said, those who are really +Christians into any of these compliances: I thought it proper, +therefore, to discharge them. Some among those who were accused by a +witness in person at first confest themselves Christians but +immediately after denied it; the rest owned indeed that they had been +of that number formerly, but had now (some above three, others more, +and a few above twenty years ago) renounced that error. They all +worshiped your statue and the images of the gods, uttering +imprecations at the same time against the name of Christ. They +affirmed the whole of their guilt of their error, was, that they met +on a stated day before it was light, and addrest a form of prayer to +Christ, as to a divinity, binding themselves by a solemn oath, not for +the purposes of any wicked design, but never to commit any fraud, +theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when +they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their +custom to separate, and then reassemble, to eat in common a harmless +meal. From this custom, however, they desisted after the publication +of my edict, by which, according to your commands, I forbade the +meeting of any assemblies. + +After receiving this account, I judged it so much the more necessary +to endeavor to extort the real truth by putting two female slaves to +the torture, who were said to officiate in their religious rites: but +all I could discover was evidence of an absurd and extravagant +superstition. I deemed it expedient, therefore, to adjourn all further +proceedings, in order to consult you. For it appears to be a matter +highly deserving your consideration, more especially as great numbers +must be involved in the danger of these prosecutions, which have +already extended, and are still likely to extend, to persons of all +ranks and ages, and even of both sexes. In fact, this contagious +superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its +infection among the neighboring villages and country. Nevertheless, it +still seems possible to restrain its progress. The temples, at least, +which were once almost deserted, begin now to be frequented; and the +sacred rites, after a long intermission, are again revived; while +there is a general demand for the victims, which till lately found +very few purchasers. From all this it is easy to conjecture what +numbers might be reclaimed if a general pardon were granted to those +who shall repent of their error.[138] + + + + +II + +TO TACITUS ON THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS[139] + +(79 A.D.) + + +Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's[140] +death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity, +deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated +by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered +forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, +which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in +ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an +everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed many +and lasting works; yet I am persuaded the mentioning of him in your +immortal writings will greatly contribute to render his name immortal. + +He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.[141] +On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother desired +him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size and +shape. He had just taken a turn in the sun, and, after bathing +himself in cold water, and making a light luncheon, gone back to his +books: he immediately arose and went out upon a rising ground from +whence he might get a better sight of this very uncommon appearance. A +cloud, from which mountain was uncertain, at this distance (but it was +found afterward to come from Mount Vesuvius),[142] was ascending, the +appearance of which I can not give you a more exact description of +than by likening it to that of a pine-tree, for it shot up to a great +height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at +the top into a sort of branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a +sudden gust of air that impelled it, the force of which decreased as +it advanced upward, or the cloud itself being prest back again by its +own weight, expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it appeared +sometimes bright and sometimes dark and spotted according as it was +either more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This +phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and research as my uncle +extraordinary and worth further looking into. He ordered a light +vessel to be got ready, and gave me leave, if I liked, to accompany +him. I said I had rather go on with my work; and it so happened he had +himself given me something to write out. + +As he was coming out of the house, he received a note from Rectina, +the wife of Bassus, who was in the utmost alarm at the imminent danger +which threatened her; for her villa lying at the foot of Mount +Vesuvius, there was no way of escape but by sea; she earnestly +entreated him therefore to come to her assistance. He accordingly +changed his first intention and what he had begun from a +philosophical, he now carries out in a noble and generous spirit. He +ordered the galleys to put to sea and went himself on board with an +intention of assisting not only Rectina but the several other towns +which lay thickly strewn along that beautiful coast. Hastening then to +the place from whence others fled with the utmost terror, he steered +his course direct to the point of danger, and with so much calmness +and presence of mind as to be able to make and dictate his +observations upon the motion and all the phenomena of that dreadful +scene. He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which +grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships, +together with pumice stones, and black pieces of burning rock: they +were in danger too not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of +the sea, but also from the vast fragments which rolled down from the +mountains, and obstructed all the shore. Here he stopt to consider +whether he should turn back again; to which the pilot advising him, +"Fortune," said he, "favors the brave; steer to where Pomponianus is." +Pomponianus was then at Stabiæ,[143] separated by a bay, which the +sea, after several insensible windings, forms with the shore. He had +already sent his baggage on board; for tho he was not at that time in +actual danger, yet being within sight of it, and indeed extremely +near, if it should in the least increase, he was determined to put to +sea as soon as the wind, which was blowing dead in-shore, should go +down. + +It was favorable, however, for carrying my uncle to Pomponianus, whom +he found in the greatest consternation: he embraced him tenderly, +encouraging and urging him to keep up his spirits, and the more +effectually to soothe his fears by seeming unconcerned himself, +ordered a bath to be got ready, and then, after having bathed, sat +down to supper with great cheerfulness, or at least (what is just as +heroic) with every appearance of it. Meanwhile broad flames shone out +in several places from Mount Vesuvius, which the darkness of the night +contributed to render still brighter and clearer. But my uncle, in +order to soothe the apprehensions of his friend, assured him it was +only the burning of the villages, which the country people had +abandoned to the flames: after this he retired to rest, and it is most +certain he was so little disquieted as to fall into a sound sleep: for +his breathing, which, on account of his corpulence, was rather heavy +and sonorous, was heard by the attendants outside. The court which led +to his apartment being now almost filled with stones and ashes, if he +had continued there any time longer, it would have been impossible for +him to have made his way out. So he was awoke and got up, and went to +Pomponianus and the rest of his company, who were feeling too anxious +to think of going to bed. They consulted together whether it would be +most prudent to trust to the houses, which now rocked from side to +side with frequent and violent concussions as tho shaken from their +very foundations; or fly to the open fields, where the calcined stones +and cinders, tho light indeed yet fell in large showers, and +threatened destruction. In this choice of dangers they resolved for +the fields: a resolution which, while the rest of the company were +hurried into by their fears, my uncle embraced upon cool and +deliberate consideration. They went out then, having pillows tied upon +their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the +storm of stones that fell round them. + +It was now day everywhere else, but there a deeper darkness prevailed +than in the thickest night; which however was in some degree +alleviated by torches and other lights of various kinds. They thought +proper to go farther down upon the shore to see if they might safely +put out to sea, but found the waves still running extremely high, and +boisterous. There my uncle, laying himself down upon a sail-cloth, +which was spread for him, called twice for some cold water, which he +drank, when immediately the flames, preceded by a strong whiff of +sulfur, dispersed the rest of the party, and obliged him to rise. He +raised himself up with the assistance of two of his servants, and +instantly fell down dead; suffocated, as I conjecture, by some gross +and noxious vapor, having always had a weak throat, which was often +inflamed. As soon as it was light again, which was not till the third +day after this melancholy accident, his body was found entire, and +without any marks of violence upon it, in the dress in which he fell, +and looking more like a man asleep than dead.... + +My uncle having left us,[144] I spent such time as was left on my +studies (it was on their account indeed that I had stopt behind), till +it was time for my bath. After which I went to supper, and then fell +into a short and uneasy sleep. There had been noticed for many days +before a trembling of the earth, which did not alarm us much, as this +is quite an ordinary occurrence in Campania; but it was so +particularly violent that night that it not only shook but actually +overturned, as it would seem, everything about us. My mother rushed +into my chamber, where she found me rising, in order to awaken her. We +sat down in the open court of the house, which occupied a small space +between the buildings and the sea. As I was at that time but eighteen +years of age, I know not whether I should call my behavior, in this +dangerous juncture, courage or folly; but I took up Livy, and amused +myself with turning over that author, and even making extracts from +him, as if I had been perfectly at my leisure. Just then, a friend of +my uncle's, who had lately come to him from Spain, joined us, and +observing me sitting by my mother with a book in my hand, reproved her +for her calmness, and me at the same time for my careless security: +nevertheless I went on with my author. + +Tho it was now morning, the light was still exceedingly faint and +doubtful; the buildings all around us tottered, and tho we stood upon +open ground, yet as the place was narrow and confined, there was no +remaining without imminent danger: we therefore resolved to quit the +town. + +A panic-stricken crowd followed us, and (as to a mind distracted with +terror every suggestion seems more prudent than its own) prest on us +in dense array to drive us forward as we came out. Being at a +convenient distance from the houses, we stood still, in the midst of a +most dangerous and dreadful scene. The chariots which we had ordered +to be drawn out, were so agitated backward and forward, tho upon the +most level ground, that we could not keep them steady, even by +supporting them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon +itself, and to be driven from its banks by the convulsive motion of +the earth; it is certain at least the shore was considerably enlarged, +and several sea animals were left upon it. On the other side, a black +and dreadful cloud, broken with rapid, zigzag flashes, revealed behind +it variously shaped masses of flame: these last were like +sheet-lightning, but much larger. Upon this our Spanish friend, whom I +mentioned above, addressing himself to my mother and me with great +energy and urgency: "If your brother," he said, "if your uncle be +safe, he certainly wishes you may be so too; but if he perished, it +was his desire, no doubt, that you might both survive him: why +therefore do you delay your escape a moment?" We could never think of +our own safety, we said, while we were uncertain of his. Upon this our +friend left us, and withdrew from the danger with the utmost +precipitation. Soon afterward, the cloud began to descend, and cover +the sea. It had already surrounded and concealed the island of +Capreæ.[145] + +My mother now besought, urged, even commanded me to make my escape at +any rate, which, as I was young, I might easily do; as for herself, +she said, her age and corpulency rendered all attempts of that sort +impossible; however she would willingly meet death if she could have +the satisfaction of seeing that she was not the occasion of mine. But +I absolutely refused to leave her, and, taking her by the hand, +compelled her to go with me. She complied with great reluctance, and +not without many reproaches to herself for retarding my flight. The +ashes now began to fall upon us, tho in no great quantity. I looked +back; a dense dark mist seemed to be following us, spreading itself +over the country like a cloud. "Let us turn out of the high-road," I +said, "while we can still see, for fear that, should we fall in the +road, we should be prest to death in the dark, by the crowds that are +following us." We had scarcely sat down when night came upon us, not +such as we have when the sky is cloudy, or when there is no moon, but +that of a room when it is shut up, and all the lights put out. You +might hear the shrieks of women, the screams of children, and the +shouts of men; some calling for their children, others for their +parents, others for their husbands, and seeking to recognize each +other by the voices that replied; one lamenting his own fate, another +that of his family; some wishing to die, from the very fear of dying; +some lifting their hands to the gods; but the greater part convinced +that there were now no gods at all, and that the final endless night +of which we have heard had come upon the world. Among these there +were some who augmented the real terrors by others imaginary or +wilfully invented. I remember some who declared that one part of +Misenum had fallen, that another was on fire; it was false, but they +found people to believe them. It now grew rather lighter, which we +imagined to be rather the forerunner of an approaching burst of flames +(as in truth it was) than the return of day: however, the fire fell at +a distance from us: then again we were immersed in thick darkness, and +a heavy shower of ashes rained upon us, which we were obliged every +now and then to stand up to shake off, otherwise we should have been +crusht and buried in the heap. + +I might boast that, during all this scene of horror, not a sigh, or +expression of fear, escaped me, had not my support been grounded in +that miserable, tho mighty, consolation, that all mankind were +involved in the same calamity and that I was perishing with the world +itself. At last this dreadful darkness was dissipated by degrees, like +a cloud or smoke; the real day returned, and even the sun shone out, +tho with a lurid light, like when an eclipse is coming on. Every +object that presented itself to our eyes (which were extremely +weakened) seemed changed, being covered deep with ashes as if with +snow. My mother and I, notwithstanding the danger we had passed, and +that which still threatened us, had no thoughts of leaving the place, +till we could receive some news of my uncle. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 137: Addrest to the Emperor Trajan while proconsul in Pontus +and Bithynia. The Melmoth translation revised by Bosanquet. This +letter and the passage in Tacitus printed elsewhere in this volume, +are the only genuine contemporary references to the early Christians +to be found in ancient writings. Pliny's letter was preserved by the +Christians themselves as evidence of the purity of their faith and +practises. Early writers of the Church frequently appeal to it against +calumniators. It was written within forty years of the death of St. +Paul.] + +[Footnote 138: Trajan's reply to this letter was as follows: "You have +adopted the right course, my dearest Secundus, in investigating the +charges against the Christians who were brought before you. It is not +possible to lay down any general rule for all such cases. Do not go +out of your way to look for them. If indeed they should be brought +before you, and the crime is proved, they must be punished; with the +restriction, however, that where the party denies he is a Christian, +and shall make it evident that he is not, by invoking our gods, let +him (notwithstanding any former suspicion) be pardoned upon his +repentance. Anonymous information ought not to be received in any sort +of prosecution. It is introducing a very dangerous precedent and is +quite foreign to the spirit of our age."] + +[Footnote 139: The translation of William Melmoth, revised by F. C. T. +Bosanquet. Pliny wrote two letters to Tacitus on this subject, each at +the request of the historian. Both are given here.] + +[Footnote 140: Pliny the elder was his uncle.] + +[Footnote 141: In the Bay of Naples.] + +[Footnote 142: About six miles distant from Naples. This eruption of +Vesuvius, in which Herculaneum and Pompeii were buried, happened A.D. +79, in the first year of the emperor Titus.] + +[Footnote 143: Now called Castellammare, in the Bay of Naples, about +fifteen miles southeast of the city of Naples.] + +[Footnote 144: The paragraphs from this point to the end are from +Pliny's second letter to Tacitus.] + +[Footnote 145: The island near Naples, now called Capri.] + + + + +SUETONIUS + + Lived in the first half of the second century A.D.; + biographer and historian; private secretary of the emperor + Hadrian about 119-121; a friend of the younger Pliny, whom + he accompanied to Bithynia in 112; wrote several works, of + which only His "Lives of the Twelve Cæsars" have survived. + + +I + +THE LAST DAYS OF AUGUSTUS[146] + +(14 A.D.) + + +His death, of which I shall now speak, and his subsequent deification, +were intimated by divers manifest prodigies. As he was finishing the +census amidst a great crowd of people in the Campus Martius, an eagle +hovered round him several times, and then directed its course to a +neighboring temple, where it settled upon the name of Agrippa, and at +the first letter. Upon observing this, he ordered his colleague +Tiberius to put up the vows, which it is usual to make on such +occasions, for the succeeding Lustrum. For he declared he would not +meddle with what it was probable he should never accomplish, tho the +tables were ready drawn for it. About the same time, the first letter +of his name, in an inscription upon one of his statues, was struck out +by lightning; which was interpreted as a presage that he would live +only a hundred days longer, the letter C denoting that number; and +that he would be placed among the gods as Æsar, which in the remaining +part of the word Cæsar, signifies, in the Tuscan language, a god. +Being, therefore, about dispatching Tiberius to Illyricum, and +designing to go with him as far as Beneventum, but being detained by +several persons who applied to him respecting causes they had +depending, he cried out (and it was afterward regarded as an omen of +his death), "Not all the business in the world shall detain me at Rome +one moment longer"; and setting out upon his journey, he went as far +as Astura, whence, contrary to his custom, he put to sea in the +night-time, as there was a favorable wind. + +His malady proceeded from diarrhea; notwithstanding which, he went +round the coast of Campania, and the adjacent islands, and spent four +days in that of Capri; where he gave himself up entirely to repose and +relaxation. Happening to sail by the bay of Puteoli,[147] the +passengers and mariners aboard a ship of Alexandria, just then +arrived, clad all in white, with chaplets upon their heads, and +offering incense, loaded him with praises and joyful acclamations, +crying out, "By you we live, by you we sail securely, by you enjoy our +liberty and our fortunes." At which being greatly pleased, he +distributed to each of those who attended him, forty gold pieces, +requiring from them an assurance on oath, not to employ the sum given +them in any other way than the purchase of Alexandrian merchandise. +And during several days afterward, he distributed Togæ and Pallia, +among other gifts, on condition that the Romans should use the Greek +and the Greeks the Roman dress and language. He likewise constantly +attended to see the boys perform their exercises, according to an +ancient custom still continued at Capri. He gave them likewise an +entertainment in his presence, and not only permitted, but required +from them the utmost freedom in jesting, and scrambling for fruit, +victuals, and other things which he threw among them. In a word, he +indulged himself in all the ways of amusement he could contrive.... + +Upon the day of his death, he now and then inquired if there was any +disturbance in the town on his account; and calling for a mirror, he +ordered his hair to be combed, and his shrunk cheeks to be adjusted. +Then asking his friends who were admitted into the room, "Do ye think +that I have acted my part on the stage of life well?" he immediately +subjoined, + + "If all be right, with joy your voices raise, + In loud applauses to the actor's praise." + +After which, having dismissed them all, whilst he was inquiring of +some persons who were just arrived from Rome, concerning Drusus's +daughter, who was in a bad state of health, he expired suddenly, +amidst the kisses of Livia, and with these words: "Livia! live mindful +of our union; and now, farewell!" dying a very easy death, and such as +he himself had always wished for. For as often as he heard that any +person had died quickly and without pain, he wished for himself and +his friends the like _euthanasia_ (an easy death), for that was the +word he made use of. He betrayed but one symptom, before he breathed +his last, of being delirious, which was this: he was all on a sudden +much frightened, and complained that he was carried away by forty men. +But this was rather a presage, than any delirium: for precisely that +number of soldiers, belonging to the prætorian cohort, carried out his +corpse. + +He expired in the same room in which his father Octavius had died, +when the two Sextus's, Pompey and Apuleius, were Consuls, upon the +fourteenth of the calends of September [the 19th August], at the ninth +hour of the day, being seventy-six years of age, wanting only +thirty-five days. His remains were carried by the magistrates of the +municipal towns and colonies, from Nola to Bovillæ,[148] and in the +night-time because of the season of the year. During the intervals, +the body lay in some basilica, or great temple, of each town. At +Bovillæ it was met by the Equestrian Order, who carried it to the +city, and deposited it in the vestibule of his own house. The senate +proceeded with so much zeal in the arrangement of his funeral, and +paying honor to his memory, that, among several other proposals, some +were for having the funeral procession made through the triumphal +gate, preceded by the image of Victory which is in the senate-house, +and the children of highest rank and of both sexes singing the funeral +dirge. Others proposed, that on the day of the funeral, they should +lay aside their gold rings, and wear rings of iron; and others, that +his bones should be collected by the priests of the principal +colleges. One likewise proposed to transfer the name of August to +September, because he was born in the latter, but died in the former. +Another moved, that the whole period of time, from his birth to his +death, should be called the Augustan age, and be inserted in the +calendar under that title. But at last it was judged proper to be +moderate in the honors paid to his memory. Two funeral orations were +pronounced in his praise, one before the temple of Julius, by +Tiberius; and the other before the rostra, under the old shops, by +Drusus, Tiberius's son. The body was then carried upon the shoulders +of senators into the Campus Martius, and there burned. A man of +prætorian rank affirmed upon oath, that he saw his spirit ascend from +the funeral pile to heaven. The most distinguished persons of the +equestrian order, barefooted, and with their tunics loose, gathered up +his relics, and deposited them in the mausoleum[149] which had been +built in his sixth consulship between the Flaminian Way and the bank +of the Tiber; at which time likewise he gave the groves and walks +about it for the use of the people. + + + + +II + +THE GOOD DEEDS OF NERO[150] + + +He was seventeen years of age at the death of that prince,[151] and as +soon as that event was made public, he went out to the cohort on guard +between the hours of six and seven; for the omens were so disastrous, +that no earlier time of the day was judged proper. On the steps before +the palace gate, he was unanimously saluted by the soldiers as their +emperor, and then carried in a litter to the camp; thence, after +making a short speech to the troops, into the senate-house, where he +continued until the evening; of all the immense honors which were +heaped upon him, refusing none but the title of FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY, +on account of his youth. + +He began his reign with an ostentation of dutiful regard to the memory +of Claudius, whom he buried with the utmost pomp and magnificence, +pronouncing the funeral oration himself, and then had him enrolled +among the gods. He paid likewise the highest honors to the memory of +his father Domitius. He left the management of affairs, both public +and private, to his mother. The word which he gave the first day of +his reign to the tribune on guard was, "The Best of Mothers," and +afterward he frequently appeared with her in the streets of Rome in +her litter. He settled a colony at Antium,[152] in which he placed +the veteran soldiers belonging to the guards; and obliged several of +the richest centurions of the first rank to transfer their residence +to that place; where he likewise made a noble harbor at a prodigious +expense. + +To establish still further his character, he declared, "that he +designed to govern according to the model of Augustus"; and omitted no +opportunity of showing his generosity, clemency, and complaisance. The +more burdensome taxes he either entirely took off, or diminished. The +rewards appointed for informers by the Papian law, he reduced to a +fourth part, and distributed to the people four hundred sesterces a +man. To the noblest of the senators who were much reduced in their +circumstances, he granted annual allowances, in some cases as much as +five hundred thousand sesterces; and to the prætorian cohorts a +monthly allowance of corn gratis. When called upon to subscribe the +sentence, according to custom, of a criminal condemned to die, "I +wish," said he, "I had never learned to read and write." He +continually saluted people of the several orders by name, without a +prompter. When the senate returned him their thanks for his good +government, he replied to them, "It will be time enough to do so when +I shall have deserved it." He admitted the common people to see him +perform his exercises in the Campus Martius. He frequently declaimed +in public, and recited verses of his own composing, not only at home, +but in the theater; so much to the joy of all the people, that public +prayers were appointed to be put up to the gods upon that account; and +the verses which had been publicly read, were, after being written in +gold letters, consecrated to Jupiter Capitolinus. + +He presented the people with a great number and variety of spectacles, +as the Juvenal and Circensian games, stage-plays, and an exhibition of +gladiators. In the Juvenal, he even admitted senators and aged matrons +to perform parts. In the Circensian games, he assigned the equestrian +order seats apart from the rest of the people, and had races performed +by chariots drawn each by four camels. In the games which he +instituted for the eternal duration of the empire, and therefore +ordered to be called _Maximi_, many of the senatorian and equestrian +order, of both sexes, performed. A distinguished Roman knight +descended on the stage by a rope, mounted on an elephant. A Roman +play, likewise, composed by Afranius, was brought upon the stage. It +was entitled, "The Fire"; and in it the performers were allowed to +carry off, and to keep to themselves, the furniture of the house, +which as the plot of the play required, was burned down in the +theater. Every day during the solemnity, many thousand articles of all +descriptions were thrown among the people to scramble for; such as +fowls of different kinds, tickets for corn, clothes, gold, silver, +gems, pearls, pictures, slaves, beasts of burden, wild beasts that had +been tamed; at last, ships, lots of houses, and lands, Were offered as +prizes in a lottery. + +These games he beheld from the front of the proscenium. In the show +of gladiators, which he exhibited in a wooden amphitheater, built +within a year in the district of the Campus Martius, he ordered that +none should be slain, not even the condemned criminals employed in the +combats. He secured four hundred senators, and six hundred Roman +knights, among whom were some of unbroken fortunes and unblemished +reputation, to act as gladiators. From the same orders, he engaged +persons to encounter wild beasts, and for various other services in +the theater. He presented the public with the representation of a +naval fight, upon sea-water, with huge fishes swimming in it; as also +with the Pyrrhic dance, performed by certain youths, to each of whom, +after the performance was over, he granted the freedom of Rome. During +this diversion, a bull covered Pasiphaë, concealed within a wooden +statue of a cow, as many of the spectators believed. Icarus, upon his +first attempt to fly, fell on the stage close to the emperor's +pavilion, and bespattered him with blood. For he very seldom presided +in the games, but used to view them reclining on a couch, at first +through some narrow apertures, but afterward with the _Podium_ quite +open. He was the first who instituted, in imitation of the Greeks, a +trial of skill in the three several exercises of music, wrestling, and +horse-racing, to be performed at Rome every five years, and which he +called Neronia. Upon the dedication of his bath[153] and gymnasium, he +furnished the senate and the equestrian order with oil. He appointed +as judges of the trial men of consular rank, chosen by lot, who eat +with the prætors. At this time he went down into the orchestra among +the senators, and received the crown for the best performance in Latin +prose and verse for which several persons of the greatest merit +contended, but they unanimously yielded to him. The crown for the best +performer on the harp; being likewise awarded to him by the judges, he +devoutly saluted it, and ordered it to be carried to the statue of +Augustus. In the gymnastic exercises, which he presented in the Septa, +while they were preparing the great sacrifice of an ox, he shaved his +beard for the first time, and putting it up in a casket of gold +studded with pearls of great price, consecrated it to Jupiter +Capitolinus. He invited the Vestal Virgins to see the wrestlers +perform, because, at Olympia, the priestesses of Ceres are allowed the +privilege of witnessing that exhibition.... + +Twice only he undertook any foreign expeditions, one to Alexandria, +and the other to Achaia; but he abandoned the prosecution of the +former on the very day fixt for his departure, by being deterred both +by ill omens, and the hazard of the voyage. For while he was making +the circuit of the temples, having seated himself in that of Vesta, +when he attempted to rise, the skirt of his robe stuck fast; and he +was instantly seized with such a dimness in his eyes, that he could +not see a yard before him. In Achaia, he attempted to make a cut +through the Isthmus;[154] and, having made a speech encouraging his +pretorians to set about the work, on a signal given by sound of +trumpet, he first broke ground with a spade, and carried off a +basketful of earth upon his shoulders. He made preparations for an +expedition to the Pass of the Caspian mountains, forming a new legion +out of his late levies in Italy, of men all six feet high, which he +called the phalanx of Alexander the Great. These transactions, in part +unexceptionable, and in part highly commendable, I have brought into +one view, in order to separate them from the scandalous and criminal +part of his conduct. + + + + +III + +THE DEATH OF NERO[155] + +(68 A.D.) + + +He was terrified with manifest warnings, both old and new, arising +from dreams, auspices, and omens. He had never been used to dream +before the murder of his mother. After that event, he fancied in his +sleep that he was steering a ship, and that the rudder was forced from +him: that he was dragged by his wife Octavia into a prodigiously dark +place; and was at one time covered over with a vast swarm of winged +ants, and at another, surrounded by the national images which were set +up near Pompey's theater, and hindered from advancing farther; that a +Spanish jennet he was fond of, had his hinder parts so changed as to +resemble those of an ape; and that having his head only left +unaltered, he neighed very harmoniously. The doors of the mausoleum of +Augustus flying open of themselves, there issued from it a voice, +calling on him by name. The Lares being adorned with fresh garlands on +the calends (the first) of January, fell down during the preparations +for sacrificing to them. While he was taking the omens, Sporus +presented him with a ring, the stone of which had carved upon it the +Rape of Proserpine. When a great multitude of several orders was +assembled, to attend at the solemnity of making vows to the gods, it +was a long time before the keys of the Capitol could be found. And +when, in a speech of his to the senate against Vindex, these words +were read, "that the miscreants should be punished and soon make the +end they merited," they all cried out, "You will do it, Augustus." It +was likewise remarked, that the last tragic piece which he sung, was +OEdipus in Exile, and that he fell as he was repeating this verse: + + "Wife, mother, father, force me to my end." + +Meanwhile, on the arrival of the news that the rest of the armies had +declared against him, he tore to piece the letters which were +delivered to him at dinner, overthrew the table, and dashed with +violence against the ground two favorite cups, which he called +Homer's, because some of that poet's verses were cut upon them. Then +taking from Locusta a dose of poison, which he put up in a golden box, +he went into the Servilian gardens, and thence dispatching a trusty +freedman to Ostia, with orders to make ready a fleet, he endeavored to +prevail with some tribunes and centurions of the prætorian guards to +attend him in his flight; but part of them showing no great +inclination to comply, others absolutely refusing, and one of them +crying out aloud, + + "Say, is it then so sad a thing to die?" + +he was in great perplexity whether he should submit himself to +Galba,[156] or apply to the Parthians for protection, or else appear +before the people drest in mourning, and, upon the rostra, in the most +piteous manner, beg pardon for his past misdemeanors, and, if he could +not prevail, request of them to grant him at least the government of +Egypt. A speech to this purpose was afterward found in his +writing-case. But it is conjectured that he durst not venture upon +this project, for fear of being torn to pieces, before he could get to +the forum. + +Deferring, therefore, his resolution until the next day, he awoke +about midnight, and finding the guards withdrawn, he leapt out of bed, +and sent round for his friends. But none of them vouchsafing any +message in reply, he went with a few attendants to their houses. The +doors being everywhere shut, and no one giving him any answer, he +returned to his bed-chamber; whence those who had the charge of it had +all now eloped; some having gone one way, and some another, carrying +off with them his bedding and box of poison. He then endeavored to +find Spicillus, the gladiator, or some one to kill him; but not being +able to procure any one, "What!" said he, "have I then neither friend +nor foe?" and immediately ran out, as if he would throw himself into +the Tiber. + +But this furious impulse subsiding, he wished for some place of +privacy, where he might collect his thoughts; and his freedman Phaon +offering him his country-house, between the Salarian and Nomentan +roads, about four miles from the city, he mounted a horse, barefoot as +he was, and in his tunic, only slipping over it an old soiled cloak; +with his head muffled up, and a handkerchief before his face, and four +persons only to attend him, of whom Sporus was one. He was suddenly +struck with horror by an earthquake, and by a flash of lightning which +darted full in his face, and heard from the neighboring camp the +shouts of the soldiers, wishing his destruction, and prosperity to +Galba. He also heard a traveler they met on the road, say, "They are +in pursuit of Nero": and another ask, "Is there any news in the city +about Nero?" Uncovering his face when his horse was started by the +scent of a carcass which lay in the road, he was recognized and +saluted by an old soldier who had been discharged from the guards. +When they came to the lane which turned up to the house, they quitted +their horses, and with much difficulty he wound among bushes and +briars, and along a track through a bed of rushes, over which they +spread their cloaks for him to walk on. Having reached a wall at the +back of the villa, Phaon advised him to hide himself a while in a +sand-pit; when he replied, "I will not go underground alive." Staying +there some little time, while preparations were made for bringing him +privately into the villa, he took up some water out of a neighboring +tank in his hand, to drink, saying, "This is Nero's distilled water." +Then his cloak having been torn by the brambles, he pulled out the +thorns which stuck in it. At last, being admitted, creeping upon his +hands and knees, through a hole made for him in the wall, he lay down +in the first closet he came to, upon a miserable pallet, with an old +coverlet thrown over it; and being both hungry and thirsty, tho he +refused some coarse bread that was brought him, he drank a little warm +water. + +All who surrounded him now pressing him to save himself from the +indignities which were ready to befall him, he ordered a pit to be +sunk before his eyes, of the size of his body, and the bottom to be +covered with pieces of marble put together, if any could be found +about the house; and water and wood to be got ready for immediate use +about his corpse; weeping at everything that was done, and frequently +saying, "What an artist is now about to perish!" Meanwhile, letters +being brought in by a servant belonging to Phaon, he snatched them out +of his hand, and there read, "That he had been declared an enemy by +the senate, and that search was making for him, that he might be +punished according to the ancient custom of the Romans." He then +inquired what kind of punishment that was; and being told, that the +practise was to strip the criminal naked, and scourge him to death +while his neck was fastened within a forked stake, he was so +terrified that he took up two daggers which he had brought with him, +and after feeling the points of both, put them up again, saying, "The +fatal hour is not yet come." One while, he begged of Sporus to begin +to wail and lament; another while, he entreated that one of them would +set him an example by killing himself; and then again, he condemned +his own want of resolution in these words: "I yet live to my shame and +disgrace: this is not becoming for Nero: it is not becoming. Thou +oughtest in such circumstances to have a good heart: Come then: +courage, man!" The horsemen who had received orders to bring him away +alive, were now approaching the house. As soon as he heard them +coming, he uttered with a trembling voice the following verse, + + "The noise of swift-heel'd steeds assails my ears"; + +he drove a dagger into his throat, being assisted in the act by +Epaphroditus,[157] his secretary. A centurion bursting in just as he +was half-dead, and applying his cloak to the wound, pretending that he +was come to his assistance, he made no other reply but this, "'Tis too +late"; and "Is this your loyalty?" Immediately after pronouncing these +words, he expired, with his eyes fixt and starting out of his head, to +the terror of all who beheld him.... + +In stature he was a little below the common height; his skin was foul +and spotted; his hair inclined to yellow; his features were agreeable, +rather than handsome; his eyes gray and dull, his neck was thick, his +belly prominent, his legs very slender, his constitution sound. For, +tho excessively luxurious in his mode of living, he had, in the course +of fourteen years, only three fits of sickness; which were so slight, +that he neither forbore the use of wine, nor made any alteration in +his usual diet. In his dress, and the care of his person, he was so +careless, that he had his hair cut in rings, one above another; and +when in Achaia, he let it grow long behind; and he generally appeared +in public in the loose dress which he used at table, with a +handkerchief about his neck and without either a girdle or shoes. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 146: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 147: Now Pozzuoli, which fronts on the bay, seven miles west +of Naples. It still has ruins of an amphitheater, 482 feet by 384 in +size. In Roman times it was as important commercial city.] + +[Footnote 148: Bovillæ is now known as Frattochio. It stands on the +Appian Way, about nineteen miles from Rome.] + +[Footnote 149: This mausoleum was of white marble rising in terraces +to a great height, and was crowned by a dome on which stood a statue +of Augustus. Marcellus was the first person buried there. Its site was +near the present Porta del Popolo.] + +[Footnote 150: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 151: The Emperor Claudius.] + +[Footnote 152: Nero was born in Antium, distant from Rome about +thirty-eight miles. The Apollo Belvidere was found among its ruins.] + +[Footnote 153: These baths stood west of the Pantheon. Altho of great +extent, no remains of them now exist.] + +[Footnote 154: This scheme, which was a favorite one of many Roman +emperors and even of Julius Cæsar, was not realized until our time. +The Corinth canal was completed in 1893.] + +[Footnote 155: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 156: The Roman general, then leader of the revolt against +Nero, who was afterward proclaimed Emperor.] + +[Footnote 157: Epaphroditus was the master of Epictetus, the Stoic +philosopher, before his freedom.] + + + + +MARCUS AURELIUS + + Born in Rome in 121 A.D.; died in 180; celebrated as emperor + and Stoic philosopher; a nephew of Antoninus Pius, whom he + succeeded as emperor, with Lucius Verus; after the death of + Verus in 169 became sole emperor; his reign notable for + wisdom and the happiness of the Roman people; wrote his + "Meditations" in Greek; a bronze equestrian statue of him in + Rome is the finest extant specimen of ancient bronze. + + +HIS DEBT TO OTHERS[158] + + +1. From my grandfather Verus[159] [I learned] good morals and the +government of my temper. + +2. From the reputation and remembrance of my father,[160] modesty and +a manly character. + +3. From my mother,[161] piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not +only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and, further, +simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the +rich. + +4. From my great-grandfather,[162] not to have frequented public +schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on +such things a man should spend liberally. + +5. From my governor, to be neither of the green nor of the blue party +at the games in the circus, nor a partizan either of the Parmularius +or the Scutarius at the gladiators' fights; from him too I learned +endurance of labor and to want little, and to work with my own hands, +and not to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to +listen to slander. + +6. From Diognetus,[163] not to busy myself about trifling things, and +not to give credit to what was said by miracle-workers and jugglers +about incantations and the driving away of demons and such things; and +not to breed quails [for fighting], not to give myself up passionately +to such things; and to endure freedom of speech; and to have become +intimate with philosophy; and to have been a hearer, first of +Bacchius, then of Tandasis and Marcianus; and to have written dialogs +in my youth; and to have desired a plank bed and skin, and whatever +else of the kind belongs to the Grecian discipline. + +7. From Rusticus[164] I received the impression that my character +required improvement and discipline; and from him I learned not to be +led astray to sophistic emulation, nor to writing on speculative +matters, nor to delivering little hortatory orations, nor to showing +myself off as a man who practises much discipline, or does benevolent +acts in order to make a display; and to abstain from rhetoric, and +poetry, and fine writing; and not to walk about in the house in my +outdoor dress, nor to do other things of the kind; and to write my +letters with simplicity, like the letter which Rusticus wrote from +Sinuessa to my mother; and with respect to those who have offended me +by words, or done me wrong, to be easily disposed to be pacified and +reconciled, as soon as they have shown a readiness to be reconciled; +and to read carefully, and not to be satisfied with a superficial +understanding of a book; not hastily to give my assent to those who +talk overmuch; and I am indebted to him for being acquainted with the +discourses of Epictetus. + +8. From Apollonius[165] I learned freedom of will and undeviating +steadiness of purpose; and to look to nothing else, not even for a +moment, except to reason; and to be always the same, in sharp pains, +on the occasion of the loss of a child, and in long illness; and to +see clearly in a living example that the same man can be both most +resolute and yielding, and not peevish in giving his instruction; and +to have had before my eyes a man who clearly considered his experience +and his skill in expounding philosophical principles as the smallest +of his merits; and from him I learned how to receive from friends what +are esteemed favors, without being either humbled by them or letting +them pass unnoticed. + +9. From Sextus,[166] a benevolent disposition, and the example of a +family governed in a fatherly manner, and the idea of living +conformably to nature; and gravity without affectation, and to look +carefully after the interests of friends, and to tolerate ignorant +persons and those who form opinions without consideration: he had the +power of readily accommodating himself to all, so that intercourse +with him was more agreeable than any flattery; and at the same time he +was most highly venerated by those who associated with him; and he had +the faculty both of discovering and ordering, in an intelligent +methodical way, the principles necessary for life; and he never showed +anger or any other passion, but was entirely free from passion, and +also most affectionate; and he could express approbation without noisy +display, and he possessed much knowledge without ostentation. + +10. From Alexander[167] the grammarian, to refrain from fault-finding, +and not in a reproachful way to chide those who uttered any barbarous +or solecistic or strange-sounding expression; but dexterously to +introduce the very expression which ought to have been used, and in +the way of answer or giving confirmation, or joining in an inquiry +about the thing itself, not about the word, or by some other fit +suggestion. + +11. From Fronto[168] I learned to observe what envy, and duplicity, +and hypocrisy are in a tyrant, and that generally those among us who +are called Patricians are rather deficient in paternal affection. + +12. From Alexander the Platonic, not frequently nor without necessity +to say to any one, or to write in a letter, that I have no leisure; +nor continually to excuse the neglect of duties required by our +relation to those with whom we live, by alleging urgent occupations. + +13. From Catulus,[169] not to be indifferent when a friend finds +fault, even if he should find fault without reason, but to try to +restore him to his usual disposition; and to be ready to speak well of +teachers, as it is reported of Domitius and Athenodotus; and to love +my children truly. + +14. From my brother Severus, to love my kin, and to love truth, and to +love justice; and through him I learned to know Thrasea, Helvidius, +Cato, Dion, Brutus; and from him I received the idea of a polity in +which there is the same law for all, a polity administered with regard +to equal rights and equal freedom of speech, and the idea of a kingly +government which respects most of all the freedom of the governed; I +learned from him also consistency and undeviating steadiness in my +regard for philosophy; and a disposition to do good, and to give to +others readily, and to cherish good hopes, and to believe that I am +loved by my friends; and in him I observed no concealment of his +opinions with respect to those whom he condemned, and that his friends +had no need to conjecture what he wished or did not wish, but it was +quite plain. + +15. From Maximus[170] I learned self-government, and not to be led +aside by anything; and cheerfulness in all circumstances as well as in +illness; and a just admixture in the moral character of sweetness and +dignity, and to do what was set before me without complaining. I +observed that everybody believed that he thought as he spoke, and that +in all that he did he never had any bad intention; and he never showed +amazement and surprize, and was never in a hurry, and never put off +doing a thing, nor was perplexed nor dejected, nor did he ever laugh +to disguise his vexation, nor, on the other hand, was he ever +passionate or suspicious. He was accustomed to do acts of beneficence, +and was ready to forgive, and was free from all falsehood; and he +presented the appearance of a man who could not be diverted from right +rather than of a man who had been improved. I observed, too that no +man could ever think that he was despised by Maximus, or ever venture +to think himself a better man. He had also the art of being humorous +in an agreeable way. + +16. In my father[171] I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable +resolution in the things which he had determined after due +deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honors; +and a love of labor and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to +those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating +firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a +knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action +and for remission. And I observed that he had overcome all passion +for boys; and he considered himself no more than any other citizen; +and he released his friends from all obligation to sup with him or to +attend him of necessity when he went abroad, and those who had failed +to accompany him, by reason of any urgent circumstances, always found +him the same. I observed too his habit of careful inquiry in all +matters of deliberation, and his persistency, and that he never stopt +his investigation through being satisfied with appearances which first +present themselves; and that his disposition was to keep his friends, +and not to be soon tired of them, nor yet to be extravagant in his +affection; and to be satisfied on all occasions, and cheerful; and to +foresee things a long way off, and to provide for the smallest without +display; and to check immediately popular applause and all flattery; +and to be ever watchful over the things which were necessary for the +administration of the empire, and to be a good manager of the +expenditure, and patiently to endure the blame which he got for such +conduct; and he was neither superstitious with respect to the gods, +nor did he court men by gifts or by trying to please them, or by +flattering the populace; but he showed sobriety in all things and +firmness, and never any mean thoughts or action, nor love of +novelty.... + +17. To the gods I am indebted for having good grandfathers, good +parents, a good sister, good teachers, good associates, good kinsmen +and friends, nearly everything good. Further, I owe it to the gods +that I was not hurried into any offense against any of them, tho I had +a disposition which, if opportunity had offered, might have led me to +do something of this kind; but, through their favor, there never was +such a concurrence of circumstances as put me to the trial. Further, I +am thankful to the gods that I was not longer brought up with my +grandfather's concubine, and that I preserved the flower of my youth, +and that I did not make proof of my virility before the proper season, +but even deferred the time; that I was subjected to a ruler and a +father who was able to take away all pride from me, and to bring me to +the knowledge that it is possible for a man to live in a palace +without wanting either guards or embroidered dresses, or torches and +statues, and such-like show; but that it is in such a man's power to +bring himself very near to the fashion of a private person, without +being for this reason either meaner in thought, or more remiss in +action, with respect to the things which must be done for the public +interest in a manner that befits a ruler. I thank the gods for giving +me such a brother,[172] who was able by his moral character to rouse +me to vigilance over myself, and who, at the same time, pleased me by +his respect and affection; that my children have not been stupid nor +deformed in body; that I did not make more proficiency in rhetoric, +poetry, and the other studies, in which I should perhaps have been +completely engaged, if I had seen that I was making progress in them; +that I made haste to place those who brought me up in the station of +honor, which they seemed to desire, without putting them off with +hope of my doing it some time after, because they were then still +young; that I knew Apollonius, Rusticus, Maximus; that I received +clear and frequent impressions about living according to nature, and +what kind of a life that is, so that, so far as depended on the gods, +and their gifts, and help, and inspirations, nothing hindered me from +forthwith living according to nature, tho I still fall short of it +through my own fault, and through not observing the admonitions of the +gods, and I may almost say, their direct instructions; that my body +has held out so long in such a kind of life; that I never touched +either Benedicta or Theodotus; and that, after having fallen into +amatory passions, I was cured; and, tho I was often out of humor with +Rusticus, I never did anything of which I had occasion to repent; +that, tho it was my mother's fate to die young, she spent the last +years of her life with me; that, whenever I wished to help any man in +his need, or on any other occasion, I was never told that I had not +the means of doing it; and that to myself the same necessity never +happened, to receive anything from another; that I have such a wife, +so obedient, and so affectionate, and so simple; that I had abundance +of good masters for my children; and that remedies have been shown to +me by dreams, both others, and against blood-spitting and giddiness; +and that, when I had an inclination to philosophy, I did not fall into +the hands of any sophist. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 158: From the "Meditations." Translated by George Long.] + +[Footnote 159: Annius Verus.] + +[Footnote 160: His father's name also was Annius Verus.] + +[Footnote 161: His mother was Domitia Calvilla, named also Lucilla.] + +[Footnote 162: His mother's grandfather, Catilius Severus, may be +referred to here.] + +[Footnote 163: The translator notes that, in the works of Justinus, is +printed a letter from one Diognetus, a Gentile, who wished very much +to know what the religion of the Christians was, and how it had taught +them to believe neither in the gods of the Greeks nor the +superstitions of the Jews. It has been suggested that this Diognetus +may have been the tutor of Marcus Aurelius.] + +[Footnote 164: Junius Rusticus, a Stoic philosopher, whom the author +highly valued.] + +[Footnote 165: Apollonius of Chalcis, who came to Rome to be the +author's preceptor. He was a rigid Stoic.] + +[Footnote 166: Sextus of Chæronea, a grandson, or nephew, of +Plutarch.] + +[Footnote 167: Alexander, a native of Phrygia, wrote a commentary on +Homer.] + +[Footnote 168: Cornelius Fronto, a rhetorician and friend of the +author.] + +[Footnote 169: Cinna Catulus, a Stoic.] + +[Footnote 170: Claudius Maximus, a Stoic, whom the author's +predecessor, Antoninus Pius, also valued highly.] + +[Footnote 171: The reference here made is to the Emperor Antoninus +Pius, who adopted him.] + +[Footnote 172: His brother by adoption, L. Verus, is probably referred +to here.] + + +END OF VOLUME II. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best of the World's Classics, +Restricted to prose. 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Volume II (of X) - Rome, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome + +Author: Various + +Editor: Henry Cabot Lodge + Francis W. Halsey + +Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21629] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEST OF THE WORLD'S CLASSICS *** + + + + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figcenter"><img class="img1" src="images/image_01.jpg" alt="CÆSAR, MARCUS AURELIUS, CICERO, and SENECA" width="519" height="769" /><br /> + +<span class="caption">CÆSAR, MARCUS AURELIUS, CICERO, and SENECA</span></div> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/image_02.jpg" alt="Title Page" width="500" height="797" /></div> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>THE BEST</h2> +<h3><i>of the</i></h3> +<h1><span class="smcap">World's Classics</span></h1> +<h4>RESTRICTED TO PROSE</h4> +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_03.jpg" alt="Decorative Image" width="400" height="102" /></div> + +<p> </p> +<h2>HENRY CABOT LODGE</h2> +<h4><i>Editor-in-Chief</i></h4> +<h2>FRANCIS W. HALSEY</h2> +<h4><i>Associate Editor</i></h4> +<p> </p> +<h3>With an Introduction, Biographical and<br /> +Explanatory Notes, etc.</h3> + <p> </p> +<h3>IN TEN VOLUMES</h3> + <p> </p> +<h3>Vol. II</h3> +<h1>ROME</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY</h3> +<h4>NEW YORK AND LONDON</h4> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1909, <span class="smcap">by</span></h5> +<h4>FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY</h4> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>The Best of the World's Classics</h2> + +<h3>VOL. II</h3> + +<h2>ROME</h2> +<h4>234 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>—180 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + +<h2><span class="smcap">Vol. II—Rome</span></h2> +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> + <td></td> + <td></td> + <td></td><td><i>Page</i></td></tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#CATO_THE_CENSOR"><span class="smcap">Cato the Censor</span>—(Born in 234 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, died in 149.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#OF_WORK"> Of Work on a Roman Farm. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From "De Re Rustica." Translated by Dr. E. +Wilson)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#CICERO"><span class="smcap">Cicero</span>—(Born in 106 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, assassinated in 43.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#I"> The Blessings of Old Age</a>. </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Cato Major." Translated by +Cyrus R. Edmonds)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#II"> On the Death of His Daughter Tullia. (A letter to Sulpicius)</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#III"> Of Brave and Elevated Spirits. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book I of the "Offices." +Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">IV</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IV"> Of Scipio's Death and of Friendship.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>From the "Dialog on Friendship." (Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#JULIUS_CAESAR"><span class="smcap">Julius Cæsar</span>—(Born in 100 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, assassinated in 44.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Ia"> The Building of the Bridge Across the Rhine. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book IV of the +"Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated by McDivett and W. S. +Bohn)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIa"> The Invasion of Britain. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book V of the "Commentaries on the +Gallic War." Translated by McDivett and Bohn)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIIa"> Overcoming the Nervii. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book II of the "Commentaries on the +Gallic War." Translated by McDivett and Bohn)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">IV</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IVa"> The Battle of Pharsalia and the Death of Pompey. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book III of +the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated by McDivett and Bohn)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#SALLUST"><span class="smcap">Sallust</span>—(Born about 86 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, died about 34.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Ib"> The Genesis of Catiline</a>. </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." +Translated by J. S. Watson)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIb"> The Fate of the Conspirators.</a> </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." +Translated by J. S. Watson)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#LIVY"><span class="smcap">Livy</span>—(Born in 59 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, died in 17 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Ic"> Horatius Cocles at the Bridge. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book II of the "History of +Rome." Translated by D. Spillan and Cyrus R. Edmonds)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIc"> Hannibal's Crossing of the Alps. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book XXI of the "History of +Rome." Translated by Spillan and Edmonds)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIIb"> Hannibal and Scipio at Zama. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book XXX of the "History of +Rome." Translated by Spillan and Edmonds)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#SENECA"><span class="smcap">Seneca</span>—(Born about 4 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, died in 65 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span></a>)</td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Id"> Of the Wise Man. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IId"> Of Consolation for the Loss of Friends. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book VI of the "Minor +Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#IIIc"> To Nero on Clemency.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> (From the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">IV</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IVb"> The Pilot. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">V</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#V"> Of a Happy Life. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#PLINY_THE_ELDER"><span class="smcap">Pliny the Elder</span>—(Born in 23 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, perished in the Eruption of Vesuvius.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#Ie"> The Qualities of the Dog. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Natural History." Translated by +Bostock and Riley)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIe"> Three Great Artists of Greece.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> (From the "Natural History." +Translated by Bostock and Riley)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#QUINTILIAN"><span class="smcap">Quintilian</span>—(Born about 35 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, died about 95.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#THE_ORATOR_MUST_BE_A_GOOD_MAN"> The Orator Must Be a Good Man. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book XII, Chapter I, of the +"Institutes." Translated by J. S. Watson)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#TACITUS"><span class="smcap">Tacitus</span>—(Born about 55 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, died about 117.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#If"> From Republican to Imperial Rome.</a> </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book I of the "Annals." The +Oxford translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIf"> The Funeral of Germanicus. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book III of the "Annals." The +Oxford translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIId"> The Death of Seneca.</a> </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford +translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">IV</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IVc"> The Burning of Rome by Order of Nero.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> (From Book XV of the +"Annals." The Oxford translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">V</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#Va"> The Burning of the Capitol at Rome.</a> </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_202">202</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From Book III of the "History." +The Oxford translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">VI</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#VI"> The Siege of Cremona.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> (From Book III of the "History." The Oxford +translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="tocch">VII</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#VII"> Agricola. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(The Oxford translation revised)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#PLINY_THE_YOUNGER"><span class="smcap">Pliny the Younger</span>—(Born in 63 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, died in 113.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Ig"> Of the Christians in His Province. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Letters." The Melmoth +translation revised)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIg"> To Tacitus on the Eruption of Vesuvius. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Letters." The +Melmoth translation revised)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#SUETONIUS"><span class="smcap">Suetonius</span>—(Lived in the first half of the second century <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">I</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#Ih"> The Last Days of Augustus.</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> (From the "Lives of the Cæsars." +Translated by Alexander Thomson, revised by Forester)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">II</td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#IIh"> The Good Deeds of Nero.</a> </td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Lives of the Cæsars." Translated +by Thomson, revised by Forester)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="tocch">III</td> + <td> </td> + <td> <a href="#IIIe"> The Death of Nero. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Lives of the Cæsars." Translated by +Thomson, revised by Forester)</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td colspan="4"><a href="#MARCUS_AURELIUS"><span class="smcap">Marcus Aurelius</span>—(Born in 121 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, died in 180.)</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#HIS_DEBT_TO_OTHERS"> His Debt to Others. </a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr> + <td> </td> + <td> </td> + <td>(From the "Meditations." Translated by George +Long)</td> + <td> </td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ROME" id="ROME"></a>ROME</h2> + +<h4>234 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>—180 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span></h4> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CATO_THE_CENSOR" id="CATO_THE_CENSOR"></a>CATO, THE CENSOR</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Tusculum, Italy, in 234 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, died in 149; +celebrated as statesman, general, and writer; questor under +Scipio in 204; Consul in 195; served in Spain in 194; censor +in 184; ambassador to Carthage in 150; one of the chief +instigators of the third Punic war; among his writings are +"De Re Rustica" and "Origines."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p></div> + +<h3><a name="OF_WORK" id="OF_WORK"></a>OF WORK ON A ROMAN FARM<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></h3> +<p>When the owner of the farm and slaves visits his country villa, after +saluting the household god, he should the same day, if possible, go +round the farm; if not the same day, he should do so the day after. On +seeing how the farm is being cultivated, and what work has been done +or left undone, he should call for his steward and inquire for his +account of what work has been done and what remains to be done. He +should ask whether the work has been completed in good time and +whether what is left uncompleted can be finished. He should find what +wine has been made, and what wheat stored. When he has gone into these +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>particulars, he should ask for an account of the days spent in +accomplishing the work.</p> + +<p>If the work does not seem satisfactory and the steward should excuse +himself by declaring that he has done his best, that the slaves were +good for nothing, that the weather was bad, that some slaves had run +away, that he himself had been called off on public service, and +should allege other such excuses, he should still be strictly called +to account. He should be asked if on rainy or tempestuous days he had +seen that indoor operations had been carried on. Had the wine-casks +been scoured and lined with pitch; had the house-cleaning been done; +had the grain been taken from the thrashing-floor to the granary; had +manure been thrown from the stables and cow-houses and piled into +heaps; had the seed been winnowed; had any rope been made; had the old +rope been repaired, and had he seen that the slaves mended their coats +and caps. He should be reminded that on religious festivals old +ditches might have been cleared out, the public road mended, briers +cut down, the garden dug over, the meadow cleared, the trees trimmed, +thorns pulled up by the roots, the grain ground and a general clearing +up carried through. He should also be told that when slaves were sick +their rations should be cut down.</p> + +<p>When the matters have been settled to the master's satisfaction, he +should take measures to see that what has not been done be at once +accomplished. He should then proceed to consider the account of the +farm, and a consideration of the amount of grain which has been +prepared for fodder. He should have returns made of wine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> and +olive-oil, and learn how much has been consumed, how much sold, how +much is left over and may be put on sale. If there is a deficit any +year, he should order it to be made up from the outside, and whatever +is above the needs of the farm sold. If there is anything to let out +on contract, he should order this to be done, and concerning the work +which he wishes to be thus accomplished he should give his order in +writing. As regards the cattle he should order them to be sold by +auction, and in the same way should sell the oil, if the price of oil +has risen; likewise the superfluous wine and corn of the estate. He +should also order to be sold worn-out bulls, blemished cattle, +blemished sheep, wool, hides, any plow that is old, old tools, old +slaves, slaves who are diseased, or anything else which is useless, +for the owner of a farm must be a seller and not a purchaser.</p> + +<p>The owner of a farm and of slaves must begin to study in early manhood +the cultivation and sowing of the land. He should, however, think a +long time before building his villa, but not about farming his +property, which he should set about at once. Let him wait until his +thirty-sixth year and then build, provided his whole property is under +cultivation. So build that neither the villa be disproportionately +small in comparison with the farm nor the farm in comparison with the +villa. It behooves a slave-owner to have a well-built country house, +containing a wine-cellar, a place for storing olive-oil, and casks in +such numbers that he may look forward with delight to a time of +scarcity and high prices, and this will add not only to his wealth, +but to his influence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> and reputation. He must have wine-presses of the +first order, that his wine may be well made. When the olives have been +picked, let oil be at once made or it will turn out rancid. Recollect +that every year the olives are shaken from the trees in great number +by violent storms. If you gather them up quickly and have vessels +ready to receive them, the storm will have done them no harm and the +oil will be all the greener and better. If the olives be on the ground +or even on the barn floor too long, the oil made from them will be +fetid. Olive-oil will be always good and sweet if it be promptly made.</p> + +<p>The following are the duties of a steward: He must maintain strict +discipline, and see that the festivals are observed. While he keeps +his hands off the property of a neighbor, let him look well to his +own. The slaves are to be kept from quarreling. If any of them commits +a fault, he should be punished in a kindly manner. The steward must +see that the slaves are comfortable and suffer neither from cold nor +hunger. By keeping them busy he will prevent them from running into +mischief or stealing. If the steward sets his face against evil doing, +evil will not be done by them. His master must call him to task if he +let evil doing go unpunished. If one slave do him any service, he +should show gratitude that the others may be encouraged to do right. +The steward must not be a gadder or a diner-out, but must give all his +attention to working the slaves, and considering how best to carry out +his master's instructions....</p> + +<p>It is at times worth while to gain wealth by commerce, were it not so +perilous; or by usury,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> were it equally honorable. Our ancestors, +however, held, and fixt by law, that a thief should be condemned to +restore double, a usurer quadruple. We thus see how much worse they +thought it for a citizen to be a money-lender than a thief. Again, +when they praised a good man, they praised him as a good farmer or a +good husbandman. Men so praised were held to have received the highest +praise. For myself, I think well of a merchant as a man of energy and +studious of gain; but it is a career, as I have said, that leads to +danger and ruin. However, farming makes the bravest men and the +sturdiest soldiers, and of all sources of gain is the surest, the most +natural, and the least invidious, and those who are busy with it have +the fewest bad thoughts.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Cato was Rome's first thoroughly national author. He is +usually classed as the creator of Latin prose. Other Roman authors of +his time wrote in Greek. Cato bitterly opposed Greek learning, +declaring that, when Greece should give Rome her literature, she would +"corrupt everything." On Cato's mind no outside literary influence +ever prevailed. He has been called "the most original writer that Rome +ever produced."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> From "De Re Rustica." Translated for this work by Dr. +Epiphanius Wilson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The translation of this paragraph is taken from +Cruttwell's "History of Roman Literature."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CICERO" id="CICERO"></a>CICERO</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in 106 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, assassinated in 43; celebrated as orator, +philosopher, statesman, and man of letters; served in the +social war in 89; traveled in Greece and Asia in 79-77; +questor in Sicily in 75; accused Verres in 70; prætor in 60; +as Consul supprest Catiline's conspiracy in 63; banished in +58; recalled in 57; proconsul in Cicilia in 51-50; joined +Pompey in 49; pronounced orations against Mark Antony in +44-43; proscribed by the Second Triumvirate in 43; of his +orations fifty-seven are extant, with fragments of twenty +others; other extant works include "De Oratore," "De +Republica," "Cato Major," "De Officiis," and four +collections of letters.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE BLESSINGS OF OLD AGE<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></h3> +<p>Nor even now do I feel the want of the strength of a young man, no +more than when a young man I felt the want of the strength of the bull +or of the elephant. What one has, that one ought to use; and whatever +you do, you should do it with all your strength. For what expression +can be more contemptible than that of Milo<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> of Crotona, who, when he +was now an old man, and was looking at the prize-fighters exercising +themselves on the course, is reported to have looked at his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>arms, +and, weeping over them, to have said, "But these, indeed, are now +dead." Nay, foolish man, not these arms so much as yourself; for you +never derived your nobility from yourself, but from your chest and +your arms. Nothing of the kind did Sextus Ælius ever say, nothing of +the kind many years before did Titus Coruncanius, nothing lately did +Publius Crassus; by whom instructions in jurisprudence were given to +their fellow citizens, and whose wisdom was progressive even to their +latest breath. For the orator, I fear lest he be enfeebled by old age; +for eloquence is a gift not of mind only, but also of lungs and +strength. On the whole, that melodiousness in the voice is graceful, I +know not how, even in old age; which, indeed, I have not lost, and you +see my years.</p> + +<p>Yet there is a graceful style of eloquence in an old man, +unimpassioned and subdued, and very often the elegant and gentle +discourse of an eloquent old man wins for itself a hearing; and if you +have not yourself the power to produce this effect, yet you may be +able to teach it to Scipio and Lælius. For what is more delightful +than old age surrounded with the studious attention of youth? Shall we +not leave even such a resource to old age, as to teach young men, +instruct them, train them to every department of duty? an employment, +indeed, than which what can be more noble? But, for my part, I thought +the Cneius and Publius Scipios,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and your two grandfathers, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>L. +Æmilius and P. Africanus, quite happy in the attendance of noble +youths; nor are any preceptors of liberal accomplishments to be deemed +otherwise than happy, tho their strength hath fallen into old age and +failed; altho that very failure of strength is more frequently caused +by the follies of youth than by those of old age; for a lustful and +intemperate youth transmits to old age an exhausted body. Cyrus too, +in Xenophon, in that discourse which he delivered on his deathbed when +he was a very old man, said that he never felt that his old age had +become feebler than his youth had been. I recollect, when a boy, that +Lucius Metellus,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> who, when four years after his second consulship +he had been made "pontifex maximus," and for twenty-two years held +that sacerdotal office, enjoyed such good strength at the latter +period of his life, that he felt no want of youth. There is no need +for me to speak about myself, and yet that is the privilege of old +age, and conceded to my time of life.</p> + +<p>Do you see how, in Homer, Nestor very often proclaims his own virtues? +for he was now living in the third generation of men; nor had he +occasion to fear lest, when stating the truth about himself, he should +appear either too arrogant or too talkative; for, as Homer says, from +his tongue speech flowed sweeter than honey; for which charm he stood +in need of no strength of body; and yet the famous chief of Greece +nowhere wishes to have ten men like Ajax, but like Nestor; and he does +not doubt if that should happen, Troy would in a short time perish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>But I return to myself. I am in my eighty-fourth year. In truth I +should like to be able to make the same boast that Cyrus did; but one +thing I can say, that altho I have not, to be sure, that strength +which I had either as a soldier in the Punic war or as questor in the +same war, or as Consul in Spain, or, four years afterward, when as +military tribune I fought a battle at Thermopylæ, in the consulship of +Marcus Acilius Glabrio; yet, as you see, old age has not quite +enfeebled me or broken me down: the senate-house does not miss my +strength, nor the rostra, nor my friends, nor my clients, nor my +guests; for I have never agreed to that old and much-praised proverb +which advises you to become an old man early if you wish to be an old +man long. I for my part would rather be an old man for a shorter +length of time than be an old man before I was one. And, therefore, no +one as yet has wished to have an interview with me to whom I have been +denied as engaged.</p> + +<p>But I have less strength than either of you two. Neither even do you +possess the strength of Titus Pontius the centurion; is he, therefore, +the more excellent man? Only let there be a moderate degree of +strength, and let every man exert himself as much as he can; and in +truth that man will not be absorbed in regretting the want of +strength. Milo, at Olympia, is said to have gone over the course while +supporting on his shoulders a live ox. Whether, then, would you rather +have this strength of body, or Pythagoras' strength of intellect, +bestowed upon you? In a word, enjoy that blessing while you have it; +when it is gone, do not lament it, unless, indeed, young men ought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> to +lament the loss of boyhood, and those a little advanced in age the +loss of adolescence. There is a definite career in life, and one way +of nature, and that a simple one; and to every part of life its own +peculiar period has been assigned; so that both the feebleness of +boys, and the high spirit of young men, and the steadiness of now fixt +manhood, and the maturity of old age, have something natural which +ought to be enjoyed in their own time. I suppose that you hear, +Scipio, what your grandfather's host, Masinissa,<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> is doing at this +day, at the age of ninety. When he has commenced a journey on foot, he +never mounts at all; when on horseback, he never dismounts; by no +rain, by no cold, is he prevailed upon to have his head covered; that +there is in him the greatest hardiness of frame; and therefore he +performs all the duties and functions of a king. Exercise, therefore, +and temperance, even in old age, can preserve some remnant of our +pristine vigor.</p> + +<p>Is there no strength in old age? neither is strength exacted from old +age. Therefore, by our laws and institutions, our time of life is +relieved from those tasks which can not be supported without strength. +Accordingly, so far are we from being compelled to do what we can not +do that we are not even compelled to do as much as we can. But so +feeble are many old men that they can not execute any task of duty or +any function of life whatever; but that in truth is not the peculiar +fault of old age, but belongs in common to bad health. How feeble was +the son <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>of Publius Africanus, he who adopted you. What feeble health, +or rather no health at all, had he! and had that not been so, he would +have been the second luminary of the state; for to his paternal +greatness of soul a richer store of learning had been added. What +wonder, therefore, in old men if they are sometimes weak when even +young men can not escape that.</p> + +<p>We must make a stand, Scipio and Lælius, against old age, and its +faults must be atoned for by activity; we must fight, as it were, +against disease, and in like manner against old age. Regard must be +paid to health; moderate exercises must be adopted; so much of meat +and drink must be taken that the strength may be recruited, not +opprest. Nor, indeed, must the body alone be supported, but the mind +and the soul much more; for these also, unless you drop oil on them as +on a lamp, are extinguished by old age. And our bodies, indeed, by +weariness and exercise, become opprest; but our minds are rendered +buoyant by exercise. For as to those of whom Cæcilius speaks, "foolish +old men," fit characters for comedy, by these he denotes the +credulous, the forgetful, the dissolute, which are the faults not of +old age, but of inactive, indolent, drowsy old age. As petulance and +lust belong to the young more than to the old, yet not to all young +men, but to those who are not virtuous; so that senile folly, which is +commonly called dotage, belongs to weak old men, and not to all. Four +stout sons, five daughters, so great a family, and such numerous +dependents, did Appius manage, altho both old and blind; for he kept +his mind intent like a bow, nor did he languidly sink under the weight +of old age. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> retained not only authority, but also command, over +his family; the slaves feared him; the children respected him; all +held him dear; there prevailed in that house the manners and good +discipline of our fathers. For on this condition is old age honored if +it maintains itself, if it keeps up its own right, if it is +subservient to no one, if even to its last breath it exercises control +over its dependents. For, as I like a young man in whom there is +something of the old, so I like an old man in whom there is something +of the young; and he who follows this maxim, in body will possibly be +an old man, but he will never be an old man in mind.</p> + +<p>I have in hand my seventh book of Antiquities; I am collecting all the +materials of our early history; of all the famous causes which I have +defended; I am now completing the pleadings;<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> I am employed on a law +of augurs, of pontiffs, of citizens. I am much engaged also in Greek +literature, and, after the manner of the Pythagoreans, for the purpose +of exercising my memory, I call to mind in the evening what I have +said, heard, and done on each day. These are the exercises of the +understanding; these are the race-courses of the mind; while I am +perspiring and toiling over these, I do not greatly miss my strength +of body. I attend my friends, I come into the senate very often, and +spontaneously bring forward things much and long thought of, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>and I +maintain them by strength of mind, not of body; and if I were unable +to perform these duties, yet my couch would afford me amusement, when +reflecting on those matters which I was no longer able to do, but that +I am able is owing to my past life; for, by a person who always lives +in these pursuits and labors, it is not perceived when old age steals +on. Thus gradually and unconsciously life declines into old age; nor +is its thread suddenly broken, but the vital principle is consumed by +length of time.</p> + +<p>Then follows the third topic of blame against old age, that they say +it has no pleasures. Oh, noble privilege of age! if indeed it takes +from us that which is in youth the greatest defect. For listen, most +excellent young men, to the ancient speech of Archytas<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> of +Tarentum, a man eminently great and illustrious, which was reported to +me when I, a young man, was at Tarentum with Quintus Maximus. He said +that no more deadly plague than the pleasure of the body was inflicted +on men by nature; for the passions, greedy of that pleasure, were in a +rash and unbridled manner incited to possess it; that hence arose +treasons against one's country, hence the ruining of states, hence +clandestine conferences with enemies—in short, that there was no +crime, no wicked act, to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>the undertaking of which the lust of +pleasure did not impel; but that fornications and adulteries and every +such crime were provoked by no other allurements than those of +pleasure. And whereas either nature or some god had given to man +nothing more excellent than his mind, that to this divine function and +gift, nothing was so hostile as pleasure; since where lust bore sway, +there was no room for self-restraint; and in the realm of pleasure, +virtue could by no possibility exist. And that this might be the +better understood, he begged you to imagine in your mind any one +actuated by the greatest pleasure of the body that could be enjoyed; +he believed no one would doubt but that so long as the person was in +that state of delight, he would be able to consider nothing in his +mind, to attain nothing by reason, nothing by reflection; wherefore +that there was nothing so detestable and so destructive as pleasure, +inasmuch as that when it was excessive and very prolonged, it +extinguished all the light of the soul.</p> + +<p>Nearchus of Tarentum, our host, who had remained throughout in +friendship with the Roman people, said he had heard from older men +that Archytas held this conversation with Caius Pontius the Samnite, +the father of him by whom, in the Caudian<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> battle, Spurius +Postumius and Titus Veturius, the consuls, were overcome, on which +occasion Plato the Athenian had been present at that discourse; and I +find that he came to Tarentum in the consulship of Lucius Camillus and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>Appius Claudius.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Wherefore do I adduce this? that we may +understand that if we could not by reason and wisdom despise pleasure, +great gratitude would be due to old age for bringing it to pass that +that should not be a matter of pleasure which is not a matter of duty. +For pleasure is hostile to reason, hinders deliberation, and, so to +speak, closes the eyes of the mind, nor does it hold any intercourse +with virtue. I indeed acted reluctantly in expelling from the senate +Lucius Flaminius, brother of that very brave man Titus Flaminius,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +seven years after he had been Consul; but I thought that his +licentiousness should be stigmatized. For that man, when he was Consul +in Gaul, was prevailed on at a banquet by a courtezan to behead one of +those who were in chains, condemned on a capital charge. He escaped in +the censorship of his brother Titus, who had immediately preceded me; +but so profligate and abandoned an act of lust could by no means be +allowed to pass by me and Flaccus, since with private infamy it +combined the disgrace of the empire.</p> + +<p>I have often heard from my elders, who said that, in like manner, +they, when boys, had heard from old men, that Caius Fabricius was wont +to wonder that when he was ambassador to King Pyrrhus, he had heard +from Cineas the Thessalian <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>that there was a certain person at Athens +who profest himself a wise man, and that he was accustomed to say that +all things which we did were to be referred to pleasure; and that +hearing him say so, Manius Curius and Titus Coruncanius were +accustomed to wish that that might be the persuasion of the Samnites +and Pyrrhus<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> himself, that they might the more easily be conquered +when they had given themselves up to pleasure. Manius Curius had lived +with Publius Decius, who, five years before the consulship of the +former, had devoted himself for the commonwealth in his fourth +consulship. Fabricius had been acquainted with him, and Coruncanius +had also known him, who, as well from his own conduct in life, as from +the great action of him whom I mention, Publius Decius, judged that +there was doubtless something in its own nature excellent and +glorious, which should be followed for its own sake, and which, +scorning and despising pleasure, all the worthiest men pursued....</p> + +<p>But why do I refer to others? Let me now return to myself. First of +all, I always had associates in clubs; and clubs were established when +I was questor, on the Idæan worship of the great mother being adopted. +Therefore I feasted with my associates altogether in a moderate way, +but there was a kind of fervor peculiar to that time of life, and as +that advances, all things will become every day more subdued. For I +did not calculate the gratification of those banquets by the pleasures +of the body so much as by the meetings <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>of friends and conversations. +For well did our ancestors style the reclining of friends at an +entertainment, because it carried with it a union of life, by the name +"convivium" better than the Greeks do, who call this same thing as +well by the name of "compotatio" as "concœnatio"; so that what in +that kind (of pleasures) is of the least value that they appear most +to approve of.</p> + +<p>For my part, on account of the pleasure of conversation, I am +delighted also with seasonable entertainments, not only with those of +my own age, of whom very few survive, but with those of your age, and +with you; and I give great thanks to old age, which has increased my +desire for conversation, and taken away that of eating and drinking. +But even if such things delight any person (that I may not appear +altogether to have declared war against pleasure, of which perhaps a +certain limited degree is even natural), I am not aware that even in +these pleasures themselves old age is without enjoyment. For my part, +the presidencies established by our ancestors delight me; and that +conversation, which after the manner of our ancestors, is kept up over +our cups from the top of the table; and the cups, as in the Symposium +of Xenophon, small and dewy, and the cooling of the wine in summer, +and in turn either the sun, or the fire in winter—practises which I +am accustomed to follow among the Sabines also—and I daily join a +party of neighbors, which we prolong with various conversation till +late at night, as far as we can. But there is not, as it were, so +ticklish a sensibility of pleasures in old men. I believe it; but then +neither is there the desire. However, nothing is irksome unless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> you +long for it. Well did Sophocles, when a certain man inquired of him +advanced in age whether he enjoyed venereal pleasures, reply, "The +gods give me something better; nay, I have run away from them with +gladness, as from a wild and furious tyrant." For to men fond of such +things, it is perhaps disagreeable and irksome to be without them; but +to the contented and satisfied it is more delightful to want them than +to enjoy them; and yet he does not want who feels no desire; therefore +I say that this freedom from desire is more delightful than enjoyment.</p> + +<p>But if the prime of life has more cheerful enjoyment of those very +pleasures, in the first place they are but petty objects which it +enjoys, as I have said before; then they are those of which old age, +if it does not abundantly possess them, is not altogether destitute. +As he is more delighted with Turpio Ambivius, who is spectator on the +foremost bench, yet he also is delighted who is in the hindmost; so +youth having a close view of pleasures is perhaps more gratified; but +old age is as much delighted as is necessary in viewing them at a +distance. However, of what high value are the following circumstances, +that the soul, after it has served out, as it were, its time under +lust, ambition, contention, enmities, and all the passions, shall +retire within itself, and, as the phrase is, live with itself? But if +it has, as it were, food for study and learning, nothing is more +delightful than an old age of leisure. I saw Caius Gallus, the +intimate friend of your father, Scipio, almost expiring in the +employment of calculating the sky and the earth. How often did +daylight overtake him when he had begun to draw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> some figure by night, +how often did night, when he had begun in the morning! How it did +delight him to predict to us the eclipses of the sun and the moon, +long before their occurrence! What shall we say in the case of +pursuits less dignified, yet, notwithstanding, requiring acuteness! +How Nævius did delight in his Punic war! how Plautus in his +Truculentus! how in his Pseudolus! I saw also the old man Livy,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +who, tho he had brought a play upon the stage six years before I was +born, in the consulship of Cento and Tuditanus, yet advanced in age +even to the time of my youth. Why should I speak of Publius Licinius +Crassus' study both of pontifical and civil law? or of the present +Publius Scipio, who within these few days was created chief pontiff? +Yet we have seen all these persons whom I have mentioned, ardent in +these pursuits when old men. But as to Marcus Cethegus, whom Ennius +rightly called the "marrow of persuasion," with what great zeal did we +see him engage in the practise of oratory, even when an old man! What +pleasures, therefore, arising from banquets, or plays, or harlots, are +to be compared with these pleasures? And these, indeed, are the +pursuits of learning, which too, with the sensible and well educated, +increase along with their age; so that is a noble saying of Solon, +when he says in a certain verse, as I observed before, that he grew +old learning many things every day—than which pleasure of the mind, +certainly, none can be greater.</p> + +<p>I come now to the pleasures of husbandmen, with which I am excessively +delighted, which are not checked by any old age, and appear in my +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>mind to make the nearest approach to the life of a wise man. For they +have relation to the earth, which never refuses command, and never +returns without interest that which it hath received; but sometimes +with less, generally with very great interest. And yet for my part it +is not only the product, but the virtue and nature of the earth itself +that delight me, which, when in its softened and subdued bosom it has +received the scattered seed, first of all confines what is hidden +within it, from which harrowing, which produces that effect, derives +its name (<i>occatio</i>); then, when it is warmed by heat and its own +compression, it spreads it out, and elicits from it the verdant blade, +which, supported by the fibers of the roots, gradually grows up, and, +rising on a jointed stalk, is now enclosed in a sheath, as if it were +of tender age, out of which, when it hath shot up, it then pours forth +the fruit of the ear, piled in due order, and is guarded by a rampart +of beards against the pecking of the smaller birds. Why should I, in +the case of vines, tell of the plantings, the risings, the stages of +growth? That you may know the repose and amusement of my old age, I +assure you that I can never have enough of that gratification. For I +pass over the peculiar nature of all things which are produced from +the earth; which generates such great trunks and branches from so +small a grain of the fig or from the grape-stone, or from the minutest +seeds of other fruits and roots; shoots, plants, twigs, quicksets, +layers, do not these produce the effect of delighting any one even to +admiration? The vine, indeed, which by nature is prone to fall, and is +borne down to the ground, unless it be propt, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> order to raise +itself up, embraces with its tendrils, as it were with hands, whatever +it meets with, which, as it creeps with manifold and wandering course, +the skill of the husbandmen pruning with the knife, restrains from +running into a forest of twigs, and spreading too far in all +directions.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, in the beginning of spring, in those twigs which are +left, there rises up as it were at the joints of the branches that +which is called a bud, from which the nascent grape shows itself, +which, increasing in size by the moisture of the earth and the heat of +the sun, is at first very acid to the taste, and then as it ripens +grows sweet, and being clothed with its large leaves does not want +moderate warmth, and yet keeps off the excessive heat of the sun; than +which what can be in fruit on the one hand more rich, or on the other +hand more beautiful in appearance? Of which not only the advantage, as +I said before, but also the cultivation and the nature itself delight +me; the rows of props, the joining of the heads, the tying up and +propagation of vines, and the pruning of some twigs, and the grafting +of others, which I have mentioned. Why should I allude to irrigations, +why to the diggings of the ground, why to the trenching by which the +ground is made much more productive? Why should I speak of the +advantage of manuring? I have treated of it in that book which I wrote +respecting rural affairs, concerning which the learned Hesiod has not +said a single word, tho he has written about the cultivation of the +land. But Homer, who, as appears to me, lived many ages before, +introduces Lærtes soothing the regret which he felt for his son by +tilling the land and manuring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> it. Nor indeed is rural life delightful +by reason of corn-fields only and meadows and vineyards and groves, +but also for its gardens and orchards; also for the feeding of cattle, +the swarms of bees, and the variety of all kinds of flowers. Nor do +plantings only give me delight, but also graftings, than which +agriculture has invented nothing more ingenious....</p> + +<p>Was then their old age to be pitied who amused themselves in the +cultivation of land? In my opinion, indeed, I know not whether any +other can be more happy; and not only in the discharge of duty, +because to the whole race of mankind the cultivation of the land is +beneficial; but also from the amusement, which I have mentioned, and +that fulness and abundance of all things which are connected with the +food of men, and also with the worship of the gods; so that, since +some have a desire for these things, we may again put ourselves on +good terms with pleasure. For the wine-cellar of a good and diligent +master is always well stored; the oil-casks, the pantry also, the +whole farmhouse is richly supplied; it abounds in pigs, kids, lambs, +hens, milk, cheese, honey. Then, too, the countrymen themselves call +the garden a second dessert. And then what gives a greater relish to +these things is that kind of leisure labor, fowling and hunting. Why +should I speak of the greenness of meadows, or the rows of trees, or +the handsome appearance of vineyards and olive grounds? Let me cut the +matter short. Nothing can be either more rich in use or more elegant +in appearance than ground well tilled, to the enjoyment of which old +age is so far from being an obstacle that it is even an invitation and +allurement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> For where can that age be better warmed either by basking +in the sun or by the fire, or again be more healthfully refreshed by +shades or waters? Let the young, therefore, keep to themselves their +arms, horses, spears, clubs, tennis-ball, swimmings, and races; to us +old men let them leave out of many amusements the <i>tali</i> and +<i>tesseræ</i>; and even in that matter it may be as they please, since old +age can be happy without these amusements....</p> + +<p>What, therefore, should I fear if after death I am sure either not to +be miserable or to be happy? Altho who is so foolish, even if young, +as to be assured that he will live even till the evening? Nay, that +period of life has many more probabilities of death that ours has; +young men more readily fall into diseases, suffer more severely, are +cured with more difficulty, and therefore few arrive at old age. Did +not this happen so we should live better and more wisely, for +intelligence, and reflection, and judgment reside in old men, and if +there had been none of them, no states could exist at all. But I +return to the imminence of death. What charge is that against old age, +since you see it to be common to youth also? I experienced not only in +the case of my own excellent son, but also in that of your brothers, +Scipio, men plainly marked out for the highest distinction, that death +was common to every period of life. Yet a young man hopes that he will +live a long time, which expectation an old man can not entertain. His +hope is but a foolish one; for what can be more foolish than to regard +uncertainties as certainties, delusions as truths? An old man indeed +has nothing to hope for; yet he is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> in so much the happier state than +a young one; since he has already attained what the other is only +hoping for. The one is wishing to live long, the other has lived long.</p> + +<p>And yet, good gods! what is there in man's life that can be called +long? For allow the latest period; let us anticipate the age of the +kings of Tartessii. For there dwelt, as I find it recorded, a man +named Arganthonius at Gades;<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> who reigned for eighty years, and +lived 120. But to my mind, nothing whatever seems of long duration to +which there is any end. For when that arrives, then the time which has +passed has flown away; that only remains which you have secured by +virtue and right conduct. Hours indeed depart from us, and days and +months and years; nor does past time ever return, nor can it be +discovered what is to follow. Whatever time is assigned to each to +live, with that he ought to be content; for neither need the drama be +performed entire by the actor in order to give satisfaction, provided +he be approved in whatever act he may be; nor need the wise man live +till the <i>plaudite</i>. For the short period of life is long enough for +living well and honorably, and if you should advance further, you need +no more grieve than farmers do when the loveliness of spring-time hath +passed, that summer and autumn have come. For spring represents the +time of youth, and gives promise of the future fruits; the remaining +seasons are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>intended for plucking and gathering in those fruits. Now +the harvest of old age, as I have often said, is the recollection and +abundance of blessings previously secured. In truth everything that +happens agreeably to nature is to be reckoned among blessings. What, +however, is so agreeable to nature as for an old man to die which even +is the lot of the young, tho nature opposes and resists. And thus it +is that young men seem to me to die just as when the violence of flame +is extinguished by a flood of water; whereas old men die, as the +exhausted fire goes out, spontaneously, without the exertion of any +force; and as fruits when they are green are plucked by force from the +trees, but when ripe and mellow drop off, so violence takes away their +lives from youths, maturity from old men—a state which to me indeed +is so delightful that the nearer I approach to death, I seem, as it +were, to be getting sight of land, and at length, after a long voyage, +to be just coming into harbor.</p> + +<p>Of all the periods of life there is a definite limit; but of old age +there is no limit fixt; and life goes on very well in it, so long as +you are able to follow up and attend to the duty of your situation, +and, at the same time, to care nothing about death; whence it happens +that old age is even of higher spirit and bolder than youth. Agreeable +to this was the answer given to Pisistratus,<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> the tyrant, by Solon, +when on the former inquiring, "in reliance on what hope he so boldly +withstood him," the latter is said to have answered, "on old age." The +happiest end of life is this—when the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>mind and the other senses +being unimpaired, the same nature which put it together takes asunder +her own work. As in the case of a ship or a house, he who built them +takes them down most easily; so the same nature which has compacted +man most easily breaks him up. Besides, every fastening of glue, when +fresh, is with difficulty torn asunder, but easily when tried by time. +Hence it is that that short remnant of life should be neither greedily +coveted nor without reason given up; and Pythagoras forbids us to +abandon the station or post of life without the orders of our +commander, that is, of God.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> There is indeed a saying of the wise +Solon in which he declares that he does not wish his own death to be +unattended by the grief and lamentation of friends. He wishes, I +suppose, that he should be dear to his friends. But I know not whether +Ennius does not say with more propriety,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Let no one pay me honor with tears, nor<br /></span> +<span class="i2">celebrate my funeral with mourning."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He conceives that a death ought not to be lamented when immortality +follows. Besides, a dying man may have some degree of consciousness, +but that for a short time, especially in the case of an old man; after +death, indeed, consciousness either does not exist or it is a thing to +be desired. But this ought to be a subject of study from our youth to +be indifferent about death, without which study <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>no one can be of +tranquil mind. For die we certainly must, and it is uncertain whether +or not on this very day. He, therefore, who at all hours dreads +impending death, how can he be at peace in his mind? concerning which +there seems to be no need of such long discussion, when I call to mind +not only Lucius Brutus, who was slain in liberating his country; nor +the two Decii, who spurred on their steeds to a voluntary death; nor +Marcus Atilius,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> who set out to execution that he might keep a +promise pledged to the enemy; nor the two Scipios, who even with their +very bodies sought to obstruct the march of the Carthaginians; nor +your grandfather Lucius Paulus,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> who by his death atoned for the +temerity of his colleague in the disgraceful defeat at Cannæ; nor +Marcus Marcellus,<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> whose corpse not even the most merciless foe +suffered to go without the honor of sepulture; but that our legions, +as I have remarked in my Antiquities, have often gone with cheerful +and undaunted mind to that place from which they believed that they +should never return. Shall, then, well-instructed old men be afraid of +that which young men, and they not only ignorant, but mere peasants, +despise? On the whole, as it seems to me indeed, a satiety of all +pursuits causes a satiety of life. There are pursuits peculiar <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>to +boyhood; do therefore young men regret the loss of them? There are +also some of early youth; does settled age, which is called middle +life, seek after these? There are also some of this period; neither +are they looked for by old age. There are some final pursuits of old +age; accordingly, as the pursuits of the earlier parts of life fall +into disuse, so also do those of old age; and when this has taken +place, satiety of life brings on the seasonable period of death.</p> + +<p>Indeed, I do not see why I should not venture to tell you what I +myself think concerning death; because I fancy I see it so much the +more clearly in proportion as I am less distant from it. I am +persuaded that your fathers, Publius Scipio and Caius Lælius, men of +the greatest eminence and very dear friends of mine, are living, and +that life too which alone deserves the name of life. For while we are +shut up in this prison of the body, we are fulfilling, as it were, the +function and painful task of destiny; for the heaven-born soul has +been degraded from its dwelling-place above, and, as it were, buried +in the earth, a situation uncongenial to its divine and immortal +nature. But I believe that the immortal gods have shed souls into +human bodies, that beings might exist who might tend the earth, and by +contemplating the order of the heavenly bodies might imitate it in the +manner and regularity of their lives. Nor have reason and argument +alone influenced me thus to believe, but likewise the high name and +authority of the greatest philosophers. I used to hear that Pythagoras +and the Pythagoreans, who were all but our neighbors, who were +formerly called the Italian philosophers, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> no doubt that we +possess souls derived from the universal divine mind. Moreover, the +arguments were conclusive to me which Socrates delivered on the last +day of his life concerning the immortality of the soul—he who was +pronounced by the oracle of Apollo the wisest of all men. But why say +more? I have thus persuaded myself, such is my belief; that since such +is the activity of our souls, so tenacious their memory of things past +and their sagacity regarding things future, so many arts, so many +sciences, so many discoveries, that the nature which comprizes these +qualities can not be mortal; and since the mind is ever in action and +has no source of motion, because it moves itself, I believe that it +never will find any end of motion, because it never will part from +itself; and that since the nature of the soul is uncompounded, and has +not in itself any admixture heterogeneous and dissimilar to itself, I +maintain that it can not undergo dissolution; and if this be not +possible, it can not perish; and it is a strong argument that men know +very many things before they are born, since when mere boys, while +they are learning difficult subjects, they so quickly catch up +numberless ideas, that they seem not to be learning them then for the +first time, but to remember them, and to be calling them to +recollection. Thus did our Plato argue....</p> + +<p>Let me, if you please, revert to my own views. No one will ever +persuade me that either your father, Paulus, or two grandfathers, +Paulus and Africanus, or the father of Africanus, or his uncle, or the +many distinguished men whom it is unnecessary to recount, aimed at +such great exploits as might reach to the recollection of posterity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +had they not perceived in their mind that posterity belonged to them. +Do you suppose, to boast a little of myself, after the manner of old +men, that I should have undergone such great toils, by day and night, +at home and in service, had I thought to limit my glory by the same +bounds as my life? Would it not have been far better to pass an easy +and quiet life without any toil or struggle? But I know not how my +soul, stretching upward, has ever looked forward to posterity, as if, +when it had departed from life, then at last it would begin to live. +And, indeed, unless this were the case, that souls were immortal, the +souls of the noblest of men would not aspire above all things to an +immortality of glory.</p> + +<p>Why need I adduce that the wisest man ever dies with the greatest +equanimity, the most foolish with the least? Does it not seem to you +that the soul, which sees more and further, sees that it is passing to +a better state, while that body whose vision is duller, does not see +it? I, indeed, am transported with eagerness to see your fathers, whom +I have respected and loved; nor in truth is it those only I desire to +meet whom I myself have known; but those also of whom I have heard or +read, and have myself written. Whither, indeed, as I proceed, no one +assuredly should easily force me back, nor, as they did with Pelias, +cook me again to youth. For if any god should grant me that from this +period of life I should become a child again and cry in the cradle, I +should earnestly refuse it; nor in truth should I like, after having +run, as it were, my course, to be called back to the starting-place +from the goal. For what comfort has life? What trouble has it not,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +rather? But grant that it has; yet it assuredly has either satiety or +limitation (of its pleasures). For I am not disposed to lament the +loss of life, which many men, and those learned men too, have often +done; neither do I regret that I have lived, since I have lived in +such a way that I conceive I was not born in vain; and from this life +I depart as from a temporary lodging, not as from a home.</p> + +<p>For nature has assigned it to us as an inn to sojourn in, not a place +of habitation. Oh, glorious day! when I shall depart to that divine +company and assemblage of spirits, and quit this troubled and polluted +scene. For I shall go not only to those great men of whom I have +spoken before, but also to my son Cato, than whom never was better man +born, nor more distinguished for pious affection, whose body was +burned by me, whereas, on the contrary, it was fitting that mine +should be burned by him. But his soul not deserting me, but oft +looking back, no doubt departed to those regions whither it saw that I +myself was destined to come. This, tho a distress to me, I seemed +patiently to endure; not that I bore it with indifference, but I +comforted myself with the recollection that the separation and +distance between us would not continue long. For these reasons, O +Scipio (since you said that you with Lælius were accustomed to wonder +at this), old age is tolerable to me, and not only not irksome, but +even delightful. And if I am wrong in this, that I believe the souls +of men to be immortal, I willingly delude myself; nor do I desire that +this mistake, in which I take pleasure, should be wrested from me as +long as I live; but if I, when dead, shall have no consciousness, as +some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> narrow-minded philosophers imagine, I do not fear lest dead +philosophers should ridicule this my delusion. But if we are not +destined to be immortal, yet it is a desirable thing for a man to +expire at his fit time. For, as nature prescribes a boundary to all +other things, so does she also to life. Now old age is the +consummation of life, just as of a play, from the fatigue of which we +ought to escape, especially when satiety is super-added. This is what +I had to say on the subject of old age, to which may you arrive! that, +after having experienced the truth of those statements which you have +heard from me, you may be enabled to give them your approbation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>ON THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER TULLIA<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></h3> +<p>Yes, my dear Servius, I could indeed wish you had been with me, as you +say, at the time of my terrible trial. How much it was in your power +to help me if you had been here, by sympathizing with, and I may +almost say, sharing equally in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>my grief, I readily perceive from the +fact that after reading your letter I now feel myself considerably +more composed; for not only was all that you wrote just what is best +calculated to soothe affliction, but you yourself in comforting me +showed that you too had no little pain at heart. Your son Servius, +however, has made it clear, by every kindly attention which such an +occasion would permit of, both how great his respect was for myself +and also how much pleasure his kind feeling for me was likely to give +you; and you may be sure that, while such attentions from him have +often been more pleasant to me, they have never made me more grateful.</p> + +<p>It is not, however, only your arguments and your equal share—I may +almost call it—in this affliction which comforts me, but also your +authority; because I hold it shame in me not to be bearing my trouble +in a way that you, a man endowed with such wisdom, think it ought to +be borne. But at times I feel broken down, and I scarcely make any +struggle against my grief, because those consolations fail me which +under similar calamities were never wanting to any of those other +people whom I put before myself as models for imitation. Both Fabius +Maximus, for example, when he lost a son who had held the consulship, +the hero of many a famous exploit; and Lucius Paulus, from whom two +were taken in one week; and your own kinsman Gallus; and Marcus Cato, +who was deprived of a son of the rarest talents and the rarest +virtue—all these lived in times when their individual affliction was +capable of finding a solace in the distinctions they used to earn from +their country.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>For me, however, after being stript of all those distinctions which +you yourself recall to me, and which I had won for myself by +unparalleled exertions, only that one solace remained which has been +torn away. My thoughts were not diverted by work for my friends, or by +the administration of affairs of state; there was no pleasure in +pleading in the courts; I could not bear the very sight of the Senate +House; I felt, as was indeed too true, that I had lost all the harvest +of both my industry and my success. But whenever I wanted to recollect +that all this was shared with you and other friends I could name, and +whenever I was breaking myself in and forcing my spirit to bear these +things with patience, I always had a refuge to go to where I might +find peace, and in whose words of comfort and sweet society I could +rid me of all my pains and griefs. Whereas now, under this terrible +blow, even those old wounds which seemed to have healed up are +bleeding afresh; for it is impossible for me now to find such a refuge +from my sorrows at home in the business of the state as in those days +I did in that consolation of home, which was always in store whenever +I came away sad from thoughts of state to seek for peace in her +happiness. And so I stay away both from home and from public life; +because home now is no more able to make up for the sorrow I feel when +I think of our country than our country is for my sorrow at home. I am +therefore looking forward all the more eagerly to your coming, and +long to see you as early as may possibly be; no greater alleviation +can be offered me than a meeting between us for friendly intercourse +and conversation. I hope, however, that your return is to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> take place, +as I hear it is, very shortly. As for myself, while there are abundant +reasons for wanting to see you as soon as possible, my principal one +is in order that we may discuss together beforehand the best method of +conduct for present circumstances, which must entirely be adapted to +the wishes of one man only, a man nevertheless who is far-seeing and +generous, and also, as I think I have thoroughly ascertained, to me +not at all ill-disposed and to you extremely friendly. But admitting +this, it is still a matter for much deliberation what is the line—I +do not say of action, but of keeping quiet—that we ought by his good +leave and favor to adopt. Farewell!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>OF BRAVE AND ELEVATED SPIRITS<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></h3> +<p>A spirit altogether brave and elevated is chiefly discernible by two +characters. The first consists in a low estimate of mere outward +circumstances, since it is convinced that a man ought to admire, +desire, or court nothing but what is virtuous and becoming; and that +he ought to succumb to no man, nor to any perturbation either of +spirit or fortune. The other thing is that, possest of such a spirit +as I have just mentioned, you should perform actions which are great +and of the greatest utility, but extremely arduous, full of +difficulties <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>and danger both to life and the many things which +pertain to life.</p> + +<p>In the latter of those two characters consist all the glory, the +majesty, and, I add, the utility; but the causes and the efficient +means that form great men is in the former, which contains the +principles that elevate the soul, and gives it a contempt for +temporary considerations. Now, this very excellence consists in two +particulars: you are to deem that only to be good is to be virtuous, +and that you be free from all mental irregularity. For we are to look +upon it as the character of a noble and an elevated soul, to slight +all those considerations that the generality of mankind account great +and glorious, and to despise them, upon firm and durable principles; +while strength of mind and greatness of resolution are discerned in +bearing those calamities which, in the course of man's life, are many +and various, so as not to be driven from your natural disposition, nor +from the dignity of a wise man; for it is not consistent that he who +is not subdued by fear should be subjugated by passion, nor that he +who has shown himself invincible by toil should be conquered by +pleasure. Wherefore, we ought to watch and avoid the love of money; +for nothing so truly characterizes a narrow, groveling disposition as +to love riches; and nothing is more noble and more exalted than to +despise riches if you have them not, and if you have them, to employ +them in beneficence and liberality.</p> + +<p>An inordinate passion for glory, as I have already observed, is +likewise to be guarded against; for it deprives us of liberty, the +only prize for which men of elevated sentiments ought to contend.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +Power is so far from being desirable in itself that it sometimes ought +to be refused, and sometimes to be resigned. We should likewise be +free from all disorders of the mind, from all violent passion and +fear, as well as languor, voluptuousness, and anger, that we may +possess that tranquillity and security which confer alike consistency +and dignity. Now, many there are, and have been, who, courting that +tranquillity which I have mentioned here, have withdrawn themselves +from public affairs and taken refuge in retirement. Among these, some +of the noblest and most prominent of our philosophers; and some +persons, of strict and grave dispositions, were unable to bear with +the manners either of the people or their rulers; and some have lived +in the country, amusing themselves with the management of their +private affairs. Their aim was the same as that of the powerful, that +they might enjoy their liberty, without wanting anything or obeying +any person; for the essence of liberty is to live just as you +please....</p> + +<p>But, since most persons are of opinion that the achievements of war +are more glorious than civil affairs, this judgment needs to be +restricted; for many, as generally is the case with high minds and +enterprising spirits, especially if they are adapted to military life +and are fond of warlike achievements, have often sought opportunities +of war from their fondness for glory; but if we are willing to judge +truly, many are the civil employments of greater importance, and of +more renown, than the military.</p> + +<p>For tho Themistocles is justly praised—his name is now more +illustrious than that of Solon,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> and his glorious victory at Salamis +is mentioned preferably to the policy of Solon, by which he first +confirmed the power of the Areopagus—the one should not be considered +more illustrious than the other; for the one availed his country only +for once—the other is lastingly advantageous; because by it the laws +of the Athenians, and the institutions of their ancestors, are +preserved. Now, Themistocles could not have stated any respect in +which he benefited the Areopagus, but Solon might with truth declare +that Themistocles had been advantaged by him; for the war was carried +on by the counsels of that senate which was constituted by Solon.</p> + +<p>We may make the same observation with regard to Pausanias<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> and +Lysander among the Lacedæmonians; for all the addition of empire which +their conquests are supposed to have brought to their country is not +to be compared to the laws and economy of Lycurgus; for indeed, owing +to these very causes they had armies more subordinate and courageous. +In my eyes, Marcus Scaurus (who flourished when I was but a boy) was +not inferior to Caius Marius;<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> nor, after I came to have a concern +in the government, Quintus Catulus<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> to Cneius Pompey. An army +abroad is but of small service, unless there be a wise administration +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>at home. Nor did that good man and great general Africanus perform a +more important service to his country when he razed Numantia than did +that private citizen P. Nasica<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> when at the same period he killed +Tiberius Gracchus. An action which it is true was not merely of a +civil nature; for it approaches to a military character, as being the +result of force and courage; but it was an action performed without an +army, and from political considerations....</p> + +<p>Now all that excellence which springs from a lofty and noble nature is +altogether produced by the mental and not by the corporeal powers. +Meanwhile, the body ought to be kept in such action and order as that +it may be always ready to obey the dictates of reason and wisdom, in +carrying them into execution, and in persevering under hardships. But +with regard to that <i>honestas</i> we are treating of, it consists wholly +in the thoughtful application of the mind, by which the civilians who +preside over public affairs are equally serviceable to their country +as they who wage wars. For it often happens that by such counsels wars +are either not entered into or they are brought to a termination; +sometimes they are even undertaken, as the third Punic war was by the +advice of Marcus Cato, whose authority was powerful, even after he was +dead.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wisdom in determining is therefore preferable to courage in fighting; +but in this we are to take care that we are not swayed by an aversion +to fighting rather than by a consideration of expediency. Now in +engaging in war we ought to make it appear that we have no other view +than peace. But the character of a brave and resolute man is not to be +ruffled with adversity, and not to be in such confusion as to quit his +post, as we say, but to preserve a presence of mind, and the exercise +of reason, without departing from his purpose. And while this is the +characteristic of a lofty spirit, so this also is that of a powerful +intellect; namely, to anticipate futurity in thought, and to conclude +beforehand what may happen on either side, and, upon that, what +measures to pursue, and never be surprized so as to say, "I had not +thought of that." Such are the operations of a genius, capacious and +elevated; of such a one as relies on its own prudence and counsel; but +to rush precipitately into the field, and to encounter an enemy with +mere physical force has somewhat in it that is barbarous and brutal. +When the occasion, however, and its necessity compel it, we should +resist with force, and prefer death to slavery or dishonor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>OF SCIPIO'S DEATH AND OF FRIENDSHIP<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></h3> +<p>Should I say that I am not distrest by the loss of Scipio, +philosophers may determine with what propriety I should do so; but +assuredly I should be guilty of falsehood. For I am distrest at being +bereaved of such a friend, as no one, I consider, will ever be to me +again, and, as I can confidently assert, no one ever was; but I am not +destitute of a remedy. I comfort myself, and especially with this +consolation, that I am free from that error by which most men, on the +decease of friends, are wont to be tormented; for I feel that no evil +has happened to Scipio; it has befallen myself, if indeed it has +happened to any. Now to be above measure distrest at one's own +troubles is characteristic of the man who loves not his friend, but +himself. In truth, as far as he is concerned, who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>can deny that his +end was glorious? for unless he had chosen to wish for immortality, of +which he had not the slightest thought, what did he fail to obtain +which it was lawful for a man to wish for? A man who, as soon as he +grew up, by his transcendent merit far surpassed those sanguine hopes +of his countrymen which they had conceived regarding him when a mere +boy, who never stood for the consulship, yet was made Consul twice; on +the first occasion, before his time; on the second, at the proper age +as regarded himself, tho for the commonwealth almost too late; who, by +overthrowing two cities,<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> most hostile to our empire, put an end +not only to all present but all future wars. What shall I say of his +most engaging manners; of his dutiful conduct to his mother; his +generosity to his sisters; his kindness to his friends; his +uprightness toward all? These are known to you; and how dear he was to +the state was displayed by its mourning at his death....</p> + +<p>The authority of the ancients has more weight with me, either that of +our own ancestors, who paid such sacred honors to the dead, which +surely they would not have done if they thought those honors did in no +way affect them, or that of those who once lived in this country, and +enlightened, by their institutions and instructions, Magna Græcia<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> +(which now indeed is entirely destroyed, but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>then was flourishing), +or of him who was pronounced by the oracle of Apollo to be the wisest +of men, who did not say first one thing and then another, as is +generally done, but always the same; namely, that the souls of men are +divine, and that when they have departed from the body, a return to +heaven is opened to them, and the speediest to the most virtuous and +just. This same opinion was also held by Scipio; for he indeed, a very +few days before his death, as if he had a presentiment of it, when +Philus and Manilius were present, and many others, and you also, +Scævola, had gone with me, for three days descanted on the subject of +government; of which discussion the last was almost entirely on the +immortality of souls, which he said he had learned in sleep through a +vision from Africanus. If this be the fact, that the spirit of the +best man most easily flies away in death, as from the prison-house and +chains of the body, whose passage to the gods can we conceive to have +been readier than that of Scipio? Wherefore, to be afflicted at this +his departure, I fear, would be the part rather of an envious person +than of a friend....</p> + +<p>But yet I so enjoy the recollection of our friendship that I seem to +have lived happily because I lived with Scipio, with whom I had a +common anxiety on public and private affairs, and with whom my life +both at home and abroad was associated, and there existed that, +wherein <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>consists the entire strength of friendship, an entire +agreement of inclinations, pursuits, and sentiments. That character +for wisdom, therefore, which Fannius a little while ago mentioned does +not so delight me, especially since it is undeserved, as the hope that +the recollection of our friendship will last forever. And it is the +more gratifying to me because scarcely in the history of the world are +three or four pairs of friends mentioned by name; and I indulge in the +hope that the friendship of Scipio and Lælius will be remembered....</p> + +<p>I can only urge you to prefer friendship to all human possessions; for +there is nothing so suited to our nature, so well adapted to +prosperity or adversity. But first of all, I am of opinion that except +among the virtuous friendship can not exist; I do not analyze this +principle too closely, as they do who inquire with too great nicety +into those things, perhaps with truth on their side, but with little +general advantage; for they maintain that there is no good man but the +wise man. Be it so, yet they define wisdom to be such as no mortal has +ever attained to; whereas we ought to contemplate those things which +exist in practise and in common life, and not the subjects of fictions +or of our own wishes. I would never pretend to say that Caius +Fabricius, Marius Curius, and Titus Coruncanius, whom our ancestors +esteemed wise, were wise according to the standard of these moralists. +Wherefore let them keep to themselves the name of wisdom, both +invidious and unintelligible, and let them allow that these were good +men—nay, they will not even do that; they will declare that this can +not be granted except to a wise man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let us therefore proceed with our dull genius, as they say. Those who +so conduct themselves and so live that their honor, their integrity, +their justice, and liberality are approved; so that there is not in +them any covetousness, or licentiousness, or boldness; and that they +are of great consistency, as those men whom I have mentioned +above—let us consider these worthy of the appellation of good men, as +they have been accounted such, because they follow (as far as men are +able) nature, which is the best guide of a good life. For I seem to +myself to have this view, that we are so formed by nature that there +should be a certain social tie among all; stronger, however, as each +approaches nearer us. Accordingly, citizens are preferable to +foreigners, and relatives to strangers; for with the last-named, +Nature herself has created a friendly feeling, tho this has not +sufficient strength. For in this respect friendship is superior to +relationship, because from relationship benevolence can be withdrawn +and from friendship it can not; for with the withdrawal of benevolence +the very name of friendship is done away, while that of relationship +remains. Now how great the power of friendship is may be best gathered +from this consideration, that out of the boundless society of the +human race, which Nature herself has joined together, friendship is a +matter so contracted, and brought into so narrow a compass, that the +whole of affection is confined to two, or at any rate to very few.</p> + +<p>Now friendship is nothing else than a complete union of feeling on all +subjects, divine and human, accompanied by kindly feeling and +attachment, than which, indeed, I am not aware whether,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> with the +exception of wisdom, anything better has been bestowed on man by the +immortal gods. Some men prefer riches, others good health, others +influence, others again honors, many prefer even pleasures; the last, +indeed, is the characteristic of beasts; while the former are fleeting +and uncertain, depending not so much on our own purpose as on the +fickleness of fortune. Whereas those who place the supreme good in +virtue, therein do admirably; but this very virtue itself both begets +and constitutes friendship; nor without this virtue can friendship +exist at all. Now let us define this virtue according to the usage of +life and of our common language; and let us not measure it, as certain +learned persons do, by pomp of language; and let us include among the +good those who are so accounted—the Paulli, the Catos, the Galli, the +Scipios, and the Phili; with these men ordinary life is content; and +let us pass over those who are nowhere found to exist. Among men of +this kind, therefore, friendship finds facilities so great that I can +scarcely describe them.</p> + +<p>In the first place—to whom can life be "worth living," as Ennius +says, who does not repose on the mutual kind feeling of some friend? +What can be more delightful than to have one to whom you can speak on +all subjects just as to yourself? Where would be the great enjoyment +in prosperity if you had not one to rejoice in it equally with +yourself? And adversity would indeed be difficult to endure without +some one who would bear it even with greater regret than yourself. In +short, all other objects that are sought after are severally suited to +some one single purpose—riches, that you may spend them; power that +you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> may be courted; honors, that you may be extolled; pleasures, that +you may enjoy them; good health, that you may be exempt from harm, and +perform the functions of the body. Whereas friendship comprizes the +greatest number of objects possible; wherever you turn yourself, it is +at hand; shut out of no place, never out of season, never irksome; and +therefore we do not use fire and water, as they say, on more occasions +than we do friendship. And I am not now speaking of commonplace or +ordinary friendship (tho even that brings delight and benefit), but of +real and true friendship, such as belonged to those of whom very few +are recorded; for prosperity, friendship renders more brilliant, and +adversity more supportable, by dividing and communicating it.</p> + +<p>And while friendship embraces very many and great advantages, she +undoubtedly surpasses all in this, that she shines with a brilliant +hope over the future, and never suffers the spirit to be weakened or +to sink. Besides, he who looks on a true friend looks, as it were, +upon a kind of image of himself; wherefore friends, tho absent, are +still present; tho in poverty, they are rich; tho weak, yet in the +enjoyment of health; and, what is still more difficult to assert, tho +dead they are alive; so entirely does the honor, the memory, the +regret of friends attend them; from which circumstance the death of +the one seems to be happy, and the life of the other praiseworthy; +nay, should you remove from nature the cement of kind feelings, +neither a house nor a city will be able to stand; even the cultivation +of the land will not continue. If it be not clearly perceived how +great is the power of friendship and concord, it can be distinctly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +inferred from quarrels and dissensions; for what house is there so +established, or what state so firmly settled, that may not utterly be +overthrown by hatred and dissension? From which it may be determined +how much advantage there is in friendship. They relate, indeed, that a +certain learned man of Agrigentum<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> promulgated in Greek verses the +doctrine that all things which cohere throughout the whole world, and +all things that are the subjects of motion, are brought together by +friendship, and are dispelled by discord; and this principle all men +understand, and illustrate by their conduct. Therefore, if at any time +any act of a friend has been exhibited, either in undergoing or in +sharing dangers, who is there that does not extol such an act with the +highest praise?...</p> + +<p>Now if such be the influence of integrity, that we love it even in +those whom we have never seen, and, what is much more, even in an +enemy, what wonder if men's feelings are affected when they seem to +discover the goodness and virtue of those with whom they may become +connected by intercourse? altho love is confirmed by the reception of +kindness, and by the discovery of an earnest sympathy, and by close +familiarity, which things being added to the first emotion of the mind +and the affections, there is kindled a large amount of kindly feeling. +And if any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>imagine that this proceeds from a sense of weakness, so +that there shall be secured a friend, by whom a man may obtain that +which he wants, they leave to friendship a mean and, indeed, if I may +so speak, anything but respectable origin, when they make her to be +born of indigence and want; were this the case, then in proportion as +a man judged that there were the least resources in himself, precisely +in that degree would he be best qualified for friendship, whereas the +fact is far otherwise. For just as a man has most confidence in +himself, and as he is most completely fortified by worth and wisdom, +so that he needs no one's assistance, and feels that all his resources +reside in himself, in the same proportion he is most highly +distinguished for seeking out and forming friendships. For what did +Africanus want of me? Nothing whatever, nor indeed did I need aught +from him; but I loved him from admiration of his excellence; he in +turn perhaps was attached to me from some high opinion which he +entertained of my character, and association fostered our affection. +But altho many and great advantages ensued, yet it was not from any +hope of these that the causes of our attachment sprang; for as we are +beneficent and liberal not to exact favor in return (for we are not +usurers in kind actions), but by nature are inclined to liberality, +thus I think that friendship is to be desired, not attracted by the +hope of reward, but because the whole of its profit consists in love +only. From such opinions, they who, after the fashion of beasts, refer +everything to pleasure, widely differ, and no great wonder, since they +can not look up to anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> lofty, magnificent, or divine who east +all their thoughts on an object so mean and contemptible.</p> + +<p>Therefore let us exclude such persons altogether from our discourse; +and let us ourselves hold this opinion, that the sentiment of loving +and the attachment of kind feelings are produced by nature when the +evidence of virtue has been established; and they who have eagerly +sought the last-named draw nigh and attach themselves to it, that they +may enjoy the friendship and character of the individual they have +begun to love, and that they may be commensurate and equal in +affection, and more inclined to confer a favor than to claim any +return. And let this honorable struggle be maintained between them; so +not only will the greatest advantages be derived from friendship, but +its origin from nature rather than from a sense of weakness will be at +once more impressive and more true. For if it were expediency that +cemented friendships, the same when changed would dissolve them; but +because nature can never change, therefore true friendships are +eternal....</p> + +<p>Listen, then, my excellent friends, to the discussion which was very +frequently held by me and Scipio on the subject of friendship; altho +he indeed used to say that nothing was more difficult than that +friendship should continue to the end of life; for it often happened +either that the same course was not expedient to both parties or that +they held different views of politics; he remarked also that the +characters of men often changed, in some cases by adversity, in +others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> by old age becoming oppressive; and he derived an authority +for such notions from a comparison with early life, because the +strongest attachments of boys are constantly laid aside with the +prætexta; even if they should maintain it to manhood, yet sometimes it +is broken off by rivalry, for a dowried wife, or some other advantage +which they can not both attain. And even if men should be carried on +still further in their friendship, yet that feeling is often +undermined should they fall into rivalry for preferments; for there is +no greater enemy to friendship than covetousness of money, in most +men, and even in the best, an emulous desire of high offices and +glory, in consequence of which the most bitter enmities have often +arisen between the dearest friends. For great dissensions, and those +in most instances justifiable, arise when some request is made of +friends which is improper, as, for instance, that they should become +either the ministers of their lust or their supporters in the +perpetration of wrong; and they who refuse to do so, it matters not +however virtuously, yet are accused of discarding the claims of +friendship by those persons whom they are unwilling to oblige; but +they who dare to ask anything of a friend, by their very request seem +to imply that they would do anything for the sake of that friend; by +the complaining of such persons, not only are long-established +intimacies put an end to, but endless animosities are engendered. All +these many causes, like so many fatalities, are ever threatening +friendship, so that, he said, to escape them all seemed to him a proof +not merely of wisdom, but even of good fortune....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let this, therefore, be established as a primary law concerning +friendship, that we expect from our friends only what is honorable, +and for our friends' sake do what is honorable; that we should not +wait till we are asked; that zeal be ever ready, and reluctance far +from us; but that we take pleasure in freely giving our advice; that +in our friendship, the influence of our friends, when they give good +advice, should have great weight; and that this be employed to +admonish not only candidly, but even severely, if the case shall +require, and that we give heed to it when so employed; for, as to +certain persons whom I understand to have been esteemed wise men in +Greece, I am of opinion that some strange notions were entertained by +them; but there is nothing which they do not follow up with too great +subtlety; among the rest, that excessive friendships should be +avoided, lest it should be necessary for one to feel anxiety for many; +that every one has enough, and more than enough, of his own affairs; +that to be needlessly implicated in those of other people is +vexatious; that it was most convenient to hold the reins of friendship +as loose as possible, so as either to tighten or slacken them when you +please; for they argue that the main point toward a happy life is +freedom from care, which the mind can not enjoy if one man be, as it +were, in travail for others.</p> + +<p>Nay, they tell us that some are accustomed to declare, still more +unfeelingly (a topic which I have briefly touched upon just above), +that friendships should be cultivated for the purpose of protection +and assistance, and not for kind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> feeling or affection; and therefore +the less a man possesses of independence and of strength, in the same +degree he most earnestly desires friendships; that thence it arises +that women seek the support of friendship more than men, and the poor +more than the rich, and persons in distress rather than those who are +considered prosperous. Admirable philosophy! for they seem to take +away the sun from the world who withdraw friendship from life; for we +receive nothing better from the immortal gods, nothing more +delightful; for what is this freedom from care?—in appearances, +indeed, flattering; but, in many eases, in reality to be disdained. +Nor is it reasonable to undertake any honorable matter or action lest +you should be anxious, or to lay it aside when undertaken; for if we +fly from care, we must fly from virtue also; for it is impossible that +she can, without some degree of distress, feel contempt and +detestation for qualities opposed to herself; just as kind-heartedness +for malice, temperance for profligacy, and bravery for cowardice. +Accordingly, you see that upright men are most distrest by unjust +actions; the brave with the cowardly; the virtuous with the +profligate; and, therefore, this is the characteristic of a +well-regulated mind, both to be well pleased with what is excellent +and to be distrest with what is contrary. Wherefore, if trouble of +mind befall a wise man (and assuredly it will, unless we suppose that +all humanity is extirpated from his mind), what reason is there why we +should altogether remove friendship from life, lest because of it we +should take upon ourselves some troubles? for what difference is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +there (setting the emotions of the mind aside), I do not say between a +man and a beast, but between a man and a stone, or log, or anything of +that kind? For they do not deserve to be listened to who would have +virtue to be callous and made of iron, as it were, which indeed is, as +in other matters, so in friendship also, tender and susceptible; so +that friends are loosened, as it were, by happy events, and drawn +together by distresses.</p> + +<p>Wherefore the anxiety which has often to be felt for a friend is not +of such force that it should remove friendship from the world, any +more than that the virtues, because they bring with them certain cares +and troubles, should therefore be discarded. For when it produces +friendship (as I said above), should any indication of virtue shine +forth, to which a congenial mind may attach and unite itself—when +this happens, affection must necessarily arise. For what is so +unmeaning as to take delight in many vain things, such as preferments, +glory, magnificent buildings, clothing and adornment of the body, and +not to take an extreme delight in a soul endued with virtue, in such a +soul as can either love or (so to speak) love in return? for there is +nothing more delightful than the repayment of kindness and the +interchange of devotedness and good offices. Now if we add this, which +may with propriety be added, that nothing so allures and draws any +object to itself as congeniality does friendship, it will of course be +admitted as true that the good must love the good, and unite them to +them selves, just as if connected by relationship and nature; for +nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> is more apt to seek and seize on its like than nature. +Wherefore this certainly is clear, Fannius and Scævola (in my +opinion), that among the good a liking for the good is, as it were, +inevitable; and this indeed is appointed by Nature herself as the very +fountain of friendship.</p> + +<p>But the same kind disposition belongs also to the multitude; for +virtue is not inhuman, or cruel, or haughty, since she is accustomed +to protect even whole nations, and to adopt the best measures for +their welfare, which assuredly she would not do did she shrink from +the affection of the vulgar. And to myself, indeed, those who form +friendships with a view to advantage seem to do away with its most +endearing bond; for it is not so much the advantage obtained through a +friend as the mere love of that friend which delights; and then only +what has proceeded from a friend becomes delightful if it has +proceeded from zealous affection; and that friendship should be +cultivated from a sense of necessity is so far from being the case +that those who, being endowed with power and wealth, and especially +with virtue (in which is the strongest support of friendship), have +least need of another, are most liberal and generous. Yet I am not +sure whether it is requisite that friends should never stand in any +need; for wherein would any devotedness of mine to him have been +exerted if Scipio had never stood in need of my advice or assistance +at home or abroad? Wherefore friendship has not followed upon +advantage, but advantage on friendship.</p> + +<p>Persons, therefore, who are wallowing in indulgence will not need to +be listened to if ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> they shall descant upon friendship, which they +have known neither by experience nor by theory. For who is there, by +the faith of gods and men, who would desire, on the condition of his +loving no one, and himself being loved by none, to roll in affluence, +and live in a superfluity of all things? For this is the life of +tyrants, in which undoubtedly there can be no confidence, no +affection, no steady dependence on attachment; all is perpetually +mistrust and disquietude—there is no room for friendship. For who can +love either him whom he fears or him by whom he thinks he himself is +feared? Yet are they courted, solely in hypocrisy, for a time; +because, if perchance (as it frequently happens) they have been +brought low, then it is perceived how destitute they were of friends. +And this, they say, Tarquin<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> exprest; that when going into exile, +he found out whom he had as faithful friends, and whom unfaithful +ones, since then he could no longer show gratitude to either party; +altho I wonder that, with such haughtiness and impatience of temper, +he could find one at all. And as the character of the individual whom +I have mentioned could not obtain true friends, so the riches of many +men of rank exclude all faithful friendship; for not only is Fortune +blind herself, but she commonly renders blind those whom she +embraces....</p> + +<p>He who, therefore, shall have shown himself in both cases, as regards +friendship, worthy, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>consistent, and stedfast; such a one we ought to +esteem of a class of persons extremely rare—nay, almost godlike. Now, +the foundation of that stedfastness and constancy, which we seek in +friendship, is sincerity. For nothing is stedfast which is insincere. +Besides, it is right that one should be chosen who is frank and +good-natured, and congenial in his sentiments; one, in fact, who is +influenced by the same motives, all of which qualities have a tendency +to create sincerity. For it is impossible for a wily and tortuous +disposition to be sincere. Nor in truth can the man who has no +sympathy from nature, and who is not moved by the same considerations, +be either attached or steady. To the same requisites must be added +that he shall neither take delight in bringing forward charges nor +believe them when they arise, all of which causes belong to that +consistent principle of which now for some time I have been treating. +Thus the remark is true which I made at first that friendship can +exist only among the good; for it is the part of a good man (whom at +the same time we may call a wise man) to observe these two rules in +friendship: first, that there shall be nothing pretended or simulated +(for even to hate openly better becomes the ingenuous man than by his +looks to conceal his sentiments); in the next place, that not only +does he repel charges when brought (against his friends) by any one, +but is not himself suspicious, ever fancying that some infidelity has +been committed by his friend. To all this there should be added a +certain suavity of conversation and manners, affording, as it does, no +inconsiderable zest to friendship. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> solemnity and gravity on all +occasions, certainly, carry with them dignity; but friendship ought to +be easier and more free and more pleasant, and tending more to every +kind of politeness and good nature....</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> From the "Cato Major, an Essay on Old Age." Translated by +Cyrus R. Edmonds. This work is composed in the form of a dialog, in +which, in the person of Cato the Censor as speaker, the benefits of +old age are pointed out.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> A famous athlete who was many times crowned at the +Pythian and Olympian games.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Cneius Scipio was Consul in 222, and with Marcellus +completed the conquest of Cisalpine Gaul. He served with his brother +Publius Cicero against the Carthaginians in Spain, where, after +several victories, both were slain in 212 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Lucius Metellus, a Roman general who defeated the +Carthaginians at Panormus, now Palermo, Sicily, in 250 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Masinissa, king of a small territory in northern Africa, +was at first an ally of Carthage against Rome, but afterward became an +ally of Rome against Carthage.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The translator explains that the speeches here referred +to, as collected and published by Cato, numbered about 150. Cato was +known to his contemporaries as "the Roman Demosthenes." Later writers +often referred to him as "Cato the orator."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Archytas was a Greek philosopher, eminent also as +statesman, mathematician, and general. He lived about 400 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, and is +credited with having saved the life of Plato through his influence +with Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. He was seven times general of +the army of Tarentum and successful in all his campaigns; eminent also +for domestic virtues. He is pronounced by a writer in Smith's +"Dictionary" to have been "among the very greatest men of antiquity." +He was drowned while making a voyage in the Adriatic.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Caudium was a Samnite town near which the Romans were +defeated by Pontius Herennius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Not the Appius Claudius from whom the Appian Way and one +of the great aqueducts were named. The older Appius Claudius, here +referred to, lived in the century that followed Plato.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Titus Flaminius, general and statesman, was Consul in +198 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> It was not Titus, but Caius Flaminius, who built the famous +circus and road bearing his name. Caius lived at an earlier period.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, the eminent military genius, +who several times defeated the Romans before he was finally overthrown +by them at Beneventum in 275 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Livius Andronicus, who lived in Rome about 240 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> A small island (now a peninsula), lying off the coast of +Spain. It is to-day called Cadiz, but anciently was known as Erythia, +Tartessus, and Gades. It was founded about 1100 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, by the +Phenicians, of whose western commerce it was the center.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> The tyrant of Athens who reigned thirty-three years and +died about 527 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Melmoth has commented on this passage that, altho +suicide too generally prevailed among the Greeks and Romans, the +wisest philosophers condemned it. "Nothing," he says, "can be more +clear and explicit" than the prohibition imposed by Pythagoras, +Socrates, and Plato.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Better known as the famous Regulus, whose alleged speech +to the "Conscript Fathers" has been declaimed by generations of +schoolboys.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Lucius Paulus died at the battle of Cannæ, which was +precipitated by his colleague Terentius Varro in 260 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, 40,000 +Romans being killed by the Carthaginians.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Marcellus, a Roman consul, who fought against Hannibal +and was killed in an ambuscade.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Cicero's daughter was born about 79 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, and thrice +married, the last time to Dolabella, who has been described as "one of +the most profligate men of a profligate age." She was divorced from +Dolabella in 44 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, gave birth to a son soon afterward, and died in +the same year. Cicero's letter was written in reply to one which he +had received from Servius Sulpicius, a celebrated Roman jurist. Cicero +intended to erect a temple as a memorial to Tullia, but the death of +Cæsar and the unsettled state of public affairs that ensued, and in +which Cicero was concerned, prevented him from doing so.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> From Book I of the "Offices." Translated by Cyrus R. +Edmonds.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Pausanias, a Spartan general, was the son of +Clœmbrotus, the king of Sparta, killed at the battle of Leuctra. +Pausanias commanded at Platæa; but having conducted a treasonable +correspondence with Xerxes, was starved to death as a punishment.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> The general who contended against Sulla in the Civil +war.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Catulus was consul with Marius in 102 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> He acted with +Sulla during the Civil war.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Nasica, "a fierce and stiff-necked aristocrat," was of +the family of Scipios. When the consuls refused to resort to violence +against Tiberius Gracchus, it was he who led the senators forth from +their meeting-place against the popular assembly outside, with whom +ensued a fight, in which Gracchus was killed by a blow from a club. +Nasica left Rome soon after, seeking safety. After spending some time +as a wandering exile, he died at Pergamus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> From the Dialogue on "Friendship." Translated by Cyrus +E. Edmonds. Lælius, a Roman who was contemporary with the younger +Scipio, is made the speaker in the passage here quoted. Lælius, was a +son of Caius Lælius, the friend and companion of the elder Scipio, +whose actions are so interwoven with those of Scipio that a writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says, "It is difficult to relate them +separately." The younger Lælius was intimate with the younger Scipio +in a degree almost as remarkable as his father had been with the +elder. The younger, immortalized by Cicero's treatise on Friendship, +was born about 186 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, and was a man of fine culture noted as an +orator. His personal worth was so generally esteemed that it survived +to Seneca's day. One of Seneca's injunctions to a friend was that he +should "live like Lælius."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Scipio Africanus minor by whom Carthage was destroyed in +146 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, and Numantia, a town of Spain, was destroyed in 133 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> +From the letter he obtained the surname of Numantinus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Magna Græcia was a name given by the ancients to that +part of southern Italy which, before the rise of the Roman state, was +colonized by Greeks. Its time of greatest splendor was the seventh and +sixth centuries <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>; that is, intermediate between the Homeric age +and the Periclean. Among its leading cities were Cumæ, Sybaris, Locri, +Regium, Tarentum, Heraclea, and Pæstum. At the last-named place +imposing ruins still survive.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Empedocles, philosopher, poet, and historian, who lived +et Agrigentum in Sicily, about 490-430 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, and wrote a poem on the +doctrines of Pythagoras. A legend has survived that he jumped into the +crater of Etna, in order that people might conclude, from his complete +disappearance, that he was a god. Matthew Arnold's poem on this +incident is among his better-known works.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Tarquinius Superbus, seventh and last King of Rome, +occupied the throne for twenty-five years, and as a consequence of the +rape of Lucretia by his son Sextus was banished about 509 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="JULIUS_CAESAR" id="JULIUS_CAESAR"></a>JULIUS CÆSAR</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in 100 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>; assassinated in 44; famous as general, +statesman, orator, and writer; served in Mitylene in 80; +captured by pirates in 76; questor in 68; pontifex maximus +in 63; propretor in Spain in 61; member of the First +Triumvirate in 60; Consul in 59; defeated the Helvetii in +58; invaded Britain in 55 and 54; crossed the Rhine in 55; +crossed the Rubicon and began the Civil war in 49; dictator +from 49 to 45; defeated Pompey in 48; reformed the calendar +in 46; refused the diadem in 44; assassinated in the senate +house in 44.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ia" id="Ia"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE RHINE<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></h3> +<p>Cæsar, for those reasons which I have mentioned, had resolved to cross +the Rhine; but to cross by ships he neither deemed to be sufficiently +safe nor considered consistent with his own dignity or that of the +Roman people. Therefore, altho the greatest difficulty in forming a +bridge was presented to him, on account of the breadth, rapidity, and +depth of the river, he nevertheless <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>considered that it ought to be +attempted by him, or that his army ought not otherwise to be led over. +He devised this plan of a bridge: he joined together, at the distance +of two feet, two piles, each a foot and half thick, sharpened a little +at the lower end, and proportioned in length to the depth of the +river.</p> + +<p>After he had, by means of engines, sunk these into the river, and fixt +them at the bottom, and then driven them in with rammers, not quite +perpendicularly, like a stake, but bending forward and sloping, so as +to incline in the direction of the current of the river; he also +placed two [other piles] opposite to these, at the distance of forty +feet lower down, fastened together in the same manner, but directed +against the force and current of the river. Both these, moreover, were +kept firmly apart by beams two feet thick (the space which the binding +of the piles occupied), laid in at their extremities between two +braces on each side; and in consequence of these being in different +directions and fastened on sides the one opposite to the other, so +great was the strength of the work, and such the arrangement of the +materials, that in proportion as the greater body of water dashed +against the bridge, so much the closer were its parts held fastened +together. These beams were bound together by timber laid over them in +the direction of the length of the bridge, and were [then] covered +with laths and hurdles; and, in addition to this, piles were driven +into the water obliquely, at the lower side of the bridge, and these +serving as buttresses, and being connected with every portion of the +work, sustained the force of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> the stream; and there were others also +above the bridge, at a moderate distance, that if trunks of trees or +vessels were floated down the river by the barbarians for the purpose +of destroying the work, the violence of such things might be +diminished by these defenses, and might not injure the bridge.</p> + +<p>Within ten days after the timber began to be collected, the whole work +was completed, and the whole army led over. Cæsar, leaving a strong +guard at each end of the bridge, hastens into the territories of the +Sigambri. In the mean time, ambassadors from several nations come to +him, whom, on their suing for peace and alliance, he answers in a +courteous manner, and orders hostages to be brought to him. But the +Sigambri, at the very time the bridge was begun to be built, made +preparations for a flight (by the advice of such of the Tenchtheri and +Usipĕtes as they had among them), and quitted their territories and +conveyed away all their possessions, and concealed themselves in +deserts and woods.</p> + +<p>Cæsar, having remained in their territories a few days, and burned all +their villages and houses, and cut down their corn, proceeded into the +territories of the Ubii; and having promised them his assistance, if +they were ever harassed by the Suevi,<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> he learned from them these +particulars: that the Suevi, after they had by means of their scouts +found that the bridge was being built, had called a council, according +to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>their custom, and sent orders to all parts of their state to +remove from the towns and convey their children, wives, and all their +possessions into the woods, and that all who could bear arms should +assemble in one place; that the place thus chosen was nearly the +center of those regions which the Suevi possest; that in this spot +they had resolved to await the arrival of the Romans, and give them +battle there. When Cæsar discovered this, having already accomplished +all these things on account of which he had resolved to lead his army +over—namely, to strike fear into the Germans, take vengeance on the +Sigambri, and free the Ubii from the invasion of the Suevi, having +spent altogether eighteen days beyond the Rhine, and thinking he had +advanced far enough to serve both honor and interest—he returned into +Gaul, and cut down the bridge.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIa" id="IIa"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THE INVASION OF BRITAIN<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></h3> +<p>The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say +that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island +itself; the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the +country of the Belgæ<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> for the purpose of plunder and making war; +almost <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>all of whom are called by the names of those states from which +being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there +and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is +countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part +very like those of the Gauls; the number of cattle is great. They use +either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their +money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; +but the quantity of it is small; they employ brass, which is imported. +There, as in Gaul, is timber of every description, except beech and +fir. They do not regard it lawful to eat the hare and the cock and the +goose; they, however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The +climate is more temperate than in Gaul, the cold being less severe.</p> + +<p>The island is triangular in its form, and one of its sides is opposite +to Gaul. One angle of this side, which is in Kent, whither almost all +ships from Gaul are directed, [looks] to the east; the lower looks to +the south. This side extends about 500 miles. Another side lies toward +Spain,<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> and the west, on which part is Ireland, less, as is +reckoned, than Britain, by one half; but the passage [from it] into +Britain is of equal distance with that from Gaul. In the middle of +this voyage is an island which is called Mona;<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> many smaller +islands besides are supposed to lie [there], of which islands some +have written that at the time of the winter solstice it is night +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>there for thirty consecutive days. We, in our inquiries about that +matter, ascertained nothing, except that, by accurate measurements +with water, we perceived the nights to be shorter there than on the +continent. The length of this side, as their account states, is 700 +miles. The third side is toward the north, to which portion of the +island no land is opposite; but an angle of that side looks +principally toward Germany. This side is considered to be 800 miles in +length. Thus the whole island is [about] 2,000 miles in circumference.</p> + +<p>The most civilized of all these nations are they who inhabit Kent, +which is entirely a maritime district, nor do their customs differ +much from Gallic. Most of the inland inhabitants do not sow corn, but +live on milk and flesh, and are clad with skins. All the Britains, +indeed, dye themselves with wood, which occasions a bluish color, and +thereby have a more terrible appearance in fight. They wear their hair +long, and have every part of their body shaved except their head and +upper lip. Ten and even twelve have wives common to them, and +particularly brothers among brothers, and parents among their +children; but if there be any issue by these wives, they are reputed +to be the children of those by whom respectively each was first +espoused when a virgin.</p> + +<p>The horse and charioteers of the enemy contended vigorously in a +skirmish with our cavalry on the march; yet so that our men were +conquerors in all parts, and drove them to their woods and hills; but, +having slain a great many, they pursued too eagerly, and lost some of +their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> men. However, the enemy, after some time had elapsed, when our +men were off their guard, and occupied in the fortification of the +camp, rushed out of the woods, and making an attack upon those who +were placed on duty before the camp, fought in a determined manner; +and two cohorts being sent by Cæsar to their relief, and these +severally the first of two legions, when these had taken up their +position at a very small distance from each other, as our men were +disconcerted by the unusual mode of battle, the enemy broke through +the middle of them most courageously, and retreated thence in safety. +That day, Q. Laberius Durus, a tribune of the soldiers, was slain. The +enemy, since more cohorts were sent against them, were repulsed.</p> + +<p>In the whole of this method of fighting since the engagement took +place under the eyes of all and before the camp, it was perceived that +our men, on account of the weight of their arms, inasmuch as they +could neither pursue [the enemy when] retreating, nor dare quit their +standards, were little suited to this kind of enemy; that the horse +also fought with great danger, because they [the Britons] generally +retreated even designedly, and, when they had drawn off our men a +short distance from the legions, leapt from their chariots and fought +on foot in unequal [and to them advantageous] battle. But the system +of cavalry engagement is wont to produce equal danger, and indeed the +same, both to those who retreat and those who pursue. To this was +added, that they never fought in close order, but in small parties and +at great distances, and had detachments placed [in different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> parts], +and then the one relieved the other, and the vigorous and fresh +succeeded the wearied.</p> + +<p>The following day the enemy halted on the hills, a distance from our +camp, and presented themselves in small parties, and began to +challenge our horse to battle with less spirit than the day before. +But at noon, when Cæsar had sent three legions, and all the cavalry +with C. Trebonius, the lieutenant, for the purpose of foraging, they +flew upon the foragers suddenly from all quarters, so that they did +not keep off [even] from the standards and the legions. Our men, +making an attack on them vigorously, repulsed them; nor did they cease +to pursue them until the horse, relying on relief, as they saw the +legions behind them, drove the enemy precipitately before them, and, +slaying a great number of them, did not give them the opportunity +either of rallying, or halting, or leaping from their chariots. After +this retreat the auxiliaries departed; nor after that time did the +enemy ever engage with us in very large numbers.</p> + +<p>Cæsar, discovering their design, leads his army into the territories +of Cassivelaunus<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> to the river Thames, which river can be forded in +one place only, and that with difficulty. When he had arrived there, +he perceives that numerous forces of the enemy were marshaled on the +other bank of the river; the bank also was defended by sharp +stakes<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> fixt in front, and stakes of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>same kind fixt under the +water were covered by the river. These things being discovered from +[some] prisoners and deserters, Cæsar, sending forward the cavalry, +ordered the legions to follow them immediately. But the soldiers +advanced with such speed and such ardor, tho they stood above the +water by their heads only, that the enemy could not sustain the attack +of the legions and of the horse, and quitted the banks, and committed +themselves to flight.</p> + +<p>Cassivelaunus, as we have stated above, all hope [rising out] of +battle being laid aside, the greater part of his forces being +dismissed, and about 4,000 charioteers only being left, used to +observe our marches and retire a little from the road, and conceal +himself in intricate and woody places, and in those neighborhoods in +which he had discovered we were about to march, he used to drive the +cattle and the inhabitants from the fields into the woods; and, when +our cavalry, for the sake of plundering and ravaging the more freely, +scattered themselves among the fields, he used to send out charioteers +from the woods by all the well-known roads and paths, and, to the +great danger of our horse, engaged with them; and this source of fear +hindered them from straggling very extensively. The result was that +Cæsar did not allow excursions to be made to a great distance from the +main body of the legions, and ordered that damage should be done to +the enemy in ravaging their lands and kindling fires only so far as +the legionary soldiers could, by their own exertion and marching, +accomplish it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the mean time the Trinobantes,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> almost the most powerful state +of those parts, from which the young man Mandubratius, embracing the +protection of Cæsar, had come to the continent of Gaul to [meet] him +(whose father, Imanuentius, had possest the sovereignty in that state, +and had been killed by Cassivelaunus; he himself had escaped death by +flight) send ambassadors to Cæsar, and promise that they will +surrender themselves to him and perform his command: they entreat him +to protect Mandubratius from the violence of Cassivelaunus, and send +to their state some one to preside over it, and possess the +government. Cæsar demands forty hostages from them, and corn for his +army, and sends Mandubratius to them. They speedily performed the +things demanded, and sent hostages to the number appointed, and the +corn.</p> + +<p>The Trinobantes, being protected and secured from any violence of the +soldiers, the Cenimagni, the Segontiăci, the Ancalites, the +Bibrŏci, and the Cassi, sending embassies, surrender themselves to +Cæsar.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> From them he learns that the capital town of Cassivelaunus +was not far from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>that place, and was defended by woods and morasses, +and a very large number of men and of cattle had been collected in it. +(Now the Britons, when they have fortified the intricate woods, in +which they are wont to assemble for the purpose of avoiding the +incursion of an enemy with an entrenchment and a rampart, call them a +town.) Thither he proceeds with his legions; he finds the place +admirably fortified by nature and art; he, however, undertakes to +attack it in two directions. The enemy, having remained only a short +time, did not sustain the attack of our soldiers, and hurried away on +the other side of the town. A great amount of cattle was found there, +and many of the enemy were taken and slain in their flight....</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIIa" id="IIIa"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>OVERCOMING THE NERVII<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a></h3> +<p>Cæsar, having sent his cavalry on before, followed closely after them +with all his forces; but the plan and order of the march were +different from that which the Belgæ had reported to the Nervii.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> +For as he was approaching the enemy, Cæsar, according to his custom, +led on [as the van] six legions unencumbered by baggage; behind them +he had placed the baggage-trains of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>the whole army; then the two +legions which had been last raised closed the rear, and were a guard +for the baggage-train. Our horse, with the slingers and archers, +having passed the river, commenced action with the cavalry of the +enemy. While they from time to time betook themselves into the woods +to their companions, and again made an assault out of the wood upon +our men, who did not dare to follow them in their retreat further than +the limit to which the plain and open parts extended; in the mean time +the six legions which had arrived first, having measured out the work, +began to fortify the camp. When the first part of the baggage-train of +our army was seen by those who lay hidden in the woods, which had been +agreed on among them as the time for commencing action, as soon as +they had arranged their line of battle and formed their ranks within +the woods, and had encouraged one another, they rushed out suddenly +with all their forces and made an attack upon our horse. The latter +being easily routed and thrown into confusion, the Nervii ran down to +the river with such incredible speed that they seemed to be in the +woods, the river, and close upon us almost at the same time. And with +the same speed they hastened up the hill to our camp and to those who +were employed in the works.</p> + +<p>Cæsar had everything to do at one time: the standard to be displayed, +which was the sign when it was necessary to rim to arms; the signal to +be given by the trumpet; the soldiers to be called off from the works; +those who had proceeded some distance for the purpose of seeking +materials for the rampart, to be summoned; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> order of battle to be +formed; the soldiers to be encouraged; the watchword to be given. A +great part of these arrangements was prevented by the shortness of +time and the sudden approach and charge of the enemy. Under these +difficulties two things proved of advantage: [first] the skill and +experience of the soldiers, because, having been trained by former +engagements, they could suggest to themselves what ought to be done as +conveniently as receive information from others; and [secondly] that +Cæsar had forbidden his several lieutenants to depart from the works +and their respective legions before the camp was fortified. These, on +account of the near approach and the speed of the enemy, did not then +wait for any command from Cæsar, but of themselves executed whatever +appeared proper.</p> + +<p>Cæsar, having given the necessary orders, hastened to and fro into +whatever quarter fortune carried him, to animate the troops, and came +to the tenth legion. Having encouraged the soldiers with no further +speech than that "they should keep up the remembrance of their wonted +valor, and not be confused in mind, but valiantly sustain the assault +of the enemy"; as the latter were not farther from them than the +distance to which a dart could be cast, he gave the signal for +commencing battle. And having gone to another quarter for the purpose +of encouraging [the soldiers], he finds them fighting. Such was the +shortness of the time, and so determined was the mind of the enemy on +fighting, that time was wanting not only for affixing the military +insignia, but even for putting on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> helmets and drawing off the +covers from the shields. To whatever part any one by chance came from +the works (in which he had been employed), and whatever standards he +saw first, at these he stood, lest in seeking his own company he +should lose the time for fighting.</p> + +<p>The army having been marshaled, rather as the nature of the ground and +the declivity of the hill and the exigency of the time than as the +method and order of military matters required, while the legions in +the different places were withstanding the enemy, some in one quarter, +some in another, and the view was obstructed by the very thick hedges +intervening, as we have before remarked, neither could proper reserves +be posted, nor could the necessary measures be taken in each part, nor +could all the commands be issued by one person. Therefore, in such an +unfavorable state of affairs, various events of fortune followed....</p> + +<p>At the same time, our horsemen, and light-armed infantry, who had been +with those who, as I have related, were routed by the first assault of +the enemy, as they were betaking themselves into the camp, met the +enemy face to face, and again sought flight into another quarter; and +the camp-followers, who from the Decuman Gate, and from the highest +ridge of the hill had seen our men pass the river as victors, when, +after going out for the purposes of plundering, they looked back and +saw the enemy parading in our camp, committed themselves precipitately +to flight; at the same time there arose the cry and shout of those who +came with the baggage-train; and they (affrighted) were carried some +one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> way, some another. By all these circumstances the cavalry of the +Treviri were much alarmed (whose reputation for courage is +extraordinary among the Gauls, and who had come to Cæsar, being sent +by their state as auxiliaries), and, when they saw our camp filled +with a large number of the enemy, the legions hard prest and almost +held surrounded, the camp-retainers, horsemen, slingers, and Numidians +fleeing on all sides divided and scattered, they, despairing of our +affairs, hastened home, and related to their state that the Romans +were routed and conquered, [and] that the enemy were in possession of +their camp and baggage-train.</p> + +<p>Cæsar proceeded, after encouraging the tenth legion, to the right +wing, where he perceived that his men were hard prest, and that in +consequence of the standards of the twelfth legion being collected +together in one place, the crowded soldiers were a hindrance to +themselves in the fight; that all the centurions of the fourth cohort +were slain, and the standard-bearer killed, the standard itself lost, +almost all the centurions of the other cohorts either wounded or +slain, and among them the chief centurion of the legion, P. Sextius +Baculus, a very valiant man, who was so exhausted by many and severe +wounds that he was already unable to support himself; he likewise +perceived that the rest were slackening their efforts, and that some, +deserted by those in the rear, were retiring from the battle and +avoiding the weapons; that the enemy [on the other hand], tho +advancing from the lower ground, were not relaxing in front, and were +[at the same time] pressing hard on both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> flanks; he perceived also +that the affair was at a crisis; and that there was not any reserve +which could be brought up; having therefore snatched a shield from one +of the soldiers in the rear (for he himself had come without a +shield), he advanced to the front of the line, and addressing the +centurions by name, and encouraging the rest of the soldiers, he +ordered them to carry forward the standards, and extend the companies, +that they might the more easily use their swords. On his arrival, as +hope was brought to the soldiers and their courage restored, while +every one for his own part, in the sight of his general, desired to +exert his utmost energy, the impetuosity of the enemy was a little +checked.</p> + +<p>Cæsar, when he perceived that the seventh legion, which stood close by +him, was also hard prest by the enemy, directed the tribunes of the +soldiers to effect a junction of the legions gradually, and make their +charge upon the enemy with a double front, which having been done +since they brought assistance the one to the other, nor feared lest +their rear should be surrounded by the enemy, they began to stand +their ground more boldly, and to fight more courageously. In the mean +time, the soldiers of the two legions which had been in the rear of +the army, as a guard for the baggage-train, upon the battle being +reported to them, quickened their pace, and were seen by the enemy on +the top of the hill; and Titus Labienus, having gained possession of +the camp of the enemy, and observed from the higher ground what was +going on in our camp, sent the tenth legion as a relief to our men +who, when they had learned from the flight of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> the horse and the +sutlers in what position the affair was, and in how great danger the +camp and the legion and the commander were involved, left undone +nothing [which tended] to despatch.</p> + +<p>By their arrival, so great a change of matters was made that our men, +even those who had fallen down exhausted with wounds, leaned on their +shields, and renewed the fight; then the camp-retainers, tho unarmed, +seeing the enemy completely dismayed, attacked [them tho] armed; the +horsemen too, that they might by their valor blot out the disgrace of +their flight, thrust themselves before the legionary soldiers in all +parts of the battle. But the enemy, even in the last hope of safety, +displayed such great courage that when the foremost of them had +fallen, the next stood upon them prostrate, and fought from their +bodies; when these were overthrown, and their corpses heaped up +together, those who survived cast their weapons against our men +[thence] as from a mound, and returned our darts which had fallen +short between [the armies]; so that it ought not to be concluded that +men of such great courage had injudiciously dared to pass a very broad +river, ascend very high banks, and come up to a very disadvantageous +place; since their greatness of spirit had rendered these actions +easy, altho in themselves very difficult.</p> + +<p>This battle being ended, and the nation and name of the Nervii being +almost reduced to annihilation, their old men, who together with the +boys and women we have stated to have been collected together in the +fenny places and marshes, on this battle having been reported to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +them, since they were convinced that nothing was an obstacle to the +conquerors, and nothing safe to the conquered, sent ambassadors to +Cæsar by the consent of all who remained, and surrendered themselves +to him; and in recounting the calamity of their state said that their +senators were reduced from 600 to three; that from 60,000 men they +[were reduced] to scarcely 500 who could bear arms, whom Cæsar, that +he might appear to use compassion toward the wretched and the +suppliant, most carefully spared, and ordered them to enjoy their own +territories and towns, and commanded their neighbors that they should +restrain themselves and their dependents from offering injury or +outrage [to them]....</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IVa" id="IVa"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA AND THE DEATH OF POMPEY<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></h3> +<h3>(48 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>)</h3> +<p>Pompey, because he was encamped on a hill, drew up his army at the +very foot of it, ever in expectation, as may be conjectured, that +Cæsar would expose himself to this disadvantageous situation. Cæsar, +seeing no likelihood of being able to bring Pompey to an action, +judged it the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>most expedient method of conducting the war to decamp +from that post, and to be always in motion; with this hope, that by +shifting his camp and removing from place to place, he might be more +conveniently supplied with corn, and also that by being in motion he +might get some opportunity of forcing them to battle, and might by +constant marches harass Pompey's army, which was not accustomed to +fatigue.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> These matters being settled, when the signal for marching +was given, and the tents struck, it was observed that shortly before, +contrary to his daily practise, Pompey's army had advanced farther +than usual from his entrenchments, so that it appeared possible to +come to an action on equal ground. Then Cæsar addrest himself to his +soldiers, when they were at the gates of the camp, ready to march out. +"We must defer," says he, "our march at present, and set our thoughts +on battle, which has been our constant wish; let us then meet the foe +with resolute souls. We shall not hereafter easily find such an +opportunity." He immediately marched out at the head of his troops.</p> + +<p>Pompey also, as was afterward known, at the unanimous solicitation of +his friends, had determined to try the fate of a battle. For he had +even declared in council a few days before that, before the battalions +came to battle, Cæsar's army would be put to the rout. When most +people exprest their surprize at it, "I know," <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>says he, "that I +promise a thing almost incredible; but hear the plan on which I +proceed, that you may march to battle with more confidence and +resolution. I have persuaded our cavalry, and they have engaged to +execute it, as soon as the two armies have met, to attack Cæsar's +right wing on the flank, and enclosing their army on the rear throw +them into disorder, and put them to the rout, before we shall throw a +weapon against the enemy. By this means we shall put an end to the +war, without endangering the legions, and almost without a blow. Nor +is this a difficult matter, as we far outnumber them in cavalry." At +the same time, he gave them notice to be ready for battle on the day +following, and since the opportunity which they had so often wished +for was now arrived, not to disappoint the opinion generally +entertained of their experience and valor....</p> + +<p>Cæsar, observing his former custom, had placed the tenth legion on the +right, the ninth on the left, altho it was very much weakened by the +battles at Dyrrachium.<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> He placed the eighth legion so close to the +ninth as almost to make one of the two, and ordered them to support +each other. He drew up on the field eighty cohorts, making a total of +twenty-two thousand men. He left two cohorts to guard the camp. He +gave the command of the left wing to Antonius, of the right to P. +Sulla, and of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>center to Cn. Domitius; he himself took his post +opposite Pompey. At the same time, fearing, from the disposition of +the enemy which we have previously mentioned, lest his right wing +might be surrounded by their numerous cavalry, he rapidly drafted a +single cohort from each of the legions composing the third line, +formed of them a fourth line, and opposed them to Pompey's cavalry, +and, acquainting them with his wishes, admonished them that the +success of that day depended on their courage. At the same time, he +ordered the third line and the entire army not to charge without his +command; that he would give the signal whenever he wished them to do +so....</p> + +<p>But our men, when the signal was given, rushed forward with their +javelins ready to be launched, but perceiving that Pompey's men did +not run to meet their charge, having acquired experience by custom, +and being practised in former battles, they of their own accord +repressed their speed, and halted almost midway, that they might not +come up with the enemy when their strength was exhausted, and after a +short respite they again renewed their course, and threw their +javelins, and instantly drew their swords, as Cæsar had ordered them. +Nor did Pompey's men fail in this crisis, for they received our +javelins, stood our charge, and maintained their ranks; and, having +launched their javelins, had recourse to their swords. At the same +time, Pompey's horse, according to their orders, rushed out at once +from his left wing, and his whole host of archers poured after them. +Our cavalry did not withstand their charge; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> gave ground a little, +upon which Pompey's horse prest them more vigorously, and began to +file off in troops, and flank our army. When Cæsar perceived this, he +gave the signal to his fourth line, which he had formed of the six +cohorts. They instantly rushed forward and charged Pompey's horse with +such fury that not a man of them stood; but all wheeling about, not +only quitted their post, but galloped forward to seek a refuge in the +highest mountains. By their retreat the archers and slingers, being +left destitute and defenseless, were all cut to pieces. The cohorts, +pursuing their success, wheeled about upon Pompey's left wing, while +his infantry still continued to make battle, and attacked them in the +rear.</p> + +<p>At the same time, Cæsar ordered his third line to advance, which till +then had not been engaged, but had kept their post. Thus, new and +fresh troops having come to the assistance of the fatigued, and others +having made an attack on their rear, Pompey's men were not able to +maintain their ground, but all fled,<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> nor was Cæsar deceived in his +opinion that the victory, as he had declared in his speech to his +soldiers, must have its beginning from those six cohorts, which he had +placed as a fourth line to oppose the horse. For by them the cavalry +were routed; by them the archers and slingers were cut to pieces; by +them the left wing of Pompey's army was surrounded, and obliged to be +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>first to flee. But when Pompey saw his cavalry routed, and that +part of his army on which he reposed his greatest hopes thrown into +confusion, despairing of the rest, he quitted the field, and retreated +straightway on horseback to his camp, and calling to the centurions, +whom he had placed to guard the prætorian gate, with a loud voice, +that the soldiers might hear: "Secure the camp," says he, "defend it +with diligence, if any danger should threaten it; I will visit the +other gates, and encourage the guards of the camp." Having thus said, +he retired into his tent in utter despair, yet anxiously waiting the +issue.</p> + +<p>Cæsar having forced the Pompeians to flee into their entrenchment, and +thinking that he ought not to allow them any respite to recover from +their fright, exhorted his soldiers to take advantage of fortune's +kindness, and to attack the camp. Tho they were fatigued by the +intense heat, for the battle had continued till midday, yet, being +prepared to undergo any labor, they cheerfully obeyed his command. The +camp was bravely defended by the cohorts which had been left to guard +it, but with much more spirit by the Thracians and foreign +auxiliaries. For the soldiers who had fled for refuge to it from the +field of battle, affrighted and exhausted by fatigue, having thrown +away their arms and military standards, had their thoughts more +engaged on their further escape than on the defense of the camp. Nor +could the troops who were posted on the battlements long withstand the +immense number of our darts, but fainting under their wounds quitted +the place, and under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> the conduct of their centurions and tribunes +fled, without stopping, to the high mountains which adjoined the camp.</p> + +<p>In Pompey's camp you might see arbors in which tables were laid, a +large quantity of plate set out, the floors of the tents covered with +fresh sods, the tents of Lucius Lentulus and others shaded with ivy, +and many other things which were proofs of excessive luxury, and a +confidence of victory, so that it might readily be inferred that they +had no apprehensions of the issue of the day, as they indulged +themselves in unnecessary pleasures, and yet upbraided with luxury +Cæsar's army, distrest and suffering troops, who had always been in +want of common necessaries. Pompey, as soon as our men had forced the +trenches, mounting his horse, and stripping off his general's habit, +went hastily out of the back gate of the camp, and galloped with all +speed to Larissa. Nor did he stop there, but with the same despatch, +collecting a few of his flying troops, and halting neither day nor +night, he arrived at the seaside, attended by only thirty horse, and +went on board a victualing bark, often complaining, as we have been +told, that he had been so deceived in his expectation that he was +almost persuaded that he had been betrayed by those from whom he had +expected victory, as they began the flight.</p> + +<p>Cæsar, having possest himself of Pompey's camp, urged his soldiers not +to be too intent on plunder, and lose the opportunity of completing +their conquest. Having obtained their consent, he began to draw lines +round the mountain. The Pompeians distrusting the position, as there +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> no water on the mountain, abandoned it, and all began to retreat +toward Larissa, which Cæsar perceiving divided his troops, and +ordering part of his legions to remain in Pompey's camp, sent back a +part to his own camp, and, taking four legions with him, went by a +shorter road to intercept the enemy; and having marched six miles, +drew up his army. But the Pompeians, observing this, took a post on a +mountain, whose foot was washed by a river. Cæsar having encouraged +his troops, tho they were greatly exhausted by incessant labor the +whole day, and night was now approaching, by throwing up works cut off +the communication between the river and the mountain, that the enemy +might not get water in the night. As soon as the work was finished, +they sent ambassadors to treat about a capitulation. A few senators +who had espoused that party made their escape by night.</p> + +<p>At break of day, Cæsar ordered all those who had taken post on the +mountain to come down from the higher grounds into the plain and pile +their arms. When they did this without refusal, and, with, +outstretched arms, prostrating themselves on the ground, with tears, +implored his mercy, he comforted them and bade them rise, and having +spoken a few words of his own clemency to alleviate their fears, he +pardoned them all, and gave orders to his soldiers that no injury +should be done to them, and nothing taken from them. Having used this +diligence, he ordered the legions in his camp to come and meet him, +and those which were with him to take their turn of rest, and go back +to the camp, and the same day went to Larissa.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>In that battle, no more than two hundred privates were missing, but +Cæsar lost about thirty centurions, valiant officers. Crastinus, also, +of whom mention was made before, fighting most courageously, lost his +life by the wound of a sword in the mouth, nor was that false which he +declared when marching to battle; for Cæsar entertained the highest +opinion of his behavior in that battle, and thought him highly +deserving of his approbation. Of Pompey's army, there fell about +fifteen thousand; but upward of twenty-four thousand were made +prisoners; for even the cohorts which were stationed in the forts +surrendered to Sulla. Several others took shelter in the neighboring +states. One hundred and eighty stands of colors and nine eagles were +brought to Cæsar. Lucius Domitius, fleeing from the camp to the +mountains, his strength being exhausted by fatigue, was killed....</p> + +<p>Cæsar thought he ought to postpone all business and pursue Pompey, +whithersoever he should retreat, that he might not be able to provide +fresh forces, and renew the war; he therefore marched on every day, as +far as his cavalry were able to advance, and ordered one legion to +follow him by shorter journeys. A proclamation was issued by Pompey at +Amphipolis<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> that all the young men of that province, Grecians and +Roman citizens, should take the military oath; but whether he issued +it with an intention of preventing suspicion, and to conceal as long +as possible his design of fleeing farther, or to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>endeavor to keep +possession of Macedonia by new levies, if nobody pursued him, it is +impossible to judge. He lay at anchor one night, and calling together +his friends in Amphipolis, and collecting a sum of money for his +necessary expenses, upon advice of Cæsar's approach, set sail from +that place, and arrived in a few days at Mitylene.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> Here he was +detained two days, and having added a few galleys to his fleet he went +to Cilicia, and thence to Cyprus. There he is informed that, by the +consent of all the inhabitants of Antioch<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> and Roman citizens who +traded there, the castle had been seized to shut him out of the town; +and that messengers had been dispatched to all those who were reported +to have taken refuge in the neighboring states, that they should not +come to Antioch; that if they did so, it would be attended with +imminent danger to their lives. The same thing had happened to Lucius +Lentulus, who had been Consul the year before, and to Publius +Lentulus, a consular senator, and to several others at Rhodes,<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> who +having followed Pompey in his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>flight, and arrived at the island, were +not admitted into the town or port; and having received a message to +leave that neighborhood, set sail much against their will; for the +rumor of Cæsar's approach had now reached those states.</p> + +<p>Pompey, being informed of these proceedings, laid aside his design of +going to Syria, and having taken the public money from the farmers of +the revenue, and borrowed more from some private friends, and having +put on board his ships a large quantity of brass for military +purposes, and two thousand armed men, whom he partly selected from the +slaves of the tax farmers, and partly collected from the merchants, +and such persons as each of his friends thought fit on this occasion, +he sailed for Pelusium.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> It happened that King Ptolemy,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> a +minor, was there with a considerable army, engaged in war with his +sister Cleopatra, whom a few months before, by the assistance of his +relatives and friends, he had expelled from the kingdom; and her camp +lay at a small distance from his. To him Pompey applied to be +permitted to take refuge in Alexandria, and to be protected in his +calamity by his powerful assistance, in consideration of the +friendship and amity which had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>subsisted between his father and him. +But Pompey's deputies, having executed their commission, began to +converse with less restraint with the king's troops, and to advise +them to act with friendship to Pompey, and not to think meanly of his +bad fortune. In Ptolemy's army were several of Pompey's soldiers, of +whom Gabinius<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> had received the command in Syria, and had brought +them over to Alexandria, and at the conclusion of the war had left +with Ptolemy the father of the young king.</p> + +<p>The king's friends, who were regents of the kingdom during the +minority, being informed of these things, either induced by fear, as +they afterward declared, lest Pompey should corrupt the king's army, +and seize on Alexandria<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> and Egypt, or despising his bad fortune, +as in adversity friends commonly change to enemies, in public gave a +favorable answer to his deputies, and desired him to come to the king; +but secretly laid a plot against him, and dispatched Achillas, captain +of the king's guards, a man of singular boldness, and Lucius +Septimius, a military tribune, to assassinate him. Being kindly +addrest by them, and deluded by an acquaintance with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>Septimius, +because in the war with the pirates the latter had commanded a company +under him, he embarked in a small boat, with a few attendants, and was +there murdered by Achillas and Septimius. In like manner, Lucius +Lentulus was seized by the king's order, and put to death in +prison....</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Cicero, whose praise of Cæsar as a writer has been +shared by many readers since his time, described Cæsar's works as +"unadorned, straightforward, and elegant, their ornament being stript +off as it were a garment." Cæsar did his work so well that "he has +deterred all men of sound taste from touching him."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> From Book IV of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." +Translated by McDivett and W. S. Bohn. The site of this bridge is +believed to be in the neighborhood of Cologne.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> The Suevi were migratory Germans who, in Cæsar's time, +occupied the eastern banks of the Rhine in and about the present +country of Baden.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> From Book V of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> The Belgæ comprised various tribes that lived between +the Seine and the Rhine and were the most warlike of the Gauls.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Cæsar's error here has often been commented on, Spain +lying to the south, rather than to the west, of Britain.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Now known as the Isle of Man.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Cassivelaunus was a chieftain of the Britons who had +been entrusted with the supreme command against Cæsar. His own +territory lay north of the Thames.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Bede, the learned Benedictine, who lived in the eighth +century, says that, in his time, remains of these stakes were still to +be seen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> These people occupied what are now the counties of Essex +and Middlesex.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> The translator notes that Tacitus has remarked that +Britain was surveyed, rather than conquered, by Cæsar. He gives the +honor of its real conquest to his own father-in-law, Agricola. While +the Roman armies "owe much to the military virtues of Agricola as +displayed in England, Cæsar," adds the translator, "did what no one +had done before him; he levied tribute upon the Britons and +effectually paved the way for all that Rome subsequently accomplished +in this island."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> From Book II of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> The Nervii were one of the Belgic tribes and are +understood to have been the most warlike of them all.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> From Book III of the "Commentaries on the Civil War." +Pharsalia is a district of Thessaly in Greece. Cæsar's army numbered +22,000 legionaries and 1,000 cavalry; Pompey's, 45,000 legionaries and +7,000 cavalry.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Pompey's army having been recruited from aristocratic +families and their dependents, was not so much accustomed to the +severities of war as were the soldiers of Cæsar, recruited largely +from the populace.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> The modern Durazzo, a seaport on the Adriatic in +Albania. It was founded by colonies from Corfu about 625 B.C. and +became important afterward as a terminus of one of the great Roman +roads. Pompey here defeated Cæsar a short time before he was himself +defeated at Pharsalia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Cæsar on this occasion is said to have advised his +soldiers to aim at the faces of Pompey's cavalry, who, being composed +principally of the young noblemen of Rome, dreaded a scar in the face +more than death itself.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Amphipolis, a city of Macedonia, originally Thracian, +but colonized from Athens. It was situated three miles inland from the +Ægean Sea.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Mitylene was the capital of the island of Lesbos, and an +important maritime power in ancient times.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Arrowsmith describes Antioch as, not only the capital of +Syria, but at one time of Western Asia. It was for years the third +city of the world in beauty, size, and population. It was here that +the followers of Christ first received the name of Christians (in A.D. +39), having before been called Nazarenes and Galileans. In a +neighboring grove stood a famous temple to Apollo and Diana.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Rhodes is the largest island in the Ægean Sea after +Crete and Eubœa. Its capital, having the same name and situated +near the northern end of the island, was famous for a bronze statue of +the sun called the Colossus, which was one of the "seven wonders of +the world."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Pelusium was an ancient city of Egypt, situated in the +delta of the Nile, strongly fortified and regarded as the gate to +Egypt, on its eastern frontier. It lay in the midst of marshes formed +by the overflow of the river, and continued its importance, in a +military sense, until the waters of the river found their way into the +Damietta branch.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Ptolemy XII, who came to the throne of Egypt co-jointly +with his sister Cleopatra in 51 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> He expelled Cleopatra in 49, and +in 48 Cæsar reinstated her. In the war which ensued, he was defeated +and drowned in the Nile.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Gabinius was a Roman tribune who had proposed the +statute bearing his name which gave to Pompey command of the +Mediterranean coast for the suppression of pirates.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Alexandria was founded in 331 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> by Alexander the +Great. Its principal street, 2,000 feet wide, was adorned with "some +of the most costly edifices and structures of marble which perhaps the +world ever saw." Many of these marbles were subsequently taken to Rome +and Constantinople. Alexandria for a long period was the center of +commerce for all merchandise passing between Europe and the East. As a +city of learning, it possest a famous library, which at one period +comprized 700,000 volumes.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="SALLUST" id="SALLUST"></a>SALLUST</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Italy about 86 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>; died about 34; elected tribune +in 52; expelled from the Senate by the censors in 50, +probably for being an active partizan of Cæsar; accompanied +Cæsar on his African campaign in 46; became governor of +Numidia, where he is said to have amassed a fortune +unjustly; author of histories of the Catiline conspiracy and +the war with Jugurtha.<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ib" id="Ib"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE GENESIS OF CATILINE<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></h3> +<p>Of the city of Rome, as I understand, the founders and earliest +inhabitants were the Trojans, who, under the conduct of Æneas, were +wandering about as exiles from their country, without any settled +abode; and with these were joined the Aborigines, a savage race of +men, without laws or government, free, and owning <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>no control. How +easily these two tribes, tho of different origin, dissimilar language, +and opposite habits of life, formed a union when they met within the +same walls is almost incredible. But when their state, from an +accession of population and territory and an improved condition of +morals, showed itself tolerably flourishing and powerful, envy, as is +generally the case in human affairs, was the consequence of its +prosperity. The neighboring kings and people, accordingly, began to +assail them in war, while a few only of their friends came to their +support; for the rest, struck with alarm, shrunk from sharing their +dangers. But the Romans, active at home and in the field, prepared +with alacrity for their defense. They encouraged one another, and +hurried to meet the enemy. They protected, with their arms, their +liberty, their country, and their homes. And when they had at length +repelled danger by valor, they lent assistance to their allies and +supporters, and procured friendships rather by bestowing favors than +by receiving them.</p> + +<p>They had a government regulated by laws. The denomination of their +government was monarchy. Chosen men, whose bodies might be enfeebled +by years, but whose minds were vigorous in understanding, formed the +council of the state; and these, whether from their age, or from the +similarity of their duty, were called Fathers. But afterward, when the +monarchical power, which had been originally established for the +protection of liberty and for the promotion of the public interest, +had degenerated into tyranny and oppression, they changed their plan, +and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> appointed two magistrates, with power only annual; for they +conceived that, by this method, the human mind would be least likely +to grow overbearing through want of control.</p> + +<p>At this period every citizen began to seek distinction, and to display +his talents with greater freedom; for, with princes, the meritorious +are greater objects of suspicion than the undeserving, and to them the +worth of others is a source of alarm. But when liberty was secured, it +is almost incredible how much the state strengthened itself in a short +space of time, so strong a passion for distinction had pervaded it. +Now, for the first time, the youth, as soon as they were able to bear +the toils of war, acquired military skill by actual service in the +camp, and took pleasure rather in splendid arms and military steeds +than in the society of mistresses and convivial indulgence. To such +men no toil was unusual, no place was difficult or inaccessible, no +armed enemy was formidable; their valor had overcome everything. But +among themselves the grand rivalry was for glory; each sought to be +first to wound an enemy, to scale a wall, and to be noticed while +performing such an exploit. Distinction such as this they regarded as +wealth, honor, and true nobility. They were covetous of praise, but +liberal of money; they desired competent riches, but boundless glory. +I could mention, but that the account would draw me too far from my +subject, places in which the Roman people, with a small body of men, +routed vast armies of the enemy; and cities which, tho fortified by +nature, they carried by assault....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>By these two virtues, intrepidity in war and equity in peace, they +maintained themselves and their state; of their exercise of which +virtues, I consider these as the greatest proofs: that, in war, +punishment was oftener inflicted on those who attacked an enemy +contrary to orders, and who, when commanded to retreat, retired too +slowly from the contest, than on those who had dared to desert their +standards, or, when prest by the enemy, to abandon their posts; and +that, in peace, they governed more by conferring benefits than by +exciting terror, and, when they received an injury, chose rather to +pardon than to revenge it.</p> + +<p>But when, by perseverance and integrity, the republic had increased +its power; when mighty princes had been vanquished in war; when +barbarous tribes and populous states had been reduced to subjection; +when Carthage, the rival of Rome's dominion, had been utterly +destroyed, and sea and land lay everywhere open to her sway, Fortune +then began to exercise her tyranny, and to introduce universal +innovation. To those who had easily endured toils, dangers, and +doubtful and difficult circumstances, ease and wealth, the objects of +desire to others, became a burden and a trouble. At first the love of +money, and then that of power, began to prevail, and these became, as +it were, the sources of every evil. For avarice subverted honesty, +integrity, and other honorable principles, and in their stead, +inculcated pride, inhumanity, contempt of religion, and general +venality. Ambition prompted many to become deceitful; to keep one +thing concealed in the breast, and another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> ready on the tongue; to +estimate friendships and enmities, not by their worth, but according +to interest; and to carry rather a specious countenance than an honest +heart. These vices at first advanced but slowly, and were sometimes +restrained by correction; but afterward, when their infection had +spread like a pestilence, the state was entirely changed, and the +government, from being the most equitable and praiseworthy, became +rapacious and insupportable.</p> + +<p>At first, however, it was ambition, rather than avarice, that +influenced the minds of men—a vice which approaches nearer to virtue +than the other. For of glory, honor, and power, the worthy is as +desirous as the worthless; but the one pursues them by just methods; +the other, being destitute of honorable qualities, works with fraud +and deceit. But avarice has merely money for its object, which no wise +man has ever immoderately desired. It is a vice which, as if imbued +with deadly poison, enervates whatever is manly in body or mind. It is +always unbounded and insatiable, and is abated neither by abundance +nor by want.</p> + +<p>But after Lucius Sulla, having recovered the government by force of +arms, proceeded, after a fair commencement, to a pernicious +termination, all became robbers and plunderers; some set their +affections on houses, others on lands; his victorious troops knew +neither restraint nor moderation, but inflicted on the citizens +disgraceful and inhuman outrages. Their rapacity was increased by the +circumstance that Sulla, in order to secure the attachment of the +forces which he had commanded in Asia, had treated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> them, contrary to +the practise of our ancestors, with extraordinary indulgence and +exemption from discipline; and pleasant and luxurious quarters had +easily, during seasons of idleness, enervated the minds of the +soldiery. Then the armies of the Roman people first became habituated +to licentiousness and intemperance, and began to admire statues, +pictures, and sculptured vases; to seize such objects alike in public +edifices and private dwellings; to spoil temples; and to cast off +respect for everything, sacred and profane. Such troops, accordingly, +when once they obtained the mastery, left nothing to the vanquished. +Success unsettles the principles even of the wise, and scarcely would +those of debauched habits use victory with moderation....</p> + +<p>In so populous and so corrupt a city, Catiline, as it was very easy to +do, kept about him, like a body-guard, crowds of the unprincipled and +desperate. For all those shameless, libertine, and profligate +characters who had dissipated their patrimonies by gaming, luxury, and +sensuality; all who had contracted heavy debts, to purchase immunity +for their crimes or offenses; all assassins or sacrilegious persons +from every quarter, convicted or dreading conviction for their evil +deeds; all, besides, whom their tongue or their hand maintained by +perjury or civil bloodshed; all, in fine, whom wickedness, poverty, or +a guilty conscience disquieted, were the associates and intimate +friends of Catiline. And if any one, as yet of unblemished character, +fell into his society, he was presently rendered, by daily intercourse +and temptation, similar and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> equal to the rest. But it was the young +whose acquaintance he chiefly courted, as their minds, ductile and +unsettled from their age, were easily ensnared by his stratagems. For +as the passions of each, according to his years, appeared excited, he +furnished mistresses to some, bought horses and dogs for others, and +spared, in a word, neither his purse nor his character, if he could +but make them his devoted and trustworthy supporters. There were some, +I know, who thought that the youth who frequented the house of +Catiline were guilty of crimes against nature; but this report arose +rather from other causes than from any evidence of the fact....</p> + +<p>Depending on such accomplices and adherents, and knowing that the load +of debt was everywhere great, and that the veterans of Sulla,<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> +having spent their money too liberally, and remembering their spoils +and former victory, were longing for a civil war, Catiline formed the +design of overthrowing the government. There was no army in Italy; +Pompey was fighting in a distant part of the world;<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> he himself had +great hopes of obtaining the consulship; the Senate was wholly off its +guard; everything was quiet and tranquil, and all these circumstances +were exceedingly favorable for Catiline....</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IIb" id="IIb"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></h3> +<p>When the Senate, as I have stated, had gone over to the opinion of +Cato, the Consul, thinking it best not to wait till night, which was +coming on, lest any new attempts should be made during the interval, +ordered the triumvirs to make such preparations as the execution of +the conspirators required. He himself, having posted the necessary +guards, conducted Lentulus<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> to the prison; and the same office was +performed for the rest by the prætors.</p> + +<p>There is a place in the prison, which is called the Tullian +dungeon,<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> and which, after a slight ascent to the left, is sunk +about twelve feet under ground. Walls secure it on every side, and +over it is a vaulted roof connected with stone arches; but its +appearance is disgusting and horrible, by reason of the filth, +darkness, and stench. When Lentulus had been let down into this place, +certain men, to whom orders had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>been given, strangled him with a +cord. Thus this patrician who was of the illustrious family of the +Cornelii, and who had filled the office of Consul at Rome, met with an +end suited to his character and conduct. On Cethegus, Statilius, +Gabinius, and Cœparius, punishment was inflicted in a similar +manner.</p> + +<p>During these proceedings at Rome, Catiline, out of the entire force +which he himself had brought with him, and that which Manlius had +previously collected, formed two legions, filling up the cohorts as +far as his numbers would allow; and afterward, as any volunteers, or +recruits from his confederates, arrived in his camp, he distributed +them equally throughout the cohorts, and thus filled up his legions, +in a short time, with their regular number of men, tho at first he had +not had more than two thousand. But, of his whole army, only about a +fourth part had the proper weapons of soldiers; the rest, as chance +had equipped them, carried darts, spears, or sharpened stakes.</p> + +<p>As Antonius<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> approached with his army, Catiline <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>directed his march +over the hills, encamping, at one time, in the direction of Rome, at +another in that of Gaul. He gave the enemy no opportunity of fighting, +yet hoped himself shortly to find one, if his accomplices at Rome +should succeed in their objects. Slaves, meanwhile, of whom vast +numbers had at first flocked to him, he continued to reject, not only +as depending on the strength of the conspiracy, but as thinking it +impolitic to appear to share the cause of citizens with runagates.</p> + +<p>When it was reported in his camp, however, that the conspiracy had +been discovered at Rome, and that Lentulus, Cethegus, and the rest +whom I have named had been put to death, most of those whom the hope +of plunder or the love of change had led to join in the war fell away. +The remainder Catiline conducted, over rugged mountains and by forced +marches, into the neighborhood of Pistoria, with a view to escape +covertly, by crossroads, into Gaul.</p> + +<p>But Quintus Metellus Celer, who, with a force of three legions, had, +at that time, his station at Picenum, suspected that Catiline, from +the difficulties of his position, would adopt precisely the course +which we have just described. When, therefore, he had learned +Catiline's route from some deserters, he immediately broke up his +camp, and took his post at the very foot of the hills, at the point +where Catiline's descent would be, in his hurried march into Gaul.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> +Nor was Antonius far distant, as he was pursuing, tho <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>with a large +army, yet through plainer ground, and with fewer hindrances, the enemy +in retreat.</p> + +<p>Catiline, when he saw that he was surrounded by mountains and by +hostile forces, that his schemes in the city had been unsuccessful, +and that there was no hope either of escape or of succor, thinking it +best, in such circumstances, to try the fortune of a battle, resolved +upon engaging, as speedily as possible, with Antonius....</p> + +<p>When he had spoken, he ordered, after a short delay, the signal for +battle to be sounded, and led down his troops, in regular order, to +the level ground. Having then sent away the horses of all the cavalry, +in order to increase the men's courage by making their danger equal, +he himself, on foot, drew up his troops suitably to their numbers and +the nature of the ground. As a plain stretched between the mountains +on the left, with a rugged rock on the right, he placed eight cohorts +in front, and stationed the rest of his force, in close order, in the +rear. From among these he removed all the ablest centurions, the +veterans, and the stoutest of the common soldiers that were regularly +armed into the foremost ranks. He ordered Caius Manlius to take the +command on the right, and a certain officer of Fæsulæ on the left; +while he himself, with his freedmen and the colonists, took his +station by the eagle, which Caius Marius was said to have had in his +army in the Cimbrian war.</p> + +<p>On the other side, Caius Antonius, who, being lame, was unable to be +present in the engagement, gave the command of the army to Marcus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Petreius, his lieutenant-general. Petreius ranged the cohorts of +veterans, which he had raised to meet the present insurrection, in +front, and behind them the rest of his force in lines. Then, riding +round among his troops, and addressing his men by name, he encouraged +them, and bade them remember that they were to fight against unarmed +marauders, in defense of their country, their children, their temples, +and their homes. Being a military man, and having served with great +reputation for more than thirty years, as tribune, prefect, +lieutenant, or prætor, he knew most of the soldiers and their +honorable actions, and, by calling these to their remembrance, roused +the spirits of the men.</p> + +<p>When he had made a complete survey, he gave the signal with the +trumpet, and ordered the cohorts to advance slowly. The army of the +enemy followed his example; and when they had approached so near that +the action could be commenced by the light-armed troops, both sides, +with a loud shout, rushed together in a furious charge. They threw +aside their missiles, and fought only with their swords. The veterans, +calling to mind their deeds of old, engaged fiercely in the closest +combat. The enemy made an obstinate resistance; and both sides +contended with the utmost fury. Catiline, during this time, was +exerting himself with his light troops in the front, sustaining such +as were prest, substituting fresh men for the wounded, attending to +every exigency, charging in person, wounding many an enemy, and +performing at once the duties of a valiant soldier and a skilful +general.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> + +<p>When Petreius, contrary to his expectation, found Catiline attacking +him with such impetuosity, he led his prætorian cohort against the +center of the enemy, among whom, being thus thrown into confusion, and +offering but partial resistance, he made great slaughter, and ordered, +at the same time, an assault on both flanks. Manlius and the Fæsulan, +sword in hand, were among the first that fell; and Catiline, when he +saw his army routed, and himself left with but few supporters, +remembering his birth and former dignity, rushed into the thickest of +the enemy, where he was slain, fighting to the last.</p> + +<p>When the battle was over, it was plainly seen what boldness and what +energy of spirit had prevailed throughout the army of Catiline; for, +almost everywhere, every soldier, after yielding up his breath, +covered with his corpse the spot which he had occupied when alive. A +few, indeed, whom the prætorian cohort had dispersed, had fallen +somewhat differently, but all with wounds in front. Catiline himself +was found, far in advance of his men, among the dead bodies of the +enemy; he still breathed, and exprest in his countenance the +fierceness of spirit which he had shown during his life. Of his whole +army, neither in the battle, nor in flight, was any free-born citizen +made prisoner, for they had spared their own lives no more than those +of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Nor did the army of the Roman people obtain a joyful or bloodless +victory; for all their bravest men were either killed in the battle or +left the field severely wounded.</p> + +<p>Of many who went from the camp to view<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> the ground or plunder the +slain, some, in turning over the bodies of the enemy, discovered a +friend, others an acquaintance, others a relative; some, too, +recognized their enemies. Thus, gladness and sorrow, grief and joy, +were variously felt throughout the whole army.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Quintilian thought Sallust had rivaled Thucydides, but +it has generally been held that he rather imitated him. The +resemblance lies in the main in the language he employs. Cruttwell +remarks "that the deep insight of the Athenian into the connection of +events is far removed from the popular rhetoric in which the Roman +deplores the decline of virtue."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson. Catiline came of an old but impoverished patrician family. In +the first Civil War, he had joined Sulla, and in the time of the +proscription is said to have killed with his own hand his +brother-in-law. In 67 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> he was governor of Africa; in 64 he joined +P. Antronius in an attempt to murder the consuls-elect; in 64 he was +himself defeated for the consulship.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> These were men to whom Sulla had given land as rewards +for services, but who from extravagance had fallen into debt. Cicero +said nothing could help them but the resurrection of Sulla from the +dead.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Pompey was then conducting his campaign against +Mithridates.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Lentulus, who came of the ancient and noble Cornelian +family, was one of the chiefs of the Catiline conspiracy. In 71 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> +he was Consul, but in the next year was ejected from the Senate for +"infamous life and manners."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> The Tullian dungeon at Rome was built by King Ancus +Martius and enlarged by Servius Tullius, from whom it derived its +name. It still exists as a subterranean chapel beneath the small +church of San Pietro in Carcere. The church tradition is that St. +Peter was imprisoned in this dungeon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Not the triumvir, but his uncle, Caius Antonius, a man +who after the conspiracy made a scandalous record, and in consequence +was surnamed "Hybrida." He was Consul with Cicero, and is believed to +have been one of the original Catiline conspirators, but Cicero gained +him over to his own side by promising him the rich province of +Macedonia. As Consul, Antonius was under the necessity of leading the +army against Catiline; but, owing to unwillingness to fight against +his former friend (Sallust says owing to lameness) he gave the +immediate command on the day of battle to his legate, Petreius. The +father of this Antonius and the grandfather of Mark Antony, the +triumvir, was Mark Antony, the orator, frequently referred to by +Cicero as one of the greatest of Roman orators.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> That is, northern Italy, which In ancient times had been +occupied by Gallic people. Pistoria was an Etruscan town lying at the +foot of the Apennines.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LIVY" id="LIVY"></a>LIVY</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born In Padua in 59 <span class="smcap">b.c</span>.; died there in 17 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; one of the +most famous of the Roman historians; his work, embracing the +period from the founding of the city, comprized one hundred +and forty-two books, of which only thirty-five have come +down to us; he spent over forty years in writing the +history; he wrote also philosophical dialogs and a work on +rhetorical training.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ic" id="Ic"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>HORATIUS COCLES AT THE BRIDGE<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a></h3> +<h3>(About 510 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>)</h3> +<p>The Sublician bridge<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> well-nigh afforded a passage to the enemy, +had it not been for one man, Horatius Cocles, given by fortune on that +day as a defense of Rome. He happened to be posted on guard at the +bridge and when he saw the Janiculum taken by a sudden assault, and +that the enemy were pouring down thence in full speed, and that his +own party in terror and confusion were abandoning their arms and +ranks—laying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>hold of them one by one, standing in their way, and +appealing to the faith of gods and men, he declared "that their flight +would avail them nothing if they deserted their post; if they passed +the bridge and left it behind them, there would soon be more of the +enemy in the Palatium and Capitol than in the Janiculum; for that +reason he advised and charged them to demolish the bridge, by their +sword, by fire, or by any means whatever; that he would stand the +shock of the enemy as far as could be done by one man."</p> + +<p>He then advanced to the first entrance of the bridge, and being easily +distinguished among those who showed their backs in retreating from +the fight, facing about to engage the foe hand to hand, by his +surprizing bravery he terrified the enemy. Two indeed a sense of shame +kept with him—Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius—men eminent for +their birth, and renowned for their gallant exploits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>With them he for a short time stood the first storm of the danger, and +the severest brunt of the battle. But as they who demolished the +bridge called upon them to retire, he obliged them also to withdraw to +a place of safety on a small portion of the bridge still left. Then +casting his stern eyes round all the officers of the Etrurians in a +threatening manner, he sometimes challenged them singly, sometimes +reproached them all: "the slaves of haughty tyrants, who, regardless +of their own freedom, came to oppress the liberty of others." They +hesitated for a considerable time, looking round one at the other, to +commence the fight; shame then put the army in motion, and a shout +being raised, they hurled their weapons from all sides on their single +adversary; and when they all stuck in the shield held before him, and +he with no less obstinacy kept possession of the bridge with firm +step, they now endeavored to thrust him down from it by one push, when +at once the crash of the falling bridge, at the same time a shout of +the Romans raised for joy at having completed their purpose, checked +their ardor with sudden panic. Then Cocles says, "Holy father +Tiberinus, I pray that thou wouldst receive these arms and this thy +soldier in thy propitious stream." Armed as he was, he leapt into the +Tiber, and, amid showers of darts hurled on him, swam across safe to +his party, having dared an act which is likely to obtain more fame +than belief with posterity. The state was grateful toward such valor; +a statue was erected to him in the Comitium, and as much land was +given to him as he plowed around in one day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> The zeal of private +individuals also was conspicuous among the public honors. For amid the +great scarcity, each person contributed something to him according to +his supply at home, depriving himself of his own support.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIc" id="IIc"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>HANNIBAL'S CROSSING OF THE ALPS<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></h3> + +<h3>(218 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>)</h3> +<p>From the Druentia, by a road that lay principally through plains, +Hannibal arrived at the Alps without molestation from the Gauls who +inhabit those regions. Then, tho the scene had been previously +anticipated from report (by which uncertainties are wont to be +exaggerated), yet the height of the mountains when viewed so near, and +the snows almost mingling with the sky, the shapeless huts situated on +the cliffs, the cattle and beasts of burden withered by the cold, the +men unshorn and wildly drest, all things, animate and inanimate, +stiffened with frost, and other objects more terrible to be seen than +described, renewed their alarm.</p> + +<p>To them, marching up the first acclivities, the mountaineers appeared +occupying the heights <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>overhead, who, if they had occupied the more +concealed valleys, might, by rushing out suddenly to the attack, have +occasioned great flight and havoc. Hannibal orders them to halt, and +having sent forward Gauls to view the ground, when he found there was +no passage that way, he pitches his camp in the widest valley he could +find, among places all rugged and precipitous. Then, having learned +from the same Gauls, when they had mixed in conversation with the +mountaineers, from whom they differed little in language and manners, +that the pass was only beset during the day, and that at night each +withdrew to his own dwelling, he advanced at the dawn to the heights, +as if designing openly and by day to force his way through the defile. +The day then being passed in feigning a different attempt from that +which was in preparation, when they had fortified the camp in the same +place where they had halted, as soon as he perceived that the +mountaineers had descended from the heights, and that the guards were +withdrawn, having lighted for show a greater number of fires than was +proportioned to the number that remained, and having left the baggage +in the camp, with the cavalry and the principal part of the infantry, +he himself with a party of light-armed soldiers, consisting of all the +most courageous of his troops, rapidly cleared the defile, and took +posts on those very heights which the enemy had occupied.</p> + +<p>At dawn of light the next day the camp broke up, and the rest of the +army began to move forward. The mountaineers, on a signal being given, +were now assembling from their forts to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> their usual station, when +they suddenly behold part of the enemy overhanging them from above, in +possession of their former position, and the others passing along the +road. Both these objects, presented at the same time to the eye and +the mind, made them stand motionless for a little while; but when they +afterward saw the confusion in the pass, and that the marching body +was thrown into disorder by the tumult which itself created, +principally from the horses being terrified, thinking that whatever +terror they added would suffice for the destruction of the enemy, they +scramble along the dangerous rocks, as being accustomed alike to +pathless and circuitous ways. Then indeed the Carthaginians were +opposed at once by the enemy and by the difficulties of the ground; +and each striving to escape first from the danger, there was more +fighting among themselves than with their opponents. The horses, in +particular, created danger in the lines, which being terrified by the +discordant clamors that the groves and reechoing valleys augmented, +fell into confusion; and if by chance struck or wounded, they were so +dismayed that they occasioned a great loss both of men and baggage of +every description; and as the pass on both sides was broken and +precipitous, this tumult threw many down to an immense depth, some +even of the armed men; but the beasts of burden, with their loads, +were rolled down like the fall of some vast fabric.</p> + +<p>Tho these disasters were shocking to view, Hannibal, however, held his +place for a little, and kept his men together, lest he might augment +the tumult and disorder: but afterward,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> when he saw the line broken, +and that there was danger that he should bring over his army preserved +to no purpose if deprived of their baggage, he hastened down from the +higher ground; and tho he had routed the enemy by the first onset +alone, he at the same time increased the disorder in his own army; but +that tumult was composed in a moment, after the roads were cleared by +the flight of the mountaineers, and presently the whole army was +conducted through, not only without being disturbed, but almost in +silence. He then took a fortified place, which was the capital of that +district, and the little villages that lay around it, and fed his army +for three days with the corn and cattle he had taken; and during these +three days, as the soldiers were neither obstructed by the +mountaineers, who had been daunted by the first engagement, nor yet +much by the ground, he made considerable way.</p> + +<p>He then came to another state, abounding, for a mountainous country, +with inhabitants, where he was nearly overcome, not by open war, but +by his own arts of treachery and ambuscade. Some old men, governors of +forts, came as deputies to the Carthaginian, professing, "that having +been warned by the useful example of the calamities of others, they +wished rather to experience the friendship than the hostilities of the +Carthaginians; they would, therefore, obediently execute his commands, +and begged that he would accept of a supply of provisions, guides of +his march, and hostages for the sincerity of their promises." +Hannibal, when he had answered them in a friendly manner, thinking +that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> should neither be rashly trusted nor yet rejected, lest if +repulsed they might openly become enemies, having received the +hostages whom they proffered, and made use of the provisions which +they of their own accord brought down to the road, followed their +guides, by no means as among a people with whom he was at peace, but +with his line of march in close order. The elephants and cavalry +formed the van of the marching body; he himself, examining everything +around, and intent on every circumstance, followed with the choicest +of his infantry. When they came into a narrower pass, lying on one +side beneath an overhanging eminence, the barbarians, rising at once +on all sides from their ambush, assail them in front and rear, both at +close quarters and from a distance, and roll down huge stones on the +army. The most numerous body of men prest on the rear; against whom +the infantry facing about and directing their attack made it very +obvious that, had not the rear of the army been well supported, a +great loss must have been sustained in that pass. Even as it was, they +came to the extremity of danger, and almost to destruction; for while +Hannibal hesitated to lead down his division into the defile, because, +tho he himself was a protection to the cavalry, he had not in the same +way left any aid to the infantry in the rear; the mountaineers, +charging obliquely, and on having broken through the middle of the +army, took possession of the road; and one night was spent by Hannibal +without his cavalry and baggage....</p> + +<p>On the standards being moved forward at daybreak,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> when the army +proceeded slowly over all places entirely blocked up with snow, and +languor and despair strongly appeared in the countenances of all, +Hannibal, having advanced before the standards, and ordered the +soldiers to halt on a certain eminence, whence there was a prospect +far and wide, pointed out to them Italy and the plains of the Po, +extending themselves beneath the Alpine mountains; and said "that they +were now surmounting not only the ramparts of Italy, but also of the +city of Rome; that the rest of the journey would be smooth and +down-hill; that after one, or, at most, a second battle, they would +have the citadel and capital of Italy in their power and possession." +The army then began to advance, the enemy now making no attempts +beyond petty thefts, as opportunity offered. But the journey proved +much more difficult than it had been in the ascent, as the declivity +of the Alps, being generally shorter on the side of Italy, is +consequently steeper; for nearly all the road was precipitous, narrow, +and slippery, so that neither those who made the least stumble could +prevent themselves from falling, nor, when fallen, remain in the same +place, but rolled, both men and beasts of burden, one upon another.</p> + +<p>They then came to a rock much more narrow, and formed of such +perpendicular ledges that a light-armed soldier, carefully making the +attempt, and clinging with his hands to the bushes and roots around, +could with difficulty lower himself down. The ground, even before very +steep by nature, had been broken by a recent falling away of the earth +into a precipice of nearly a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> thousand feet in depth. Here when the +cavalry halted, as if at the end of their journey, it was announced to +Hannibal, wondering what obstructed the march, that the rock was +impassable. Having then gone himself to view the place, it seemed +clear to him that he must lead his army, by however great a circuit, +through the pathless and untrodden regions around it. But this route +also proved impracticable; for while the new snow of a moderate depth +remained on the old, which had not been removed, their footsteps were +planted with ease as they walked upon the new snow, which was soft and +not too deep; but when it was dissolved by the trampling of so many +men and beasts of burden, they then walked on the bare ice below, and +through the dirty fluid formed by the melting snow. Here there was a +wretched struggle, both on account of the slippery ice not affording +any hold to the step, and giving way beneath the foot more readily by +reason of the slope; and whether they assisted themselves in rising by +their hands or their knees, their supports themselves giving way, they +would tumble again; nor were there any stumps or roots near by +pressing against which one might with hand or foot support oneself; so +that they only floundered on the smooth ice and amidst the melted +snow. The beasts of burden sometimes also cut into this lower ice by +merely treading upon it, at others they broke it completely through, +by the violence with which they struck in their hoofs in their +struggling, so that most of them, as if taken in a trap, stuck in the +hardened and deeply frozen ice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> + +<p>At length, after the men and beasts of burden had been fatigued to no +purpose, the camp was pitched on the summit, the ground being cleared +for that purpose with great difficulty, so much snow was there to be +dug out and carried away. The soldiers being then set to make a way +down the cliff, by which alone a passage could be effected, and it +being necessary that they should cut through the rocks, having felled +and lopped a number of large trees which grew around, they make a huge +pile of timber; and as soon as a strong wind fit for exciting the +flames arose, they set fire to it, and, pouring vinegar on the heated +stones, they render them soft and crumbling. They then open a way with +iron instruments through the rock thus heated by the fire, and soften +its declivities by gentle windings, so that not only the beasts of +burden, but also the elephants, could be led down it. Four days were +spent about this rock, the beasts nearly perishing through hunger; for +the summits of the mountains are for the most part bare, and if there +is any pasture the snows bury it. The lower parts contain valleys, and +some sunny hills, and rivulets flowing beside woods, and scenes more +worthy of the abode of man. There the beasts of burden were sent out +to pasture, and rest given for three days to the men, fatigued with +forming the passage; they then descended into the plains, the country +and the dispositions of the inhabitants being now less rugged.</p> + +<p>In this manner chiefly they came to Italy, in the fifth month (as some +authors relate) after leaving New Carthage, having crossed the Alps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +in fifteen days. What number of forces Hannibal had when he had passed +into Italy is by no means agreed upon by authors. Those who state them +at the highest make mention of a hundred thousand foot and twenty +thousand horse; those who state them at the lowest, of twenty thousand +foot and six thousand horse. Lucius Cincius Alimentus, who relates +that he was made prisoner by Hannibal, would influence me most as an +authority did he not confound the number by adding the Gauls and +Ligurians. Including these (who, it is more probable, flocked to him +afterward, as some authors assert), he says that eighty thousand foot +and ten thousand horse were brought into Italy; and that he had heard +from Hannibal himself that, after crossing the Rhone, he had lost +thirty-six thousand men, and an immense number of horses and other +beasts of burden among the Taurini,<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> the next nation to the Gauls, +as he descended into Italy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IIIb" id="IIIb"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO AT ZAMA<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a></h3> +<h3>(202 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>)</h3> +<p>Hannibal had by this time arrived at Adrumetum,<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> from which place, +after employing a few days there in refreshing his soldiers, who had +suffered from the motion by sea, he proceeded by forced marches to +Zama, roused by the alarming statements of messengers, who brought +word that all the country round Carthage was filled with armed troops. +Zama is distant from Carthage a five days' journey. Some spies, whom +he had sent out from this place, being intercepted by the Roman guard, +and brought before Scipio, he directed that they should be handed over +to the military tribunes, and, after having been desired fearlessly to +survey everything, he conducted them through the camp wherever they +chose; then, asking them whether they had examined everything to their +satisfaction, he assigned them an escort, and sent them back to +Hannibal. Hannibal received none of the circumstances which were +reported to him with feelings of joy; for they brought word that, as +it happened, Masinissa had joined the enemy that very day, with six +thousand infantry and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>four thousand horse; but he was principally +dispirited by the confidence of his enemy, which, doubtless, was not +conceived without some ground. Accordingly, tho he himself was the +originator of the war, and by his coming had upset the truce which had +been entered into, and cut off all hopes of a treaty, yet, concluding +that more favorable terms might be obtained if he solicited peace +while his strength was unimpaired than when vanquished, he sent a +message to Scipio requesting permission to confer with him.</p> + +<p>Their armed attendants having retired to an equal distance, they met, +each attended by one interpreter, being the greatest generals not only +of their own times, but of any to be found in the records of the times +preceding them, and equal to any of the kings or generals of any +nation whatever. When they came within sight of each other they +remained silent for a short time, thunderstruck, as it were, with +mutual admiration. At length Hannibal thus began:</p> + +<p>"Since fate hath so ordained it, that I, who was the first to wage war +upon the Romans, and who have so often had victory almost within my +reach, should voluntarily come to sue for peace, I rejoice that it is +you, above all others, from whom it is my lot to solicit it. To you, +also, amidst the many distinguished events of your life, it will not +be esteemed one of the least glorious that Hannibal, to whom the gods +had so often granted victory over the Roman generals, should have +yielded to you; and that you should have put an end to this war, which +has been rendered remarkable by your calamities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> before it was by +ours. In this, also, fortune would seem to have exhibited a +disposition to sport with events, for it was when your father was +Consul that I first took up arms; he was the first Roman general with +whom I engaged in a pitched battle; and it is to his son that I now +come unarmed to solicit peace. It were, indeed, most to have been +desired that the gods should have put such dispositions into the minds +of our fathers, that you should have been content with the empire of +Italy, and we with that of Africa; nor, indeed, even to you, are +Sicily and Sardinia of sufficient value to compensate you for the loss +of so many fleets, so many armies, so many and such distinguished +generals.</p> + +<p>"But what is past may be more easily censured than retrieved. In our +attempts to acquire the possessions of others, we have been compelled +to fight for our own; and not only have you had a war in Italy, and we +also in Africa, but you have beheld the standards and arms of your +enemies almost in your gates and on your walls, and we now, from the +walls of Carthage, distinctly hear the din of a Roman camp. What, +therefore, we should most earnestly deprecate, and you should most +devoutly wish for, is now the case: peace is proposed at a time when +you have the advantage. We who negotiate it are the persons whom it +most concerns to obtain it, and we are persons 'whose arrangements, be +they what they will, our states will ratify. All we want is a +disposition not averse from peaceful counsels. So far as relates to +myself, time (for I am returning to that country an old man which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> I +left a boy),<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> and prosperity, and adversity, have so schooled me +that I am more inclined to follow reason than fortune. But I fear your +youth and uninterrupted good fortune, both of which are apt to inspire +a degree of confidence ill comporting with pacific counsels. Rarely +does that man consider the uncertainty of events whom fortune hath +never deceived. What I was at Trasimenus and at Cannæ that you are +this day. Invested with command when you had scarcely yet attained the +military age, tho all your enterprises were of the boldest +description, in no instance has fortune deserted you. Avenging the +death of your father and uncle, you have derived from the calamity of +your house the high honor of distinguished valor and filial duty. You +have recovered Spain, which had been lost, after driving thence four +Carthaginian armies. When elected Consul, tho all others wanted +courage to defend Italy, you crossed over into Africa, where, having +cut to pieces two armies, having at once captured and burned two camps +in the same hour, having made prisoner Syphax, a most powerful king, +and seized so many towns of his dominions and so many of ours, you +have dragged me from Italy, the possession of which I had firmly held +for now sixteen years....</p> + +<p>"Formerly, in this same country, Marcus Atilius would have formed one +among the few instances of good fortune and valor, if, when +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>victorious, he had granted a peace to our fathers when they requested +it; but by not setting any bounds to his success, and not checking +good fortune, which was elating him, he fell with a degree of ignominy +proportioned to his elevation. It is, indeed, the right of him who +grants, and not of him who solicits it, to dictate the terms of peace; +but perhaps we may not be unworthy to impose upon ourselves the fine. +We do not refuse that all those possessions on account of which the +war was begun should be yours—Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, with all the +islands lying in any part of the sea, between Africa and Italy. Let us +Carthaginians, confined within the shores of Africa, behold you, since +such is the pleasure of the gods, extending your empire over foreign +nations, both by sea and land. I can not deny that you have reason to +suspect the Carthaginian faith, in consequence of their insincerity +lately in soliciting a peace and while awaiting the decision. The +sincerity with which a peace will be observed depends much, Scipio, on +the person by whom it is sought. Your Senate, as I hear, refused to +grant a peace, in some measure, because the deputies were deficient in +respectability. It is I, Hannibal, who now solicit peace, who would +neither ask for it unless I believed it expedient, nor will I fail to +observe it for the same reason of expedience on account of which I +have solicited it. And in the same manner as I, because the war was +commenced by me, brought it to pass that no one regretted it till the +gods began to regard me with displeasure, so will I also exert myself +that no one may regret the peace procured by my means."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>In answer to these things the Roman general spoke nearly to the +following effect: "I was aware that it was in consequence of the +expectation of your arrival that the Carthaginians violated the +existing faith of the truce and broke off all hope of a peace. Nor, +indeed, do you conceal the fact; inasmuch as you artfully withdraw +from the former conditions of peace every concession except what +relates to those things which have for a long time been in our own +power. But as it is your object that your countrymen should be +sensible how great a burden they are relieved from by your means, so +it is incumbent upon me to endeavor that they may not receive, as the +reward of their perfidy, the concessions which they formerly +stipulated, by expunging them now from the conditions of the peace. +Tho you do not deserve to be allowed the same conditions as before, +you now request even to be benefited by your treachery. Neither did +our fathers first make war respecting Sicily, nor did we respecting +Spain. In the former case, the danger which threatened our allies, the +Mamertines, and in the present the destruction of Saguntum, girded us +with just and pious arms. That you were the aggressors, both you +yourselves confess and the gods are witnesses, who determined the +issue of the former war, and who are now determining, and will +determine, the issue of the present according to right and justice. As +to myself, I am not forgetful of the instability of human affairs, but +consider the influence of fortune, and am well aware that all our +measures are liable to a thousand casualties. But as I should +acknowledge that my conduct would savor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> of insolence and oppression +if I rejected you on your coming in person to solicit peace, before I +crossed over into Africa, you voluntarily retiring from Italy, and +after you had embarked your troops, so now, when I have dragged you +into Africa almost by manual force, notwithstanding your resistance +and evasions, I am not bound to treat you with any respect. Wherefore, +if in addition to those stipulations on which it was considered that a +peace would at that time have been agreed upon, and what they are you +are informed, a compensation is proposed for having seized our ships, +together with their stores, during a truce, and for the violence +offered to our ambassadors, I shall then have matter to lay before my +council. But if these things also appear oppressive, prepare for war, +since you could not brook the conditions of peace."</p> + +<p>Thus, without effecting an accommodation, when they had returned from +the conference to their armies, they informed them that words had been +bandied to no purpose, that the question must be decided by arms, and +that they must accept that fortune which the gods assigned them.</p> + +<p>When they had arrived at their camps, they both issued orders that +their soldiers should get their arms in readiness and prepare their +minds for the final contest; in which, if fortune should favor them, +they would continue victorious, not for a single day, but forever. +"Before tomorrow night," they said, "they would know whether Rome or +Carthage should give laws to the world; and that neither Africa nor +Italy, but the whole world, would be the prize of victory; that the +dangers which threatened those who had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> the misfortune to be defeated +were proportioned to the rewards of the victors." For the Romans had +not any place of refuge in an unknown and foreign land, and immediate +destruction seemed to await Carthage if the troops which formed her +last reliance were defeated. To this important contest, the day +following, two generals, by far the most renowned of any, and +belonging to two of the most powerful nations in the world, advanced +either to crown or overthrow, on that day, the many honors they had +previously acquired....</p> + +<p>While the general was busily employed among the Carthaginians, and the +captains of the respective nations among their countrymen, most of +them employing interpreters among troops intermixed with those of +different nations, the trumpets and cornets of the Romans sounded; and +such a clamor arose that the elephants, especially those in the left +wing, turned round upon their own party, the Moors and Numidians. +Masinissa had no difficulty in increasing the alarm of the terrified +enemy, and deprived them of the aid of their cavalry in that wing. A +few, however, of the beasts which were driven against the enemy, and +were not turned back through fear, made great havoc among the ranks of +the velites, tho not without receiving many wounds themselves; for +when the velites, retiring to the companies, had made way for the +elephants, that they might not be trampled down, they discharged their +darts at the beasts, exposed as they were to wounds on both sides, +those in the van also keeping up a continual discharge of javelins; +until, driven out of the Roman line by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> weapons which fell upon +them from all quarters, these elephants also put to flight even the +cavalry of the Carthaginians posted in their right wing. Lælius, when +he saw the enemy in disorder, struck additional terror into them in +their confusion.</p> + +<p>The Carthaginian line was deprived of the cavalry on both sides, when +the infantry, who were now not a match for the Romans in confidence or +strength, engaged. In addition to this there was one circumstance, +trifling in itself, but at the same time producing important +consequences in the action. On the part of the Romans the shout was +uniform, and on that account louder and more terrific; while the +voices of the enemy, consisting as they did of many nations of +different languages, were dissonant. The Romans used the stationary +kind of fight, pressing upon the enemy with their own weight and that +of their arms; but on the other side there was more of skirmishing and +rapid movement than force.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, on the first charge, the Romans immediately drove back +the line of their opponents; then pushing them with their elbows and +the bosses of their shields, and pressing forward into the places from +which they had pushed them, they advanced a considerable space, as tho +there had been no one to resist them, those who formed the rear urging +forward those in front when they perceived the line of the enemy +giving way, which circumstance itself gave great additional force in +repelling them. On the side of the enemy, the second line, consisting +of the Africans and Carthaginians, were so far from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> supporting the +first line when giving ground, that, on the contrary, they even +retired, lest their enemy, by slaying those who made a firm +resistance, should penetrate to themselves also. Accordingly, the +auxiliaries suddenly turned their backs, and facing about upon their +own party, fled some of them into the second line, while others slew +those who did not receive them into their ranks, since before they did +not support them, and now refused to receive them.</p> + +<p>And now there were, in a manner, two contests going on together, the +Carthaginians being compelled to fight at once with the enemy and with +their own party. Not even then, however, did they receive into their +line the terrified and exasperated troops; but, closing their ranks, +drove them out of the scene of action to the wings and the surrounding +plain, lest they should mingle these soldiers, terrified with defeat +and wounds, with that part of their line which was firm and fresh. But +such a heap of men and arms had filled the space in which the +auxiliaries a little while ago had stood that it was almost more +difficult to pass through it than through a close line of troops. The +spearmen, therefore, who formed the front line, pursuing the enemy as +each could find a way through the heap of firms and men, and streams +of blood, threw into complete disorder the battalions and companies. +The standards, also, of the principes had begun to waver when they saw +the line before them driven from their ground. Scipio, perceiving +this, promptly ordered the signal to be given for the spearmen to +retreat, and, having taken his wounded into the rear, brought the +principes and triarii to the wings, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> order that the line of +spearmen in the center might be more strong and secure. Thus a fresh +and renewed battle commenced, inasmuch as they had penetrated to their +real antagonists, men equal to them in the nature of their arms, in +their experience in war, in the fame of their achievements, and the +greatness of their hopes and fears. But the Romans were superior both +in numbers and courage, for they had now routed both the cavalry and +the elephants, and, having already defeated the front line, were +fighting against the second....</p> + +<p>Hannibal, after performing this, as it were, his last work of valor, +fled to Adrumetum, whence, having been summoned to Carthage, he +returned thither in the six and thirtieth year after he had left it +when a boy, and confest in the senate house that he was defeated, not +only in the battle, but in the war, and that there was no hope o± +safety in anything but obtaining peace.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> "The most eloquent of all historians," says Cruttwell. +Livy understood the spirit of ancient times, making it real to modern +minds because he possest "antiquity of soul." In his own day Livy's +popularity was almost limitless. Pliny the Younger recalled that a man +once traveled to Rome from Cadiz with the express purpose of seeing +Livy. Having seen him he returned home at once, caring for nothing +else in Rome.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> From Book II of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. "Cocles" was a nick-name meaning the +"one-eyed." With this story every school-boy has been made familiar +through Macaulay's "Lay," beginning: +</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Lars Porsena of Clusium<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By the Nine Gods he swore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That the great house of Tarquin<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should suffer wrong no more."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Authorities differ as to the site of this bridge. +"Larousse" has a map which identifies it as the site now occupied by +the Æmilian bridge, at the base of the Palatine, near the mouth of the +Cloaca Maxima; but the "Encyclopædia Britannica," in a map of ancient +Rome, places it farther down the Tiber near the center of the base of +the Aventine. Murray's "Handbook of Rome" agrees with the +"Britannica." This bridge was the first one built at Rome, and is +ascribed to King Ancus Martius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> From Book XXI of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. The identity of the pass through which +Hannibal crossed has been the subject of much controversy. A writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says the account in Polybius "will be found, on +the whole, to agree best with the supposition that Hannibal crossed by +the Little St. Bernard." At the same time, "there are some +difficulties" attending this inference.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> A tribe living in the upper valley of the Po, near +Turin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> From Book XXX of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Adrumetum lay in what is now Tunis and was originally a +Phenician city. It was older than Carthage. For many centuries it was +a chief seaport for northern Africa. It is now known as Susa.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Hannibal, who when a boy of nine had left Carthage for +Spain with his father, Hamilcar Barca, at that time took an oath upon +an altar declaring eternal hostility to Rome. In the year of Zama he +was forty-five years old.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="SENECA" id="SENECA"></a>SENECA</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Spain about 4 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>; died near Rome in 65 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; +celebrated as a Stoic and writer; taken to Rome when a +child; a senator in Caligula's reign; banished to Corsica by +Claudius in 41; recalled in 49, and entrusted with the +education of Nero; after Nero's accession in 54 virtually +controlled the imperial government, exercising power in +concert with the Prætorian prefect, Burrus; on the +assassination of Burrus in 62 petitioned for leave to retire +from court, and virtually did withdraw; on being charged +with complicity in the conspiracy of Piso, he committed +suicide in obedience to Nero's order; his extant writings +are numerous, and include "Benefits," "Clemency," and "Minor +Essays."<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Id" id="Id"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>OF THE WISE MAN<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a></h3> +<p>I might truly say, Serenus, that there is as wide a difference between +the Stoics and the other sects of philosophers as there is between men +and women, since each class contributes an equal share to human +society, but the one is born to command, the other to obey. The other +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>philosophers deal with us gently and coaxingly, just as our +accustomed family physicians usually do with our bodies, treating them +not by the best and shortest method, but by that which we allow them +to employ; whereas the Stoics adopt a manly course, and do not care +about its appearing attractive to those who are entering upon it, but +that it should as quickly as possible take us out of the world, and +lead us to that lofty eminence which is so far beyond the scope of any +missile weapon that it is above the reach of Fortune herself. "But the +way by which we are asked to climb is steep and uneven." What then? +Can heights be reached by a level path? Yet they are not so sheer and +precipitous as some think. It is only the first part that has rocks +and cliffs and no apparent outlet, just as many hills seen from a long +way off appear abruptly steep and joined together, because the +distance deceives our sight, and then, as we draw nearer, those very +hills which our mistaken eyes had made into one gradually unfold +themselves, those parts which seemed precipitous from afar assume a +gently sloping outline. When just now mention was made of Marcus Cato, +you whose mind revolts at injustice were indignant at Cato's own age +having so little understood him, at its having allotted a place below +Vatinius to one who towered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>above both Cæsar and Pompey; it seemed +shameful to you, that when he spoke against some law in the Forum his +toga was torn from him, and that he was hustled through the hands of a +mutinous mob from the Rostra as far as the arch of Fabius,<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> +enduring all the bad language, spitting, and other insults of the +frantic rabble.</p> + +<p>I then answered, that you had good cause to be anxious on behalf of +the commonwealth, which Publius Clodius on the one side, Vatinius and +all the greatest scoundrels on the other, were putting up for sale, +and, carried away by their blind covetousness, did not understand that +when they sold it they themselves were sold with it; I bade you have +no fears on behalf of Cato himself, because the wise man can neither +receive injury nor-insult, and it is more certain that the immortal +gods have given Cato as a pattern of a wise man to us, than that they +gave Ulysses or Hercules to the earlier ages; for these our Stoics +have declared were wise men, unconquered by labors, despisers of +pleasure, and superior to all terrors. Cato did not slay wild beasts, +whose pursuit belongs to huntsmen and countrymen, nor did he +exterminate fabulous creatures with fire and sword, or live in times +when it was possible to believe that the heavens could be supported on +the shoulders of one man. In an age which had thrown off its belief in +antiquated superstitions, and had carried material knowledge to its +highest point, he had to struggle against <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>that many-headed monster, +ambition, against that boundless lust for power which the whole world +divided among three men could not satisfy. He alone withstood the +vices of a worn-out state sinking into ruin through its own bulk; he +upheld the falling commonwealth as far as it could be upheld by one +man's hand, until at last his support was withdrawn, and he shared the +crash which he had so long averted, and perished together with that +from which it was impious to separate him—for Cato did not outlive +freedom, nor did freedom outlive Cato. Think you that the people could +do any wrong to such a man when they tore away his prætorship or his +toga? when they bespattered his sacred head with the rinsings of their +mouths? The wise man is safe, and no injury or insult can touch +him....</p> + +<p>Consider now, whether any thief, or false accuser, or headstrong +neighbor, or rich man enjoying the power conferred by a childless old +age, could do any injury to this man, from whom neither war nor an +enemy whose profession was the noble art of battering city walls could +take away anything. Amid the flash of swords on all sides, and the +riot of the plundering soldiery, amid the flames and blood and ruin of +the fallen city, amid the crash of temples falling upon their gods, +one man was at peace. You need not therefore account that a reckless +boast, for which I will give you a surety, if my word goes for +nothing. Indeed, you would hardly believe so much constancy or such +greatness of mind to belong to any man; but here a man comes forward +to prove that you have no reason for doubting that one who is but of +human birth can raise himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> above human necessities, can tranquilly +behold pains, losses, diseases, wounds, and great natural convulsions +roaring around him, can bear adversity with calm and prosperity with +moderation, neither yielding to the former nor trusting to the latter, +that he can remain the same amid all varieties of fortune, and think +nothing to be his own save himself, and himself too only as regards +his better part....</p> + +<p>You have no cause for saying, as you are wont to do, that this wise +man of ours is nowhere to be found; we do not invent him as an unreal +glory of the human race, or conceive a mighty shadow of an untruth, +but we have displayed and will display him just as we sketch him, tho +he may perhaps be uncommon, and only one appears at long intervals; +for what is great and transcends the common ordinary type is not often +produced; but this very Marcus Cato himself, the mention of whom +started this discussion, was a man who I fancy even surpassed our +model. Moreover, that which hurts must be stronger than that which is +hurt. Now wickedness is not stronger than virtue; therefore the wise +man can not be hurt. Only the bad attempt to injure the good. Good men +are at peace among themselves; bad ones are equally mischievous to the +good and to one another. If a man can not be hurt by one weaker than +himself, and a bad man be weaker than a good one, and the good have no +injury to dread, except from one unlike themselves; then, no injury +takes effect upon the wise man; for by this time I need not remind you +that no one save the wise man is good....</p> + +<p>The nobler a man is by birth, by reputation,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> or by inheritance, the +more bravely he should bear himself, remembering that the tallest men +stand in the front rank in battle. As for insults, offensive language, +marks of disgrace, and such like disfigurements, he ought to bear them +as he would bear the shouts of the enemy, and darts or stones flung +from a distance, which rattle upon his helmet without causing a wound; +while he should look upon injuries as wounds, some received on his +armor and others on his body, which he endures without falling or even +leaving his place in the ranks. Even tho you be hard prest and +violently attacked by the enemy, still it is base to give way; hold +the post assigned to you by nature. You ask, what this post is? it is +that of being a man. The wise man has another help, of the opposite +kind to this; you are hard at work, while he has already won the +victory. Do not quarrel with your own good advantage, and, until you +shall have made your way to the truth, keep alive this hope in your +minds, be willing to receive the news of a better life, and encourage +it by your admiration and your prayers; it is to the interest of the +commonwealth of mankind that there should be some one who is +unconquered, some one against whom fortune has no power.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IId" id="IId"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>OF CONSOLATION FOR THE LOSS OF FRIENDS<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a></h3> +<p>Why should I lead you on through the endless series of great men and +pick out the unhappy ones, as tho it were not more difficult to find +happy ones? for how few households have remained possest of all their +members to the end? what one is there that has not suffered some loss? +Take any one year you please and name the Consuls for it; if you like, +that of Lucius Bibulus<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> and Julius Cæsar; you will see that, tho +these colleagues were each other's bitterest enemies, yet their +fortunes agreed. Lucius Bibulus, a man more remarkable for goodness +than for strength of character, had both his sons murdered at the same +time, and even insulted by the Egyptian soldiery, so that the agent of +his bereavement was as much a subject for tears as the bereavement +itself. Nevertheless Bibulus, who during the whole of his year of +office had remained hidden in his house, to cast reproach upon his +colleague Cæsar on the day following that upon which he heard of both +his sons' deaths, came forth and went through the routine business of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>his magistracy. Who could devote less than one day to mourning for +two sons? Thus soon did he end his mourning for his children, altho he +had mourned a whole year for his consulship. Gaius Cæsar, after having +traversed Britain, and not allowed even the ocean to set bounds to his +successes, heard of the death of his daughter, which hurried on the +crisis of affairs. Already Cnæus Pompey stood before his eyes, a man +who would ill endure that any one besides himself should become a +great power in the state, and one who was likely to place a check upon +his advancement, which he had regarded, as onerous even when each +gained by the other's rise: yet within three days' time he resumed his +duties as general, and conquered his grief as quickly as he was wont +to conquer everything else.</p> + +<p>Why need I remind you of the deaths of the other Cæsars, whom fortune +appears to me sometimes to have outraged in order that even by their +deaths they might be useful to mankind, by proving that not even they, +altho they were styled "sons of gods," and "fathers of gods to come," +could exercise the same power over their own fortunes which they did +over those of others? The Emperor Augustus lost his children and his +grandchildren, and after all the family of Cæsar had perished was +obliged to prop his empty house by adopting a son: yet he bore his +losses as bravely as tho he were already personally concerned in the +honor of the gods, and as tho it were especially to his interest that +no one should complain of the injustice of Heaven. Tiberius Cæsar lost +both the son whom he begot and the son whom he adopted, yet he +himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> pronounced a panegyric upon his son from the Rostra, and +stood in full view of the corpse, which merely had a curtain on one +side to prevent the eyes of the high priest resting upon the dead +body, and did not change his countenance, tho all the Romans wept: he +gave Sejanus, who stood by his side, a proof of how patiently he could +endure the loss of his relatives. See you not what numbers of most +eminent men there have been, none of whom have been spared by this +blight which prostrates us all: men, too, adorned with every grace of +character, and every distinction that public or private life can +confer. It appears as tho this plague moved in a regular orbit, and +spread ruin and desolation among us all without distinction of +persons, all being alike its prey. Bid any number of individuals tell +you the story of their lives: you will find that all have paid some +penalty for being born.</p> + +<p>I know what you will say, "You quote men as examples: you forget that +it is a woman that you are trying to console." Yet who would say that +nature has dealt grudgingly with the minds of women and stunted their +virtues? Believe me, they have the same intellectual power as men, and +the same capacity for honorable and generous action. If trained to do +so, they are just as able to endure sorrow or labor. Ye good gods, do +I say this in that very city in which Lucretia and Brutus removed the +yoke of kings from the necks of the Romans? We owe liberty to Brutus, +but we owe Brutus to Lucretia—in which Clœlia,<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>for the +sublime courage with which she scorned both the enemy and the river, +has been almost reckoned as a man.</p> + +<p>The statue of Cœlia, mounted on horseback, in the busiest of +thoroughfares, the Sacred Way, continually reproaches the youth of the +present day, who never mount anything but a cushioned seat in a +carriage, with journeying in such a fashion through that very city in +which we have enrolled even women among our knights. If you wish me to +point out to you examples of women who have bravely endured the loss +of their children, I shall not go far afield to search for them: in +one family I can quote two Cornelias, one the daughter of Scipio, and +the mother of Gracchi, who made acknowledgment of the birth of her +twelve children by burying them all; nor was it so hard to do this in +the case of the others, whose birth and death were alike unknown to +the public, but she beheld the murdered and unburied corpses of both +Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus, whom even those who will not +call them good must admit were great men. Yet to those who tried to +console her and called her unfortunate, she answered, "I shall never +cease to call myself happy, because I am the mother of the Gracchi." +Cornelia, the wife of Livius Drusus,<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> lost by the hands of an +unknown assassin a young son of great distinction, who was treading in +the footsteps of the Gracchi, and was murdered in his own house just +when he had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>so many bills half-way through the process of becoming +law: nevertheless she bore the untimely and unavenged death of her son +with as lofty a spirit as he had shown in carrying his laws.</p> + +<p>Will you not, Marcia, forgive Fortune because she has not refrained +from striking you with the darts which she launched at the Scipios, +and the mothers and daughters of the Scipios, and with which she has +attacked the Cæsars themselves? Life is full of misfortunes; our path +is beset with them: no one can make a long peace, nay, scarcely an +armistice with fortune. You, Marcia, have borne four children; now +they say that no dart which is hurled into a close column of soldiers +can fail to hit one—ought you then to wonder at not having been able +to lead along such a company without exciting the ill will of Fortune, +or suffering loss at her hands?...</p> + +<p>Think how great a blessing is a timely death, how many have been +injured by living longer than they ought. If sickness had carried off +that glory and support of the empire, Cnæus Pompey, at Naples, he +would have died undoubted head of the Roman people, but as it was, a +short extension of time cast him down from his pinnacle of fame: he +beheld his legions slaughtered before his eyes: and what a sad relic +of that battle, in which the Senate formed the first line, was the +survival of the general. He saw his Egyptian butcher, and offered his +body, hallowed by so many victories, to a guardsman's sword, altho, +even had he been unhurt, he would have regretted his safety: for what +could have been more infamous than that a Pompey should owe his life<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +to the clemency of a king? If Marcus Cicero had fallen at the time +when he avoided those dangers which Catiline aimed equally at him and +at his country, he might have died as the savior of the commonwealth +which he had set free: if his death had even followed upon that of his +daughter, he might have died happy. He would not then have seen swords +drawn for the slaughter of Roman citizens, the goods of the murdered +divided among the murderers, that men might pay from their own purse +the price of their own blood, the public auction of the Consul's spoil +in the civil war, the public letting out of murder to be done, +brigandage, war, pillage, hosts of Catilines. Would it not have been a +good thing for Marcus Cato if the sea had swallowed him up when he was +returning from Cyprus after sequestrating the king's hereditary +possessions, even if that very money which he was bringing to pay the +soldiers in the civil war had been lost with him? He certainly would +have been able to boast that no one would dare to do wrong in the +presence of Cato: as it was, the extension of his life for a very few +more years forced one who was born for personal and political freedom +to flee from Cæsar and to become Pompey's follower. Premature death +therefore did him no evil: indeed, it put an end to the power of any +evil to hurt him....</p> + +<p>Born for a very brief space of time, we regard this life as an inn +which we are soon to quit that it may be made ready for the coming +guest, Do I speak of our lives, which we know roll away incredibly +fast? Reckon up the centuries of cities: you will find that even those +which boast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> of their antiquity have not existed for long. All human +works are brief and fleeting: they take up no part whatever of +infinite time. Tried by the standard of the universe, we regard this +earth of ours, with all its cities, nations, rivers, and seaboard, as +a mere point: our life occupies less than a point when compared with +all time, the measure of which exceeds that of the world, for indeed +the world is contained many times in it. Of what importance, then, can +it be to lengthen that which, however much you add to it, will never +be much more than nothing? We can only make our lives long by one +expedient, that is, by being satisfied with their length: you may tell +me of long-lived men, whose length of days has been celebrated by +tradition, you may assign a hundred and ten years apiece to them: yet +when you allow your mind to conceive the idea of eternity, there will +be no difference between the shortest and the longest life, if you +compare the time during which any one has been alive with that during +which he has not been alive. In the next place, when he died his life +was complete; he had lived as long as he needed to live: there was +nothing left for him to accomplish.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IIIc" id="IIIc"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>TO NERO ON CLEMENCY<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a></h3> +<p>You, Cæsar, can boldly say that everything which has come into your +charge has been kept safe, and that the state has neither openly nor +secretly suffered any loss at your hands. You have coveted a glory +which is most rare, and which has been obtained by no emperor before +you, that of innocence. Your remarkable goodness is not thrown away, +nor is it ungratefully or spitefully undervalued. Men feel gratitude +toward you: no one person ever was so dear to another as you are to +the people of Rome, whose great and enduring benefit you are. You +have, however, taken upon yourself a mighty burden: no one any longer +speaks of the good times of the late Emperor Augustus, or the first +years of the reign of Tiberius, or proposes for your imitation any +model outside yourself: yours is a pattern reign. This would have been +difficult had your goodness of heart not been innate, but merely +adopted for a time; for no one can wear a mask for long, and +fictitious qualities soon give place to true ones. Those which are +founded upon truth, become greater and better as time goes on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Roman people were in a state of great hazard as long as it was +uncertain how your generous disposition would turn out: now, however, +the prayers of the community are sure of an answer, for there is no +fear that you should suddenly forget your own character. Indeed, +excess of happiness makes men greedy, and our desires are never so +moderate as to be bounded by what they have obtained: great successes +become the stepping-stones to greater ones, and those who have +obtained more than they hoped, entertain even more extravagant hopes +than before; yet by all your countrymen we hear it admitted that they +are now happy, and moreover, that nothing can be added to the +blessings that they enjoy, except that they should be eternal. Many +circumstances force this admission from them, altho it is the one +which men are least willing to make: we enjoy a profound and +prosperous peace, the power of the law has been openly asserted in the +sight of all men, and raised beyond the reach of any violent +interference: the form of our government is so happy, as to contain +all the essentials of liberty except the power of destroying itself. +It is nevertheless your clemency which is most especially admired by +the high and low alike: every man enjoys or hopes to enjoy the other +blessings of your rule according to the measure of his own personal +good fortune, whereas from your clemency all hope alike: no one has so +much confidence in his innocence, as not to feel glad that in your +presence stands a clemency which is ready to make allowance for human +errors....</p> + +<p>Since I have made mention of the gods, I shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> state the best model +on which a prince may mold his life to be, that he deal with his +countrymen as he would that the gods may deal with himself. Is it then +desirable that the gods should show no mercy upon sins and mistakes, +and that they should harshly pursue us to our ruin? In that case what +king will be safe? Whose limbs will not be torn asunder and collected +by the sooth-sayers If, on the other hand, the gods are placable and +kind, and do not at once avenge the crimes of the powerful with +thunderbolts, is it not far more just that a man set in authority over +other men should exercise his power in a spirit of clemency and should +consider whether the conditions of the world is more beauteous and +pleasant to the eyes on a fine calm day, or when everything is shaken +with frequent thunder-claps and when lightning flashes on all sides! +Yet the appearance of a peaceful and constitutional reign is the same +as that of the calm and brilliant sky. A cruel reign is disordered and +hidden in darkness, and while all shake with terror at the sudden +explosions, not even he who caused all this disturbance escapes +unharmed. It is easier to find excuses for private men who obstinately +claim their rights; possibly they may have been injured and their rage +may spring from their wrongs; besides this, they fear to be despised, +and not to return the injuries which they have received looks like +weakness rather than clemency; but one who can easily avenge himself, +if he neglects to do so, is certain to gain praise for goodness of +heart. Those who are born in a humble station may with greater freedom +exercise violence, go to law, engage in quarrels, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> indulge their +angry passions; even blows count for little between two equals; but in +case of a king, even loud clamor and unmeasured talk are +unbecoming....</p> + +<p>Such was Augustus when an old man, or when growing old: in his youth +he was hasty and passionate, and did many things upon which he looked +back with regret. No one will venture to compare the rule of the blest +Augustus to the mildness of your own, even if your youth be compared +with his more than ripe old age: he was gentle and placable, but it +was after he had dyed the sea at Actium with Roman blood; after he had +wrecked both the enemy's fleet and his own at Sicily; after the +holocaust of Perusia and the proscriptions. But I do not call it +clemency to be wearied of cruelty; true clemency, Cæsar, is that which +you display, which has not begun from remorse at its past ferocity, on +which there is no stain, which has never shed the blood of your +countrymen: this, when combined with unlimited power, shows the truest +self-control and all-embracing love of the human race as of one's +self, not corrupted by any low desires, any extravagant ideas, or any +of the bad examples of former emperors into trying, by actual +experiment, how great a tyranny you would be allowed to exercise over +his countrymen, but inclining rather to blunting your sword of empire.</p> + +<p>You, Cæsar, have granted us the boon of keeping our state free from +bloodshed, and that of which you boast, that you have not caused one +single drop of blood to flow in any part of the world, is all the more +magnanimous and marvelous because no one ever had the power of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +sword placed in his hands at an earlier age. Clemency, then, makes +empires besides being their most trustworthy means of preservation. +Why have legitimate sovereigns grown old on the throne, and bequeathed +their power to their children and grandchildren, while the sway of +despotic usurpers is both hateful and short-lived? What is the +difference between the tyrant and the king—for their outward symbols +of authority and their powers are the same—except it be that tyrants +take delight in cruelty, whereas kings are only cruel for good reasons +and because they can not help it....</p> + +<p>Nothing can be imagined which is more becoming to a sovereign than +clemency, by whatever title and right he may be set over his fellow +citizens. The greater his power, the more beautiful and admirable he +will confess his clemency to be: for there is no reason why power +should do any harm, if only it be wielded in accordance with the laws +of nature. Nature herself has conceived the idea of a king, as you may +learn from various animals, and especially from bees, among whom the +king's cell is the roomiest, and is placed in the most central and +safest part of the hive; moreover, he does no work, but employs +himself in keeping the others up to their work. If the king be lost, +the entire swarm disperses: they never endure to have more than one +king at a time, and find out which is the better by making them fight +with one another: moreover the king is distinguished by his statelier +appearance, being both larger and more brilliantly colored than the +other bees.</p> + +<p>The most remarkable distinction, however, is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> the following: bees are +very fierce, and for their size are the most pugnacious of creatures, +and leave their stings in the wounds which they make, but the king +himself has no sting: nature does not wish him to be savage or to seek +revenge at so dear a rate, and so has deprived him of his weapon and +disarmed his rage. She has offered him as a pattern to great +sovereigns; for she is wont to practise herself in small matters, and +to scatter abroad tiny models of the hugest structures. We ought to be +ashamed of not learning a lesson in behavior from these small +creatures, for a man, who has so much more power of doing harm than +they, ought to show a correspondingly greater amount of self-control. +Would that human beings were subject to the same law, and that their +anger destroyed itself together with its instruments, so that they +could only inflict a wound once, and would not make use of the +strength of others to carry out their hatreds; for their fury would +soon grow faint if it carried its own punishment with it, and could +only give rein to its violence at the risk of death. Even as it is, +however, no one can exercise it with safety, for he must needs feel as +much fear as he hopes to cause, he must watch every one's movements, +and even when his enemies are not laying violent hands upon him he +must bear in mind that they are plotting to do so, and he can not have +a single moment free from alarm. Would any one endure to live such a +life as this, when he might enjoy all the privileges of his high +station to the general joy of all men, without fear? for it is a +mistake to suppose that the king can be safe in a state where nothing +is safe from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> king; he can only purchase a life without anxiety +for himself by guaranteeing the same for his subjects. He need not +pile up lofty citadels, escarp steep hills, cut away the sides of +mountains, and fence himself about with many lines of walls and +towers: clemency will render a king safe even upon an open plain. The +one fortification which can not be stormed is the love of his +countrymen....</p> + +<p>The reason why cruelty is the most hateful of all vices is that it +goes first beyond ordinary limits, and then beyond those of humanity; +that it devises new kinds of punishments, calls ingenuity to aid it in +inventing devices for varying and lengthening men's torture, and takes +delight in their sufferings: this accursed disease of the mind reaches +its highest pitch of madness when cruelty itself turns into pleasure +and the act of killing a man becomes enjoyment. Such a ruler is soon +cast down from his throne; his life is attempted by poison one day and +by the sword the next; he is exposed to as many dangers as there are +men to whom he is dangerous, and he is sometimes destroyed by the +plots of individuals, and at others by a general insurrection. Whole +communities are not roused to action by unimportant outrages on +private persons; but cruelty which takes a wider range, and from which +no one is safe, becomes a mark for all men's weapons. Very small +snakes escape our notice, and the whole country does not combine to +destroy them; but when one of them exceeds the usual size and grows +into a monster, when it poisons fountains with its spittle, scorches +herbage with its breath, and spreads ruin wherever it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> crawls, we +shoot at it with military engines. Trifling evils may cheat us and +elude our observation, but we gird up our loins to attack great ones. +One sick person does not so much as disquiet the house in which he +lies; but when frequent deaths show that a plague is raging, there is +a general outcry, men take to flight and shake their fists angrily at +the very gods themselves. If a fire breaks out under one single roof, +the family and the neighbors pour water upon it; but a wide +conflagration which has consumed many houses must be smothered under +the ruins of a whole quarter of a city....</p> + +<p>I have been especially led to write about clemency, Nero Cæsar, by a +saying of yours, which I remember having heard with admiration and +which I afterward told to others: a noble saying, showing a great mind +and great gentleness, which suddenly burst from you without +premeditation, and was not meant to reach any ears but your own, and +which displayed the conflict which was raging between your natural +goodness and your imperial duties. Your præfect Burrus<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a>, an +excellent man who was born to be the servant of such an emperor as you +are, was about to order two brigands to be executed, and was pressing +you to write their names and the grounds on which they were to be put +to death; this had often been put off, and he was insisting that it +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>should then be done. When he reluctantly produced the document and +put it in your equally reluctant hands, you exclaimed: "Would that I +had never learned my letters!" O what a speech, how worthy to be heard +by all nations, both those who dwell within the Roman Empire, those +who enjoy a debatable independence upon its borders, and those who +either in will or in deed fight against it! It is a speech which ought +to be spoken before a meeting of all mankind, whose words all kings +and princes ought to swear to and obey: a speech worthy of the days of +human innocence, and worthy to bring back that golden age. Now in +truth we ought all to agree to love righteousness and goodness, +covetousness, which is the root of all evil, ought to be driven away, +piety and virtue, good faith and modesty ought to resume their +interrupted reign, and the vices which have so long and so shamefully +ruled us ought at last to give way to an age of happiness and purity.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IVb" id="IVb"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>THE PILOT<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></h3> +<p>A tempest and storme hurt a Pilot, but notwithstanding they make him +not worse. Certaine Stoicks do thus answer against this, that a Pilot +is made worse by a tempest and by a storme, because that thing which +he had purposed he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>cannot effect, nor keep on his course. Worse is he +made, not in his skill, but in his work. To whom the Aristotelian: +therefore, saith he, pouertie and dolour, and what soeuer such like +thing there shall be, shall not take vertue from him, but shall hinder +his working thereof.</p> + +<p>This were rightly said, except the condition of a Pilot and of a +wise-man were unlike. For the purpose of him is in leading his life, +not without faile to effect that which he assayeth to doe, but to doe +all things aright. It is the purpose of the Pilot, without faile to +bring a ship into a hauen. They be seruile arts, they ought to +performe that which they promise. Wisedome is mistresse and +gouernesse. The arts doe serve to, wisedome commandeth our life. I +judge that we must answere after another sort, namely that neyther the +skill of the gouernour is made worse by any tempest, nor yet the very +administration of art. The gouernour hath not promised prosperous +successe unto thee, but his profitable endeuour, and skill to gouerne +the ship. This appeareth the more, by how much the more some force of +fortune hath hindered him. He that hath beene able to say this, O +Neptune, this ship was neuer but right, hath satisfied skill. A +tempest hindereth not the work of a pilot, but the successe.</p> + +<p>What therefore sayeth thou? Doth not that thing hurt a Pilot, which +hindereth him from entring the Port? Which causeth his endeuours to be +vaine? Which eyther beareth him back, or detaineth and disarmeth him? +It hurteth him not as Pilot, but as one that doth saile. Otherwise it +doth not so much hinder, as shew the Pilot's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> skill. For euery one +can, as they say, be a pilot in the calme. These things hinder the +ship; not a pilot as he is a pilot. Two persons a pilot hath; the one +common with all who haue gone aboard the same ship, wherein he +himselfe also is a passenger; the other proper as he is gouernour. The +tempest hurteth him as he is a passenger not as a Pilot. Furthermore +the art of a Pilot is another good, it appertaineth to those whom he +carrieth: as the art of a Physitian appertaineth to those whom he doth +cure. Wisedome is a common good; and is proper to ownes selfe, for +those with whom he doth liue. Therefore peraduenture a Pilot is hurt, +whose promised seruice to others is let by a tempest.</p> + +<p>A wise man is not hurt by pouertie, nor by doulour, nor by other +tempests of life. For not all workes of him be hindered, but only +those that pertain to other men; alwayes is he himself indeed, the +greatest of all, when fortune hath opposed herselfe unto him, then +manageth he the businesse of wisdome itselfe: which wisdome we haue +said to be both anothers and his owne good. Furthermore not then +indeed is he hindered to profite other men, when some necessities do +presse him. Through pouertie he is hindred to teach, how a +Commonwealth may be managed: but he teacheth that thing, how pouertie +is to be managed. His worke is extended all his life long. Thus no +fortune, no thing excludeth the acts of a wise-man. For he doth not +that verie thing, whereby he is forbidden to do other things. He is +fit for both chances: a gouernour of the bad, an ouercommer of the +good. So I say hath he exercised himselfe, that he sheweth vertue as +well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> in prosperous as in aduerse affaires; neyther looketh he upon +the matter thereof, but upon itselfe. Therefore neither pouerty nor +doulour, nor any other thing which turneth back the unskilfull, and +driuest them headlong, hindereth them. Hast thou rather he should be +pressed? He maketh use of it. Not only of iuorie did Phidias know how +to make images: he made them of brasse. If marble were unto him, if +thou hadst offered baser matter, he would haue made such a one +thereof, as could be made of that which was the best.</p> + +<p>So a wise-man will show uertue, if he may, in wealth, if not in +pouertie: if he shall be able, in his countrie; if not in banishment; +if he can, being a commander; if not, being a souldier: if he can +being sound; if not, being weaker what fortune soeuer he shall +entertaine, he will performe some memorable thing thereby. Certain +tamers there be of wild beasts, who teach the fiercest creatures, and +which terrifie a man when they meet him, to suffer the yoake: and not +wanted to have shaken fiercenesse off, do tame them, euer to keep them +companie. The master useth often to thrust out his hand to Lions; they +kisse it. The keeper commandeth his tyger; the Ethiopian Player +commandeth his elephants to fall upon their knees, and to walke upon a +rope; so a wise-man is skilfull to subdue euil things. Dolour, +pouertie, ignominie, prison, banishment, when they come unto him, are +made tame.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>OF A HAPPY LIFE<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a></h3> +<p>All men, brother Gallio, wish to live happily, but are dull at +perceiving exactly what it is that makes life happy: and so far is it +from being easy to attain to happiness that the more eagerly a man +struggles to reach it the further he departs from it, if he takes the +wrong road; for, since this leads in the opposite direction, his very +swiftness carries him all the further away. We must therefore first +define clearly what it is at which we aim: next we must consider by +what path we may most speedily reach it, for on our journey itself, +provided it be made in the right direction, we shall learn how much +progress we have made each day, and how much nearer we are to the goal +toward which our natural desires urge us. But as long as we wander at +random, not following any guide except the shouts and discordant +clamors of those who invite us to proceed in different directions, our +short life will be wasted in useless roamings, even if we labor both +day and night to get a good understanding. Let us not therefore decide +whither we must tend, and by what path, without the advice of some +experienced person who has explored the region which we are about to +enter, because this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>journey is not subject to the same conditions as +others; for in them some distinctly understood track and inquiries +made of the natives make it impossible for us to go wrong, but here +the most beaten and frequented tracks are those which lead us astray. +Nothing, therefore, is more important than that we should not, like +sheep, follow the flock that has gone before us, and thus proceed not +whither we ought, but whither the rest are going....</p> + +<p>True wisdom consists in not departing from nature and in molding our +conduct according to her laws and model. A happy life, therefore, is +one which is in accordance with its own nature, and can not be brought +about unless in the first place the mind be sound and vigorous, +enduring all things with most admirable courage suited to the times in +which it lives, careful of the body and its appurtenances, yet not +troublesomely careful. It must also set due value upon all the things +which adorn our lives, without overestimating any one of them, and +must be able to enjoy the bounty of Fortune without becoming her +slave....</p> + +<p>A happy life consists in a mind which is free, upright, undaunted, and +stedfast beyond the influence of fear or desire, which thinks nothing +good except honor, and nothing bad except shame, and regards +everything else as a mass of mean details which can neither add +anything to nor take anything away from the happiness of life, but +which come and go without either increasing or diminishing the highest +good? A man of these principles, whether he will or no, must be +accompanied by a continual cheerfulness, a high<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> happiness, which +comes indeed from on high because he delights in what he has, and +desires no greater pleasures than those which his home affords. Is he +not right in allowing these to turn the scale against petty, +ridiculous, and short-lived movements of his wretched body? on the day +on which he becomes proof against pleasure he also becomes proof +against pain. See, on the other hand, how evil and guilty a slavery a +man is forced to serve who is dominated in turn by pleasures and +pains, those most untrustworthy and passionate of masters. We must, +therefore, escape from them into freedom. This nothing will bestow +upon us save contempt of Fortune; but if we attain to this, then there +will dawn upon us those invaluable blessings, the repose of a mind +that is at rest in a safe haven, its lofty imaginings, its great and +steady delight at casting out errors and learning to know the truth, +its courtesy and its cheerfulness, in all of which we shall take +delight, not regarding them as good things, but as proceeding from the +proper good of man....</p> + +<p>Why do you put together two things which are unlike and even +incompatible one with another? virtue is a lofty quality, sublime, +royal, unconquerable, untiring: pleasure is low, slavish, weakly, +perishable; its haunts and homes are the brothel and the tavern. You +will meet virtue in the temple, the market-place, the senate-house, +manning the walls, covered with dust, sunburnt, horny-handed: you will +find pleasure skulking out of sight, seeking for shady nooks at the +public baths, hot chambers, and places which dread the visits of the +ædile, soft, effeminate, reeking of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> wine and perfumes, pale or +perhaps painted and made up with cosmetics. The highest good is +immortal: it knows no ending, and does not admit of either satiety or +regret: for a right-thinking mind never alters or becomes hateful to +itself, nor do the best things ever undergo any change: but pleasure +dies at the very moment when it charms us most: it has no great scope, +and therefore it soon cloys and wearies us, and fades away as soon as +its first impulse is over: indeed, we can not depend upon anything +whose nature is to change. Consequently, it is not even possible that +there should be any solid substance in that which comes and goes so +swiftly and which perishes by the very exercise of its own functions, +for it arrives at a point at which it ceases to be, and even while it +is beginning always keeps its end in view....</p> + +<p>A man should be unbiassed and not to be conquered by external things: +he ought to admire himself alone, to feel confidence in his own +spirit, and so to order his life as to be ready alike for good or bad +fortune. Let not his confidence be without knowledge, nor his +knowledge without stedfastness: let him always abide by what he has +once determined, and let there be no erasure in his doctrine. It will +be understood, even tho I append it not, that such a man will be +tranquil and composed in his demeanor, high-minded and courteous in +his actions. Let reason be encouraged by the senses to seek for the +truth, and draw its first principles from thence: indeed it has no +other base of operations or place from which to start in pursuit of +truth: it must fall back upon itself. Even the all-embracing universe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +and God who is its guide extends Himself forth into outward things, +and yet altogether returns from all sides back to Himself. Let our +mind do the same thing: when, following its bodily senses, it has by +means of them sent itself forth into the things of the outward world, +let it remain still their master and its own. By this means we shall +obtain a strength and an ability which are united and allied together; +we shall derive from it that reason which never halts between two +opinions, nor is dull in forming its perceptions, beliefs, or +convictions. Such a mind, when it has ranged itself in order, made its +various parts agree together, and, if I may so express myself, +harmonized them, has attained to the highest good: for it has nothing +evil or hazardous remaining, nothing to shake it or make it stumble: +it will do everything under the guidance of its own will, and nothing +unexpected will befall it, but whatever may be done by it will turn +out well, and that, too, readily and easily, without the doer having +recourse to any underhand devices: for slow and hesitating purpose. +You may, then, boldly declare that the highest good is singleness of +mind: for where agreement and unity are, there must the virtues be: it +is the vices that are at war with one another....</p> + +<p>It is the act of the generous spirit to proportion its efforts not to +its own strength, but to that of human nature, to entertain lofty +aims, and to conceive plans which are too vast to be carried into +execution even by those who are endowed with gigantic intellects, who +appoint for themselves the following rules: "I will look upon death or +upon a comedy with the same<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> expression of countenance: I will submit +to labors, however great they may be, supporting the strength of my +body by that of my mind: I will despise riches when I have them as +much as when I have them not; if they be elsewhere I will not be more +gloomy, if they sparkle around me I will not be more lively than I +should otherwise be: whether Fortune comes or goes I will take no +notice of her: I will view all lands as tho they belonged to me, and +my own as tho they belonged to all mankind: I will so live as to +remember that I was born for others, and will thank Nature on this +account: for in what fashion could she have done better for me? she +has given me alone to all, and all to me alone. Whatever I may +possess, I will neither hoard it greedily nor squander it recklessly. +I will think that I have no possessions so real as those which I have +given away to deserving people: I will not reckon benefits by their +magnitude or number, or by anything except the value set upon them by +the receiver: I never will consider a gift to be a large one if it be +bestowed upon a worthy object. I will do nothing because of public +opinion, but everything because of conscience: whenever I do anything +alone by myself I will believe that the eyes of the Roman people are +upon me while I do it. In eating and drinking my object shall be to +quench the desires of Nature, not to fill and empty my belly. I will +be agreeable with my friends, gentle and mild to my foes: I will grant +pardon before I am asked for it, and will meet the wishes of honorable +men half-way. I will bear in mind that, the world is my native city, +that its governors are the gods,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> and that they stand above and around +me, criticizing whatever I do or say. Whenever either Nature demands +my breath again, or reason bids me dismiss it, I will quit this life, +calling all to witness that I have loved a good conscience, and good +pursuits; that no one's freedom, my own least of all, has been +impaired through me." He who sets up these as the rules of his life +will soar aloft and strive to make his way to the gods: of a truth, +even tho he fails, yet he</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Fails in a high emprise."</p></div> + +<p>But you, who hate both virtue and those who practise it, do nothing at +which we need be surprized, for sickly lights can not bear the sun, +nocturnal creatures avoid the brightness of day, and at its first +dawning become bewildered and all betake themselves to their dens +together: creatures that fear the light hide themselves in crevices. +So croak away, and exercise your miserable tongues in reproaching good +men: open wide your jaws, bite hard: you will break many teeth before +you make any impression....</p> + +<p>Where, indeed, can fortune invest riches more securely than in a place +from whence they can always be recovered without any squabble with +their trustee? Marcus Cato, when he was praising Curius and +Coruncanius and that century in which the possession of a few small +silver coins were an offense which was punished by the Censor, himself +owned four million sesterces; a less fortune, no doubt, than that of +Crassus, but larger than of Cato the Censor. If the amounts be +compared, he had outstript his great-grandfather further than he +himself was outdone by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> Crassus, and if still greater riches had +fallen to his lot, he would not have spurned them, for the wise man +does not think himself unworthy of any chance presents: he does not +love riches, but he prefers to have them; he does not receive them +into his spirit, but only into his house: nor does he cast away from +him what he already possesses, but keeps them, and is willing that his +virtue should receive a larger subject-matter for its exercise....</p> + +<p>Cease, then, forbidding philosophers to possess money: no one has +condemned wisdom to poverty. The philosopher may own ample wealth, but +will not own wealth that which has been torn from another, or which is +stained with another's blood: his must be obtained without wronging +any man, and without its being won by base means; it must be alike +honorably come by and honorably spent, and must be such as spite could +alone shake its head at. Raise it to whatever figure you please, it +will still be an honorable possession, if, while it includes much +which every man would like to call his own, there be nothing which any +one can say is his own. Such a man will not forfeit his right to the +favor of Fortune, and will neither boast of his inheritance nor blush +for it if it was honorably acquired; yet he will have something to +boast of, if he throw his house open, let all his countrymen come +among his property, and say, "If any one recognizes here anything +belonging to him, let him take it." What a great man, how excellently +rich will he be, if after this speech he possesses as much as he had +before! I say, then, that if he can safely and confidently submit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> his +accounts to the scrutiny of the people, and no one can find in them +any item upon which he can lay hands, such a man may boldly and +unconcealedly enjoy his riches. The wise man will not allow a single +ill-won penny to cross his threshold; yet he will not refuse or close +his door against great riches, if they are the gift of fortune and the +product of virtue: what reason has he for grudging them good quarters: +let them come and be his guests: he will neither brag of them nor hide +them away: the one is the part of a silly, the other of a cowardly and +paltry spirit, which, as it were, muffles up a good thing in its lap. +As he is capable of performing a journey upon his own feet, but yet +would prefer to mount a carriage, just so he will be capable of being +poor, yet will wish to be rich; he will own wealth, but will view it +as an uncertain possession which will some day fly away from him. He +will not allow it to be a burden either to himself or to any one else: +he will give it—why do you prick up your ears? why do you open your +pockets?—he will give it either to good men or to those whom it may +make into good men. He will give it after having taken the utmost +pains to choose those who are fittest to receive it, as becomes one +who bears in mind that he ought to give an account of what he spends +as well as of what he receives. He will give for good and commendable +reasons, for a gift ill bestowed counts as a shameful loss: he will +have an easily opened pocket, but not one with a hole in it, so that +much may be taken out of it, yet nothing may fall out of it.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Seneca's influence on writers in his own day was +notable. He seems almost to have superseded Cicero as a model. Critics +of our day, while recognizing all this and the charm of his style, +have found in his philosophy a lack of sincere qualities. An old +question is that of his relations to Christianity. So much in his +writings partakes of the spirit of the Apostles that he has been +credited with having been influenced by them. It is known that his +brother Gallio met St. Paul in Corinth and that Burrus, the colleague +and intimate friend of Seneca, was the captain of the Prætorian guards +before whom St. Paul was brought in Rome. Cruttwell dismisses the +claim, believing that Seneca's philosophy was "the natural development +of the thoughts of his predecessors in a mind at once capacious and +smitten with the love of virtue." Philosophy to Seneca was "altogether +a question of practise." Like other thinkers of his day, "he cared +nothing for consistency of opinion, everything for impressiveness of +application."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Quintilius Fabius, the general, who before the battle of +Cannæ commanded in Italy against Hannibal. He was famous for avoiding +pitched battles and hence the term "Fabian policy."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> From Book VI of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart. Marcia, to whom this letter was addrest, was "a respectable +and opulent lady," the daughter of Cremutius Cordus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Made Consul with Julius Cæsar in 59 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> He represented +the aristocratic party and bitterly opposed some of the measures of +Cæsar. In the war with Pompey he joined his forces to those of +Pompey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> A legendary maiden delivered as hostage to Lars Porsena +of Clusium, but who escaped by swimming across the Tiber.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> Marcus Livius Drusus was a politician, who in 91 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> +became tribune of the plebs. He was about to bring forward a proposal +giving citizenship to the Italians when he was assassinated, an event +which precipitated the Social War.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> From the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart. +"This," says Alexander Thomson, the eighteenth-century translator of +Suetonius, "appears to have been written in the beginning of the reign +of Nero, on whom the author bestows some high encomiums which at that +time seem not to have been destitute of foundation."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Burrus in 52 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> had been made sole Prætorian Præfect +by Claudius and, conjointly with Seneca, was entrusted with the +education of Nero. It was his influence with the Prætorian Guards that +secured to Nero in 54 the independent succession. He was put to death +by poison, under orders from Nero, who had been offended by the +severity of his moral conduct.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge. Printed +here with the spelling and punctuation of the first edition (1613).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart. This essay addrest to Gallio, Seneca is thought to +have intended "as a vindication of himself against those who +calumniated him on account of his riches and manner of living."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PLINY_THE_ELDER" id="PLINY_THE_ELDER"></a>PLINY THE ELDER</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Como, in 23 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; perished in the eruption of +Vesuvius in 79; celebrated as naturalist; commanded cavalry +in Germany at the age of twenty-three; procurator in Spain +under Nero; wrote voluminously on military tactics, history, +grammar and natural science; his death due to his efforts to +observe more closely the eruption; of all his writings only +his "Natural History" in thirty-seven books has survived.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ie" id="Ie"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE QUALITIES OF THE DOG<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a></h3> +<p>Among the animals that are domesticated with mankind there are many +circumstances that are deserving of being known: among these there are +more particularly that most faithful friend of man, the dog, and the +horse. We have an account of a dog that fought against a band of +robbers in defending its master; and altho it was pierced with wounds, +still it would not leave the body, from which it drove away all birds +and beasts. Another dog, in Epirus, recognized the murderer of its +master in the midst of an assemblage of people, and, by biting and +barking at him, extorted from him a confession of his crime. A king of +the Garamantes,<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> also, was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>brought back from exile by two hundred +dogs, which maintained the combat against all his opponents. The +people of Colophon<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> and Castabala<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> kept troops of dogs for the +purposes of war; and these used to fight in the front rank and never +retreat; they were the most faithful of auxiliaries, and yet required +no pay. After the defeat of the Cimbri<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> their dogs defended their +movable houses, which were carried upon wagons. Jason, the Lycian, +having been slain, his dog refused to take food, and died of famine. A +dog, to which Darius gives the name of Hyrcanus, upon the funeral pile +of King Lysimachus being lighted, threw itself into the flames; and +the dog of King Hiero<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> did the same. Philistus also gives a similar +account of Pyrrhus, the dog of the tyrant Gelon; and it is said also, +that the dog of Nicomedes, King of Bithynia<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a>, tore Consingis, the +wife of that king, in consequence of her wanton behavior, when toying +with her husband.</p> + +<p>Dogs are the only animals that are sure to know their masters, and if +they suddenly meet him as a stranger, they will instantly recognize +him. They are the only animals that will answer to their names, and +recognize the voices of the family. They recollect a road along which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>they have passed, however long it may be. Next to man there is no +living creature whose memory is so retentive. By sitting down on the +ground we may arrest their most impetuous attack, even when prompted +by the most violent rage.</p> + +<p>In daily life, we have discovered many other valuable qualities in +this animal; but its intelligence and sagacity are more especially +shown in the chase. It discovers and traces out the tracks of the +animal, leading by the leash the sportsman who accompanies it straight +up to the prey; and as soon as ever it has perceived it, how silent it +is, and how secret but significant is the indication which it gives, +first by the tail and afterward by the nose!</p> + +<p>When Alexander the Great was on his Indian expedition, he was +presented by the King of Albania with a dog of unusual size; being +greatly delighted with its noble appearance, he ordered bears, and +after them wild boars, and then deer, to be let loose before it; but +the dog lay down and regarded them with a kind of immovable contempt. +The noble spirit of the general became irritated by the sluggishness +thus manifested by an animal of such vast bulk, and he ordered it to +be killed. The report of this reached the king, who accordingly sent +another dog, and at the same time sent word that its powers were to be +tried, not upon small animals, but upon the lion or the elephant; +adding, that he had originally but two, and that if this one were put +to death, the race would be extinct. Alexander, without delay, +procured a lion, which in his presence was instantly torn to pieces. +He then ordered an elephant to be brought, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> never was he more +delighted with any spectacle; for the dog, bristling up its hair all +over the body, began by thundering forth a loud barking, and then +attacked the animal, leaping at it first on the one side and then on +the other, attacking it in the most skilful manner, and then again +retreating at the opportune moment, until at last the elephant, being +rendered quite giddy by turning round and round, fell to the earth, +and made it quite reecho with its fall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIe" id="IIe"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THREE GREAT ARTISTS OF GREECE<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></h3> +<p>Apelles,<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> of Cos, surpassed all the other painters who either +preceded or succeeded him. Single-handed, he contributed more to +painting than all the others together, and even went so far as to +publish some treatises on the principles of the art. The great point +of artistic merit with him was his singular charm of gracefulness, and +this too, tho the greatest of painters were his contemporaries. In +admiring their works and bestowing high eulogiums upon them, he used +to say that there was still wanting in them that equal of beauty so +peculiar to himself, and known to the Greeks as "Charis"; others, he +said, had acquired all the other requisites of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>perfection, but in +this one point he himself had no equal. He also asserted his claim to +another great point of merit; admiring a picture by Protogenes, which +bore evident marks of unbounded laboriousness and the most minute +finish, he remarked that in every respect Protogenes was fully his +equal, or perhaps his superior, except in this, that he himself knew +when to take his hand off a picture—a memorable lesson, which teaches +us that over-carefulness may be productive of bad results. His candor, +too, was equal to his talent; he acknowledged the superiority of +Melanthius<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> in his grouping, and of Asclepiodorus in the niceness +of his measurements, or in other words, the distances that ought to be +left between the objects represented.</p> + +<p>A circumstance that happened to him in connection with Protogenes<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> +is worthy of notice. The latter was living at Rhodes, when Apelles +disembarked there, desirous of seeing the works of a man whom he had +hitherto only known by reputation. Accordingly, he repaired at once to +the studio; Protogenes was not at home, but there happened to be a +large panel upon the easel ready for painting, with an old woman who +was left in charge. To his inquiries she made answer that Protogenes +was not at home; and then asked whom she should name as the visitor. +"Here he is," was the reply of Apelles; and seizing a brush, he traced +with color upon the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>panel an outline of a singularly minute fineness. +Upon his return the old woman mentioned to Protogenes what had +happened. The artist, it is said, upon remarking the delicacy of the +touch, instantly exclaimed that Apelles must have been the visitor, +for that no other person was capable of executing anything so +exquisitely perfect. So saying, he traced within the same outline a +still finer outline, but with another color; and then took his +departure, with instructions to the woman to show it to the stranger +if he returned, and to let him know that this was the person whom he +had come to see.</p> + +<p>It happened as he anticipated—Apelles returned; and vexed at finding +himself thus surpassed, he took up another color and split both of the +outlines, leaving no possibility of anything finer being executed. +Upon seeing this, Protogenes admitted that he was defeated, and at +once flew to the harbor to look for his guest. He thought proper, too, +to transmit the panel to posterity, just as it was; and it always +continued to be held in the highest admiration by all—artists in +particular. I am told that it was burned in the first fire which took +place at Cæsar's palace on the Palatine Hill; but in former times I +have often stopt to admire it. Upon its vast surface it contained +nothing whatever except the three outlines, so remarkably fine as to +escape the sight: among the most elaborate works of numerous other +artists it had all the appearance of a blank space; and yet by that +very fact it attracted the notice of every one, and was held in higher +estimation than any other painting there.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>It was a custom with Apelles, to which he most tenaciously adhered, +never to let any day pass, however busy he might be, without +exercising himself by tracing some outline or other; a practise which +has now passed into a proverb. It was also a practise with him, when +he had completed a work, to exhibit it to the view of the passers-by +in some exposed place; while he himself, concealed behind the picture, +would listen to the criticisms that were passed upon it: it being his +opinion that the judgment of the public was preferable to his own, as +being the more discerning of the two. It was under these +circumstances, they say, that he was censured by a shoemaker for +having represented the shoes with one shoe-string too little. The next +day, the shoemaker, quite proud at seeing the former error corrected, +thanks to his advice, began to criticize the leg; upon which Apelles, +full of indignation, popped his head out, and reminded him that a +shoemaker should give no opinion beyond the shoes—a piece of advice +which has equally passed into a proverbial saying. In fact, Apelles +was a person of great amenity of manners—a circumstance which +rendered him particularly agreeable to Alexander the Great, who would +often come to his studio. He had forbidden himself by public edict, as +already stated, to be represented by any other artist. On one +occasion, however, when the prince was in his studio, talking a great +deal about painting without knowing anything about it, Apelles quietly +begged that he would quit the subject, telling him that he would get +laughed at by the boys who were there grinding the colors; so great +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> the influence which he rightfully possest over a monarch who was +otherwise of an irascible temperament. And yet, irascible as he was, +Alexander conferred upon him a very signal mark of the high estimation +in which he held him: for having, in his admiration of her +extraordinary beauty, engaged Apelles to paint Pancaste undraped—the +most beloved of all his concubines—the artist while so engaged fell +in love with her; upon which, Alexander, perceiving this to be the +ease, made him a present of her: thus showing himself, tho a great +king in courage, a still greater one in self-command—this action +redounding no less to his honor than any of his victories.</p> + +<p>Superior to all the statues not only of Praxiteles,<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> but of any +other artist that ever existed, is his Cnidian Venus; for the +inspection of which, many persons before now have purposely undertaken +a voyage to Cnidos. The artist made two statues of the goddess, and +offered them both for sale: one of them was represented with drapery, +and for this reason was preferred by the people of Cos, who had the +choice; the second was offered them at the same price, but on the +grounds of propriety and modesty they thought fit to choose the other. +Upon this, the Cnidians purchased the rejected statue, and immensely +superior has it always been held in general estimation. At a later +period, King Nicomedes wished to purchase this statue of the Cnidians, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>and made them an offer to pay off the whole of their public debt, +which was very large. They preferred, however, to submit to any +extremity rather than part with it; and with good reason, for by this +statue Praxiteles has perpetuated the glory of Cnidos. The little +temple in which it is placed is open on all sides, so that the +beauties of the statue admit of being seen from every point of +view—an arrangement which was favored by the goddess herself, it is +generally believed.</p> + +<p>Among all nations which the fame of the Olympian Jupiter has reached, +Phidias<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> is looked upon, beyond all doubt, as the most famous of +artists; but to let those who have never seen his works know how +deservedly he is esteemed, we will take this opportunity of adducing a +few slight proofs of the genius which he displayed. In doing this we +shall not appeal to the beauty of his Olympian Jupiter, nor yet to the +vast proportions of his Athenian Minerva, six-and-twenty cubits in +height, and composed of ivory and gold: but it is to the shield of +this last statue that we shall draw attention; upon the convex face of +which he has chased a combat of the Amazons, while upon the concave +side of it he has represented the battle between the gods and the +giants. Upon the sandals, again, we see the wars of the Lapithæ and +Centaurs; so careful has he been to fill every smallest portion of his +work with some proof or other of his artistic skill.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> A name applied to tribes living in Africa east of the +desert of Sahara.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> An Ionian city of Asia, distant seventy miles from +Ephesus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> An interior town of Cilicia, in Asia Minor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> The home of this warlike people appears to have been +Jutland.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> The tyrant king of Syracuse, successor to Gelon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> A country of Asia Minor occupying a part of the Black +Sea coast.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> Apelles lived in the time of Philip and Alexander the +Great. Cos is an island in the Ægean Sea.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> A painter of the Sicyonian school who flourished in the +third century <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Protogenes, a native of Caria, in Asia Minor, was +celebrated as a painter at Rhodes in the second half of the fourth +century <span class="smcap">b.c.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Praxiteles was born in Athena about the end of the fifth +century and continued active as an artist until the time at Alexander +the Great. Nearly sixty of his works are mentioned in ancient +writings, but only two have been identified in modern times.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Phidias was born in Athens about 500 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span> and died about +430.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="QUINTILIAN" id="QUINTILIAN"></a>QUINTILIAN</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Spain about 35 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; died about 95; celebrated as +rhetorian; educated in Rome, where he taught oratory for +twenty years; patronized by the emperors Vespasian and +Domitian; his most celebrated work the "Institutio +Oratoria."<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="THE_ORATOR_MUST_BE_A_GOOD_MAN" id="THE_ORATOR_MUST_BE_A_GOOD_MAN"></a>THE ORATOR MUST BE A GOOD MAN<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></h3> + + +<p>Let the orator, then, whom I propose to form, be such a one as is +characterized by the definition of Marcus Cato, <i>a good man skilled in +speaking</i>.</p> + +<p>But the requisite which Cato has placed first in this definition, that +an orator should be <i>a good man</i>, is naturally of more estimation and +importance than the other. It is of importance that an orator should +be good, because, should the power of speaking be a support to evil, +nothing would be more pernicious than eloquence alike to public +concerns and private, and I myself, who, as far as is in my power, +strive to contribute something to the faculty of the orator, should +deserve very ill of the world, since I should furnish arms, not for +soldiers, but for robbers. May I not draw an argument from the +condition of mankind? Nature herself, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>bestowing on man that which +she seems to have granted him preeminently, and by which she appears +to have distinguished us from all other animals, would have acted, not +as a parent, but as a stepmother, if she had designed the faculty of +speech to be the promoter of crime, the oppressor of innocence, and +the enemy of truth; for it would have been better for us to have been +born dumb, and to have been left destitute of reasoning powers, than +to have received endowments from providence only to turn them to the +destruction of one another.</p> + +<p>My judgment carries me still further; for I not only say that he who +would answer my idea of an orator must be a good man, but that no man, +unless he be good, can ever be an orator. To an orator discernment and +prudence are necessary; but we can certainly not allow discernment to +those, who when the ways of virtue and vice are set before them, +prefer to follow that of vice; nor can we allow them prudence, since +they subject themselves, by the unforeseen consequences of their +actions, often to the heaviest penalty of the law, and always to that +of an evil conscience. But if it be not only truly said by the wise, +but always justly believed by the vulgar, that no man is vicious who +is not also foolish, a fool, assuredly, will never become an orator.</p> + +<p>It is to be further considered that the mind can not be in a condition +for pursuing the most noble of studies, unless it be entirely free +from vice; not only because there can be no communion of good and evil +in the same breast, and to meditate at once on the best things and the +worst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> is no more in the power of the same mind than it is possible +for the same man to be at once virtuous and vicious; but also because +a mind intent on so arduous a study should be exempt from all other +cares, even such as are unconnected with vice; for then, and then +only, when it is free and master of itself, and when no other object +harasses and distracts its attention, will it be able to keep in view +the end to which it is devoted. But if an inordinate attention to an +estate, a too anxious pursuit of wealth, indulgence in the pleasures +of the chase, and the devotion of our days to public spectacles, rob +our studies of much of our time (for whatever time is given to one +thing is lost to another), what effect must we suppose that ambition, +avarice, and envy will produce, whose excitements are so violent as +even to disturb our sleep and our dreams? Nothing indeed is so +preoccupied, so unsettled, so torn and lacerated with such numerous +and various passions, as a bad mind; for when it intends evil, it is +agitated with hope, care, and anxiety, and when it has attained the +object of its wickedness, it is tormented with uneasiness, and the +dread of every kind of punishment.</p> + +<p>No man, certainly, will doubt, that it is the object of all oratory, +that what is stated to the judge may appear to him to be true and +just; and which of the two, let me ask, will produce such a conviction +with the greater ease, the good man or the bad? A good man, doubtless, +will speak of what is true and honest with greater frequency; but even +if, from being influenced by some call of duty, he endeavors to +support what is fallacious (a case which, as I shall show,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> may +sometimes occur), he must still be heard with greater credit than a +bad man. But with bad men, on the other hand, dissimulation sometimes +fails, as well through their contempt for the opinion of mankind, as +through their ignorance of what is right; hence they assert without +modesty, and maintain their assertions without shame; and, in +attempting what evidently can not be accomplished, there appears in +them a repulsive obstinacy and useless perseverance; for bad men, as +well in their pleadings as in their lives, entertain dishonest +expectations; and it often happens, that even when they speak the +truth, belief is not accorded them, and the employment of advocates of +such a character is regarded as a proof of the badness of a cause.</p> + +<p>I must, however, notice those objections to my opinion, which appear +to be clamored forth, as it were, by the general consent of the +multitude. Was not then Demosthenes, they ask, a great orator? yet we +have heard that he was not a good man. Was not Cicero a great orator? +yet many have thrown censure upon his character. To such questions how +shall I answer? Great displeasure is likely to be shown at any reply +whatever; and the ears of my audience require first to be propitiated. +The character of Demosthenes, let me say, does not appear to me +deserving of such severe reprehension, that I should believe all the +calumnies that are heaped upon him by his enemies, especially when I +read his excellent plans for the benefit of his country and the +honorable termination of his life. Nor do I see that the feeling of an +upright citizen was, in any respect, wanting to Cicero. As proofs of +his integrity,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> may be mentioned his consulship, in which he conducted +himself with so much honor, his honorable administration of his +province; his refusal to be one of the twenty commissioners; and, +during the civil wars, which fell with great severity on his times, +his uprightness of mind, which was never swayed, either by hope or by +fear, from adhering to the better party, or the supporters of the +commonwealth. He is thought by some to have been deficient in courage, +but he has given an excellent reply to this charge, when he says that +he was timid, not in encountering dangers, but in taking precautions +against them; an assertion of which he proved the truth at his death, +to which he submitted with the noblest fortitude. But even should the +height of virtue have been wanting to these eminent men, I shall reply +to those who ask me whether they were orators as the Stoics reply when +they are asked whether Zeno, Cleanthes, and Chrysippus were wise men; +they say that they were great and deserving of veneration, but that +they did not attain the highest excellence of which human nature is +susceptible.</p> + +<p>Pythagoras desired to be called, not wise, like those who preceded +him, but a lover of wisdom. I, however, in speaking of Cicero, have +often said, according to the common mode of speech, and shall continue +to say, that he was a perfect orator, as we term our friends, in +ordinary discourse, good and prudent men, tho such epithets can be +justly given only to the perfectly wise. But when I have to speak +precisely, and in conformity with the exactness of truth, I shall +express myself as longing to see such an orator<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> as he himself also +longed to see; for tho I acknowledge that Cicero stood at the head of +eloquence, and that I can scarcely find a passage in his speeches to +which anything can be added, however many I might find which I may +imagine that he would have pruned (for the learned have in general +been of opinion that he had numerous excellences and some faults, and +he himself says that he had cut off most of his juvenile exuberance), +yet, since he did not claim to himself, tho he had no mean opinion of +his merits, the praise of perfection, and since he might certainly +have spoken better if a longer life had been granted him, and a more +tranquil season for composition, I may not unreasonably believe that +the summit of excellence was not attained by him, to which, +notwithstanding, no man made nearer approaches. If I had thought +otherwise, I might have maintained my opinion with still greater +determination and freedom. Did Marcus Antonius declare that he had +seen no man truly eloquent, tho to be eloquent is much less than to be +a perfect orator; does Cicero himself say that he is still seeking for +an orator, and merely conceives and imagines one; and shall I fear to +say that in that portion of eternity which is yet to come something +may arise still more excellent than what has yet been seen? I take no +advantage of the opinion of those who refuse to allow great merit to +Cicero and Demosthenes even in eloquence; tho Demosthenes, indeed, +does not appear sufficiently near perfection even to Cicero himself, +who says that he sometimes nods; nor does Cicero appear so to Brutus +and Calvus, who certainly find fault with his language.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Quintilian is notable as a writer who was not influenced +by his great contemporary Seneca, whom he disliked and harshly +criticized for literary defects. Quintilian modeled his own style on +that of Cicero, altho at times he dropt back unconsciously into that +of Seneca.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> From Book XII, Chapter I, of the "Institutes of +Oratory." Translated by J. S. Watson.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="TACITUS" id="TACITUS"></a>TACITUS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born about 55 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; died about 117; celebrated as historian +and orator; prætor in 88; Consul in 97; a friend of the +younger Pliny; son-in-law of Agricola; his extant works +include a dialog of oratory, a biography of Agricola, +"Germania," a history of Rome from Galba to Domitian, and +his "Annals," which are a history of the Julian +dynasty.<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="If" id="If"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>FROM REPUBLICAN TO IMPERIAL ROME<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a></h3> +<p>Kings held dominion in the city of Rome from its foundation: Lucius +Brutus instituted liberty and the consulate. Dictatorships were +resorted to in temporary emergencies: neither the power of the +decemvirs continued in force beyond two years, nor the consular +authority of the military tribunes for any length of time. The +domination of Cinna did not continue long, nor that of Sulla: the +influence of Pompey and Crassus quickly merged in Cæsar: the arms of +Lepidus and Antony in Augustus, who, with the title of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>prince, took +under his command the commonwealth, exhausted with civil dissensions. +But the affairs of the ancient Roman people, whether prosperous or +adverse, have been recorded by writers of renown. Nor were there +wanting authors of distinguished genius to have composed the history +of the times of Augustus, till by the spirit of flattery, which became +prevalent, they were deterred. As to Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and +Nero, whilst they yet reigned the histories of their times were +falsified through fear; and after they had fallen, they were written +under the influence of recent detestation. Thence my own design of +recounting a few incidents respecting Augustus, and those toward the +latter part of his life; and, after that, of giving a history of the +reign of Tiberius and the rest; uninfluenced by resentment and +partiality, as I stand aloof from the causes of them.</p> + +<p>When, after the fall of Brutus and Cassius, there remained none to +fight for the commonwealth; when Sextus Pompeius was utterly defeated +at Sicily; and Lepidus being deprived of his command, and Mark Antony +slain, there remained no leader even to the Julian party but Octavius; +having put off the name of triumvir, styling himself Consul, and +pretending that all he aimed at was the jurisdiction attached to the +tribuneship for the protection of the commons; when he had cajoled the +soldiery by donations, the people by distribution of corn, and men in +general by the charms of peace, he (Octavius) began by gradations to +exalt himself over them; to draw to himself the functions of the +senate and of the magistrate, and the framing of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> laws; in which +he was thwarted by no man: the boldest spirits having fallen in some +or other of the regular battles, or by proscription; and the surviving +nobility being distinguished by wealth and public honors, according to +the measure of their promptness to bondage; and as these innovations +had been the cause of aggrandizement to them, preferring the present +state of things with safety to the revival of ancient liberty with +personal peril. Neither were the provinces averse to that condition of +affairs; since they mistrusted the government of the senate and +people, on account of the contentions among the great and the avarice +of the magistrates: while the protection of the laws was enfeebled and +borne down by violence, intrigue, and bribery.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Augustus, as supports to his domination, raised his sister's +son, Claudius Marcellus,<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> a mere youth, to the dignity of pontiff +and curule ædile; aggrandized by two successive consulships Marcus +Agrippa,<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> a man meanly born, but an accomplished soldier, and the +companion of his victories; and soon, on the death of Marcellus, chose +him for his son-in-law. The sons of his wife, Tiberius Nero and +Claudius Drusus, he dignified with the title of Imperator, tho there +had been no diminution in the members of his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>house. For into the +family of the Cæsars he had already adopted Lucius and Caius, the sons +of Agrippa; and tho they had not yet laid aside the puerile garment, +vehement had been his ambition to see them declared princes of the +Roman youth, and even designed to the consulship; while he affected to +decline the honors for them. Upon the decease of Agrippa, they were +cut off, either by a death premature but natural, or by the arts of +their stepmother Livia; Lucius on his journey to the armies in Spain, +Caius on his return from Armenia, ill of a wound: and as Drusus had +been long since dead, Tiberius Nero was the only survivor of his +stepsons. On him every honor was accumulated (to that quarter all +things inclined); he was by Augustus adopted for his son, assumed +colleague in the empire, partner in the tribunitian authority, and +presented to the several armies; not from the secret machinations of +his mother, as heretofore, but at her open suit For over Augustus, now +very aged, she had obtained such absolute sway, that he banished into +the isle of Planasia his only surviving grandson, Agrippa Posthumus; a +person destitute indeed of liberal accomplishments, and a man of +clownish brutality with great bodily strength, but convicted of no +heinous offense. The emperor, strange to say, set Germanicus, the son +of Drusus, over eight legions quartered upon the Rhine, and ordered +that he should be engrafted into his family by Tiberius by adoption, +tho Tiberius had then a son of his own on the verge of manhood; but +the object was that he might stand firm by having many to support and +protect him. War at that time there remained none,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> except that in +Germany, kept on foot rather to blot out the disgrace sustained by the +loss of Quintilius Varus, with his army, than from any ambition to +enlarge the empire, or for any advantage worth contending for. In +profound tranquillity were affairs at Rome. The magistrates retained +their wonted names; of the Romans, the younger sort had been born +since the battle of Actium, and even most of the old during the civil +wars: how few were then living who had seen the ancient free state!</p> + +<p>The character of the government thus totally changed; no traces were +to be found of the spirit of ancient institutions. The system by which +every citizen shared in the government being thrown aside, all men +regarded the orders of the prince as the only rule of conduct and +obedience; nor felt they any anxiety for the present, while Augustus, +yet in the vigor of life, maintained the credit of himself and house, +and the peace of the state. But when old age had crept over him, and +he was sinking under bodily infirmities—when his end was at hand, and +thence a new source of hopes and views was presented—some few there +were who began to talk idly about the blessings of liberty: many +dreaded a civil war—others longed for one; while far the greatest +part were occupied in circulating various surmises reflecting upon +those who seemed likely to be their masters: "That Agrippa was +naturally stern and savage, and exasperated by contumely; and neither +in age nor experience equal to a task of such magnitude. Tiberius, +indeed, had arrived at fulness of years, and was a distinguished +captain, but possest the inveterate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> and inherent pride of the +Claudian family; and many indications of cruel nature escaped him, in +spite of all his arts to disguise it; that even from his early infancy +he had been trained up in an imperial house; that consulships and +triumphs had been accumulated upon him while but a youth. Not even +during the years of his abode at Rhodes, where under the plausible +name of retirement, he was in fact an exile, did he employ himself +otherwise than in meditating future vengeance, studying the arts of +simulation, and practising secret and abominable sensualities. That to +these considerations was added that of his mother, a woman with the +ungovernable spirit peculiar to her sex; that the Romans must be under +bondage to a woman, and moreover to two youths, who would meanwhile +oppress the state, and, at one time or other, rend it piecemeal."</p> + +<p>While the public mind was agitated by these and similar discussions, +the illness of Augustus grew daily more serious, and some suspected +nefarious practises on the part of his wife. For some months before, a +rumor had gone abroad that Augustus, having singled out a few to whom +he communicated his purpose, had taken Fabius Maximus for his only +companion, had sailed over to the island of Planasia, to visit +Agrippa; that many tears were shed on both sides, many tokens of +mutual tenderness shown, and hopes from thence conceived that the +youth would be restored to the household gods of his grandfather. That +Maximus had disclosed this to Martia, his wife—she to Livia; and that +the emperor was informed of it: and that Maximus, not long after, +dying (it is doubtful whether naturally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> or by means sought for the +purpose), Martia was observed, in her lamentations at his funeral, to +upbraid herself as the cause of her husband's destruction. Howsoever +that matter might have been, Tiberius was scarce entered Illyrium when +he was summoned by a letter from his mother, forwarded with speed, nor +is it fully known whether, at his return to Nola,<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> he found +Augustus yet breathing, or already lifeless. For Livia had carefully +beset the palace, and all the avenues to it, with vigilant guards; and +favorable bulletins were from time to time given out, until, the +provisions which the conjuncture required being completed, in one and +the same moment were published the departure of Augustus, and the +accession of Tiberius.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIf" id="IIf"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THE FUNERAL OF GERMANICUS<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></h3> +<h3>(19 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>Agrippina,<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> continuing her course without the least intermission +through all the perils and rigors of a sea-voyage in the winter, +arrived at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>the island Corcyra, situated over against the shores of +Calabria. Unable to moderate her grief, and impatient from +inexperience of affliction, she spent a few days there to tranquillize +her troubled spirit; when, on hearing of her arrival, all the intimate +friends of her family, and most of the officers who had served under +Germanicus, with a number of strangers from the neighboring municipal +towns, some thinking it due as a mark of respect to the prince, but +the greater part carried along with the current, rushed to the city of +Brundusium, the readiest port in her way, and the safest landing. As +soon as the fleet appeared in the deep, instantly were filled, not the +port alone and adjacent parts of the sea, but the walls and roofs, and +wherever the most distant prospect could be obtained, with a sorrowing +multitude, earnestly asking each other "whether they should receive +her on landing in silence, or with some expression of feeling?" Nor +was it clearly determined what course would be most suitable to the +occasion, when the fleet came slowly in, not as usual in sprightly +trim, but all wearing the impress of sadness. When she descended from +the ship, accompanied by her two infants,<a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> and bearing in her hand +the funeral urn, her eyes fixt stedfastly upon the earth, one +simultaneous groan burst from the whole assemblage; nor could you +distinguish relations from strangers, nor the wailings of men from +those of women; nor could any difference be discerned, except that +those <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>who came to meet her, in the vehemence of recent grief, +surpassed the attendants of Agrippina, who were exhausted with +continued mourning.</p> + +<p>Tiberius had dispatched two prætorian cohorts, with directions that +the magistrates of Calabria, with Apulians and Campanians, should pay +their last offices of respect to the memory of his son; upon the +shoulders, therefore, of the tribunes and centurions his ashes were +borne; before them were carried the ensigns unadorned, and the fasces +reversed. As they passed through the colonies, the populace in black, +the knights in their purple robes, burned precious raiment, perfumes, +and whatever else is used in funeral solemnities, according to the +ability of the place; even they whose cities lay remote from the +route, came forth, offered victims, and erected altars to the gods of +the departed, and with tears and ejaculations testified their sorrow. +Drusus came as far as Terracina, with Claudius the brother of +Germanicus, and those of his children who had been left at Rome.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> +The Consuls, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Aurelius<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> (for they had +now entered upon their office), the senate, and great part of the +people, filled the road—a scattered procession, each walking and +expressing his grief as inclination led him; in sooth, flattery was an +utter stranger here, for all knew how real was the joy, how hollow the +grief, of Tiberius for the death of Germanicus.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p><p>Tiberius and Livia<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> avoided appearing abroad—public lamentation +they thought below their dignity—or perhaps they apprehended that if +their countenances were examined by all eyes their hypocrisy would be +detected. That Antonia, mother to the deceased, bore any part in the +funeral, I do not find either in the historians or in the journals, +tho, besides Agrippina and Drusus, and Claudius, his other relations +are likewise there recorded by name; whether by sickness she was +prevented, or whether her soul, vanquished by sorrow, could not bear +to go through the representation of such an over-powering calamity. I +would rather believe her constrained by Tiberius and Livia, who left +not the palace, that they might seem to grieve alike and that the +grandmother and uncle might appear to have followed her example in +staying at home.</p> + +<p>The day on which his remains were deposited in the tomb of Augustus, +at one time exhibited the silence of perfect desolation; at another, +the uproar of vociferous lamentation; the streets of the city were +crowded, one general blaze of torches glared throughout the Campus +Martius; there the soldiers under arms, the magistrates without the +insignia of office, and the people ranged according to their tribes, +passionately exclaimed, "that the commonwealth was utterly lost, that +henceforth there remained no hope," so openly and so boldly that you +would have believed they had forgotten those who ruled over them. But +nothing pierced Tiberius more deeply <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>than the warm interest excited +in favor of Agrippina, while they gave her such titles as "the +ornament of her country, the only blood of Augustus, an unparalleled +example of primitive virtue"; and, looking up to heaven and the gods, +they implored "the preservation of her issue, and that they might +outlive their oppressors."</p> + +<p>There were those who missed the pomp of a public funeral, and compared +with this the superior honors and magnificence displayed by Augustus +in that of Drusus, the father of Germanicus; observing, "that he +himself had traveled, in the depth of winter, as far as Ticinus, and, +continuing by the corpse, had with it entered the city; around his +bier were crowded the images of the Claudii and Julii; he was mourned +in the forum; his encomium pronounced on the rostra; all the honors +invented by our ancestors, or added by their posterity, were heaped +upon him. But to Germanicus were denied the ordinary solemnities, and +such as were due to every distinguished Roman. Certainly his corpse +was burned in a foreign country because of the long journey, in such a +manner as it was, but afterward it was but just to have compensated +the scantiness of the first ceremony by the increased solemnity of the +last; his brother met him but one day's journey, his uncle not, even +at the gate. Where were those observances of the ancients, the +effigies of the dead laid in state on a bed, hymns composed in memory +of departed virtue, with encomiums and tears? Where at least the +ceremonial of sorrow?"</p> + +<p>All this was known to Tiberius, and to suppress the reflections of the +populace, he admonished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> them in an edict, "that many illustrious +Romans had died for the commonwealth, but none so universally and +vehemently regretted; and that it was to the honor of himself and all +others, if bounds were observed. The same things which became private +families and small states, became not princes and an imperial people; +that it was not unseemly to lament in the first transport of sorrow, +nay, relief was afforded by weeping, but it was now time to recover +and compose their minds. Thus the deified Julius, upon the loss of an +only daughter;<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> thus the deified Augustus, upon the premature +death of his grandsons, had both concealed their sorrow. More ancient +examples were unnecessary; how often had the Roman people sustained +with equanimity the slaughter of their armies, the death of their +generals, and entire destruction of illustrious families—princes were +mortal, the commonwealth was eternal—they should therefore resume +their customary vocations." And because the spectacle of the +Megalesian games was at hand, he added, "that they should even lay +aside their grief for amusements."</p> + +<p>The vacation ended, public affairs were resumed; Drusus departed for +the army in Illyricum, the minds of all men impatiently looking for +vengeance upon Piso; and amidst many complaints, that while he was +roaming at large through the delightful regions of Asia and Greece, he +was undermining by contemptuous and artful delay the evidences of his +crimes; for it was generally known that Martina, that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>notorious +trafficker in sorceries, and sent, as I have above related, by Cneius +Sentius to Rome, had died suddenly at Brundusium; that poison lay +concealed in a knot of her hair.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIId" id="IIId"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF SENECA<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a></h3> +<h3>(65 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>The next death added by Nero was that of Plautius Lateranus, consul +elect; and with such precipitation, that he would not allow him to +embrace his children, nor the usual brief interval to choose his mode +of death. He was dragged to the place allotted for the execution of +slaves, and there, by the hand of Statius the tribune, slaughtered. In +his death he maintained the most invincible silence, not charging his +executioner with participation in the design for which he suffered. +The destruction of Seneca followed, to the infinite joy of the prince; +not because he had ascertained that he was a party to the conspiracy, +but that he might assail him with the sword, since poison had failed: +for Natalis only had named him; and his disclosure amounted but to +this, "that he had been sent by Piso<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> to visit <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>Seneca, then +indisposed, to complain that he was refused admittance; and to +represent, that it would be better if they maintained their friendship +by intercourse: that to this Seneca replied, that talking to each +other and frequent interviews were to the service of neither; but upon +the safety of Piso his own security rested." Granius Silvanus, tribune +of a pretorian cohort, was ordered to represent this to Seneca, and to +demand of him, "whether he admitted the words of Natalis, and his own +answers." Seneca had that very day, either from chance or design, +returned from Campania, and rested at a villa of his, four miles from +Rome: thither arrived the tribune toward evening, and beset the villa +with his men; and then, as he sat at table with Pauline his wife, and +two friends, delivered his orders from the emperor.</p> + +<p>Seneca replied, "that Natalis had in truth been sent to him, and in +the name of Piso complained, that he was debarred from visiting him; +and that he had excused himself on the score of illness and his love +of retirement; but he had no motive to declare that he preferred the +safety of a private man to his own security; nor was his disposition +prone to flattery; as no man better knew than Nero, who had +experienced more frequent proofs of the freedom than the servility of +Seneca."</p> + +<p>When this answer was by the tribune reported to Nero, in presence of +Poppæa<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> and Tigellinus, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>who composed the cabinet council, the +raging tyrant asked, whether Seneca meditated a voluntary death? the +tribune averred "that he had manifested no symptoms of fear; and +neither in his words nor looks did he detect any indication of +regret." He was therefore commanded to return, and tell him he was +doomed to die. Fabius Rusticus writes, "that the tribune did not +return by the road he went, but turning off went to Fenius, captain of +the guards, and stating to him the emperor's orders, asked whether he +should obey him; and was by him admonished to execute them"; thus +displaying that want of spirit which by some fatality prevailed +universally; for Silvanus too was one of the conspirators, and yet was +contributing to multiply the atrocities he had conspired to avenge. He +avoided, however, seeing and speaking to Seneca; but sent in a +centurion to apprize him of his final doom.</p> + +<p>Seneca undismayed, called for tables to make his will; and, as this +was prohibited by the centurion, turning to his friends, he told them, +"that since he was debarred from requiting their services, he +bequeathed them that which alone was now left him, but which yet was +the fairest legacy he had to leave them—the example of his life: and +if they kept it in view, they would reap the fame due to honorable +acquirements and inviolable friendship." At the same time he +endeavored to repress their tears and restore their fortitude, now by +soothing language, and now in a more animated strain and in a tone of +rebuke, asking them, "where were the precepts of philosophy? where the +rules of conduct under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> impending evils, studied for so many years? +For who was unapprized of the ferocious disposition of Nero? Nor could +anything else be expected after he had murdered his mother and brother +than that he should proceed to destroy his nursing father and +preceptor."</p> + +<p>After these and similar reasonings addrest to the company in general, +he embraced his wife; and after a brief but vigorous effort to get the +better of the apprehensions that prest upon him at that moment, he +besought and implored her "to refrain from surrendering herself to +endless grief; but endeavor to mitigate her regret for her husband by +means of those honorable consolations which she would experience in +the contemplation of his virtuous life." Paulina, on the contrary, +urged her purpose to die with him, and called for the hand of the +executioner. When Seneca, unwilling to impede her glory, and also from +affection, as he was anxious not to leave one who was dear to him +above everything, exposed to the hard usage of the world, thus addrest +her: "I had pointed out to you how to soften the ills of life; but you +prefer the renown of dying: I will not envy you the honor of the +example. Tho both display the same unflinching fortitude in +encountering death; still the glory of your exit will be superior to +mine." After this, both had the veins of their arms opened with the +same stroke. As the blood flowed slowly from the aged body of Seneca, +attenuated as it was too by scanty sustenance, he had the veins of his +legs and hams also cut; and unable to bear up under the excessive +torture, lest by his own sufferings he should overpower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> the +resolution of his wife, and by witnessing her anguish be betrayed into +impatience himself, he advised her to retire into another chamber. His +eloquence continued to flow during the latest moments of his +existence, and summoning his secretaries, he dictated many things, +which, as they have been published in his own words, I forbear to +exhibit in other language.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IVc" id="IVc"></a>IV</h2> + +<h3>THE BURNING OF ROME BY ORDER OF NERO<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></h3> +<h3>(64 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>There followed a dreadful disaster; whether fortuitously, or by the +wicked contrivance of the prince<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> is not determined, for both are +asserted by historians: but of all the calamities which ever befell +this city from the rage of fire, this was the most terrible and +severe. It broke out in that part of the Circus which is contiguous to +mounts Palatine and Cœlius; where, by reason of shops in which were +kept such goods as minister aliment to fire, the moment it commenced +it acquired strength, and being accelerated by the wind, it spread at +once through the whole extent of the Circus: for neither were the +houses <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>secured by enclosures, nor the temples environed with walls, +nor was there any other obstacle to intercept its progress; but the +flame, spreading every way impetuously, invaded first the lower +regions of the city, then mounted to the higher; then again ravaging +the lower, it baffled every effort to extinguish it, by the rapidity +of its destructive course, and from the liability of the city to +conflagration, in consequence of the narrow and intricate alleys, and +the irregularity of the streets in ancient Rome.<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> Add to this, the +wailings of terrified women, the infirm condition of the aged, and the +helplessness of childhood: such as strove to provide for themselves, +and those who labored to assist others; these dragging the feeble, +those waiting for them; some hurrying, others lingering; altogether +created a scene of universal confusion and embarrassment: and while +they looked back upon the danger in their rear, they often found +themselves beset before, and on their sides: or if they had escaped +into the quarters adjoining, these too were already seized by the +devouring flames; even the parts which they believed remote and +exempt, were found to be in the same distress. At last, not knowing +what to shun, or where to seek sanctuary, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>they crowded the streets, +and lay along in the open fields. Some, from the loss of their whole +substance, even the means of their daily sustenance, others, from +affection for their relations, whom they had not been able to snatch +from the flames, suffered themselves to perish in them, tho they had +opportunity to escape. Neither dared any man offer to check the fire: +so repeated were the menaces of many who forbade to extinguish it; and +because others openly threw firebrands, with loud declarations "that +they had one who authorized them"; whether they did it that they might +plunder with the less restraint, or in consequence of orders given.</p> + +<p>Nero, who was at that juncture sojourning at Antium,<a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> did not +return to the city till the fire approached that quarter of his house +which connected the palace with the gardens of Mæcenas;<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> nor could +it, however, be prevented from devouring the house and palace, and +everything around. But for the relief of the people, thus destitute, +and driven from their dwellings, he opened the fields of Mars and the +monumental edifices erected by Agrippa,<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> and even his own gardens. +He likewise reared temporary houses for the reception of the forlorn +multitude: and from Ostia and the neighboring cities were brought, up +the river, household necessaries; and the price of grain was reduced +to three sesterces the measure. All which proceedings, tho of a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>popular character, were thrown away, because a rumor had become +universally current, "that the very time when the city was in flames, +Nero, going on the stage of his private theater, sang 'The Destruction +of Troy,' assimilating the present disaster to that catastrophe of +ancient times."</p> + +<p>At length, on the sixth day, the conflagration was stayed at the foot +of Esquilliæ, by pulling down an immense quantity of buildings, so +that an open space, and, as it were, void air, might check the raging +element by breaking the continuity. But ere the consternation had +subsided the fire broke out afresh, with no little violence, but in +regions more spacious, and therefore with less destruction of human +life: but more extensive havoc was made of the temples, and the +porticoes dedicated to amusement. This conflagration, too was the +subject of more censorious remark, as it arose in the Æmilian +possessions of Tigellinus: and Nero seemed to aim at the glory of +building a new city, and calling it by his own name: for, of the +fourteen sections into which Rome is divided, four were still standing +entire, three were leveled with the ground, and in the seven others +there remained only here and there a few remnants of houses, shattered +and half-consumed.</p> + +<p>It were no easy task to recount the number of tenements and temples +which were lost: but the following, most venerable for antiquity and +sanctity, were consumed: that dedicated by Servius Tullius to the +Moon; the temple and great altar consecrated by Evander the Arcadian +to Hercules while present; the chapel vowed by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> Romulus to Jupiter +Stator; the palace of Numa,<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> with the temple of Vesta, and in it +the tutelar gods of Rome. Moreover, the treasures accumulated by so +many victories, the beautiful productions of Greek artists, ancient +writings of authors celebrated for genius, and till then preserved +entire, were consumed: and tho great was the beauty of the city, in +its renovated form, the older inhabitants remembered many decorations +of the ancient which could not be replaced in the modern city. There +were some who remarked that the commencement of this fire showed +itself on the fourteenth before the calends of July, the day on which +the Senones set fire to the captured city. Others carried their +investigation so far as to determine that an equal number of years, +months, and days intervened between the two fires.</p> + +<p>To proceed: Nero appropriated to his own purposes the ruins of his +country, and founded upon them a palace; in which the old-fashioned, +and, in those luxurious times, common ornaments of gold and precious +stones, were not so much the objects of attraction as lands and lakes; +in one part, woods like vast deserts: in another part, open spaces and +expansive prospects. The projectors and superintendents of this plan +were Severus and Celer, men of such ingenuity and daring enterprise as +to attempt to conquer by art the obstacles of nature, and fool away +the treasures of the prince: they had even undertaken to sink a +navigable canal from the lake Avernus to the mouth of the Tiber, over +an arid shore, or through opposing mountains: nor indeed does <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>there +occur anything of a humid nature for supplying water, except the +Pomptine marshes; the rest is either craggy rock or a parched soil: +and had it even been possible to break through these obstructions, the +toil had been intolerable, and disproportioned to the object. Nero, +however who longed to achieve things that exceeded credibility, +exerted all his might to perforate the mountains adjoining to Avernus: +and to this day there remain traces of his abortive project.</p> + +<p>But the rest of the old site not occupied by his palace, was laid out, +not as after the Gallic fire, without discrimination and regularity, +but with the lines of streets measured out, broad spaces left for +transit, the height of the buildings limited, open areas left, and +porticoes added to protect the front of the clustered dwellings: these +porticoes Nero engaged to rear at his own expense, and then to deliver +to each proprietor the areas about them cleared. He moreover proposed +rewards proportioned to every man's rank and private substance, and +fixt a day within which, if their houses, single or clustered, were +finished, they should receive them: he appointed the marshes of Ostia +for a receptacle of the rubbish, and that the vessels which had +conveyed grain up the Tiber should return laden with rubbish; that the +buildings themselves should be raised to a certain portion of their +height without beams, and arched with stone from the quarries of Gabii +or Alba, that stone being proof against fire: that over the water +springs, which had been improperly intercepted by private individuals, +overseers should be placed, to provide for their flowing in greater +abundance, and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> a greater number of places, for the supply of the +public: that every housekeeper should have in his yard means for +extinguishing fire; neither should there be party-walls, but every +house should be enclosed by its own walls. These regulations, which +were favorably received, in consideration of their utility, were also +a source of beauty to the new city: yet some there were who believed +that the ancient form was more conducive to health, as from the +narrowness of the streets and the height of the buildings the rays of +the sun were more excluded; whereas now, the spacious breadth of the +streets, without any shade to protect it, was more intensely heated in +warm weather.</p> + +<p>Such were the provisions made by human counsels. The gods were next +addrest with expiations and recourse had to the Sibyl's books. By +admonition from them to Vulcan, Ceres, and Proserpina, supplicatory +sacrifices were made, and Juno propitiated by the matrons, first in +the Capitol, then upon the nearest shore, where, by water drawn from +the sea, the temple and image of the goddess were besprinkled; and the +ceremony of placing the goddess in her sacred chair, and her vigil, +were celebrated by ladies who had husbands. But not all the relief +that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could +bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, +availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have +ordered the conflagration.</p> + +<p>Hence, to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and +punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +called Christians,<a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> who were hated for their enormities. Christus, +the founder of that name was put to death as a criminal by Pontius +Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius: but the +pernicious superstition, represt for a time, broke out again, not only +through Judea where the mischief originated, but through the city of +Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow, from all +quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. +Accordingly, first those were seized who confest they were Christians; +next, on their information a vast multitude were convicted, not so +much on the charge of burning the city, as of hating the human race. +And in their deaths they were also made the subjects of sport, for +they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death +by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when day declined, +burned to serve for nocturnal lights. Nero offered his own gardens for +that spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately +mingling with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else +standing in his chariot. Whence a feeling of compassion arose toward +the sufferers, tho guilty and deserving to be made examples of by +capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the +public good, but victims to the ferocity of one man.<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p><p>In the mean time, in order to supply money, all Italy was pillaged, +the provinces ruined: both the people in alliance with us, and the +states which are called free. Even the gods were not exempt from +plunder on this occasion, their temples in the city being despoiled, +and all their gold conveyed away, which the Roman people, in every +age, either in gratitude for triumphs, or in fulfilment of vows, had +consecrated, in times of prosperity, or in seasons of dismay. Through +Greece and Asia, indeed, the gifts and oblations, and even the statues +of the deities were carried off; Acratus and Secundus Carinas being +sent into those provinces for the purpose: the former, Nero's +freedman, a prompt instrument in any iniquity; the other, acquainted +with Greek learning, as far as relates to lip-knowledge, but unadorned +with virtuous accomplishments. Of Seneca it was reported, "that to +avert from himself the odium of this sacrilege, he prayed to retire to +a seat of his, remote from Rome, and being refused, feigned +indisposition, as tho his nerves were affected, and confined himself +to his chamber." Some authors have recorded, "that a freedman of his, +named Cleonicus, had, by the command of Nero, prepared poison for his +master, who escaped it, either from the discovery made by the +freedman, or from the caution inspired by his own apprehensions, as he +supported nature by a diet perfectly simple, satisfying the cravings +of hunger by wild fruits, and the solicitations of thirst from the +running brook."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Va" id="Va"></a>V</h2> + +<h3>THE BURNING OF THE CAPITOL AT ROME<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a></h3> +<h3>(69 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>Martialis had scarcely reentered the Capitol when the furious soldiers +appeared before it, without a general, and each man acting on his own +suggestions. Having rapidly passed the forum, and the temples that +overlook it, they marched up the opposite hill, as far as the first +gates of the citadel. On the right side of the ascent, a range of +porticoes had been built in ancient times. Going out upon the roof of +those, the besieged threw a shower of stones and tiles. The assailants +had no weapons but their swords, and to fetch engines and missiles +seemed a tedious delay. They threw brands into the portico that jutted +near them. They followed up the fire, and would have forced their way +through the gate of the Capitol, which the fire had laid hold of, if +Sabinus had not placed as a barrier in the very approach, in lieu of a +wall, the statues, those honorable monuments of our ancestors, which +were pulled down wherever they could be found. They then assaulted the +Capitol in two different quarters near the grove of the asylum, and +where the Tarpeian rock is ascended by a hundred steps. Both attacks +were unforeseen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>That by the asylum was the nearer and most vigorous. Nor could they be +stopt from climbing up the contiguous buildings, which being raised +high under the idea of undisturbed peace, reach the basement of the +Capitol. Here a doubt exists whether the fire was thrown upon the +roofs by the storming party or the besieged, the latter being more +generally supposed to have done it, to repulse those who were climbing +up, and had advanced some way. The fire extended itself thence to the +porticoes adjoining the temples; soon the eagles that supported the +cupola caught fire, and as the timber was old they fed the flame. Thus +the Capitol, with its gates shut, neither stormed, nor defended, was +burned to the ground.</p> + +<p>From the foundation of the city to that hour, the Roman republic had +felt no calamity so deplorable, so shocking, as that, unassailed by a +foreign enemy, and, were it not for the vices of the age, with the +deities propitious, the temple of Jupiter supremely good and great, +built by our ancestors with solemn auspices, the pledge of empire, +which neither Porsena,<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> when Rome surrendered to his arms, nor the +Gauls,<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> when they captured the city, were permitted to violate, +should be now demolished by the madness of the rulers of the state. +The Capitol was once before destroyed by fire during a civil war; but +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>it was from the guilty machinations of private individuals. Now it +was besieged publicly, publicly set fire to; and what were the motives +for the war? what was the object to be gained, that so severe a +calamity was incurred? Warred we in our country's cause?—Tarquinius +Priscus, during the war with the Sabines, built it in fulfillment of a +vow, and laid the foundations more in conformity with his +anticipations of the future grandeur of the empire, than the limited +extent of the Roman means at that time. Servius Tullius, assisted by +the zeal of the allies of Rome, and after him Tarquin the Proud, with +the spoils of Suessa Pometia, added to the building. But the glory of +completing the design was reserved for the era of liberty. When +tyrants were swept away, Horatius Pulvilus, in his second consulship, +dedicated the temple, finished with such magnificence that the wealth +of after ages graced it with new embellishments, but added nothing to +its dimensions. Four hundred and fifteen years afterward, in the +consulship of Lucius Scipio and Caius Norbanus, it was burned to the +ground, and again rebuilt on the old foundation. Sulla having now +triumphed over his opponents, undertook to build it, but nevertheless +did not dedicate it; the only thing wanting to crown his felicity. +That honor was reserved for Lutatius Catulus, whose name, amidst so +many works of the Cæsars, remained legible till the days of Vitellius. +Such was the sacred building which was at this time reduced to ashes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI</h2> + +<h3>THE SIEGE OF CREMONA<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a></h3> +<h3>(69 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>When they came to Cremona, they found a new and enormous difficulty. +In the war with Otho, the German legions had formed a camp round the +walls of the town, and fortified it with lines of circumvallation. New +works were added afterward. The victors stood astonished at the sight, +and even the generals were at a stand, undecided what orders to give. +With troops harassed by exertions through the night and day, to carry +the place by storm was difficult, and, without succors at hand, might +be dangerous; but if they marched to Bedriacum, the fatigue would be +insupportable, and the victory would end in nothing. To throw up +intrenchments was dangerous, in the face of an enemy, who might +suddenly sally forth and put them to the rout, while employed on the +work in detached parties. A difficulty still greater than all arose +from the temper of the men, more patient of danger than delay: +inasmuch as a state of security afforded no excitement, while hope +grew out of enterprise, however perilous; and carnage, wounds and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>blood, to whatever extent, were counterbalanced by the insatiable +desire of plunder.</p> + +<p>Antonius<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> determined upon the latter course and ordered the +rampart to be invested. The attack began at a distance with a volley +of stones and darts, with the greater loss to the Flavians, on whom +the enemy's weapons were thrown with advantage from above. Antonius +presently assigned portions of the rampart and the gates to the +legions that by this mode of attack in different quarters, valor and +cowardice might be distinguished, and a spirit of emulation in honor +animate the army. The third and seventh legions took their station +nearest the road to Bedriacum; the seventh and eighth Claudian, a +portion more to the right hand of the rampart; the thirteenth were +carried by their own impetuosity to the gate that looked toward +Brixia.<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> Some delay then took place while they supplied themselves +from the neighboring villages with pickaxes, spades, and hooks, and +scaling-ladders. They then formed a close military shell with their +shields raised above their heads, and under that cover advanced to the +ramparts. The Roman art of war was seen on both sides. The Vitellians +rolled down massy stones, with which, having disjoined and shaken the +shell, they inserted their long poles and spears; till at last, the +whole frame and texture of the shields being dissolved, they strewed +the ground with numbers of the crusht and mangled assailants....</p> + +<p>Severe in the extreme was the conflict maintained <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>by the third and +the seventh legions. Antonius in person led on a select body of +auxiliaries to the same quarter. The Vitellians were no longer able to +sustain the shock of men all bent on victory, and seeing their darts +fall on the military shell, and glide off without effect, at last they +rolled down their battering-engine on the heads of the besiegers. For +the moment, it dispersed and overwhelmed the party among which, it +fell; but it also drew after it, in its fall, the battlements and +upper parts of the rampart. An adjoining tower, at the same time, +yielded to the effect of stones which struck it, and left a breach, at +which the seventh legion, in the form of a wedge, endeavored to force +their way, while the third hewed down the gate with axes and swords. +The first man that entered, according to all historians, was Caius +Volusius, a common soldier of the third legion. He gained the summit +of the rampart, and, bearing down all resistance, in the view of all +beckoned with his hand, and cried aloud that the camp was captured. +The rest of the legion followed him with resistless fury, the +Vitellians being panic-struck, and throwing themselves headlong from +the works. The whole space between the camp and the walls of Cremona +was filled with slain.<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + +<p>And now a new form of difficulty was presented by the high walls of +the city, and towers of stone, the gates secured by iron bars, and +troops brandishing their arms; the inhabitants, a large and numerous +body, all devoted to Vitellius; and a conflux of people from all parts +of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>Italy at the stated fair which was then held. The latter was +regarded by the garrison as an aid, from the increase of numbers; but +inflamed the ardor of the besiegers on the score of booty. Antonius +ordered his men to take combustibles, and set fire to the most elegant +edifices without the city; if, peradventure, the inhabitants, seeing +their mansions destroyed, would be induced to abandon the adverse +cause. In the houses that stood near the walls, of a height to +overlook the works, he placed the bravest of his troops; and from +those stations beams, tiles and firebrands were thrown down to drive +the defenders of the walls from their posts.</p> + +<p>The legions under Antonius now formed a military shell, while the rest +poured in a volley of stones and darts; when the spirit of the +besieged gradually gave way. The men highest in rank were willing to +make terms for themselves, lest, if Cremona was taken by storm, they +should receive no quarter, and the conquerors, disdaining vulgar +lives, should fall on the tribunes and centurions, from whom the +largest booty was to be expected. The common men, as usual, careless +about future events, and safe in their obscurity, still held out. +Roaming about the streets, or lurking in private houses, they did not +sue for peace even when they had given up the contest. The principal +officers took down the name and images of Vitellius. Cæcina, for he +was still in confinement, they released from his fetters, and desired +his aid in pleading their cause with the conqueror. He heard their +petition with disdain, swelling with insolence, while they importuned +him with tears; the last stage of human misery,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> when so many brave +and gallant men were obliged to sue to a traitor for protection! They +then hung out from the walls the fillets and badges of supplicants. +When Antonius ordered a cessation of hostilities, the garrison brought +out their eagles and standards; a mournful train of soldiers without +their aims, their eyes riveted to the ground, followed them. The +conquerors gathered round them, and first heaped reproaches upon them, +and threatened violence to their persons; but afterward, when they saw +the passiveness with which they received the insults, and that the +vanquished, abandoning all their former pride, submitted to every +indignity, the thought occurred that these very men lately conquered +at Bedriacum, and used their victory with moderation. But when Cæcina +came forth, decorated with his robes, and preceded by his lictors, who +opened a way for him through the crowd, the indignation of the victors +burst into a flame. They reproached him for his pride, his cruelty, +and even for his treachery: so detested is villainy. Antonius opposed +the fury of his men, and sent him under escort to Vespasian.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the common people of Cremona, in the midst of so many +soldiers, were subjected to grievous oppressions, and were in danger +of being all put to the sword, if the rage of the soldiery had not +been assuaged by the entreaties of their leaders. Antonius called them +to an assembly, when he spoke of the conquerors in lofty terms, and of +the vanquished with humanity; of Cremona he said nothing either way. +But the army, adding to their love of plunder an inveterate aversion +to the people, were bent on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> the extirpation of the inhabitants. In +the war against Otho they were deemed the abettors of Vitellius; and +afterward, when the thirteenth legion was left among them to build an +amphitheater, with the usual insolence of the lower orders in towns, +they had assailed them with offensive ribaldry. The spectacle of +gladiators exhibited there by Cæcina inflamed the animosity against +the people. Their city, too, was now for the second time the seat of +war; and, in the heat of the last engagement, the Vitellians were +thence supplied with refreshments; and some of their women, led into +the field of battle by their zeal for the cause, were slain. The +period, too, of the fair had given to a colony otherwise affluent an +imposing appearance of accumulated wealth. Antonius, by his fame and +brilliant success, eclipsed all the other commanders: the attention of +all was fixt on him alone. He hastened to the baths to wash off the +blood; and on observing that the water was not hot enough, he said +that they would soon grow hotter. The expression was caught up: a +casual word among slaves had the effect of throwing upon him the whole +odium of having given a signal for setting fire to Cremona, which was +already in flames.</p> + +<p>Forty thousand armed men had poured into it. The number of drudges and +camp-followers was still greater, and more abandoned to lust and +cruelty. Neither age nor dignity served as a protection; deeds of lust +were perpetrated amidst scenes of carnage, and murder was added to +rape. Aged men and women that had passed their prime, and who were +useless as booty, were made the objects of brutal sport. If a mature<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +maiden, or any one of comely appearance, fell in their way, after +being torn piecemeal by the rude hands of contending ruffians, they at +last were the occasion of their turning their swords against each +other. While eagerly carrying off money or massy gold from the +temples, they were butchered by others stronger than themselves. Not +content with the treasures that lay open to their view, some forced +the owners to discover their hidden wealth, and dig up their buried +riches. Numbers carried flaming torches, and, as soon as they had +brought forth their booty, in their wanton sport set the gutted houses +and plundered temples on fire. In an army differing in language and +manners, composed of Roman citizens, allies, and foreign auxiliaries, +all the diversities of passions were exhibited. Each had his separate +notions of right and wrong; nor was anything unlawful. Four days did +Cremona minister to their rapacity. When everything else, sacred and +profane, was leveled in the conflagration, the temple of Memphitis +alone remained standing, outside of the walls; saved either by its +situation, or the influence of the deity.</p> + +<p>Such was the fate of Cremona, two hundred and eighty-six years from +its foundation. It was built during the consulship of Tiberius +Sempronius and Publius Cornelius, at the time when Hannibal threatened +an irruption into Italy, as a bulwark against the Gauls inhabiting +beyond the Po, or any other power that might break in over the Alps. +The colony, as might be expected, grew and flourished in the number of +its settlers, from the contiguity of rivers, the fertility of its +soil, from alliances and intermarriages with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> neighboring people; +never having suffered from foreign wars, but a sad sufferer from civil +dissensions. Antonius, shrinking from the infamy of this horrible +transaction (for the detestation it excited was increasing), issued an +edict forbidding all manner of persons to detain the citizens of +Cremona as prisoners of war. At the same time the booty was rendered +valueless by a resolution adopted throughout Italy, not to purchase +the captives taken on that occasion. The soldiers then began to murder +them. However, when this was known, the prisoners were eagerly +ransomed by their friends and relations. The survivors in a short time +returned to Cremona. The temples and public places were rebuilt, at +the recommendation of Vespasian, by the munificence of the burgesses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII</h2> + +<h3>AGRICOLA<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a></h3> +<p>Cnæus Julius Agricola was born at the ancient and illustrious colony +of Forum Julii. Both his grandfathers were imperial procurators, an +office which confers the rank of equestrian nobility. His father, +Julius Græcinus, of the senatorian order, was famous for the study of +eloquence and philosophy; and by these accomplishments he drew on +himself the displeasure of Caius Cæsar,<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> for, being commanded to +undertake the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>accusation of Marcus Silanus—on his refusal, he was +put to death. His mother was Julia Procilla, a lady of exemplary +chastity. Educated with tenderness in her bosom, he passed his +childhood and youth in the attainment of every liberal art. He was +preserved from the allurements of vice, not only by a naturally good +disposition, but by being sent very early to pursue his studies at +Massilia;<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> a place where Grecian politeness and provincial +frugality are happily united. I remember he was used to relate, that +in his early youth he should have engaged with more ardor in +philosophical speculation than was suitable to a Roman and a senator, +had not the prudence of his mother restrained the warmth and vehemence +of his disposition: for his lofty and upright spirit, inflamed by the +charms of glory and exalted reputation, led him to the pursuit with +more eagerness than discretion. Reason and riper years tempered his +warmth; and from the study of wisdom, he retained what is most +difficult to compass—moderation.</p> + +<p>He learned the rudiments of war in Britain, under Suetonius Paulinus, +an active and prudent commander, who chose him for his tent companion, +in order to form an estimate of his merit. Nor did Agricola, like many +young men, who convert military service into wanton pastime, avail +himself licentiously or slothfully of his tribunitial title, or his +inexperience, to spend his time in pleasures and absences from duty; +but he employed himself in gaining a knowledge of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>country, making +himself known to the army, learning from the experienced, and +imitating the best; neither pressing to be employed through vainglory, +nor declining it through timidity; and performing his duty with equal +solicitude and spirit. At no other time in truth was Britain more +agitated or in a state of greater uncertainty. Our veterans +slaughtered, our colonies burned, our armies cut off—we were then +contending for safety, afterward for victory. During this period, +altho all things were transacted under the conduct and direction of +another, and the stress of the whole, as well as the glory of +recovering the province, fell to the general's share, yet they +imparted to the young Agricola skill, experience, and incentives; and +the passion for military glory entered his soul; a passion ungrateful +to the times, in which eminence was unfavorably construed, and a great +reputation was no less dangerous than a bad one.</p> + +<p>Departing thence to undertake the offices of magistracy in Rome, he +married Domitia Decidiana, a lady of illustrious descent, from which +connection he derived credit and support in his pursuit of greater +things. They lived together in admirable harmony and mutual affection; +each giving the preference to the other; a conduct equally laudable in +both, except that a greater degree of praise is due to a good wife, in +proportion as a bad one deserves the greater censure. The lot of +questorship gave him Asia for his province, and the proconsul Salvius +Titianus<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> for his superior; by neither of which circumstances was +he corrupted, altho the province was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>wealthy and open to plunder, and +the proconsul, from his rapacious disposition, would readily have +agreed to a mutual concealment of guilt. His family was there +increased by the birth of a daughter, who was both the support of his +house, and his consolation; for he lost an elder-born son in +infancy....</p> + +<p>On his return from commanding the legion he was raised by Vespasian to +the patrician order, and then invested with the government of +Aquitania, a distinguished promotion, both in respect to the office +itself, and the hopes of the consulate to which it destined him. It is +a common supposition that military men, habituated to the unscrupulous +and summary processes of camps, where things are carried with a strong +hand, are deficient in the address and subtlety of genius requisite in +civil jurisdiction. Agricola, however, by his natural prudence, was +enabled to act with facility and precision even among civilians. He +distinguished the hours of business from those of relaxation. When the +court or tribunal demanded his presence, he was grave, intent, awful, +yet generally inclined to lenity. When the duties of his office were +over, the man of power was instantly laid aside. Nothing of sternness, +arrogance, or rapaciousness appeared; and, what was a singular +felicity, his affability did not impair his authority, nor his +severity render him less beloved. To mention integrity and freedom +from corruption in such a man, would be an affront to his virtues. He +did not even court reputation, an object to which men of worth +frequently sacrifice, by ostentation or artifice: equally avoiding +competition with his colleagues,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> and contention with the procurators. +To overcome in such a contest he thought inglorious; and to be put +down, a disgrace. Somewhat less than three years were spent in this +office, when he was recalled to the immediate prospect of the +consulate; while at the same time a popular opinion prevailed that the +government of Britain would be conferred upon him; an opinion not +founded upon any suggestions of his own, but upon his being thought +equal to the station. Common fame does not always err, sometimes it +even directs a choice. When Consul,<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> he contracted his daughter, a +lady already of the happiest promise, to myself, then a very young +man; and after his office was expired I received her in marriage. He +was immediately appointed governor of Britain, and the pontificate was +added to his other dignities....</p> + +<p>His decease was a severe affliction to his family, a grief to his +friends, and a subject of regret even to foreigners, and those who had +no personal knowledge of him. The common people too, and the class who +little interest themselves about public concerns, were frequent in +their inquiries at his house during his sickness, and made him the +subject of conversation at the forum and in private circles; nor did +any person either rejoice at the news of his death, or speedily forget +it. Their commiseration was aggravated by a prevailing report that he +was taken off by poison. I can not venture to affirm anything certain +of this matter; yet, during the whole course of his illness, the +principal of the imperial <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>freedmen and the most confidential of the +physicians was sent much more frequently than was customary with a +court whose visits were chiefly paid by messages; whether that was +done out of real solicitude, or for the purposes of state inquisition. +On the day of his decease, it is certain that accounts of his +approaching dissolution were every instant transmitted to the emperor +by couriers stationed for the purpose; and no one believed that the +information, which so much pains was taken to accelerate, could be +received with regret. He put on, however, in his countenance and +demeanor, the semblance of grief: for he was now secured from an +object of hatred, and could more easily conceal his joy than his fear. +It was well known that on reading the will, in which he was nominated +co-heir with the excellent wife and most dutiful daughter of Agricola, +he exprest great satisfaction, as if it had been a voluntary testimony +of honor and esteem: so blind and corrupt had his mind been rendered +by continual adulation, that he was ignorant none but a bad prince +could be nominated heir to a good father.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> "If by eloquence is meant the ability to persuade, then +Tacitus," according to Cruttwell, "is the most eloquent historian that +ever existed." His portraits, especially those of Tiberius and Nero, +have been severely criticized by French and English writers, but while +his verdicts have been shaken, they have not been reversed. The world +still fails to doubt their substantial reality. Tacitus, adds +Cruttwell, has probably exercised upon readers a greater power than +any other writer of prose whom Rome produced.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> From Book I of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> Marcellus was the son of Octavia by her husband C. +Claudius Marcellus. He married Julia, a daughter of Augustus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Agrippa was the leading administrative mind under +Augustus, with whom he had served in the Civil War and in the battle +Actium. The Pantheon, the only complete building of Imperial Rome that +still survives, was finished and dedicated by him. He married as his +third wife Julia, the widow of Marcellus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Nola lay sixteen miles northeast of Naples. The +reference is to Drusus, son of Tiberius, and to Germanicus, at that +time commanding on the Rhine.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> From Book III of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> This Agrippina was the daughter of Agrippa and Julia. +She married Germanicus, became the mother of Caligula, and was a woman +of lofty character, who died by voluntary starvation after having been +exiled by Tiberius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> It has been conjectured that the two children of +Germanicus here referred to were Caligula, who had gone to the East +with his father, and Julia, who was born in Lesbos.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> These children were Nero, Drusus, Agrippina and +Drusilla.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> Not the Emperor of that name, who was not born until +121 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Mother of Tiberius by a husband whom she had married +before she married Augustus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> Julia, daughter of Julius Cæsar by his wife Cornelia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> Caius Piso, lender of an unsuccessful conspiracy +against Nero in 65. Other famous Romans of the name of Piso are +Lucius, censor, consul and author; another Lucius whose daughter was +married to Julius Cæsar; and Cneius, governor of Syria, who was +accused of murdering Germanicus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> Poppæa Sabina, who once was the wife of Otho and +mistress of Nero. She was afterward divorced from Otho and married to +Nero in 62 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> She died from the effects of a kick given by Nero.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> From Book XV at the "Annals." The Oxford translator +revised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Nero.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> Suetonius relates that, when some one repeated to Nero +the line "When I am dead, let fire devour the world," he replied, "Let +it be whilst I am living." That author asserts that Nero's purpose +sprung in part from his dislike of old buildings and narrow streets. +During the progress of the fire several men of consular rank met +Nero's domestic servants with torches and combustibles which they were +using to start fires, but did not dare to stay their hands. Livy +asserts that, after it was destroyed by the Gauls, Rome had been +rebuilt with narrow winding streets.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> A city in the central Apennines, six miles from Lake +Fucinus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> Near the Esquiline.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> The house, gardens, baths and the Pantheon of Agrippa +are here referred to. Nero's gardens were near the Vatican.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> The palace of Numa, on the Palatine hill, had been the +mansion of Augustus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> Carlyle, in his essay on Voltaire, refers to this +passage as having been "inserted as a small, transitory, altogether +trifling circumstance, in the history of such a potentate as Nero"; +but it has become "to us the most earnest, sad and sternly significant +passage that we know to exist in writing."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> Claudius already had expelled the Jews from Rome and +included in their number the followers of Christ. But his edict was +not specifically directed against the Christians. Nero was the first +emperor who persecuted them as professors of a new faith.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Pliny, Josephus and Dio all agree that the Capitol was set on +fire by the followers of Vitellius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> Porsena did not actually get into Rome, being induced +to raise the siege when only at its gates.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> The capture of Rome by the Gauls under Brennus took +place in 390 B.C. The destruction of the Capitol in the first Civil +War occurred in 83 <span class="smcap">b.c.</span>, during the consulship of Lucius Scipio and +Caius Norbaius. The fire was not started as an act of open violence, +however, but by clandestine incendiaries.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Near Cremona had been fought the first battle of Bedriacum by +the armies of Vitellius and Otho, rivals for the imperial throne, Otho +being defeated. A few months later on the same field the army of +Vitellius was overthrown by Vespasian, who succeeded him as emperor. +Vitellius retired to Cremona, which was then placed under siege by +Vespasian, and altho strongly fortified, captured.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> Antonius Primus, the chief commander of Vespasian's +forces.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> The modern Brescia.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> According to Josephus 30,000 of the Vitellians perished +and 4,500 of the followers of Vespasian.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> From the Oxford translation revised.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Caligula, not Caius Julius Cæsar, is here referred to, +he also having borne the name of Caius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Now Marseilles, founded by Phœnicians, who +introduced, there a degree of Greek culture which long made the city +famous.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> A brother of the Emperor Otho.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> Agricola was Consul in 77 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>, and had for colleague +Domitian, afterward Emperor.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PLINY_THE_YOUNGER" id="PLINY_THE_YOUNGER"></a>PLINY THE YOUNGER</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born at Como, in 63 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; died in 113; nephew of the elder +Pliny; Consul in 100; governor of Bithynia and Pontus in +111; friend of Trajan and Tacitus; his letters and a eulogy +of Trajan alone among his writings have survived.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ig" id="Ig"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>OF THE CHRISTIANS IN HIS PROVINCE<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></h3> +<p>It is my invariable rule, Sir, to refer to you in all matters where I +feel doubtful; for who is more capable of removing my scruples, or +informing my ignorance? Having never been present at any trials +concerning those who profess Christianity, I am unacquainted not only +with the nature of their crimes, or the measure of their punishment, +but how far it is proper to enter into an examination concerning them. +Whether, therefore, any difference is usually made with respect to +ages, or no distinction is to be observed between the young and the +adult; whether repentance entitles them to a pardon; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>or if a man has +been once a Christian, it avails nothing to desist from his error; +whether the very profession of Christianity, unattended with any +criminal act, or only the crimes themselves inherent in the profession +are punishable; on all these points I am in great doubt. In the +meanwhile, the method I have observed toward those who have been +brought before me as Christians is this: I asked them whether they +were Christians; if they admitted it, I repeated the question twice, +and threatened them with punishment; if they persisted, I ordered them +to be at once punished: for I was persuaded whatever the nature of +their opinions might be, a contumacious and inflexible obstinacy +certainly deserved correction. There were others also brought before +me possest with the same infatuation, but being Roman citizens I +directed them to be sent to Rome.</p> + +<p>But this crime spreading (as is usually the case) while it was +actually under prosecution, several instances of the same nature +occurred. An anonymous information was laid before me, containing a +charge against several persons, who upon examination denied they were +Christians, or had ever been so. They repeated after me an invocation +to the gods, and offered religious rites with wine and incense before +your statue (which for that purpose I had ordered to be brought, +together with those of the gods), and even reviled the name of Christ: +whereas there is no forcing, it is said, those who are really +Christians into any of these compliances: I thought it proper, +therefore, to discharge them. Some among those who were accused by a +witness in person at first confest themselves Christians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> but +immediately after denied it; the rest owned indeed that they had been +of that number formerly, but had now (some above three, others more, +and a few above twenty years ago) renounced that error. They all +worshiped your statue and the images of the gods, uttering +imprecations at the same time against the name of Christ. They +affirmed the whole of their guilt of their error, was, that they met +on a stated day before it was light, and addrest a form of prayer to +Christ, as to a divinity, binding themselves by a solemn oath, not for +the purposes of any wicked design, but never to commit any fraud, +theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when +they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their +custom to separate, and then reassemble, to eat in common a harmless +meal. From this custom, however, they desisted after the publication +of my edict, by which, according to your commands, I forbade the +meeting of any assemblies.</p> + +<p>After receiving this account, I judged it so much the more necessary +to endeavor to extort the real truth by putting two female slaves to +the torture, who were said to officiate in their religious rites: but +all I could discover was evidence of an absurd and extravagant +superstition. I deemed it expedient, therefore, to adjourn all further +proceedings, in order to consult you. For it appears to be a matter +highly deserving your consideration, more especially as great numbers +must be involved in the danger of these prosecutions, which have +already extended, and are still likely to extend, to persons of all +ranks and ages, and even of both sexes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> In fact, this contagious +superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its +infection among the neighboring villages and country. Nevertheless, it +still seems possible to restrain its progress. The temples, at least, +which were once almost deserted, begin now to be frequented; and the +sacred rites, after a long intermission, are again revived; while +there is a general demand for the victims, which till lately found +very few purchasers. From all this it is easy to conjecture what +numbers might be reclaimed if a general pardon were granted to those +who shall repent of their error.<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IIg" id="IIg"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>TO TACITUS ON THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a></h3> +<h3>(79 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> +death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity, +deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated +by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered +forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, +which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in +ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an +everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed many +and lasting works; yet I am persuaded the mentioning of him in your +immortal writings will greatly contribute to render his name immortal.</p> + +<p>He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> +On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother desired +him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size and +shape. He had just taken a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>turn in the sun, and, after bathing +himself in cold water, and making a light luncheon, gone back to his +books: he immediately arose and went out upon a rising ground from +whence he might get a better sight of this very uncommon appearance. A +cloud, from which mountain was uncertain, at this distance (but it was +found afterward to come from Mount Vesuvius),<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> was ascending, the +appearance of which I can not give you a more exact description of +than by likening it to that of a pine-tree, for it shot up to a great +height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at +the top into a sort of branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a +sudden gust of air that impelled it, the force of which decreased as +it advanced upward, or the cloud itself being prest back again by its +own weight, expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it appeared +sometimes bright and sometimes dark and spotted according as it was +either more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This +phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and research as my uncle +extraordinary and worth further looking into. He ordered a light +vessel to be got ready, and gave me leave, if I liked, to accompany +him. I said I had rather go on with my work; and it so happened he had +himself given me something to write out.</p> + +<p>As he was coming out of the house, he received a note from Rectina, +the wife of Bassus, who was in the utmost alarm at the imminent danger +which threatened her; for her villa lying at the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>foot of Mount +Vesuvius, there was no way of escape but by sea; she earnestly +entreated him therefore to come to her assistance. He accordingly +changed his first intention and what he had begun from a +philosophical, he now carries out in a noble and generous spirit. He +ordered the galleys to put to sea and went himself on board with an +intention of assisting not only Rectina but the several other towns +which lay thickly strewn along that beautiful coast. Hastening then to +the place from whence others fled with the utmost terror, he steered +his course direct to the point of danger, and with so much calmness +and presence of mind as to be able to make and dictate his +observations upon the motion and all the phenomena of that dreadful +scene. He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which +grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships, +together with pumice stones, and black pieces of burning rock: they +were in danger too not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of +the sea, but also from the vast fragments which rolled down from the +mountains, and obstructed all the shore. Here he stopt to consider +whether he should turn back again; to which the pilot advising him, +"Fortune," said he, "favors the brave; steer to where Pomponianus is." +Pomponianus was then at Stabiæ,<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> separated by a bay, which the +sea, after several insensible windings, forms with the shore. He had +already sent his baggage on board; for tho he was not at that time in +actual danger, yet being within sight of it, and indeed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>extremely +near, if it should in the least increase, he was determined to put to +sea as soon as the wind, which was blowing dead in-shore, should go +down.</p> + +<p>It was favorable, however, for carrying my uncle to Pomponianus, whom +he found in the greatest consternation: he embraced him tenderly, +encouraging and urging him to keep up his spirits, and the more +effectually to soothe his fears by seeming unconcerned himself, +ordered a bath to be got ready, and then, after having bathed, sat +down to supper with great cheerfulness, or at least (what is just as +heroic) with every appearance of it. Meanwhile broad flames shone out +in several places from Mount Vesuvius, which the darkness of the night +contributed to render still brighter and clearer. But my uncle, in +order to soothe the apprehensions of his friend, assured him it was +only the burning of the villages, which the country people had +abandoned to the flames: after this he retired to rest, and it is most +certain he was so little disquieted as to fall into a sound sleep: for +his breathing, which, on account of his corpulence, was rather heavy +and sonorous, was heard by the attendants outside. The court which led +to his apartment being now almost filled with stones and ashes, if he +had continued there any time longer, it would have been impossible for +him to have made his way out. So he was awoke and got up, and went to +Pomponianus and the rest of his company, who were feeling too anxious +to think of going to bed. They consulted together whether it would be +most prudent to trust to the houses, which now rocked from side to +side with frequent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> and violent concussions as tho shaken from their +very foundations; or fly to the open fields, where the calcined stones +and cinders, tho light indeed yet fell in large showers, and +threatened destruction. In this choice of dangers they resolved for +the fields: a resolution which, while the rest of the company were +hurried into by their fears, my uncle embraced upon cool and +deliberate consideration. They went out then, having pillows tied upon +their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the +storm of stones that fell round them.</p> + +<p>It was now day everywhere else, but there a deeper darkness prevailed +than in the thickest night; which however was in some degree +alleviated by torches and other lights of various kinds. They thought +proper to go farther down upon the shore to see if they might safely +put out to sea, but found the waves still running extremely high, and +boisterous. There my uncle, laying himself down upon a sail-cloth, +which was spread for him, called twice for some cold water, which he +drank, when immediately the flames, preceded by a strong whiff of +sulfur, dispersed the rest of the party, and obliged him to rise. He +raised himself up with the assistance of two of his servants, and +instantly fell down dead; suffocated, as I conjecture, by some gross +and noxious vapor, having always had a weak throat, which was often +inflamed. As soon as it was light again, which was not till the third +day after this melancholy accident, his body was found entire, and +without any marks of violence upon it, in the dress in which he fell, +and looking more like a man asleep than dead....<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>My uncle having left us,<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> I spent such time as was left on my +studies (it was on their account indeed that I had stopt behind), till +it was time for my bath. After which I went to supper, and then fell +into a short and uneasy sleep. There had been noticed for many days +before a trembling of the earth, which did not alarm us much, as this +is quite an ordinary occurrence in Campania; but it was so +particularly violent that night that it not only shook but actually +overturned, as it would seem, everything about us. My mother rushed +into my chamber, where she found me rising, in order to awaken her. We +sat down in the open court of the house, which occupied a small space +between the buildings and the sea. As I was at that time but eighteen +years of age, I know not whether I should call my behavior, in this +dangerous juncture, courage or folly; but I took up Livy, and amused +myself with turning over that author, and even making extracts from +him, as if I had been perfectly at my leisure. Just then, a friend of +my uncle's, who had lately come to him from Spain, joined us, and +observing me sitting by my mother with a book in my hand, reproved her +for her calmness, and me at the same time for my careless security: +nevertheless I went on with my author.</p> + +<p>Tho it was now morning, the light was still exceedingly faint and +doubtful; the buildings all around us tottered, and tho we stood upon +open ground, yet as the place was narrow and confined, there was no +remaining without imminent danger: we therefore resolved to quit the +town.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>A panic-stricken crowd followed us, and (as to a mind distracted with +terror every suggestion seems more prudent than its own) prest on us +in dense array to drive us forward as we came out. Being at a +convenient distance from the houses, we stood still, in the midst of a +most dangerous and dreadful scene. The chariots which we had ordered +to be drawn out, were so agitated backward and forward, tho upon the +most level ground, that we could not keep them steady, even by +supporting them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon +itself, and to be driven from its banks by the convulsive motion of +the earth; it is certain at least the shore was considerably enlarged, +and several sea animals were left upon it. On the other side, a black +and dreadful cloud, broken with rapid, zigzag flashes, revealed behind +it variously shaped masses of flame: these last were like +sheet-lightning, but much larger. Upon this our Spanish friend, whom I +mentioned above, addressing himself to my mother and me with great +energy and urgency: "If your brother," he said, "if your uncle be +safe, he certainly wishes you may be so too; but if he perished, it +was his desire, no doubt, that you might both survive him: why +therefore do you delay your escape a moment?" We could never think of +our own safety, we said, while we were uncertain of his. Upon this our +friend left us, and withdrew from the danger with the utmost +precipitation. Soon afterward, the cloud began to descend, and cover +the sea. It had already surrounded and concealed the island of +Capreæ.<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a></p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span></p> + +<p>My mother now besought, urged, even commanded me to make my escape at +any rate, which, as I was young, I might easily do; as for herself, +she said, her age and corpulency rendered all attempts of that sort +impossible; however she would willingly meet death if she could have +the satisfaction of seeing that she was not the occasion of mine. But +I absolutely refused to leave her, and, taking her by the hand, +compelled her to go with me. She complied with great reluctance, and +not without many reproaches to herself for retarding my flight. The +ashes now began to fall upon us, tho in no great quantity. I looked +back; a dense dark mist seemed to be following us, spreading itself +over the country like a cloud. "Let us turn out of the high-road," I +said, "while we can still see, for fear that, should we fall in the +road, we should be prest to death in the dark, by the crowds that are +following us." We had scarcely sat down when night came upon us, not +such as we have when the sky is cloudy, or when there is no moon, but +that of a room when it is shut up, and all the lights put out. You +might hear the shrieks of women, the screams of children, and the +shouts of men; some calling for their children, others for their +parents, others for their husbands, and seeking to recognize each +other by the voices that replied; one lamenting his own fate, another +that of his family; some wishing to die, from the very fear of dying; +some lifting their hands to the gods; but the greater part convinced +that there were now no gods at all, and that the final endless night +of which we have heard had come upon the world. Among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> these there +were some who augmented the real terrors by others imaginary or +wilfully invented. I remember some who declared that one part of +Misenum had fallen, that another was on fire; it was false, but they +found people to believe them. It now grew rather lighter, which we +imagined to be rather the forerunner of an approaching burst of flames +(as in truth it was) than the return of day: however, the fire fell at +a distance from us: then again we were immersed in thick darkness, and +a heavy shower of ashes rained upon us, which we were obliged every +now and then to stand up to shake off, otherwise we should have been +crusht and buried in the heap.</p> + +<p>I might boast that, during all this scene of horror, not a sigh, or +expression of fear, escaped me, had not my support been grounded in +that miserable, tho mighty, consolation, that all mankind were +involved in the same calamity and that I was perishing with the world +itself. At last this dreadful darkness was dissipated by degrees, like +a cloud or smoke; the real day returned, and even the sun shone out, +tho with a lurid light, like when an eclipse is coming on. Every +object that presented itself to our eyes (which were extremely +weakened) seemed changed, being covered deep with ashes as if with +snow. My mother and I, notwithstanding the danger we had passed, and +that which still threatened us, had no thoughts of leaving the place, +till we could receive some news of my uncle.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> Addrest to the Emperor Trajan while proconsul in Pontus +and Bithynia. The Melmoth translation revised by Bosanquet. This +letter and the passage in Tacitus printed elsewhere in this volume, +are the only genuine contemporary references to the early Christians +to be found in ancient writings. Pliny's letter was preserved by the +Christians themselves as evidence of the purity of their faith and +practises. Early writers of the Church frequently appeal to it against +calumniators. It was written within forty years of the death of St. +Paul.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> Trajan's reply to this letter was as follows: "You have +adopted the right course, my dearest Secundus, in investigating the +charges against the Christians who were brought before you. It is not +possible to lay down any general rule for all such cases. Do not go +out of your way to look for them. If indeed they should be brought +before you, and the crime is proved, they must be punished; with the +restriction, however, that where the party denies he is a Christian, +and shall make it evident that he is not, by invoking our gods, let +him (notwithstanding any former suspicion) be pardoned upon his +repentance. Anonymous information ought not to be received in any sort +of prosecution. It is introducing a very dangerous precedent and is +quite foreign to the spirit of our age."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> The translation of William Melmoth, revised by F. C. T. +Bosanquet. Pliny wrote two letters to Tacitus on this subject, each at +the request of the historian. Both are given here.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> Pliny the elder was his uncle.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> In the Bay of Naples.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> About six miles distant from Naples. This eruption of +Vesuvius, in which Herculaneum and Pompeii were buried, happened <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> +79, in the first year of the emperor Titus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> Now called Castellammare, in the Bay of Naples, about +fifteen miles southeast of the city of Naples.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> The paragraphs from this point to the end are from +Pliny's second letter to Tacitus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> The island near Naples, now called Capri.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="SUETONIUS" id="SUETONIUS"></a>SUETONIUS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Lived in the first half of the second century <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; +biographer and historian; private secretary of the emperor +Hadrian about 119-121; a friend of the younger Pliny, whom +he accompanied to Bithynia in 112; wrote several works, of +which only His "Lives of the Twelve Cæsars" have survived.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Ih" id="Ih"></a>I</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST DAYS OF AUGUSTUS<a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a></h3> +<h3>(14 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>His death, of which I shall now speak, and his subsequent deification, +were intimated by divers manifest prodigies. As he was finishing the +census amidst a great crowd of people in the Campus Martius, an eagle +hovered round him several times, and then directed its course to a +neighboring temple, where it settled upon the name of Agrippa, and at +the first letter. Upon observing this, he ordered his colleague +Tiberius to put up the vows, which it is usual to make on such +occasions, for the succeeding Lustrum. For he declared he would not +meddle with what it was probable he should never accomplish, tho the +tables were ready drawn for it. About the same time, the first letter +of his name, in an inscription upon one of his statues, was struck out +by lightning; which was interpreted as a presage that he would live +only a hundred days <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>longer, the letter C denoting that number; and +that he would be placed among the gods as Æsar, which in the remaining +part of the word Cæsar, signifies, in the Tuscan language, a god. +Being, therefore, about dispatching Tiberius to Illyricum, and +designing to go with him as far as Beneventum, but being detained by +several persons who applied to him respecting causes they had +depending, he cried out (and it was afterward regarded as an omen of +his death), "Not all the business in the world shall detain me at Rome +one moment longer"; and setting out upon his journey, he went as far +as Astura, whence, contrary to his custom, he put to sea in the +night-time, as there was a favorable wind.</p> + +<p>His malady proceeded from diarrhea; notwithstanding which, he went +round the coast of Campania, and the adjacent islands, and spent four +days in that of Capri; where he gave himself up entirely to repose and +relaxation. Happening to sail by the bay of Puteoli,<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> the +passengers and mariners aboard a ship of Alexandria, just then +arrived, clad all in white, with chaplets upon their heads, and +offering incense, loaded him with praises and joyful acclamations, +crying out, "By you we live, by you we sail securely, by you enjoy our +liberty and our fortunes." At which being greatly pleased, he +distributed to each of those who attended him, forty gold pieces, +requiring from them an assurance on oath, not to employ the sum given +them in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>any other way than the purchase of Alexandrian merchandise. +And during several days afterward, he distributed Togæ and Pallia, +among other gifts, on condition that the Romans should use the Greek +and the Greeks the Roman dress and language. He likewise constantly +attended to see the boys perform their exercises, according to an +ancient custom still continued at Capri. He gave them likewise an +entertainment in his presence, and not only permitted, but required +from them the utmost freedom in jesting, and scrambling for fruit, +victuals, and other things which he threw among them. In a word, he +indulged himself in all the ways of amusement he could contrive....</p> + +<p>Upon the day of his death, he now and then inquired if there was any +disturbance in the town on his account; and calling for a mirror, he +ordered his hair to be combed, and his shrunk cheeks to be adjusted. +Then asking his friends who were admitted into the room, "Do ye think +that I have acted my part on the stage of life well?" he immediately +subjoined,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If all be right, with joy your voices raise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In loud applauses to the actor's praise."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>After which, having dismissed them all, whilst he was inquiring of +some persons who were just arrived from Rome, concerning Drusus's +daughter, who was in a bad state of health, he expired suddenly, +amidst the kisses of Livia, and with these words: "Livia! live mindful +of our union; and now, farewell!" dying a very easy death, and such as +he himself had always wished for. For as often as he heard that any +person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> had died quickly and without pain, he wished for himself and +his friends the like <i>euthanasia</i> (an easy death), for that was the +word he made use of. He betrayed but one symptom, before he breathed +his last, of being delirious, which was this: he was all on a sudden +much frightened, and complained that he was carried away by forty men. +But this was rather a presage, than any delirium: for precisely that +number of soldiers, belonging to the prætorian cohort, carried out his +corpse.</p> + +<p>He expired in the same room in which his father Octavius had died, +when the two Sextus's, Pompey and Apuleius, were Consuls, upon the +fourteenth of the calends of September [the 19th August], at the ninth +hour of the day, being seventy-six years of age, wanting only +thirty-five days. His remains were carried by the magistrates of the +municipal towns and colonies, from Nola to Bovillæ,<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> and in the +night-time because of the season of the year. During the intervals, +the body lay in some basilica, or great temple, of each town. At +Bovillæ it was met by the Equestrian Order, who carried it to the +city, and deposited it in the vestibule of his own house. The senate +proceeded with so much zeal in the arrangement of his funeral, and +paying honor to his memory, that, among several other proposals, some +were for having the funeral procession made through the triumphal +gate, preceded by the image of Victory which is in the senate-house, +and the children of highest rank and of both sexes singing the funeral +dirge. Others <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>proposed, that on the day of the funeral, they should +lay aside their gold rings, and wear rings of iron; and others, that +his bones should be collected by the priests of the principal +colleges. One likewise proposed to transfer the name of August to +September, because he was born in the latter, but died in the former. +Another moved, that the whole period of time, from his birth to his +death, should be called the Augustan age, and be inserted in the +calendar under that title. But at last it was judged proper to be +moderate in the honors paid to his memory. Two funeral orations were +pronounced in his praise, one before the temple of Julius, by +Tiberius; and the other before the rostra, under the old shops, by +Drusus, Tiberius's son. The body was then carried upon the shoulders +of senators into the Campus Martius, and there burned. A man of +prætorian rank affirmed upon oath, that he saw his spirit ascend from +the funeral pile to heaven. The most distinguished persons of the +equestrian order, barefooted, and with their tunics loose, gathered up +his relics, and deposited them in the mausoleum<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> which had been +built in his sixth consulship between the Flaminian Way and the bank +of the Tiber; at which time likewise he gave the groves and walks +about it for the use of the people.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IIh" id="IIh"></a>II</h2> + +<h3>THE GOOD DEEDS OF NERO<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a></h3> +<p>He was seventeen years of age at the death of that prince,<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> and as +soon as that event was made public, he went out to the cohort on guard +between the hours of six and seven; for the omens were so disastrous, +that no earlier time of the day was judged proper. On the steps before +the palace gate, he was unanimously saluted by the soldiers as their +emperor, and then carried in a litter to the camp; thence, after +making a short speech to the troops, into the senate-house, where he +continued until the evening; of all the immense honors which were +heaped upon him, refusing none but the title of <span class="smcap">Father of his Country</span>, +on account of his youth.</p> + +<p>He began his reign with an ostentation of dutiful regard to the memory +of Claudius, whom he buried with the utmost pomp and magnificence, +pronouncing the funeral oration himself, and then had him enrolled +among the gods. He paid likewise the highest honors to the memory of +his father Domitius. He left the management of affairs, both public +and private, to his mother. The word which he gave the first day of +his reign to the tribune on guard was, "The Best of Mothers," and +afterward he frequently appeared with her in the streets of Rome in +her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>litter. He settled a colony at Antium,<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> in which he placed +the veteran soldiers belonging to the guards; and obliged several of +the richest centurions of the first rank to transfer their residence +to that place; where he likewise made a noble harbor at a prodigious +expense.</p> + +<p>To establish still further his character, he declared, "that he +designed to govern according to the model of Augustus"; and omitted no +opportunity of showing his generosity, clemency, and complaisance. The +more burdensome taxes he either entirely took off, or diminished. The +rewards appointed for informers by the Papian law, he reduced to a +fourth part, and distributed to the people four hundred sesterces a +man. To the noblest of the senators who were much reduced in their +circumstances, he granted annual allowances, in some cases as much as +five hundred thousand sesterces; and to the prætorian cohorts a +monthly allowance of corn gratis. When called upon to subscribe the +sentence, according to custom, of a criminal condemned to die, "I +wish," said he, "I had never learned to read and write." He +continually saluted people of the several orders by name, without a +prompter. When the senate returned him their thanks for his good +government, he replied to them, "It will be time enough to do so when +I shall have deserved it." He admitted the common people to see him +perform his exercises in the Campus Martius. He frequently declaimed +in public, and recited verses of his own <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>composing, not only at home, +but in the theater; so much to the joy of all the people, that public +prayers were appointed to be put up to the gods upon that account; and +the verses which had been publicly read, were, after being written in +gold letters, consecrated to Jupiter Capitolinus.</p> + +<p>He presented the people with a great number and variety of spectacles, +as the Juvenal and Circensian games, stage-plays, and an exhibition of +gladiators. In the Juvenal, he even admitted senators and aged matrons +to perform parts. In the Circensian games, he assigned the equestrian +order seats apart from the rest of the people, and had races performed +by chariots drawn each by four camels. In the games which he +instituted for the eternal duration of the empire, and therefore +ordered to be called <i>Maximi</i>, many of the senatorian and equestrian +order, of both sexes, performed. A distinguished Roman knight +descended on the stage by a rope, mounted on an elephant. A Roman +play, likewise, composed by Afranius, was brought upon the stage. It +was entitled, "The Fire"; and in it the performers were allowed to +carry off, and to keep to themselves, the furniture of the house, +which as the plot of the play required, was burned down in the +theater. Every day during the solemnity, many thousand articles of all +descriptions were thrown among the people to scramble for; such as +fowls of different kinds, tickets for corn, clothes, gold, silver, +gems, pearls, pictures, slaves, beasts of burden, wild beasts that had +been tamed; at last, ships, lots of houses, and lands, Were offered as +prizes in a lottery.</p> + +<p>These games he beheld from the front of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> proscenium. In the show +of gladiators, which he exhibited in a wooden amphitheater, built +within a year in the district of the Campus Martius, he ordered that +none should be slain, not even the condemned criminals employed in the +combats. He secured four hundred senators, and six hundred Roman +knights, among whom were some of unbroken fortunes and unblemished +reputation, to act as gladiators. From the same orders, he engaged +persons to encounter wild beasts, and for various other services in +the theater. He presented the public with the representation of a +naval fight, upon sea-water, with huge fishes swimming in it; as also +with the Pyrrhic dance, performed by certain youths, to each of whom, +after the performance was over, he granted the freedom of Rome. During +this diversion, a bull covered Pasiphaë, concealed within a wooden +statue of a cow, as many of the spectators believed. Icarus, upon his +first attempt to fly, fell on the stage close to the emperor's +pavilion, and bespattered him with blood. For he very seldom presided +in the games, but used to view them reclining on a couch, at first +through some narrow apertures, but afterward with the <i>Podium</i> quite +open. He was the first who instituted, in imitation of the Greeks, a +trial of skill in the three several exercises of music, wrestling, and +horse-racing, to be performed at Rome every five years, and which he +called Neronia. Upon the dedication of his bath<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> and gymnasium, he +furnished the senate and the equestrian order with oil. He appointed +as judges of the trial men of consular <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>rank, chosen by lot, who eat +with the prætors. At this time he went down into the orchestra among +the senators, and received the crown for the best performance in Latin +prose and verse for which several persons of the greatest merit +contended, but they unanimously yielded to him. The crown for the best +performer on the harp; being likewise awarded to him by the judges, he +devoutly saluted it, and ordered it to be carried to the statue of +Augustus. In the gymnastic exercises, which he presented in the Septa, +while they were preparing the great sacrifice of an ox, he shaved his +beard for the first time, and putting it up in a casket of gold +studded with pearls of great price, consecrated it to Jupiter +Capitolinus. He invited the Vestal Virgins to see the wrestlers +perform, because, at Olympia, the priestesses of Ceres are allowed the +privilege of witnessing that exhibition....</p> + +<p>Twice only he undertook any foreign expeditions, one to Alexandria, +and the other to Achaia; but he abandoned the prosecution of the +former on the very day fixt for his departure, by being deterred both +by ill omens, and the hazard of the voyage. For while he was making +the circuit of the temples, having seated himself in that of Vesta, +when he attempted to rise, the skirt of his robe stuck fast; and he +was instantly seized with such a dimness in his eyes, that he could +not see a yard before him. In Achaia, he attempted to make a cut +through the Isthmus;<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> and, having made a speech encouraging his +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>pretorians to set about the work, on a signal given by sound of +trumpet, he first broke ground with a spade, and carried off a +basketful of earth upon his shoulders. He made preparations for an +expedition to the Pass of the Caspian mountains, forming a new legion +out of his late levies in Italy, of men all six feet high, which he +called the phalanx of Alexander the Great. These transactions, in part +unexceptionable, and in part highly commendable, I have brought into +one view, in order to separate them from the scandalous and criminal +part of his conduct.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IIIe" id="IIIe"></a>III</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF NERO<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a></h3> +<h3>(68 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>)</h3> +<p>He was terrified with manifest warnings, both old and new, arising +from dreams, auspices, and omens. He had never been used to dream +before the murder of his mother. After that event, he fancied in his +sleep that he was steering a ship, and that the rudder was forced from +him: that he was dragged by his wife Octavia into a prodigiously dark +place; and was at one time covered over with a vast swarm of winged +ants, and at another, surrounded by the national images which were set +up near Pompey's theater, and hindered from advancing farther; that a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>Spanish jennet he was fond of, had his hinder parts so changed as to +resemble those of an ape; and that having his head only left +unaltered, he neighed very harmoniously. The doors of the mausoleum of +Augustus flying open of themselves, there issued from it a voice, +calling on him by name. The Lares being adorned with fresh garlands on +the calends (the first) of January, fell down during the preparations +for sacrificing to them. While he was taking the omens, Sporus +presented him with a ring, the stone of which had carved upon it the +Rape of Proserpine. When a great multitude of several orders was +assembled, to attend at the solemnity of making vows to the gods, it +was a long time before the keys of the Capitol could be found. And +when, in a speech of his to the senate against Vindex, these words +were read, "that the miscreants should be punished and soon make the +end they merited," they all cried out, "You will do it, Augustus." It +was likewise remarked, that the last tragic piece which he sung, was +Œdipus in Exile, and that he fell as he was repeating this verse:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Wife, mother, father, force me to my end."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Meanwhile, on the arrival of the news that the rest of the armies had +declared against him, he tore to piece the letters which were +delivered to him at dinner, overthrew the table, and dashed with +violence against the ground two favorite cups, which he called +Homer's, because some of that poet's verses were cut upon them. Then +taking from Locusta a dose of poison, which he put up in a golden box, +he went into the Servilian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> gardens, and thence dispatching a trusty +freedman to Ostia, with orders to make ready a fleet, he endeavored to +prevail with some tribunes and centurions of the prætorian guards to +attend him in his flight; but part of them showing no great +inclination to comply, others absolutely refusing, and one of them +crying out aloud,</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Say, is it then so sad a thing to die?"</p></div> + +<p>he was in great perplexity whether he should submit himself to +Galba,<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> or apply to the Parthians for protection, or else appear +before the people drest in mourning, and, upon the rostra, in the most +piteous manner, beg pardon for his past misdemeanors, and, if he could +not prevail, request of them to grant him at least the government of +Egypt. A speech to this purpose was afterward found in his +writing-case. But it is conjectured that he durst not venture upon +this project, for fear of being torn to pieces, before he could get to +the forum.</p> + +<p>Deferring, therefore, his resolution until the next day, he awoke +about midnight, and finding the guards withdrawn, he leapt out of bed, +and sent round for his friends. But none of them vouchsafing any +message in reply, he went with a few attendants to their houses. The +doors being everywhere shut, and no one giving him any answer, he +returned to his bed-chamber; whence those who had the charge of it had +all now eloped; some having gone one way, and some another, carrying +off with them his bedding <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>and box of poison. He then endeavored to +find Spicillus, the gladiator, or some one to kill him; but not being +able to procure any one, "What!" said he, "have I then neither friend +nor foe?" and immediately ran out, as if he would throw himself into +the Tiber.</p> + +<p>But this furious impulse subsiding, he wished for some place of +privacy, where he might collect his thoughts; and his freedman Phaon +offering him his country-house, between the Salarian and Nomentan +roads, about four miles from the city, he mounted a horse, barefoot as +he was, and in his tunic, only slipping over it an old soiled cloak; +with his head muffled up, and a handkerchief before his face, and four +persons only to attend him, of whom Sporus was one. He was suddenly +struck with horror by an earthquake, and by a flash of lightning which +darted full in his face, and heard from the neighboring camp the +shouts of the soldiers, wishing his destruction, and prosperity to +Galba. He also heard a traveler they met on the road, say, "They are +in pursuit of Nero": and another ask, "Is there any news in the city +about Nero?" Uncovering his face when his horse was started by the +scent of a carcass which lay in the road, he was recognized and +saluted by an old soldier who had been discharged from the guards. +When they came to the lane which turned up to the house, they quitted +their horses, and with much difficulty he wound among bushes and +briars, and along a track through a bed of rushes, over which they +spread their cloaks for him to walk on. Having reached a wall at the +back of the villa, Phaon advised him to hide himself a while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> in a +sand-pit; when he replied, "I will not go underground alive." Staying +there some little time, while preparations were made for bringing him +privately into the villa, he took up some water out of a neighboring +tank in his hand, to drink, saying, "This is Nero's distilled water." +Then his cloak having been torn by the brambles, he pulled out the +thorns which stuck in it. At last, being admitted, creeping upon his +hands and knees, through a hole made for him in the wall, he lay down +in the first closet he came to, upon a miserable pallet, with an old +coverlet thrown over it; and being both hungry and thirsty, tho he +refused some coarse bread that was brought him, he drank a little warm +water.</p> + +<p>All who surrounded him now pressing him to save himself from the +indignities which were ready to befall him, he ordered a pit to be +sunk before his eyes, of the size of his body, and the bottom to be +covered with pieces of marble put together, if any could be found +about the house; and water and wood to be got ready for immediate use +about his corpse; weeping at everything that was done, and frequently +saying, "What an artist is now about to perish!" Meanwhile, letters +being brought in by a servant belonging to Phaon, he snatched them out +of his hand, and there read, "That he had been declared an enemy by +the senate, and that search was making for him, that he might be +punished according to the ancient custom of the Romans." He then +inquired what kind of punishment that was; and being told, that the +practise was to strip the criminal naked, and scourge him to death +while his neck was fastened within a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> forked stake, he was so +terrified that he took up two daggers which he had brought with him, +and after feeling the points of both, put them up again, saying, "The +fatal hour is not yet come." One while, he begged of Sporus to begin +to wail and lament; another while, he entreated that one of them would +set him an example by killing himself; and then again, he condemned +his own want of resolution in these words: "I yet live to my shame and +disgrace: this is not becoming for Nero: it is not becoming. Thou +oughtest in such circumstances to have a good heart: Come then: +courage, man!" The horsemen who had received orders to bring him away +alive, were now approaching the house. As soon as he heard them +coming, he uttered with a trembling voice the following verse,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The noise of swift-heel'd steeds assails my ears";<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>he drove a dagger into his throat, being assisted in the act by +Epaphroditus,<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> his secretary. A centurion bursting in just as he +was half-dead, and applying his cloak to the wound, pretending that he +was come to his assistance, he made no other reply but this, "'Tis too +late"; and "Is this your loyalty?" Immediately after pronouncing these +words, he expired, with his eyes fixt and starting out of his head, to +the terror of all who beheld him....</p> + +<p>In stature he was a little below the common height; his skin was foul +and spotted; his hair inclined to yellow; his features were agreeable, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>rather than handsome; his eyes gray and dull, his neck was thick, his +belly prominent, his legs very slender, his constitution sound. For, +tho excessively luxurious in his mode of living, he had, in the course +of fourteen years, only three fits of sickness; which were so slight, +that he neither forbore the use of wine, nor made any alteration in +his usual diet. In his dress, and the care of his person, he was so +careless, that he had his hair cut in rings, one above another; and +when in Achaia, he let it grow long behind; and he generally appeared +in public in the loose dress which he used at table, with a +handkerchief about his neck and without either a girdle or shoes.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> Now Pozzuoli, which fronts on the bay, seven miles west +of Naples. It still has ruins of an amphitheater, 482 feet by 384 in +size. In Roman times it was as important commercial city.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Bovillæ is now known as Frattochio. It stands on the +Appian Way, about nineteen miles from Rome.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> This mausoleum was of white marble rising in terraces +to a great height, and was crowned by a dome on which stood a statue +of Augustus. Marcellus was the first person buried there. Its site was +near the present Porta del Popolo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> The Emperor Claudius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> Nero was born in Antium, distant from Rome about +thirty-eight miles. The Apollo Belvidere was found among its ruins.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> These baths stood west of the Pantheon. Altho of great +extent, no remains of them now exist.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> This scheme, which was a favorite one of many Roman +emperors and even of Julius Cæsar, was not realized until our time. +The Corinth canal was completed in 1893.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> The Roman general, then leader of the revolt against +Nero, who was afterward proclaimed Emperor.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> Epaphroditus was the master of Epictetus, the Stoic +philosopher, before his freedom.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="MARCUS_AURELIUS" id="MARCUS_AURELIUS"></a>MARCUS AURELIUS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Born in Rome in 121 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span>; died in 180; celebrated as emperor +and Stoic philosopher; a nephew of Antoninus Pius, whom he +succeeded as emperor, with Lucius Verus; after the death of +Verus in 169 became sole emperor; his reign notable for +wisdom and the happiness of the Roman people; wrote his +"Meditations" in Greek; a bronze equestrian statue of him in +Rome is the finest extant specimen of ancient bronze.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="HIS_DEBT_TO_OTHERS" id="HIS_DEBT_TO_OTHERS"></a>HIS DEBT TO OTHERS<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a></h3> + + +<p>1. From my grandfather Verus<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> [I learned] good morals and the +government of my temper.</p> + +<p>2. From the reputation and remembrance of my father,<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> modesty and +a manly character.</p> + +<p>3. From my mother,<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not +only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and, further, +simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the +rich.</p> + +<p>4. From my great-grandfather,<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> not to have frequented public +schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on +such things a man should spend liberally.</p> + +<p>5. From my governor, to be neither of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>green nor of the blue party +at the games in the circus, nor a partizan either of the Parmularius +or the Scutarius at the gladiators' fights; from him too I learned +endurance of labor and to want little, and to work with my own hands, +and not to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to +listen to slander.</p> + +<p>6. From Diognetus,<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> not to busy myself about trifling things, and +not to give credit to what was said by miracle-workers and jugglers +about incantations and the driving away of demons and such things; and +not to breed quails [for fighting], not to give myself up passionately +to such things; and to endure freedom of speech; and to have become +intimate with philosophy; and to have been a hearer, first of +Bacchius, then of Tandasis and Marcianus; and to have written dialogs +in my youth; and to have desired a plank bed and skin, and whatever +else of the kind belongs to the Grecian discipline.</p> + +<p>7. From Rusticus<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> I received the impression that my character +required improvement and discipline; and from him I learned not to be +led astray to sophistic emulation, nor to writing on speculative +matters, nor to delivering little hortatory orations, nor to showing +myself off as a man who practises much discipline, or does benevolent +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>acts in order to make a display; and to abstain from rhetoric, and +poetry, and fine writing; and not to walk about in the house in my +outdoor dress, nor to do other things of the kind; and to write my +letters with simplicity, like the letter which Rusticus wrote from +Sinuessa to my mother; and with respect to those who have offended me +by words, or done me wrong, to be easily disposed to be pacified and +reconciled, as soon as they have shown a readiness to be reconciled; +and to read carefully, and not to be satisfied with a superficial +understanding of a book; not hastily to give my assent to those who +talk overmuch; and I am indebted to him for being acquainted with the +discourses of Epictetus.</p> + +<p>8. From Apollonius<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> I learned freedom of will and undeviating +steadiness of purpose; and to look to nothing else, not even for a +moment, except to reason; and to be always the same, in sharp pains, +on the occasion of the loss of a child, and in long illness; and to +see clearly in a living example that the same man can be both most +resolute and yielding, and not peevish in giving his instruction; and +to have had before my eyes a man who clearly considered his experience +and his skill in expounding philosophical principles as the smallest +of his merits; and from him I learned how to receive from friends what +are esteemed favors, without being either humbled by them or letting +them pass unnoticed.</p> + +<p>9. From Sextus,<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> a benevolent disposition, and the example of a +family governed in a fatherly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>manner, and the idea of living +conformably to nature; and gravity without affectation, and to look +carefully after the interests of friends, and to tolerate ignorant +persons and those who form opinions without consideration: he had the +power of readily accommodating himself to all, so that intercourse +with him was more agreeable than any flattery; and at the same time he +was most highly venerated by those who associated with him; and he had +the faculty both of discovering and ordering, in an intelligent +methodical way, the principles necessary for life; and he never showed +anger or any other passion, but was entirely free from passion, and +also most affectionate; and he could express approbation without noisy +display, and he possessed much knowledge without ostentation.</p> + +<p>10. From Alexander<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> the grammarian, to refrain from fault-finding, +and not in a reproachful way to chide those who uttered any barbarous +or solecistic or strange-sounding expression; but dexterously to +introduce the very expression which ought to have been used, and in +the way of answer or giving confirmation, or joining in an inquiry +about the thing itself, not about the word, or by some other fit +suggestion.</p> + +<p>11. From Fronto<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> I learned to observe what envy, and duplicity, +and hypocrisy are in a tyrant, and that generally those among us who +are called Patricians are rather deficient in paternal affection.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p><p>12. From Alexander the Platonic, not frequently nor without necessity +to say to any one, or to write in a letter, that I have no leisure; +nor continually to excuse the neglect of duties required by our +relation to those with whom we live, by alleging urgent occupations.</p> + +<p>13. From Catulus,<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> not to be indifferent when a friend finds +fault, even if he should find fault without reason, but to try to +restore him to his usual disposition; and to be ready to speak well of +teachers, as it is reported of Domitius and Athenodotus; and to love +my children truly.</p> + +<p>14. From my brother Severus, to love my kin, and to love truth, and to +love justice; and through him I learned to know Thrasea, Helvidius, +Cato, Dion, Brutus; and from him I received the idea of a polity in +which there is the same law for all, a polity administered with regard +to equal rights and equal freedom of speech, and the idea of a kingly +government which respects most of all the freedom of the governed; I +learned from him also consistency and undeviating steadiness in my +regard for philosophy; and a disposition to do good, and to give to +others readily, and to cherish good hopes, and to believe that I am +loved by my friends; and in him I observed no concealment of his +opinions with respect to those whom he condemned, and that his friends +had no need to conjecture what he wished or did not wish, but it was +quite plain.</p> + +<p>15. From Maximus<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> I learned self-government, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>and not to be led +aside by anything; and cheerfulness in all circumstances as well as in +illness; and a just admixture in the moral character of sweetness and +dignity, and to do what was set before me without complaining. I +observed that everybody believed that he thought as he spoke, and that +in all that he did he never had any bad intention; and he never showed +amazement and surprize, and was never in a hurry, and never put off +doing a thing, nor was perplexed nor dejected, nor did he ever laugh +to disguise his vexation, nor, on the other hand, was he ever +passionate or suspicious. He was accustomed to do acts of beneficence, +and was ready to forgive, and was free from all falsehood; and he +presented the appearance of a man who could not be diverted from right +rather than of a man who had been improved. I observed, too that no +man could ever think that he was despised by Maximus, or ever venture +to think himself a better man. He had also the art of being humorous +in an agreeable way.</p> + +<p>16. In my father<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable +resolution in the things which he had determined after due +deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honors; +and a love of labor and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to +those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating +firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a +knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action +and for remission. And I observed that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>he had overcome all passion +for boys; and he considered himself no more than any other citizen; +and he released his friends from all obligation to sup with him or to +attend him of necessity when he went abroad, and those who had failed +to accompany him, by reason of any urgent circumstances, always found +him the same. I observed too his habit of careful inquiry in all +matters of deliberation, and his persistency, and that he never stopt +his investigation through being satisfied with appearances which first +present themselves; and that his disposition was to keep his friends, +and not to be soon tired of them, nor yet to be extravagant in his +affection; and to be satisfied on all occasions, and cheerful; and to +foresee things a long way off, and to provide for the smallest without +display; and to check immediately popular applause and all flattery; +and to be ever watchful over the things which were necessary for the +administration of the empire, and to be a good manager of the +expenditure, and patiently to endure the blame which he got for such +conduct; and he was neither superstitious with respect to the gods, +nor did he court men by gifts or by trying to please them, or by +flattering the populace; but he showed sobriety in all things and +firmness, and never any mean thoughts or action, nor love of +novelty....</p> + +<p>17. To the gods I am indebted for having good grandfathers, good +parents, a good sister, good teachers, good associates, good kinsmen +and friends, nearly everything good. Further, I owe it to the gods +that I was not hurried into any offense against any of them, tho I had +a disposition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> which, if opportunity had offered, might have led me to +do something of this kind; but, through their favor, there never was +such a concurrence of circumstances as put me to the trial. Further, I +am thankful to the gods that I was not longer brought up with my +grandfather's concubine, and that I preserved the flower of my youth, +and that I did not make proof of my virility before the proper season, +but even deferred the time; that I was subjected to a ruler and a +father who was able to take away all pride from me, and to bring me to +the knowledge that it is possible for a man to live in a palace +without wanting either guards or embroidered dresses, or torches and +statues, and such-like show; but that it is in such a man's power to +bring himself very near to the fashion of a private person, without +being for this reason either meaner in thought, or more remiss in +action, with respect to the things which must be done for the public +interest in a manner that befits a ruler. I thank the gods for giving +me such a brother,<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> who was able by his moral character to rouse +me to vigilance over myself, and who, at the same time, pleased me by +his respect and affection; that my children have not been stupid nor +deformed in body; that I did not make more proficiency in rhetoric, +poetry, and the other studies, in which I should perhaps have been +completely engaged, if I had seen that I was making progress in them; +that I made haste to place those who brought me up in the station of +honor, which they seemed to desire, without <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>putting them off with +hope of my doing it some time after, because they were then still +young; that I knew Apollonius, Rusticus, Maximus; that I received +clear and frequent impressions about living according to nature, and +what kind of a life that is, so that, so far as depended on the gods, +and their gifts, and help, and inspirations, nothing hindered me from +forthwith living according to nature, tho I still fall short of it +through my own fault, and through not observing the admonitions of the +gods, and I may almost say, their direct instructions; that my body +has held out so long in such a kind of life; that I never touched +either Benedicta or Theodotus; and that, after having fallen into +amatory passions, I was cured; and, tho I was often out of humor with +Rusticus, I never did anything of which I had occasion to repent; +that, tho it was my mother's fate to die young, she spent the last +years of her life with me; that, whenever I wished to help any man in +his need, or on any other occasion, I was never told that I had not +the means of doing it; and that to myself the same necessity never +happened, to receive anything from another; that I have such a wife, +so obedient, and so affectionate, and so simple; that I had abundance +of good masters for my children; and that remedies have been shown to +me by dreams, both others, and against blood-spitting and giddiness; +and that, when I had an inclination to philosophy, I did not fall into +the hands of any sophist.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> From the "Meditations." Translated by George Long.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> Annius Verus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> His father's name also was Annius Verus.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> His mother was Domitia Calvilla, named also Lucilla.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> His mother's grandfather, Catilius Severus, may be +referred to here.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> The translator notes that, in the works of Justinus, is +printed a letter from one Diognetus, a Gentile, who wished very much +to know what the religion of the Christians was, and how it had taught +them to believe neither in the gods of the Greeks nor the +superstitions of the Jews. It has been suggested that this Diognetus +may have been the tutor of Marcus Aurelius.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> Junius Rusticus, a Stoic philosopher, whom the author +highly valued.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> Apollonius of Chalcis, who came to Rome to be the +author's preceptor. He was a rigid Stoic.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> Sextus of Chæronea, a grandson, or nephew, of +Plutarch.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> Alexander, a native of Phrygia, wrote a commentary on +Homer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Cornelius Fronto, a rhetorician and friend of the +author.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> Cinna Catulus, a Stoic.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> Claudius Maximus, a Stoic, whom the author's +predecessor, Antoninus Pius, also valued highly.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> The reference here made is to the Emperor Antoninus +Pius, who adopted him.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> His brother by adoption, L. Verus, is probably referred +to here.</p></div></div> + + +<h3>END OF VOLUME II.</h3> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best of the World's Classics, +Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEST OF THE WORLD'S CLASSICS *** + +***** This file should be named 21629-h.htm or 21629-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/6/2/21629/ + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Volume II (of X) - Rome, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Best of the World's Classics, Restricted to prose. Volume II (of X) - Rome + +Author: Various + +Editor: Henry Cabot Lodge + Francis W. Halsey + +Release Date: May 28, 2007 [EBook #21629] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEST OF THE WORLD'S CLASSICS *** + + + + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + [Illustration: MARCUS AURELIUS] + + [Illustration: CAESAR] + + [Illustration: CICERO] + + [Illustration: SENECA] + + + + THE BEST + + _of the_ + + WORLD'S CLASSICS + + RESTRICTED TO PROSE + + + + HENRY CABOT LODGE + + _Editor-in-Chief_ + + + FRANCIS W. HALSEY + + _Associate Editor_ + + + With an Introduction, Biographical and + Explanatory Notes, etc. + + + IN TEN VOLUMES + + Vol. II + + + ROME + + + + + + FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY + + FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY + + * * * * * + + + + +The Best of the World's Classics + +VOL. II + +ROME + +234 B.C.--180 A.D. + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS + + +VOL. II--ROME + + +CATO THE CENSOR--(Born in 234 B.C., died in 149.) + +Of Work on a Roman Farm. (From "De Re Rustica." Translated by Dr. E. +Wilson) + + +CICERO--(Born in 106 B.C., assassinated in 43.) + +I The Blessings of Old Age. + (From the "Cato Major." Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +II On the Death of His Daughter Tullia. (A letter to Sulpicius) + +III Of Brave and Elevated Spirits. + (From Book I of the "Offices." Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +IV Of Scipio's Death and of Friendship. + From the "Dialog on Friendship." (Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds) + + +JULIUS CAESAR--(Born in 100 B.C., assassinated in 44.) + +I The Building of the Bridge Across the Rhine. + (From Book IV of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and W. S. Bohn) + +II The Invasion of Britain. + (From Book V of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated by + McDivett and Bohn) + +III Overcoming the Nervii. + (From Book II of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and Bohn) + +IV The Battle of Pharsalia and the Death of Pompey. + (From Book III of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." Translated + by McDivett and Bohn) + + +SALLUST--(Born about 86 B.C., died about 34.) + +I The Genesis of Catiline. + (From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. Watson) + +II The Fate of the Conspirators. + (From the "Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. Watson) + + +Livy--(Born in 59 B.C., died in 17 A.D.) + +I Horatius Cocles at the Bridge. + (From Book II of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. Spillan + and Cyrus R. Edmonds) + +II Hannibal's Crossing of the Alps. + (From Book XXI of the "History of Rome." Translated by Spillan and + Edmonds) + +III Hannibal and Scipio at Zama. + (From Book XXX of the "History of Rome." Translated by Spillan and + Edmonds) + +SENECA--(Born about 4 B.C., died in 65 A.D.) + +I Of the Wise Man. + (From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +II Of Consolation for the Loss of Friends. + (From Book VI of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +III To Nero on Clemency. + (From the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + +IV The Pilot. + (From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge) + +V Of a Happy Life. + (From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart) + + +PLINY THE ELDER--(Born in 23 A.D., perished in the Eruption of Vesuvius.) + +I The Qualities of the Dog. + (From the "Natural History." Translated by Bostock and Riley) + +II Three Great Artists of Greece. + (From the "Natural History." Translated by Bostock and Riley) + + +QUINTILIAN--(Born about 35 A.D., died about 95.) + + The Orator Must Be a Good Man. + (From Book XII, Chapter I, of the "Institutes." Translated by J. S. + Watson) + + +TACITUS--(Born about 55 A.D., died about 117.) + +I From Republican to Imperial Rome. + (From Book I of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +II The Funeral of Germanicus. + (From Book III of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +III The Death of Seneca. + (From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +IV The Burning of Rome by Order of Nero. + (From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation revised) + +V The Burning of the Capitol at Rome. + (From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation revised) + +VI The Siege of Cremona. + (From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation revised) + +VII Agricola. + (The Oxford translation revised) + + +PLINY THE YOUNGER--(Born in 63 A.D., died in 113.) + +I Of the Christians in His Province. + (From the "Letters." The Melmoth translation revised) + +II To Tacitus on the Eruption of Vesuvius. + (From the "Letters." The Melmoth translation revised) + + +SUETONIUS--(Lived in the first half of the second century A.D.) + +I The Last Days of Augustus. + (From the "Lives of the Caesars." Translated by Alexander Thomson, + revised by Forester) + +II The Good Deeds of Nero. + (From the "Lives of the Caesars." Translated by Thomson, revised by + Forester) + +III The Death of Nero. + (From the "Lives of the Caesars." Translated by Thomson, revised by + Forester) + + +MARCUS AURELIUS--(Born in 121 A.D., died in 180.) + + His Debt to Others. + (From the "Meditations." Translated by George Long) + + * * * * * + + + + +ROME + +234 B.C.--180 A.D. + + * * * * * + + + + +CATO, THE CENSOR + + Born in Tusculum, Italy, in 234 B.C., died in 149; + celebrated as statesman, general, and writer; questor under + Scipio in 204; Consul in 195; served in Spain in 194; censor + in 184; ambassador to Carthage in 150; one of the chief + instigators of the third Punic war; among his writings are + "De Re Rustica" and "Origines."[1] + +OF WORK ON A ROMAN FARM[2] + + +When the owner of the farm and slaves visits his country villa, after +saluting the household god, he should the same day, if possible, go +round the farm; if not the same day, he should do so the day after. On +seeing how the farm is being cultivated, and what work has been done +or left undone, he should call for his steward and inquire for his +account of what work has been done and what remains to be done. He +should ask whether the work has been completed in good time and +whether what is left uncompleted can be finished. He should find what +wine has been made, and what wheat stored. When he has gone into these +particulars, he should ask for an account of the days spent in +accomplishing the work. + +If the work does not seem satisfactory and the steward should excuse +himself by declaring that he has done his best, that the slaves were +good for nothing, that the weather was bad, that some slaves had run +away, that he himself had been called off on public service, and +should allege other such excuses, he should still be strictly called +to account. He should be asked if on rainy or tempestuous days he had +seen that indoor operations had been carried on. Had the wine-casks +been scoured and lined with pitch; had the house-cleaning been done; +had the grain been taken from the thrashing-floor to the granary; had +manure been thrown from the stables and cow-houses and piled into +heaps; had the seed been winnowed; had any rope been made; had the old +rope been repaired, and had he seen that the slaves mended their coats +and caps. He should be reminded that on religious festivals old +ditches might have been cleared out, the public road mended, briers +cut down, the garden dug over, the meadow cleared, the trees trimmed, +thorns pulled up by the roots, the grain ground and a general clearing +up carried through. He should also be told that when slaves were sick +their rations should be cut down. + +When the matters have been settled to the master's satisfaction, he +should take measures to see that what has not been done be at once +accomplished. He should then proceed to consider the account of the +farm, and a consideration of the amount of grain which has been +prepared for fodder. He should have returns made of wine and +olive-oil, and learn how much has been consumed, how much sold, how +much is left over and may be put on sale. If there is a deficit any +year, he should order it to be made up from the outside, and whatever +is above the needs of the farm sold. If there is anything to let out +on contract, he should order this to be done, and concerning the work +which he wishes to be thus accomplished he should give his order in +writing. As regards the cattle he should order them to be sold by +auction, and in the same way should sell the oil, if the price of oil +has risen; likewise the superfluous wine and corn of the estate. He +should also order to be sold worn-out bulls, blemished cattle, +blemished sheep, wool, hides, any plow that is old, old tools, old +slaves, slaves who are diseased, or anything else which is useless, +for the owner of a farm must be a seller and not a purchaser. + +The owner of a farm and of slaves must begin to study in early manhood +the cultivation and sowing of the land. He should, however, think a +long time before building his villa, but not about farming his +property, which he should set about at once. Let him wait until his +thirty-sixth year and then build, provided his whole property is under +cultivation. So build that neither the villa be disproportionately +small in comparison with the farm nor the farm in comparison with the +villa. It behooves a slave-owner to have a well-built country house, +containing a wine-cellar, a place for storing olive-oil, and casks in +such numbers that he may look forward with delight to a time of +scarcity and high prices, and this will add not only to his wealth, +but to his influence and reputation. He must have wine-presses of the +first order, that his wine may be well made. When the olives have been +picked, let oil be at once made or it will turn out rancid. Recollect +that every year the olives are shaken from the trees in great number +by violent storms. If you gather them up quickly and have vessels +ready to receive them, the storm will have done them no harm and the +oil will be all the greener and better. If the olives be on the ground +or even on the barn floor too long, the oil made from them will be +fetid. Olive-oil will be always good and sweet if it be promptly made. + +The following are the duties of a steward: He must maintain strict +discipline, and see that the festivals are observed. While he keeps +his hands off the property of a neighbor, let him look well to his +own. The slaves are to be kept from quarreling. If any of them commits +a fault, he should be punished in a kindly manner. The steward must +see that the slaves are comfortable and suffer neither from cold nor +hunger. By keeping them busy he will prevent them from running into +mischief or stealing. If the steward sets his face against evil doing, +evil will not be done by them. His master must call him to task if he +let evil doing go unpunished. If one slave do him any service, he +should show gratitude that the others may be encouraged to do right. +The steward must not be a gadder or a diner-out, but must give all his +attention to working the slaves, and considering how best to carry out +his master's instructions.... + +It is at times worth while to gain wealth by commerce, were it not so +perilous; or by usury, were it equally honorable. Our ancestors, +however, held, and fixt by law, that a thief should be condemned to +restore double, a usurer quadruple. We thus see how much worse they +thought it for a citizen to be a money-lender than a thief. Again, +when they praised a good man, they praised him as a good farmer or a +good husbandman. Men so praised were held to have received the highest +praise. For myself, I think well of a merchant as a man of energy and +studious of gain; but it is a career, as I have said, that leads to +danger and ruin. However, farming makes the bravest men and the +sturdiest soldiers, and of all sources of gain is the surest, the most +natural, and the least invidious, and those who are busy with it have +the fewest bad thoughts.[3] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Cato was Rome's first thoroughly national author. He is +usually classed as the creator of Latin prose. Other Roman authors of +his time wrote in Greek. Cato bitterly opposed Greek learning, +declaring that, when Greece should give Rome her literature, she would +"corrupt everything." On Cato's mind no outside literary influence +ever prevailed. He has been called "the most original writer that Rome +ever produced."] + +[Footnote 2: From "De Re Rustica." Translated for this work by Dr. +Epiphanius Wilson.] + +[Footnote 3: The translation of this paragraph is taken from +Cruttwell's "History of Roman Literature."] + + + + +CICERO + + Born in 106 B.C., assassinated in 43; celebrated as orator, + philosopher, statesman, and man of letters; served in the + social war in 89; traveled in Greece and Asia in 79-77; + questor in Sicily in 75; accused Verres in 70; praetor in 60; + as Consul supprest Catiline's conspiracy in 63; banished in + 58; recalled in 57; proconsul in Cicilia in 51-50; joined + Pompey in 49; pronounced orations against Mark Antony in + 44-43; proscribed by the Second Triumvirate in 43; of his + orations fifty-seven are extant, with fragments of twenty + others; other extant works include "De Oratore," "De + Republica," "Cato Major," "De Officiis," and four + collections of letters. + + +I + +THE BLESSINGS OF OLD AGE[4] + + +Nor even now do I feel the want of the strength of a young man, no +more than when a young man I felt the want of the strength of the bull +or of the elephant. What one has, that one ought to use; and whatever +you do, you should do it with all your strength. For what expression +can be more contemptible than that of Milo[5] of Crotona, who, when he +was now an old man, and was looking at the prize-fighters exercising +themselves on the course, is reported to have looked at his arms, +and, weeping over them, to have said, "But these, indeed, are now +dead." Nay, foolish man, not these arms so much as yourself; for you +never derived your nobility from yourself, but from your chest and +your arms. Nothing of the kind did Sextus AElius ever say, nothing of +the kind many years before did Titus Coruncanius, nothing lately did +Publius Crassus; by whom instructions in jurisprudence were given to +their fellow citizens, and whose wisdom was progressive even to their +latest breath. For the orator, I fear lest he be enfeebled by old age; +for eloquence is a gift not of mind only, but also of lungs and +strength. On the whole, that melodiousness in the voice is graceful, I +know not how, even in old age; which, indeed, I have not lost, and you +see my years. + +Yet there is a graceful style of eloquence in an old man, +unimpassioned and subdued, and very often the elegant and gentle +discourse of an eloquent old man wins for itself a hearing; and if you +have not yourself the power to produce this effect, yet you may be +able to teach it to Scipio and Laelius. For what is more delightful +than old age surrounded with the studious attention of youth? Shall we +not leave even such a resource to old age, as to teach young men, +instruct them, train them to every department of duty? an employment, +indeed, than which what can be more noble? But, for my part, I thought +the Cneius and Publius Scipios,[6] and your two grandfathers, L. +AEmilius and P. Africanus, quite happy in the attendance of noble +youths; nor are any preceptors of liberal accomplishments to be deemed +otherwise than happy, tho their strength hath fallen into old age and +failed; altho that very failure of strength is more frequently caused +by the follies of youth than by those of old age; for a lustful and +intemperate youth transmits to old age an exhausted body. Cyrus too, +in Xenophon, in that discourse which he delivered on his deathbed when +he was a very old man, said that he never felt that his old age had +become feebler than his youth had been. I recollect, when a boy, that +Lucius Metellus,[7] who, when four years after his second consulship +he had been made "pontifex maximus," and for twenty-two years held +that sacerdotal office, enjoyed such good strength at the latter +period of his life, that he felt no want of youth. There is no need +for me to speak about myself, and yet that is the privilege of old +age, and conceded to my time of life. + +Do you see how, in Homer, Nestor very often proclaims his own virtues? +for he was now living in the third generation of men; nor had he +occasion to fear lest, when stating the truth about himself, he should +appear either too arrogant or too talkative; for, as Homer says, from +his tongue speech flowed sweeter than honey; for which charm he stood +in need of no strength of body; and yet the famous chief of Greece +nowhere wishes to have ten men like Ajax, but like Nestor; and he does +not doubt if that should happen, Troy would in a short time perish. + +But I return to myself. I am in my eighty-fourth year. In truth I +should like to be able to make the same boast that Cyrus did; but one +thing I can say, that altho I have not, to be sure, that strength +which I had either as a soldier in the Punic war or as questor in the +same war, or as Consul in Spain, or, four years afterward, when as +military tribune I fought a battle at Thermopylae, in the consulship of +Marcus Acilius Glabrio; yet, as you see, old age has not quite +enfeebled me or broken me down: the senate-house does not miss my +strength, nor the rostra, nor my friends, nor my clients, nor my +guests; for I have never agreed to that old and much-praised proverb +which advises you to become an old man early if you wish to be an old +man long. I for my part would rather be an old man for a shorter +length of time than be an old man before I was one. And, therefore, no +one as yet has wished to have an interview with me to whom I have been +denied as engaged. + +But I have less strength than either of you two. Neither even do you +possess the strength of Titus Pontius the centurion; is he, therefore, +the more excellent man? Only let there be a moderate degree of +strength, and let every man exert himself as much as he can; and in +truth that man will not be absorbed in regretting the want of +strength. Milo, at Olympia, is said to have gone over the course while +supporting on his shoulders a live ox. Whether, then, would you rather +have this strength of body, or Pythagoras' strength of intellect, +bestowed upon you? In a word, enjoy that blessing while you have it; +when it is gone, do not lament it, unless, indeed, young men ought to +lament the loss of boyhood, and those a little advanced in age the +loss of adolescence. There is a definite career in life, and one way +of nature, and that a simple one; and to every part of life its own +peculiar period has been assigned; so that both the feebleness of +boys, and the high spirit of young men, and the steadiness of now fixt +manhood, and the maturity of old age, have something natural which +ought to be enjoyed in their own time. I suppose that you hear, +Scipio, what your grandfather's host, Masinissa,[8] is doing at this +day, at the age of ninety. When he has commenced a journey on foot, he +never mounts at all; when on horseback, he never dismounts; by no +rain, by no cold, is he prevailed upon to have his head covered; that +there is in him the greatest hardiness of frame; and therefore he +performs all the duties and functions of a king. Exercise, therefore, +and temperance, even in old age, can preserve some remnant of our +pristine vigor. + +Is there no strength in old age? neither is strength exacted from old +age. Therefore, by our laws and institutions, our time of life is +relieved from those tasks which can not be supported without strength. +Accordingly, so far are we from being compelled to do what we can not +do that we are not even compelled to do as much as we can. But so +feeble are many old men that they can not execute any task of duty or +any function of life whatever; but that in truth is not the peculiar +fault of old age, but belongs in common to bad health. How feeble was +the son of Publius Africanus, he who adopted you. What feeble health, +or rather no health at all, had he! and had that not been so, he would +have been the second luminary of the state; for to his paternal +greatness of soul a richer store of learning had been added. What +wonder, therefore, in old men if they are sometimes weak when even +young men can not escape that. + +We must make a stand, Scipio and Laelius, against old age, and its +faults must be atoned for by activity; we must fight, as it were, +against disease, and in like manner against old age. Regard must be +paid to health; moderate exercises must be adopted; so much of meat +and drink must be taken that the strength may be recruited, not +opprest. Nor, indeed, must the body alone be supported, but the mind +and the soul much more; for these also, unless you drop oil on them as +on a lamp, are extinguished by old age. And our bodies, indeed, by +weariness and exercise, become opprest; but our minds are rendered +buoyant by exercise. For as to those of whom Caecilius speaks, "foolish +old men," fit characters for comedy, by these he denotes the +credulous, the forgetful, the dissolute, which are the faults not of +old age, but of inactive, indolent, drowsy old age. As petulance and +lust belong to the young more than to the old, yet not to all young +men, but to those who are not virtuous; so that senile folly, which is +commonly called dotage, belongs to weak old men, and not to all. Four +stout sons, five daughters, so great a family, and such numerous +dependents, did Appius manage, altho both old and blind; for he kept +his mind intent like a bow, nor did he languidly sink under the weight +of old age. He retained not only authority, but also command, over +his family; the slaves feared him; the children respected him; all +held him dear; there prevailed in that house the manners and good +discipline of our fathers. For on this condition is old age honored if +it maintains itself, if it keeps up its own right, if it is +subservient to no one, if even to its last breath it exercises control +over its dependents. For, as I like a young man in whom there is +something of the old, so I like an old man in whom there is something +of the young; and he who follows this maxim, in body will possibly be +an old man, but he will never be an old man in mind. + +I have in hand my seventh book of Antiquities; I am collecting all the +materials of our early history; of all the famous causes which I have +defended; I am now completing the pleadings;[9] I am employed on a law +of augurs, of pontiffs, of citizens. I am much engaged also in Greek +literature, and, after the manner of the Pythagoreans, for the purpose +of exercising my memory, I call to mind in the evening what I have +said, heard, and done on each day. These are the exercises of the +understanding; these are the race-courses of the mind; while I am +perspiring and toiling over these, I do not greatly miss my strength +of body. I attend my friends, I come into the senate very often, and +spontaneously bring forward things much and long thought of, and I +maintain them by strength of mind, not of body; and if I were unable +to perform these duties, yet my couch would afford me amusement, when +reflecting on those matters which I was no longer able to do, but that +I am able is owing to my past life; for, by a person who always lives +in these pursuits and labors, it is not perceived when old age steals +on. Thus gradually and unconsciously life declines into old age; nor +is its thread suddenly broken, but the vital principle is consumed by +length of time. + +Then follows the third topic of blame against old age, that they say +it has no pleasures. Oh, noble privilege of age! if indeed it takes +from us that which is in youth the greatest defect. For listen, most +excellent young men, to the ancient speech of Archytas[10] of +Tarentum, a man eminently great and illustrious, which was reported to +me when I, a young man, was at Tarentum with Quintus Maximus. He said +that no more deadly plague than the pleasure of the body was inflicted +on men by nature; for the passions, greedy of that pleasure, were in a +rash and unbridled manner incited to possess it; that hence arose +treasons against one's country, hence the ruining of states, hence +clandestine conferences with enemies--in short, that there was no +crime, no wicked act, to the undertaking of which the lust of +pleasure did not impel; but that fornications and adulteries and every +such crime were provoked by no other allurements than those of +pleasure. And whereas either nature or some god had given to man +nothing more excellent than his mind, that to this divine function and +gift, nothing was so hostile as pleasure; since where lust bore sway, +there was no room for self-restraint; and in the realm of pleasure, +virtue could by no possibility exist. And that this might be the +better understood, he begged you to imagine in your mind any one +actuated by the greatest pleasure of the body that could be enjoyed; +he believed no one would doubt but that so long as the person was in +that state of delight, he would be able to consider nothing in his +mind, to attain nothing by reason, nothing by reflection; wherefore +that there was nothing so detestable and so destructive as pleasure, +inasmuch as that when it was excessive and very prolonged, it +extinguished all the light of the soul. + +Nearchus of Tarentum, our host, who had remained throughout in +friendship with the Roman people, said he had heard from older men +that Archytas held this conversation with Caius Pontius the Samnite, +the father of him by whom, in the Caudian[11] battle, Spurius +Postumius and Titus Veturius, the consuls, were overcome, on which +occasion Plato the Athenian had been present at that discourse; and I +find that he came to Tarentum in the consulship of Lucius Camillus and +Appius Claudius.[12] Wherefore do I adduce this? that we may +understand that if we could not by reason and wisdom despise pleasure, +great gratitude would be due to old age for bringing it to pass that +that should not be a matter of pleasure which is not a matter of duty. +For pleasure is hostile to reason, hinders deliberation, and, so to +speak, closes the eyes of the mind, nor does it hold any intercourse +with virtue. I indeed acted reluctantly in expelling from the senate +Lucius Flaminius, brother of that very brave man Titus Flaminius,[13] +seven years after he had been Consul; but I thought that his +licentiousness should be stigmatized. For that man, when he was Consul +in Gaul, was prevailed on at a banquet by a courtezan to behead one of +those who were in chains, condemned on a capital charge. He escaped in +the censorship of his brother Titus, who had immediately preceded me; +but so profligate and abandoned an act of lust could by no means be +allowed to pass by me and Flaccus, since with private infamy it +combined the disgrace of the empire. + +I have often heard from my elders, who said that, in like manner, +they, when boys, had heard from old men, that Caius Fabricius was wont +to wonder that when he was ambassador to King Pyrrhus, he had heard +from Cineas the Thessalian that there was a certain person at Athens +who profest himself a wise man, and that he was accustomed to say that +all things which we did were to be referred to pleasure; and that +hearing him say so, Manius Curius and Titus Coruncanius were +accustomed to wish that that might be the persuasion of the Samnites +and Pyrrhus[14] himself, that they might the more easily be conquered +when they had given themselves up to pleasure. Manius Curius had lived +with Publius Decius, who, five years before the consulship of the +former, had devoted himself for the commonwealth in his fourth +consulship. Fabricius had been acquainted with him, and Coruncanius +had also known him, who, as well from his own conduct in life, as from +the great action of him whom I mention, Publius Decius, judged that +there was doubtless something in its own nature excellent and +glorious, which should be followed for its own sake, and which, +scorning and despising pleasure, all the worthiest men pursued.... + +But why do I refer to others? Let me now return to myself. First of +all, I always had associates in clubs; and clubs were established when +I was questor, on the Idaean worship of the great mother being adopted. +Therefore I feasted with my associates altogether in a moderate way, +but there was a kind of fervor peculiar to that time of life, and as +that advances, all things will become every day more subdued. For I +did not calculate the gratification of those banquets by the pleasures +of the body so much as by the meetings of friends and conversations. +For well did our ancestors style the reclining of friends at an +entertainment, because it carried with it a union of life, by the name +"convivium" better than the Greeks do, who call this same thing as +well by the name of "compotatio" as "concoenatio"; so that what in +that kind (of pleasures) is of the least value that they appear most +to approve of. + +For my part, on account of the pleasure of conversation, I am +delighted also with seasonable entertainments, not only with those of +my own age, of whom very few survive, but with those of your age, and +with you; and I give great thanks to old age, which has increased my +desire for conversation, and taken away that of eating and drinking. +But even if such things delight any person (that I may not appear +altogether to have declared war against pleasure, of which perhaps a +certain limited degree is even natural), I am not aware that even in +these pleasures themselves old age is without enjoyment. For my part, +the presidencies established by our ancestors delight me; and that +conversation, which after the manner of our ancestors, is kept up over +our cups from the top of the table; and the cups, as in the Symposium +of Xenophon, small and dewy, and the cooling of the wine in summer, +and in turn either the sun, or the fire in winter--practises which I +am accustomed to follow among the Sabines also--and I daily join a +party of neighbors, which we prolong with various conversation till +late at night, as far as we can. But there is not, as it were, so +ticklish a sensibility of pleasures in old men. I believe it; but then +neither is there the desire. However, nothing is irksome unless you +long for it. Well did Sophocles, when a certain man inquired of him +advanced in age whether he enjoyed venereal pleasures, reply, "The +gods give me something better; nay, I have run away from them with +gladness, as from a wild and furious tyrant." For to men fond of such +things, it is perhaps disagreeable and irksome to be without them; but +to the contented and satisfied it is more delightful to want them than +to enjoy them; and yet he does not want who feels no desire; therefore +I say that this freedom from desire is more delightful than enjoyment. + +But if the prime of life has more cheerful enjoyment of those very +pleasures, in the first place they are but petty objects which it +enjoys, as I have said before; then they are those of which old age, +if it does not abundantly possess them, is not altogether destitute. +As he is more delighted with Turpio Ambivius, who is spectator on the +foremost bench, yet he also is delighted who is in the hindmost; so +youth having a close view of pleasures is perhaps more gratified; but +old age is as much delighted as is necessary in viewing them at a +distance. However, of what high value are the following circumstances, +that the soul, after it has served out, as it were, its time under +lust, ambition, contention, enmities, and all the passions, shall +retire within itself, and, as the phrase is, live with itself? But if +it has, as it were, food for study and learning, nothing is more +delightful than an old age of leisure. I saw Caius Gallus, the +intimate friend of your father, Scipio, almost expiring in the +employment of calculating the sky and the earth. How often did +daylight overtake him when he had begun to draw some figure by night, +how often did night, when he had begun in the morning! How it did +delight him to predict to us the eclipses of the sun and the moon, +long before their occurrence! What shall we say in the case of +pursuits less dignified, yet, notwithstanding, requiring acuteness! +How Naevius did delight in his Punic war! how Plautus in his +Truculentus! how in his Pseudolus! I saw also the old man Livy,[15] +who, tho he had brought a play upon the stage six years before I was +born, in the consulship of Cento and Tuditanus, yet advanced in age +even to the time of my youth. Why should I speak of Publius Licinius +Crassus' study both of pontifical and civil law? or of the present +Publius Scipio, who within these few days was created chief pontiff? +Yet we have seen all these persons whom I have mentioned, ardent in +these pursuits when old men. But as to Marcus Cethegus, whom Ennius +rightly called the "marrow of persuasion," with what great zeal did we +see him engage in the practise of oratory, even when an old man! What +pleasures, therefore, arising from banquets, or plays, or harlots, are +to be compared with these pleasures? And these, indeed, are the +pursuits of learning, which too, with the sensible and well educated, +increase along with their age; so that is a noble saying of Solon, +when he says in a certain verse, as I observed before, that he grew +old learning many things every day--than which pleasure of the mind, +certainly, none can be greater. + +I come now to the pleasures of husbandmen, with which I am excessively +delighted, which are not checked by any old age, and appear in my +mind to make the nearest approach to the life of a wise man. For they +have relation to the earth, which never refuses command, and never +returns without interest that which it hath received; but sometimes +with less, generally with very great interest. And yet for my part it +is not only the product, but the virtue and nature of the earth itself +that delight me, which, when in its softened and subdued bosom it has +received the scattered seed, first of all confines what is hidden +within it, from which harrowing, which produces that effect, derives +its name (_occatio_); then, when it is warmed by heat and its own +compression, it spreads it out, and elicits from it the verdant blade, +which, supported by the fibers of the roots, gradually grows up, and, +rising on a jointed stalk, is now enclosed in a sheath, as if it were +of tender age, out of which, when it hath shot up, it then pours forth +the fruit of the ear, piled in due order, and is guarded by a rampart +of beards against the pecking of the smaller birds. Why should I, in +the case of vines, tell of the plantings, the risings, the stages of +growth? That you may know the repose and amusement of my old age, I +assure you that I can never have enough of that gratification. For I +pass over the peculiar nature of all things which are produced from +the earth; which generates such great trunks and branches from so +small a grain of the fig or from the grape-stone, or from the minutest +seeds of other fruits and roots; shoots, plants, twigs, quicksets, +layers, do not these produce the effect of delighting any one even to +admiration? The vine, indeed, which by nature is prone to fall, and is +borne down to the ground, unless it be propt, in order to raise +itself up, embraces with its tendrils, as it were with hands, whatever +it meets with, which, as it creeps with manifold and wandering course, +the skill of the husbandmen pruning with the knife, restrains from +running into a forest of twigs, and spreading too far in all +directions. + +Accordingly, in the beginning of spring, in those twigs which are +left, there rises up as it were at the joints of the branches that +which is called a bud, from which the nascent grape shows itself, +which, increasing in size by the moisture of the earth and the heat of +the sun, is at first very acid to the taste, and then as it ripens +grows sweet, and being clothed with its large leaves does not want +moderate warmth, and yet keeps off the excessive heat of the sun; than +which what can be in fruit on the one hand more rich, or on the other +hand more beautiful in appearance? Of which not only the advantage, as +I said before, but also the cultivation and the nature itself delight +me; the rows of props, the joining of the heads, the tying up and +propagation of vines, and the pruning of some twigs, and the grafting +of others, which I have mentioned. Why should I allude to irrigations, +why to the diggings of the ground, why to the trenching by which the +ground is made much more productive? Why should I speak of the +advantage of manuring? I have treated of it in that book which I wrote +respecting rural affairs, concerning which the learned Hesiod has not +said a single word, tho he has written about the cultivation of the +land. But Homer, who, as appears to me, lived many ages before, +introduces Laertes soothing the regret which he felt for his son by +tilling the land and manuring it. Nor indeed is rural life delightful +by reason of corn-fields only and meadows and vineyards and groves, +but also for its gardens and orchards; also for the feeding of cattle, +the swarms of bees, and the variety of all kinds of flowers. Nor do +plantings only give me delight, but also graftings, than which +agriculture has invented nothing more ingenious.... + +Was then their old age to be pitied who amused themselves in the +cultivation of land? In my opinion, indeed, I know not whether any +other can be more happy; and not only in the discharge of duty, +because to the whole race of mankind the cultivation of the land is +beneficial; but also from the amusement, which I have mentioned, and +that fulness and abundance of all things which are connected with the +food of men, and also with the worship of the gods; so that, since +some have a desire for these things, we may again put ourselves on +good terms with pleasure. For the wine-cellar of a good and diligent +master is always well stored; the oil-casks, the pantry also, the +whole farmhouse is richly supplied; it abounds in pigs, kids, lambs, +hens, milk, cheese, honey. Then, too, the countrymen themselves call +the garden a second dessert. And then what gives a greater relish to +these things is that kind of leisure labor, fowling and hunting. Why +should I speak of the greenness of meadows, or the rows of trees, or +the handsome appearance of vineyards and olive grounds? Let me cut the +matter short. Nothing can be either more rich in use or more elegant +in appearance than ground well tilled, to the enjoyment of which old +age is so far from being an obstacle that it is even an invitation and +allurement. For where can that age be better warmed either by basking +in the sun or by the fire, or again be more healthfully refreshed by +shades or waters? Let the young, therefore, keep to themselves their +arms, horses, spears, clubs, tennis-ball, swimmings, and races; to us +old men let them leave out of many amusements the _tali_ and +_tesserae_; and even in that matter it may be as they please, since old +age can be happy without these amusements.... + +What, therefore, should I fear if after death I am sure either not to +be miserable or to be happy? Altho who is so foolish, even if young, +as to be assured that he will live even till the evening? Nay, that +period of life has many more probabilities of death that ours has; +young men more readily fall into diseases, suffer more severely, are +cured with more difficulty, and therefore few arrive at old age. Did +not this happen so we should live better and more wisely, for +intelligence, and reflection, and judgment reside in old men, and if +there had been none of them, no states could exist at all. But I +return to the imminence of death. What charge is that against old age, +since you see it to be common to youth also? I experienced not only in +the case of my own excellent son, but also in that of your brothers, +Scipio, men plainly marked out for the highest distinction, that death +was common to every period of life. Yet a young man hopes that he will +live a long time, which expectation an old man can not entertain. His +hope is but a foolish one; for what can be more foolish than to regard +uncertainties as certainties, delusions as truths? An old man indeed +has nothing to hope for; yet he is in so much the happier state than +a young one; since he has already attained what the other is only +hoping for. The one is wishing to live long, the other has lived long. + +And yet, good gods! what is there in man's life that can be called +long? For allow the latest period; let us anticipate the age of the +kings of Tartessii. For there dwelt, as I find it recorded, a man +named Arganthonius at Gades;[16] who reigned for eighty years, and +lived 120. But to my mind, nothing whatever seems of long duration to +which there is any end. For when that arrives, then the time which has +passed has flown away; that only remains which you have secured by +virtue and right conduct. Hours indeed depart from us, and days and +months and years; nor does past time ever return, nor can it be +discovered what is to follow. Whatever time is assigned to each to +live, with that he ought to be content; for neither need the drama be +performed entire by the actor in order to give satisfaction, provided +he be approved in whatever act he may be; nor need the wise man live +till the _plaudite_. For the short period of life is long enough for +living well and honorably, and if you should advance further, you need +no more grieve than farmers do when the loveliness of spring-time hath +passed, that summer and autumn have come. For spring represents the +time of youth, and gives promise of the future fruits; the remaining +seasons are intended for plucking and gathering in those fruits. Now +the harvest of old age, as I have often said, is the recollection and +abundance of blessings previously secured. In truth everything that +happens agreeably to nature is to be reckoned among blessings. What, +however, is so agreeable to nature as for an old man to die which even +is the lot of the young, tho nature opposes and resists. And thus it +is that young men seem to me to die just as when the violence of flame +is extinguished by a flood of water; whereas old men die, as the +exhausted fire goes out, spontaneously, without the exertion of any +force; and as fruits when they are green are plucked by force from the +trees, but when ripe and mellow drop off, so violence takes away their +lives from youths, maturity from old men--a state which to me indeed +is so delightful that the nearer I approach to death, I seem, as it +were, to be getting sight of land, and at length, after a long voyage, +to be just coming into harbor. + +Of all the periods of life there is a definite limit; but of old age +there is no limit fixt; and life goes on very well in it, so long as +you are able to follow up and attend to the duty of your situation, +and, at the same time, to care nothing about death; whence it happens +that old age is even of higher spirit and bolder than youth. Agreeable +to this was the answer given to Pisistratus,[17] the tyrant, by Solon, +when on the former inquiring, "in reliance on what hope he so boldly +withstood him," the latter is said to have answered, "on old age." The +happiest end of life is this--when the mind and the other senses +being unimpaired, the same nature which put it together takes asunder +her own work. As in the case of a ship or a house, he who built them +takes them down most easily; so the same nature which has compacted +man most easily breaks him up. Besides, every fastening of glue, when +fresh, is with difficulty torn asunder, but easily when tried by time. +Hence it is that that short remnant of life should be neither greedily +coveted nor without reason given up; and Pythagoras forbids us to +abandon the station or post of life without the orders of our +commander, that is, of God.[18] There is indeed a saying of the wise +Solon in which he declares that he does not wish his own death to be +unattended by the grief and lamentation of friends. He wishes, I +suppose, that he should be dear to his friends. But I know not whether +Ennius does not say with more propriety, + + "Let no one pay me honor with tears, nor + celebrate my funeral with mourning." + +He conceives that a death ought not to be lamented when immortality +follows. Besides, a dying man may have some degree of consciousness, +but that for a short time, especially in the case of an old man; after +death, indeed, consciousness either does not exist or it is a thing to +be desired. But this ought to be a subject of study from our youth to +be indifferent about death, without which study no one can be of +tranquil mind. For die we certainly must, and it is uncertain whether +or not on this very day. He, therefore, who at all hours dreads +impending death, how can he be at peace in his mind? concerning which +there seems to be no need of such long discussion, when I call to mind +not only Lucius Brutus, who was slain in liberating his country; nor +the two Decii, who spurred on their steeds to a voluntary death; nor +Marcus Atilius,[19] who set out to execution that he might keep a +promise pledged to the enemy; nor the two Scipios, who even with their +very bodies sought to obstruct the march of the Carthaginians; nor +your grandfather Lucius Paulus,[20] who by his death atoned for the +temerity of his colleague in the disgraceful defeat at Cannae; nor +Marcus Marcellus,[21] whose corpse not even the most merciless foe +suffered to go without the honor of sepulture; but that our legions, +as I have remarked in my Antiquities, have often gone with cheerful +and undaunted mind to that place from which they believed that they +should never return. Shall, then, well-instructed old men be afraid of +that which young men, and they not only ignorant, but mere peasants, +despise? On the whole, as it seems to me indeed, a satiety of all +pursuits causes a satiety of life. There are pursuits peculiar to +boyhood; do therefore young men regret the loss of them? There are +also some of early youth; does settled age, which is called middle +life, seek after these? There are also some of this period; neither +are they looked for by old age. There are some final pursuits of old +age; accordingly, as the pursuits of the earlier parts of life fall +into disuse, so also do those of old age; and when this has taken +place, satiety of life brings on the seasonable period of death. + +Indeed, I do not see why I should not venture to tell you what I +myself think concerning death; because I fancy I see it so much the +more clearly in proportion as I am less distant from it. I am +persuaded that your fathers, Publius Scipio and Caius Laelius, men of +the greatest eminence and very dear friends of mine, are living, and +that life too which alone deserves the name of life. For while we are +shut up in this prison of the body, we are fulfilling, as it were, the +function and painful task of destiny; for the heaven-born soul has +been degraded from its dwelling-place above, and, as it were, buried +in the earth, a situation uncongenial to its divine and immortal +nature. But I believe that the immortal gods have shed souls into +human bodies, that beings might exist who might tend the earth, and by +contemplating the order of the heavenly bodies might imitate it in the +manner and regularity of their lives. Nor have reason and argument +alone influenced me thus to believe, but likewise the high name and +authority of the greatest philosophers. I used to hear that Pythagoras +and the Pythagoreans, who were all but our neighbors, who were +formerly called the Italian philosophers, had no doubt that we +possess souls derived from the universal divine mind. Moreover, the +arguments were conclusive to me which Socrates delivered on the last +day of his life concerning the immortality of the soul--he who was +pronounced by the oracle of Apollo the wisest of all men. But why say +more? I have thus persuaded myself, such is my belief; that since such +is the activity of our souls, so tenacious their memory of things past +and their sagacity regarding things future, so many arts, so many +sciences, so many discoveries, that the nature which comprizes these +qualities can not be mortal; and since the mind is ever in action and +has no source of motion, because it moves itself, I believe that it +never will find any end of motion, because it never will part from +itself; and that since the nature of the soul is uncompounded, and has +not in itself any admixture heterogeneous and dissimilar to itself, I +maintain that it can not undergo dissolution; and if this be not +possible, it can not perish; and it is a strong argument that men know +very many things before they are born, since when mere boys, while +they are learning difficult subjects, they so quickly catch up +numberless ideas, that they seem not to be learning them then for the +first time, but to remember them, and to be calling them to +recollection. Thus did our Plato argue.... + +Let me, if you please, revert to my own views. No one will ever +persuade me that either your father, Paulus, or two grandfathers, +Paulus and Africanus, or the father of Africanus, or his uncle, or the +many distinguished men whom it is unnecessary to recount, aimed at +such great exploits as might reach to the recollection of posterity +had they not perceived in their mind that posterity belonged to them. +Do you suppose, to boast a little of myself, after the manner of old +men, that I should have undergone such great toils, by day and night, +at home and in service, had I thought to limit my glory by the same +bounds as my life? Would it not have been far better to pass an easy +and quiet life without any toil or struggle? But I know not how my +soul, stretching upward, has ever looked forward to posterity, as if, +when it had departed from life, then at last it would begin to live. +And, indeed, unless this were the case, that souls were immortal, the +souls of the noblest of men would not aspire above all things to an +immortality of glory. + +Why need I adduce that the wisest man ever dies with the greatest +equanimity, the most foolish with the least? Does it not seem to you +that the soul, which sees more and further, sees that it is passing to +a better state, while that body whose vision is duller, does not see +it? I, indeed, am transported with eagerness to see your fathers, whom +I have respected and loved; nor in truth is it those only I desire to +meet whom I myself have known; but those also of whom I have heard or +read, and have myself written. Whither, indeed, as I proceed, no one +assuredly should easily force me back, nor, as they did with Pelias, +cook me again to youth. For if any god should grant me that from this +period of life I should become a child again and cry in the cradle, I +should earnestly refuse it; nor in truth should I like, after having +run, as it were, my course, to be called back to the starting-place +from the goal. For what comfort has life? What trouble has it not, +rather? But grant that it has; yet it assuredly has either satiety or +limitation (of its pleasures). For I am not disposed to lament the +loss of life, which many men, and those learned men too, have often +done; neither do I regret that I have lived, since I have lived in +such a way that I conceive I was not born in vain; and from this life +I depart as from a temporary lodging, not as from a home. + +For nature has assigned it to us as an inn to sojourn in, not a place +of habitation. Oh, glorious day! when I shall depart to that divine +company and assemblage of spirits, and quit this troubled and polluted +scene. For I shall go not only to those great men of whom I have +spoken before, but also to my son Cato, than whom never was better man +born, nor more distinguished for pious affection, whose body was +burned by me, whereas, on the contrary, it was fitting that mine +should be burned by him. But his soul not deserting me, but oft +looking back, no doubt departed to those regions whither it saw that I +myself was destined to come. This, tho a distress to me, I seemed +patiently to endure; not that I bore it with indifference, but I +comforted myself with the recollection that the separation and +distance between us would not continue long. For these reasons, O +Scipio (since you said that you with Laelius were accustomed to wonder +at this), old age is tolerable to me, and not only not irksome, but +even delightful. And if I am wrong in this, that I believe the souls +of men to be immortal, I willingly delude myself; nor do I desire that +this mistake, in which I take pleasure, should be wrested from me as +long as I live; but if I, when dead, shall have no consciousness, as +some narrow-minded philosophers imagine, I do not fear lest dead +philosophers should ridicule this my delusion. But if we are not +destined to be immortal, yet it is a desirable thing for a man to +expire at his fit time. For, as nature prescribes a boundary to all +other things, so does she also to life. Now old age is the +consummation of life, just as of a play, from the fatigue of which we +ought to escape, especially when satiety is super-added. This is what +I had to say on the subject of old age, to which may you arrive! that, +after having experienced the truth of those statements which you have +heard from me, you may be enabled to give them your approbation. + + + + +II + +ON THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER TULLIA[22] + + +Yes, my dear Servius, I could indeed wish you had been with me, as you +say, at the time of my terrible trial. How much it was in your power +to help me if you had been here, by sympathizing with, and I may +almost say, sharing equally in my grief, I readily perceive from the +fact that after reading your letter I now feel myself considerably +more composed; for not only was all that you wrote just what is best +calculated to soothe affliction, but you yourself in comforting me +showed that you too had no little pain at heart. Your son Servius, +however, has made it clear, by every kindly attention which such an +occasion would permit of, both how great his respect was for myself +and also how much pleasure his kind feeling for me was likely to give +you; and you may be sure that, while such attentions from him have +often been more pleasant to me, they have never made me more grateful. + +It is not, however, only your arguments and your equal share--I may +almost call it--in this affliction which comforts me, but also your +authority; because I hold it shame in me not to be bearing my trouble +in a way that you, a man endowed with such wisdom, think it ought to +be borne. But at times I feel broken down, and I scarcely make any +struggle against my grief, because those consolations fail me which +under similar calamities were never wanting to any of those other +people whom I put before myself as models for imitation. Both Fabius +Maximus, for example, when he lost a son who had held the consulship, +the hero of many a famous exploit; and Lucius Paulus, from whom two +were taken in one week; and your own kinsman Gallus; and Marcus Cato, +who was deprived of a son of the rarest talents and the rarest +virtue--all these lived in times when their individual affliction was +capable of finding a solace in the distinctions they used to earn from +their country. + +For me, however, after being stript of all those distinctions which +you yourself recall to me, and which I had won for myself by +unparalleled exertions, only that one solace remained which has been +torn away. My thoughts were not diverted by work for my friends, or by +the administration of affairs of state; there was no pleasure in +pleading in the courts; I could not bear the very sight of the Senate +House; I felt, as was indeed too true, that I had lost all the harvest +of both my industry and my success. But whenever I wanted to recollect +that all this was shared with you and other friends I could name, and +whenever I was breaking myself in and forcing my spirit to bear these +things with patience, I always had a refuge to go to where I might +find peace, and in whose words of comfort and sweet society I could +rid me of all my pains and griefs. Whereas now, under this terrible +blow, even those old wounds which seemed to have healed up are +bleeding afresh; for it is impossible for me now to find such a refuge +from my sorrows at home in the business of the state as in those days +I did in that consolation of home, which was always in store whenever +I came away sad from thoughts of state to seek for peace in her +happiness. And so I stay away both from home and from public life; +because home now is no more able to make up for the sorrow I feel when +I think of our country than our country is for my sorrow at home. I am +therefore looking forward all the more eagerly to your coming, and +long to see you as early as may possibly be; no greater alleviation +can be offered me than a meeting between us for friendly intercourse +and conversation. I hope, however, that your return is to take place, +as I hear it is, very shortly. As for myself, while there are abundant +reasons for wanting to see you as soon as possible, my principal one +is in order that we may discuss together beforehand the best method of +conduct for present circumstances, which must entirely be adapted to +the wishes of one man only, a man nevertheless who is far-seeing and +generous, and also, as I think I have thoroughly ascertained, to me +not at all ill-disposed and to you extremely friendly. But admitting +this, it is still a matter for much deliberation what is the line--I +do not say of action, but of keeping quiet--that we ought by his good +leave and favor to adopt. Farewell! + + + + +III + +OF BRAVE AND ELEVATED SPIRITS[23] + + +A spirit altogether brave and elevated is chiefly discernible by two +characters. The first consists in a low estimate of mere outward +circumstances, since it is convinced that a man ought to admire, +desire, or court nothing but what is virtuous and becoming; and that +he ought to succumb to no man, nor to any perturbation either of +spirit or fortune. The other thing is that, possest of such a spirit +as I have just mentioned, you should perform actions which are great +and of the greatest utility, but extremely arduous, full of +difficulties and danger both to life and the many things which +pertain to life. + +In the latter of those two characters consist all the glory, the +majesty, and, I add, the utility; but the causes and the efficient +means that form great men is in the former, which contains the +principles that elevate the soul, and gives it a contempt for +temporary considerations. Now, this very excellence consists in two +particulars: you are to deem that only to be good is to be virtuous, +and that you be free from all mental irregularity. For we are to look +upon it as the character of a noble and an elevated soul, to slight +all those considerations that the generality of mankind account great +and glorious, and to despise them, upon firm and durable principles; +while strength of mind and greatness of resolution are discerned in +bearing those calamities which, in the course of man's life, are many +and various, so as not to be driven from your natural disposition, nor +from the dignity of a wise man; for it is not consistent that he who +is not subdued by fear should be subjugated by passion, nor that he +who has shown himself invincible by toil should be conquered by +pleasure. Wherefore, we ought to watch and avoid the love of money; +for nothing so truly characterizes a narrow, groveling disposition as +to love riches; and nothing is more noble and more exalted than to +despise riches if you have them not, and if you have them, to employ +them in beneficence and liberality. + +An inordinate passion for glory, as I have already observed, is +likewise to be guarded against; for it deprives us of liberty, the +only prize for which men of elevated sentiments ought to contend. +Power is so far from being desirable in itself that it sometimes ought +to be refused, and sometimes to be resigned. We should likewise be +free from all disorders of the mind, from all violent passion and +fear, as well as languor, voluptuousness, and anger, that we may +possess that tranquillity and security which confer alike consistency +and dignity. Now, many there are, and have been, who, courting that +tranquillity which I have mentioned here, have withdrawn themselves +from public affairs and taken refuge in retirement. Among these, some +of the noblest and most prominent of our philosophers; and some +persons, of strict and grave dispositions, were unable to bear with +the manners either of the people or their rulers; and some have lived +in the country, amusing themselves with the management of their +private affairs. Their aim was the same as that of the powerful, that +they might enjoy their liberty, without wanting anything or obeying +any person; for the essence of liberty is to live just as you +please.... + +But, since most persons are of opinion that the achievements of war +are more glorious than civil affairs, this judgment needs to be +restricted; for many, as generally is the case with high minds and +enterprising spirits, especially if they are adapted to military life +and are fond of warlike achievements, have often sought opportunities +of war from their fondness for glory; but if we are willing to judge +truly, many are the civil employments of greater importance, and of +more renown, than the military. + +For tho Themistocles is justly praised--his name is now more +illustrious than that of Solon, and his glorious victory at Salamis +is mentioned preferably to the policy of Solon, by which he first +confirmed the power of the Areopagus--the one should not be considered +more illustrious than the other; for the one availed his country only +for once--the other is lastingly advantageous; because by it the laws +of the Athenians, and the institutions of their ancestors, are +preserved. Now, Themistocles could not have stated any respect in +which he benefited the Areopagus, but Solon might with truth declare +that Themistocles had been advantaged by him; for the war was carried +on by the counsels of that senate which was constituted by Solon. + +We may make the same observation with regard to Pausanias[24] and +Lysander among the Lacedaemonians; for all the addition of empire which +their conquests are supposed to have brought to their country is not +to be compared to the laws and economy of Lycurgus; for indeed, owing +to these very causes they had armies more subordinate and courageous. +In my eyes, Marcus Scaurus (who flourished when I was but a boy) was +not inferior to Caius Marius;[25] nor, after I came to have a concern +in the government, Quintus Catulus[26] to Cneius Pompey. An army +abroad is but of small service, unless there be a wise administration +at home. Nor did that good man and great general Africanus perform a +more important service to his country when he razed Numantia than did +that private citizen P. Nasica[27] when at the same period he killed +Tiberius Gracchus. An action which it is true was not merely of a +civil nature; for it approaches to a military character, as being the +result of force and courage; but it was an action performed without an +army, and from political considerations.... + +Now all that excellence which springs from a lofty and noble nature is +altogether produced by the mental and not by the corporeal powers. +Meanwhile, the body ought to be kept in such action and order as that +it may be always ready to obey the dictates of reason and wisdom, in +carrying them into execution, and in persevering under hardships. But +with regard to that _honestas_ we are treating of, it consists wholly +in the thoughtful application of the mind, by which the civilians who +preside over public affairs are equally serviceable to their country +as they who wage wars. For it often happens that by such counsels wars +are either not entered into or they are brought to a termination; +sometimes they are even undertaken, as the third Punic war was by the +advice of Marcus Cato, whose authority was powerful, even after he was +dead. + +Wisdom in determining is therefore preferable to courage in fighting; +but in this we are to take care that we are not swayed by an aversion +to fighting rather than by a consideration of expediency. Now in +engaging in war we ought to make it appear that we have no other view +than peace. But the character of a brave and resolute man is not to be +ruffled with adversity, and not to be in such confusion as to quit his +post, as we say, but to preserve a presence of mind, and the exercise +of reason, without departing from his purpose. And while this is the +characteristic of a lofty spirit, so this also is that of a powerful +intellect; namely, to anticipate futurity in thought, and to conclude +beforehand what may happen on either side, and, upon that, what +measures to pursue, and never be surprized so as to say, "I had not +thought of that." Such are the operations of a genius, capacious and +elevated; of such a one as relies on its own prudence and counsel; but +to rush precipitately into the field, and to encounter an enemy with +mere physical force has somewhat in it that is barbarous and brutal. +When the occasion, however, and its necessity compel it, we should +resist with force, and prefer death to slavery or dishonor. + + + + +IV + +OF SCIPIO'S DEATH AND OF FRIENDSHIP[28] + + +Should I say that I am not distrest by the loss of Scipio, +philosophers may determine with what propriety I should do so; but +assuredly I should be guilty of falsehood. For I am distrest at being +bereaved of such a friend, as no one, I consider, will ever be to me +again, and, as I can confidently assert, no one ever was; but I am not +destitute of a remedy. I comfort myself, and especially with this +consolation, that I am free from that error by which most men, on the +decease of friends, are wont to be tormented; for I feel that no evil +has happened to Scipio; it has befallen myself, if indeed it has +happened to any. Now to be above measure distrest at one's own +troubles is characteristic of the man who loves not his friend, but +himself. In truth, as far as he is concerned, who can deny that his +end was glorious? for unless he had chosen to wish for immortality, of +which he had not the slightest thought, what did he fail to obtain +which it was lawful for a man to wish for? A man who, as soon as he +grew up, by his transcendent merit far surpassed those sanguine hopes +of his countrymen which they had conceived regarding him when a mere +boy, who never stood for the consulship, yet was made Consul twice; on +the first occasion, before his time; on the second, at the proper age +as regarded himself, tho for the commonwealth almost too late; who, by +overthrowing two cities,[29] most hostile to our empire, put an end +not only to all present but all future wars. What shall I say of his +most engaging manners; of his dutiful conduct to his mother; his +generosity to his sisters; his kindness to his friends; his +uprightness toward all? These are known to you; and how dear he was to +the state was displayed by its mourning at his death.... + +The authority of the ancients has more weight with me, either that of +our own ancestors, who paid such sacred honors to the dead, which +surely they would not have done if they thought those honors did in no +way affect them, or that of those who once lived in this country, and +enlightened, by their institutions and instructions, Magna Graecia[30] +(which now indeed is entirely destroyed, but then was flourishing), +or of him who was pronounced by the oracle of Apollo to be the wisest +of men, who did not say first one thing and then another, as is +generally done, but always the same; namely, that the souls of men are +divine, and that when they have departed from the body, a return to +heaven is opened to them, and the speediest to the most virtuous and +just. This same opinion was also held by Scipio; for he indeed, a very +few days before his death, as if he had a presentiment of it, when +Philus and Manilius were present, and many others, and you also, +Scaevola, had gone with me, for three days descanted on the subject of +government; of which discussion the last was almost entirely on the +immortality of souls, which he said he had learned in sleep through a +vision from Africanus. If this be the fact, that the spirit of the +best man most easily flies away in death, as from the prison-house and +chains of the body, whose passage to the gods can we conceive to have +been readier than that of Scipio? Wherefore, to be afflicted at this +his departure, I fear, would be the part rather of an envious person +than of a friend.... + +But yet I so enjoy the recollection of our friendship that I seem to +have lived happily because I lived with Scipio, with whom I had a +common anxiety on public and private affairs, and with whom my life +both at home and abroad was associated, and there existed that, +wherein consists the entire strength of friendship, an entire +agreement of inclinations, pursuits, and sentiments. That character +for wisdom, therefore, which Fannius a little while ago mentioned does +not so delight me, especially since it is undeserved, as the hope that +the recollection of our friendship will last forever. And it is the +more gratifying to me because scarcely in the history of the world are +three or four pairs of friends mentioned by name; and I indulge in the +hope that the friendship of Scipio and Laelius will be remembered.... + +I can only urge you to prefer friendship to all human possessions; for +there is nothing so suited to our nature, so well adapted to +prosperity or adversity. But first of all, I am of opinion that except +among the virtuous friendship can not exist; I do not analyze this +principle too closely, as they do who inquire with too great nicety +into those things, perhaps with truth on their side, but with little +general advantage; for they maintain that there is no good man but the +wise man. Be it so, yet they define wisdom to be such as no mortal has +ever attained to; whereas we ought to contemplate those things which +exist in practise and in common life, and not the subjects of fictions +or of our own wishes. I would never pretend to say that Caius +Fabricius, Marius Curius, and Titus Coruncanius, whom our ancestors +esteemed wise, were wise according to the standard of these moralists. +Wherefore let them keep to themselves the name of wisdom, both +invidious and unintelligible, and let them allow that these were good +men--nay, they will not even do that; they will declare that this can +not be granted except to a wise man. + +Let us therefore proceed with our dull genius, as they say. Those who +so conduct themselves and so live that their honor, their integrity, +their justice, and liberality are approved; so that there is not in +them any covetousness, or licentiousness, or boldness; and that they +are of great consistency, as those men whom I have mentioned +above--let us consider these worthy of the appellation of good men, as +they have been accounted such, because they follow (as far as men are +able) nature, which is the best guide of a good life. For I seem to +myself to have this view, that we are so formed by nature that there +should be a certain social tie among all; stronger, however, as each +approaches nearer us. Accordingly, citizens are preferable to +foreigners, and relatives to strangers; for with the last-named, +Nature herself has created a friendly feeling, tho this has not +sufficient strength. For in this respect friendship is superior to +relationship, because from relationship benevolence can be withdrawn +and from friendship it can not; for with the withdrawal of benevolence +the very name of friendship is done away, while that of relationship +remains. Now how great the power of friendship is may be best gathered +from this consideration, that out of the boundless society of the +human race, which Nature herself has joined together, friendship is a +matter so contracted, and brought into so narrow a compass, that the +whole of affection is confined to two, or at any rate to very few. + +Now friendship is nothing else than a complete union of feeling on all +subjects, divine and human, accompanied by kindly feeling and +attachment, than which, indeed, I am not aware whether, with the +exception of wisdom, anything better has been bestowed on man by the +immortal gods. Some men prefer riches, others good health, others +influence, others again honors, many prefer even pleasures; the last, +indeed, is the characteristic of beasts; while the former are fleeting +and uncertain, depending not so much on our own purpose as on the +fickleness of fortune. Whereas those who place the supreme good in +virtue, therein do admirably; but this very virtue itself both begets +and constitutes friendship; nor without this virtue can friendship +exist at all. Now let us define this virtue according to the usage of +life and of our common language; and let us not measure it, as certain +learned persons do, by pomp of language; and let us include among the +good those who are so accounted--the Paulli, the Catos, the Galli, the +Scipios, and the Phili; with these men ordinary life is content; and +let us pass over those who are nowhere found to exist. Among men of +this kind, therefore, friendship finds facilities so great that I can +scarcely describe them. + +In the first place--to whom can life be "worth living," as Ennius +says, who does not repose on the mutual kind feeling of some friend? +What can be more delightful than to have one to whom you can speak on +all subjects just as to yourself? Where would be the great enjoyment +in prosperity if you had not one to rejoice in it equally with +yourself? And adversity would indeed be difficult to endure without +some one who would bear it even with greater regret than yourself. In +short, all other objects that are sought after are severally suited to +some one single purpose--riches, that you may spend them; power that +you may be courted; honors, that you may be extolled; pleasures, that +you may enjoy them; good health, that you may be exempt from harm, and +perform the functions of the body. Whereas friendship comprizes the +greatest number of objects possible; wherever you turn yourself, it is +at hand; shut out of no place, never out of season, never irksome; and +therefore we do not use fire and water, as they say, on more occasions +than we do friendship. And I am not now speaking of commonplace or +ordinary friendship (tho even that brings delight and benefit), but of +real and true friendship, such as belonged to those of whom very few +are recorded; for prosperity, friendship renders more brilliant, and +adversity more supportable, by dividing and communicating it. + +And while friendship embraces very many and great advantages, she +undoubtedly surpasses all in this, that she shines with a brilliant +hope over the future, and never suffers the spirit to be weakened or +to sink. Besides, he who looks on a true friend looks, as it were, +upon a kind of image of himself; wherefore friends, tho absent, are +still present; tho in poverty, they are rich; tho weak, yet in the +enjoyment of health; and, what is still more difficult to assert, tho +dead they are alive; so entirely does the honor, the memory, the +regret of friends attend them; from which circumstance the death of +the one seems to be happy, and the life of the other praiseworthy; +nay, should you remove from nature the cement of kind feelings, +neither a house nor a city will be able to stand; even the cultivation +of the land will not continue. If it be not clearly perceived how +great is the power of friendship and concord, it can be distinctly +inferred from quarrels and dissensions; for what house is there so +established, or what state so firmly settled, that may not utterly be +overthrown by hatred and dissension? From which it may be determined +how much advantage there is in friendship. They relate, indeed, that a +certain learned man of Agrigentum[31] promulgated in Greek verses the +doctrine that all things which cohere throughout the whole world, and +all things that are the subjects of motion, are brought together by +friendship, and are dispelled by discord; and this principle all men +understand, and illustrate by their conduct. Therefore, if at any time +any act of a friend has been exhibited, either in undergoing or in +sharing dangers, who is there that does not extol such an act with the +highest praise?... + +Now if such be the influence of integrity, that we love it even in +those whom we have never seen, and, what is much more, even in an +enemy, what wonder if men's feelings are affected when they seem to +discover the goodness and virtue of those with whom they may become +connected by intercourse? altho love is confirmed by the reception of +kindness, and by the discovery of an earnest sympathy, and by close +familiarity, which things being added to the first emotion of the mind +and the affections, there is kindled a large amount of kindly feeling. +And if any imagine that this proceeds from a sense of weakness, so +that there shall be secured a friend, by whom a man may obtain that +which he wants, they leave to friendship a mean and, indeed, if I may +so speak, anything but respectable origin, when they make her to be +born of indigence and want; were this the case, then in proportion as +a man judged that there were the least resources in himself, precisely +in that degree would he be best qualified for friendship, whereas the +fact is far otherwise. For just as a man has most confidence in +himself, and as he is most completely fortified by worth and wisdom, +so that he needs no one's assistance, and feels that all his resources +reside in himself, in the same proportion he is most highly +distinguished for seeking out and forming friendships. For what did +Africanus want of me? Nothing whatever, nor indeed did I need aught +from him; but I loved him from admiration of his excellence; he in +turn perhaps was attached to me from some high opinion which he +entertained of my character, and association fostered our affection. +But altho many and great advantages ensued, yet it was not from any +hope of these that the causes of our attachment sprang; for as we are +beneficent and liberal not to exact favor in return (for we are not +usurers in kind actions), but by nature are inclined to liberality, +thus I think that friendship is to be desired, not attracted by the +hope of reward, but because the whole of its profit consists in love +only. From such opinions, they who, after the fashion of beasts, refer +everything to pleasure, widely differ, and no great wonder, since they +can not look up to anything lofty, magnificent, or divine who east +all their thoughts on an object so mean and contemptible. + +Therefore let us exclude such persons altogether from our discourse; +and let us ourselves hold this opinion, that the sentiment of loving +and the attachment of kind feelings are produced by nature when the +evidence of virtue has been established; and they who have eagerly +sought the last-named draw nigh and attach themselves to it, that they +may enjoy the friendship and character of the individual they have +begun to love, and that they may be commensurate and equal in +affection, and more inclined to confer a favor than to claim any +return. And let this honorable struggle be maintained between them; so +not only will the greatest advantages be derived from friendship, but +its origin from nature rather than from a sense of weakness will be at +once more impressive and more true. For if it were expediency that +cemented friendships, the same when changed would dissolve them; but +because nature can never change, therefore true friendships are +eternal.... + +Listen, then, my excellent friends, to the discussion which was very +frequently held by me and Scipio on the subject of friendship; altho +he indeed used to say that nothing was more difficult than that +friendship should continue to the end of life; for it often happened +either that the same course was not expedient to both parties or that +they held different views of politics; he remarked also that the +characters of men often changed, in some cases by adversity, in +others by old age becoming oppressive; and he derived an authority +for such notions from a comparison with early life, because the +strongest attachments of boys are constantly laid aside with the +praetexta; even if they should maintain it to manhood, yet sometimes it +is broken off by rivalry, for a dowried wife, or some other advantage +which they can not both attain. And even if men should be carried on +still further in their friendship, yet that feeling is often +undermined should they fall into rivalry for preferments; for there is +no greater enemy to friendship than covetousness of money, in most +men, and even in the best, an emulous desire of high offices and +glory, in consequence of which the most bitter enmities have often +arisen between the dearest friends. For great dissensions, and those +in most instances justifiable, arise when some request is made of +friends which is improper, as, for instance, that they should become +either the ministers of their lust or their supporters in the +perpetration of wrong; and they who refuse to do so, it matters not +however virtuously, yet are accused of discarding the claims of +friendship by those persons whom they are unwilling to oblige; but +they who dare to ask anything of a friend, by their very request seem +to imply that they would do anything for the sake of that friend; by +the complaining of such persons, not only are long-established +intimacies put an end to, but endless animosities are engendered. All +these many causes, like so many fatalities, are ever threatening +friendship, so that, he said, to escape them all seemed to him a proof +not merely of wisdom, but even of good fortune.... + +Let this, therefore, be established as a primary law concerning +friendship, that we expect from our friends only what is honorable, +and for our friends' sake do what is honorable; that we should not +wait till we are asked; that zeal be ever ready, and reluctance far +from us; but that we take pleasure in freely giving our advice; that +in our friendship, the influence of our friends, when they give good +advice, should have great weight; and that this be employed to +admonish not only candidly, but even severely, if the case shall +require, and that we give heed to it when so employed; for, as to +certain persons whom I understand to have been esteemed wise men in +Greece, I am of opinion that some strange notions were entertained by +them; but there is nothing which they do not follow up with too great +subtlety; among the rest, that excessive friendships should be +avoided, lest it should be necessary for one to feel anxiety for many; +that every one has enough, and more than enough, of his own affairs; +that to be needlessly implicated in those of other people is +vexatious; that it was most convenient to hold the reins of friendship +as loose as possible, so as either to tighten or slacken them when you +please; for they argue that the main point toward a happy life is +freedom from care, which the mind can not enjoy if one man be, as it +were, in travail for others. + +Nay, they tell us that some are accustomed to declare, still more +unfeelingly (a topic which I have briefly touched upon just above), +that friendships should be cultivated for the purpose of protection +and assistance, and not for kind feeling or affection; and therefore +the less a man possesses of independence and of strength, in the same +degree he most earnestly desires friendships; that thence it arises +that women seek the support of friendship more than men, and the poor +more than the rich, and persons in distress rather than those who are +considered prosperous. Admirable philosophy! for they seem to take +away the sun from the world who withdraw friendship from life; for we +receive nothing better from the immortal gods, nothing more +delightful; for what is this freedom from care?--in appearances, +indeed, flattering; but, in many eases, in reality to be disdained. +Nor is it reasonable to undertake any honorable matter or action lest +you should be anxious, or to lay it aside when undertaken; for if we +fly from care, we must fly from virtue also; for it is impossible that +she can, without some degree of distress, feel contempt and +detestation for qualities opposed to herself; just as kind-heartedness +for malice, temperance for profligacy, and bravery for cowardice. +Accordingly, you see that upright men are most distrest by unjust +actions; the brave with the cowardly; the virtuous with the +profligate; and, therefore, this is the characteristic of a +well-regulated mind, both to be well pleased with what is excellent +and to be distrest with what is contrary. Wherefore, if trouble of +mind befall a wise man (and assuredly it will, unless we suppose that +all humanity is extirpated from his mind), what reason is there why we +should altogether remove friendship from life, lest because of it we +should take upon ourselves some troubles? for what difference is +there (setting the emotions of the mind aside), I do not say between a +man and a beast, but between a man and a stone, or log, or anything of +that kind? For they do not deserve to be listened to who would have +virtue to be callous and made of iron, as it were, which indeed is, as +in other matters, so in friendship also, tender and susceptible; so +that friends are loosened, as it were, by happy events, and drawn +together by distresses. + +Wherefore the anxiety which has often to be felt for a friend is not +of such force that it should remove friendship from the world, any +more than that the virtues, because they bring with them certain cares +and troubles, should therefore be discarded. For when it produces +friendship (as I said above), should any indication of virtue shine +forth, to which a congenial mind may attach and unite itself--when +this happens, affection must necessarily arise. For what is so +unmeaning as to take delight in many vain things, such as preferments, +glory, magnificent buildings, clothing and adornment of the body, and +not to take an extreme delight in a soul endued with virtue, in such a +soul as can either love or (so to speak) love in return? for there is +nothing more delightful than the repayment of kindness and the +interchange of devotedness and good offices. Now if we add this, which +may with propriety be added, that nothing so allures and draws any +object to itself as congeniality does friendship, it will of course be +admitted as true that the good must love the good, and unite them to +them selves, just as if connected by relationship and nature; for +nothing is more apt to seek and seize on its like than nature. +Wherefore this certainly is clear, Fannius and Scaevola (in my +opinion), that among the good a liking for the good is, as it were, +inevitable; and this indeed is appointed by Nature herself as the very +fountain of friendship. + +But the same kind disposition belongs also to the multitude; for +virtue is not inhuman, or cruel, or haughty, since she is accustomed +to protect even whole nations, and to adopt the best measures for +their welfare, which assuredly she would not do did she shrink from +the affection of the vulgar. And to myself, indeed, those who form +friendships with a view to advantage seem to do away with its most +endearing bond; for it is not so much the advantage obtained through a +friend as the mere love of that friend which delights; and then only +what has proceeded from a friend becomes delightful if it has +proceeded from zealous affection; and that friendship should be +cultivated from a sense of necessity is so far from being the case +that those who, being endowed with power and wealth, and especially +with virtue (in which is the strongest support of friendship), have +least need of another, are most liberal and generous. Yet I am not +sure whether it is requisite that friends should never stand in any +need; for wherein would any devotedness of mine to him have been +exerted if Scipio had never stood in need of my advice or assistance +at home or abroad? Wherefore friendship has not followed upon +advantage, but advantage on friendship. + +Persons, therefore, who are wallowing in indulgence will not need to +be listened to if ever they shall descant upon friendship, which they +have known neither by experience nor by theory. For who is there, by +the faith of gods and men, who would desire, on the condition of his +loving no one, and himself being loved by none, to roll in affluence, +and live in a superfluity of all things? For this is the life of +tyrants, in which undoubtedly there can be no confidence, no +affection, no steady dependence on attachment; all is perpetually +mistrust and disquietude--there is no room for friendship. For who can +love either him whom he fears or him by whom he thinks he himself is +feared? Yet are they courted, solely in hypocrisy, for a time; +because, if perchance (as it frequently happens) they have been +brought low, then it is perceived how destitute they were of friends. +And this, they say, Tarquin[32] exprest; that when going into exile, +he found out whom he had as faithful friends, and whom unfaithful +ones, since then he could no longer show gratitude to either party; +altho I wonder that, with such haughtiness and impatience of temper, +he could find one at all. And as the character of the individual whom +I have mentioned could not obtain true friends, so the riches of many +men of rank exclude all faithful friendship; for not only is Fortune +blind herself, but she commonly renders blind those whom she +embraces.... + +He who, therefore, shall have shown himself in both cases, as regards +friendship, worthy, consistent, and stedfast; such a one we ought to +esteem of a class of persons extremely rare--nay, almost godlike. Now, +the foundation of that stedfastness and constancy, which we seek in +friendship, is sincerity. For nothing is stedfast which is insincere. +Besides, it is right that one should be chosen who is frank and +good-natured, and congenial in his sentiments; one, in fact, who is +influenced by the same motives, all of which qualities have a tendency +to create sincerity. For it is impossible for a wily and tortuous +disposition to be sincere. Nor in truth can the man who has no +sympathy from nature, and who is not moved by the same considerations, +be either attached or steady. To the same requisites must be added +that he shall neither take delight in bringing forward charges nor +believe them when they arise, all of which causes belong to that +consistent principle of which now for some time I have been treating. +Thus the remark is true which I made at first that friendship can +exist only among the good; for it is the part of a good man (whom at +the same time we may call a wise man) to observe these two rules in +friendship: first, that there shall be nothing pretended or simulated +(for even to hate openly better becomes the ingenuous man than by his +looks to conceal his sentiments); in the next place, that not only +does he repel charges when brought (against his friends) by any one, +but is not himself suspicious, ever fancying that some infidelity has +been committed by his friend. To all this there should be added a +certain suavity of conversation and manners, affording, as it does, no +inconsiderable zest to friendship. Now solemnity and gravity on all +occasions, certainly, carry with them dignity; but friendship ought to +be easier and more free and more pleasant, and tending more to every +kind of politeness and good nature.... + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 4: From the "Cato Major, an Essay on Old Age." Translated by +Cyrus R. Edmonds. This work is composed in the form of a dialog, in +which, in the person of Cato the Censor as speaker, the benefits of +old age are pointed out.] + +[Footnote 5: A famous athlete who was many times crowned at the +Pythian and Olympian games.] + +[Footnote 6: Cneius Scipio was Consul in 222, and with Marcellus +completed the conquest of Cisalpine Gaul. He served with his brother +Publius Cicero against the Carthaginians in Spain, where, after +several victories, both were slain in 212 B.C.] + +[Footnote 7: Lucius Metellus, a Roman general who defeated the +Carthaginians at Panormus, now Palermo, Sicily, in 250 B.C.] + +[Footnote 8: Masinissa, king of a small territory in northern Africa, +was at first an ally of Carthage against Rome, but afterward became an +ally of Rome against Carthage.] + +[Footnote 9: The translator explains that the speeches here referred +to, as collected and published by Cato, numbered about 150. Cato was +known to his contemporaries as "the Roman Demosthenes." Later writers +often referred to him as "Cato the orator."] + +[Footnote 10: Archytas was a Greek philosopher, eminent also as +statesman, mathematician, and general. He lived about 400 B.C., and is +credited with having saved the life of Plato through his influence +with Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. He was seven times general of +the army of Tarentum and successful in all his campaigns; eminent also +for domestic virtues. He is pronounced by a writer in Smith's +"Dictionary" to have been "among the very greatest men of antiquity." +He was drowned while making a voyage in the Adriatic.] + +[Footnote 11: Caudium was a Samnite town near which the Romans were +defeated by Pontius Herennius.] + +[Footnote 12: Not the Appius Claudius from whom the Appian Way and one +of the great aqueducts were named. The older Appius Claudius, here +referred to, lived in the century that followed Plato.] + +[Footnote 13: Titus Flaminius, general and statesman, was Consul in +198 B.C. It was not Titus, but Caius Flaminius, who built the famous +circus and road bearing his name. Caius lived at an earlier period.] + +[Footnote 14: Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, the eminent military genius, +who several times defeated the Romans before he was finally overthrown +by them at Beneventum in 275 B.C.] + +[Footnote 15: Livius Andronicus, who lived in Rome about 240 B.C.] + +[Footnote 16: A small island (now a peninsula), lying off the coast of +Spain. It is to-day called Cadiz, but anciently was known as Erythia, +Tartessus, and Gades. It was founded about 1100 B.C., by the +Phenicians, of whose western commerce it was the center.] + +[Footnote 17: The tyrant of Athens who reigned thirty-three years and +died about 527 B.C.] + +[Footnote 18: Melmoth has commented on this passage that, altho +suicide too generally prevailed among the Greeks and Romans, the +wisest philosophers condemned it. "Nothing," he says, "can be more +clear and explicit" than the prohibition imposed by Pythagoras, +Socrates, and Plato.] + +[Footnote 19: Better known as the famous Regulus, whose alleged speech +to the "Conscript Fathers" has been declaimed by generations of +schoolboys.] + +[Footnote 20: Lucius Paulus died at the battle of Cannae, which was +precipitated by his colleague Terentius Varro in 260 B.C., 40,000 +Romans being killed by the Carthaginians.] + +[Footnote 21: Marcellus, a Roman consul, who fought against Hannibal +and was killed in an ambuscade.] + +[Footnote 22: Cicero's daughter was born about 79 B.C., and thrice +married, the last time to Dolabella, who has been described as "one of +the most profligate men of a profligate age." She was divorced from +Dolabella in 44 B.C., gave birth to a son soon afterward, and died in +the same year. Cicero's letter was written in reply to one which he +had received from Servius Sulpicius, a celebrated Roman jurist. Cicero +intended to erect a temple as a memorial to Tullia, but the death of +Caesar and the unsettled state of public affairs that ensued, and in +which Cicero was concerned, prevented him from doing so.] + +[Footnote 23: From Book I of the "Offices." Translated by Cyrus R. +Edmonds.] + +[Footnote 24: Pausanias, a Spartan general, was the son of +Cloembrotus, the king of Sparta, killed at the battle of Leuctra. +Pausanias commanded at Plataea; but having conducted a treasonable +correspondence with Xerxes, was starved to death as a punishment.] + +[Footnote 25: The general who contended against Sulla in the Civil +war.] + +[Footnote 26: Catulus was consul with Marius in 102 B.C. He acted with +Sulla during the Civil war.] + +[Footnote 27: Nasica, "a fierce and stiff-necked aristocrat," was of +the family of Scipios. When the consuls refused to resort to violence +against Tiberius Gracchus, it was he who led the senators forth from +their meeting-place against the popular assembly outside, with whom +ensued a fight, in which Gracchus was killed by a blow from a club. +Nasica left Rome soon after, seeking safety. After spending some time +as a wandering exile, he died at Pergamus.] + +[Footnote 28: From the Dialogue on "Friendship." Translated by Cyrus +E. Edmonds. Laelius, a Roman who was contemporary with the younger +Scipio, is made the speaker in the passage here quoted. Laelius, was a +son of Caius Laelius, the friend and companion of the elder Scipio, +whose actions are so interwoven with those of Scipio that a writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says, "It is difficult to relate them +separately." The younger Laelius was intimate with the younger Scipio +in a degree almost as remarkable as his father had been with the +elder. The younger, immortalized by Cicero's treatise on Friendship, +was born about 186 B.C., and was a man of fine culture noted as an +orator. His personal worth was so generally esteemed that it survived +to Seneca's day. One of Seneca's injunctions to a friend was that he +should "live like Laelius."] + +[Footnote 29: Scipio Africanus minor by whom Carthage was destroyed in +146 B.C., and Numantia, a town of Spain, was destroyed in 133 B.C. +From the letter he obtained the surname of Numantinus.] + +[Footnote 30: Magna Graecia was a name given by the ancients to that +part of southern Italy which, before the rise of the Roman state, was +colonized by Greeks. Its time of greatest splendor was the seventh and +sixth centuries B.C.; that is, intermediate between the Homeric age +and the Periclean. Among its leading cities were Cumae, Sybaris, Locri, +Regium, Tarentum, Heraclea, and Paestum. At the last-named place +imposing ruins still survive.] + +[Footnote 31: Empedocles, philosopher, poet, and historian, who lived +et Agrigentum in Sicily, about 490-430 B.C., and wrote a poem on the +doctrines of Pythagoras. A legend has survived that he jumped into the +crater of Etna, in order that people might conclude, from his complete +disappearance, that he was a god. Matthew Arnold's poem on this +incident is among his better-known works.] + +[Footnote 32: Tarquinius Superbus, seventh and last King of Rome, +occupied the throne for twenty-five years, and as a consequence of the +rape of Lucretia by his son Sextus was banished about 509 B.C.] + + + + +JULIUS CAESAR + + Born in 100 B.C.; assassinated in 44; famous as general, + statesman, orator, and writer; served in Mitylene in 80; + captured by pirates in 76; questor in 68; pontifex maximus + in 63; propretor in Spain in 61; member of the First + Triumvirate in 60; Consul in 59; defeated the Helvetii in + 58; invaded Britain in 55 and 54; crossed the Rhine in 55; + crossed the Rubicon and began the Civil war in 49; dictator + from 49 to 45; defeated Pompey in 48; reformed the calendar + in 46; refused the diadem in 44; assassinated in the senate + house in 44.[33] + + +I + +THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE RHINE[34] + + +Caesar, for those reasons which I have mentioned, had resolved to cross +the Rhine; but to cross by ships he neither deemed to be sufficiently +safe nor considered consistent with his own dignity or that of the +Roman people. Therefore, altho the greatest difficulty in forming a +bridge was presented to him, on account of the breadth, rapidity, and +depth of the river, he nevertheless considered that it ought to be +attempted by him, or that his army ought not otherwise to be led over. +He devised this plan of a bridge: he joined together, at the distance +of two feet, two piles, each a foot and half thick, sharpened a little +at the lower end, and proportioned in length to the depth of the +river. + +After he had, by means of engines, sunk these into the river, and fixt +them at the bottom, and then driven them in with rammers, not quite +perpendicularly, like a stake, but bending forward and sloping, so as +to incline in the direction of the current of the river; he also +placed two [other piles] opposite to these, at the distance of forty +feet lower down, fastened together in the same manner, but directed +against the force and current of the river. Both these, moreover, were +kept firmly apart by beams two feet thick (the space which the binding +of the piles occupied), laid in at their extremities between two +braces on each side; and in consequence of these being in different +directions and fastened on sides the one opposite to the other, so +great was the strength of the work, and such the arrangement of the +materials, that in proportion as the greater body of water dashed +against the bridge, so much the closer were its parts held fastened +together. These beams were bound together by timber laid over them in +the direction of the length of the bridge, and were [then] covered +with laths and hurdles; and, in addition to this, piles were driven +into the water obliquely, at the lower side of the bridge, and these +serving as buttresses, and being connected with every portion of the +work, sustained the force of the stream; and there were others also +above the bridge, at a moderate distance, that if trunks of trees or +vessels were floated down the river by the barbarians for the purpose +of destroying the work, the violence of such things might be +diminished by these defenses, and might not injure the bridge. + +Within ten days after the timber began to be collected, the whole work +was completed, and the whole army led over. Caesar, leaving a strong +guard at each end of the bridge, hastens into the territories of the +Sigambri. In the mean time, ambassadors from several nations come to +him, whom, on their suing for peace and alliance, he answers in a +courteous manner, and orders hostages to be brought to him. But the +Sigambri, at the very time the bridge was begun to be built, made +preparations for a flight (by the advice of such of the Tenchtheri and +Usipetes as they had among them), and quitted their territories and +conveyed away all their possessions, and concealed themselves in +deserts and woods. + +Caesar, having remained in their territories a few days, and burned all +their villages and houses, and cut down their corn, proceeded into the +territories of the Ubii; and having promised them his assistance, if +they were ever harassed by the Suevi,[35] he learned from them these +particulars: that the Suevi, after they had by means of their scouts +found that the bridge was being built, had called a council, according +to their custom, and sent orders to all parts of their state to +remove from the towns and convey their children, wives, and all their +possessions into the woods, and that all who could bear arms should +assemble in one place; that the place thus chosen was nearly the +center of those regions which the Suevi possest; that in this spot +they had resolved to await the arrival of the Romans, and give them +battle there. When Caesar discovered this, having already accomplished +all these things on account of which he had resolved to lead his army +over--namely, to strike fear into the Germans, take vengeance on the +Sigambri, and free the Ubii from the invasion of the Suevi, having +spent altogether eighteen days beyond the Rhine, and thinking he had +advanced far enough to serve both honor and interest--he returned into +Gaul, and cut down the bridge. + + + + +II + +THE INVASION OF BRITAIN[36] + + +The interior portion of Britain is inhabited by those of whom they say +that it is handed down by tradition that they were born in the island +itself; the maritime portion by those who had passed over from the +country of the Belgae[37] for the purpose of plunder and making war; +almost all of whom are called by the names of those states from which +being sprung they went thither, and having waged war, continued there +and began to cultivate the lands. The number of the people is +countless, and their buildings exceedingly numerous, for the most part +very like those of the Gauls; the number of cattle is great. They use +either brass or iron rings, determined at a certain weight, as their +money. Tin is produced in the midland regions; in the maritime, iron; +but the quantity of it is small; they employ brass, which is imported. +There, as in Gaul, is timber of every description, except beech and +fir. They do not regard it lawful to eat the hare and the cock and the +goose; they, however, breed them for amusement and pleasure. The +climate is more temperate than in Gaul, the cold being less severe. + +The island is triangular in its form, and one of its sides is opposite +to Gaul. One angle of this side, which is in Kent, whither almost all +ships from Gaul are directed, [looks] to the east; the lower looks to +the south. This side extends about 500 miles. Another side lies toward +Spain,[38] and the west, on which part is Ireland, less, as is +reckoned, than Britain, by one half; but the passage [from it] into +Britain is of equal distance with that from Gaul. In the middle of +this voyage is an island which is called Mona;[39] many smaller +islands besides are supposed to lie [there], of which islands some +have written that at the time of the winter solstice it is night +there for thirty consecutive days. We, in our inquiries about that +matter, ascertained nothing, except that, by accurate measurements +with water, we perceived the nights to be shorter there than on the +continent. The length of this side, as their account states, is 700 +miles. The third side is toward the north, to which portion of the +island no land is opposite; but an angle of that side looks +principally toward Germany. This side is considered to be 800 miles in +length. Thus the whole island is [about] 2,000 miles in circumference. + +The most civilized of all these nations are they who inhabit Kent, +which is entirely a maritime district, nor do their customs differ +much from Gallic. Most of the inland inhabitants do not sow corn, but +live on milk and flesh, and are clad with skins. All the Britains, +indeed, dye themselves with wood, which occasions a bluish color, and +thereby have a more terrible appearance in fight. They wear their hair +long, and have every part of their body shaved except their head and +upper lip. Ten and even twelve have wives common to them, and +particularly brothers among brothers, and parents among their +children; but if there be any issue by these wives, they are reputed +to be the children of those by whom respectively each was first +espoused when a virgin. + +The horse and charioteers of the enemy contended vigorously in a +skirmish with our cavalry on the march; yet so that our men were +conquerors in all parts, and drove them to their woods and hills; but, +having slain a great many, they pursued too eagerly, and lost some of +their men. However, the enemy, after some time had elapsed, when our +men were off their guard, and occupied in the fortification of the +camp, rushed out of the woods, and making an attack upon those who +were placed on duty before the camp, fought in a determined manner; +and two cohorts being sent by Caesar to their relief, and these +severally the first of two legions, when these had taken up their +position at a very small distance from each other, as our men were +disconcerted by the unusual mode of battle, the enemy broke through +the middle of them most courageously, and retreated thence in safety. +That day, Q. Laberius Durus, a tribune of the soldiers, was slain. The +enemy, since more cohorts were sent against them, were repulsed. + +In the whole of this method of fighting since the engagement took +place under the eyes of all and before the camp, it was perceived that +our men, on account of the weight of their arms, inasmuch as they +could neither pursue [the enemy when] retreating, nor dare quit their +standards, were little suited to this kind of enemy; that the horse +also fought with great danger, because they [the Britons] generally +retreated even designedly, and, when they had drawn off our men a +short distance from the legions, leapt from their chariots and fought +on foot in unequal [and to them advantageous] battle. But the system +of cavalry engagement is wont to produce equal danger, and indeed the +same, both to those who retreat and those who pursue. To this was +added, that they never fought in close order, but in small parties and +at great distances, and had detachments placed [in different parts], +and then the one relieved the other, and the vigorous and fresh +succeeded the wearied. + +The following day the enemy halted on the hills, a distance from our +camp, and presented themselves in small parties, and began to +challenge our horse to battle with less spirit than the day before. +But at noon, when Caesar had sent three legions, and all the cavalry +with C. Trebonius, the lieutenant, for the purpose of foraging, they +flew upon the foragers suddenly from all quarters, so that they did +not keep off [even] from the standards and the legions. Our men, +making an attack on them vigorously, repulsed them; nor did they cease +to pursue them until the horse, relying on relief, as they saw the +legions behind them, drove the enemy precipitately before them, and, +slaying a great number of them, did not give them the opportunity +either of rallying, or halting, or leaping from their chariots. After +this retreat the auxiliaries departed; nor after that time did the +enemy ever engage with us in very large numbers. + +Caesar, discovering their design, leads his army into the territories +of Cassivelaunus[40] to the river Thames, which river can be forded in +one place only, and that with difficulty. When he had arrived there, +he perceives that numerous forces of the enemy were marshaled on the +other bank of the river; the bank also was defended by sharp +stakes[41] fixt in front, and stakes of the same kind fixt under the +water were covered by the river. These things being discovered from +[some] prisoners and deserters, Caesar, sending forward the cavalry, +ordered the legions to follow them immediately. But the soldiers +advanced with such speed and such ardor, tho they stood above the +water by their heads only, that the enemy could not sustain the attack +of the legions and of the horse, and quitted the banks, and committed +themselves to flight. + +Cassivelaunus, as we have stated above, all hope [rising out] of +battle being laid aside, the greater part of his forces being +dismissed, and about 4,000 charioteers only being left, used to +observe our marches and retire a little from the road, and conceal +himself in intricate and woody places, and in those neighborhoods in +which he had discovered we were about to march, he used to drive the +cattle and the inhabitants from the fields into the woods; and, when +our cavalry, for the sake of plundering and ravaging the more freely, +scattered themselves among the fields, he used to send out charioteers +from the woods by all the well-known roads and paths, and, to the +great danger of our horse, engaged with them; and this source of fear +hindered them from straggling very extensively. The result was that +Caesar did not allow excursions to be made to a great distance from the +main body of the legions, and ordered that damage should be done to +the enemy in ravaging their lands and kindling fires only so far as +the legionary soldiers could, by their own exertion and marching, +accomplish it. + +In the mean time the Trinobantes,[42] almost the most powerful state +of those parts, from which the young man Mandubratius, embracing the +protection of Caesar, had come to the continent of Gaul to [meet] him +(whose father, Imanuentius, had possest the sovereignty in that state, +and had been killed by Cassivelaunus; he himself had escaped death by +flight) send ambassadors to Caesar, and promise that they will +surrender themselves to him and perform his command: they entreat him +to protect Mandubratius from the violence of Cassivelaunus, and send +to their state some one to preside over it, and possess the +government. Caesar demands forty hostages from them, and corn for his +army, and sends Mandubratius to them. They speedily performed the +things demanded, and sent hostages to the number appointed, and the +corn. + +The Trinobantes, being protected and secured from any violence of the +soldiers, the Cenimagni, the Segontiaci, the Ancalites, the +Bibroci, and the Cassi, sending embassies, surrender themselves to +Caesar.[43] From them he learns that the capital town of Cassivelaunus +was not far from that place, and was defended by woods and morasses, +and a very large number of men and of cattle had been collected in it. +(Now the Britons, when they have fortified the intricate woods, in +which they are wont to assemble for the purpose of avoiding the +incursion of an enemy with an entrenchment and a rampart, call them a +town.) Thither he proceeds with his legions; he finds the place +admirably fortified by nature and art; he, however, undertakes to +attack it in two directions. The enemy, having remained only a short +time, did not sustain the attack of our soldiers, and hurried away on +the other side of the town. A great amount of cattle was found there, +and many of the enemy were taken and slain in their flight.... + + + + +III + +OVERCOMING THE NERVII[44] + + +Caesar, having sent his cavalry on before, followed closely after them +with all his forces; but the plan and order of the march were +different from that which the Belgae had reported to the Nervii.[45] +For as he was approaching the enemy, Caesar, according to his custom, +led on [as the van] six legions unencumbered by baggage; behind them +he had placed the baggage-trains of the whole army; then the two +legions which had been last raised closed the rear, and were a guard +for the baggage-train. Our horse, with the slingers and archers, +having passed the river, commenced action with the cavalry of the +enemy. While they from time to time betook themselves into the woods +to their companions, and again made an assault out of the wood upon +our men, who did not dare to follow them in their retreat further than +the limit to which the plain and open parts extended; in the mean time +the six legions which had arrived first, having measured out the work, +began to fortify the camp. When the first part of the baggage-train of +our army was seen by those who lay hidden in the woods, which had been +agreed on among them as the time for commencing action, as soon as +they had arranged their line of battle and formed their ranks within +the woods, and had encouraged one another, they rushed out suddenly +with all their forces and made an attack upon our horse. The latter +being easily routed and thrown into confusion, the Nervii ran down to +the river with such incredible speed that they seemed to be in the +woods, the river, and close upon us almost at the same time. And with +the same speed they hastened up the hill to our camp and to those who +were employed in the works. + +Caesar had everything to do at one time: the standard to be displayed, +which was the sign when it was necessary to rim to arms; the signal to +be given by the trumpet; the soldiers to be called off from the works; +those who had proceeded some distance for the purpose of seeking +materials for the rampart, to be summoned; the order of battle to be +formed; the soldiers to be encouraged; the watchword to be given. A +great part of these arrangements was prevented by the shortness of +time and the sudden approach and charge of the enemy. Under these +difficulties two things proved of advantage: [first] the skill and +experience of the soldiers, because, having been trained by former +engagements, they could suggest to themselves what ought to be done as +conveniently as receive information from others; and [secondly] that +Caesar had forbidden his several lieutenants to depart from the works +and their respective legions before the camp was fortified. These, on +account of the near approach and the speed of the enemy, did not then +wait for any command from Caesar, but of themselves executed whatever +appeared proper. + +Caesar, having given the necessary orders, hastened to and fro into +whatever quarter fortune carried him, to animate the troops, and came +to the tenth legion. Having encouraged the soldiers with no further +speech than that "they should keep up the remembrance of their wonted +valor, and not be confused in mind, but valiantly sustain the assault +of the enemy"; as the latter were not farther from them than the +distance to which a dart could be cast, he gave the signal for +commencing battle. And having gone to another quarter for the purpose +of encouraging [the soldiers], he finds them fighting. Such was the +shortness of the time, and so determined was the mind of the enemy on +fighting, that time was wanting not only for affixing the military +insignia, but even for putting on the helmets and drawing off the +covers from the shields. To whatever part any one by chance came from +the works (in which he had been employed), and whatever standards he +saw first, at these he stood, lest in seeking his own company he +should lose the time for fighting. + +The army having been marshaled, rather as the nature of the ground and +the declivity of the hill and the exigency of the time than as the +method and order of military matters required, while the legions in +the different places were withstanding the enemy, some in one quarter, +some in another, and the view was obstructed by the very thick hedges +intervening, as we have before remarked, neither could proper reserves +be posted, nor could the necessary measures be taken in each part, nor +could all the commands be issued by one person. Therefore, in such an +unfavorable state of affairs, various events of fortune followed.... + +At the same time, our horsemen, and light-armed infantry, who had been +with those who, as I have related, were routed by the first assault of +the enemy, as they were betaking themselves into the camp, met the +enemy face to face, and again sought flight into another quarter; and +the camp-followers, who from the Decuman Gate, and from the highest +ridge of the hill had seen our men pass the river as victors, when, +after going out for the purposes of plundering, they looked back and +saw the enemy parading in our camp, committed themselves precipitately +to flight; at the same time there arose the cry and shout of those who +came with the baggage-train; and they (affrighted) were carried some +one way, some another. By all these circumstances the cavalry of the +Treviri were much alarmed (whose reputation for courage is +extraordinary among the Gauls, and who had come to Caesar, being sent +by their state as auxiliaries), and, when they saw our camp filled +with a large number of the enemy, the legions hard prest and almost +held surrounded, the camp-retainers, horsemen, slingers, and Numidians +fleeing on all sides divided and scattered, they, despairing of our +affairs, hastened home, and related to their state that the Romans +were routed and conquered, [and] that the enemy were in possession of +their camp and baggage-train. + +Caesar proceeded, after encouraging the tenth legion, to the right +wing, where he perceived that his men were hard prest, and that in +consequence of the standards of the twelfth legion being collected +together in one place, the crowded soldiers were a hindrance to +themselves in the fight; that all the centurions of the fourth cohort +were slain, and the standard-bearer killed, the standard itself lost, +almost all the centurions of the other cohorts either wounded or +slain, and among them the chief centurion of the legion, P. Sextius +Baculus, a very valiant man, who was so exhausted by many and severe +wounds that he was already unable to support himself; he likewise +perceived that the rest were slackening their efforts, and that some, +deserted by those in the rear, were retiring from the battle and +avoiding the weapons; that the enemy [on the other hand], tho +advancing from the lower ground, were not relaxing in front, and were +[at the same time] pressing hard on both flanks; he perceived also +that the affair was at a crisis; and that there was not any reserve +which could be brought up; having therefore snatched a shield from one +of the soldiers in the rear (for he himself had come without a +shield), he advanced to the front of the line, and addressing the +centurions by name, and encouraging the rest of the soldiers, he +ordered them to carry forward the standards, and extend the companies, +that they might the more easily use their swords. On his arrival, as +hope was brought to the soldiers and their courage restored, while +every one for his own part, in the sight of his general, desired to +exert his utmost energy, the impetuosity of the enemy was a little +checked. + +Caesar, when he perceived that the seventh legion, which stood close by +him, was also hard prest by the enemy, directed the tribunes of the +soldiers to effect a junction of the legions gradually, and make their +charge upon the enemy with a double front, which having been done +since they brought assistance the one to the other, nor feared lest +their rear should be surrounded by the enemy, they began to stand +their ground more boldly, and to fight more courageously. In the mean +time, the soldiers of the two legions which had been in the rear of +the army, as a guard for the baggage-train, upon the battle being +reported to them, quickened their pace, and were seen by the enemy on +the top of the hill; and Titus Labienus, having gained possession of +the camp of the enemy, and observed from the higher ground what was +going on in our camp, sent the tenth legion as a relief to our men +who, when they had learned from the flight of the horse and the +sutlers in what position the affair was, and in how great danger the +camp and the legion and the commander were involved, left undone +nothing [which tended] to despatch. + +By their arrival, so great a change of matters was made that our men, +even those who had fallen down exhausted with wounds, leaned on their +shields, and renewed the fight; then the camp-retainers, tho unarmed, +seeing the enemy completely dismayed, attacked [them tho] armed; the +horsemen too, that they might by their valor blot out the disgrace of +their flight, thrust themselves before the legionary soldiers in all +parts of the battle. But the enemy, even in the last hope of safety, +displayed such great courage that when the foremost of them had +fallen, the next stood upon them prostrate, and fought from their +bodies; when these were overthrown, and their corpses heaped up +together, those who survived cast their weapons against our men +[thence] as from a mound, and returned our darts which had fallen +short between [the armies]; so that it ought not to be concluded that +men of such great courage had injudiciously dared to pass a very broad +river, ascend very high banks, and come up to a very disadvantageous +place; since their greatness of spirit had rendered these actions +easy, altho in themselves very difficult. + +This battle being ended, and the nation and name of the Nervii being +almost reduced to annihilation, their old men, who together with the +boys and women we have stated to have been collected together in the +fenny places and marshes, on this battle having been reported to +them, since they were convinced that nothing was an obstacle to the +conquerors, and nothing safe to the conquered, sent ambassadors to +Caesar by the consent of all who remained, and surrendered themselves +to him; and in recounting the calamity of their state said that their +senators were reduced from 600 to three; that from 60,000 men they +[were reduced] to scarcely 500 who could bear arms, whom Caesar, that +he might appear to use compassion toward the wretched and the +suppliant, most carefully spared, and ordered them to enjoy their own +territories and towns, and commanded their neighbors that they should +restrain themselves and their dependents from offering injury or +outrage [to them].... + + + + +IV + +THE BATTLE OF PHARSALIA AND THE DEATH OF POMPEY[46] + +(48 B.C.) + + +Pompey, because he was encamped on a hill, drew up his army at the +very foot of it, ever in expectation, as may be conjectured, that +Caesar would expose himself to this disadvantageous situation. Caesar, +seeing no likelihood of being able to bring Pompey to an action, +judged it the most expedient method of conducting the war to decamp +from that post, and to be always in motion; with this hope, that by +shifting his camp and removing from place to place, he might be more +conveniently supplied with corn, and also that by being in motion he +might get some opportunity of forcing them to battle, and might by +constant marches harass Pompey's army, which was not accustomed to +fatigue.[47] These matters being settled, when the signal for marching +was given, and the tents struck, it was observed that shortly before, +contrary to his daily practise, Pompey's army had advanced farther +than usual from his entrenchments, so that it appeared possible to +come to an action on equal ground. Then Caesar addrest himself to his +soldiers, when they were at the gates of the camp, ready to march out. +"We must defer," says he, "our march at present, and set our thoughts +on battle, which has been our constant wish; let us then meet the foe +with resolute souls. We shall not hereafter easily find such an +opportunity." He immediately marched out at the head of his troops. + +Pompey also, as was afterward known, at the unanimous solicitation of +his friends, had determined to try the fate of a battle. For he had +even declared in council a few days before that, before the battalions +came to battle, Caesar's army would be put to the rout. When most +people exprest their surprize at it, "I know," says he, "that I +promise a thing almost incredible; but hear the plan on which I +proceed, that you may march to battle with more confidence and +resolution. I have persuaded our cavalry, and they have engaged to +execute it, as soon as the two armies have met, to attack Caesar's +right wing on the flank, and enclosing their army on the rear throw +them into disorder, and put them to the rout, before we shall throw a +weapon against the enemy. By this means we shall put an end to the +war, without endangering the legions, and almost without a blow. Nor +is this a difficult matter, as we far outnumber them in cavalry." At +the same time, he gave them notice to be ready for battle on the day +following, and since the opportunity which they had so often wished +for was now arrived, not to disappoint the opinion generally +entertained of their experience and valor.... + +Caesar, observing his former custom, had placed the tenth legion on the +right, the ninth on the left, altho it was very much weakened by the +battles at Dyrrachium.[48] He placed the eighth legion so close to the +ninth as almost to make one of the two, and ordered them to support +each other. He drew up on the field eighty cohorts, making a total of +twenty-two thousand men. He left two cohorts to guard the camp. He +gave the command of the left wing to Antonius, of the right to P. +Sulla, and of the center to Cn. Domitius; he himself took his post +opposite Pompey. At the same time, fearing, from the disposition of +the enemy which we have previously mentioned, lest his right wing +might be surrounded by their numerous cavalry, he rapidly drafted a +single cohort from each of the legions composing the third line, +formed of them a fourth line, and opposed them to Pompey's cavalry, +and, acquainting them with his wishes, admonished them that the +success of that day depended on their courage. At the same time, he +ordered the third line and the entire army not to charge without his +command; that he would give the signal whenever he wished them to do +so.... + +But our men, when the signal was given, rushed forward with their +javelins ready to be launched, but perceiving that Pompey's men did +not run to meet their charge, having acquired experience by custom, +and being practised in former battles, they of their own accord +repressed their speed, and halted almost midway, that they might not +come up with the enemy when their strength was exhausted, and after a +short respite they again renewed their course, and threw their +javelins, and instantly drew their swords, as Caesar had ordered them. +Nor did Pompey's men fail in this crisis, for they received our +javelins, stood our charge, and maintained their ranks; and, having +launched their javelins, had recourse to their swords. At the same +time, Pompey's horse, according to their orders, rushed out at once +from his left wing, and his whole host of archers poured after them. +Our cavalry did not withstand their charge; but gave ground a little, +upon which Pompey's horse prest them more vigorously, and began to +file off in troops, and flank our army. When Caesar perceived this, he +gave the signal to his fourth line, which he had formed of the six +cohorts. They instantly rushed forward and charged Pompey's horse with +such fury that not a man of them stood; but all wheeling about, not +only quitted their post, but galloped forward to seek a refuge in the +highest mountains. By their retreat the archers and slingers, being +left destitute and defenseless, were all cut to pieces. The cohorts, +pursuing their success, wheeled about upon Pompey's left wing, while +his infantry still continued to make battle, and attacked them in the +rear. + +At the same time, Caesar ordered his third line to advance, which till +then had not been engaged, but had kept their post. Thus, new and +fresh troops having come to the assistance of the fatigued, and others +having made an attack on their rear, Pompey's men were not able to +maintain their ground, but all fled,[49] nor was Caesar deceived in his +opinion that the victory, as he had declared in his speech to his +soldiers, must have its beginning from those six cohorts, which he had +placed as a fourth line to oppose the horse. For by them the cavalry +were routed; by them the archers and slingers were cut to pieces; by +them the left wing of Pompey's army was surrounded, and obliged to be +the first to flee. But when Pompey saw his cavalry routed, and that +part of his army on which he reposed his greatest hopes thrown into +confusion, despairing of the rest, he quitted the field, and retreated +straightway on horseback to his camp, and calling to the centurions, +whom he had placed to guard the praetorian gate, with a loud voice, +that the soldiers might hear: "Secure the camp," says he, "defend it +with diligence, if any danger should threaten it; I will visit the +other gates, and encourage the guards of the camp." Having thus said, +he retired into his tent in utter despair, yet anxiously waiting the +issue. + +Caesar having forced the Pompeians to flee into their entrenchment, and +thinking that he ought not to allow them any respite to recover from +their fright, exhorted his soldiers to take advantage of fortune's +kindness, and to attack the camp. Tho they were fatigued by the +intense heat, for the battle had continued till midday, yet, being +prepared to undergo any labor, they cheerfully obeyed his command. The +camp was bravely defended by the cohorts which had been left to guard +it, but with much more spirit by the Thracians and foreign +auxiliaries. For the soldiers who had fled for refuge to it from the +field of battle, affrighted and exhausted by fatigue, having thrown +away their arms and military standards, had their thoughts more +engaged on their further escape than on the defense of the camp. Nor +could the troops who were posted on the battlements long withstand the +immense number of our darts, but fainting under their wounds quitted +the place, and under the conduct of their centurions and tribunes +fled, without stopping, to the high mountains which adjoined the camp. + +In Pompey's camp you might see arbors in which tables were laid, a +large quantity of plate set out, the floors of the tents covered with +fresh sods, the tents of Lucius Lentulus and others shaded with ivy, +and many other things which were proofs of excessive luxury, and a +confidence of victory, so that it might readily be inferred that they +had no apprehensions of the issue of the day, as they indulged +themselves in unnecessary pleasures, and yet upbraided with luxury +Caesar's army, distrest and suffering troops, who had always been in +want of common necessaries. Pompey, as soon as our men had forced the +trenches, mounting his horse, and stripping off his general's habit, +went hastily out of the back gate of the camp, and galloped with all +speed to Larissa. Nor did he stop there, but with the same despatch, +collecting a few of his flying troops, and halting neither day nor +night, he arrived at the seaside, attended by only thirty horse, and +went on board a victualing bark, often complaining, as we have been +told, that he had been so deceived in his expectation that he was +almost persuaded that he had been betrayed by those from whom he had +expected victory, as they began the flight. + +Caesar, having possest himself of Pompey's camp, urged his soldiers not +to be too intent on plunder, and lose the opportunity of completing +their conquest. Having obtained their consent, he began to draw lines +round the mountain. The Pompeians distrusting the position, as there +was no water on the mountain, abandoned it, and all began to retreat +toward Larissa, which Caesar perceiving divided his troops, and +ordering part of his legions to remain in Pompey's camp, sent back a +part to his own camp, and, taking four legions with him, went by a +shorter road to intercept the enemy; and having marched six miles, +drew up his army. But the Pompeians, observing this, took a post on a +mountain, whose foot was washed by a river. Caesar having encouraged +his troops, tho they were greatly exhausted by incessant labor the +whole day, and night was now approaching, by throwing up works cut off +the communication between the river and the mountain, that the enemy +might not get water in the night. As soon as the work was finished, +they sent ambassadors to treat about a capitulation. A few senators +who had espoused that party made their escape by night. + +At break of day, Caesar ordered all those who had taken post on the +mountain to come down from the higher grounds into the plain and pile +their arms. When they did this without refusal, and, with, +outstretched arms, prostrating themselves on the ground, with tears, +implored his mercy, he comforted them and bade them rise, and having +spoken a few words of his own clemency to alleviate their fears, he +pardoned them all, and gave orders to his soldiers that no injury +should be done to them, and nothing taken from them. Having used this +diligence, he ordered the legions in his camp to come and meet him, +and those which were with him to take their turn of rest, and go back +to the camp, and the same day went to Larissa. + +In that battle, no more than two hundred privates were missing, but +Caesar lost about thirty centurions, valiant officers. Crastinus, also, +of whom mention was made before, fighting most courageously, lost his +life by the wound of a sword in the mouth, nor was that false which he +declared when marching to battle; for Caesar entertained the highest +opinion of his behavior in that battle, and thought him highly +deserving of his approbation. Of Pompey's army, there fell about +fifteen thousand; but upward of twenty-four thousand were made +prisoners; for even the cohorts which were stationed in the forts +surrendered to Sulla. Several others took shelter in the neighboring +states. One hundred and eighty stands of colors and nine eagles were +brought to Caesar. Lucius Domitius, fleeing from the camp to the +mountains, his strength being exhausted by fatigue, was killed.... + +Caesar thought he ought to postpone all business and pursue Pompey, +whithersoever he should retreat, that he might not be able to provide +fresh forces, and renew the war; he therefore marched on every day, as +far as his cavalry were able to advance, and ordered one legion to +follow him by shorter journeys. A proclamation was issued by Pompey at +Amphipolis[50] that all the young men of that province, Grecians and +Roman citizens, should take the military oath; but whether he issued +it with an intention of preventing suspicion, and to conceal as long +as possible his design of fleeing farther, or to endeavor to keep +possession of Macedonia by new levies, if nobody pursued him, it is +impossible to judge. He lay at anchor one night, and calling together +his friends in Amphipolis, and collecting a sum of money for his +necessary expenses, upon advice of Caesar's approach, set sail from +that place, and arrived in a few days at Mitylene.[51] Here he was +detained two days, and having added a few galleys to his fleet he went +to Cilicia, and thence to Cyprus. There he is informed that, by the +consent of all the inhabitants of Antioch[52] and Roman citizens who +traded there, the castle had been seized to shut him out of the town; +and that messengers had been dispatched to all those who were reported +to have taken refuge in the neighboring states, that they should not +come to Antioch; that if they did so, it would be attended with +imminent danger to their lives. The same thing had happened to Lucius +Lentulus, who had been Consul the year before, and to Publius +Lentulus, a consular senator, and to several others at Rhodes,[53] who +having followed Pompey in his flight, and arrived at the island, were +not admitted into the town or port; and having received a message to +leave that neighborhood, set sail much against their will; for the +rumor of Caesar's approach had now reached those states. + +Pompey, being informed of these proceedings, laid aside his design of +going to Syria, and having taken the public money from the farmers of +the revenue, and borrowed more from some private friends, and having +put on board his ships a large quantity of brass for military +purposes, and two thousand armed men, whom he partly selected from the +slaves of the tax farmers, and partly collected from the merchants, +and such persons as each of his friends thought fit on this occasion, +he sailed for Pelusium.[54] It happened that King Ptolemy,[55] a +minor, was there with a considerable army, engaged in war with his +sister Cleopatra, whom a few months before, by the assistance of his +relatives and friends, he had expelled from the kingdom; and her camp +lay at a small distance from his. To him Pompey applied to be +permitted to take refuge in Alexandria, and to be protected in his +calamity by his powerful assistance, in consideration of the +friendship and amity which had subsisted between his father and him. +But Pompey's deputies, having executed their commission, began to +converse with less restraint with the king's troops, and to advise +them to act with friendship to Pompey, and not to think meanly of his +bad fortune. In Ptolemy's army were several of Pompey's soldiers, of +whom Gabinius[56] had received the command in Syria, and had brought +them over to Alexandria, and at the conclusion of the war had left +with Ptolemy the father of the young king. + +The king's friends, who were regents of the kingdom during the +minority, being informed of these things, either induced by fear, as +they afterward declared, lest Pompey should corrupt the king's army, +and seize on Alexandria[57] and Egypt, or despising his bad fortune, +as in adversity friends commonly change to enemies, in public gave a +favorable answer to his deputies, and desired him to come to the king; +but secretly laid a plot against him, and dispatched Achillas, captain +of the king's guards, a man of singular boldness, and Lucius +Septimius, a military tribune, to assassinate him. Being kindly +addrest by them, and deluded by an acquaintance with Septimius, +because in the war with the pirates the latter had commanded a company +under him, he embarked in a small boat, with a few attendants, and was +there murdered by Achillas and Septimius. In like manner, Lucius +Lentulus was seized by the king's order, and put to death in +prison.... + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 33: Cicero, whose praise of Caesar as a writer has been +shared by many readers since his time, described Caesar's works as +"unadorned, straightforward, and elegant, their ornament being stript +off as it were a garment." Caesar did his work so well that "he has +deterred all men of sound taste from touching him."] + +[Footnote 34: From Book IV of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War." +Translated by McDivett and W. S. Bohn. The site of this bridge is +believed to be in the neighborhood of Cologne.] + +[Footnote 35: The Suevi were migratory Germans who, in Caesar's time, +occupied the eastern banks of the Rhine in and about the present +country of Baden.] + +[Footnote 36: From Book V of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."] + +[Footnote 37: The Belgae comprised various tribes that lived between +the Seine and the Rhine and were the most warlike of the Gauls.] + +[Footnote 38: Caesar's error here has often been commented on, Spain +lying to the south, rather than to the west, of Britain.] + +[Footnote 39: Now known as the Isle of Man.] + +[Footnote 40: Cassivelaunus was a chieftain of the Britons who had +been entrusted with the supreme command against Caesar. His own +territory lay north of the Thames.] + +[Footnote 41: Bede, the learned Benedictine, who lived in the eighth +century, says that, in his time, remains of these stakes were still to +be seen.] + +[Footnote 42: These people occupied what are now the counties of Essex +and Middlesex.] + +[Footnote 43: The translator notes that Tacitus has remarked that +Britain was surveyed, rather than conquered, by Caesar. He gives the +honor of its real conquest to his own father-in-law, Agricola. While +the Roman armies "owe much to the military virtues of Agricola as +displayed in England, Caesar," adds the translator, "did what no one +had done before him; he levied tribute upon the Britons and +effectually paved the way for all that Rome subsequently accomplished +in this island."] + +[Footnote 44: From Book II of the "Commentaries on the Gallic War."] + +[Footnote 45: The Nervii were one of the Belgic tribes and are +understood to have been the most warlike of them all.] + +[Footnote 46: From Book III of the "Commentaries on the Civil War." +Pharsalia is a district of Thessaly in Greece. Caesar's army numbered +22,000 legionaries and 1,000 cavalry; Pompey's, 45,000 legionaries and +7,000 cavalry.] + +[Footnote 47: Pompey's army having been recruited from aristocratic +families and their dependents, was not so much accustomed to the +severities of war as were the soldiers of Caesar, recruited largely +from the populace.] + +[Footnote 48: The modern Durazzo, a seaport on the Adriatic in +Albania. It was founded by colonies from Corfu about 625 B.C. and +became important afterward as a terminus of one of the great Roman +roads. Pompey here defeated Caesar a short time before he was himself +defeated at Pharsalia.] + +[Footnote 49: Caesar on this occasion is said to have advised his +soldiers to aim at the faces of Pompey's cavalry, who, being composed +principally of the young noblemen of Rome, dreaded a scar in the face +more than death itself.] + +[Footnote 50: Amphipolis, a city of Macedonia, originally Thracian, +but colonized from Athens. It was situated three miles inland from the +AEgean Sea.] + +[Footnote 51: Mitylene was the capital of the island of Lesbos, and an +important maritime power in ancient times.] + +[Footnote 52: Arrowsmith describes Antioch as, not only the capital of +Syria, but at one time of Western Asia. It was for years the third +city of the world in beauty, size, and population. It was here that +the followers of Christ first received the name of Christians (in A.D. +39), having before been called Nazarenes and Galileans. In a +neighboring grove stood a famous temple to Apollo and Diana.] + +[Footnote 53: Rhodes is the largest island in the AEgean Sea after +Crete and Euboea. Its capital, having the same name and situated +near the northern end of the island, was famous for a bronze statue of +the sun called the Colossus, which was one of the "seven wonders of +the world."] + +[Footnote 54: Pelusium was an ancient city of Egypt, situated in the +delta of the Nile, strongly fortified and regarded as the gate to +Egypt, on its eastern frontier. It lay in the midst of marshes formed +by the overflow of the river, and continued its importance, in a +military sense, until the waters of the river found their way into the +Damietta branch.] + +[Footnote 55: Ptolemy XII, who came to the throne of Egypt co-jointly +with his sister Cleopatra in 51 B.C. He expelled Cleopatra in 49, and +in 48 Caesar reinstated her. In the war which ensued, he was defeated +and drowned in the Nile.] + +[Footnote 56: Gabinius was a Roman tribune who had proposed the +statute bearing his name which gave to Pompey command of the +Mediterranean coast for the suppression of pirates.] + +[Footnote 57: Alexandria was founded in 331 B.C. by Alexander the +Great. Its principal street, 2,000 feet wide, was adorned with "some +of the most costly edifices and structures of marble which perhaps the +world ever saw." Many of these marbles were subsequently taken to Rome +and Constantinople. Alexandria for a long period was the center of +commerce for all merchandise passing between Europe and the East. As a +city of learning, it possest a famous library, which at one period +comprized 700,000 volumes.] + + + + +SALLUST + + Born in Italy about 86 B.C.; died about 34; elected tribune + in 52; expelled from the Senate by the censors in 50, + probably for being an active partizan of Caesar; accompanied + Caesar on his African campaign in 46; became governor of + Numidia, where he is said to have amassed a fortune + unjustly; author of histories of the Catiline conspiracy and + the war with Jugurtha.[58] + + +I + +THE GENESIS OF CATILINE[59] + + +Of the city of Rome, as I understand, the founders and earliest +inhabitants were the Trojans, who, under the conduct of AEneas, were +wandering about as exiles from their country, without any settled +abode; and with these were joined the Aborigines, a savage race of +men, without laws or government, free, and owning no control. How +easily these two tribes, tho of different origin, dissimilar language, +and opposite habits of life, formed a union when they met within the +same walls is almost incredible. But when their state, from an +accession of population and territory and an improved condition of +morals, showed itself tolerably flourishing and powerful, envy, as is +generally the case in human affairs, was the consequence of its +prosperity. The neighboring kings and people, accordingly, began to +assail them in war, while a few only of their friends came to their +support; for the rest, struck with alarm, shrunk from sharing their +dangers. But the Romans, active at home and in the field, prepared +with alacrity for their defense. They encouraged one another, and +hurried to meet the enemy. They protected, with their arms, their +liberty, their country, and their homes. And when they had at length +repelled danger by valor, they lent assistance to their allies and +supporters, and procured friendships rather by bestowing favors than +by receiving them. + +They had a government regulated by laws. The denomination of their +government was monarchy. Chosen men, whose bodies might be enfeebled +by years, but whose minds were vigorous in understanding, formed the +council of the state; and these, whether from their age, or from the +similarity of their duty, were called Fathers. But afterward, when the +monarchical power, which had been originally established for the +protection of liberty and for the promotion of the public interest, +had degenerated into tyranny and oppression, they changed their plan, +and appointed two magistrates, with power only annual; for they +conceived that, by this method, the human mind would be least likely +to grow overbearing through want of control. + +At this period every citizen began to seek distinction, and to display +his talents with greater freedom; for, with princes, the meritorious +are greater objects of suspicion than the undeserving, and to them the +worth of others is a source of alarm. But when liberty was secured, it +is almost incredible how much the state strengthened itself in a short +space of time, so strong a passion for distinction had pervaded it. +Now, for the first time, the youth, as soon as they were able to bear +the toils of war, acquired military skill by actual service in the +camp, and took pleasure rather in splendid arms and military steeds +than in the society of mistresses and convivial indulgence. To such +men no toil was unusual, no place was difficult or inaccessible, no +armed enemy was formidable; their valor had overcome everything. But +among themselves the grand rivalry was for glory; each sought to be +first to wound an enemy, to scale a wall, and to be noticed while +performing such an exploit. Distinction such as this they regarded as +wealth, honor, and true nobility. They were covetous of praise, but +liberal of money; they desired competent riches, but boundless glory. +I could mention, but that the account would draw me too far from my +subject, places in which the Roman people, with a small body of men, +routed vast armies of the enemy; and cities which, tho fortified by +nature, they carried by assault.... + +By these two virtues, intrepidity in war and equity in peace, they +maintained themselves and their state; of their exercise of which +virtues, I consider these as the greatest proofs: that, in war, +punishment was oftener inflicted on those who attacked an enemy +contrary to orders, and who, when commanded to retreat, retired too +slowly from the contest, than on those who had dared to desert their +standards, or, when prest by the enemy, to abandon their posts; and +that, in peace, they governed more by conferring benefits than by +exciting terror, and, when they received an injury, chose rather to +pardon than to revenge it. + +But when, by perseverance and integrity, the republic had increased +its power; when mighty princes had been vanquished in war; when +barbarous tribes and populous states had been reduced to subjection; +when Carthage, the rival of Rome's dominion, had been utterly +destroyed, and sea and land lay everywhere open to her sway, Fortune +then began to exercise her tyranny, and to introduce universal +innovation. To those who had easily endured toils, dangers, and +doubtful and difficult circumstances, ease and wealth, the objects of +desire to others, became a burden and a trouble. At first the love of +money, and then that of power, began to prevail, and these became, as +it were, the sources of every evil. For avarice subverted honesty, +integrity, and other honorable principles, and in their stead, +inculcated pride, inhumanity, contempt of religion, and general +venality. Ambition prompted many to become deceitful; to keep one +thing concealed in the breast, and another ready on the tongue; to +estimate friendships and enmities, not by their worth, but according +to interest; and to carry rather a specious countenance than an honest +heart. These vices at first advanced but slowly, and were sometimes +restrained by correction; but afterward, when their infection had +spread like a pestilence, the state was entirely changed, and the +government, from being the most equitable and praiseworthy, became +rapacious and insupportable. + +At first, however, it was ambition, rather than avarice, that +influenced the minds of men--a vice which approaches nearer to virtue +than the other. For of glory, honor, and power, the worthy is as +desirous as the worthless; but the one pursues them by just methods; +the other, being destitute of honorable qualities, works with fraud +and deceit. But avarice has merely money for its object, which no wise +man has ever immoderately desired. It is a vice which, as if imbued +with deadly poison, enervates whatever is manly in body or mind. It is +always unbounded and insatiable, and is abated neither by abundance +nor by want. + +But after Lucius Sulla, having recovered the government by force of +arms, proceeded, after a fair commencement, to a pernicious +termination, all became robbers and plunderers; some set their +affections on houses, others on lands; his victorious troops knew +neither restraint nor moderation, but inflicted on the citizens +disgraceful and inhuman outrages. Their rapacity was increased by the +circumstance that Sulla, in order to secure the attachment of the +forces which he had commanded in Asia, had treated them, contrary to +the practise of our ancestors, with extraordinary indulgence and +exemption from discipline; and pleasant and luxurious quarters had +easily, during seasons of idleness, enervated the minds of the +soldiery. Then the armies of the Roman people first became habituated +to licentiousness and intemperance, and began to admire statues, +pictures, and sculptured vases; to seize such objects alike in public +edifices and private dwellings; to spoil temples; and to cast off +respect for everything, sacred and profane. Such troops, accordingly, +when once they obtained the mastery, left nothing to the vanquished. +Success unsettles the principles even of the wise, and scarcely would +those of debauched habits use victory with moderation.... + +In so populous and so corrupt a city, Catiline, as it was very easy to +do, kept about him, like a body-guard, crowds of the unprincipled and +desperate. For all those shameless, libertine, and profligate +characters who had dissipated their patrimonies by gaming, luxury, and +sensuality; all who had contracted heavy debts, to purchase immunity +for their crimes or offenses; all assassins or sacrilegious persons +from every quarter, convicted or dreading conviction for their evil +deeds; all, besides, whom their tongue or their hand maintained by +perjury or civil bloodshed; all, in fine, whom wickedness, poverty, or +a guilty conscience disquieted, were the associates and intimate +friends of Catiline. And if any one, as yet of unblemished character, +fell into his society, he was presently rendered, by daily intercourse +and temptation, similar and equal to the rest. But it was the young +whose acquaintance he chiefly courted, as their minds, ductile and +unsettled from their age, were easily ensnared by his stratagems. For +as the passions of each, according to his years, appeared excited, he +furnished mistresses to some, bought horses and dogs for others, and +spared, in a word, neither his purse nor his character, if he could +but make them his devoted and trustworthy supporters. There were some, +I know, who thought that the youth who frequented the house of +Catiline were guilty of crimes against nature; but this report arose +rather from other causes than from any evidence of the fact.... + +Depending on such accomplices and adherents, and knowing that the load +of debt was everywhere great, and that the veterans of Sulla,[60] +having spent their money too liberally, and remembering their spoils +and former victory, were longing for a civil war, Catiline formed the +design of overthrowing the government. There was no army in Italy; +Pompey was fighting in a distant part of the world;[61] he himself had +great hopes of obtaining the consulship; the Senate was wholly off its +guard; everything was quiet and tranquil, and all these circumstances +were exceedingly favorable for Catiline.... + + + + +II + +THE FATE OF THE CONSPIRATORS[62] + + +When the Senate, as I have stated, had gone over to the opinion of +Cato, the Consul, thinking it best not to wait till night, which was +coming on, lest any new attempts should be made during the interval, +ordered the triumvirs to make such preparations as the execution of +the conspirators required. He himself, having posted the necessary +guards, conducted Lentulus[63] to the prison; and the same office was +performed for the rest by the praetors. + +There is a place in the prison, which is called the Tullian +dungeon,[64] and which, after a slight ascent to the left, is sunk +about twelve feet under ground. Walls secure it on every side, and +over it is a vaulted roof connected with stone arches; but its +appearance is disgusting and horrible, by reason of the filth, +darkness, and stench. When Lentulus had been let down into this place, +certain men, to whom orders had been given, strangled him with a +cord. Thus this patrician who was of the illustrious family of the +Cornelii, and who had filled the office of Consul at Rome, met with an +end suited to his character and conduct. On Cethegus, Statilius, +Gabinius, and Coeparius, punishment was inflicted in a similar +manner. + +During these proceedings at Rome, Catiline, out of the entire force +which he himself had brought with him, and that which Manlius had +previously collected, formed two legions, filling up the cohorts as +far as his numbers would allow; and afterward, as any volunteers, or +recruits from his confederates, arrived in his camp, he distributed +them equally throughout the cohorts, and thus filled up his legions, +in a short time, with their regular number of men, tho at first he had +not had more than two thousand. But, of his whole army, only about a +fourth part had the proper weapons of soldiers; the rest, as chance +had equipped them, carried darts, spears, or sharpened stakes. + +As Antonius[65] approached with his army, Catiline directed his march +over the hills, encamping, at one time, in the direction of Rome, at +another in that of Gaul. He gave the enemy no opportunity of fighting, +yet hoped himself shortly to find one, if his accomplices at Rome +should succeed in their objects. Slaves, meanwhile, of whom vast +numbers had at first flocked to him, he continued to reject, not only +as depending on the strength of the conspiracy, but as thinking it +impolitic to appear to share the cause of citizens with runagates. + +When it was reported in his camp, however, that the conspiracy had +been discovered at Rome, and that Lentulus, Cethegus, and the rest +whom I have named had been put to death, most of those whom the hope +of plunder or the love of change had led to join in the war fell away. +The remainder Catiline conducted, over rugged mountains and by forced +marches, into the neighborhood of Pistoria, with a view to escape +covertly, by crossroads, into Gaul. + +But Quintus Metellus Celer, who, with a force of three legions, had, +at that time, his station at Picenum, suspected that Catiline, from +the difficulties of his position, would adopt precisely the course +which we have just described. When, therefore, he had learned +Catiline's route from some deserters, he immediately broke up his +camp, and took his post at the very foot of the hills, at the point +where Catiline's descent would be, in his hurried march into Gaul.[66] +Nor was Antonius far distant, as he was pursuing, tho with a large +army, yet through plainer ground, and with fewer hindrances, the enemy +in retreat. + +Catiline, when he saw that he was surrounded by mountains and by +hostile forces, that his schemes in the city had been unsuccessful, +and that there was no hope either of escape or of succor, thinking it +best, in such circumstances, to try the fortune of a battle, resolved +upon engaging, as speedily as possible, with Antonius.... + +When he had spoken, he ordered, after a short delay, the signal for +battle to be sounded, and led down his troops, in regular order, to +the level ground. Having then sent away the horses of all the cavalry, +in order to increase the men's courage by making their danger equal, +he himself, on foot, drew up his troops suitably to their numbers and +the nature of the ground. As a plain stretched between the mountains +on the left, with a rugged rock on the right, he placed eight cohorts +in front, and stationed the rest of his force, in close order, in the +rear. From among these he removed all the ablest centurions, the +veterans, and the stoutest of the common soldiers that were regularly +armed into the foremost ranks. He ordered Caius Manlius to take the +command on the right, and a certain officer of Faesulae on the left; +while he himself, with his freedmen and the colonists, took his +station by the eagle, which Caius Marius was said to have had in his +army in the Cimbrian war. + +On the other side, Caius Antonius, who, being lame, was unable to be +present in the engagement, gave the command of the army to Marcus +Petreius, his lieutenant-general. Petreius ranged the cohorts of +veterans, which he had raised to meet the present insurrection, in +front, and behind them the rest of his force in lines. Then, riding +round among his troops, and addressing his men by name, he encouraged +them, and bade them remember that they were to fight against unarmed +marauders, in defense of their country, their children, their temples, +and their homes. Being a military man, and having served with great +reputation for more than thirty years, as tribune, prefect, +lieutenant, or praetor, he knew most of the soldiers and their +honorable actions, and, by calling these to their remembrance, roused +the spirits of the men. + +When he had made a complete survey, he gave the signal with the +trumpet, and ordered the cohorts to advance slowly. The army of the +enemy followed his example; and when they had approached so near that +the action could be commenced by the light-armed troops, both sides, +with a loud shout, rushed together in a furious charge. They threw +aside their missiles, and fought only with their swords. The veterans, +calling to mind their deeds of old, engaged fiercely in the closest +combat. The enemy made an obstinate resistance; and both sides +contended with the utmost fury. Catiline, during this time, was +exerting himself with his light troops in the front, sustaining such +as were prest, substituting fresh men for the wounded, attending to +every exigency, charging in person, wounding many an enemy, and +performing at once the duties of a valiant soldier and a skilful +general. + +When Petreius, contrary to his expectation, found Catiline attacking +him with such impetuosity, he led his praetorian cohort against the +center of the enemy, among whom, being thus thrown into confusion, and +offering but partial resistance, he made great slaughter, and ordered, +at the same time, an assault on both flanks. Manlius and the Faesulan, +sword in hand, were among the first that fell; and Catiline, when he +saw his army routed, and himself left with but few supporters, +remembering his birth and former dignity, rushed into the thickest of +the enemy, where he was slain, fighting to the last. + +When the battle was over, it was plainly seen what boldness and what +energy of spirit had prevailed throughout the army of Catiline; for, +almost everywhere, every soldier, after yielding up his breath, +covered with his corpse the spot which he had occupied when alive. A +few, indeed, whom the praetorian cohort had dispersed, had fallen +somewhat differently, but all with wounds in front. Catiline himself +was found, far in advance of his men, among the dead bodies of the +enemy; he still breathed, and exprest in his countenance the +fierceness of spirit which he had shown during his life. Of his whole +army, neither in the battle, nor in flight, was any free-born citizen +made prisoner, for they had spared their own lives no more than those +of the enemy. + +Nor did the army of the Roman people obtain a joyful or bloodless +victory; for all their bravest men were either killed in the battle or +left the field severely wounded. + +Of many who went from the camp to view the ground or plunder the +slain, some, in turning over the bodies of the enemy, discovered a +friend, others an acquaintance, others a relative; some, too, +recognized their enemies. Thus, gladness and sorrow, grief and joy, +were variously felt throughout the whole army. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 58: Quintilian thought Sallust had rivaled Thucydides, but +it has generally been held that he rather imitated him. The +resemblance lies in the main in the language he employs. Cruttwell +remarks "that the deep insight of the Athenian into the connection of +events is far removed from the popular rhetoric in which the Roman +deplores the decline of virtue."] + +[Footnote 59: From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson. Catiline came of an old but impoverished patrician family. In +the first Civil War, he had joined Sulla, and in the time of the +proscription is said to have killed with his own hand his +brother-in-law. In 67 B.C. he was governor of Africa; in 64 he joined +P. Antronius in an attempt to murder the consuls-elect; in 64 he was +himself defeated for the consulship.] + +[Footnote 60: These were men to whom Sulla had given land as rewards +for services, but who from extravagance had fallen into debt. Cicero +said nothing could help them but the resurrection of Sulla from the +dead.] + +[Footnote 61: Pompey was then conducting his campaign against +Mithridates.] + +[Footnote 62: From "The Conspiracy of Catiline." Translated by J. S. +Watson.] + +[Footnote 63: Lentulus, who came of the ancient and noble Cornelian +family, was one of the chiefs of the Catiline conspiracy. In 71 B.C. +he was Consul, but in the next year was ejected from the Senate for +"infamous life and manners."] + +[Footnote 64: The Tullian dungeon at Rome was built by King Ancus +Martius and enlarged by Servius Tullius, from whom it derived its +name. It still exists as a subterranean chapel beneath the small +church of San Pietro in Carcere. The church tradition is that St. +Peter was imprisoned in this dungeon.] + +[Footnote 65: Not the triumvir, but his uncle, Caius Antonius, a man +who after the conspiracy made a scandalous record, and in consequence +was surnamed "Hybrida." He was Consul with Cicero, and is believed to +have been one of the original Catiline conspirators, but Cicero gained +him over to his own side by promising him the rich province of +Macedonia. As Consul, Antonius was under the necessity of leading the +army against Catiline; but, owing to unwillingness to fight against +his former friend (Sallust says owing to lameness) he gave the +immediate command on the day of battle to his legate, Petreius. The +father of this Antonius and the grandfather of Mark Antony, the +triumvir, was Mark Antony, the orator, frequently referred to by +Cicero as one of the greatest of Roman orators.] + +[Footnote 66: That is, northern Italy, which In ancient times had been +occupied by Gallic people. Pistoria was an Etruscan town lying at the +foot of the Apennines.] + + + + +LIVY + + Born In Padua in 59 B.C.; died there in 17 A.D.; one of the + most famous of the Roman historians; his work, embracing the + period from the founding of the city, comprized one hundred + and forty-two books, of which only thirty-five have come + down to us; he spent over forty years in writing the + history; he wrote also philosophical dialogs and a work on + rhetorical training.[67] + + +I + +HORATIUS COCLES AT THE BRIDGE[68] + +(About 510 B.C.) + + +The Sublician bridge[69] well-nigh afforded a passage to the enemy, +had it not been for one man, Horatius Cocles, given by fortune on that +day as a defense of Rome. He happened to be posted on guard at the +bridge and when he saw the Janiculum taken by a sudden assault, and +that the enemy were pouring down thence in full speed, and that his +own party in terror and confusion were abandoning their arms and +ranks--laying hold of them one by one, standing in their way, and +appealing to the faith of gods and men, he declared "that their flight +would avail them nothing if they deserted their post; if they passed +the bridge and left it behind them, there would soon be more of the +enemy in the Palatium and Capitol than in the Janiculum; for that +reason he advised and charged them to demolish the bridge, by their +sword, by fire, or by any means whatever; that he would stand the +shock of the enemy as far as could be done by one man." + +He then advanced to the first entrance of the bridge, and being easily +distinguished among those who showed their backs in retreating from +the fight, facing about to engage the foe hand to hand, by his +surprizing bravery he terrified the enemy. Two indeed a sense of shame +kept with him--Spurius Lartius and Titus Herminius--men eminent for +their birth, and renowned for their gallant exploits. + +With them he for a short time stood the first storm of the danger, and +the severest brunt of the battle. But as they who demolished the +bridge called upon them to retire, he obliged them also to withdraw to +a place of safety on a small portion of the bridge still left. Then +casting his stern eyes round all the officers of the Etrurians in a +threatening manner, he sometimes challenged them singly, sometimes +reproached them all: "the slaves of haughty tyrants, who, regardless +of their own freedom, came to oppress the liberty of others." They +hesitated for a considerable time, looking round one at the other, to +commence the fight; shame then put the army in motion, and a shout +being raised, they hurled their weapons from all sides on their single +adversary; and when they all stuck in the shield held before him, and +he with no less obstinacy kept possession of the bridge with firm +step, they now endeavored to thrust him down from it by one push, when +at once the crash of the falling bridge, at the same time a shout of +the Romans raised for joy at having completed their purpose, checked +their ardor with sudden panic. Then Cocles says, "Holy father +Tiberinus, I pray that thou wouldst receive these arms and this thy +soldier in thy propitious stream." Armed as he was, he leapt into the +Tiber, and, amid showers of darts hurled on him, swam across safe to +his party, having dared an act which is likely to obtain more fame +than belief with posterity. The state was grateful toward such valor; +a statue was erected to him in the Comitium, and as much land was +given to him as he plowed around in one day. The zeal of private +individuals also was conspicuous among the public honors. For amid the +great scarcity, each person contributed something to him according to +his supply at home, depriving himself of his own support. + + + + +II + +HANNIBAL'S CROSSING OF THE ALPS[70] (218 B.C.) + + +From the Druentia, by a road that lay principally through plains, +Hannibal arrived at the Alps without molestation from the Gauls who +inhabit those regions. Then, tho the scene had been previously +anticipated from report (by which uncertainties are wont to be +exaggerated), yet the height of the mountains when viewed so near, and +the snows almost mingling with the sky, the shapeless huts situated on +the cliffs, the cattle and beasts of burden withered by the cold, the +men unshorn and wildly drest, all things, animate and inanimate, +stiffened with frost, and other objects more terrible to be seen than +described, renewed their alarm. + +To them, marching up the first acclivities, the mountaineers appeared +occupying the heights overhead, who, if they had occupied the more +concealed valleys, might, by rushing out suddenly to the attack, have +occasioned great flight and havoc. Hannibal orders them to halt, and +having sent forward Gauls to view the ground, when he found there was +no passage that way, he pitches his camp in the widest valley he could +find, among places all rugged and precipitous. Then, having learned +from the same Gauls, when they had mixed in conversation with the +mountaineers, from whom they differed little in language and manners, +that the pass was only beset during the day, and that at night each +withdrew to his own dwelling, he advanced at the dawn to the heights, +as if designing openly and by day to force his way through the defile. +The day then being passed in feigning a different attempt from that +which was in preparation, when they had fortified the camp in the same +place where they had halted, as soon as he perceived that the +mountaineers had descended from the heights, and that the guards were +withdrawn, having lighted for show a greater number of fires than was +proportioned to the number that remained, and having left the baggage +in the camp, with the cavalry and the principal part of the infantry, +he himself with a party of light-armed soldiers, consisting of all the +most courageous of his troops, rapidly cleared the defile, and took +posts on those very heights which the enemy had occupied. + +At dawn of light the next day the camp broke up, and the rest of the +army began to move forward. The mountaineers, on a signal being given, +were now assembling from their forts to their usual station, when +they suddenly behold part of the enemy overhanging them from above, in +possession of their former position, and the others passing along the +road. Both these objects, presented at the same time to the eye and +the mind, made them stand motionless for a little while; but when they +afterward saw the confusion in the pass, and that the marching body +was thrown into disorder by the tumult which itself created, +principally from the horses being terrified, thinking that whatever +terror they added would suffice for the destruction of the enemy, they +scramble along the dangerous rocks, as being accustomed alike to +pathless and circuitous ways. Then indeed the Carthaginians were +opposed at once by the enemy and by the difficulties of the ground; +and each striving to escape first from the danger, there was more +fighting among themselves than with their opponents. The horses, in +particular, created danger in the lines, which being terrified by the +discordant clamors that the groves and reechoing valleys augmented, +fell into confusion; and if by chance struck or wounded, they were so +dismayed that they occasioned a great loss both of men and baggage of +every description; and as the pass on both sides was broken and +precipitous, this tumult threw many down to an immense depth, some +even of the armed men; but the beasts of burden, with their loads, +were rolled down like the fall of some vast fabric. + +Tho these disasters were shocking to view, Hannibal, however, held his +place for a little, and kept his men together, lest he might augment +the tumult and disorder: but afterward, when he saw the line broken, +and that there was danger that he should bring over his army preserved +to no purpose if deprived of their baggage, he hastened down from the +higher ground; and tho he had routed the enemy by the first onset +alone, he at the same time increased the disorder in his own army; but +that tumult was composed in a moment, after the roads were cleared by +the flight of the mountaineers, and presently the whole army was +conducted through, not only without being disturbed, but almost in +silence. He then took a fortified place, which was the capital of that +district, and the little villages that lay around it, and fed his army +for three days with the corn and cattle he had taken; and during these +three days, as the soldiers were neither obstructed by the +mountaineers, who had been daunted by the first engagement, nor yet +much by the ground, he made considerable way. + +He then came to another state, abounding, for a mountainous country, +with inhabitants, where he was nearly overcome, not by open war, but +by his own arts of treachery and ambuscade. Some old men, governors of +forts, came as deputies to the Carthaginian, professing, "that having +been warned by the useful example of the calamities of others, they +wished rather to experience the friendship than the hostilities of the +Carthaginians; they would, therefore, obediently execute his commands, +and begged that he would accept of a supply of provisions, guides of +his march, and hostages for the sincerity of their promises." +Hannibal, when he had answered them in a friendly manner, thinking +that they should neither be rashly trusted nor yet rejected, lest if +repulsed they might openly become enemies, having received the +hostages whom they proffered, and made use of the provisions which +they of their own accord brought down to the road, followed their +guides, by no means as among a people with whom he was at peace, but +with his line of march in close order. The elephants and cavalry +formed the van of the marching body; he himself, examining everything +around, and intent on every circumstance, followed with the choicest +of his infantry. When they came into a narrower pass, lying on one +side beneath an overhanging eminence, the barbarians, rising at once +on all sides from their ambush, assail them in front and rear, both at +close quarters and from a distance, and roll down huge stones on the +army. The most numerous body of men prest on the rear; against whom +the infantry facing about and directing their attack made it very +obvious that, had not the rear of the army been well supported, a +great loss must have been sustained in that pass. Even as it was, they +came to the extremity of danger, and almost to destruction; for while +Hannibal hesitated to lead down his division into the defile, because, +tho he himself was a protection to the cavalry, he had not in the same +way left any aid to the infantry in the rear; the mountaineers, +charging obliquely, and on having broken through the middle of the +army, took possession of the road; and one night was spent by Hannibal +without his cavalry and baggage.... + +On the standards being moved forward at daybreak, when the army +proceeded slowly over all places entirely blocked up with snow, and +languor and despair strongly appeared in the countenances of all, +Hannibal, having advanced before the standards, and ordered the +soldiers to halt on a certain eminence, whence there was a prospect +far and wide, pointed out to them Italy and the plains of the Po, +extending themselves beneath the Alpine mountains; and said "that they +were now surmounting not only the ramparts of Italy, but also of the +city of Rome; that the rest of the journey would be smooth and +down-hill; that after one, or, at most, a second battle, they would +have the citadel and capital of Italy in their power and possession." +The army then began to advance, the enemy now making no attempts +beyond petty thefts, as opportunity offered. But the journey proved +much more difficult than it had been in the ascent, as the declivity +of the Alps, being generally shorter on the side of Italy, is +consequently steeper; for nearly all the road was precipitous, narrow, +and slippery, so that neither those who made the least stumble could +prevent themselves from falling, nor, when fallen, remain in the same +place, but rolled, both men and beasts of burden, one upon another. + +They then came to a rock much more narrow, and formed of such +perpendicular ledges that a light-armed soldier, carefully making the +attempt, and clinging with his hands to the bushes and roots around, +could with difficulty lower himself down. The ground, even before very +steep by nature, had been broken by a recent falling away of the earth +into a precipice of nearly a thousand feet in depth. Here when the +cavalry halted, as if at the end of their journey, it was announced to +Hannibal, wondering what obstructed the march, that the rock was +impassable. Having then gone himself to view the place, it seemed +clear to him that he must lead his army, by however great a circuit, +through the pathless and untrodden regions around it. But this route +also proved impracticable; for while the new snow of a moderate depth +remained on the old, which had not been removed, their footsteps were +planted with ease as they walked upon the new snow, which was soft and +not too deep; but when it was dissolved by the trampling of so many +men and beasts of burden, they then walked on the bare ice below, and +through the dirty fluid formed by the melting snow. Here there was a +wretched struggle, both on account of the slippery ice not affording +any hold to the step, and giving way beneath the foot more readily by +reason of the slope; and whether they assisted themselves in rising by +their hands or their knees, their supports themselves giving way, they +would tumble again; nor were there any stumps or roots near by +pressing against which one might with hand or foot support oneself; so +that they only floundered on the smooth ice and amidst the melted +snow. The beasts of burden sometimes also cut into this lower ice by +merely treading upon it, at others they broke it completely through, +by the violence with which they struck in their hoofs in their +struggling, so that most of them, as if taken in a trap, stuck in the +hardened and deeply frozen ice. + +At length, after the men and beasts of burden had been fatigued to no +purpose, the camp was pitched on the summit, the ground being cleared +for that purpose with great difficulty, so much snow was there to be +dug out and carried away. The soldiers being then set to make a way +down the cliff, by which alone a passage could be effected, and it +being necessary that they should cut through the rocks, having felled +and lopped a number of large trees which grew around, they make a huge +pile of timber; and as soon as a strong wind fit for exciting the +flames arose, they set fire to it, and, pouring vinegar on the heated +stones, they render them soft and crumbling. They then open a way with +iron instruments through the rock thus heated by the fire, and soften +its declivities by gentle windings, so that not only the beasts of +burden, but also the elephants, could be led down it. Four days were +spent about this rock, the beasts nearly perishing through hunger; for +the summits of the mountains are for the most part bare, and if there +is any pasture the snows bury it. The lower parts contain valleys, and +some sunny hills, and rivulets flowing beside woods, and scenes more +worthy of the abode of man. There the beasts of burden were sent out +to pasture, and rest given for three days to the men, fatigued with +forming the passage; they then descended into the plains, the country +and the dispositions of the inhabitants being now less rugged. + +In this manner chiefly they came to Italy, in the fifth month (as some +authors relate) after leaving New Carthage, having crossed the Alps +in fifteen days. What number of forces Hannibal had when he had passed +into Italy is by no means agreed upon by authors. Those who state them +at the highest make mention of a hundred thousand foot and twenty +thousand horse; those who state them at the lowest, of twenty thousand +foot and six thousand horse. Lucius Cincius Alimentus, who relates +that he was made prisoner by Hannibal, would influence me most as an +authority did he not confound the number by adding the Gauls and +Ligurians. Including these (who, it is more probable, flocked to him +afterward, as some authors assert), he says that eighty thousand foot +and ten thousand horse were brought into Italy; and that he had heard +from Hannibal himself that, after crossing the Rhone, he had lost +thirty-six thousand men, and an immense number of horses and other +beasts of burden among the Taurini,[71] the next nation to the Gauls, +as he descended into Italy. + + + + +III + +HANNIBAL AND SCIPIO AT ZAMA[72] + +(202 B.C.) + + +Hannibal had by this time arrived at Adrumetum,[73] from which place, +after employing a few days there in refreshing his soldiers, who had +suffered from the motion by sea, he proceeded by forced marches to +Zama, roused by the alarming statements of messengers, who brought +word that all the country round Carthage was filled with armed troops. +Zama is distant from Carthage a five days' journey. Some spies, whom +he had sent out from this place, being intercepted by the Roman guard, +and brought before Scipio, he directed that they should be handed over +to the military tribunes, and, after having been desired fearlessly to +survey everything, he conducted them through the camp wherever they +chose; then, asking them whether they had examined everything to their +satisfaction, he assigned them an escort, and sent them back to +Hannibal. Hannibal received none of the circumstances which were +reported to him with feelings of joy; for they brought word that, as +it happened, Masinissa had joined the enemy that very day, with six +thousand infantry and four thousand horse; but he was principally +dispirited by the confidence of his enemy, which, doubtless, was not +conceived without some ground. Accordingly, tho he himself was the +originator of the war, and by his coming had upset the truce which had +been entered into, and cut off all hopes of a treaty, yet, concluding +that more favorable terms might be obtained if he solicited peace +while his strength was unimpaired than when vanquished, he sent a +message to Scipio requesting permission to confer with him. + +Their armed attendants having retired to an equal distance, they met, +each attended by one interpreter, being the greatest generals not only +of their own times, but of any to be found in the records of the times +preceding them, and equal to any of the kings or generals of any +nation whatever. When they came within sight of each other they +remained silent for a short time, thunderstruck, as it were, with +mutual admiration. At length Hannibal thus began: + +"Since fate hath so ordained it, that I, who was the first to wage war +upon the Romans, and who have so often had victory almost within my +reach, should voluntarily come to sue for peace, I rejoice that it is +you, above all others, from whom it is my lot to solicit it. To you, +also, amidst the many distinguished events of your life, it will not +be esteemed one of the least glorious that Hannibal, to whom the gods +had so often granted victory over the Roman generals, should have +yielded to you; and that you should have put an end to this war, which +has been rendered remarkable by your calamities before it was by +ours. In this, also, fortune would seem to have exhibited a +disposition to sport with events, for it was when your father was +Consul that I first took up arms; he was the first Roman general with +whom I engaged in a pitched battle; and it is to his son that I now +come unarmed to solicit peace. It were, indeed, most to have been +desired that the gods should have put such dispositions into the minds +of our fathers, that you should have been content with the empire of +Italy, and we with that of Africa; nor, indeed, even to you, are +Sicily and Sardinia of sufficient value to compensate you for the loss +of so many fleets, so many armies, so many and such distinguished +generals. + +"But what is past may be more easily censured than retrieved. In our +attempts to acquire the possessions of others, we have been compelled +to fight for our own; and not only have you had a war in Italy, and we +also in Africa, but you have beheld the standards and arms of your +enemies almost in your gates and on your walls, and we now, from the +walls of Carthage, distinctly hear the din of a Roman camp. What, +therefore, we should most earnestly deprecate, and you should most +devoutly wish for, is now the case: peace is proposed at a time when +you have the advantage. We who negotiate it are the persons whom it +most concerns to obtain it, and we are persons 'whose arrangements, be +they what they will, our states will ratify. All we want is a +disposition not averse from peaceful counsels. So far as relates to +myself, time (for I am returning to that country an old man which I +left a boy),[74] and prosperity, and adversity, have so schooled me +that I am more inclined to follow reason than fortune. But I fear your +youth and uninterrupted good fortune, both of which are apt to inspire +a degree of confidence ill comporting with pacific counsels. Rarely +does that man consider the uncertainty of events whom fortune hath +never deceived. What I was at Trasimenus and at Cannae that you are +this day. Invested with command when you had scarcely yet attained the +military age, tho all your enterprises were of the boldest +description, in no instance has fortune deserted you. Avenging the +death of your father and uncle, you have derived from the calamity of +your house the high honor of distinguished valor and filial duty. You +have recovered Spain, which had been lost, after driving thence four +Carthaginian armies. When elected Consul, tho all others wanted +courage to defend Italy, you crossed over into Africa, where, having +cut to pieces two armies, having at once captured and burned two camps +in the same hour, having made prisoner Syphax, a most powerful king, +and seized so many towns of his dominions and so many of ours, you +have dragged me from Italy, the possession of which I had firmly held +for now sixteen years.... + +"Formerly, in this same country, Marcus Atilius would have formed one +among the few instances of good fortune and valor, if, when +victorious, he had granted a peace to our fathers when they requested +it; but by not setting any bounds to his success, and not checking +good fortune, which was elating him, he fell with a degree of ignominy +proportioned to his elevation. It is, indeed, the right of him who +grants, and not of him who solicits it, to dictate the terms of peace; +but perhaps we may not be unworthy to impose upon ourselves the fine. +We do not refuse that all those possessions on account of which the +war was begun should be yours--Sicily, Sardinia, Spain, with all the +islands lying in any part of the sea, between Africa and Italy. Let us +Carthaginians, confined within the shores of Africa, behold you, since +such is the pleasure of the gods, extending your empire over foreign +nations, both by sea and land. I can not deny that you have reason to +suspect the Carthaginian faith, in consequence of their insincerity +lately in soliciting a peace and while awaiting the decision. The +sincerity with which a peace will be observed depends much, Scipio, on +the person by whom it is sought. Your Senate, as I hear, refused to +grant a peace, in some measure, because the deputies were deficient in +respectability. It is I, Hannibal, who now solicit peace, who would +neither ask for it unless I believed it expedient, nor will I fail to +observe it for the same reason of expedience on account of which I +have solicited it. And in the same manner as I, because the war was +commenced by me, brought it to pass that no one regretted it till the +gods began to regard me with displeasure, so will I also exert myself +that no one may regret the peace procured by my means." + +In answer to these things the Roman general spoke nearly to the +following effect: "I was aware that it was in consequence of the +expectation of your arrival that the Carthaginians violated the +existing faith of the truce and broke off all hope of a peace. Nor, +indeed, do you conceal the fact; inasmuch as you artfully withdraw +from the former conditions of peace every concession except what +relates to those things which have for a long time been in our own +power. But as it is your object that your countrymen should be +sensible how great a burden they are relieved from by your means, so +it is incumbent upon me to endeavor that they may not receive, as the +reward of their perfidy, the concessions which they formerly +stipulated, by expunging them now from the conditions of the peace. +Tho you do not deserve to be allowed the same conditions as before, +you now request even to be benefited by your treachery. Neither did +our fathers first make war respecting Sicily, nor did we respecting +Spain. In the former case, the danger which threatened our allies, the +Mamertines, and in the present the destruction of Saguntum, girded us +with just and pious arms. That you were the aggressors, both you +yourselves confess and the gods are witnesses, who determined the +issue of the former war, and who are now determining, and will +determine, the issue of the present according to right and justice. As +to myself, I am not forgetful of the instability of human affairs, but +consider the influence of fortune, and am well aware that all our +measures are liable to a thousand casualties. But as I should +acknowledge that my conduct would savor of insolence and oppression +if I rejected you on your coming in person to solicit peace, before I +crossed over into Africa, you voluntarily retiring from Italy, and +after you had embarked your troops, so now, when I have dragged you +into Africa almost by manual force, notwithstanding your resistance +and evasions, I am not bound to treat you with any respect. Wherefore, +if in addition to those stipulations on which it was considered that a +peace would at that time have been agreed upon, and what they are you +are informed, a compensation is proposed for having seized our ships, +together with their stores, during a truce, and for the violence +offered to our ambassadors, I shall then have matter to lay before my +council. But if these things also appear oppressive, prepare for war, +since you could not brook the conditions of peace." + +Thus, without effecting an accommodation, when they had returned from +the conference to their armies, they informed them that words had been +bandied to no purpose, that the question must be decided by arms, and +that they must accept that fortune which the gods assigned them. + +When they had arrived at their camps, they both issued orders that +their soldiers should get their arms in readiness and prepare their +minds for the final contest; in which, if fortune should favor them, +they would continue victorious, not for a single day, but forever. +"Before tomorrow night," they said, "they would know whether Rome or +Carthage should give laws to the world; and that neither Africa nor +Italy, but the whole world, would be the prize of victory; that the +dangers which threatened those who had the misfortune to be defeated +were proportioned to the rewards of the victors." For the Romans had +not any place of refuge in an unknown and foreign land, and immediate +destruction seemed to await Carthage if the troops which formed her +last reliance were defeated. To this important contest, the day +following, two generals, by far the most renowned of any, and +belonging to two of the most powerful nations in the world, advanced +either to crown or overthrow, on that day, the many honors they had +previously acquired.... + +While the general was busily employed among the Carthaginians, and the +captains of the respective nations among their countrymen, most of +them employing interpreters among troops intermixed with those of +different nations, the trumpets and cornets of the Romans sounded; and +such a clamor arose that the elephants, especially those in the left +wing, turned round upon their own party, the Moors and Numidians. +Masinissa had no difficulty in increasing the alarm of the terrified +enemy, and deprived them of the aid of their cavalry in that wing. A +few, however, of the beasts which were driven against the enemy, and +were not turned back through fear, made great havoc among the ranks of +the velites, tho not without receiving many wounds themselves; for +when the velites, retiring to the companies, had made way for the +elephants, that they might not be trampled down, they discharged their +darts at the beasts, exposed as they were to wounds on both sides, +those in the van also keeping up a continual discharge of javelins; +until, driven out of the Roman line by the weapons which fell upon +them from all quarters, these elephants also put to flight even the +cavalry of the Carthaginians posted in their right wing. Laelius, when +he saw the enemy in disorder, struck additional terror into them in +their confusion. + +The Carthaginian line was deprived of the cavalry on both sides, when +the infantry, who were now not a match for the Romans in confidence or +strength, engaged. In addition to this there was one circumstance, +trifling in itself, but at the same time producing important +consequences in the action. On the part of the Romans the shout was +uniform, and on that account louder and more terrific; while the +voices of the enemy, consisting as they did of many nations of +different languages, were dissonant. The Romans used the stationary +kind of fight, pressing upon the enemy with their own weight and that +of their arms; but on the other side there was more of skirmishing and +rapid movement than force. + +Accordingly, on the first charge, the Romans immediately drove back +the line of their opponents; then pushing them with their elbows and +the bosses of their shields, and pressing forward into the places from +which they had pushed them, they advanced a considerable space, as tho +there had been no one to resist them, those who formed the rear urging +forward those in front when they perceived the line of the enemy +giving way, which circumstance itself gave great additional force in +repelling them. On the side of the enemy, the second line, consisting +of the Africans and Carthaginians, were so far from supporting the +first line when giving ground, that, on the contrary, they even +retired, lest their enemy, by slaying those who made a firm +resistance, should penetrate to themselves also. Accordingly, the +auxiliaries suddenly turned their backs, and facing about upon their +own party, fled some of them into the second line, while others slew +those who did not receive them into their ranks, since before they did +not support them, and now refused to receive them. + +And now there were, in a manner, two contests going on together, the +Carthaginians being compelled to fight at once with the enemy and with +their own party. Not even then, however, did they receive into their +line the terrified and exasperated troops; but, closing their ranks, +drove them out of the scene of action to the wings and the surrounding +plain, lest they should mingle these soldiers, terrified with defeat +and wounds, with that part of their line which was firm and fresh. But +such a heap of men and arms had filled the space in which the +auxiliaries a little while ago had stood that it was almost more +difficult to pass through it than through a close line of troops. The +spearmen, therefore, who formed the front line, pursuing the enemy as +each could find a way through the heap of firms and men, and streams +of blood, threw into complete disorder the battalions and companies. +The standards, also, of the principes had begun to waver when they saw +the line before them driven from their ground. Scipio, perceiving +this, promptly ordered the signal to be given for the spearmen to +retreat, and, having taken his wounded into the rear, brought the +principes and triarii to the wings, in order that the line of +spearmen in the center might be more strong and secure. Thus a fresh +and renewed battle commenced, inasmuch as they had penetrated to their +real antagonists, men equal to them in the nature of their arms, in +their experience in war, in the fame of their achievements, and the +greatness of their hopes and fears. But the Romans were superior both +in numbers and courage, for they had now routed both the cavalry and +the elephants, and, having already defeated the front line, were +fighting against the second.... + +Hannibal, after performing this, as it were, his last work of valor, +fled to Adrumetum, whence, having been summoned to Carthage, he +returned thither in the six and thirtieth year after he had left it +when a boy, and confest in the senate house that he was defeated, not +only in the battle, but in the war, and that there was no hope o+- +safety in anything but obtaining peace. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 67: "The most eloquent of all historians," says Cruttwell. +Livy understood the spirit of ancient times, making it real to modern +minds because he possest "antiquity of soul." In his own day Livy's +popularity was almost limitless. Pliny the Younger recalled that a man +once traveled to Rome from Cadiz with the express purpose of seeing +Livy. Having seen him he returned home at once, caring for nothing +else in Rome.] + +[Footnote 68: From Book II of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. "Cocles" was a nick-name meaning the +"one-eyed." With this story every school-boy has been made familiar +through Macaulay's "Lay," beginning: + + "Lars Porsena of Clusium + By the Nine Gods he swore + That the great house of Tarquin + Should suffer wrong no more." +] + +[Footnote 69: Authorities differ as to the site of this bridge. +"Larousse" has a map which identifies it as the site now occupied by +the AEmilian bridge, at the base of the Palatine, near the mouth of the +Cloaca Maxima; but the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," in a map of ancient +Rome, places it farther down the Tiber near the center of the base of +the Aventine. Murray's "Handbook of Rome" agrees with the +"Britannica." This bridge was the first one built at Rome, and is +ascribed to King Ancus Martius.] + +[Footnote 70: From Book XXI of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds. The identity of the pass through which +Hannibal crossed has been the subject of much controversy. A writer in +Smith's "Dictionary" says the account in Polybius "will be found, on +the whole, to agree best with the supposition that Hannibal crossed by +the Little St. Bernard." At the same time, "there are some +difficulties" attending this inference.] + +[Footnote 71: A tribe living in the upper valley of the Po, near +Turin.] + +[Footnote 72: From Book XXX of the "History of Rome." Translated by D. +Spillan and Cyrus Edmonds.] + +[Footnote 73: Adrumetum lay in what is now Tunis and was originally a +Phenician city. It was older than Carthage. For many centuries it was +a chief seaport for northern Africa. It is now known as Susa.] + +[Footnote 74: Hannibal, who when a boy of nine had left Carthage for +Spain with his father, Hamilcar Barca, at that time took an oath upon +an altar declaring eternal hostility to Rome. In the year of Zama he +was forty-five years old.] + + + + +SENECA + + Born in Spain about 4 B.C.; died near Rome in 65 A.D.; + celebrated as a Stoic and writer; taken to Rome when a + child; a senator in Caligula's reign; banished to Corsica by + Claudius in 41; recalled in 49, and entrusted with the + education of Nero; after Nero's accession in 54 virtually + controlled the imperial government, exercising power in + concert with the Praetorian prefect, Burrus; on the + assassination of Burrus in 62 petitioned for leave to retire + from court, and virtually did withdraw; on being charged + with complicity in the conspiracy of Piso, he committed + suicide in obedience to Nero's order; his extant writings + are numerous, and include "Benefits," "Clemency," and "Minor + Essays."[75] + + +I + +OF THE WISE MAN[76] + + +I might truly say, Serenus, that there is as wide a difference between +the Stoics and the other sects of philosophers as there is between men +and women, since each class contributes an equal share to human +society, but the one is born to command, the other to obey. The other +philosophers deal with us gently and coaxingly, just as our +accustomed family physicians usually do with our bodies, treating them +not by the best and shortest method, but by that which we allow them +to employ; whereas the Stoics adopt a manly course, and do not care +about its appearing attractive to those who are entering upon it, but +that it should as quickly as possible take us out of the world, and +lead us to that lofty eminence which is so far beyond the scope of any +missile weapon that it is above the reach of Fortune herself. "But the +way by which we are asked to climb is steep and uneven." What then? +Can heights be reached by a level path? Yet they are not so sheer and +precipitous as some think. It is only the first part that has rocks +and cliffs and no apparent outlet, just as many hills seen from a long +way off appear abruptly steep and joined together, because the +distance deceives our sight, and then, as we draw nearer, those very +hills which our mistaken eyes had made into one gradually unfold +themselves, those parts which seemed precipitous from afar assume a +gently sloping outline. When just now mention was made of Marcus Cato, +you whose mind revolts at injustice were indignant at Cato's own age +having so little understood him, at its having allotted a place below +Vatinius to one who towered above both Caesar and Pompey; it seemed +shameful to you, that when he spoke against some law in the Forum his +toga was torn from him, and that he was hustled through the hands of a +mutinous mob from the Rostra as far as the arch of Fabius,[77] +enduring all the bad language, spitting, and other insults of the +frantic rabble. + +I then answered, that you had good cause to be anxious on behalf of +the commonwealth, which Publius Clodius on the one side, Vatinius and +all the greatest scoundrels on the other, were putting up for sale, +and, carried away by their blind covetousness, did not understand that +when they sold it they themselves were sold with it; I bade you have +no fears on behalf of Cato himself, because the wise man can neither +receive injury nor-insult, and it is more certain that the immortal +gods have given Cato as a pattern of a wise man to us, than that they +gave Ulysses or Hercules to the earlier ages; for these our Stoics +have declared were wise men, unconquered by labors, despisers of +pleasure, and superior to all terrors. Cato did not slay wild beasts, +whose pursuit belongs to huntsmen and countrymen, nor did he +exterminate fabulous creatures with fire and sword, or live in times +when it was possible to believe that the heavens could be supported on +the shoulders of one man. In an age which had thrown off its belief in +antiquated superstitions, and had carried material knowledge to its +highest point, he had to struggle against that many-headed monster, +ambition, against that boundless lust for power which the whole world +divided among three men could not satisfy. He alone withstood the +vices of a worn-out state sinking into ruin through its own bulk; he +upheld the falling commonwealth as far as it could be upheld by one +man's hand, until at last his support was withdrawn, and he shared the +crash which he had so long averted, and perished together with that +from which it was impious to separate him--for Cato did not outlive +freedom, nor did freedom outlive Cato. Think you that the people could +do any wrong to such a man when they tore away his praetorship or his +toga? when they bespattered his sacred head with the rinsings of their +mouths? The wise man is safe, and no injury or insult can touch +him.... + +Consider now, whether any thief, or false accuser, or headstrong +neighbor, or rich man enjoying the power conferred by a childless old +age, could do any injury to this man, from whom neither war nor an +enemy whose profession was the noble art of battering city walls could +take away anything. Amid the flash of swords on all sides, and the +riot of the plundering soldiery, amid the flames and blood and ruin of +the fallen city, amid the crash of temples falling upon their gods, +one man was at peace. You need not therefore account that a reckless +boast, for which I will give you a surety, if my word goes for +nothing. Indeed, you would hardly believe so much constancy or such +greatness of mind to belong to any man; but here a man comes forward +to prove that you have no reason for doubting that one who is but of +human birth can raise himself above human necessities, can tranquilly +behold pains, losses, diseases, wounds, and great natural convulsions +roaring around him, can bear adversity with calm and prosperity with +moderation, neither yielding to the former nor trusting to the latter, +that he can remain the same amid all varieties of fortune, and think +nothing to be his own save himself, and himself too only as regards +his better part.... + +You have no cause for saying, as you are wont to do, that this wise +man of ours is nowhere to be found; we do not invent him as an unreal +glory of the human race, or conceive a mighty shadow of an untruth, +but we have displayed and will display him just as we sketch him, tho +he may perhaps be uncommon, and only one appears at long intervals; +for what is great and transcends the common ordinary type is not often +produced; but this very Marcus Cato himself, the mention of whom +started this discussion, was a man who I fancy even surpassed our +model. Moreover, that which hurts must be stronger than that which is +hurt. Now wickedness is not stronger than virtue; therefore the wise +man can not be hurt. Only the bad attempt to injure the good. Good men +are at peace among themselves; bad ones are equally mischievous to the +good and to one another. If a man can not be hurt by one weaker than +himself, and a bad man be weaker than a good one, and the good have no +injury to dread, except from one unlike themselves; then, no injury +takes effect upon the wise man; for by this time I need not remind you +that no one save the wise man is good.... + +The nobler a man is by birth, by reputation, or by inheritance, the +more bravely he should bear himself, remembering that the tallest men +stand in the front rank in battle. As for insults, offensive language, +marks of disgrace, and such like disfigurements, he ought to bear them +as he would bear the shouts of the enemy, and darts or stones flung +from a distance, which rattle upon his helmet without causing a wound; +while he should look upon injuries as wounds, some received on his +armor and others on his body, which he endures without falling or even +leaving his place in the ranks. Even tho you be hard prest and +violently attacked by the enemy, still it is base to give way; hold +the post assigned to you by nature. You ask, what this post is? it is +that of being a man. The wise man has another help, of the opposite +kind to this; you are hard at work, while he has already won the +victory. Do not quarrel with your own good advantage, and, until you +shall have made your way to the truth, keep alive this hope in your +minds, be willing to receive the news of a better life, and encourage +it by your admiration and your prayers; it is to the interest of the +commonwealth of mankind that there should be some one who is +unconquered, some one against whom fortune has no power. + + + + +II + +OF CONSOLATION FOR THE LOSS OF FRIENDS[78] + + +Why should I lead you on through the endless series of great men and +pick out the unhappy ones, as tho it were not more difficult to find +happy ones? for how few households have remained possest of all their +members to the end? what one is there that has not suffered some loss? +Take any one year you please and name the Consuls for it; if you like, +that of Lucius Bibulus[79] and Julius Caesar; you will see that, tho +these colleagues were each other's bitterest enemies, yet their +fortunes agreed. Lucius Bibulus, a man more remarkable for goodness +than for strength of character, had both his sons murdered at the same +time, and even insulted by the Egyptian soldiery, so that the agent of +his bereavement was as much a subject for tears as the bereavement +itself. Nevertheless Bibulus, who during the whole of his year of +office had remained hidden in his house, to cast reproach upon his +colleague Caesar on the day following that upon which he heard of both +his sons' deaths, came forth and went through the routine business of +his magistracy. Who could devote less than one day to mourning for +two sons? Thus soon did he end his mourning for his children, altho he +had mourned a whole year for his consulship. Gaius Caesar, after having +traversed Britain, and not allowed even the ocean to set bounds to his +successes, heard of the death of his daughter, which hurried on the +crisis of affairs. Already Cnaeus Pompey stood before his eyes, a man +who would ill endure that any one besides himself should become a +great power in the state, and one who was likely to place a check upon +his advancement, which he had regarded, as onerous even when each +gained by the other's rise: yet within three days' time he resumed his +duties as general, and conquered his grief as quickly as he was wont +to conquer everything else. + +Why need I remind you of the deaths of the other Caesars, whom fortune +appears to me sometimes to have outraged in order that even by their +deaths they might be useful to mankind, by proving that not even they, +altho they were styled "sons of gods," and "fathers of gods to come," +could exercise the same power over their own fortunes which they did +over those of others? The Emperor Augustus lost his children and his +grandchildren, and after all the family of Caesar had perished was +obliged to prop his empty house by adopting a son: yet he bore his +losses as bravely as tho he were already personally concerned in the +honor of the gods, and as tho it were especially to his interest that +no one should complain of the injustice of Heaven. Tiberius Caesar lost +both the son whom he begot and the son whom he adopted, yet he +himself pronounced a panegyric upon his son from the Rostra, and +stood in full view of the corpse, which merely had a curtain on one +side to prevent the eyes of the high priest resting upon the dead +body, and did not change his countenance, tho all the Romans wept: he +gave Sejanus, who stood by his side, a proof of how patiently he could +endure the loss of his relatives. See you not what numbers of most +eminent men there have been, none of whom have been spared by this +blight which prostrates us all: men, too, adorned with every grace of +character, and every distinction that public or private life can +confer. It appears as tho this plague moved in a regular orbit, and +spread ruin and desolation among us all without distinction of +persons, all being alike its prey. Bid any number of individuals tell +you the story of their lives: you will find that all have paid some +penalty for being born. + +I know what you will say, "You quote men as examples: you forget that +it is a woman that you are trying to console." Yet who would say that +nature has dealt grudgingly with the minds of women and stunted their +virtues? Believe me, they have the same intellectual power as men, and +the same capacity for honorable and generous action. If trained to do +so, they are just as able to endure sorrow or labor. Ye good gods, do +I say this in that very city in which Lucretia and Brutus removed the +yoke of kings from the necks of the Romans? We owe liberty to Brutus, +but we owe Brutus to Lucretia--in which Cloelia,[80] for the +sublime courage with which she scorned both the enemy and the river, +has been almost reckoned as a man. + +The statue of Coelia, mounted on horseback, in the busiest of +thoroughfares, the Sacred Way, continually reproaches the youth of the +present day, who never mount anything but a cushioned seat in a +carriage, with journeying in such a fashion through that very city in +which we have enrolled even women among our knights. If you wish me to +point out to you examples of women who have bravely endured the loss +of their children, I shall not go far afield to search for them: in +one family I can quote two Cornelias, one the daughter of Scipio, and +the mother of Gracchi, who made acknowledgment of the birth of her +twelve children by burying them all; nor was it so hard to do this in +the case of the others, whose birth and death were alike unknown to +the public, but she beheld the murdered and unburied corpses of both +Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus, whom even those who will not +call them good must admit were great men. Yet to those who tried to +console her and called her unfortunate, she answered, "I shall never +cease to call myself happy, because I am the mother of the Gracchi." +Cornelia, the wife of Livius Drusus,[81] lost by the hands of an +unknown assassin a young son of great distinction, who was treading in +the footsteps of the Gracchi, and was murdered in his own house just +when he had so many bills half-way through the process of becoming +law: nevertheless she bore the untimely and unavenged death of her son +with as lofty a spirit as he had shown in carrying his laws. + +Will you not, Marcia, forgive Fortune because she has not refrained +from striking you with the darts which she launched at the Scipios, +and the mothers and daughters of the Scipios, and with which she has +attacked the Caesars themselves? Life is full of misfortunes; our path +is beset with them: no one can make a long peace, nay, scarcely an +armistice with fortune. You, Marcia, have borne four children; now +they say that no dart which is hurled into a close column of soldiers +can fail to hit one--ought you then to wonder at not having been able +to lead along such a company without exciting the ill will of Fortune, +or suffering loss at her hands?... + +Think how great a blessing is a timely death, how many have been +injured by living longer than they ought. If sickness had carried off +that glory and support of the empire, Cnaeus Pompey, at Naples, he +would have died undoubted head of the Roman people, but as it was, a +short extension of time cast him down from his pinnacle of fame: he +beheld his legions slaughtered before his eyes: and what a sad relic +of that battle, in which the Senate formed the first line, was the +survival of the general. He saw his Egyptian butcher, and offered his +body, hallowed by so many victories, to a guardsman's sword, altho, +even had he been unhurt, he would have regretted his safety: for what +could have been more infamous than that a Pompey should owe his life +to the clemency of a king? If Marcus Cicero had fallen at the time +when he avoided those dangers which Catiline aimed equally at him and +at his country, he might have died as the savior of the commonwealth +which he had set free: if his death had even followed upon that of his +daughter, he might have died happy. He would not then have seen swords +drawn for the slaughter of Roman citizens, the goods of the murdered +divided among the murderers, that men might pay from their own purse +the price of their own blood, the public auction of the Consul's spoil +in the civil war, the public letting out of murder to be done, +brigandage, war, pillage, hosts of Catilines. Would it not have been a +good thing for Marcus Cato if the sea had swallowed him up when he was +returning from Cyprus after sequestrating the king's hereditary +possessions, even if that very money which he was bringing to pay the +soldiers in the civil war had been lost with him? He certainly would +have been able to boast that no one would dare to do wrong in the +presence of Cato: as it was, the extension of his life for a very few +more years forced one who was born for personal and political freedom +to flee from Caesar and to become Pompey's follower. Premature death +therefore did him no evil: indeed, it put an end to the power of any +evil to hurt him.... + +Born for a very brief space of time, we regard this life as an inn +which we are soon to quit that it may be made ready for the coming +guest, Do I speak of our lives, which we know roll away incredibly +fast? Reckon up the centuries of cities: you will find that even those +which boast of their antiquity have not existed for long. All human +works are brief and fleeting: they take up no part whatever of +infinite time. Tried by the standard of the universe, we regard this +earth of ours, with all its cities, nations, rivers, and seaboard, as +a mere point: our life occupies less than a point when compared with +all time, the measure of which exceeds that of the world, for indeed +the world is contained many times in it. Of what importance, then, can +it be to lengthen that which, however much you add to it, will never +be much more than nothing? We can only make our lives long by one +expedient, that is, by being satisfied with their length: you may tell +me of long-lived men, whose length of days has been celebrated by +tradition, you may assign a hundred and ten years apiece to them: yet +when you allow your mind to conceive the idea of eternity, there will +be no difference between the shortest and the longest life, if you +compare the time during which any one has been alive with that during +which he has not been alive. In the next place, when he died his life +was complete; he had lived as long as he needed to live: there was +nothing left for him to accomplish. + + + + +III + +TO NERO ON CLEMENCY[82] + + +You, Caesar, can boldly say that everything which has come into your +charge has been kept safe, and that the state has neither openly nor +secretly suffered any loss at your hands. You have coveted a glory +which is most rare, and which has been obtained by no emperor before +you, that of innocence. Your remarkable goodness is not thrown away, +nor is it ungratefully or spitefully undervalued. Men feel gratitude +toward you: no one person ever was so dear to another as you are to +the people of Rome, whose great and enduring benefit you are. You +have, however, taken upon yourself a mighty burden: no one any longer +speaks of the good times of the late Emperor Augustus, or the first +years of the reign of Tiberius, or proposes for your imitation any +model outside yourself: yours is a pattern reign. This would have been +difficult had your goodness of heart not been innate, but merely +adopted for a time; for no one can wear a mask for long, and +fictitious qualities soon give place to true ones. Those which are +founded upon truth, become greater and better as time goes on. + +The Roman people were in a state of great hazard as long as it was +uncertain how your generous disposition would turn out: now, however, +the prayers of the community are sure of an answer, for there is no +fear that you should suddenly forget your own character. Indeed, +excess of happiness makes men greedy, and our desires are never so +moderate as to be bounded by what they have obtained: great successes +become the stepping-stones to greater ones, and those who have +obtained more than they hoped, entertain even more extravagant hopes +than before; yet by all your countrymen we hear it admitted that they +are now happy, and moreover, that nothing can be added to the +blessings that they enjoy, except that they should be eternal. Many +circumstances force this admission from them, altho it is the one +which men are least willing to make: we enjoy a profound and +prosperous peace, the power of the law has been openly asserted in the +sight of all men, and raised beyond the reach of any violent +interference: the form of our government is so happy, as to contain +all the essentials of liberty except the power of destroying itself. +It is nevertheless your clemency which is most especially admired by +the high and low alike: every man enjoys or hopes to enjoy the other +blessings of your rule according to the measure of his own personal +good fortune, whereas from your clemency all hope alike: no one has so +much confidence in his innocence, as not to feel glad that in your +presence stands a clemency which is ready to make allowance for human +errors.... + +Since I have made mention of the gods, I shall state the best model +on which a prince may mold his life to be, that he deal with his +countrymen as he would that the gods may deal with himself. Is it then +desirable that the gods should show no mercy upon sins and mistakes, +and that they should harshly pursue us to our ruin? In that case what +king will be safe? Whose limbs will not be torn asunder and collected +by the sooth-sayers If, on the other hand, the gods are placable and +kind, and do not at once avenge the crimes of the powerful with +thunderbolts, is it not far more just that a man set in authority over +other men should exercise his power in a spirit of clemency and should +consider whether the conditions of the world is more beauteous and +pleasant to the eyes on a fine calm day, or when everything is shaken +with frequent thunder-claps and when lightning flashes on all sides! +Yet the appearance of a peaceful and constitutional reign is the same +as that of the calm and brilliant sky. A cruel reign is disordered and +hidden in darkness, and while all shake with terror at the sudden +explosions, not even he who caused all this disturbance escapes +unharmed. It is easier to find excuses for private men who obstinately +claim their rights; possibly they may have been injured and their rage +may spring from their wrongs; besides this, they fear to be despised, +and not to return the injuries which they have received looks like +weakness rather than clemency; but one who can easily avenge himself, +if he neglects to do so, is certain to gain praise for goodness of +heart. Those who are born in a humble station may with greater freedom +exercise violence, go to law, engage in quarrels, and indulge their +angry passions; even blows count for little between two equals; but in +case of a king, even loud clamor and unmeasured talk are +unbecoming.... + +Such was Augustus when an old man, or when growing old: in his youth +he was hasty and passionate, and did many things upon which he looked +back with regret. No one will venture to compare the rule of the blest +Augustus to the mildness of your own, even if your youth be compared +with his more than ripe old age: he was gentle and placable, but it +was after he had dyed the sea at Actium with Roman blood; after he had +wrecked both the enemy's fleet and his own at Sicily; after the +holocaust of Perusia and the proscriptions. But I do not call it +clemency to be wearied of cruelty; true clemency, Caesar, is that which +you display, which has not begun from remorse at its past ferocity, on +which there is no stain, which has never shed the blood of your +countrymen: this, when combined with unlimited power, shows the truest +self-control and all-embracing love of the human race as of one's +self, not corrupted by any low desires, any extravagant ideas, or any +of the bad examples of former emperors into trying, by actual +experiment, how great a tyranny you would be allowed to exercise over +his countrymen, but inclining rather to blunting your sword of empire. + +You, Caesar, have granted us the boon of keeping our state free from +bloodshed, and that of which you boast, that you have not caused one +single drop of blood to flow in any part of the world, is all the more +magnanimous and marvelous because no one ever had the power of the +sword placed in his hands at an earlier age. Clemency, then, makes +empires besides being their most trustworthy means of preservation. +Why have legitimate sovereigns grown old on the throne, and bequeathed +their power to their children and grandchildren, while the sway of +despotic usurpers is both hateful and short-lived? What is the +difference between the tyrant and the king--for their outward symbols +of authority and their powers are the same--except it be that tyrants +take delight in cruelty, whereas kings are only cruel for good reasons +and because they can not help it.... + +Nothing can be imagined which is more becoming to a sovereign than +clemency, by whatever title and right he may be set over his fellow +citizens. The greater his power, the more beautiful and admirable he +will confess his clemency to be: for there is no reason why power +should do any harm, if only it be wielded in accordance with the laws +of nature. Nature herself has conceived the idea of a king, as you may +learn from various animals, and especially from bees, among whom the +king's cell is the roomiest, and is placed in the most central and +safest part of the hive; moreover, he does no work, but employs +himself in keeping the others up to their work. If the king be lost, +the entire swarm disperses: they never endure to have more than one +king at a time, and find out which is the better by making them fight +with one another: moreover the king is distinguished by his statelier +appearance, being both larger and more brilliantly colored than the +other bees. + +The most remarkable distinction, however, is the following: bees are +very fierce, and for their size are the most pugnacious of creatures, +and leave their stings in the wounds which they make, but the king +himself has no sting: nature does not wish him to be savage or to seek +revenge at so dear a rate, and so has deprived him of his weapon and +disarmed his rage. She has offered him as a pattern to great +sovereigns; for she is wont to practise herself in small matters, and +to scatter abroad tiny models of the hugest structures. We ought to be +ashamed of not learning a lesson in behavior from these small +creatures, for a man, who has so much more power of doing harm than +they, ought to show a correspondingly greater amount of self-control. +Would that human beings were subject to the same law, and that their +anger destroyed itself together with its instruments, so that they +could only inflict a wound once, and would not make use of the +strength of others to carry out their hatreds; for their fury would +soon grow faint if it carried its own punishment with it, and could +only give rein to its violence at the risk of death. Even as it is, +however, no one can exercise it with safety, for he must needs feel as +much fear as he hopes to cause, he must watch every one's movements, +and even when his enemies are not laying violent hands upon him he +must bear in mind that they are plotting to do so, and he can not have +a single moment free from alarm. Would any one endure to live such a +life as this, when he might enjoy all the privileges of his high +station to the general joy of all men, without fear? for it is a +mistake to suppose that the king can be safe in a state where nothing +is safe from the king; he can only purchase a life without anxiety +for himself by guaranteeing the same for his subjects. He need not +pile up lofty citadels, escarp steep hills, cut away the sides of +mountains, and fence himself about with many lines of walls and +towers: clemency will render a king safe even upon an open plain. The +one fortification which can not be stormed is the love of his +countrymen.... + +The reason why cruelty is the most hateful of all vices is that it +goes first beyond ordinary limits, and then beyond those of humanity; +that it devises new kinds of punishments, calls ingenuity to aid it in +inventing devices for varying and lengthening men's torture, and takes +delight in their sufferings: this accursed disease of the mind reaches +its highest pitch of madness when cruelty itself turns into pleasure +and the act of killing a man becomes enjoyment. Such a ruler is soon +cast down from his throne; his life is attempted by poison one day and +by the sword the next; he is exposed to as many dangers as there are +men to whom he is dangerous, and he is sometimes destroyed by the +plots of individuals, and at others by a general insurrection. Whole +communities are not roused to action by unimportant outrages on +private persons; but cruelty which takes a wider range, and from which +no one is safe, becomes a mark for all men's weapons. Very small +snakes escape our notice, and the whole country does not combine to +destroy them; but when one of them exceeds the usual size and grows +into a monster, when it poisons fountains with its spittle, scorches +herbage with its breath, and spreads ruin wherever it crawls, we +shoot at it with military engines. Trifling evils may cheat us and +elude our observation, but we gird up our loins to attack great ones. +One sick person does not so much as disquiet the house in which he +lies; but when frequent deaths show that a plague is raging, there is +a general outcry, men take to flight and shake their fists angrily at +the very gods themselves. If a fire breaks out under one single roof, +the family and the neighbors pour water upon it; but a wide +conflagration which has consumed many houses must be smothered under +the ruins of a whole quarter of a city.... + +I have been especially led to write about clemency, Nero Caesar, by a +saying of yours, which I remember having heard with admiration and +which I afterward told to others: a noble saying, showing a great mind +and great gentleness, which suddenly burst from you without +premeditation, and was not meant to reach any ears but your own, and +which displayed the conflict which was raging between your natural +goodness and your imperial duties. Your praefect Burrus[83], an +excellent man who was born to be the servant of such an emperor as you +are, was about to order two brigands to be executed, and was pressing +you to write their names and the grounds on which they were to be put +to death; this had often been put off, and he was insisting that it +should then be done. When he reluctantly produced the document and +put it in your equally reluctant hands, you exclaimed: "Would that I +had never learned my letters!" O what a speech, how worthy to be heard +by all nations, both those who dwell within the Roman Empire, those +who enjoy a debatable independence upon its borders, and those who +either in will or in deed fight against it! It is a speech which ought +to be spoken before a meeting of all mankind, whose words all kings +and princes ought to swear to and obey: a speech worthy of the days of +human innocence, and worthy to bring back that golden age. Now in +truth we ought all to agree to love righteousness and goodness, +covetousness, which is the root of all evil, ought to be driven away, +piety and virtue, good faith and modesty ought to resume their +interrupted reign, and the vices which have so long and so shamefully +ruled us ought at last to give way to an age of happiness and purity. + + + + +IV + +THE PILOT[84] + + +A tempest and storme hurt a Pilot, but notwithstanding they make him +not worse. Certaine Stoicks do thus answer against this, that a Pilot +is made worse by a tempest and by a storme, because that thing which +he had purposed he cannot effect, nor keep on his course. Worse is he +made, not in his skill, but in his work. To whom the Aristotelian: +therefore, saith he, pouertie and dolour, and what soeuer such like +thing there shall be, shall not take vertue from him, but shall hinder +his working thereof. + +This were rightly said, except the condition of a Pilot and of a +wise-man were unlike. For the purpose of him is in leading his life, +not without faile to effect that which he assayeth to doe, but to doe +all things aright. It is the purpose of the Pilot, without faile to +bring a ship into a hauen. They be seruile arts, they ought to +performe that which they promise. Wisedome is mistresse and +gouernesse. The arts doe serve to, wisedome commandeth our life. I +judge that we must answere after another sort, namely that neyther the +skill of the gouernour is made worse by any tempest, nor yet the very +administration of art. The gouernour hath not promised prosperous +successe unto thee, but his profitable endeuour, and skill to gouerne +the ship. This appeareth the more, by how much the more some force of +fortune hath hindered him. He that hath beene able to say this, O +Neptune, this ship was neuer but right, hath satisfied skill. A +tempest hindereth not the work of a pilot, but the successe. + +What therefore sayeth thou? Doth not that thing hurt a Pilot, which +hindereth him from entring the Port? Which causeth his endeuours to be +vaine? Which eyther beareth him back, or detaineth and disarmeth him? +It hurteth him not as Pilot, but as one that doth saile. Otherwise it +doth not so much hinder, as shew the Pilot's skill. For euery one +can, as they say, be a pilot in the calme. These things hinder the +ship; not a pilot as he is a pilot. Two persons a pilot hath; the one +common with all who haue gone aboard the same ship, wherein he +himselfe also is a passenger; the other proper as he is gouernour. The +tempest hurteth him as he is a passenger not as a Pilot. Furthermore +the art of a Pilot is another good, it appertaineth to those whom he +carrieth: as the art of a Physitian appertaineth to those whom he doth +cure. Wisedome is a common good; and is proper to ownes selfe, for +those with whom he doth liue. Therefore peraduenture a Pilot is hurt, +whose promised seruice to others is let by a tempest. + +A wise man is not hurt by pouertie, nor by doulour, nor by other +tempests of life. For not all workes of him be hindered, but only +those that pertain to other men; alwayes is he himself indeed, the +greatest of all, when fortune hath opposed herselfe unto him, then +manageth he the businesse of wisdome itselfe: which wisdome we haue +said to be both anothers and his owne good. Furthermore not then +indeed is he hindered to profite other men, when some necessities do +presse him. Through pouertie he is hindred to teach, how a +Commonwealth may be managed: but he teacheth that thing, how pouertie +is to be managed. His worke is extended all his life long. Thus no +fortune, no thing excludeth the acts of a wise-man. For he doth not +that verie thing, whereby he is forbidden to do other things. He is +fit for both chances: a gouernour of the bad, an ouercommer of the +good. So I say hath he exercised himselfe, that he sheweth vertue as +well in prosperous as in aduerse affaires; neyther looketh he upon +the matter thereof, but upon itselfe. Therefore neither pouerty nor +doulour, nor any other thing which turneth back the unskilfull, and +driuest them headlong, hindereth them. Hast thou rather he should be +pressed? He maketh use of it. Not only of iuorie did Phidias know how +to make images: he made them of brasse. If marble were unto him, if +thou hadst offered baser matter, he would haue made such a one +thereof, as could be made of that which was the best. + +So a wise-man will show uertue, if he may, in wealth, if not in +pouertie: if he shall be able, in his countrie; if not in banishment; +if he can, being a commander; if not, being a souldier: if he can +being sound; if not, being weaker what fortune soeuer he shall +entertaine, he will performe some memorable thing thereby. Certain +tamers there be of wild beasts, who teach the fiercest creatures, and +which terrifie a man when they meet him, to suffer the yoake: and not +wanted to have shaken fiercenesse off, do tame them, euer to keep them +companie. The master useth often to thrust out his hand to Lions; they +kisse it. The keeper commandeth his tyger; the Ethiopian Player +commandeth his elephants to fall upon their knees, and to walke upon a +rope; so a wise-man is skilfull to subdue euil things. Dolour, +pouertie, ignominie, prison, banishment, when they come unto him, are +made tame. + + + + +V + +OF A HAPPY LIFE[85] + + +All men, brother Gallio, wish to live happily, but are dull at +perceiving exactly what it is that makes life happy: and so far is it +from being easy to attain to happiness that the more eagerly a man +struggles to reach it the further he departs from it, if he takes the +wrong road; for, since this leads in the opposite direction, his very +swiftness carries him all the further away. We must therefore first +define clearly what it is at which we aim: next we must consider by +what path we may most speedily reach it, for on our journey itself, +provided it be made in the right direction, we shall learn how much +progress we have made each day, and how much nearer we are to the goal +toward which our natural desires urge us. But as long as we wander at +random, not following any guide except the shouts and discordant +clamors of those who invite us to proceed in different directions, our +short life will be wasted in useless roamings, even if we labor both +day and night to get a good understanding. Let us not therefore decide +whither we must tend, and by what path, without the advice of some +experienced person who has explored the region which we are about to +enter, because this journey is not subject to the same conditions as +others; for in them some distinctly understood track and inquiries +made of the natives make it impossible for us to go wrong, but here +the most beaten and frequented tracks are those which lead us astray. +Nothing, therefore, is more important than that we should not, like +sheep, follow the flock that has gone before us, and thus proceed not +whither we ought, but whither the rest are going.... + +True wisdom consists in not departing from nature and in molding our +conduct according to her laws and model. A happy life, therefore, is +one which is in accordance with its own nature, and can not be brought +about unless in the first place the mind be sound and vigorous, +enduring all things with most admirable courage suited to the times in +which it lives, careful of the body and its appurtenances, yet not +troublesomely careful. It must also set due value upon all the things +which adorn our lives, without overestimating any one of them, and +must be able to enjoy the bounty of Fortune without becoming her +slave.... + +A happy life consists in a mind which is free, upright, undaunted, and +stedfast beyond the influence of fear or desire, which thinks nothing +good except honor, and nothing bad except shame, and regards +everything else as a mass of mean details which can neither add +anything to nor take anything away from the happiness of life, but +which come and go without either increasing or diminishing the highest +good? A man of these principles, whether he will or no, must be +accompanied by a continual cheerfulness, a high happiness, which +comes indeed from on high because he delights in what he has, and +desires no greater pleasures than those which his home affords. Is he +not right in allowing these to turn the scale against petty, +ridiculous, and short-lived movements of his wretched body? on the day +on which he becomes proof against pleasure he also becomes proof +against pain. See, on the other hand, how evil and guilty a slavery a +man is forced to serve who is dominated in turn by pleasures and +pains, those most untrustworthy and passionate of masters. We must, +therefore, escape from them into freedom. This nothing will bestow +upon us save contempt of Fortune; but if we attain to this, then there +will dawn upon us those invaluable blessings, the repose of a mind +that is at rest in a safe haven, its lofty imaginings, its great and +steady delight at casting out errors and learning to know the truth, +its courtesy and its cheerfulness, in all of which we shall take +delight, not regarding them as good things, but as proceeding from the +proper good of man.... + +Why do you put together two things which are unlike and even +incompatible one with another? virtue is a lofty quality, sublime, +royal, unconquerable, untiring: pleasure is low, slavish, weakly, +perishable; its haunts and homes are the brothel and the tavern. You +will meet virtue in the temple, the market-place, the senate-house, +manning the walls, covered with dust, sunburnt, horny-handed: you will +find pleasure skulking out of sight, seeking for shady nooks at the +public baths, hot chambers, and places which dread the visits of the +aedile, soft, effeminate, reeking of wine and perfumes, pale or +perhaps painted and made up with cosmetics. The highest good is +immortal: it knows no ending, and does not admit of either satiety or +regret: for a right-thinking mind never alters or becomes hateful to +itself, nor do the best things ever undergo any change: but pleasure +dies at the very moment when it charms us most: it has no great scope, +and therefore it soon cloys and wearies us, and fades away as soon as +its first impulse is over: indeed, we can not depend upon anything +whose nature is to change. Consequently, it is not even possible that +there should be any solid substance in that which comes and goes so +swiftly and which perishes by the very exercise of its own functions, +for it arrives at a point at which it ceases to be, and even while it +is beginning always keeps its end in view.... + +A man should be unbiassed and not to be conquered by external things: +he ought to admire himself alone, to feel confidence in his own +spirit, and so to order his life as to be ready alike for good or bad +fortune. Let not his confidence be without knowledge, nor his +knowledge without stedfastness: let him always abide by what he has +once determined, and let there be no erasure in his doctrine. It will +be understood, even tho I append it not, that such a man will be +tranquil and composed in his demeanor, high-minded and courteous in +his actions. Let reason be encouraged by the senses to seek for the +truth, and draw its first principles from thence: indeed it has no +other base of operations or place from which to start in pursuit of +truth: it must fall back upon itself. Even the all-embracing universe +and God who is its guide extends Himself forth into outward things, +and yet altogether returns from all sides back to Himself. Let our +mind do the same thing: when, following its bodily senses, it has by +means of them sent itself forth into the things of the outward world, +let it remain still their master and its own. By this means we shall +obtain a strength and an ability which are united and allied together; +we shall derive from it that reason which never halts between two +opinions, nor is dull in forming its perceptions, beliefs, or +convictions. Such a mind, when it has ranged itself in order, made its +various parts agree together, and, if I may so express myself, +harmonized them, has attained to the highest good: for it has nothing +evil or hazardous remaining, nothing to shake it or make it stumble: +it will do everything under the guidance of its own will, and nothing +unexpected will befall it, but whatever may be done by it will turn +out well, and that, too, readily and easily, without the doer having +recourse to any underhand devices: for slow and hesitating purpose. +You may, then, boldly declare that the highest good is singleness of +mind: for where agreement and unity are, there must the virtues be: it +is the vices that are at war with one another.... + +It is the act of the generous spirit to proportion its efforts not to +its own strength, but to that of human nature, to entertain lofty +aims, and to conceive plans which are too vast to be carried into +execution even by those who are endowed with gigantic intellects, who +appoint for themselves the following rules: "I will look upon death or +upon a comedy with the same expression of countenance: I will submit +to labors, however great they may be, supporting the strength of my +body by that of my mind: I will despise riches when I have them as +much as when I have them not; if they be elsewhere I will not be more +gloomy, if they sparkle around me I will not be more lively than I +should otherwise be: whether Fortune comes or goes I will take no +notice of her: I will view all lands as tho they belonged to me, and +my own as tho they belonged to all mankind: I will so live as to +remember that I was born for others, and will thank Nature on this +account: for in what fashion could she have done better for me? she +has given me alone to all, and all to me alone. Whatever I may +possess, I will neither hoard it greedily nor squander it recklessly. +I will think that I have no possessions so real as those which I have +given away to deserving people: I will not reckon benefits by their +magnitude or number, or by anything except the value set upon them by +the receiver: I never will consider a gift to be a large one if it be +bestowed upon a worthy object. I will do nothing because of public +opinion, but everything because of conscience: whenever I do anything +alone by myself I will believe that the eyes of the Roman people are +upon me while I do it. In eating and drinking my object shall be to +quench the desires of Nature, not to fill and empty my belly. I will +be agreeable with my friends, gentle and mild to my foes: I will grant +pardon before I am asked for it, and will meet the wishes of honorable +men half-way. I will bear in mind that, the world is my native city, +that its governors are the gods, and that they stand above and around +me, criticizing whatever I do or say. Whenever either Nature demands +my breath again, or reason bids me dismiss it, I will quit this life, +calling all to witness that I have loved a good conscience, and good +pursuits; that no one's freedom, my own least of all, has been +impaired through me." He who sets up these as the rules of his life +will soar aloft and strive to make his way to the gods: of a truth, +even tho he fails, yet he + + "Fails in a high emprise." + +But you, who hate both virtue and those who practise it, do nothing at +which we need be surprized, for sickly lights can not bear the sun, +nocturnal creatures avoid the brightness of day, and at its first +dawning become bewildered and all betake themselves to their dens +together: creatures that fear the light hide themselves in crevices. +So croak away, and exercise your miserable tongues in reproaching good +men: open wide your jaws, bite hard: you will break many teeth before +you make any impression.... + +Where, indeed, can fortune invest riches more securely than in a place +from whence they can always be recovered without any squabble with +their trustee? Marcus Cato, when he was praising Curius and +Coruncanius and that century in which the possession of a few small +silver coins were an offense which was punished by the Censor, himself +owned four million sesterces; a less fortune, no doubt, than that of +Crassus, but larger than of Cato the Censor. If the amounts be +compared, he had outstript his great-grandfather further than he +himself was outdone by Crassus, and if still greater riches had +fallen to his lot, he would not have spurned them, for the wise man +does not think himself unworthy of any chance presents: he does not +love riches, but he prefers to have them; he does not receive them +into his spirit, but only into his house: nor does he cast away from +him what he already possesses, but keeps them, and is willing that his +virtue should receive a larger subject-matter for its exercise.... + +Cease, then, forbidding philosophers to possess money: no one has +condemned wisdom to poverty. The philosopher may own ample wealth, but +will not own wealth that which has been torn from another, or which is +stained with another's blood: his must be obtained without wronging +any man, and without its being won by base means; it must be alike +honorably come by and honorably spent, and must be such as spite could +alone shake its head at. Raise it to whatever figure you please, it +will still be an honorable possession, if, while it includes much +which every man would like to call his own, there be nothing which any +one can say is his own. Such a man will not forfeit his right to the +favor of Fortune, and will neither boast of his inheritance nor blush +for it if it was honorably acquired; yet he will have something to +boast of, if he throw his house open, let all his countrymen come +among his property, and say, "If any one recognizes here anything +belonging to him, let him take it." What a great man, how excellently +rich will he be, if after this speech he possesses as much as he had +before! I say, then, that if he can safely and confidently submit his +accounts to the scrutiny of the people, and no one can find in them +any item upon which he can lay hands, such a man may boldly and +unconcealedly enjoy his riches. The wise man will not allow a single +ill-won penny to cross his threshold; yet he will not refuse or close +his door against great riches, if they are the gift of fortune and the +product of virtue: what reason has he for grudging them good quarters: +let them come and be his guests: he will neither brag of them nor hide +them away: the one is the part of a silly, the other of a cowardly and +paltry spirit, which, as it were, muffles up a good thing in its lap. +As he is capable of performing a journey upon his own feet, but yet +would prefer to mount a carriage, just so he will be capable of being +poor, yet will wish to be rich; he will own wealth, but will view it +as an uncertain possession which will some day fly away from him. He +will not allow it to be a burden either to himself or to any one else: +he will give it--why do you prick up your ears? why do you open your +pockets?--he will give it either to good men or to those whom it may +make into good men. He will give it after having taken the utmost +pains to choose those who are fittest to receive it, as becomes one +who bears in mind that he ought to give an account of what he spends +as well as of what he receives. He will give for good and commendable +reasons, for a gift ill bestowed counts as a shameful loss: he will +have an easily opened pocket, but not one with a hole in it, so that +much may be taken out of it, yet nothing may fall out of it. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 75: Seneca's influence on writers in his own day was +notable. He seems almost to have superseded Cicero as a model. Critics +of our day, while recognizing all this and the charm of his style, +have found in his philosophy a lack of sincere qualities. An old +question is that of his relations to Christianity. So much in his +writings partakes of the spirit of the Apostles that he has been +credited with having been influenced by them. It is known that his +brother Gallio met St. Paul in Corinth and that Burrus, the colleague +and intimate friend of Seneca, was the captain of the Praetorian guards +before whom St. Paul was brought in Rome. Cruttwell dismisses the +claim, believing that Seneca's philosophy was "the natural development +of the thoughts of his predecessors in a mind at once capacious and +smitten with the love of virtue." Philosophy to Seneca was "altogether +a question of practise." Like other thinkers of his day, "he cared +nothing for consistency of opinion, everything for impressiveness of +application."] + +[Footnote 76: From Book II of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart.] + +[Footnote 77: Quintilius Fabius, the general, who before the battle of +Cannae commanded in Italy against Hannibal. He was famous for avoiding +pitched battles and hence the term "Fabian policy."] + +[Footnote 78: From Book VI of the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey +Stewart. Marcia, to whom this letter was addrest, was "a respectable +and opulent lady," the daughter of Cremutius Cordus.] + +[Footnote 79: Made Consul with Julius Caesar in 59 B.C. He represented +the aristocratic party and bitterly opposed some of the measures of +Caesar. In the war with Pompey he joined his forces to those of +Pompey.] + +[Footnote 80: A legendary maiden delivered as hostage to Lars Porsena +of Clusium, but who escaped by swimming across the Tiber.] + +[Footnote 81: Marcus Livius Drusus was a politician, who in 91 B.C. +became tribune of the plebs. He was about to bring forward a proposal +giving citizenship to the Italians when he was assassinated, an event +which precipitated the Social War.] + +[Footnote 82: From the "Minor Essays." Translated by Aubrey Stewart. +"This," says Alexander Thomson, the eighteenth-century translator of +Suetonius, "appears to have been written in the beginning of the reign +of Nero, on whom the author bestows some high encomiums which at that +time seem not to have been destitute of foundation."] + +[Footnote 83: Burrus in 52 A.D. had been made sole Praetorian Praefect +by Claudius and, conjointly with Seneca, was entrusted with the +education of Nero. It was his influence with the Praetorian Guards that +secured to Nero in 54 the independent succession. He was put to death +by poison, under orders from Nero, who had been offended by the +severity of his moral conduct.] + +[Footnote 84: From Epistle 85. Translated by Thomas Lodge. Printed +here with the spelling and punctuation of the first edition (1613).] + +[Footnote 85: From Book VII of the "Minor Essays." Translated by +Aubrey Stewart. This essay addrest to Gallio, Seneca is thought to +have intended "as a vindication of himself against those who +calumniated him on account of his riches and manner of living."] + + + + +PLINY THE ELDER + + Born in Como, in 23 A.D.; perished in the eruption of + Vesuvius in 79; celebrated as naturalist; commanded cavalry + in Germany at the age of twenty-three; procurator in Spain + under Nero; wrote voluminously on military tactics, history, + grammar and natural science; his death due to his efforts to + observe more closely the eruption; of all his writings only + his "Natural History" in thirty-seven books has survived. + + +I + +THE QUALITIES OF THE DOG[86] + + +Among the animals that are domesticated with mankind there are many +circumstances that are deserving of being known: among these there are +more particularly that most faithful friend of man, the dog, and the +horse. We have an account of a dog that fought against a band of +robbers in defending its master; and altho it was pierced with wounds, +still it would not leave the body, from which it drove away all birds +and beasts. Another dog, in Epirus, recognized the murderer of its +master in the midst of an assemblage of people, and, by biting and +barking at him, extorted from him a confession of his crime. A king of +the Garamantes,[87] also, was brought back from exile by two hundred +dogs, which maintained the combat against all his opponents. The +people of Colophon[88] and Castabala[89] kept troops of dogs for the +purposes of war; and these used to fight in the front rank and never +retreat; they were the most faithful of auxiliaries, and yet required +no pay. After the defeat of the Cimbri[90] their dogs defended their +movable houses, which were carried upon wagons. Jason, the Lycian, +having been slain, his dog refused to take food, and died of famine. A +dog, to which Darius gives the name of Hyrcanus, upon the funeral pile +of King Lysimachus being lighted, threw itself into the flames; and +the dog of King Hiero[91] did the same. Philistus also gives a similar +account of Pyrrhus, the dog of the tyrant Gelon; and it is said also, +that the dog of Nicomedes, King of Bithynia[92], tore Consingis, the +wife of that king, in consequence of her wanton behavior, when toying +with her husband. + +Dogs are the only animals that are sure to know their masters, and if +they suddenly meet him as a stranger, they will instantly recognize +him. They are the only animals that will answer to their names, and +recognize the voices of the family. They recollect a road along which +they have passed, however long it may be. Next to man there is no +living creature whose memory is so retentive. By sitting down on the +ground we may arrest their most impetuous attack, even when prompted +by the most violent rage. + +In daily life, we have discovered many other valuable qualities in +this animal; but its intelligence and sagacity are more especially +shown in the chase. It discovers and traces out the tracks of the +animal, leading by the leash the sportsman who accompanies it straight +up to the prey; and as soon as ever it has perceived it, how silent it +is, and how secret but significant is the indication which it gives, +first by the tail and afterward by the nose! + +When Alexander the Great was on his Indian expedition, he was +presented by the King of Albania with a dog of unusual size; being +greatly delighted with its noble appearance, he ordered bears, and +after them wild boars, and then deer, to be let loose before it; but +the dog lay down and regarded them with a kind of immovable contempt. +The noble spirit of the general became irritated by the sluggishness +thus manifested by an animal of such vast bulk, and he ordered it to +be killed. The report of this reached the king, who accordingly sent +another dog, and at the same time sent word that its powers were to be +tried, not upon small animals, but upon the lion or the elephant; +adding, that he had originally but two, and that if this one were put +to death, the race would be extinct. Alexander, without delay, +procured a lion, which in his presence was instantly torn to pieces. +He then ordered an elephant to be brought, and never was he more +delighted with any spectacle; for the dog, bristling up its hair all +over the body, began by thundering forth a loud barking, and then +attacked the animal, leaping at it first on the one side and then on +the other, attacking it in the most skilful manner, and then again +retreating at the opportune moment, until at last the elephant, being +rendered quite giddy by turning round and round, fell to the earth, +and made it quite reecho with its fall. + + + + +II + +THREE GREAT ARTISTS OF GREECE[93] + + +Apelles,[94] of Cos, surpassed all the other painters who either +preceded or succeeded him. Single-handed, he contributed more to +painting than all the others together, and even went so far as to +publish some treatises on the principles of the art. The great point +of artistic merit with him was his singular charm of gracefulness, and +this too, tho the greatest of painters were his contemporaries. In +admiring their works and bestowing high eulogiums upon them, he used +to say that there was still wanting in them that equal of beauty so +peculiar to himself, and known to the Greeks as "Charis"; others, he +said, had acquired all the other requisites of perfection, but in +this one point he himself had no equal. He also asserted his claim to +another great point of merit; admiring a picture by Protogenes, which +bore evident marks of unbounded laboriousness and the most minute +finish, he remarked that in every respect Protogenes was fully his +equal, or perhaps his superior, except in this, that he himself knew +when to take his hand off a picture--a memorable lesson, which teaches +us that over-carefulness may be productive of bad results. His candor, +too, was equal to his talent; he acknowledged the superiority of +Melanthius[95] in his grouping, and of Asclepiodorus in the niceness +of his measurements, or in other words, the distances that ought to be +left between the objects represented. + +A circumstance that happened to him in connection with Protogenes[96] +is worthy of notice. The latter was living at Rhodes, when Apelles +disembarked there, desirous of seeing the works of a man whom he had +hitherto only known by reputation. Accordingly, he repaired at once to +the studio; Protogenes was not at home, but there happened to be a +large panel upon the easel ready for painting, with an old woman who +was left in charge. To his inquiries she made answer that Protogenes +was not at home; and then asked whom she should name as the visitor. +"Here he is," was the reply of Apelles; and seizing a brush, he traced +with color upon the panel an outline of a singularly minute fineness. +Upon his return the old woman mentioned to Protogenes what had +happened. The artist, it is said, upon remarking the delicacy of the +touch, instantly exclaimed that Apelles must have been the visitor, +for that no other person was capable of executing anything so +exquisitely perfect. So saying, he traced within the same outline a +still finer outline, but with another color; and then took his +departure, with instructions to the woman to show it to the stranger +if he returned, and to let him know that this was the person whom he +had come to see. + +It happened as he anticipated--Apelles returned; and vexed at finding +himself thus surpassed, he took up another color and split both of the +outlines, leaving no possibility of anything finer being executed. +Upon seeing this, Protogenes admitted that he was defeated, and at +once flew to the harbor to look for his guest. He thought proper, too, +to transmit the panel to posterity, just as it was; and it always +continued to be held in the highest admiration by all--artists in +particular. I am told that it was burned in the first fire which took +place at Caesar's palace on the Palatine Hill; but in former times I +have often stopt to admire it. Upon its vast surface it contained +nothing whatever except the three outlines, so remarkably fine as to +escape the sight: among the most elaborate works of numerous other +artists it had all the appearance of a blank space; and yet by that +very fact it attracted the notice of every one, and was held in higher +estimation than any other painting there. + +It was a custom with Apelles, to which he most tenaciously adhered, +never to let any day pass, however busy he might be, without +exercising himself by tracing some outline or other; a practise which +has now passed into a proverb. It was also a practise with him, when +he had completed a work, to exhibit it to the view of the passers-by +in some exposed place; while he himself, concealed behind the picture, +would listen to the criticisms that were passed upon it: it being his +opinion that the judgment of the public was preferable to his own, as +being the more discerning of the two. It was under these +circumstances, they say, that he was censured by a shoemaker for +having represented the shoes with one shoe-string too little. The next +day, the shoemaker, quite proud at seeing the former error corrected, +thanks to his advice, began to criticize the leg; upon which Apelles, +full of indignation, popped his head out, and reminded him that a +shoemaker should give no opinion beyond the shoes--a piece of advice +which has equally passed into a proverbial saying. In fact, Apelles +was a person of great amenity of manners--a circumstance which +rendered him particularly agreeable to Alexander the Great, who would +often come to his studio. He had forbidden himself by public edict, as +already stated, to be represented by any other artist. On one +occasion, however, when the prince was in his studio, talking a great +deal about painting without knowing anything about it, Apelles quietly +begged that he would quit the subject, telling him that he would get +laughed at by the boys who were there grinding the colors; so great +was the influence which he rightfully possest over a monarch who was +otherwise of an irascible temperament. And yet, irascible as he was, +Alexander conferred upon him a very signal mark of the high estimation +in which he held him: for having, in his admiration of her +extraordinary beauty, engaged Apelles to paint Pancaste undraped--the +most beloved of all his concubines--the artist while so engaged fell +in love with her; upon which, Alexander, perceiving this to be the +ease, made him a present of her: thus showing himself, tho a great +king in courage, a still greater one in self-command--this action +redounding no less to his honor than any of his victories. + +Superior to all the statues not only of Praxiteles,[97] but of any +other artist that ever existed, is his Cnidian Venus; for the +inspection of which, many persons before now have purposely undertaken +a voyage to Cnidos. The artist made two statues of the goddess, and +offered them both for sale: one of them was represented with drapery, +and for this reason was preferred by the people of Cos, who had the +choice; the second was offered them at the same price, but on the +grounds of propriety and modesty they thought fit to choose the other. +Upon this, the Cnidians purchased the rejected statue, and immensely +superior has it always been held in general estimation. At a later +period, King Nicomedes wished to purchase this statue of the Cnidians, +and made them an offer to pay off the whole of their public debt, +which was very large. They preferred, however, to submit to any +extremity rather than part with it; and with good reason, for by this +statue Praxiteles has perpetuated the glory of Cnidos. The little +temple in which it is placed is open on all sides, so that the +beauties of the statue admit of being seen from every point of +view--an arrangement which was favored by the goddess herself, it is +generally believed. + +Among all nations which the fame of the Olympian Jupiter has reached, +Phidias[98] is looked upon, beyond all doubt, as the most famous of +artists; but to let those who have never seen his works know how +deservedly he is esteemed, we will take this opportunity of adducing a +few slight proofs of the genius which he displayed. In doing this we +shall not appeal to the beauty of his Olympian Jupiter, nor yet to the +vast proportions of his Athenian Minerva, six-and-twenty cubits in +height, and composed of ivory and gold: but it is to the shield of +this last statue that we shall draw attention; upon the convex face of +which he has chased a combat of the Amazons, while upon the concave +side of it he has represented the battle between the gods and the +giants. Upon the sandals, again, we see the wars of the Lapithae and +Centaurs; so careful has he been to fill every smallest portion of his +work with some proof or other of his artistic skill. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 86: From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.] + +[Footnote 87: A name applied to tribes living in Africa east of the +desert of Sahara.] + +[Footnote 88: An Ionian city of Asia, distant seventy miles from +Ephesus.] + +[Footnote 89: An interior town of Cilicia, in Asia Minor.] + +[Footnote 90: The home of this warlike people appears to have been +Jutland.] + +[Footnote 91: The tyrant king of Syracuse, successor to Gelon.] + +[Footnote 92: A country of Asia Minor occupying a part of the Black +Sea coast.] + +[Footnote 93: From the "Natural History." Translated by John Bostock +and H. T. Riley.] + +[Footnote 94: Apelles lived in the time of Philip and Alexander the +Great. Cos is an island in the AEgean Sea.] + +[Footnote 95: A painter of the Sicyonian school who flourished in the +third century B.C.] + +[Footnote 96: Protogenes, a native of Caria, in Asia Minor, was +celebrated as a painter at Rhodes in the second half of the fourth +century B.C.] + +[Footnote 97: Praxiteles was born in Athena about the end of the fifth +century and continued active as an artist until the time at Alexander +the Great. Nearly sixty of his works are mentioned in ancient +writings, but only two have been identified in modern times.] + +[Footnote 98: Phidias was born in Athens about 500 B.C. and died about +430.] + + + + +QUINTILIAN + + Born in Spain about 35 A.D.; died about 95; celebrated as + rhetorian; educated in Rome, where he taught oratory for + twenty years; patronized by the emperors Vespasian and + Domitian; his most celebrated work the "Institutio + Oratoria."[99] + + +THE ORATOR MUST BE A GOOD MAN[100] + + +Let the orator, then, whom I propose to form, be such a one as is +characterized by the definition of Marcus Cato, _a good man skilled in +speaking_. + +But the requisite which Cato has placed first in this definition, that +an orator should be _a good man_, is naturally of more estimation and +importance than the other. It is of importance that an orator should +be good, because, should the power of speaking be a support to evil, +nothing would be more pernicious than eloquence alike to public +concerns and private, and I myself, who, as far as is in my power, +strive to contribute something to the faculty of the orator, should +deserve very ill of the world, since I should furnish arms, not for +soldiers, but for robbers. May I not draw an argument from the +condition of mankind? Nature herself, in bestowing on man that which +she seems to have granted him preeminently, and by which she appears +to have distinguished us from all other animals, would have acted, not +as a parent, but as a stepmother, if she had designed the faculty of +speech to be the promoter of crime, the oppressor of innocence, and +the enemy of truth; for it would have been better for us to have been +born dumb, and to have been left destitute of reasoning powers, than +to have received endowments from providence only to turn them to the +destruction of one another. + +My judgment carries me still further; for I not only say that he who +would answer my idea of an orator must be a good man, but that no man, +unless he be good, can ever be an orator. To an orator discernment and +prudence are necessary; but we can certainly not allow discernment to +those, who when the ways of virtue and vice are set before them, +prefer to follow that of vice; nor can we allow them prudence, since +they subject themselves, by the unforeseen consequences of their +actions, often to the heaviest penalty of the law, and always to that +of an evil conscience. But if it be not only truly said by the wise, +but always justly believed by the vulgar, that no man is vicious who +is not also foolish, a fool, assuredly, will never become an orator. + +It is to be further considered that the mind can not be in a condition +for pursuing the most noble of studies, unless it be entirely free +from vice; not only because there can be no communion of good and evil +in the same breast, and to meditate at once on the best things and the +worst is no more in the power of the same mind than it is possible +for the same man to be at once virtuous and vicious; but also because +a mind intent on so arduous a study should be exempt from all other +cares, even such as are unconnected with vice; for then, and then +only, when it is free and master of itself, and when no other object +harasses and distracts its attention, will it be able to keep in view +the end to which it is devoted. But if an inordinate attention to an +estate, a too anxious pursuit of wealth, indulgence in the pleasures +of the chase, and the devotion of our days to public spectacles, rob +our studies of much of our time (for whatever time is given to one +thing is lost to another), what effect must we suppose that ambition, +avarice, and envy will produce, whose excitements are so violent as +even to disturb our sleep and our dreams? Nothing indeed is so +preoccupied, so unsettled, so torn and lacerated with such numerous +and various passions, as a bad mind; for when it intends evil, it is +agitated with hope, care, and anxiety, and when it has attained the +object of its wickedness, it is tormented with uneasiness, and the +dread of every kind of punishment. + +No man, certainly, will doubt, that it is the object of all oratory, +that what is stated to the judge may appear to him to be true and +just; and which of the two, let me ask, will produce such a conviction +with the greater ease, the good man or the bad? A good man, doubtless, +will speak of what is true and honest with greater frequency; but even +if, from being influenced by some call of duty, he endeavors to +support what is fallacious (a case which, as I shall show, may +sometimes occur), he must still be heard with greater credit than a +bad man. But with bad men, on the other hand, dissimulation sometimes +fails, as well through their contempt for the opinion of mankind, as +through their ignorance of what is right; hence they assert without +modesty, and maintain their assertions without shame; and, in +attempting what evidently can not be accomplished, there appears in +them a repulsive obstinacy and useless perseverance; for bad men, as +well in their pleadings as in their lives, entertain dishonest +expectations; and it often happens, that even when they speak the +truth, belief is not accorded them, and the employment of advocates of +such a character is regarded as a proof of the badness of a cause. + +I must, however, notice those objections to my opinion, which appear +to be clamored forth, as it were, by the general consent of the +multitude. Was not then Demosthenes, they ask, a great orator? yet we +have heard that he was not a good man. Was not Cicero a great orator? +yet many have thrown censure upon his character. To such questions how +shall I answer? Great displeasure is likely to be shown at any reply +whatever; and the ears of my audience require first to be propitiated. +The character of Demosthenes, let me say, does not appear to me +deserving of such severe reprehension, that I should believe all the +calumnies that are heaped upon him by his enemies, especially when I +read his excellent plans for the benefit of his country and the +honorable termination of his life. Nor do I see that the feeling of an +upright citizen was, in any respect, wanting to Cicero. As proofs of +his integrity, may be mentioned his consulship, in which he conducted +himself with so much honor, his honorable administration of his +province; his refusal to be one of the twenty commissioners; and, +during the civil wars, which fell with great severity on his times, +his uprightness of mind, which was never swayed, either by hope or by +fear, from adhering to the better party, or the supporters of the +commonwealth. He is thought by some to have been deficient in courage, +but he has given an excellent reply to this charge, when he says that +he was timid, not in encountering dangers, but in taking precautions +against them; an assertion of which he proved the truth at his death, +to which he submitted with the noblest fortitude. But even should the +height of virtue have been wanting to these eminent men, I shall reply +to those who ask me whether they were orators as the Stoics reply when +they are asked whether Zeno, Cleanthes, and Chrysippus were wise men; +they say that they were great and deserving of veneration, but that +they did not attain the highest excellence of which human nature is +susceptible. + +Pythagoras desired to be called, not wise, like those who preceded +him, but a lover of wisdom. I, however, in speaking of Cicero, have +often said, according to the common mode of speech, and shall continue +to say, that he was a perfect orator, as we term our friends, in +ordinary discourse, good and prudent men, tho such epithets can be +justly given only to the perfectly wise. But when I have to speak +precisely, and in conformity with the exactness of truth, I shall +express myself as longing to see such an orator as he himself also +longed to see; for tho I acknowledge that Cicero stood at the head of +eloquence, and that I can scarcely find a passage in his speeches to +which anything can be added, however many I might find which I may +imagine that he would have pruned (for the learned have in general +been of opinion that he had numerous excellences and some faults, and +he himself says that he had cut off most of his juvenile exuberance), +yet, since he did not claim to himself, tho he had no mean opinion of +his merits, the praise of perfection, and since he might certainly +have spoken better if a longer life had been granted him, and a more +tranquil season for composition, I may not unreasonably believe that +the summit of excellence was not attained by him, to which, +notwithstanding, no man made nearer approaches. If I had thought +otherwise, I might have maintained my opinion with still greater +determination and freedom. Did Marcus Antonius declare that he had +seen no man truly eloquent, tho to be eloquent is much less than to be +a perfect orator; does Cicero himself say that he is still seeking for +an orator, and merely conceives and imagines one; and shall I fear to +say that in that portion of eternity which is yet to come something +may arise still more excellent than what has yet been seen? I take no +advantage of the opinion of those who refuse to allow great merit to +Cicero and Demosthenes even in eloquence; tho Demosthenes, indeed, +does not appear sufficiently near perfection even to Cicero himself, +who says that he sometimes nods; nor does Cicero appear so to Brutus +and Calvus, who certainly find fault with his language. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 99: Quintilian is notable as a writer who was not influenced +by his great contemporary Seneca, whom he disliked and harshly +criticized for literary defects. Quintilian modeled his own style on +that of Cicero, altho at times he dropt back unconsciously into that +of Seneca.] + +[Footnote 100: From Book XII, Chapter I, of the "Institutes of +Oratory." Translated by J. S. Watson.] + + + + +TACITUS + + Born about 55 A.D.; died about 117; celebrated as historian + and orator; praetor in 88; Consul in 97; a friend of the + younger Pliny; son-in-law of Agricola; his extant works + include a dialog of oratory, a biography of Agricola, + "Germania," a history of Rome from Galba to Domitian, and + his "Annals," which are a history of the Julian + dynasty.[101] + + +I + +FROM REPUBLICAN TO IMPERIAL ROME[102] + + +Kings held dominion in the city of Rome from its foundation: Lucius +Brutus instituted liberty and the consulate. Dictatorships were +resorted to in temporary emergencies: neither the power of the +decemvirs continued in force beyond two years, nor the consular +authority of the military tribunes for any length of time. The +domination of Cinna did not continue long, nor that of Sulla: the +influence of Pompey and Crassus quickly merged in Caesar: the arms of +Lepidus and Antony in Augustus, who, with the title of prince, took +under his command the commonwealth, exhausted with civil dissensions. +But the affairs of the ancient Roman people, whether prosperous or +adverse, have been recorded by writers of renown. Nor were there +wanting authors of distinguished genius to have composed the history +of the times of Augustus, till by the spirit of flattery, which became +prevalent, they were deterred. As to Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and +Nero, whilst they yet reigned the histories of their times were +falsified through fear; and after they had fallen, they were written +under the influence of recent detestation. Thence my own design of +recounting a few incidents respecting Augustus, and those toward the +latter part of his life; and, after that, of giving a history of the +reign of Tiberius and the rest; uninfluenced by resentment and +partiality, as I stand aloof from the causes of them. + +When, after the fall of Brutus and Cassius, there remained none to +fight for the commonwealth; when Sextus Pompeius was utterly defeated +at Sicily; and Lepidus being deprived of his command, and Mark Antony +slain, there remained no leader even to the Julian party but Octavius; +having put off the name of triumvir, styling himself Consul, and +pretending that all he aimed at was the jurisdiction attached to the +tribuneship for the protection of the commons; when he had cajoled the +soldiery by donations, the people by distribution of corn, and men in +general by the charms of peace, he (Octavius) began by gradations to +exalt himself over them; to draw to himself the functions of the +senate and of the magistrate, and the framing of the laws; in which +he was thwarted by no man: the boldest spirits having fallen in some +or other of the regular battles, or by proscription; and the surviving +nobility being distinguished by wealth and public honors, according to +the measure of their promptness to bondage; and as these innovations +had been the cause of aggrandizement to them, preferring the present +state of things with safety to the revival of ancient liberty with +personal peril. Neither were the provinces averse to that condition of +affairs; since they mistrusted the government of the senate and +people, on account of the contentions among the great and the avarice +of the magistrates: while the protection of the laws was enfeebled and +borne down by violence, intrigue, and bribery. + +Moreover, Augustus, as supports to his domination, raised his sister's +son, Claudius Marcellus,[103] a mere youth, to the dignity of pontiff +and curule aedile; aggrandized by two successive consulships Marcus +Agrippa,[104] a man meanly born, but an accomplished soldier, and the +companion of his victories; and soon, on the death of Marcellus, chose +him for his son-in-law. The sons of his wife, Tiberius Nero and +Claudius Drusus, he dignified with the title of Imperator, tho there +had been no diminution in the members of his house. For into the +family of the Caesars he had already adopted Lucius and Caius, the sons +of Agrippa; and tho they had not yet laid aside the puerile garment, +vehement had been his ambition to see them declared princes of the +Roman youth, and even designed to the consulship; while he affected to +decline the honors for them. Upon the decease of Agrippa, they were +cut off, either by a death premature but natural, or by the arts of +their stepmother Livia; Lucius on his journey to the armies in Spain, +Caius on his return from Armenia, ill of a wound: and as Drusus had +been long since dead, Tiberius Nero was the only survivor of his +stepsons. On him every honor was accumulated (to that quarter all +things inclined); he was by Augustus adopted for his son, assumed +colleague in the empire, partner in the tribunitian authority, and +presented to the several armies; not from the secret machinations of +his mother, as heretofore, but at her open suit For over Augustus, now +very aged, she had obtained such absolute sway, that he banished into +the isle of Planasia his only surviving grandson, Agrippa Posthumus; a +person destitute indeed of liberal accomplishments, and a man of +clownish brutality with great bodily strength, but convicted of no +heinous offense. The emperor, strange to say, set Germanicus, the son +of Drusus, over eight legions quartered upon the Rhine, and ordered +that he should be engrafted into his family by Tiberius by adoption, +tho Tiberius had then a son of his own on the verge of manhood; but +the object was that he might stand firm by having many to support and +protect him. War at that time there remained none, except that in +Germany, kept on foot rather to blot out the disgrace sustained by the +loss of Quintilius Varus, with his army, than from any ambition to +enlarge the empire, or for any advantage worth contending for. In +profound tranquillity were affairs at Rome. The magistrates retained +their wonted names; of the Romans, the younger sort had been born +since the battle of Actium, and even most of the old during the civil +wars: how few were then living who had seen the ancient free state! + +The character of the government thus totally changed; no traces were +to be found of the spirit of ancient institutions. The system by which +every citizen shared in the government being thrown aside, all men +regarded the orders of the prince as the only rule of conduct and +obedience; nor felt they any anxiety for the present, while Augustus, +yet in the vigor of life, maintained the credit of himself and house, +and the peace of the state. But when old age had crept over him, and +he was sinking under bodily infirmities--when his end was at hand, and +thence a new source of hopes and views was presented--some few there +were who began to talk idly about the blessings of liberty: many +dreaded a civil war--others longed for one; while far the greatest +part were occupied in circulating various surmises reflecting upon +those who seemed likely to be their masters: "That Agrippa was +naturally stern and savage, and exasperated by contumely; and neither +in age nor experience equal to a task of such magnitude. Tiberius, +indeed, had arrived at fulness of years, and was a distinguished +captain, but possest the inveterate and inherent pride of the +Claudian family; and many indications of cruel nature escaped him, in +spite of all his arts to disguise it; that even from his early infancy +he had been trained up in an imperial house; that consulships and +triumphs had been accumulated upon him while but a youth. Not even +during the years of his abode at Rhodes, where under the plausible +name of retirement, he was in fact an exile, did he employ himself +otherwise than in meditating future vengeance, studying the arts of +simulation, and practising secret and abominable sensualities. That to +these considerations was added that of his mother, a woman with the +ungovernable spirit peculiar to her sex; that the Romans must be under +bondage to a woman, and moreover to two youths, who would meanwhile +oppress the state, and, at one time or other, rend it piecemeal." + +While the public mind was agitated by these and similar discussions, +the illness of Augustus grew daily more serious, and some suspected +nefarious practises on the part of his wife. For some months before, a +rumor had gone abroad that Augustus, having singled out a few to whom +he communicated his purpose, had taken Fabius Maximus for his only +companion, had sailed over to the island of Planasia, to visit +Agrippa; that many tears were shed on both sides, many tokens of +mutual tenderness shown, and hopes from thence conceived that the +youth would be restored to the household gods of his grandfather. That +Maximus had disclosed this to Martia, his wife--she to Livia; and that +the emperor was informed of it: and that Maximus, not long after, +dying (it is doubtful whether naturally or by means sought for the +purpose), Martia was observed, in her lamentations at his funeral, to +upbraid herself as the cause of her husband's destruction. Howsoever +that matter might have been, Tiberius was scarce entered Illyrium when +he was summoned by a letter from his mother, forwarded with speed, nor +is it fully known whether, at his return to Nola,[105] he found +Augustus yet breathing, or already lifeless. For Livia had carefully +beset the palace, and all the avenues to it, with vigilant guards; and +favorable bulletins were from time to time given out, until, the +provisions which the conjuncture required being completed, in one and +the same moment were published the departure of Augustus, and the +accession of Tiberius. + + + + +II + +THE FUNERAL OF GERMANICUS[106] + +(19 A.D.) + + +Agrippina,[107] continuing her course without the least intermission +through all the perils and rigors of a sea-voyage in the winter, +arrived at the island Corcyra, situated over against the shores of +Calabria. Unable to moderate her grief, and impatient from +inexperience of affliction, she spent a few days there to tranquillize +her troubled spirit; when, on hearing of her arrival, all the intimate +friends of her family, and most of the officers who had served under +Germanicus, with a number of strangers from the neighboring municipal +towns, some thinking it due as a mark of respect to the prince, but +the greater part carried along with the current, rushed to the city of +Brundusium, the readiest port in her way, and the safest landing. As +soon as the fleet appeared in the deep, instantly were filled, not the +port alone and adjacent parts of the sea, but the walls and roofs, and +wherever the most distant prospect could be obtained, with a sorrowing +multitude, earnestly asking each other "whether they should receive +her on landing in silence, or with some expression of feeling?" Nor +was it clearly determined what course would be most suitable to the +occasion, when the fleet came slowly in, not as usual in sprightly +trim, but all wearing the impress of sadness. When she descended from +the ship, accompanied by her two infants,[108] and bearing in her hand +the funeral urn, her eyes fixt stedfastly upon the earth, one +simultaneous groan burst from the whole assemblage; nor could you +distinguish relations from strangers, nor the wailings of men from +those of women; nor could any difference be discerned, except that +those who came to meet her, in the vehemence of recent grief, +surpassed the attendants of Agrippina, who were exhausted with +continued mourning. + +Tiberius had dispatched two praetorian cohorts, with directions that +the magistrates of Calabria, with Apulians and Campanians, should pay +their last offices of respect to the memory of his son; upon the +shoulders, therefore, of the tribunes and centurions his ashes were +borne; before them were carried the ensigns unadorned, and the fasces +reversed. As they passed through the colonies, the populace in black, +the knights in their purple robes, burned precious raiment, perfumes, +and whatever else is used in funeral solemnities, according to the +ability of the place; even they whose cities lay remote from the +route, came forth, offered victims, and erected altars to the gods of +the departed, and with tears and ejaculations testified their sorrow. +Drusus came as far as Terracina, with Claudius the brother of +Germanicus, and those of his children who had been left at Rome.[109] +The Consuls, Marcus Valerius and Marcus Aurelius[110] (for they had +now entered upon their office), the senate, and great part of the +people, filled the road--a scattered procession, each walking and +expressing his grief as inclination led him; in sooth, flattery was an +utter stranger here, for all knew how real was the joy, how hollow the +grief, of Tiberius for the death of Germanicus. + +Tiberius and Livia[111] avoided appearing abroad--public lamentation +they thought below their dignity--or perhaps they apprehended that if +their countenances were examined by all eyes their hypocrisy would be +detected. That Antonia, mother to the deceased, bore any part in the +funeral, I do not find either in the historians or in the journals, +tho, besides Agrippina and Drusus, and Claudius, his other relations +are likewise there recorded by name; whether by sickness she was +prevented, or whether her soul, vanquished by sorrow, could not bear +to go through the representation of such an over-powering calamity. I +would rather believe her constrained by Tiberius and Livia, who left +not the palace, that they might seem to grieve alike and that the +grandmother and uncle might appear to have followed her example in +staying at home. + +The day on which his remains were deposited in the tomb of Augustus, +at one time exhibited the silence of perfect desolation; at another, +the uproar of vociferous lamentation; the streets of the city were +crowded, one general blaze of torches glared throughout the Campus +Martius; there the soldiers under arms, the magistrates without the +insignia of office, and the people ranged according to their tribes, +passionately exclaimed, "that the commonwealth was utterly lost, that +henceforth there remained no hope," so openly and so boldly that you +would have believed they had forgotten those who ruled over them. But +nothing pierced Tiberius more deeply than the warm interest excited +in favor of Agrippina, while they gave her such titles as "the +ornament of her country, the only blood of Augustus, an unparalleled +example of primitive virtue"; and, looking up to heaven and the gods, +they implored "the preservation of her issue, and that they might +outlive their oppressors." + +There were those who missed the pomp of a public funeral, and compared +with this the superior honors and magnificence displayed by Augustus +in that of Drusus, the father of Germanicus; observing, "that he +himself had traveled, in the depth of winter, as far as Ticinus, and, +continuing by the corpse, had with it entered the city; around his +bier were crowded the images of the Claudii and Julii; he was mourned +in the forum; his encomium pronounced on the rostra; all the honors +invented by our ancestors, or added by their posterity, were heaped +upon him. But to Germanicus were denied the ordinary solemnities, and +such as were due to every distinguished Roman. Certainly his corpse +was burned in a foreign country because of the long journey, in such a +manner as it was, but afterward it was but just to have compensated +the scantiness of the first ceremony by the increased solemnity of the +last; his brother met him but one day's journey, his uncle not, even +at the gate. Where were those observances of the ancients, the +effigies of the dead laid in state on a bed, hymns composed in memory +of departed virtue, with encomiums and tears? Where at least the +ceremonial of sorrow?" + +All this was known to Tiberius, and to suppress the reflections of the +populace, he admonished them in an edict, "that many illustrious +Romans had died for the commonwealth, but none so universally and +vehemently regretted; and that it was to the honor of himself and all +others, if bounds were observed. The same things which became private +families and small states, became not princes and an imperial people; +that it was not unseemly to lament in the first transport of sorrow, +nay, relief was afforded by weeping, but it was now time to recover +and compose their minds. Thus the deified Julius, upon the loss of an +only daughter;[112] thus the deified Augustus, upon the premature +death of his grandsons, had both concealed their sorrow. More ancient +examples were unnecessary; how often had the Roman people sustained +with equanimity the slaughter of their armies, the death of their +generals, and entire destruction of illustrious families--princes were +mortal, the commonwealth was eternal--they should therefore resume +their customary vocations." And because the spectacle of the +Megalesian games was at hand, he added, "that they should even lay +aside their grief for amusements." + +The vacation ended, public affairs were resumed; Drusus departed for +the army in Illyricum, the minds of all men impatiently looking for +vengeance upon Piso; and amidst many complaints, that while he was +roaming at large through the delightful regions of Asia and Greece, he +was undermining by contemptuous and artful delay the evidences of his +crimes; for it was generally known that Martina, that notorious +trafficker in sorceries, and sent, as I have above related, by Cneius +Sentius to Rome, had died suddenly at Brundusium; that poison lay +concealed in a knot of her hair. + + + + +III + +THE DEATH OF SENECA[113] + +(65 A.D.) + + +The next death added by Nero was that of Plautius Lateranus, consul +elect; and with such precipitation, that he would not allow him to +embrace his children, nor the usual brief interval to choose his mode +of death. He was dragged to the place allotted for the execution of +slaves, and there, by the hand of Statius the tribune, slaughtered. In +his death he maintained the most invincible silence, not charging his +executioner with participation in the design for which he suffered. +The destruction of Seneca followed, to the infinite joy of the prince; +not because he had ascertained that he was a party to the conspiracy, +but that he might assail him with the sword, since poison had failed: +for Natalis only had named him; and his disclosure amounted but to +this, "that he had been sent by Piso[114] to visit Seneca, then +indisposed, to complain that he was refused admittance; and to +represent, that it would be better if they maintained their friendship +by intercourse: that to this Seneca replied, that talking to each +other and frequent interviews were to the service of neither; but upon +the safety of Piso his own security rested." Granius Silvanus, tribune +of a pretorian cohort, was ordered to represent this to Seneca, and to +demand of him, "whether he admitted the words of Natalis, and his own +answers." Seneca had that very day, either from chance or design, +returned from Campania, and rested at a villa of his, four miles from +Rome: thither arrived the tribune toward evening, and beset the villa +with his men; and then, as he sat at table with Pauline his wife, and +two friends, delivered his orders from the emperor. + +Seneca replied, "that Natalis had in truth been sent to him, and in +the name of Piso complained, that he was debarred from visiting him; +and that he had excused himself on the score of illness and his love +of retirement; but he had no motive to declare that he preferred the +safety of a private man to his own security; nor was his disposition +prone to flattery; as no man better knew than Nero, who had +experienced more frequent proofs of the freedom than the servility of +Seneca." + +When this answer was by the tribune reported to Nero, in presence of +Poppaea[115] and Tigellinus, who composed the cabinet council, the +raging tyrant asked, whether Seneca meditated a voluntary death? the +tribune averred "that he had manifested no symptoms of fear; and +neither in his words nor looks did he detect any indication of +regret." He was therefore commanded to return, and tell him he was +doomed to die. Fabius Rusticus writes, "that the tribune did not +return by the road he went, but turning off went to Fenius, captain of +the guards, and stating to him the emperor's orders, asked whether he +should obey him; and was by him admonished to execute them"; thus +displaying that want of spirit which by some fatality prevailed +universally; for Silvanus too was one of the conspirators, and yet was +contributing to multiply the atrocities he had conspired to avenge. He +avoided, however, seeing and speaking to Seneca; but sent in a +centurion to apprize him of his final doom. + +Seneca undismayed, called for tables to make his will; and, as this +was prohibited by the centurion, turning to his friends, he told them, +"that since he was debarred from requiting their services, he +bequeathed them that which alone was now left him, but which yet was +the fairest legacy he had to leave them--the example of his life: and +if they kept it in view, they would reap the fame due to honorable +acquirements and inviolable friendship." At the same time he +endeavored to repress their tears and restore their fortitude, now by +soothing language, and now in a more animated strain and in a tone of +rebuke, asking them, "where were the precepts of philosophy? where the +rules of conduct under impending evils, studied for so many years? +For who was unapprized of the ferocious disposition of Nero? Nor could +anything else be expected after he had murdered his mother and brother +than that he should proceed to destroy his nursing father and +preceptor." + +After these and similar reasonings addrest to the company in general, +he embraced his wife; and after a brief but vigorous effort to get the +better of the apprehensions that prest upon him at that moment, he +besought and implored her "to refrain from surrendering herself to +endless grief; but endeavor to mitigate her regret for her husband by +means of those honorable consolations which she would experience in +the contemplation of his virtuous life." Paulina, on the contrary, +urged her purpose to die with him, and called for the hand of the +executioner. When Seneca, unwilling to impede her glory, and also from +affection, as he was anxious not to leave one who was dear to him +above everything, exposed to the hard usage of the world, thus addrest +her: "I had pointed out to you how to soften the ills of life; but you +prefer the renown of dying: I will not envy you the honor of the +example. Tho both display the same unflinching fortitude in +encountering death; still the glory of your exit will be superior to +mine." After this, both had the veins of their arms opened with the +same stroke. As the blood flowed slowly from the aged body of Seneca, +attenuated as it was too by scanty sustenance, he had the veins of his +legs and hams also cut; and unable to bear up under the excessive +torture, lest by his own sufferings he should overpower the +resolution of his wife, and by witnessing her anguish be betrayed into +impatience himself, he advised her to retire into another chamber. His +eloquence continued to flow during the latest moments of his +existence, and summoning his secretaries, he dictated many things, +which, as they have been published in his own words, I forbear to +exhibit in other language. + + + + +IV + +THE BURNING OF ROME BY ORDER OF NERO[116] + +(64 A.D.) + + +There followed a dreadful disaster; whether fortuitously, or by the +wicked contrivance of the prince[117] is not determined, for both are +asserted by historians: but of all the calamities which ever befell +this city from the rage of fire, this was the most terrible and +severe. It broke out in that part of the Circus which is contiguous to +mounts Palatine and Coelius; where, by reason of shops in which were +kept such goods as minister aliment to fire, the moment it commenced +it acquired strength, and being accelerated by the wind, it spread at +once through the whole extent of the Circus: for neither were the +houses secured by enclosures, nor the temples environed with walls, +nor was there any other obstacle to intercept its progress; but the +flame, spreading every way impetuously, invaded first the lower +regions of the city, then mounted to the higher; then again ravaging +the lower, it baffled every effort to extinguish it, by the rapidity +of its destructive course, and from the liability of the city to +conflagration, in consequence of the narrow and intricate alleys, and +the irregularity of the streets in ancient Rome.[118] Add to this, the +wailings of terrified women, the infirm condition of the aged, and the +helplessness of childhood: such as strove to provide for themselves, +and those who labored to assist others; these dragging the feeble, +those waiting for them; some hurrying, others lingering; altogether +created a scene of universal confusion and embarrassment: and while +they looked back upon the danger in their rear, they often found +themselves beset before, and on their sides: or if they had escaped +into the quarters adjoining, these too were already seized by the +devouring flames; even the parts which they believed remote and +exempt, were found to be in the same distress. At last, not knowing +what to shun, or where to seek sanctuary, they crowded the streets, +and lay along in the open fields. Some, from the loss of their whole +substance, even the means of their daily sustenance, others, from +affection for their relations, whom they had not been able to snatch +from the flames, suffered themselves to perish in them, tho they had +opportunity to escape. Neither dared any man offer to check the fire: +so repeated were the menaces of many who forbade to extinguish it; and +because others openly threw firebrands, with loud declarations "that +they had one who authorized them"; whether they did it that they might +plunder with the less restraint, or in consequence of orders given. + +Nero, who was at that juncture sojourning at Antium,[119] did not +return to the city till the fire approached that quarter of his house +which connected the palace with the gardens of Maecenas;[120] nor could +it, however, be prevented from devouring the house and palace, and +everything around. But for the relief of the people, thus destitute, +and driven from their dwellings, he opened the fields of Mars and the +monumental edifices erected by Agrippa,[121] and even his own gardens. +He likewise reared temporary houses for the reception of the forlorn +multitude: and from Ostia and the neighboring cities were brought, up +the river, household necessaries; and the price of grain was reduced +to three sesterces the measure. All which proceedings, tho of a +popular character, were thrown away, because a rumor had become +universally current, "that the very time when the city was in flames, +Nero, going on the stage of his private theater, sang 'The Destruction +of Troy,' assimilating the present disaster to that catastrophe of +ancient times." + +At length, on the sixth day, the conflagration was stayed at the foot +of Esquilliae, by pulling down an immense quantity of buildings, so +that an open space, and, as it were, void air, might check the raging +element by breaking the continuity. But ere the consternation had +subsided the fire broke out afresh, with no little violence, but in +regions more spacious, and therefore with less destruction of human +life: but more extensive havoc was made of the temples, and the +porticoes dedicated to amusement. This conflagration, too was the +subject of more censorious remark, as it arose in the AEmilian +possessions of Tigellinus: and Nero seemed to aim at the glory of +building a new city, and calling it by his own name: for, of the +fourteen sections into which Rome is divided, four were still standing +entire, three were leveled with the ground, and in the seven others +there remained only here and there a few remnants of houses, shattered +and half-consumed. + +It were no easy task to recount the number of tenements and temples +which were lost: but the following, most venerable for antiquity and +sanctity, were consumed: that dedicated by Servius Tullius to the +Moon; the temple and great altar consecrated by Evander the Arcadian +to Hercules while present; the chapel vowed by Romulus to Jupiter +Stator; the palace of Numa,[122] with the temple of Vesta, and in it +the tutelar gods of Rome. Moreover, the treasures accumulated by so +many victories, the beautiful productions of Greek artists, ancient +writings of authors celebrated for genius, and till then preserved +entire, were consumed: and tho great was the beauty of the city, in +its renovated form, the older inhabitants remembered many decorations +of the ancient which could not be replaced in the modern city. There +were some who remarked that the commencement of this fire showed +itself on the fourteenth before the calends of July, the day on which +the Senones set fire to the captured city. Others carried their +investigation so far as to determine that an equal number of years, +months, and days intervened between the two fires. + +To proceed: Nero appropriated to his own purposes the ruins of his +country, and founded upon them a palace; in which the old-fashioned, +and, in those luxurious times, common ornaments of gold and precious +stones, were not so much the objects of attraction as lands and lakes; +in one part, woods like vast deserts: in another part, open spaces and +expansive prospects. The projectors and superintendents of this plan +were Severus and Celer, men of such ingenuity and daring enterprise as +to attempt to conquer by art the obstacles of nature, and fool away +the treasures of the prince: they had even undertaken to sink a +navigable canal from the lake Avernus to the mouth of the Tiber, over +an arid shore, or through opposing mountains: nor indeed does there +occur anything of a humid nature for supplying water, except the +Pomptine marshes; the rest is either craggy rock or a parched soil: +and had it even been possible to break through these obstructions, the +toil had been intolerable, and disproportioned to the object. Nero, +however who longed to achieve things that exceeded credibility, +exerted all his might to perforate the mountains adjoining to Avernus: +and to this day there remain traces of his abortive project. + +But the rest of the old site not occupied by his palace, was laid out, +not as after the Gallic fire, without discrimination and regularity, +but with the lines of streets measured out, broad spaces left for +transit, the height of the buildings limited, open areas left, and +porticoes added to protect the front of the clustered dwellings: these +porticoes Nero engaged to rear at his own expense, and then to deliver +to each proprietor the areas about them cleared. He moreover proposed +rewards proportioned to every man's rank and private substance, and +fixt a day within which, if their houses, single or clustered, were +finished, they should receive them: he appointed the marshes of Ostia +for a receptacle of the rubbish, and that the vessels which had +conveyed grain up the Tiber should return laden with rubbish; that the +buildings themselves should be raised to a certain portion of their +height without beams, and arched with stone from the quarries of Gabii +or Alba, that stone being proof against fire: that over the water +springs, which had been improperly intercepted by private individuals, +overseers should be placed, to provide for their flowing in greater +abundance, and in a greater number of places, for the supply of the +public: that every housekeeper should have in his yard means for +extinguishing fire; neither should there be party-walls, but every +house should be enclosed by its own walls. These regulations, which +were favorably received, in consideration of their utility, were also +a source of beauty to the new city: yet some there were who believed +that the ancient form was more conducive to health, as from the +narrowness of the streets and the height of the buildings the rays of +the sun were more excluded; whereas now, the spacious breadth of the +streets, without any shade to protect it, was more intensely heated in +warm weather. + +Such were the provisions made by human counsels. The gods were next +addrest with expiations and recourse had to the Sibyl's books. By +admonition from them to Vulcan, Ceres, and Proserpina, supplicatory +sacrifices were made, and Juno propitiated by the matrons, first in +the Capitol, then upon the nearest shore, where, by water drawn from +the sea, the temple and image of the goddess were besprinkled; and the +ceremony of placing the goddess in her sacred chair, and her vigil, +were celebrated by ladies who had husbands. But not all the relief +that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could +bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, +availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have +ordered the conflagration. + +Hence, to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and +punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly +called Christians,[123] who were hated for their enormities. Christus, +the founder of that name was put to death as a criminal by Pontius +Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius: but the +pernicious superstition, represt for a time, broke out again, not only +through Judea where the mischief originated, but through the city of +Rome also, whither all things horrible and disgraceful flow, from all +quarters, as to a common receptacle, and where they are encouraged. +Accordingly, first those were seized who confest they were Christians; +next, on their information a vast multitude were convicted, not so +much on the charge of burning the city, as of hating the human race. +And in their deaths they were also made the subjects of sport, for +they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death +by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when day declined, +burned to serve for nocturnal lights. Nero offered his own gardens for +that spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately +mingling with the common people in the habit of a charioteer, or else +standing in his chariot. Whence a feeling of compassion arose toward +the sufferers, tho guilty and deserving to be made examples of by +capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the +public good, but victims to the ferocity of one man.[124] + +In the mean time, in order to supply money, all Italy was pillaged, +the provinces ruined: both the people in alliance with us, and the +states which are called free. Even the gods were not exempt from +plunder on this occasion, their temples in the city being despoiled, +and all their gold conveyed away, which the Roman people, in every +age, either in gratitude for triumphs, or in fulfilment of vows, had +consecrated, in times of prosperity, or in seasons of dismay. Through +Greece and Asia, indeed, the gifts and oblations, and even the statues +of the deities were carried off; Acratus and Secundus Carinas being +sent into those provinces for the purpose: the former, Nero's +freedman, a prompt instrument in any iniquity; the other, acquainted +with Greek learning, as far as relates to lip-knowledge, but unadorned +with virtuous accomplishments. Of Seneca it was reported, "that to +avert from himself the odium of this sacrilege, he prayed to retire to +a seat of his, remote from Rome, and being refused, feigned +indisposition, as tho his nerves were affected, and confined himself +to his chamber." Some authors have recorded, "that a freedman of his, +named Cleonicus, had, by the command of Nero, prepared poison for his +master, who escaped it, either from the discovery made by the +freedman, or from the caution inspired by his own apprehensions, as he +supported nature by a diet perfectly simple, satisfying the cravings +of hunger by wild fruits, and the solicitations of thirst from the +running brook." + + + + +V + +THE BURNING OF THE CAPITOL AT ROME[125] + +(69 A.D.) + + +Martialis had scarcely reentered the Capitol when the furious soldiers +appeared before it, without a general, and each man acting on his own +suggestions. Having rapidly passed the forum, and the temples that +overlook it, they marched up the opposite hill, as far as the first +gates of the citadel. On the right side of the ascent, a range of +porticoes had been built in ancient times. Going out upon the roof of +those, the besieged threw a shower of stones and tiles. The assailants +had no weapons but their swords, and to fetch engines and missiles +seemed a tedious delay. They threw brands into the portico that jutted +near them. They followed up the fire, and would have forced their way +through the gate of the Capitol, which the fire had laid hold of, if +Sabinus had not placed as a barrier in the very approach, in lieu of a +wall, the statues, those honorable monuments of our ancestors, which +were pulled down wherever they could be found. They then assaulted the +Capitol in two different quarters near the grove of the asylum, and +where the Tarpeian rock is ascended by a hundred steps. Both attacks +were unforeseen. + +That by the asylum was the nearer and most vigorous. Nor could they be +stopt from climbing up the contiguous buildings, which being raised +high under the idea of undisturbed peace, reach the basement of the +Capitol. Here a doubt exists whether the fire was thrown upon the +roofs by the storming party or the besieged, the latter being more +generally supposed to have done it, to repulse those who were climbing +up, and had advanced some way. The fire extended itself thence to the +porticoes adjoining the temples; soon the eagles that supported the +cupola caught fire, and as the timber was old they fed the flame. Thus +the Capitol, with its gates shut, neither stormed, nor defended, was +burned to the ground. + +From the foundation of the city to that hour, the Roman republic had +felt no calamity so deplorable, so shocking, as that, unassailed by a +foreign enemy, and, were it not for the vices of the age, with the +deities propitious, the temple of Jupiter supremely good and great, +built by our ancestors with solemn auspices, the pledge of empire, +which neither Porsena,[126] when Rome surrendered to his arms, nor the +Gauls,[127] when they captured the city, were permitted to violate, +should be now demolished by the madness of the rulers of the state. +The Capitol was once before destroyed by fire during a civil war; but +it was from the guilty machinations of private individuals. Now it +was besieged publicly, publicly set fire to; and what were the motives +for the war? what was the object to be gained, that so severe a +calamity was incurred? Warred we in our country's cause?--Tarquinius +Priscus, during the war with the Sabines, built it in fulfillment of a +vow, and laid the foundations more in conformity with his +anticipations of the future grandeur of the empire, than the limited +extent of the Roman means at that time. Servius Tullius, assisted by +the zeal of the allies of Rome, and after him Tarquin the Proud, with +the spoils of Suessa Pometia, added to the building. But the glory of +completing the design was reserved for the era of liberty. When +tyrants were swept away, Horatius Pulvilus, in his second consulship, +dedicated the temple, finished with such magnificence that the wealth +of after ages graced it with new embellishments, but added nothing to +its dimensions. Four hundred and fifteen years afterward, in the +consulship of Lucius Scipio and Caius Norbanus, it was burned to the +ground, and again rebuilt on the old foundation. Sulla having now +triumphed over his opponents, undertook to build it, but nevertheless +did not dedicate it; the only thing wanting to crown his felicity. +That honor was reserved for Lutatius Catulus, whose name, amidst so +many works of the Caesars, remained legible till the days of Vitellius. +Such was the sacred building which was at this time reduced to ashes. + + + + +VI + +THE SIEGE OF CREMONA[128] + +(69 A.D.) + + +When they came to Cremona, they found a new and enormous difficulty. +In the war with Otho, the German legions had formed a camp round the +walls of the town, and fortified it with lines of circumvallation. New +works were added afterward. The victors stood astonished at the sight, +and even the generals were at a stand, undecided what orders to give. +With troops harassed by exertions through the night and day, to carry +the place by storm was difficult, and, without succors at hand, might +be dangerous; but if they marched to Bedriacum, the fatigue would be +insupportable, and the victory would end in nothing. To throw up +intrenchments was dangerous, in the face of an enemy, who might +suddenly sally forth and put them to the rout, while employed on the +work in detached parties. A difficulty still greater than all arose +from the temper of the men, more patient of danger than delay: +inasmuch as a state of security afforded no excitement, while hope +grew out of enterprise, however perilous; and carnage, wounds and +blood, to whatever extent, were counterbalanced by the insatiable +desire of plunder. + +Antonius[129] determined upon the latter course and ordered the +rampart to be invested. The attack began at a distance with a volley +of stones and darts, with the greater loss to the Flavians, on whom +the enemy's weapons were thrown with advantage from above. Antonius +presently assigned portions of the rampart and the gates to the +legions that by this mode of attack in different quarters, valor and +cowardice might be distinguished, and a spirit of emulation in honor +animate the army. The third and seventh legions took their station +nearest the road to Bedriacum; the seventh and eighth Claudian, a +portion more to the right hand of the rampart; the thirteenth were +carried by their own impetuosity to the gate that looked toward +Brixia.[130] Some delay then took place while they supplied themselves +from the neighboring villages with pickaxes, spades, and hooks, and +scaling-ladders. They then formed a close military shell with their +shields raised above their heads, and under that cover advanced to the +ramparts. The Roman art of war was seen on both sides. The Vitellians +rolled down massy stones, with which, having disjoined and shaken the +shell, they inserted their long poles and spears; till at last, the +whole frame and texture of the shields being dissolved, they strewed +the ground with numbers of the crusht and mangled assailants.... + +Severe in the extreme was the conflict maintained by the third and +the seventh legions. Antonius in person led on a select body of +auxiliaries to the same quarter. The Vitellians were no longer able to +sustain the shock of men all bent on victory, and seeing their darts +fall on the military shell, and glide off without effect, at last they +rolled down their battering-engine on the heads of the besiegers. For +the moment, it dispersed and overwhelmed the party among which, it +fell; but it also drew after it, in its fall, the battlements and +upper parts of the rampart. An adjoining tower, at the same time, +yielded to the effect of stones which struck it, and left a breach, at +which the seventh legion, in the form of a wedge, endeavored to force +their way, while the third hewed down the gate with axes and swords. +The first man that entered, according to all historians, was Caius +Volusius, a common soldier of the third legion. He gained the summit +of the rampart, and, bearing down all resistance, in the view of all +beckoned with his hand, and cried aloud that the camp was captured. +The rest of the legion followed him with resistless fury, the +Vitellians being panic-struck, and throwing themselves headlong from +the works. The whole space between the camp and the walls of Cremona +was filled with slain.[131] + +And now a new form of difficulty was presented by the high walls of +the city, and towers of stone, the gates secured by iron bars, and +troops brandishing their arms; the inhabitants, a large and numerous +body, all devoted to Vitellius; and a conflux of people from all parts +of Italy at the stated fair which was then held. The latter was +regarded by the garrison as an aid, from the increase of numbers; but +inflamed the ardor of the besiegers on the score of booty. Antonius +ordered his men to take combustibles, and set fire to the most elegant +edifices without the city; if, peradventure, the inhabitants, seeing +their mansions destroyed, would be induced to abandon the adverse +cause. In the houses that stood near the walls, of a height to +overlook the works, he placed the bravest of his troops; and from +those stations beams, tiles and firebrands were thrown down to drive +the defenders of the walls from their posts. + +The legions under Antonius now formed a military shell, while the rest +poured in a volley of stones and darts; when the spirit of the +besieged gradually gave way. The men highest in rank were willing to +make terms for themselves, lest, if Cremona was taken by storm, they +should receive no quarter, and the conquerors, disdaining vulgar +lives, should fall on the tribunes and centurions, from whom the +largest booty was to be expected. The common men, as usual, careless +about future events, and safe in their obscurity, still held out. +Roaming about the streets, or lurking in private houses, they did not +sue for peace even when they had given up the contest. The principal +officers took down the name and images of Vitellius. Caecina, for he +was still in confinement, they released from his fetters, and desired +his aid in pleading their cause with the conqueror. He heard their +petition with disdain, swelling with insolence, while they importuned +him with tears; the last stage of human misery, when so many brave +and gallant men were obliged to sue to a traitor for protection! They +then hung out from the walls the fillets and badges of supplicants. +When Antonius ordered a cessation of hostilities, the garrison brought +out their eagles and standards; a mournful train of soldiers without +their aims, their eyes riveted to the ground, followed them. The +conquerors gathered round them, and first heaped reproaches upon them, +and threatened violence to their persons; but afterward, when they saw +the passiveness with which they received the insults, and that the +vanquished, abandoning all their former pride, submitted to every +indignity, the thought occurred that these very men lately conquered +at Bedriacum, and used their victory with moderation. But when Caecina +came forth, decorated with his robes, and preceded by his lictors, who +opened a way for him through the crowd, the indignation of the victors +burst into a flame. They reproached him for his pride, his cruelty, +and even for his treachery: so detested is villainy. Antonius opposed +the fury of his men, and sent him under escort to Vespasian. + +Meanwhile, the common people of Cremona, in the midst of so many +soldiers, were subjected to grievous oppressions, and were in danger +of being all put to the sword, if the rage of the soldiery had not +been assuaged by the entreaties of their leaders. Antonius called them +to an assembly, when he spoke of the conquerors in lofty terms, and of +the vanquished with humanity; of Cremona he said nothing either way. +But the army, adding to their love of plunder an inveterate aversion +to the people, were bent on the extirpation of the inhabitants. In +the war against Otho they were deemed the abettors of Vitellius; and +afterward, when the thirteenth legion was left among them to build an +amphitheater, with the usual insolence of the lower orders in towns, +they had assailed them with offensive ribaldry. The spectacle of +gladiators exhibited there by Caecina inflamed the animosity against +the people. Their city, too, was now for the second time the seat of +war; and, in the heat of the last engagement, the Vitellians were +thence supplied with refreshments; and some of their women, led into +the field of battle by their zeal for the cause, were slain. The +period, too, of the fair had given to a colony otherwise affluent an +imposing appearance of accumulated wealth. Antonius, by his fame and +brilliant success, eclipsed all the other commanders: the attention of +all was fixt on him alone. He hastened to the baths to wash off the +blood; and on observing that the water was not hot enough, he said +that they would soon grow hotter. The expression was caught up: a +casual word among slaves had the effect of throwing upon him the whole +odium of having given a signal for setting fire to Cremona, which was +already in flames. + +Forty thousand armed men had poured into it. The number of drudges and +camp-followers was still greater, and more abandoned to lust and +cruelty. Neither age nor dignity served as a protection; deeds of lust +were perpetrated amidst scenes of carnage, and murder was added to +rape. Aged men and women that had passed their prime, and who were +useless as booty, were made the objects of brutal sport. If a mature +maiden, or any one of comely appearance, fell in their way, after +being torn piecemeal by the rude hands of contending ruffians, they at +last were the occasion of their turning their swords against each +other. While eagerly carrying off money or massy gold from the +temples, they were butchered by others stronger than themselves. Not +content with the treasures that lay open to their view, some forced +the owners to discover their hidden wealth, and dig up their buried +riches. Numbers carried flaming torches, and, as soon as they had +brought forth their booty, in their wanton sport set the gutted houses +and plundered temples on fire. In an army differing in language and +manners, composed of Roman citizens, allies, and foreign auxiliaries, +all the diversities of passions were exhibited. Each had his separate +notions of right and wrong; nor was anything unlawful. Four days did +Cremona minister to their rapacity. When everything else, sacred and +profane, was leveled in the conflagration, the temple of Memphitis +alone remained standing, outside of the walls; saved either by its +situation, or the influence of the deity. + +Such was the fate of Cremona, two hundred and eighty-six years from +its foundation. It was built during the consulship of Tiberius +Sempronius and Publius Cornelius, at the time when Hannibal threatened +an irruption into Italy, as a bulwark against the Gauls inhabiting +beyond the Po, or any other power that might break in over the Alps. +The colony, as might be expected, grew and flourished in the number of +its settlers, from the contiguity of rivers, the fertility of its +soil, from alliances and intermarriages with the neighboring people; +never having suffered from foreign wars, but a sad sufferer from civil +dissensions. Antonius, shrinking from the infamy of this horrible +transaction (for the detestation it excited was increasing), issued an +edict forbidding all manner of persons to detain the citizens of +Cremona as prisoners of war. At the same time the booty was rendered +valueless by a resolution adopted throughout Italy, not to purchase +the captives taken on that occasion. The soldiers then began to murder +them. However, when this was known, the prisoners were eagerly +ransomed by their friends and relations. The survivors in a short time +returned to Cremona. The temples and public places were rebuilt, at +the recommendation of Vespasian, by the munificence of the burgesses. + + + + +VII + +AGRICOLA[132] + + +Cnaeus Julius Agricola was born at the ancient and illustrious colony +of Forum Julii. Both his grandfathers were imperial procurators, an +office which confers the rank of equestrian nobility. His father, +Julius Graecinus, of the senatorian order, was famous for the study of +eloquence and philosophy; and by these accomplishments he drew on +himself the displeasure of Caius Caesar,[133] for, being commanded to +undertake the accusation of Marcus Silanus--on his refusal, he was +put to death. His mother was Julia Procilla, a lady of exemplary +chastity. Educated with tenderness in her bosom, he passed his +childhood and youth in the attainment of every liberal art. He was +preserved from the allurements of vice, not only by a naturally good +disposition, but by being sent very early to pursue his studies at +Massilia;[134] a place where Grecian politeness and provincial +frugality are happily united. I remember he was used to relate, that +in his early youth he should have engaged with more ardor in +philosophical speculation than was suitable to a Roman and a senator, +had not the prudence of his mother restrained the warmth and vehemence +of his disposition: for his lofty and upright spirit, inflamed by the +charms of glory and exalted reputation, led him to the pursuit with +more eagerness than discretion. Reason and riper years tempered his +warmth; and from the study of wisdom, he retained what is most +difficult to compass--moderation. + +He learned the rudiments of war in Britain, under Suetonius Paulinus, +an active and prudent commander, who chose him for his tent companion, +in order to form an estimate of his merit. Nor did Agricola, like many +young men, who convert military service into wanton pastime, avail +himself licentiously or slothfully of his tribunitial title, or his +inexperience, to spend his time in pleasures and absences from duty; +but he employed himself in gaining a knowledge of the country, making +himself known to the army, learning from the experienced, and +imitating the best; neither pressing to be employed through vainglory, +nor declining it through timidity; and performing his duty with equal +solicitude and spirit. At no other time in truth was Britain more +agitated or in a state of greater uncertainty. Our veterans +slaughtered, our colonies burned, our armies cut off--we were then +contending for safety, afterward for victory. During this period, +altho all things were transacted under the conduct and direction of +another, and the stress of the whole, as well as the glory of +recovering the province, fell to the general's share, yet they +imparted to the young Agricola skill, experience, and incentives; and +the passion for military glory entered his soul; a passion ungrateful +to the times, in which eminence was unfavorably construed, and a great +reputation was no less dangerous than a bad one. + +Departing thence to undertake the offices of magistracy in Rome, he +married Domitia Decidiana, a lady of illustrious descent, from which +connection he derived credit and support in his pursuit of greater +things. They lived together in admirable harmony and mutual affection; +each giving the preference to the other; a conduct equally laudable in +both, except that a greater degree of praise is due to a good wife, in +proportion as a bad one deserves the greater censure. The lot of +questorship gave him Asia for his province, and the proconsul Salvius +Titianus[135] for his superior; by neither of which circumstances was +he corrupted, altho the province was wealthy and open to plunder, and +the proconsul, from his rapacious disposition, would readily have +agreed to a mutual concealment of guilt. His family was there +increased by the birth of a daughter, who was both the support of his +house, and his consolation; for he lost an elder-born son in +infancy.... + +On his return from commanding the legion he was raised by Vespasian to +the patrician order, and then invested with the government of +Aquitania, a distinguished promotion, both in respect to the office +itself, and the hopes of the consulate to which it destined him. It is +a common supposition that military men, habituated to the unscrupulous +and summary processes of camps, where things are carried with a strong +hand, are deficient in the address and subtlety of genius requisite in +civil jurisdiction. Agricola, however, by his natural prudence, was +enabled to act with facility and precision even among civilians. He +distinguished the hours of business from those of relaxation. When the +court or tribunal demanded his presence, he was grave, intent, awful, +yet generally inclined to lenity. When the duties of his office were +over, the man of power was instantly laid aside. Nothing of sternness, +arrogance, or rapaciousness appeared; and, what was a singular +felicity, his affability did not impair his authority, nor his +severity render him less beloved. To mention integrity and freedom +from corruption in such a man, would be an affront to his virtues. He +did not even court reputation, an object to which men of worth +frequently sacrifice, by ostentation or artifice: equally avoiding +competition with his colleagues, and contention with the procurators. +To overcome in such a contest he thought inglorious; and to be put +down, a disgrace. Somewhat less than three years were spent in this +office, when he was recalled to the immediate prospect of the +consulate; while at the same time a popular opinion prevailed that the +government of Britain would be conferred upon him; an opinion not +founded upon any suggestions of his own, but upon his being thought +equal to the station. Common fame does not always err, sometimes it +even directs a choice. When Consul,[136] he contracted his daughter, a +lady already of the happiest promise, to myself, then a very young +man; and after his office was expired I received her in marriage. He +was immediately appointed governor of Britain, and the pontificate was +added to his other dignities.... + +His decease was a severe affliction to his family, a grief to his +friends, and a subject of regret even to foreigners, and those who had +no personal knowledge of him. The common people too, and the class who +little interest themselves about public concerns, were frequent in +their inquiries at his house during his sickness, and made him the +subject of conversation at the forum and in private circles; nor did +any person either rejoice at the news of his death, or speedily forget +it. Their commiseration was aggravated by a prevailing report that he +was taken off by poison. I can not venture to affirm anything certain +of this matter; yet, during the whole course of his illness, the +principal of the imperial freedmen and the most confidential of the +physicians was sent much more frequently than was customary with a +court whose visits were chiefly paid by messages; whether that was +done out of real solicitude, or for the purposes of state inquisition. +On the day of his decease, it is certain that accounts of his +approaching dissolution were every instant transmitted to the emperor +by couriers stationed for the purpose; and no one believed that the +information, which so much pains was taken to accelerate, could be +received with regret. He put on, however, in his countenance and +demeanor, the semblance of grief: for he was now secured from an +object of hatred, and could more easily conceal his joy than his fear. +It was well known that on reading the will, in which he was nominated +co-heir with the excellent wife and most dutiful daughter of Agricola, +he exprest great satisfaction, as if it had been a voluntary testimony +of honor and esteem: so blind and corrupt had his mind been rendered +by continual adulation, that he was ignorant none but a bad prince +could be nominated heir to a good father. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 101: "If by eloquence is meant the ability to persuade, then +Tacitus," according to Cruttwell, "is the most eloquent historian that +ever existed." His portraits, especially those of Tiberius and Nero, +have been severely criticized by French and English writers, but while +his verdicts have been shaken, they have not been reversed. The world +still fails to doubt their substantial reality. Tacitus, adds +Cruttwell, has probably exercised upon readers a greater power than +any other writer of prose whom Rome produced.] + +[Footnote 102: From Book I of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 103: Marcellus was the son of Octavia by her husband C. +Claudius Marcellus. He married Julia, a daughter of Augustus.] + +[Footnote 104: Agrippa was the leading administrative mind under +Augustus, with whom he had served in the Civil War and in the battle +Actium. The Pantheon, the only complete building of Imperial Rome that +still survives, was finished and dedicated by him. He married as his +third wife Julia, the widow of Marcellus.] + +[Footnote 105: Nola lay sixteen miles northeast of Naples. The +reference is to Drusus, son of Tiberius, and to Germanicus, at that +time commanding on the Rhine.] + +[Footnote 106: From Book III of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 107: This Agrippina was the daughter of Agrippa and Julia. +She married Germanicus, became the mother of Caligula, and was a woman +of lofty character, who died by voluntary starvation after having been +exiled by Tiberius.] + +[Footnote 108: It has been conjectured that the two children of +Germanicus here referred to were Caligula, who had gone to the East +with his father, and Julia, who was born in Lesbos.] + +[Footnote 109: These children were Nero, Drusus, Agrippina and +Drusilla.] + +[Footnote 110: Not the Emperor of that name, who was not born until +121 A.D.] + +[Footnote 111: Mother of Tiberius by a husband whom she had married +before she married Augustus.] + +[Footnote 112: Julia, daughter of Julius Caesar by his wife Cornelia.] + +[Footnote 113: From Book XV of the "Annals." The Oxford translation +revised.] + +[Footnote 114: Caius Piso, lender of an unsuccessful conspiracy +against Nero in 65. Other famous Romans of the name of Piso are +Lucius, censor, consul and author; another Lucius whose daughter was +married to Julius Caesar; and Cneius, governor of Syria, who was +accused of murdering Germanicus.] + +[Footnote 115: Poppaea Sabina, who once was the wife of Otho and +mistress of Nero. She was afterward divorced from Otho and married to +Nero in 62 A.D. She died from the effects of a kick given by Nero.] + +[Footnote 116: From Book XV at the "Annals." The Oxford translator +revised.] + +[Footnote 117: Nero.] + +[Footnote 118: Suetonius relates that, when some one repeated to Nero +the line "When I am dead, let fire devour the world," he replied, "Let +it be whilst I am living." That author asserts that Nero's purpose +sprung in part from his dislike of old buildings and narrow streets. +During the progress of the fire several men of consular rank met +Nero's domestic servants with torches and combustibles which they were +using to start fires, but did not dare to stay their hands. Livy +asserts that, after it was destroyed by the Gauls, Rome had been +rebuilt with narrow winding streets.] + +[Footnote 119: A city in the central Apennines, six miles from Lake +Fucinus.] + +[Footnote 120: Near the Esquiline.] + +[Footnote 121: The house, gardens, baths and the Pantheon of Agrippa +are here referred to. Nero's gardens were near the Vatican.] + +[Footnote 122: The palace of Numa, on the Palatine hill, had been the +mansion of Augustus.] + +[Footnote 123: Carlyle, in his essay on Voltaire, refers to this +passage as having been "inserted as a small, transitory, altogether +trifling circumstance, in the history of such a potentate as Nero"; +but it has become "to us the most earnest, sad and sternly significant +passage that we know to exist in writing."] + +[Footnote 124: Claudius already had expelled the Jews from Rome and +included in their number the followers of Christ. But his edict was +not specifically directed against the Christians. Nero was the first +emperor who persecuted them as professors of a new faith.] + +[Footnote 125: From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Pliny, Josephus and Dio all agree that the Capitol was set on +fire by the followers of Vitellius.] + +[Footnote 126: Porsena did not actually get into Rome, being induced +to raise the siege when only at its gates.] + +[Footnote 127: The capture of Rome by the Gauls under Brennus took +place in 390 B.C. The destruction of the Capitol in the first Civil +War occurred in 83 B.C., during the consulship of Lucius Scipio and +Caius Norbaius. The fire was not started as an act of open violence, +however, but by clandestine incendiaries.] + +[Footnote 128: From Book III of the "History." The Oxford translation +revised. Near Cremona had been fought the first battle of Bedriacum by +the armies of Vitellius and Otho, rivals for the imperial throne, Otho +being defeated. A few months later on the same field the army of +Vitellius was overthrown by Vespasian, who succeeded him as emperor. +Vitellius retired to Cremona, which was then placed under siege by +Vespasian, and altho strongly fortified, captured.] + +[Footnote 129: Antonius Primus, the chief commander of Vespasian's +forces.] + +[Footnote 130: The modern Brescia.] + +[Footnote 131: According to Josephus 30,000 of the Vitellians perished +and 4,500 of the followers of Vespasian.] + +[Footnote 132: From the Oxford translation revised.] + +[Footnote 133: Caligula, not Caius Julius Caesar, is here referred to, +he also having borne the name of Caius.] + +[Footnote 134: Now Marseilles, founded by Phoenicians, who +introduced, there a degree of Greek culture which long made the city +famous.] + +[Footnote 135: A brother of the Emperor Otho.] + +[Footnote 136: Agricola was Consul in 77 A.D., and had for colleague +Domitian, afterward Emperor.] + + + + +PLINY THE YOUNGER + + Born at Como, in 63 A.D.; died in 113; nephew of the elder + Pliny; Consul in 100; governor of Bithynia and Pontus in + 111; friend of Trajan and Tacitus; his letters and a eulogy + of Trajan alone among his writings have survived. + + +I + +OF THE CHRISTIANS IN HIS PROVINCE[137] + + +It is my invariable rule, Sir, to refer to you in all matters where I +feel doubtful; for who is more capable of removing my scruples, or +informing my ignorance? Having never been present at any trials +concerning those who profess Christianity, I am unacquainted not only +with the nature of their crimes, or the measure of their punishment, +but how far it is proper to enter into an examination concerning them. +Whether, therefore, any difference is usually made with respect to +ages, or no distinction is to be observed between the young and the +adult; whether repentance entitles them to a pardon; or if a man has +been once a Christian, it avails nothing to desist from his error; +whether the very profession of Christianity, unattended with any +criminal act, or only the crimes themselves inherent in the profession +are punishable; on all these points I am in great doubt. In the +meanwhile, the method I have observed toward those who have been +brought before me as Christians is this: I asked them whether they +were Christians; if they admitted it, I repeated the question twice, +and threatened them with punishment; if they persisted, I ordered them +to be at once punished: for I was persuaded whatever the nature of +their opinions might be, a contumacious and inflexible obstinacy +certainly deserved correction. There were others also brought before +me possest with the same infatuation, but being Roman citizens I +directed them to be sent to Rome. + +But this crime spreading (as is usually the case) while it was +actually under prosecution, several instances of the same nature +occurred. An anonymous information was laid before me, containing a +charge against several persons, who upon examination denied they were +Christians, or had ever been so. They repeated after me an invocation +to the gods, and offered religious rites with wine and incense before +your statue (which for that purpose I had ordered to be brought, +together with those of the gods), and even reviled the name of Christ: +whereas there is no forcing, it is said, those who are really +Christians into any of these compliances: I thought it proper, +therefore, to discharge them. Some among those who were accused by a +witness in person at first confest themselves Christians but +immediately after denied it; the rest owned indeed that they had been +of that number formerly, but had now (some above three, others more, +and a few above twenty years ago) renounced that error. They all +worshiped your statue and the images of the gods, uttering +imprecations at the same time against the name of Christ. They +affirmed the whole of their guilt of their error, was, that they met +on a stated day before it was light, and addrest a form of prayer to +Christ, as to a divinity, binding themselves by a solemn oath, not for +the purposes of any wicked design, but never to commit any fraud, +theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when +they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their +custom to separate, and then reassemble, to eat in common a harmless +meal. From this custom, however, they desisted after the publication +of my edict, by which, according to your commands, I forbade the +meeting of any assemblies. + +After receiving this account, I judged it so much the more necessary +to endeavor to extort the real truth by putting two female slaves to +the torture, who were said to officiate in their religious rites: but +all I could discover was evidence of an absurd and extravagant +superstition. I deemed it expedient, therefore, to adjourn all further +proceedings, in order to consult you. For it appears to be a matter +highly deserving your consideration, more especially as great numbers +must be involved in the danger of these prosecutions, which have +already extended, and are still likely to extend, to persons of all +ranks and ages, and even of both sexes. In fact, this contagious +superstition is not confined to the cities only, but has spread its +infection among the neighboring villages and country. Nevertheless, it +still seems possible to restrain its progress. The temples, at least, +which were once almost deserted, begin now to be frequented; and the +sacred rites, after a long intermission, are again revived; while +there is a general demand for the victims, which till lately found +very few purchasers. From all this it is easy to conjecture what +numbers might be reclaimed if a general pardon were granted to those +who shall repent of their error.[138] + + + + +II + +TO TACITUS ON THE ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS[139] + +(79 A.D.) + + +Your request that I would send you an account of my uncle's[140] +death, in order to transmit a more exact relation of it to posterity, +deserves my acknowledgments; for, if this accident shall be celebrated +by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered +forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, +which, as it involved at the same time a most beautiful country in +ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an +everlasting remembrance; notwithstanding he has himself composed many +and lasting works; yet I am persuaded the mentioning of him in your +immortal writings will greatly contribute to render his name immortal. + +He was at that time with the fleet under his command at Misenum.[141] +On the 24th of August, about one in the afternoon, my mother desired +him to observe a cloud which appeared of a very unusual size and +shape. He had just taken a turn in the sun, and, after bathing +himself in cold water, and making a light luncheon, gone back to his +books: he immediately arose and went out upon a rising ground from +whence he might get a better sight of this very uncommon appearance. A +cloud, from which mountain was uncertain, at this distance (but it was +found afterward to come from Mount Vesuvius),[142] was ascending, the +appearance of which I can not give you a more exact description of +than by likening it to that of a pine-tree, for it shot up to a great +height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself out at +the top into a sort of branches; occasioned, I imagine, either by a +sudden gust of air that impelled it, the force of which decreased as +it advanced upward, or the cloud itself being prest back again by its +own weight, expanded in the manner I have mentioned; it appeared +sometimes bright and sometimes dark and spotted according as it was +either more or less impregnated with earth and cinders. This +phenomenon seemed to a man of such learning and research as my uncle +extraordinary and worth further looking into. He ordered a light +vessel to be got ready, and gave me leave, if I liked, to accompany +him. I said I had rather go on with my work; and it so happened he had +himself given me something to write out. + +As he was coming out of the house, he received a note from Rectina, +the wife of Bassus, who was in the utmost alarm at the imminent danger +which threatened her; for her villa lying at the foot of Mount +Vesuvius, there was no way of escape but by sea; she earnestly +entreated him therefore to come to her assistance. He accordingly +changed his first intention and what he had begun from a +philosophical, he now carries out in a noble and generous spirit. He +ordered the galleys to put to sea and went himself on board with an +intention of assisting not only Rectina but the several other towns +which lay thickly strewn along that beautiful coast. Hastening then to +the place from whence others fled with the utmost terror, he steered +his course direct to the point of danger, and with so much calmness +and presence of mind as to be able to make and dictate his +observations upon the motion and all the phenomena of that dreadful +scene. He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which +grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships, +together with pumice stones, and black pieces of burning rock: they +were in danger too not only of being aground by the sudden retreat of +the sea, but also from the vast fragments which rolled down from the +mountains, and obstructed all the shore. Here he stopt to consider +whether he should turn back again; to which the pilot advising him, +"Fortune," said he, "favors the brave; steer to where Pomponianus is." +Pomponianus was then at Stabiae,[143] separated by a bay, which the +sea, after several insensible windings, forms with the shore. He had +already sent his baggage on board; for tho he was not at that time in +actual danger, yet being within sight of it, and indeed extremely +near, if it should in the least increase, he was determined to put to +sea as soon as the wind, which was blowing dead in-shore, should go +down. + +It was favorable, however, for carrying my uncle to Pomponianus, whom +he found in the greatest consternation: he embraced him tenderly, +encouraging and urging him to keep up his spirits, and the more +effectually to soothe his fears by seeming unconcerned himself, +ordered a bath to be got ready, and then, after having bathed, sat +down to supper with great cheerfulness, or at least (what is just as +heroic) with every appearance of it. Meanwhile broad flames shone out +in several places from Mount Vesuvius, which the darkness of the night +contributed to render still brighter and clearer. But my uncle, in +order to soothe the apprehensions of his friend, assured him it was +only the burning of the villages, which the country people had +abandoned to the flames: after this he retired to rest, and it is most +certain he was so little disquieted as to fall into a sound sleep: for +his breathing, which, on account of his corpulence, was rather heavy +and sonorous, was heard by the attendants outside. The court which led +to his apartment being now almost filled with stones and ashes, if he +had continued there any time longer, it would have been impossible for +him to have made his way out. So he was awoke and got up, and went to +Pomponianus and the rest of his company, who were feeling too anxious +to think of going to bed. They consulted together whether it would be +most prudent to trust to the houses, which now rocked from side to +side with frequent and violent concussions as tho shaken from their +very foundations; or fly to the open fields, where the calcined stones +and cinders, tho light indeed yet fell in large showers, and +threatened destruction. In this choice of dangers they resolved for +the fields: a resolution which, while the rest of the company were +hurried into by their fears, my uncle embraced upon cool and +deliberate consideration. They went out then, having pillows tied upon +their heads with napkins; and this was their whole defense against the +storm of stones that fell round them. + +It was now day everywhere else, but there a deeper darkness prevailed +than in the thickest night; which however was in some degree +alleviated by torches and other lights of various kinds. They thought +proper to go farther down upon the shore to see if they might safely +put out to sea, but found the waves still running extremely high, and +boisterous. There my uncle, laying himself down upon a sail-cloth, +which was spread for him, called twice for some cold water, which he +drank, when immediately the flames, preceded by a strong whiff of +sulfur, dispersed the rest of the party, and obliged him to rise. He +raised himself up with the assistance of two of his servants, and +instantly fell down dead; suffocated, as I conjecture, by some gross +and noxious vapor, having always had a weak throat, which was often +inflamed. As soon as it was light again, which was not till the third +day after this melancholy accident, his body was found entire, and +without any marks of violence upon it, in the dress in which he fell, +and looking more like a man asleep than dead.... + +My uncle having left us,[144] I spent such time as was left on my +studies (it was on their account indeed that I had stopt behind), till +it was time for my bath. After which I went to supper, and then fell +into a short and uneasy sleep. There had been noticed for many days +before a trembling of the earth, which did not alarm us much, as this +is quite an ordinary occurrence in Campania; but it was so +particularly violent that night that it not only shook but actually +overturned, as it would seem, everything about us. My mother rushed +into my chamber, where she found me rising, in order to awaken her. We +sat down in the open court of the house, which occupied a small space +between the buildings and the sea. As I was at that time but eighteen +years of age, I know not whether I should call my behavior, in this +dangerous juncture, courage or folly; but I took up Livy, and amused +myself with turning over that author, and even making extracts from +him, as if I had been perfectly at my leisure. Just then, a friend of +my uncle's, who had lately come to him from Spain, joined us, and +observing me sitting by my mother with a book in my hand, reproved her +for her calmness, and me at the same time for my careless security: +nevertheless I went on with my author. + +Tho it was now morning, the light was still exceedingly faint and +doubtful; the buildings all around us tottered, and tho we stood upon +open ground, yet as the place was narrow and confined, there was no +remaining without imminent danger: we therefore resolved to quit the +town. + +A panic-stricken crowd followed us, and (as to a mind distracted with +terror every suggestion seems more prudent than its own) prest on us +in dense array to drive us forward as we came out. Being at a +convenient distance from the houses, we stood still, in the midst of a +most dangerous and dreadful scene. The chariots which we had ordered +to be drawn out, were so agitated backward and forward, tho upon the +most level ground, that we could not keep them steady, even by +supporting them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon +itself, and to be driven from its banks by the convulsive motion of +the earth; it is certain at least the shore was considerably enlarged, +and several sea animals were left upon it. On the other side, a black +and dreadful cloud, broken with rapid, zigzag flashes, revealed behind +it variously shaped masses of flame: these last were like +sheet-lightning, but much larger. Upon this our Spanish friend, whom I +mentioned above, addressing himself to my mother and me with great +energy and urgency: "If your brother," he said, "if your uncle be +safe, he certainly wishes you may be so too; but if he perished, it +was his desire, no doubt, that you might both survive him: why +therefore do you delay your escape a moment?" We could never think of +our own safety, we said, while we were uncertain of his. Upon this our +friend left us, and withdrew from the danger with the utmost +precipitation. Soon afterward, the cloud began to descend, and cover +the sea. It had already surrounded and concealed the island of +Capreae.[145] + +My mother now besought, urged, even commanded me to make my escape at +any rate, which, as I was young, I might easily do; as for herself, +she said, her age and corpulency rendered all attempts of that sort +impossible; however she would willingly meet death if she could have +the satisfaction of seeing that she was not the occasion of mine. But +I absolutely refused to leave her, and, taking her by the hand, +compelled her to go with me. She complied with great reluctance, and +not without many reproaches to herself for retarding my flight. The +ashes now began to fall upon us, tho in no great quantity. I looked +back; a dense dark mist seemed to be following us, spreading itself +over the country like a cloud. "Let us turn out of the high-road," I +said, "while we can still see, for fear that, should we fall in the +road, we should be prest to death in the dark, by the crowds that are +following us." We had scarcely sat down when night came upon us, not +such as we have when the sky is cloudy, or when there is no moon, but +that of a room when it is shut up, and all the lights put out. You +might hear the shrieks of women, the screams of children, and the +shouts of men; some calling for their children, others for their +parents, others for their husbands, and seeking to recognize each +other by the voices that replied; one lamenting his own fate, another +that of his family; some wishing to die, from the very fear of dying; +some lifting their hands to the gods; but the greater part convinced +that there were now no gods at all, and that the final endless night +of which we have heard had come upon the world. Among these there +were some who augmented the real terrors by others imaginary or +wilfully invented. I remember some who declared that one part of +Misenum had fallen, that another was on fire; it was false, but they +found people to believe them. It now grew rather lighter, which we +imagined to be rather the forerunner of an approaching burst of flames +(as in truth it was) than the return of day: however, the fire fell at +a distance from us: then again we were immersed in thick darkness, and +a heavy shower of ashes rained upon us, which we were obliged every +now and then to stand up to shake off, otherwise we should have been +crusht and buried in the heap. + +I might boast that, during all this scene of horror, not a sigh, or +expression of fear, escaped me, had not my support been grounded in +that miserable, tho mighty, consolation, that all mankind were +involved in the same calamity and that I was perishing with the world +itself. At last this dreadful darkness was dissipated by degrees, like +a cloud or smoke; the real day returned, and even the sun shone out, +tho with a lurid light, like when an eclipse is coming on. Every +object that presented itself to our eyes (which were extremely +weakened) seemed changed, being covered deep with ashes as if with +snow. My mother and I, notwithstanding the danger we had passed, and +that which still threatened us, had no thoughts of leaving the place, +till we could receive some news of my uncle. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 137: Addrest to the Emperor Trajan while proconsul in Pontus +and Bithynia. The Melmoth translation revised by Bosanquet. This +letter and the passage in Tacitus printed elsewhere in this volume, +are the only genuine contemporary references to the early Christians +to be found in ancient writings. Pliny's letter was preserved by the +Christians themselves as evidence of the purity of their faith and +practises. Early writers of the Church frequently appeal to it against +calumniators. It was written within forty years of the death of St. +Paul.] + +[Footnote 138: Trajan's reply to this letter was as follows: "You have +adopted the right course, my dearest Secundus, in investigating the +charges against the Christians who were brought before you. It is not +possible to lay down any general rule for all such cases. Do not go +out of your way to look for them. If indeed they should be brought +before you, and the crime is proved, they must be punished; with the +restriction, however, that where the party denies he is a Christian, +and shall make it evident that he is not, by invoking our gods, let +him (notwithstanding any former suspicion) be pardoned upon his +repentance. Anonymous information ought not to be received in any sort +of prosecution. It is introducing a very dangerous precedent and is +quite foreign to the spirit of our age."] + +[Footnote 139: The translation of William Melmoth, revised by F. C. T. +Bosanquet. Pliny wrote two letters to Tacitus on this subject, each at +the request of the historian. Both are given here.] + +[Footnote 140: Pliny the elder was his uncle.] + +[Footnote 141: In the Bay of Naples.] + +[Footnote 142: About six miles distant from Naples. This eruption of +Vesuvius, in which Herculaneum and Pompeii were buried, happened A.D. +79, in the first year of the emperor Titus.] + +[Footnote 143: Now called Castellammare, in the Bay of Naples, about +fifteen miles southeast of the city of Naples.] + +[Footnote 144: The paragraphs from this point to the end are from +Pliny's second letter to Tacitus.] + +[Footnote 145: The island near Naples, now called Capri.] + + + + +SUETONIUS + + Lived in the first half of the second century A.D.; + biographer and historian; private secretary of the emperor + Hadrian about 119-121; a friend of the younger Pliny, whom + he accompanied to Bithynia in 112; wrote several works, of + which only His "Lives of the Twelve Caesars" have survived. + + +I + +THE LAST DAYS OF AUGUSTUS[146] + +(14 A.D.) + + +His death, of which I shall now speak, and his subsequent deification, +were intimated by divers manifest prodigies. As he was finishing the +census amidst a great crowd of people in the Campus Martius, an eagle +hovered round him several times, and then directed its course to a +neighboring temple, where it settled upon the name of Agrippa, and at +the first letter. Upon observing this, he ordered his colleague +Tiberius to put up the vows, which it is usual to make on such +occasions, for the succeeding Lustrum. For he declared he would not +meddle with what it was probable he should never accomplish, tho the +tables were ready drawn for it. About the same time, the first letter +of his name, in an inscription upon one of his statues, was struck out +by lightning; which was interpreted as a presage that he would live +only a hundred days longer, the letter C denoting that number; and +that he would be placed among the gods as AEsar, which in the remaining +part of the word Caesar, signifies, in the Tuscan language, a god. +Being, therefore, about dispatching Tiberius to Illyricum, and +designing to go with him as far as Beneventum, but being detained by +several persons who applied to him respecting causes they had +depending, he cried out (and it was afterward regarded as an omen of +his death), "Not all the business in the world shall detain me at Rome +one moment longer"; and setting out upon his journey, he went as far +as Astura, whence, contrary to his custom, he put to sea in the +night-time, as there was a favorable wind. + +His malady proceeded from diarrhea; notwithstanding which, he went +round the coast of Campania, and the adjacent islands, and spent four +days in that of Capri; where he gave himself up entirely to repose and +relaxation. Happening to sail by the bay of Puteoli,[147] the +passengers and mariners aboard a ship of Alexandria, just then +arrived, clad all in white, with chaplets upon their heads, and +offering incense, loaded him with praises and joyful acclamations, +crying out, "By you we live, by you we sail securely, by you enjoy our +liberty and our fortunes." At which being greatly pleased, he +distributed to each of those who attended him, forty gold pieces, +requiring from them an assurance on oath, not to employ the sum given +them in any other way than the purchase of Alexandrian merchandise. +And during several days afterward, he distributed Togae and Pallia, +among other gifts, on condition that the Romans should use the Greek +and the Greeks the Roman dress and language. He likewise constantly +attended to see the boys perform their exercises, according to an +ancient custom still continued at Capri. He gave them likewise an +entertainment in his presence, and not only permitted, but required +from them the utmost freedom in jesting, and scrambling for fruit, +victuals, and other things which he threw among them. In a word, he +indulged himself in all the ways of amusement he could contrive.... + +Upon the day of his death, he now and then inquired if there was any +disturbance in the town on his account; and calling for a mirror, he +ordered his hair to be combed, and his shrunk cheeks to be adjusted. +Then asking his friends who were admitted into the room, "Do ye think +that I have acted my part on the stage of life well?" he immediately +subjoined, + + "If all be right, with joy your voices raise, + In loud applauses to the actor's praise." + +After which, having dismissed them all, whilst he was inquiring of +some persons who were just arrived from Rome, concerning Drusus's +daughter, who was in a bad state of health, he expired suddenly, +amidst the kisses of Livia, and with these words: "Livia! live mindful +of our union; and now, farewell!" dying a very easy death, and such as +he himself had always wished for. For as often as he heard that any +person had died quickly and without pain, he wished for himself and +his friends the like _euthanasia_ (an easy death), for that was the +word he made use of. He betrayed but one symptom, before he breathed +his last, of being delirious, which was this: he was all on a sudden +much frightened, and complained that he was carried away by forty men. +But this was rather a presage, than any delirium: for precisely that +number of soldiers, belonging to the praetorian cohort, carried out his +corpse. + +He expired in the same room in which his father Octavius had died, +when the two Sextus's, Pompey and Apuleius, were Consuls, upon the +fourteenth of the calends of September [the 19th August], at the ninth +hour of the day, being seventy-six years of age, wanting only +thirty-five days. His remains were carried by the magistrates of the +municipal towns and colonies, from Nola to Bovillae,[148] and in the +night-time because of the season of the year. During the intervals, +the body lay in some basilica, or great temple, of each town. At +Bovillae it was met by the Equestrian Order, who carried it to the +city, and deposited it in the vestibule of his own house. The senate +proceeded with so much zeal in the arrangement of his funeral, and +paying honor to his memory, that, among several other proposals, some +were for having the funeral procession made through the triumphal +gate, preceded by the image of Victory which is in the senate-house, +and the children of highest rank and of both sexes singing the funeral +dirge. Others proposed, that on the day of the funeral, they should +lay aside their gold rings, and wear rings of iron; and others, that +his bones should be collected by the priests of the principal +colleges. One likewise proposed to transfer the name of August to +September, because he was born in the latter, but died in the former. +Another moved, that the whole period of time, from his birth to his +death, should be called the Augustan age, and be inserted in the +calendar under that title. But at last it was judged proper to be +moderate in the honors paid to his memory. Two funeral orations were +pronounced in his praise, one before the temple of Julius, by +Tiberius; and the other before the rostra, under the old shops, by +Drusus, Tiberius's son. The body was then carried upon the shoulders +of senators into the Campus Martius, and there burned. A man of +praetorian rank affirmed upon oath, that he saw his spirit ascend from +the funeral pile to heaven. The most distinguished persons of the +equestrian order, barefooted, and with their tunics loose, gathered up +his relics, and deposited them in the mausoleum[149] which had been +built in his sixth consulship between the Flaminian Way and the bank +of the Tiber; at which time likewise he gave the groves and walks +about it for the use of the people. + + + + +II + +THE GOOD DEEDS OF NERO[150] + + +He was seventeen years of age at the death of that prince,[151] and as +soon as that event was made public, he went out to the cohort on guard +between the hours of six and seven; for the omens were so disastrous, +that no earlier time of the day was judged proper. On the steps before +the palace gate, he was unanimously saluted by the soldiers as their +emperor, and then carried in a litter to the camp; thence, after +making a short speech to the troops, into the senate-house, where he +continued until the evening; of all the immense honors which were +heaped upon him, refusing none but the title of FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY, +on account of his youth. + +He began his reign with an ostentation of dutiful regard to the memory +of Claudius, whom he buried with the utmost pomp and magnificence, +pronouncing the funeral oration himself, and then had him enrolled +among the gods. He paid likewise the highest honors to the memory of +his father Domitius. He left the management of affairs, both public +and private, to his mother. The word which he gave the first day of +his reign to the tribune on guard was, "The Best of Mothers," and +afterward he frequently appeared with her in the streets of Rome in +her litter. He settled a colony at Antium,[152] in which he placed +the veteran soldiers belonging to the guards; and obliged several of +the richest centurions of the first rank to transfer their residence +to that place; where he likewise made a noble harbor at a prodigious +expense. + +To establish still further his character, he declared, "that he +designed to govern according to the model of Augustus"; and omitted no +opportunity of showing his generosity, clemency, and complaisance. The +more burdensome taxes he either entirely took off, or diminished. The +rewards appointed for informers by the Papian law, he reduced to a +fourth part, and distributed to the people four hundred sesterces a +man. To the noblest of the senators who were much reduced in their +circumstances, he granted annual allowances, in some cases as much as +five hundred thousand sesterces; and to the praetorian cohorts a +monthly allowance of corn gratis. When called upon to subscribe the +sentence, according to custom, of a criminal condemned to die, "I +wish," said he, "I had never learned to read and write." He +continually saluted people of the several orders by name, without a +prompter. When the senate returned him their thanks for his good +government, he replied to them, "It will be time enough to do so when +I shall have deserved it." He admitted the common people to see him +perform his exercises in the Campus Martius. He frequently declaimed +in public, and recited verses of his own composing, not only at home, +but in the theater; so much to the joy of all the people, that public +prayers were appointed to be put up to the gods upon that account; and +the verses which had been publicly read, were, after being written in +gold letters, consecrated to Jupiter Capitolinus. + +He presented the people with a great number and variety of spectacles, +as the Juvenal and Circensian games, stage-plays, and an exhibition of +gladiators. In the Juvenal, he even admitted senators and aged matrons +to perform parts. In the Circensian games, he assigned the equestrian +order seats apart from the rest of the people, and had races performed +by chariots drawn each by four camels. In the games which he +instituted for the eternal duration of the empire, and therefore +ordered to be called _Maximi_, many of the senatorian and equestrian +order, of both sexes, performed. A distinguished Roman knight +descended on the stage by a rope, mounted on an elephant. A Roman +play, likewise, composed by Afranius, was brought upon the stage. It +was entitled, "The Fire"; and in it the performers were allowed to +carry off, and to keep to themselves, the furniture of the house, +which as the plot of the play required, was burned down in the +theater. Every day during the solemnity, many thousand articles of all +descriptions were thrown among the people to scramble for; such as +fowls of different kinds, tickets for corn, clothes, gold, silver, +gems, pearls, pictures, slaves, beasts of burden, wild beasts that had +been tamed; at last, ships, lots of houses, and lands, Were offered as +prizes in a lottery. + +These games he beheld from the front of the proscenium. In the show +of gladiators, which he exhibited in a wooden amphitheater, built +within a year in the district of the Campus Martius, he ordered that +none should be slain, not even the condemned criminals employed in the +combats. He secured four hundred senators, and six hundred Roman +knights, among whom were some of unbroken fortunes and unblemished +reputation, to act as gladiators. From the same orders, he engaged +persons to encounter wild beasts, and for various other services in +the theater. He presented the public with the representation of a +naval fight, upon sea-water, with huge fishes swimming in it; as also +with the Pyrrhic dance, performed by certain youths, to each of whom, +after the performance was over, he granted the freedom of Rome. During +this diversion, a bull covered Pasiphae, concealed within a wooden +statue of a cow, as many of the spectators believed. Icarus, upon his +first attempt to fly, fell on the stage close to the emperor's +pavilion, and bespattered him with blood. For he very seldom presided +in the games, but used to view them reclining on a couch, at first +through some narrow apertures, but afterward with the _Podium_ quite +open. He was the first who instituted, in imitation of the Greeks, a +trial of skill in the three several exercises of music, wrestling, and +horse-racing, to be performed at Rome every five years, and which he +called Neronia. Upon the dedication of his bath[153] and gymnasium, he +furnished the senate and the equestrian order with oil. He appointed +as judges of the trial men of consular rank, chosen by lot, who eat +with the praetors. At this time he went down into the orchestra among +the senators, and received the crown for the best performance in Latin +prose and verse for which several persons of the greatest merit +contended, but they unanimously yielded to him. The crown for the best +performer on the harp; being likewise awarded to him by the judges, he +devoutly saluted it, and ordered it to be carried to the statue of +Augustus. In the gymnastic exercises, which he presented in the Septa, +while they were preparing the great sacrifice of an ox, he shaved his +beard for the first time, and putting it up in a casket of gold +studded with pearls of great price, consecrated it to Jupiter +Capitolinus. He invited the Vestal Virgins to see the wrestlers +perform, because, at Olympia, the priestesses of Ceres are allowed the +privilege of witnessing that exhibition.... + +Twice only he undertook any foreign expeditions, one to Alexandria, +and the other to Achaia; but he abandoned the prosecution of the +former on the very day fixt for his departure, by being deterred both +by ill omens, and the hazard of the voyage. For while he was making +the circuit of the temples, having seated himself in that of Vesta, +when he attempted to rise, the skirt of his robe stuck fast; and he +was instantly seized with such a dimness in his eyes, that he could +not see a yard before him. In Achaia, he attempted to make a cut +through the Isthmus;[154] and, having made a speech encouraging his +pretorians to set about the work, on a signal given by sound of +trumpet, he first broke ground with a spade, and carried off a +basketful of earth upon his shoulders. He made preparations for an +expedition to the Pass of the Caspian mountains, forming a new legion +out of his late levies in Italy, of men all six feet high, which he +called the phalanx of Alexander the Great. These transactions, in part +unexceptionable, and in part highly commendable, I have brought into +one view, in order to separate them from the scandalous and criminal +part of his conduct. + + + + +III + +THE DEATH OF NERO[155] + +(68 A.D.) + + +He was terrified with manifest warnings, both old and new, arising +from dreams, auspices, and omens. He had never been used to dream +before the murder of his mother. After that event, he fancied in his +sleep that he was steering a ship, and that the rudder was forced from +him: that he was dragged by his wife Octavia into a prodigiously dark +place; and was at one time covered over with a vast swarm of winged +ants, and at another, surrounded by the national images which were set +up near Pompey's theater, and hindered from advancing farther; that a +Spanish jennet he was fond of, had his hinder parts so changed as to +resemble those of an ape; and that having his head only left +unaltered, he neighed very harmoniously. The doors of the mausoleum of +Augustus flying open of themselves, there issued from it a voice, +calling on him by name. The Lares being adorned with fresh garlands on +the calends (the first) of January, fell down during the preparations +for sacrificing to them. While he was taking the omens, Sporus +presented him with a ring, the stone of which had carved upon it the +Rape of Proserpine. When a great multitude of several orders was +assembled, to attend at the solemnity of making vows to the gods, it +was a long time before the keys of the Capitol could be found. And +when, in a speech of his to the senate against Vindex, these words +were read, "that the miscreants should be punished and soon make the +end they merited," they all cried out, "You will do it, Augustus." It +was likewise remarked, that the last tragic piece which he sung, was +OEdipus in Exile, and that he fell as he was repeating this verse: + + "Wife, mother, father, force me to my end." + +Meanwhile, on the arrival of the news that the rest of the armies had +declared against him, he tore to piece the letters which were +delivered to him at dinner, overthrew the table, and dashed with +violence against the ground two favorite cups, which he called +Homer's, because some of that poet's verses were cut upon them. Then +taking from Locusta a dose of poison, which he put up in a golden box, +he went into the Servilian gardens, and thence dispatching a trusty +freedman to Ostia, with orders to make ready a fleet, he endeavored to +prevail with some tribunes and centurions of the praetorian guards to +attend him in his flight; but part of them showing no great +inclination to comply, others absolutely refusing, and one of them +crying out aloud, + + "Say, is it then so sad a thing to die?" + +he was in great perplexity whether he should submit himself to +Galba,[156] or apply to the Parthians for protection, or else appear +before the people drest in mourning, and, upon the rostra, in the most +piteous manner, beg pardon for his past misdemeanors, and, if he could +not prevail, request of them to grant him at least the government of +Egypt. A speech to this purpose was afterward found in his +writing-case. But it is conjectured that he durst not venture upon +this project, for fear of being torn to pieces, before he could get to +the forum. + +Deferring, therefore, his resolution until the next day, he awoke +about midnight, and finding the guards withdrawn, he leapt out of bed, +and sent round for his friends. But none of them vouchsafing any +message in reply, he went with a few attendants to their houses. The +doors being everywhere shut, and no one giving him any answer, he +returned to his bed-chamber; whence those who had the charge of it had +all now eloped; some having gone one way, and some another, carrying +off with them his bedding and box of poison. He then endeavored to +find Spicillus, the gladiator, or some one to kill him; but not being +able to procure any one, "What!" said he, "have I then neither friend +nor foe?" and immediately ran out, as if he would throw himself into +the Tiber. + +But this furious impulse subsiding, he wished for some place of +privacy, where he might collect his thoughts; and his freedman Phaon +offering him his country-house, between the Salarian and Nomentan +roads, about four miles from the city, he mounted a horse, barefoot as +he was, and in his tunic, only slipping over it an old soiled cloak; +with his head muffled up, and a handkerchief before his face, and four +persons only to attend him, of whom Sporus was one. He was suddenly +struck with horror by an earthquake, and by a flash of lightning which +darted full in his face, and heard from the neighboring camp the +shouts of the soldiers, wishing his destruction, and prosperity to +Galba. He also heard a traveler they met on the road, say, "They are +in pursuit of Nero": and another ask, "Is there any news in the city +about Nero?" Uncovering his face when his horse was started by the +scent of a carcass which lay in the road, he was recognized and +saluted by an old soldier who had been discharged from the guards. +When they came to the lane which turned up to the house, they quitted +their horses, and with much difficulty he wound among bushes and +briars, and along a track through a bed of rushes, over which they +spread their cloaks for him to walk on. Having reached a wall at the +back of the villa, Phaon advised him to hide himself a while in a +sand-pit; when he replied, "I will not go underground alive." Staying +there some little time, while preparations were made for bringing him +privately into the villa, he took up some water out of a neighboring +tank in his hand, to drink, saying, "This is Nero's distilled water." +Then his cloak having been torn by the brambles, he pulled out the +thorns which stuck in it. At last, being admitted, creeping upon his +hands and knees, through a hole made for him in the wall, he lay down +in the first closet he came to, upon a miserable pallet, with an old +coverlet thrown over it; and being both hungry and thirsty, tho he +refused some coarse bread that was brought him, he drank a little warm +water. + +All who surrounded him now pressing him to save himself from the +indignities which were ready to befall him, he ordered a pit to be +sunk before his eyes, of the size of his body, and the bottom to be +covered with pieces of marble put together, if any could be found +about the house; and water and wood to be got ready for immediate use +about his corpse; weeping at everything that was done, and frequently +saying, "What an artist is now about to perish!" Meanwhile, letters +being brought in by a servant belonging to Phaon, he snatched them out +of his hand, and there read, "That he had been declared an enemy by +the senate, and that search was making for him, that he might be +punished according to the ancient custom of the Romans." He then +inquired what kind of punishment that was; and being told, that the +practise was to strip the criminal naked, and scourge him to death +while his neck was fastened within a forked stake, he was so +terrified that he took up two daggers which he had brought with him, +and after feeling the points of both, put them up again, saying, "The +fatal hour is not yet come." One while, he begged of Sporus to begin +to wail and lament; another while, he entreated that one of them would +set him an example by killing himself; and then again, he condemned +his own want of resolution in these words: "I yet live to my shame and +disgrace: this is not becoming for Nero: it is not becoming. Thou +oughtest in such circumstances to have a good heart: Come then: +courage, man!" The horsemen who had received orders to bring him away +alive, were now approaching the house. As soon as he heard them +coming, he uttered with a trembling voice the following verse, + + "The noise of swift-heel'd steeds assails my ears"; + +he drove a dagger into his throat, being assisted in the act by +Epaphroditus,[157] his secretary. A centurion bursting in just as he +was half-dead, and applying his cloak to the wound, pretending that he +was come to his assistance, he made no other reply but this, "'Tis too +late"; and "Is this your loyalty?" Immediately after pronouncing these +words, he expired, with his eyes fixt and starting out of his head, to +the terror of all who beheld him.... + +In stature he was a little below the common height; his skin was foul +and spotted; his hair inclined to yellow; his features were agreeable, +rather than handsome; his eyes gray and dull, his neck was thick, his +belly prominent, his legs very slender, his constitution sound. For, +tho excessively luxurious in his mode of living, he had, in the course +of fourteen years, only three fits of sickness; which were so slight, +that he neither forbore the use of wine, nor made any alteration in +his usual diet. In his dress, and the care of his person, he was so +careless, that he had his hair cut in rings, one above another; and +when in Achaia, he let it grow long behind; and he generally appeared +in public in the loose dress which he used at table, with a +handkerchief about his neck and without either a girdle or shoes. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 146: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 147: Now Pozzuoli, which fronts on the bay, seven miles west +of Naples. It still has ruins of an amphitheater, 482 feet by 384 in +size. In Roman times it was as important commercial city.] + +[Footnote 148: Bovillae is now known as Frattochio. It stands on the +Appian Way, about nineteen miles from Rome.] + +[Footnote 149: This mausoleum was of white marble rising in terraces +to a great height, and was crowned by a dome on which stood a statue +of Augustus. Marcellus was the first person buried there. Its site was +near the present Porta del Popolo.] + +[Footnote 150: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 151: The Emperor Claudius.] + +[Footnote 152: Nero was born in Antium, distant from Rome about +thirty-eight miles. The Apollo Belvidere was found among its ruins.] + +[Footnote 153: These baths stood west of the Pantheon. Altho of great +extent, no remains of them now exist.] + +[Footnote 154: This scheme, which was a favorite one of many Roman +emperors and even of Julius Caesar, was not realized until our time. +The Corinth canal was completed in 1893.] + +[Footnote 155: From the translation by Alexander Thomson, revised by +T. Forester.] + +[Footnote 156: The Roman general, then leader of the revolt against +Nero, who was afterward proclaimed Emperor.] + +[Footnote 157: Epaphroditus was the master of Epictetus, the Stoic +philosopher, before his freedom.] + + + + +MARCUS AURELIUS + + Born in Rome in 121 A.D.; died in 180; celebrated as emperor + and Stoic philosopher; a nephew of Antoninus Pius, whom he + succeeded as emperor, with Lucius Verus; after the death of + Verus in 169 became sole emperor; his reign notable for + wisdom and the happiness of the Roman people; wrote his + "Meditations" in Greek; a bronze equestrian statue of him in + Rome is the finest extant specimen of ancient bronze. + + +HIS DEBT TO OTHERS[158] + + +1. From my grandfather Verus[159] [I learned] good morals and the +government of my temper. + +2. From the reputation and remembrance of my father,[160] modesty and +a manly character. + +3. From my mother,[161] piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not +only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and, further, +simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the +rich. + +4. From my great-grandfather,[162] not to have frequented public +schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on +such things a man should spend liberally. + +5. From my governor, to be neither of the green nor of the blue party +at the games in the circus, nor a partizan either of the Parmularius +or the Scutarius at the gladiators' fights; from him too I learned +endurance of labor and to want little, and to work with my own hands, +and not to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to +listen to slander. + +6. From Diognetus,[163] not to busy myself about trifling things, and +not to give credit to what was said by miracle-workers and jugglers +about incantations and the driving away of demons and such things; and +not to breed quails [for fighting], not to give myself up passionately +to such things; and to endure freedom of speech; and to have become +intimate with philosophy; and to have been a hearer, first of +Bacchius, then of Tandasis and Marcianus; and to have written dialogs +in my youth; and to have desired a plank bed and skin, and whatever +else of the kind belongs to the Grecian discipline. + +7. From Rusticus[164] I received the impression that my character +required improvement and discipline; and from him I learned not to be +led astray to sophistic emulation, nor to writing on speculative +matters, nor to delivering little hortatory orations, nor to showing +myself off as a man who practises much discipline, or does benevolent +acts in order to make a display; and to abstain from rhetoric, and +poetry, and fine writing; and not to walk about in the house in my +outdoor dress, nor to do other things of the kind; and to write my +letters with simplicity, like the letter which Rusticus wrote from +Sinuessa to my mother; and with respect to those who have offended me +by words, or done me wrong, to be easily disposed to be pacified and +reconciled, as soon as they have shown a readiness to be reconciled; +and to read carefully, and not to be satisfied with a superficial +understanding of a book; not hastily to give my assent to those who +talk overmuch; and I am indebted to him for being acquainted with the +discourses of Epictetus. + +8. From Apollonius[165] I learned freedom of will and undeviating +steadiness of purpose; and to look to nothing else, not even for a +moment, except to reason; and to be always the same, in sharp pains, +on the occasion of the loss of a child, and in long illness; and to +see clearly in a living example that the same man can be both most +resolute and yielding, and not peevish in giving his instruction; and +to have had before my eyes a man who clearly considered his experience +and his skill in expounding philosophical principles as the smallest +of his merits; and from him I learned how to receive from friends what +are esteemed favors, without being either humbled by them or letting +them pass unnoticed. + +9. From Sextus,[166] a benevolent disposition, and the example of a +family governed in a fatherly manner, and the idea of living +conformably to nature; and gravity without affectation, and to look +carefully after the interests of friends, and to tolerate ignorant +persons and those who form opinions without consideration: he had the +power of readily accommodating himself to all, so that intercourse +with him was more agreeable than any flattery; and at the same time he +was most highly venerated by those who associated with him; and he had +the faculty both of discovering and ordering, in an intelligent +methodical way, the principles necessary for life; and he never showed +anger or any other passion, but was entirely free from passion, and +also most affectionate; and he could express approbation without noisy +display, and he possessed much knowledge without ostentation. + +10. From Alexander[167] the grammarian, to refrain from fault-finding, +and not in a reproachful way to chide those who uttered any barbarous +or solecistic or strange-sounding expression; but dexterously to +introduce the very expression which ought to have been used, and in +the way of answer or giving confirmation, or joining in an inquiry +about the thing itself, not about the word, or by some other fit +suggestion. + +11. From Fronto[168] I learned to observe what envy, and duplicity, +and hypocrisy are in a tyrant, and that generally those among us who +are called Patricians are rather deficient in paternal affection. + +12. From Alexander the Platonic, not frequently nor without necessity +to say to any one, or to write in a letter, that I have no leisure; +nor continually to excuse the neglect of duties required by our +relation to those with whom we live, by alleging urgent occupations. + +13. From Catulus,[169] not to be indifferent when a friend finds +fault, even if he should find fault without reason, but to try to +restore him to his usual disposition; and to be ready to speak well of +teachers, as it is reported of Domitius and Athenodotus; and to love +my children truly. + +14. From my brother Severus, to love my kin, and to love truth, and to +love justice; and through him I learned to know Thrasea, Helvidius, +Cato, Dion, Brutus; and from him I received the idea of a polity in +which there is the same law for all, a polity administered with regard +to equal rights and equal freedom of speech, and the idea of a kingly +government which respects most of all the freedom of the governed; I +learned from him also consistency and undeviating steadiness in my +regard for philosophy; and a disposition to do good, and to give to +others readily, and to cherish good hopes, and to believe that I am +loved by my friends; and in him I observed no concealment of his +opinions with respect to those whom he condemned, and that his friends +had no need to conjecture what he wished or did not wish, but it was +quite plain. + +15. From Maximus[170] I learned self-government, and not to be led +aside by anything; and cheerfulness in all circumstances as well as in +illness; and a just admixture in the moral character of sweetness and +dignity, and to do what was set before me without complaining. I +observed that everybody believed that he thought as he spoke, and that +in all that he did he never had any bad intention; and he never showed +amazement and surprize, and was never in a hurry, and never put off +doing a thing, nor was perplexed nor dejected, nor did he ever laugh +to disguise his vexation, nor, on the other hand, was he ever +passionate or suspicious. He was accustomed to do acts of beneficence, +and was ready to forgive, and was free from all falsehood; and he +presented the appearance of a man who could not be diverted from right +rather than of a man who had been improved. I observed, too that no +man could ever think that he was despised by Maximus, or ever venture +to think himself a better man. He had also the art of being humorous +in an agreeable way. + +16. In my father[171] I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable +resolution in the things which he had determined after due +deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honors; +and a love of labor and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to +those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating +firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a +knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action +and for remission. And I observed that he had overcome all passion +for boys; and he considered himself no more than any other citizen; +and he released his friends from all obligation to sup with him or to +attend him of necessity when he went abroad, and those who had failed +to accompany him, by reason of any urgent circumstances, always found +him the same. I observed too his habit of careful inquiry in all +matters of deliberation, and his persistency, and that he never stopt +his investigation through being satisfied with appearances which first +present themselves; and that his disposition was to keep his friends, +and not to be soon tired of them, nor yet to be extravagant in his +affection; and to be satisfied on all occasions, and cheerful; and to +foresee things a long way off, and to provide for the smallest without +display; and to check immediately popular applause and all flattery; +and to be ever watchful over the things which were necessary for the +administration of the empire, and to be a good manager of the +expenditure, and patiently to endure the blame which he got for such +conduct; and he was neither superstitious with respect to the gods, +nor did he court men by gifts or by trying to please them, or by +flattering the populace; but he showed sobriety in all things and +firmness, and never any mean thoughts or action, nor love of +novelty.... + +17. To the gods I am indebted for having good grandfathers, good +parents, a good sister, good teachers, good associates, good kinsmen +and friends, nearly everything good. Further, I owe it to the gods +that I was not hurried into any offense against any of them, tho I had +a disposition which, if opportunity had offered, might have led me to +do something of this kind; but, through their favor, there never was +such a concurrence of circumstances as put me to the trial. Further, I +am thankful to the gods that I was not longer brought up with my +grandfather's concubine, and that I preserved the flower of my youth, +and that I did not make proof of my virility before the proper season, +but even deferred the time; that I was subjected to a ruler and a +father who was able to take away all pride from me, and to bring me to +the knowledge that it is possible for a man to live in a palace +without wanting either guards or embroidered dresses, or torches and +statues, and such-like show; but that it is in such a man's power to +bring himself very near to the fashion of a private person, without +being for this reason either meaner in thought, or more remiss in +action, with respect to the things which must be done for the public +interest in a manner that befits a ruler. I thank the gods for giving +me such a brother,[172] who was able by his moral character to rouse +me to vigilance over myself, and who, at the same time, pleased me by +his respect and affection; that my children have not been stupid nor +deformed in body; that I did not make more proficiency in rhetoric, +poetry, and the other studies, in which I should perhaps have been +completely engaged, if I had seen that I was making progress in them; +that I made haste to place those who brought me up in the station of +honor, which they seemed to desire, without putting them off with +hope of my doing it some time after, because they were then still +young; that I knew Apollonius, Rusticus, Maximus; that I received +clear and frequent impressions about living according to nature, and +what kind of a life that is, so that, so far as depended on the gods, +and their gifts, and help, and inspirations, nothing hindered me from +forthwith living according to nature, tho I still fall short of it +through my own fault, and through not observing the admonitions of the +gods, and I may almost say, their direct instructions; that my body +has held out so long in such a kind of life; that I never touched +either Benedicta or Theodotus; and that, after having fallen into +amatory passions, I was cured; and, tho I was often out of humor with +Rusticus, I never did anything of which I had occasion to repent; +that, tho it was my mother's fate to die young, she spent the last +years of her life with me; that, whenever I wished to help any man in +his need, or on any other occasion, I was never told that I had not +the means of doing it; and that to myself the same necessity never +happened, to receive anything from another; that I have such a wife, +so obedient, and so affectionate, and so simple; that I had abundance +of good masters for my children; and that remedies have been shown to +me by dreams, both others, and against blood-spitting and giddiness; +and that, when I had an inclination to philosophy, I did not fall into +the hands of any sophist. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 158: From the "Meditations." Translated by George Long.] + +[Footnote 159: Annius Verus.] + +[Footnote 160: His father's name also was Annius Verus.] + +[Footnote 161: His mother was Domitia Calvilla, named also Lucilla.] + +[Footnote 162: His mother's grandfather, Catilius Severus, may be +referred to here.] + +[Footnote 163: The translator notes that, in the works of Justinus, is +printed a letter from one Diognetus, a Gentile, who wished very much +to know what the religion of the Christians was, and how it had taught +them to believe neither in the gods of the Greeks nor the +superstitions of the Jews. It has been suggested that this Diognetus +may have been the tutor of Marcus Aurelius.] + +[Footnote 164: Junius Rusticus, a Stoic philosopher, whom the author +highly valued.] + +[Footnote 165: Apollonius of Chalcis, who came to Rome to be the +author's preceptor. He was a rigid Stoic.] + +[Footnote 166: Sextus of Chaeronea, a grandson, or nephew, of +Plutarch.] + +[Footnote 167: Alexander, a native of Phrygia, wrote a commentary on +Homer.] + +[Footnote 168: Cornelius Fronto, a rhetorician and friend of the +author.] + +[Footnote 169: Cinna Catulus, a Stoic.] + +[Footnote 170: Claudius Maximus, a Stoic, whom the author's +predecessor, Antoninus Pius, also valued highly.] + +[Footnote 171: The reference here made is to the Emperor Antoninus +Pius, who adopted him.] + +[Footnote 172: His brother by adoption, L. Verus, is probably referred +to here.] + + +END OF VOLUME II. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Best of the World's Classics, +Restricted to prose. 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