Complete Works of Sallust

Few of their friends to be of help original: "Pauci ex amicis auxilio esse" As when Ascanius was besieged by Mezentius, which is narrated by Dionysius in Archaeologia, book 1, although that was at Lavinium, not Rome. Likewise, as in the war against the Fidenates and Veientes, when the Albanians went up to the mountains. For they, in such great danger, were not only of no help to the Romans, but even wanted to betray them. Livy and Dionysius. The same.

For the others, struck by fear, were away from dangers original: "Nam ceteri, metu perculsi, a periculis aberant" Augustine, in the place I mentioned, has "were far away from dangers": but almost all copies I have happened upon disagree. Rivius.

To protect with arms original: "Armis tegere" Thus also in the V.C. (Venerable Codex), although before it was "to protect" protegere: in a similar passage in Jugurtha: "liberty, fatherland, parents, and all other things are protected by arms." Ciacconius.

And they prepared friendships more by giving than by receiving favors original: "Magisque dandis quam accipiendis beneficiis amicitias parabant" This seems to have been taken from his familiar Thucydides, whose words these are in the Oration of Pericles: "For we acquire friends not by receiving kindnesses, but by doing them." The same author later falls into a similar sentiment in Jugurtha: "To give favors, unwilling to receive them." Manutius.

Legitimate empire original: "Imperium legitimum" He seems to oppose this later to the annual empire, when he says, "The custom being changed, they made annual empires and two commanders for themselves." Ciacconius.

Chosen ones, whose bodies were infirm with years, [but whose] talent was strong in wisdom, consulted for the Republic original: "Delecti quibus corpus annis infirmum, ingenium sapientia validum erat, reip. consultabant" Thus also in all manuscripts. But there are those who read, "consulted for the Republic" reip. consulebant: just as Rodolphus cites the same, [whether] a slip of memory, or because he judged it should be read thus. The sense, however, is that the counsel of the Republic was in the power of the old men, who were called Fathers patres because of their authority, and Senate senatus because of their age: as Florus says. Rivius.

Chosen ones, whose body original: "Delecti quibus corpus" Tacitus, Annals 5: "Three hundred chosen by wealth or wisdom, as the Senate." Ciacconius.

They consulted for the Republic original: "Reipub. consultabant" Perhaps it should be read "consulted" consulebant; thus in the Oration of Cotta,

"Endure adversities and consult for the Republic," and in the orations on ordering the Republic, "Among them there was one republic: for it they were consulting." Unless by chance he said "to consult" consultare, just as he is accustomed to say "to agitate," "to ductate," "to dictate," and many others of this kind, that is, they were frequently consulting. Ciacconius: so also Ursinus.

They consulted for the Republic original: "Reipubl. consultabant" The learned man errs who reads here "consulted" consulebant; Sallust himself supports the vulgate: "It is fitting that all men, Conscript Fathers, who consult about doubtful matters, be free from hatred, friendship, anger, and pity." Putchius.

They were called Fathers original: "Patres appellabantur" How charming are the verses of Naso Ovid from the fifth book of the Fasti, which it will not be annoying to transcribe. "Great was the reverence once for the white head, and in its own price was the wrinkled old age. Young men waged the work of Mars and spirited wars, and stood in station for their gods. That [age], lesser in strength, and not useful for bearing arms, often brought help to the fatherland by counsel. And only after many years was the curia then opened, and the name of Senate holds the mildness of age. The elder gave laws to the people, and the age from which honor is sought was finished by certain laws." And shortly after: "Romulus saw this, and called the selected bodies of fathers; to them the sum of the new city was referred." Florus: "The counsel of the Republic was in the power of the old men, who were called Fathers because of their authority, and Senate because of their age." "Thus they were called Senators" (the words of Isidore) "because just as fathers [rear] sons, so they reared the Republic." Those who were born from them [were called] Patricians. Livy, book 1: "Fathers certainly from honor, patricians [from] their progeny." The same [were] also noble: Festus, "Cintius says in his book on the assemblies that those were accustomed to be called patricians who are now called noble." Servius, citing these things of Sallust, reads "were called," and soon adds from his own: "But let others accept that Senators are so called from 'to allow' sinendo." The same.

Afterwards, when the royal empire, which at the beginning had been for the sake of preserving liberty and increasing the Republic, [turned] into pride at home...