BELLUM CATILIN. CAP. 6.

and turned itself toward pride and domination] Here I shall submit my own conjecture, not relying on the authority or trustworthiness of any single exemplar. For what if you read, it turned toward pride and domination? original: "in superbiam dominationemque vertit" This is how Sallust is accustomed to use this verb elsewhere. Moreover, in other places, vertit turned has been changed into convertit converted/turned toward or convertitur is turned toward: for the Merseburg codex does not have that se itself. But convertit is also sometimes placed absolutely meaning: without a direct object in this author: a fact which we shall demonstrate in its proper place. Furthermore, certain manuscripts do not have the causa cause/reason in the text, but only in the space that separates the verses: so that it is entirely like the passage in Terence’s Adelphoe, "Do not think you are doing this more for the sake of flattering, than because I find it pleasing:" for causa is missing. Priscian, in Book XVIII, testifies that the Romans were accustomed to speak in this way at times. Indeed, Cornelius Tacitus uses this ellipsis repeatedly, omitting the noun causa or gratia, which we have carefully noted in Terence. But Sallust himself has also been accustomed to speak in this manner at other times: as will be indicated in the proper places. "Which in the beginning had been for the sake of preserving liberty:" instead of, which was done to preserve liberty. Rivius.

Which in the beginning had been for the sake of preserving liberty, and of increasing the Republic] Lest anyone think the passage is corrupt, I considered it worth noting that this is a Sallustian locution, which he has used elsewhere; as below: "He believed the punishment of those men would be a burden to himself, and impunity for the sake of destroying the Republic." And in Book I of his Histories, in the Oration of Lepidus: "He considers all things honorable for the sake of retaining domination." And in the same book, in the Oration of Philippus: "He took up the army for the sake of suppressing liberty." Likewise: "He took up civil arms, for the sake of subverting the laws and liberty." Terence also in the Adelphoe: "Do not think you are doing this more for the sake of flattering, than because I find it pleasing." Regarding this type of speech, see Priscian, Book XVIII. Manutius.

Which in the beginning had been for the sake of preserving liberty, etc.] For a king was created in the beginning, and he did nothing without the authority of the Fathers. For when Romulus had led the colony to Rome, he gave the people the option of choosing what kind of state they wanted: and when he had decided to live under kings, he immediately ordered Romulus to be king for him, as Dionysius narrates in Book Two. Castil.

It turned itself toward pride and domination] I have removed the word se, as if it were redundant: yet I do not see the ancient book disagreeing with me, with which the same Sallust agrees, who has used this type of speech elsewhere as well: "For that gentleness and mercy of yours, if they should take up arms, will turn into misery." Likewise: "To do good, from habit, now turns into nature." Finally: "Prosperous circumstances turn from anger into pity." Elsewhere, Cicero also says: "But this vice was turning to his benefit." Tacitus, Book III: "After they raged with slaughter and the magnitude of his reputation was his destruction, the others turned to wiser courses." The same author elsewhere: "He turned secretly with a few to the infantry." Caesar, Civil War, Book III: "He might turn the detriment into a benefit." Livy, Book I: "The auspices turned out for the good." And Book XXXIX: "These things had turned to the destruction of the young man." Virgil, Georgics III: "And the pools turned the whole into solid ice." Tacitus: "And he turned the cunning of the enemies into their own destruction." The same: "Or whether a rashly slipped word turned into a prophecy." Livy: "And the envy of the Scipios had turned against the Praetor." The same, Book IX of the Fourth Decade: "The morals of the Roman people, how much they have changed, even this day will be evidence:" instead of have been changed. And Book VIII of the Third Punic War: "It does not ebb and flow seven times a day, as rumor suggests, at stated times:" instead of is ebbed and flowed. Suetonius: "As often as the earth had moved in the city;" instead of had been moved. Virgil: "The humid night rushes from the sky." The same: "The south winds redouble." Gellius also, I. 13: "If the matter had perhaps turned out better, thanks would indeed have to be given to the gods." Livy, however, in Book II From the Founding of the City, making an ellipsis of the pronoun,