8

well-trained bodies, the glory and honour of a crown; as others were attracted by the desire of making money;5 as, moreover, there was a certain class, and that the most respectable of all, who? neither sought applause nor gain, but came as spectators, and diligently observed what was done, and how (it was done): so we, likewise, having come into this life from another life and nature, as if from some city into the throng of a market, laboured, some for glory, others for money; some there were, here and there, who, esteeming all else of no value, diligently contemplated the nature of things; these he called lovers of wisdom-that is,10 philosophers; and as there (in the market) it was most honourable to be a spectator, without seeking for gain,11 so, in life, the contemplation and knowledge of things far excelled all other pursuits. Nor was Pythagoras merely the inventor of the name, but he also widened the domain of philosophy.12 When, after this conversation at Phlius, he came to Italy, he enriched Magna Graecia,13 both publicly and privately, with the most excellent institutions and arts. But from the ancient philosophy down to the time of Socrates, who had been a hearer of Archelaus, a disciple of Anaxagoras, numbers and motions, and from what all things arose, and into what all things returned, formed the subject of investigation; 14 and the magnitudes, distances, and courses of the stars, and all celestial phenomena, were diligently inquired into. But Socrates was the first to call down philosophy from the heavens, and to lodge it in cities, and introduce it into houses also, and compel it to inquire concerning life and morals, and things good and evil.-Tusc. Disp. v. 3, 4.

5 By profit of buying and selling and by gain.-6 Vel, even.-7 Of those who.& For the purpose of looking on.-9 Into some (a kind of) throng of a market -10 For that is.-11 Gaining nothing for one's self.-12 Was a widener of the matters themselves.-13 That Greece, which was called Magna.-14 Were treated.

XXIII. CYRUS THE YOUNGER.

When Lysander came to Cyrus the Younger at Sardes,1 and brought presents to him from the allies, he was both, in other respects, courteous and affable to Lysander, and shewed him a certain enclosed piece of ground, industriously planted. Lysander, admiring the tallness of the trees and the straightness of the rows, and the sweetness of the smells which were exhaled from the flowers, said that he admired not only the industry, but also the ingenuity of the person by whom the whole2 had been measured out and arranged. And Cyrus replied to him :

1 To Sardes.-2 These things.

But I measured out the whole; the rows are mine, the arrangement mine; many also of these trees were planted by my own hand. Then Lysander, looking at the purple and the splendour of his person, and his Persian attire (adorned) with much gold and with many jewels, said: Truly, men are right in calling 3 you happy, Cyrus, since in you good-fortune is united with virtue. De Senect. 17.

3 Rightly call. Since fortune is joined to your virtue.

XXIV. TITUS MANLIUS TORQUATUS.

Marcus Pomponius, tribune of the plebs, accused1 Lucius Manlius, who had been2 dictator, of having held the dictatorship a few days beyond the lawful time;3 he charged him also with having banished his son Titus, who was afterwards called Torquatus, from (the society of) men, and with having compelled him to live in the country. When the youthful son heard that this trouble was threatening 5 his father, he is said to have hurried to Rome, and to have come to the house of Pomponius at dawn. When this was announced to the tribune, he rose from bed, and, all witnesses being removed, ordered the youth to come to him, thinking that he, instigated by anger, was going to furnish some evidence against his father. But he, having entered, immediately drew his sword, and swore that he would kill the tribune on the spot, unless he would bind himself by an oath to let his father go. Pomponius, yielding to the fear of death, took the oath; laid the matter before the people; shewed them why it was necessary for him to abandon the case; let Manlius go. So great was the respect paid to an oath 9 in those times. And this is that Titus Manlius who derived his surname from having drawn off the collar of a Gaul, by whom he had been challenged and whom he had slain,10 near the Anio; (the same Manlius) in whose third consulship the Latins were defeated and put to flight near the Veseris; a man of singular greatness, and, while very indulgent to his father, at the same time cruelly severe to his son.12- De Off.

iii. 31.

8

11

1 Appointed a day to Manlius, because he had.-2 When he had been.3 Added a few days to himself for carrying on the dictatorship.-4 Ordered.5 Was being caused to.-6 Because he thought that he, being angry, would bring to him something against his father.-7 Unless he should give him an oath. Compelled by this terror.-9 So much did an oath avail.-10 Whom, being challenged by him, he had slain.-11 Magnus in primis, great among the foremost, especially great.-12 The same who had been very indulgent to his father, cruelly severe to his son.

XXV. REGULUS.

1

When Marcus Atilius Regulus, in his second consulship, was surprised and taken prisoner2 in Africa-Xanthippus the Lacedaemonian being general, but Hamilcar, the father of Hannibal, commander-in-chief-he was sent to the senate, bound by oath to return himself to Carthage, unless certain captive nobles should be restored to the Carthaginians. When he came to Rome, he saw a show of advantage, but, as the event proves, he judged it a false show; which was this: to remain in his native country; to be at home with his wife and children; to look upon the disaster which he had sustained in war as common to the fortune of war, and to hold 3 his station of consular dignity. Who would deny that these things are advantageous? Who do you think? Magnanimity and fortitude deny it. Do you ask for more trustworthy authorities? For it is proper to these virtues to fear nothing; to despise all things human; to consider nothing that can happen to a man as beyond endurance. Accordingly, how did he act? He came into the senate; he laid his messages before them; he refused to give his opinion, (saying) that, so long as he was bound by the oath of the enemy, he was not a senator. And he even maintained ('foolish man,' some one may say, 'and inimical to his own interest!') that it was not4 advantageous to restore the captives; 5 for (that) they were young men and good generals; he was already worn out with age. His opinion prevailed, and the prisoners were retained. He himself returned to Carthage; neither love of country nor of friends kept him back. Nor yet was he ignorant at that time, that he was going to a most cruel enemy, and to studied tortures; but he considered that he ought to keep his oath.-De Off. iii. 26, 27.

1 Consul a second time.-2 Was taken prisoner by stratagem.-3 Looking upon, &c., to hold.- Denied that this was.-5 That the prisoners should be restored.

XXVI. ARATUS.

Aratus of Sicyon is justly praised, who, when his state was held by tyrants for fifty years, having set out from Argos for Sicyon, secretly entered and made himself master of the city;1 and when he had crushed the tyrant Nicocles, who was taken unawares, restored six hundred exiles, who had been the most

1 Made himself master of the city by a secret entrance.

wealthy men in the state, and by his arrival freed the republic. But when he observed a great difficulty in (settling) the property and possessions-because he both considered it most unjust that those whom he himself had restored, whose property others had held, should not obtain their own,2 and thought it not too fair that the others should be expelled from a possession of fifty years,3 since, so long a period having elapsed, much of the property was held by inheritance, much by purchase, much by gift, without injustice he judged that the possessions ought not to be taken from the latter, and at the same time, that a compensation ought to be given to the former, to whom the possessions had belonged. When, therefore, he determined that money was necessary to settle that matter, he said that he wished to go to Alexandria, and desired that the business should stand over till his return. He then went speedily to Ptolemy, who was connected with him by the ties of hospitality; he was the second king4 since the foundation of Alexandria. When he had explained to him that he wished to free his country, and had informed him of the case, this great man easily prevailed upon the wealthy monarch to assist him with a large sum of money. When he had brought it to Sicyon, he associated with himself fifteen of the leading men, as a council, and with them he heard the causes both of those who held the property of others, and of those who had lost their own. By valuing the possessions, he succeeded in persuading some to accept a pecuniary compensation,6 and give up the property; and others to think it more advantageous to be paid an equivalent,7 than to recover their own. Thus harmony was secured, and all retired without complaint. A great man, and worthy to have been born in our state! Thus it is fitting to deal with one's fellow-citizens; not, as we have twice seen already, to expose their property for sale by auction.9 But this Greek, as became a wise and excellent man, thought that all ought to be cared for; and this is the best method and the highest wisdom of a good citizen, not to tear asunder the interests of the citizens, but to comprehend all in the same justice.-De Off. ii. 23.

2 Should want.-3 That possessions of fifty years should be removed.-4 Who was then reigning the second.-5 Obtained from the wealthy monarch that he should be assisted.-6 That they should prefer to accept money.-7 That an equivalent should be paid to them.-8 Thus it was brought about, that, concord being settled, all retired.-9 To set up a spear in the Forum, and subject the property of the citizens to the voice of the crier.

XXVII. FALSE PRETENCES.1

If they are to be blamed who have concealed the truth,2 what shall we say of those who have employed deceiving words?3 Caius Canius, a Roman eques, a man of refinement and of considerable learning, used to relate that, when he had gone to Syracuse for the purpose of enjoying leisure, as he himself was wont to say, not of engaging in business, he wished to buy a little country-seat, to which he might invite his friends, and where he might enjoy himself without fear of interruption. When this had gone abroad, one Pythius, a money-changer at Syracuse, said to him that he had indeed no gardens for sale, but that Canius might use his, if he chose, as his own; and at the same time he invited him to his villa to dinner next day. When he engaged to come, then Pythius, who, as a banker, was a man of influence with all classes, called the fishermen to him, and requested them to fish next day before his villa, and told them what he wished them to do. Canius came to dinner in good time; a splendid banquet had been prepared by Pythius; a multitude of boats was before his eyes; every man6 was bringing what he had caught; the fishes were being thrown down at the feet of Pythius. On this, Canius broke out: Pray, what is the meaning of this, Pythius? So many fishes here? So many boats? And he: What wonder? All the fish of Syracuse are at this place; here is the watering-place; these people cannot do without this villa. Canius, fired with the desire (of obtaining the villa), urged Pythius to sell it. He appeared at first reluctant. But what is the use of many words? Canius obtains it. Being eager for the bargain, and being a wealthy man, he bought the villa for as large a sum as Pythius chose to ask, and bought it furnished. Pythius enters it in his books, and completes the transaction. Canius invites his friends next day; he himself comes early; he sees not a single boat. He inquires of his neighbour if the_fishermen had a holiday, as he saw none of them. Not that I know of 8 says he; but nobody is wont to fish here. And so I wondered yesterday what had happened. Canius fell into a passion; but what could he do? for Aquillius, my colleague and friend, had not yet brought forward his formularies concerning a fraudulent artifice; in which,9 when he was asked what a fraudulent artifice was, he replied: when one thing was pretended and

1 Concerning wicked or fraudulent artifice.-2 Who have kept silence.3 Emptiness or falsehood of speech.-4 Gardens, including the house.-5 A banquet had been splendidly prepared.-6 Each for himself.-7 If it was some holiday of the fishermen.-8 It is none, so far as I know.-9 In which themselves, in which very formularies.