Letter 202.6

To my Lord. 1. [...] a facility suited to history, and not that restraint which is appropriate to oratory; that they also employed figures of speech, which the Greeks call schemata [figures], the former applying those that are in keeping with history, the latter those in keeping with oratory; that Sallust made use of antitheses tastefully composed: "Greedy of another's property, lavish of his own; eloquence enough, of wisdom too little"; and of a play on words too, not absurd or frivolous, but apt and elegant: "A pretender and a dissembler"; but that Tullius [Cicero] employed a most impassioned figure, and one familiar in orations, which the writers of rhetorical treatises call epanaphora [repetition at the beginning of successive clauses]. Sallust rather often, using epanaphora, repeats the words "What did I hear" as he returns to them, and so Tullius, concerning Piso . . . : "Who at a certain time was more agreeable to the more distinguished men, who more closely joined to the baser? Who once a citizen of the better party, who a more loathsome enemy to this state? Who more defiled amid pleasures, who more patient amid labors? Who more greedy in his rapacity, who more lavish in his largess?" And further, one after another, the sentences begin from this same word. If it seems good, observe this too, and turn over in your mind whether, compared with all the rest of the embellishment and tumult, that middle phrase has been left blameless by Cicero: "To share with all what he had"; for to me this seems a little too common and meager. 2. Not . . . twice the diction of exhorting after those passages of Sallust and Tullius about Catiline, by another man, angered at L. Antonius . . . whether I thought to show in Tullius, besides the old material, himself . . . a great part of the youth was following him. For this reason you would now do, in your writing, the same thing as the painter Calamis, who had never set about painting a horse or four-footed creatures . . . let him paint. 3. The portrait of Jugurtha is of this kind: "As soon as he grew up, strong in physical powers, in looks, but by far most of all powerful in intellect, he did not give himself over to be corrupted by luxury or idleness, but, as is the custom of that nation, he rode horses, hurled the javelin, vied with his peers in the foot-race; and, though he surpassed all in glory, he was nevertheless dear to all. Besides this, he spent most of his time in hunting, and was the first, or among the first, to strike down the lion and other wild beasts; he did very much, and said very little about himself." "For Jugurtha, since he was of a tireless and keen nature, once he had come to know the character of P. Scipio, who was then commander of the Romans, and the way of the enemy, by much labor and much care, and moreover by obeying most modestly and often going to meet dangers, had in a short time arrived at such renown that he was exceedingly dear to our men and a very great terror to the people of Numantia. And indeed, what is most difficult of all, he was both vigorous in battle and good in counsel, of which qualities the one usually brings fear out of foresight, the other rashness out of audacity. Therefore the commander conducted almost all difficult matters through Jugurtha, held him among his friends, and embraced him more and more day by day, inasmuch as neither his counsel nor any undertaking of his was in vain. To this was added a generosity of spirit and a shrewdness of intellect, by which qualities he had joined to himself many of the Romans in close friendship. At that time there were in our army many men, new men and nobles alike, to whom riches were preferable to virtue and honor, men factious at home, powerful among the allies, more notable than honorable." 4. Not even the description of the country must be passed over: "The sea is savage, harborless; the land fertile in crops, good for cattle, barren of trees; in sky and on earth there is a scarcity of water. The race of men is sound in body, swift, enduring of toils, and old age dissolves most of them, except those who have perished by the sword or by wild beasts, for disease rarely overcomes any of them; in addition there are very many animals of a harmful kind." 5. Then he pursues this not unskillfully: "He turned his mind upon the kingdom of Adherbal. He himself was fierce, warlike; but the man he was attacking was quiet, unwarlike, of a placid disposition, exposed to injury, fearing rather than to be feared." 6. This concerning the consul's skill: "For in our consul there were many good qualities both of mind and of body, all of which avarice was hindering: he was enduring of toils, of keen intellect, sufficiently provident, not unacquainted with war, most steadfast against dangers and ill-will." 7. Then the soldiers corrupted: "The army was handed over to the commander by Spurius Albinus the proconsul, sluggish, unwarlike, enduring neither danger nor toil, readier with the tongue than with the hand, a plunderer of the allies and itself the plunder of the enemy, kept without command or discipline. Thus the new commander gained more anxiety from their bad habits than help or good hope from the abundance of soldiers." 8. Effeminacy: "For Albinus, struck down by the disaster to his brother Aulus and to the army, after he had resolved not to go out of the province, for as much of the summer-campaign season as he was in command kept the soldiers for the most part in a stationary camp, except when the stench or the lack of fodder forced him to change his location. But the camp was neither fortified nor were watches drawn off in military fashion; each man was away from the standards as it pleased him. Camp-followers, mingled with the soldiers, wandered about day and night, and, straggling, laid waste the fields, stormed the farmhouses, vied with one another in driving off plunder of cattle and slaves, and exchanged these with the traders for imported wine and other such things; besides, they sold the grain given out at public expense, and bought bread day by day; finally, whatever reproaches of idleness and luxury can be spoken or imagined, all of these were present in that army, and others besides. But in that difficult situation I find that Metellus was a great and wise man no less than in operations against the enemy; with such great moderation did he steer between popularity-seeking and savagery; for by an edict he first removed the supports of idleness: that no one should sell bread or any other cooked food in the camp, that camp-followers should not follow the army, that no spearman or common soldier should keep a slave or pack-animal in the camp or on the march; for the rest he set a strict limit. Moreover, he moved camp daily by cross-routes, fortified it with rampart and ditch just as if the enemy were present, posted frequent watches and went round them himself with his lieutenants, and likewise on the march was present now among the foremost, now among the rearmost, often in the middle, lest anyone should step out of rank, so that they should advance in close array with the standards, and so that the soldier should carry his own food and arms. Thus by preventing wrongdoing rather than by punishing it he strengthened the army in a short time." 9. Then the portrait of Marius: "At about the same time, when C. Marius chanced to be supplicating the gods through victims at Utica, the soothsayer had told him that great and marvelous things were portended: therefore let him pursue what he was turning over in his mind, relying on the gods, and let him try fortune as often as possible; all would turn out prosperously. But even before this an immense longing for the consulship was driving him on." [four pages are missing] "[...] he had counted his accustomed hardihood and the other things which the rest call miseries as a pleasure, except that nevertheless the commonwealth was administered well and honorably by a most savage authority alike." 10. But such is the portrait of the commander; read through the voluptuous passages too: "But among these was Sempronia, who had often committed many deeds of manly daring. This woman was fortunate enough in birth and beauty, and besides in her husband and children; she was learned in Greek and Latin letters, could play the lyre and dance more elegantly than is necessary for a virtuous woman, and had many other accomplishments which are the instruments of luxury. But all things were always dearer to her than honor and chastity; you could not easily distinguish whether she was more sparing of her money or of her reputation; her lust was so inflamed that she more often sought out men than she was sought by them." 11. "By these events the state was thrown into commotion, and the face of the city was changed. From the height of gladness and wantonness which the long-lasting quiet had bred, suddenly all gloom invaded; men hurried, trembled, and trusted neither any place nor any person sufficiently; they neither waged war nor kept peace; each measured the dangers by his own fear. In addition, the women, into whom, because of the greatness of the commonwealth, an unaccustomed fear of war had entered, distressed themselves, stretched suppliant hands to heaven, lamented their little children, asked about everything, took fright at every rumor, snatched at everything, and, laying aside pride and pleasures, despaired of themselves and of their fatherland." 12. The sketch by which the disgraces of the common people's conduct are described: "For in a state, those who have no resources always envy the good, exalt the bad, hate the old, eagerly desire the new, and out of hatred of their own circumstances are eager to have everything changed; by upheaval and seditions they are fed without care, since poverty is easily maintained without loss." Farewell.

to my Lord. 1. . . . . a facility adapted to history, and not that restraint which is suitable for oratory; that these authors employed figures of speech also, which the Greeks call σχήματα , the former those which are in keeping with history, the latter with oratory; that Sallust made use of antithesis happily arranged: greedy of another's wealth, lavish of his own; eloquence enough, too little wisdom; of word-echo, too, and that not ridiculous or trivial but judicious and in good taste: expert in simulation and dissimulation; that Tullius, however, made use of a most passionate figure, and one well known to orators, which grammarians call epanaphora . . . . 2. Who on occasion more delightful to our nobler men? Who more intimate with the baser? Who at times on the good side in politics? Who a fouler enemy to this state? Who more polluted in his pleasures? Who more enduring in his labours? Who more greedy in his rapacity? Who more lavish in his prodigality? Even eight sentences in succession begin with the same word. Notice this also, if you will, and turn it over in your mind whether, compared to all the embellishment and passion, that neutral phrase— to share what he had with all —be not a blemish; for to me this seems a little too dry and commonplace. 3. After those passages of Tullius and Sallust on Catiline I thought it not wholly irrelevant to exhibit what L. Antonius . . . . says: whom besides a veteran army a great part of the young men followed with eager enthusiasm . Therefore, in using this figure you would do just what a painter, who had never tried to paint a horse . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. The sketch of Jugurtha is as follows: As soon as he grew up, endowed with bodily strength, a handsome person, but above all with a powerful intellect, he did not give himself up to the seductions of luxury and idleness, but, as is the way with that nation, rode, threw the dart, and challenged his peers in the race; and though he outstripped all in glory, yet was he a favourite with all. Besides he spent much time in the chase and was the first, or among the first, to strike the lion or other wild beasts, and doing the most he still said the least about himself. . . . . For Jugurtha, possessed as he was of a vigorous and eager character, when he came to know the temper of P. Scipio, who was then the Roman general, and the ways of the enemy . . . . rather than respected . 5. The qualities of a general held in the highest honour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Nor must the sketch of the country be left out: The sea is stormy and harbourless; the country fruitful in grain, good for cattle, but not kindly for trees; there is a scarcity of water from rain or springs. The inhabitants are healthy in body, active, inured to toil; the majority succumb to old age, unless they perish by violence or wild beasts, for disease seldom claims a victim. It must be added that noxious animals abound. 7. Then he goes on as follows with no little skill: He turned his thoughts to Adherbal's kingdom: himself daring, warlike, but he whom he was to assail quiet, unwarlike, of a gentle disposition, at the mercy of any attack, the victim rather than the cause of fear . 8. This of the consul's generalship: For our consul had many excellent endowments of body and mind, but avarice was a clog upon them all: he was inured to toils, enterprising in character, but wary enough, no novice in war, and undaunted in the face of danger and surprises . 9. Then the demoralized soldiery: The army handed over to the general, Spurius Albinus the proconsul, was without energy or warlike spirit, inured neither to danger nor toil, quicker with a word than a blow, spoiler of the allies and itself the spoil of the enemy, kept in no obedience or discipline. So by their bad morale they brought their new commander more anxiety than they gave him support or confidence by their numbers . 10. Growth of effeminacy: For Albinus, dismayed by the disaster to his brother Aulus and his army, resolved not to stir out of his province for such time of summer campaigning as he was in command, and kept the soldiers for the most part in a stationary camp, except when the stench or want of forage compelled a move. But the camp was not fortified, nor regular watches posted according to the rules of war; the soldier absented himself from duty as he pleased. Camp-followers mingled with the soldiers and went in and out day and night, and wandered about robbing the countryside, forcing their way into the farmhouses, vying with one another in carrying off cattle and slaves, which they exchanged with the dealers for imported wine and other suchlike things; not content with this, they sold the state allowance of corn and bought bread for daily consumption: in a word, all the evil effects of idleness and luxury, which can be expressed or imagined, were to be met with in that army, and others besides. But in these difficult circumstances I find that Metellus proved himself a great and wise man no less than in the field, so just a mean did he keep between a pandering to popularity and undue severity . . . . and in a short time he restored the discipline of the army . 11. Then a sketch of Marius: About the same time when Marius, who chanced to be at Utica, was sacrificing to the Gods, the diviner had announced that "great and wondrous things were presaged; let him therefore rely on the Gods and carry through what he had in mind: let him put fortune to the touch as often as he would; all would turn out well." Now, for a long time past Marius had been fired with an intense desire to be consul . . . . had not ventured to sue for the consulship . 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At the same time the consul, as though no duty was delegated, saw to everything himself, was present everywhere, giving praise, giving blame where due. Himself armed and alert, he forced his soldiers to be so likewise; and he shelved no less caution in fortifying camps and in posting at the gates a watch from the legionaries of the cohort, and in front of the camp from the auxiliary cavalry, than in making marches; he stationed others besides above the rampart in entrenchments, and went the rounds of the watch in person, not so much from any doubt that what he had ordered would be done, as that the soldiers might endure cheerfully toils which they saw shared by their leader: . . . . conducted with dignity and success . 13. But that is the sketch of a commander: listen to some things also in a more sensuous strain: Among these was Sempronia, who had done many deeds that often shewed the daring of a man. Here was a woman sufficiently happy in her birth and her beauty, not to mention in her husband and children; she was learned in Greek and Latin literature; she could sing and dance more attractively than was required by an honest woman; and there were many other things which minister to luxury. But she valued everything more . . . . than solicited by them . 14. By these events the state was stirred to its depths, and the face of the city transformed for us: from the height of luxury and licentiousness, the outcome of a long-standing peace, all were suddenly seized with gloom; there was hurry, there was confusion, and no place, no person, was quite trusted; they were not at war, they were not enjoying peace; each man made his own alarm the measure of his danger. Moreover the women, unused to the fear of war, by reason of the greatness of the state, worried themselves, raised suppliant hands to heaven, bemoaned their little children, questioned everything, quaked at every rumour, snatched at every bit of news, and forgetting their pride and their pleasures, were despondent for themselves and their country. 15. Sketch of the insubordination of the people and their excesses: For in a state those who have no wealth of their own invariably envy the better classes, glorify the bad, hate what is old, hanker after change; from discontent with their own condition, they are eager for a revolution; disorder and public discord provide them with subsistence without any effort of their own, since poverty is easily maintained without loss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ad Anton.Imp. 3.1 [96 Hout; 2.158 Haines] <Domino meo.> 1 <...>tatem historias opera apta neque illam moderationem orationi accomdatam; figuras etiam, quas Graeci σχήματα vocant illum historiae, hunc orationi congruentes adhibuisse; Sallustium antithetis honeste compositis usum: “Alieni adpetens, sui profusus; satis eloquentiae, sapientiae parum”; paronomasia etiam non absurda nec frivola, sed proba et eleganti: “Simulator ac dissimulator”; Tullium vero commotissima et familiari orationibus figura usum quam scriptores artium ἐπαναφοράν vocant. Sallustius sapius epeanaphoris usus iterata verba, “Quid audivi” dum repetat, ita Tullius de Pisone . . . . . . . : “Quis clarioribus viris quodam tempore jucundior, quis turpioribus conjunctior? Quis civis meliorum partium aliquandi, quis taetrior hostis huic civitati? Quis in voluptatibus inquinatior, quis in laboribus patientior? Quis in rapacitate avarior, quis in largitione difusior?” Et porro deinceps ab eodem isto verbo sententiae inchoantur. Si videbitur, id quoque animadvertito et cum animo agitato an pro cetero ornatu ac tumultu a Cicerone medium illud inculpatum sit: “Cum omnibus communicare quod habebat”; nam mihi paulo hoc volgatius et jejunius videtur. 2 Non . . . bis dictio coortandi post illa Sallusti et Tulli de Catilina a L. Antoni altera iratus an putabam ostendere in Tulli praeter vetera ipsum . . . . se magna pars juventutis sequebatur. Idcirco hoc in scripto jam faceres idem, quod pictor Calamis, qui numquam pingere equom quadrupedesve instituerat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pingat. 3 Jugurthae forma ejusmodi est: “Qui ubi primum adolevit, pollens viribus, facie, sed multo maxime ingenio validus, non se luxu neque inertiae corrumpendum dedit, sed, uti mos gentis illius est, equitare, jaculari cursu cum aequalibus certare et, cum omnis gloria anteiret, omnibus tamen carus esse. Ad hoc pleraque tempora in venando agere, leonem atque alias feras primus aut in primis ferire; plurimum facere, minimum ipse de se loqui.” “Nam Jugurtha, ut erat inpigro atque acri ingenio, ubi naturam P. Scipionis, qui tunc Romanis imperator erat, et morem hostium cognovit, multo labore multaque cura, praeterea modestissime parendo et saepe obviam eundo periculis in tantam claritudinem brevi pervenerat, ut nostris vehementer carus, Numantinis maximo terrori esset. Ac sane, quod difficillimum in primis est, et proelio strenuus erat et bonus consilio, quorum alterum ex providentia timorem, alterum ex audacia temeritatem afferre plerumque solet. Igitur imperator omnes fere res asperas per Jugurtham agere, in amicis habere, magis magisque eum in dies amplecti, quippe cujus neque consilium neque inceptum ullum frustra erat. Hoc accedebat munificentia animi et ingeni solertia, quibus rebus sibi multos ex Romanis familiari amicitia conjunxerat. Ea tempestate in exercitu nostro fuere complures novi atque nobiles quibus divitiae bono honestoque potiores erant, factiosi domi, potentes apud socios, clari magis quam honesti.” 4 Ne agrei quidem forma praetereunda: “Mare saevum, inportuosum; ager frugum fertilis, bonus pecori, arbori infecundus; caelo terraque penuria aquarum. Genus hominum salubri corpore, velox, patiens laborum, ac plerosque senectus dissoluit, nisi qui ferro aut bestiis interiere, nam morbus haud saepe quem superat; ad hoc malefici generis plurima animalia.” 5 Tum illa persequitur non inscite: “In regnum Adherbalis animum intendit. Ipse acer, bellicosus; at is quem petebat quietus, inbellis, placido ingenio, opportunus injuriae, metuens magis quam metuendus.” 6 Hoc de consulis peritia: “Nam in consule nostro multae bonaeque artes et animi et corporis erant, quas omnis avaritia praepediebat: Patiens laborum, acri ingenio, satis providens, belli haud ignarus, firmissimus contra pericula et invidias.” 7 Milites deinde corrupti: “Imperatori exercitus traditur a Spurio Albino proconsule iners, inbellis, neque periculi neque laboris patiens, lingua quam manu promptior, praedator ex sociis et ipse praeda hostium, sine imperio et modestia habitus. Ita imperatori novo plus ex malis moribus sollicitudinis quam ex copia militum auxilii aut spei bonae accedebat.” 8 Effeminatio: “Nam Albinus Auli fratris exercitusque clade perculsus, postquam decreverat non egredi provincia, quantum temporis aestivorum in imperio fuit, plerumque milites stativis castris habebat, nisi cum odor aut pabuli egestas locum mutare subegerat. Sed neque muniebatur neque more militari vigiliae deducebantur; uti cuique libebat, ab signis aberat. Lixae permixti cum militibus diu noctuque vagabantur et palantes agros vastare, villas expugnare, pecoris et mancipiorum praedas certantes agere eaque mutare cum mercatoribus vino advecticio et aliis talibus; praeterea frumentum datum publice vendere, panem in dies mercari; postremo quaecumque dici aut fingi queunt ignaviae luxuriaeque probra, ea in illo exercitu cuncta fuere et alia amplius. Sed in ea difficultate Metellum nec minus quam in rebus hostilibus magnum et sapientem virum fuisse comperior; tanta temperantia inter ambitionem saevitiamque moderatum; namque edicto primum adjumenta ignaviae sustulisse: Ne quisquam in castris panem aut quem alium cibum coctum venderet, ne lixae exercitum insequerentur, ne miles hastatus aut gregarius in castris neve in agmine servum aut jumentum haberet; ceteris arte modum statuisse. Praeterea transversis itineribus cotidie castra movere, juxta ac si hostes adessent vallo atque fossa munire, vigilias crebras ponere et eas ipse cum legatis circumire, item in agmine in primis modo, modo postremis, saepe in medio adesse ne quispiam ordine egrederetur, ut cum signis frequentes incederent, miles cibum et arma portaret. Ita prohibendo a delictis magis quam vindicando exercitum brevi confirmavit.” 9 Tum forma Marii: “Per idem tempus Uticae forte C. Mario per hostias dis supplicanti magna atque mirabilia portendi haruspex dixerat: Proinde quae animo agitabat, fretus dis ageret, fortunam quam saepissime experiretur; cuncta prospere eventura. At illum jam antea consulatus ingens cupido exagitabat” [quattuor paginae desunt] “<...> consuetam duritiam et alia quae ceteri miserias vocant voluptati habuisse, nisi tamen res publica pariter atque saevissimo imperio bene atque decore gesta.” 10 Sed forma ea imperatoris; perlege et voluptaria: “Sed in his erat Sempronia quae multa saepe virilis audaciae facinora commiserat. Haec mulier genere atque forma, praeterea viro, liberis satis fortunata fuit; litteris Graecis, Latinis docta, psallere, saltare elegantius quam necesse est probae, multa alia, quae instrumenta luxuriae sunt. Sed ei cariora semper omnia quam decus atque pudicitia fuit; pecuniae an famae minus parceret, haud facile discerneres; libido sic accensa ut saepius peteret viros quam peteretur.” 11 “Quis rebus permota civitas atque immutata urbis facies erat. Ex summa laetitia lasciviaque quae diuturna quies pepererat repente omnis tristitia invasit; festinare, trepidare neque loco neque homini cuiquam satis credere; neque bellum gerere neque pacem habere; suo quisque metu pericula metiri. Ad hoc mulieres quibus rei publicae magnitudine belli timor insolitus incesserat adflictare sese, manus supplices ad caelum tendere, miserari parvos liberos, rogitare omnia, omni rumore pavere, adripere omnia superbia atque deliciis omissis, sibi patriaeque diffidere.” 12 Forma qua flagitia disciplinae plebis describuntur: “Nam semper in ciuitate quibus opes nullae sunt bonis invident, malos extollunt, vetera odere, nova exoptant, odio suarum rerum mutari omnia student; turba atque seditionibus sine cura aluntur quoniam egestas facile sine damno habetur.” Vale.