that the Greeks even then had already attained a higher degree of
civilisation. The interest which history takes in wars does not
depend upon the vastness of the armies or the extent of countries,
but upon the lower or higher degree of civilisation of those engaged
in the wars.
[60] _Pro maximis_, 'they are celebrated _as if they were_ the greatest.'
Respecting this meaning of _pro_, see Zumpt, S 394, note 3.
[61] 'The more intelligent any one was, the more business was intrusted
to him,' so that he had no leisure (_otium_) to devote to literary
composition. This at least is Sallust's opinion; but when a man feels
it to be his vocation to write history, he can find time for it,
however much he may be otherwise engaged--witness J. Caesar and
Frederick II. of Prussia. For the construction, see Zumpt, S 710. C.

9. Igitur domi militiaeque boni mores colebantur, concordia maxima,
minima avaritia erat, jus bonumque apud eos non legibus magis quam
natura[62] valebat. Jurgia, discordias, simultates cum hostibus
exercebant, cives cum civibus de virtute certabant; in suppliciis[63]
deorum magnifici, domi parci, in amicos fideles erant. Duabus his
artibus, audacia in bello, ubi pax evenerat, aequitate seque[64] remque
publicam curabant. Quarum rerum ego maxima documenta haec habeo, quod in
bello saepius vindicatum est in eos, qui contra imperium in hostem
pugnaverant, quique tardius revocati proelio excesserant, quam qui signa
relinquere aut pulsi loco cedere ausi erant; in pace vero, quod
beneficiis quam[65] metu imperium agitabant, et accepta injuria[66]
ignoscere quam persequi malebant.

[62] 'Not more by law than by nature;' that is, 'by nature as well as by
law.'
[63] _In suppliciis_, 'in the worship of the gods;' for as it was