[112] Slaves purchased with money, etc.—Servi, aere parati, etc. This is taken from another speech of Cato, of which a portion is preserved in Aul. Gell. x. 3: Servi injurias nimis aegre ferunt; quid illos bono genere natos, magnâ virtute praeditos, animi habuisse atque habituros, dum vivent? "Slaves are apt to be too impatient of injuries; and what feelings do you think that men of good family, and of great merit, must have had, and will have as long as they live?"
[113] Public spirit—Pietas. Under this word are included all duties that we ought to perform to those with whom we are intimately connected, or on whom we are dependent, as our parents, our country, and the gods. I have borrowed my translation of the word from Rose.
[114] The marks of favor which proceed from you—Beneficia vestra. Offices of state, civil and military.
[115] A greater disgrace to lose, etc.—Quod majus dedecus est parta amitere quam omnino non paravisse. [Greek: Aischion de echontas aphairethaenai ae ktomenous atychaesai] Thucyd. ii. 62.
[116] These times please you less than those, etc.—Illa quam haec tempora magis placent, etc. "Those times, which immediately succeeded the deaths of the Gracchi, and which were distinguished for the tyranny of the nobles, and the humiliation of the people; these times, in which the people have begun to rouse their spirit and exert their liberty." Burnouf.
[117] Embezzlement of the public money—Peculatus aerarii. "Peculator, qui furtum facit pecuniae publicae." Ascon. Pedian. in Cic. Verr i.
[118] Kings—I have substituted the plural for the singular. "No name was more hated at Rome than that of a king; and no sentiment, accordingly, could have been better adapted to inflame the minds of Memmius's hearers, than that which he here utters." Dietsch.
[119] If the crimes of the wicked are suppressed, etc.—Si injuriae non sint, haud saepe auxilii egeas. "Some foolishly interpret auxilium as signifying auxilium tribunicium, the aid of the tribunes; but it is evident to me that Sallust means aid against the injuries of bad men, i.e. revenge or punishment." Kritzius. "If injuries are repressed, or prevented, there will be less need for the help of good men and it will be of less consequence if they become inactive." Dietsch.
[120] XXXII. Lucius Cassius—This is the man from whom came the common saying cui bono? "Lucius Cassius, whom the Roman people thought the most accurate and wisest of judges, was accustomed constantly to inquire, in the progress of a cause, cui bono fuisset, of what advantage any thing had been." Cic. pro Rosc. Am. 80. "His tribunal," says Valerius Maximus (iii. 7), "was called, from his excessive severity, the rock of the accused." It was probably on account of this quality in his character that he was now sent into Numidia.
[121] Under guarantee of the public faith—Interpositâ fide publicâ. See Cat.47, 48. So a little below, fidem suam interponit. Interpono is "to pledge."