C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino by 86 BC-34? BC Sallust
page 86 of 256 (33%)
page 86 of 256 (33%)
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but that afterwards there were no men of importance, or excelling
others by mental superiority, and that the state, as a whole, alone made the faults of individuals bearable. We must honour the judgment of Sallust, but cannot agree with it; we must rather believe that the unvarying ability of the whole Roman people, notwithstanding the not very prominent minds of individuals, was the cause of the rapid progress of the Roman dominion. In the later times, on the other hand, we meet a Scipio the younger, a Marius, a Sulla, a Pompey, and a Caesar, all of whom were men or generals of eminent talent, while all those who served under them were persons of inferior abilities. [304] _Effeta parentum_, the same as _effeta parens_, 'a mother who has had children, but can have no more.' Respecting the partitive genitive (as in _aliqui militum_ for _aliqui milites_), see Zumpt, S 430. The author in the progress of his sentence abandons the construction with which he began, and which ought to have been continued thus: _Roma haud sane quemquam virtute magnum protulit_, for which he says, _Romae haud sane quisquam virtute magnus fuit_. This deviation from the construction may be explained still more easily, if in our mind we add _facit_ to the words _sicuti effeta parentum_, 'as is the case with an aged mother.' _Multis tempestatibus_, 'during a long time.' The singular _tempestas_ in the sense of 'time' is not uncommon, but the plural _tempestates_ in the sense of 'periods of time' occurs only in Sallust in this passage, and _Jug_. 73, 96, and 108. [305] _Quin_ is used regularly for _ut non_ after a negative clause: 'I would not pass them over in silence, without unfolding their characters.' 54. Igitur his genus, aetas, eloquentia prope aequalia fuere; magnitudo animi par, item gloria, sed alia alii.[306] Caesar beneficiis ac |
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