De Bello Catilinario et Jurgthino | Page 6

nostram; but the genitive nostri_ sets forth the object
of remembrance with greater force. See Zumpt, S 423. [8] Quam
maxime longam; that is, quam longissimam, 'lasting as long as
possible.' Zumpt, S 108. [9] The author here makes a digression, to
remove the objection that in war bodily strength is of greater
importance than mental superiority. He admits that in the earlier times
it may have been so, but maintains that in more recent times, when the
art of war had become rather complicate, the superiority of mind has
become manifest. _Vine corporis an; that is, utrum vi corporis an_. See
Zumpt, S 554. [10] That is, 'before undertaking anything, reflect well;
but when you have reflected, then carry your design into execution
without delay.' The past participles consulta and facto here supply the
place of verbal substantives.
2. Igitur[11] initio reges (nam in terris nomen imperii id primum fuit),
diversi pars[12] ingenium, alii corpus exercebant; etiamtum vita
hominum sine cupiditate agitabatur, sua cuique satis placebant. Postea
vero quam[13] in Asia Cyrus, in Graecia Lacedaemonii et Athenienses
coepere urbes atque nationes subigere; libidinem dominandi causam
belli habere, maximam gloriam in maximo imperio putare, tum demum
periculo atque negotiis compertum est in bello plurimum ingenium
posse. Quodsi[14] regum atque imperatorum animi virtus[15] in pace
ita ut in bello valeret, aequabilius atque constantius sese res humanae
haberent, neque aliud alio[16] ferri, neque mutari ac misceri omnia
cerneres. Nam imperium facile his artibus retinetur, quibus initio

partum est. Verum ubi pro labore desidia, pro continentia et aequitate
libido atque superbia invasere, fortuna simul cum moribus immutatur.
Ita imperium semper ad optimum quemque[17] a minus bono
transfertur. Quae homines arant, navigant, aedificant, virtuti omnia
parent. Sed multi mortales dediti ventri atque somno, indocti incultique
vitam sicuti peregrinantes transiere;[18] quibus profecto contra naturam
corpus voluptati, anima oneri fuit. Eorum ego vitam mortemque juxta
aestimo,[19] quoniam de utraque siletur. Verum enimvero[20] is
demum mihi vivere atque frui anima videtur, qui aliquo negotio
intentus[21] praeclari facinoris aut artis bonae famam quaerit. Sed in
magna copia rerum aliud alii natura iter ostendit.
[11] Respecting the frequent position of igitur at the beginning of a
sentence in Sallust, see Zumpt, S 357. [12] Pars, instead of alii,
probably to avoid the repetition of alii, and to produce variety. [13]
Postea vero quam, for postquam vero. The author means to say, that
after the formation of great empires by extensive conquests, the truth
became manifest that even in war mind was superior to mere bodily
strength. He mentions Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lacedaemonians and
Athenians, because the earlier empires of the Egyptians and Assyrians
did not yet belong to accredited history. [14] Sallust here introduces, by
quodsi (and if, or yes, if), an illustration connected with the preceding
remarks. Respecting this connecting power of quodsi, as distinguished
from the simple si, see Zumpt, S 807. This illustration, which ends with
the word transfertur, was suggested to Sallust especially by the
consideration of the recent disturbances in the Roman republic under
Pompey, Caesar, and Mark Antony, three men who, in times of peace,
saw their glory, previously acquired in war, fade away. [15] Animi
virtus; these two words are here united to express a single idea, 'mental
greatness.' [16] Aliud alio ferri, 'that one thing is drawn in one direction,
and the other in another.' For aliud alio, see Zumpt, S 714; and for
cerneres, in which the second person singular of the subjunctive
answers to the English 'you' when not referring to any definite person,
S 381. [17] Optimum quemque, 'to every one in proportion as he is
better than others.' Respecting this relative meaning of quisque, see
Zumpt, S 710. 'Every one,' absolutely, is unusqisque, and adjectively
omnis. [18] 'They have passed through life like strangers or travellers;'

that is, as if they had no concern with their own life, although it is clear
that human life is of value only when men are conscious of themselves,
and exert themselves to cultivate their mental powers, and apply them
to practical purposes. [19] 'I set an equal value upon their life and their
death;' that is, an equally low value, juxta being equivalent to aeque or
pariter. [20] Verum enimvero; these conjunctions are intended strongly
to draw the attention of the reader to the conclusion from a preceding
argument. [21] 'Intent upon some occupation.' Intentus is commonly
construed with the dative, or the preposition in or ad with the
accusative; but as a person may be intent upon something, so he also
may be intent by, or in consequence of, something, so that the ablative
is perfectly consistent.
3. Pulcrum est bene facere rei publicae; etiam bene dicere haud
absurdum est;[22] vel pace vel bello clarum fieri licet; et qui fecere et
qui facta aliorum scripsere, multi laudantur. Ac mihi