Conspiracy of Catiline and The Jurgurthine War | Page 4

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 every thing.
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.[58] 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, though fortified by
nature, they carried by assault.
VIII. But, assuredly, Fortune rules in all things. She makes every thing
famous or obscure rather from caprice than in conformity with truth.
The exploits of the Athenians, as far as I can judge, were very great and
glorious,[59] something inferior to what fame has represented them.
But because writers of great talent flourished there, the actions of the
Athenians are celebrated over the world as the most splendid
achievements. Thus, the merit of those who have acted is estimated at
the highest point to which illustrious intellects could exalt it in their
writings.
But among the Romans there was never any such abundance of
writers;[60] for, with them, the most able men were the most actively
employed. No one exercised the mind independently of the body: every
man of ability chose to act rather than narrate,[61] and was more
desirous that his own merits should be celebrated by others, than that
he himself should record theirs.
IX. Good morals, accordingly, were cultivated in the city and in the
camp. There was the greatest possible concord, and the least possible
avarice. Justice and probity prevailed among the citizens, not more
from the influence of the laws than from natural inclination. They
displayed animosity, enmity, and resentment only against the enemy.
Citizens contended with citizens in nothing but honor. They were
magnificent in their religious services, frugal in their families, and
steady in their friendships.
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 pressed by the enemy,[62] 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.
X. But when, by perseverance and integrity, the republic had increased
its power; when mighty princes had been vanquished in war;[63] 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 every where 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;[64] 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.
XI. At first, however, it was ambition, rather than avarice,[65] 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