[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.