82.15. Inasmuch as the Numantians seemed invincible in battle and had vanquishedany generals, the people made Scipio consul the second time for this war. When many were eager to enlist for the campaign, the Senate intervened, on the ground that Italy would be unprotected. Moreover, they would not allow him to take money from what was already on hand, but set aside for his use the revenues from taxes not yet due. Scipio said that he did not need monev, for his own and that of his friends would be sufficient; but in regard to the soldiers he did find fault. For he said that the war was a hard war; if it was owing to the bravery of the enemy that they had been vanquished so many times, then it was hard because it was against such men; if it was owing to the want of bravery in their own citizens, then it was hard because it must be conducted with such men.
82.15. τῶν δὲ Νομαντίνων ἀμάχων εἶναι δοκούντων καὶ πολλοὺς νενικηκότων στρατηγούς, ὕπατον ἀπέδειξε Σκιπίωνα τὸ δεύτερον ὁ δῆμος ἐπὶ τὸν πόλεμον· ὡρμημένων δὲ πολλῶν ἐπὶ τὴν στρατείαν, καὶ τοῦτο διεκώλυσεν ἡ σύγκλητος, ὡς ἐρήμου τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐσομένης. καὶ χρήματα λαβεῖν τῶν ἑτοίμων οὐκ εἴασαν, ἀλλὰ τὰς τελωνικὰς προσόδους ἀπέταξαν οὔπω χρόνον ἐχούσας. ὁ δὲ Σκιπίων χρημάτων μὲν οὐκ ἔφη δεῖσθαι, τὰ γὰρ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ τῶν φίλων ἐξαρκέσειν· περὶ δὲ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐμέμψατο, χαλεπὸν γὰρ εἶναι τὸν πόλεμον, εἰ μὲν διʼ ἀνδρείαν τῶν πολεμίων ἥττηνται τοσαυτάκις, ὅτι πρὸς τοιούτους, εἰ δὲ διʼ ἀνανδρίαν τῶν πολιτῶν, ὅτι μετὰ τοιούτων ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον πολλὴν ἀταξίαν καὶ ἀκολασίαν καὶ δεισιδαιμονίαν καὶ τρυφὴν κατέλαβε, μάντεις μὲν εὐθὺς ἐξήλασε καὶ θύτας καὶ πορνοβοσκούς, σκεύη δὲ προσέταξεν ἀποπέμπειν ἅπαντα πλὴν χύτρας ὀβελίσκου καὶ ποτηρίου κεραμεοῦ·
82.16. When he arrived at the camp, and found there much disorder, licentiousness, superstition, and luxury, he straightway drove out the soothsayers, diviners, and panders, and issued orders to send away all camp-utensils except a pot, a spit, and an earthenware drinking-cup. But he conceded a goblet of silverware of not more than two pounds weight to those who wished to keep such. He forbade bathing, and of those who took a rub-down he required that each man should rub himself, saying that the pack-animals, not being provided with hands, needed somebody to rub them. He also issued orders that the soldiers should eat their luncheon standing, and that it should be something uncooked, but that they might recline at dinner, and this should be bread or porridge simply, and meat roasted or boiled. He himself went about with a black cloak pinned around him, saying that he was in mourning for the disgrace of the army.
82.16. τῶν δὲ ἀργυρέων ἔκπωμα οὐ μεῖζον δύο λιτρῶν συνεχώρησε τοῖς βουλομένοις ἔχειν· λούεσθαι δὲ ἀπεῖπε, τῶν δὲ ἀλειφομένων τρίβειν ἕκαστον ἑαυτόν· τὰ γὰρ ὑποζύγια χεῖρας μὴ ἔχοντα ἑτέρου τρίψοντος δεῖσθαι· προσέταξε δὲ ἀριστᾶν μὲν ἑστῶτας ἄπυρον ὄψον, δειπνεῖν δὲ κατακειμένους ἄρτον ἢ πόλτον ἁπλῶς καὶ κρέας ὀπτὸν ἢ ἑφθόν· αὐτὸς δὲ σάγον ἐμπεπορπημένος μέλανα περιῄει, πενθεῖν τὴν τοῦ στρατεύματος αἰσχύνην λέγων.
82.17. He detected in the baggage carried by the pack-animals of Memmius, a military tribune, wine coolers set with precious stones, the work of Thericles, and said to him, “By such conduct you have made yourself useless to me and your country for thirty days, but useless to yourself for your whole lifetime.”
82.17. Μεμμίου δέ τινος χιλιάρχου λαβὼν ὑποζύγια, ψυκτῆρας διαλίθους παρακομίζοντα καὶ Θηρικλείους, ἐμοὶ μέν εἶπεν ἡμέρας τριάκοντα καὶ τῇ πατρίδι, σαυτῷ δὲ τὸν βίον ἅπαντα τοιοῦτος ὢν ἄχρηστον πεποίηκας σεαυτόν.
82.18. When another man showed him a shield beautifully ornamented, he said, “A fine shield, young sir; but it is more fitting that a Roman rest his hopes in his right hand rather than in his left.”
82.18. ἑτέρου δὲ θυρεὸν ἐπιδείξαντος εὖ κεκοσμημένον ὁ μὲν θυρεός εἶπεν ὦ νεανία καλός, πρέπει δὲ Ῥωμαῖον ἄνδρα μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ δεξιᾷ τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχειν ἢ τῇ ἀριστερᾷ.
82.19. Another carrying a timber for the palisade said that it was awfully heavy. “Very likely,” said Scipio, “for you put more trust in this wood than in your sword.”
82.19. τοῦ δὲ τὸν χάρακα ἄραντος σφόδρα πιέζεσθαι φάσκοντος εἰκότως ἔφη· τῷ γὰρ ξύλῳ τούτῳ μᾶλλον ἢ τῇ μαχαίρᾳ πιστεύεις ὁρῶν δὲ τὴν ἀπόνοιαν τῶν πολεμίων ἔλεγεν ὠνεῖσθαι τοῦ χρόνου τὴν ἀσφάλειαν·
82.20. Observing the recklessness of the enemy, he said that he himself was buying security with time; for a good general, like a physician, needed to operate with steel only as a last resort. Nevertheless he attacked at the proper time and routed the Numantians.
82.20. τὸν γὰρ ἀγαθὸν στρατηγὸν ὥσπερ ἰατρὸν ἐσχάτης δεῖσθαι τῆς διὰ τοῦ σιδήρου θεραπείας. οὐ μὴν ἀλλʼ ἐπιθέμενος ἐν καιρῷ τοὺς Νομαντίνους ἐτρέψατο.
82.21. When the older men asked the defeated soldiers why they were such cowards as to flee from the men they had so often pursued, one of the Numantians is said to have replied that the sheep were still the same sheep, but another man was their shepherd. After he had captured Numantia and celebrated his second triumph, he had a falling out with Gaius Gracchus in regard to the Senate and the allies; and the people, feeling much aggrieved, set out to shout him down on the rostra. But he said, “The battle-cry of armed hosts has never discomfited me, and much less can that of a rabble of whom I know full well that Italy is not their real mother, but their stepmother.”
82.21. τῶν δὲ πρεσβυτέρων τοὺς ἡττημένους κακιζόντων, τί πεφεύγασιν οὓς τοσαυτάκις ἐδίωξαν, εἰπεῖν τινα λέγεται τῶν Νομαντίνων ὡς τὰ πρόβατα ταὐτὰ καὶ νῦν ἐστιν, ὁ δὲ ποιμὴν ἄλλος ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν Νομαντίαν ἑλὼν καὶ θριαμβεύσας τὸ δεύτερον πρὸς Γάιον Γράκχον ὑπέρ τε τῆς βουλῆς καὶ τῶν συμμάχων κατέστη διαφορᾷ, καὶ λυπούμενος ὁ δῆμος ἐθορύβησεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος, ἐμέ εἶπεν οὐδέποτε στρατοπέδων ἀλαλαγμὸς ἐθορύβησεν, οὔτι γε συγκλύδων ἀνθρώπων, ὧν οὐ μητέρα τὴν Ἰταλίαν ἀλλὰ μητρυιὰν οὖσαν ἐπίσταμαι.
82.23. When the men about Gracchus cried out, “Kill the tyrant,” he said, “Very naturally those who feel hostile towards our country wish to make away with me first; for it is not possible for Rome to fall while Scipio stands, nor for Scipio to live when Rome has fallen.”
82.23. τῶν δὲ περὶ τὸν Γάιον βοώντων κτεῖναι τὸν τύραννον εἰκότως εἶπεν οἱ τῇ πατρίδι πολεμοῦντες ἐμὲ βούλονται προανελεῖν· οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τε τὴν Ῥώμην πεσεῖν Σκιπίωνος ἑστῶτος οὐδὲ ζῆν Σκιπίωνα τῆς Ῥώμης πεσούσης.
83.1. When Caecilius Metellvs was desirous of leading his men against a strongly fortified place, a centurion said that with the loss of only ten men Metellvs could take the place. Metellus asked him if he wished to be one of the ten! A certain centurion among the younger men inquired what he was going to do. “If I thought,” said he, “that the shirt on my back knew what is in my mind, I would strip it off and put it in the fire.”
83.1. Καικίλιος Μέτελλος ὀχυρῷ χωρίῳ βουλευόμενος προσαγαγεῖν, εἰπόντος ἑκατοντάρχου πρὸς αὐτὸν ὡς, ἐὰν δέκα μόνους ἀποβάλῃ, λήψεται τὸ χωρίον, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ βούλοιτο εἷς τῶν δέκα γενέσθαι τῶν δὲ νεωτέρων τινὸς χιλιάρχου πυνθανομένου τί μέλλει ποιεῖν, εἰ τοῦτο ἔφη συνειδέναι μοι τὸν χιτωνίσκον ἐνόμιζον, ἀποδυσάμενος ἂν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ ἐπέθηκα.
83.3. He was bitterly opposed to Scipio while Scipio lived, but felt very sad when he died, and commanded his sons to take part in carrying the bier. He said that he felt grateful to the gods, for Rome’s sake, that Scipio had not been born among another people.
83.3. Σκιπίωνι δὲ ζῶντι πολεμῶν, ἀποθανόντος ἠχθέσθη, καὶ τοὺς μὲν υἱοὺς ἐκέλευσεν ὑποδύντας ἄρασθαι τὸ λέχος, τοῖς δὲ θεοῖς ἔφη χάριν ἔχειν ὑπὲρ τῆς Ῥώμης, ὅτι παρʼ ἄλλοις οὐκ ἐγένετο Σκιπίων.
84.1. Gaius Marius carne from an obscure family and advanced into political life through his military services. He announced himself a candidate for the greater aedileship, but, perceiving that he was running behind, on the very same day he went after the lesser. Failing also to obtain that, he nevertheless did not give up the idea that he should some day be the first among the Romans.
84.1. Γάιος Μάριος ἐκ γένους ἀδόξου προϊὼν εἰς πολιτείαν διὰ τῶν στρατειῶν, ἀγορανομίαν τὴν μείζονα παρήγγειλεν· αἰσθόμενος δὲ ὅτι λείπεται τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλάττονα μετῆλθε· κἀκείνης ἀποτυχὼν, ὅμως οὐκ ἀπέγνω τοῦ πρωτεύσειν Ῥωμαίων.
84.2. He had large varicose veins on both legs, and, refusing to be fastened down, he submitted these to his physician for excision; and without a groan or even a contraction of his eyebrows he underwent the operation with fortitude. But as the physician turned his attention to the other leg, Marius would not consent, saying that the cure was not worth the pain.
84.2. ἰξίας δὲ ἔχων ἐν ἀμφοτέροις τοῖς σκέλεσι παρέσχεν ἄδετος ἐκτεμεῖν τῷ ἰατρῷ, καὶ μὴ στενάξας μηδὲ τὰς ὀφρῦς συναγαγὼν ἐνεκαρτέρησε τῇ χειρουργίᾳ· τοῦ δὲ ἰατροῦ μεταβαίνοντος ἐπὶ θάτερον, οὐκ ἠθέλησεν εἰπὼν οὐκ εἶναι τὸ θεράπευμα τῆς ἀλγηδόνος ἄξιον.
84.3. In his second consulship Lusius, his nephew, attempted an indecent assault on one of the youths in the army, by the name of Trebonius, and the youth killed Lusius. When many accused him of the crime, he did not deny that he had killed the officer, and disclosed the circumstances; whereupon Marius ordered the crown which is given for deeds of supreme valour to be brought, and this he placed upon Trebonius.
84.3. ἐπεὶ δὲ Λούσιος ὁ ἀδελφιδοῦς, αὐτοῦ τὸ δεύτερον ὑπατεύοντος, ἐβιάζετο τῶν ἐν ὥρᾳ στρατευομένων τινὰ ὀνόματι Τρεβώνιον, ὁ δὲ ἀπέκτεινεν αὐτόν, καὶ πολλῶν κατηγορούντων οὐκ ἠρνήσατο κτεῖναι τὸν ἄρχοντα, τὴν δὲ αἰτίαν εἶπε καὶ ἀπέδειξε· κελεύσας ὁ Μάριος τὸν ἐπὶ ταῖς ἀριστείαις διδόμενον στέφανον κομισθῆναι τῷ Τρεβωνίῳ περιέθηκε.
84.4. Encamped against the Teutons in a place which had little water, when the soldiers said they were thirsty, he pointed out to them a river flowing close by the enemy’s palisade, saying, “There is drink for you which can be bought with blood.” And they called upon him to lead them on while the blood within them was fluid and not all dried up by their thirst.
84.4. τοῖς δὲ Τεύτοσι παραστρατοπεδεύσας ἐν χωρίῳ ὀλίγον ὕδωρ ἔχοντι, τῶν στρατιωτῶν διψῆν λεγόντων, δείξας αὐτοῖς ποταμὸν ἐγγὺς ῥέοντα τῷ χάρακι τῶν πολεμίων ἐκεῖθεν ὑμῖν ἔστιν εἶπε ποτὸν ὤνιον αἵματος. οἱ δὲ ἄγειν παρεκάλουν, ἕως ὑγρὸν ἔχωσι τὸ αἷμα καὶ μήπω πᾶν ὑπὸ τοῦ διψῆν ἐκπεπηγός ἐν δὲ τοῖς Κιμβρικοῖς πολέμοις Καμαρίνων χιλίους ἄνδρας ἀγαθοὺς γενομένους ὁμοῦ Ῥωμαίους ἐποίησε, κατʼ οὐδένα νόμον·
84.5. In the Cimbrian wars a thousand men of Camerinum who had acquitted themselves bravely he made Roman citizens, in accord with no law. To those who complained he said that he did not hear the laws because of the clash of arms.
84.5. πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ἐγκαλοῦντας ἔλεγε τῶν νόμων οὐκ ἐξακοῦσαι διὰ τὸν τῶν ὅπλων ψόφον.
84.6. In the Civil War, when he found himself surrounded by a trench and cut off by the enemy, he held out and bided his own time. Pompaedius Silo said to him, “If you are a great general, Marius, come down and fight it out.” Marius replied, “If you are a great general, make me fight it out when I do not wish to do so!”
84.6. ἐν δὲ τῷ ἐμφυλίῳ πολέμῳ περιταφρευόμενος καὶ πολιορκούμενος ἐκαρτέρει, τὸν οἰκεῖον ἀναμένων καιρόν. εἰπόντος δὲ Πομπαιδίου Σίλωνος πρὸς αὐτόν εἰ μέγας εἶ στρατηγός, ὦ Μάριε, καταβὰς διαγώνισαι σὺ μὲν οὖν εἶπεν εἰ μέγας εἶ στρατηγός, ἀνάγκασόν με διαγωνίσασθαι καὶ μὴ βουλόμενον.
85.1. Catulus Lutatius, in the Cimbrian War, was encamped beside the Atiso River. The Romans, seeing the barbarians crossing to attack, retreated, and he, not being able to check them, made haste to put himself in the front rank of those who were running away so that they might not seem to flee from the enemy, but to be following their commander.
85.1. Κάτλος Λουτάτιος ἐν τῷ Κιμβρικῷ πολέμῳ παρὰ τὸν Ἀτίσωνα ποταμὸν στρατοπεδεύων, ἐπεὶ τοὺς βαρβάρους ὁρῶντες οἱ Ῥωμαῖοι διαβαίνειν ἐπιχειροῦντας ἀνεχώρουν, μὴ δυνάμενος αὐτοὺς κατασχεῖν ὥρμησεν εἰς τοὺς πρώτους τῶν ἀποτρεχόντων, ὅπως δοκῶσι μὴ φεύγειν τοὺς πολεμίους, ἀλλὰ τῷ στρατηγῷ κατακολουθεῖν.
86.1. Sulla, who was called the Fortunate, counted two things among his greatest pieces of fortune: the friendship of Pius Metellus, and the fact that he had not razed Athens, but had spared the city.
86.1. Σύλλας ὁ εὐτυχὴς ἀναγορευθεὶς τῶν μεγίστων εὐτυχιῶν ἐποιεῖτο δύο, τὴν Πίου Μετέλλου φιλίαν, καὶ τὸ μὴ κατασκάψαι τὰς Ἀθήνας ἀλλὰ φείσασθαι τῆς πόλεως.
87.1. Gaius Popillius was sent draw his army from Egypt, and not to usurp the kingdom of Ptolemy’s children who were bereft of their parents. As he was making his approach through the camp, Antiochus welcomed him graciously while he was still a long way off, but he, without returning the salutation, delivered the document. When the king had read it, he said that he would think about it, and give his answer; whereupon Popillius drew a circle about him with his staff and said, “While you stand inside that line, think about it and answer.” All were astounded at the man’s lofty spirit, and Antiochus agreed to comply with the Roman decree; which done, Popillius saluted him and embraced him.
87.1. Γάιος Ποπίλλιος ἐπέμφθη πρὸς Ἀντίοχον ἐπιστολὴν παρὰ τῆς συγκλήτου κομίζων, κελεύουσαν ἀπάγειν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου τὸ στράτευμα καὶ μὴ σφετερίζεσθαι τῶν Πτολεμαίου τέκνων ὀρφανῶν ὄντων τὴν βασιλείαν· προσιόντα δʼ αὐτὸν διὰ τοῦ στρατοπέδου πόρρωθεν ἀσπασαμένου τοῦ Ἀντιόχου φιλοφρόνως, οὐκ ἀντασπασάμενος τὸ γραμματεῖον ἐπέδωκεν· ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀναγνοὺς ἔφη βουλεύσεσθαι καὶ δώσειν τὴν ἀπόκρισιν, τῷ κλήματι γῦρον περὶ αὐτὸν ὁ Ποπίλλιος περιέγραψεν εἰπών ἐνταῦθα τοίνυν ἑστὼς βούλευσαι καὶ ἀπόκριναι. πάντων δὲ τὸ φρόνημα τοῦ ἀνδρὸς καταπλαγέντων τοῦ τε Ἀντιόχου ποιήσειν ὁμολογοῦντος τὰ δοκοῦντα Ῥωμαίοις, οὕτως ἠσπάσατο καὶ περιέπτυξεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ποπίλλιος.
88.1. Lucullus in Armenia with ten thousand menat-arms and a thousand horsemen was proceeding against Tigranes, who had an army of an hundred and fifty thousand men, on the sixth day of October, the day on which, some years before, the force with Caepio had been annihilated by the Cimbrians. When somebody remarked that the Romans set that day aside as a dread day of expiation, he said, “Then let us on this day strive with might and main to make this, instead of an ill-omened and gloomy day, a glad and welcome day to the Romans.”
88.1. Λεύκουλλος ἐν Ἀρμενίᾳ μετὰ μυρίων ὁπλιτῶν καὶ χιλίων ἱππέων ἐπὶ Τιγράνην ἐχώρει πεντεκαίδεκα μυριάδας στρατιᾶς ἔχοντα τῇ πρὸ μιᾶς νοννῶν ὀκτωβρίων, ἐν ᾗ πρότερον ὑπὸ Κίμβρων ἡ μετὰ Καιπίωνος διεφθάρη δύναμις. εἰπόντος δέ τινος ὅτι Ῥωμαῖοι τὴν ἡμέραν ἀφοσιοῦνται καὶ δεδοίκασιν, οὐκοῦν ἔφη σήμερον ἀγωνισώμεθα προθύμως, ἵνα καὶ ταύτην ἐξ ἀποφράδος καὶ σκυθρωπῆς ποιήσωμεν ἱλαρὰν καὶ προσφιλῆ Ῥωμαίοις.
88.2. His soldiers feared most the men in full armour, but he bade them not to be afraid, saying that it would be harder work to strip these men than to defeat them. He was the first to advance against the hill, and observing the movement of the barbarians, he cried out, “We are victorious, my men,” and, meeting no resistance, he pursued, losing only five Romans who fell, and he slew over an hundred thousand of the enemy.
88.2. τοὺς δὲ καταφράκτους μάλιστα φοβουμένων τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐκέλευσε θαρρεῖν· πλεῖον γὰρ ἔργον εἶναι τοῦ νικῆσαι τὸ τούτους σκυλεῦσαι προσβὰς δὲ τῷ λόφῳ πρῶτος καὶ τὸ κίνημα τῶν βαρβάρων θεασάμενος ἀνεβόησε νενικήκαμεν, ὦ συστρατιῶται· καὶ μηδενὸς ὑποστάντος διώκων πέντε Ῥωμαίων ἀπέβαλε πεσόντας, τῶν δὲ πολεμίων ὑπὲρ δέκα μυριάδας ἀπέκτεινε.
89.1. Gnaeus Pompey was loved by the Romans as much as his father was hated. In his youth he was heart and soul for Sulla’s party, and without holding public office or being in the Senate, he enlisted many men in Italy for the army. When Sulla summoned him, he refused to present his troops before the commander-in-chief without spoils and without their having been through bloodshed. And he did not come until after he had vanquished the generals of the enemy in many battles.
89.1. Γναῖος Πομπήιος ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων ἠγαπήθη τοσοῦτον ὅσον ὁ πατὴρ ἐμισήθη. νέος δὲ ὢν παντάπασι τῇ Σύλλα μερίδι προσέθηκεν αὑτόν· καὶ μήτε ἄρχων μήτε βουλεύων πολλοὺς ἐκ τῆς Ἰταλίας ἐστρατολόγησε. καὶ Σύλλα καλοῦντος οὐκ ἔφη δίχα λαφύρων οὐδὲ ἀναίμακτον ἐπιδεῖξαι τῷ αὐτοκράτορι τὴν δύναμιν· οὐδʼ ἦλθε πρότερον πρὶν ἢ πολλαῖς μάχαις νικῆσαι τοὺς στρατηγοὺς τῶν πολεμίων.
89.2. When he was sent by Sulla to Sicily in the capacity of general, he perceived that the soldiers on the marches kept dropping out of the ranks to do violence and to plunder, and so he punished those who were straggling and running about, and placed seals upon the swords of those who were officially sent by him.
89.2. ἐπεὶ δὲ πεμφθεὶς εἰς Σικελίαν ὑπὸ Σύλλα στρατηγὸς ἐπυνθάνετο τοὺς στρατιώτας ἐν ταῖς ὁδοιπορίαις ἐκτρεπομένους βιάζεσθαι καὶ ἁρπάζειν, τοὺς μὲν ἄλλως πλανωμένους καὶ περιθέοντας ἐκόλασε, τῶν δὲ πεμπομένων ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ σφραγῖδας ἐπέβαλε ταῖς μαχαίραις.
89.3. The Mamertines, who had joined the other party, he was like to put to death to a man. But Sthennius, their popular leader, said that Pompey was not doing right in punishing many innocent men instead of one man who was responsible, and that this man was himself, who had persuaded his friends, and compelled his enemies, to choose the side of Marius. Much amazed, Pompey said that he could pardon the Mamertines if they had been persuaded by a man like him who valued his country above his own life; and thereupon he liberated both the city and Sthennius.
89.3. Μαμερτίνους δὲ τῆς ἐναντίας γενομένους μερίδος οἷός τε ἦν ἀποσφάττειν ἅπαντας· Σθεννίου δὲ τοῦ δημαγωγοῦ φήσαντος οὐ δίκαια ποιεῖν αὐτὸν ἀνθʼ ἑνὸς αἰτίου πολλοὺς ἀναιτίους κολάζοντα, τοῦτον δὲ αὑτὸν εἶναι τοὺς μὲν φίλους πείσαντα, τοὺς δὲ ἐχθροὺς βιασάμενον ἑλέσθαι τὰ Μαρίου· θαυμάσας ὁ Πομπήιος ἔφη συγγνώμην ἔχειν Μαμερτίνοις ὑπὸ τοιούτου πεισθεῖσιν ἀνδρός, ὃς τὴν πατρίδα τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ψυχῆς προτιμᾷ καὶ τήν τε πόλιν καὶ τὸν Σθέννιον ἀπέλυσεν.
89.4. He crossed over to Africa against Domitius and overcame him in a mighty battle; then, when the soldiers were hailing him as commander-in-chief, he said he could not accept the honour while the enemy’s palisade still stood upright. And they, in spite of a heavy rain that enveloped them, swept on and plundered the camp.
89.4. εἰς δὲ Λιβύην διαβὰς ἐπὶ Δομίτιον καὶ μάχῃ μεγάλῃ κρατήσας, ἀσπασαμένων αὐτὸν αὐτοκράτορα τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἔφη μὴ δέχεσθαι τὴν τιμήν, ἕως ὀρθὸς ἕστηκεν ὁ χάραξ, τῶν πολεμίων οἱ δέ, καίπερ ὄμβρου πολλοῦ κατέχοντος, ὁρμήσαντες διεπόρθησαν τὸ στρατόπεδον.
89.5. When he returned, Sulla received him graciously with many honours, and was the first to call him “Magnus” (The Great). He desired to celebrate a triumph, but Sulla would not allow him to do so, since he was not as yet a member of the Senate. When Pompey remarked to those present that Sulla did not realize that more people worship the rising than the setting sun, Sulla cried out, “Let him have his triumph!” Servilius, a man of noble family, was indignant, and many of the soldiers stood in his way with their demands of largess before his triumph. But when Pompey said that he would rather give up his triumph than curry favour with them, Servilius said that now he saw that Pompey was truly great, and deserved his triumph.
89.5. ἐπανελθόντα δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Σύλλας ταῖς μὲν ἄλλαις τιμαῖς ἐδέξατο φιλοφρόνως καὶ Μάγνον προσηγόρευσε πρῶτος αὐτόν· θριαμβεῦσαι δὲ βουλόμενον οὐκ εἴα μηδέπω μετέχοντα βουλῆς. εἰπόντος δὲ τοῦ Πομπηίου πρὸς τοὺς παρόντας ἀγνοεῖν τὸν Σύλλαν ὅτι καὶ τὸν ἥλιον ἀνατέλλοντα πλείονες ἢ δύνοντα προσκυνοῦσιν, ὁ μὲν Σύλλας ἀνεβόησε θριαμβευέτω. Σερουίλιος δὲ ἀνὴρ ἀριστοκρατικὸς ἠγανάκτει, καὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐνίσταντο πολλοὶ τῷ θριάμβῳ δωρεάς τινας ἀπαιτοῦντες. ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ Πομπήιος ἔφη μᾶλλον ἀφήσειν τὸν θρίαμβον ἢ κολακεύσειν ἐκείνους, νῦν ἔφη καὶ μέγαν ἀληθῶς ὁρᾶν καὶ ἄξιον τοῦ θριάμβου τὸν Πομπήιον.
89.6. It is a custom in Rome for the knights, when they have completed the regular term of service in the army, to lead their horses into the Forum, one at a time, before the two men whom they call censors, and after enumerating their campaigns and the generals under whom they served, to receive such commendation or censure as is fitting. Pompey, who was then consul, with his own hand led his horse before the censors, Gellius and Lentulus, and when they asked him, in conformity with the custom, whether he had served all his campaigns, he replied, “Yes, all, and under myself as commander-in-chief.”
89.6. ἔθους δὲ ὄντος ἐν Ῥώμῃ τοῖς ἱππεῦσιν, ὅταν στρατεύσωνται τὸν νόμιμον χρόνον, ἄγειν τὸν ἵππον εἰς ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς δύο ἄνδρας, οὓς τιμητὰς καλοῦσι, καὶ καταριθμησαμένους τὰς στρατείας καὶ τοὺς στρατηγοὺς ὑφʼ οἷς ἐστρατεύσαντο τυγχάνειν ἐπαίνων ἢ ψόγων τῶν προσηκόντων· ὑπατεύων ὁ Πομπήιος κατήγαγεν αὐτὸς τὸν ἵππον ἐπὶ τοὺς τιμητὰς Γέλλιον καὶ Λέντλον· ἐκείνων δὲ ὥσπερ ἔθος ἐστὶ πυθομένων, εἰ πάσας ἐστράτευται τὰς στρατείας, πάσας εἶπεν ὑπʼ ἐμαυτῷ αὐτοκράτορι.
89.7. On gaining possession of the papers of Sertorius in Spain, among which were letters from many leading men inviting Sertorius to come to Rome with a view to fomenting a revolution and changing the government, he burned them all, thus offering an opportunity for the miscreants to repent and become better men.
89.7. τῶν δὲ Σερτωρίου γραμμάτων κρατήσας ἐν Ἰβηρίᾳ, ἐν οἷς ἦσαν ἐπιστολαὶ πολλῶν ἡγεμόνων ἐπὶ νεωτερισμῷ καὶ μεταβολῇ τῆς πολιτείας τὸν Σερτώριον εἰς Ῥώμην καλούντων, κατέκαυσε πάσας διδοὺς μετανοῆσαι καὶ βελτίονας γενέσθαι τοὺς πονηρούς.
89.8. When Phraates, king of the Parthians, sent to him, claiming the right to set his boundary at the river Euphrates, he said that the Romans set justice as their boundary towards the Parthians.
89.8. ἐπεὶ δὲ Φραάτης ὁ Πάρθων βασιλεὺς ἔπεμψε πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀξιῶν ὅρῳ χρῆσθαι τῷ Εὐφράτῃ, μᾶλλον ἔφη χρῆσθαι Ῥωμαίους ὅρῳ πρὸς Πάρθους τῷ δικαίῳ.
89.9. Lucius Lucullus, after his campaigns, gave himself up to pleasures and lived very expensively, and strongly disapproved of Pompey’s yearning for the strenuous life as something out of keeping with his years. But Pompey said that for an old man it was more out of keeping with his years to be a voluptuary than to hold office.
89.9. Λευκίου δὲ Λευκούλλου μετὰ τὰς στρατείας ἀφεικότος αὑτὸν εἰς ἡδονὰς καὶ πολυτελῶς ζῶντος, τὸν δὲ Πομπήιον ὡς παρʼ ἡλικίαν τοῦ πολλὰ πράσσειν ὀρεγόμενον ψέγοντος, μᾶλλον ἔφη γέροντι τὸ τρυφᾶν ἢ τὸ ἄρχειν εἶναι παρʼ ἡλικίαν.
89.10. When he was ill his physician prescribed a thrush as diet, but those who tried to get one did not find any, for thrushes were out of season; however, somebody said that they would be found at the house of Lucullus, where they were kept the year round. “So then,” said Pompey, “if Lucullus were not a voluptuary, Pompey could not live!” and letting his physician go, he made his diet of things not so hard to procure.
89.10. νοσοῦντι δὲ αὐτῷ κίχλην ὁ ἰατρὸς λαβεῖν προσέταξεν· οἱ δὲ ζητοῦντες οὐχ εὗρον (ἦν γὰρ παρʼ ὥραν), ἔφη δέ τις εὑρεθήσεσθαι παρὰ Λευκούλλῳ διʼ ἔτους τρεφομένας· εἶτα ἔφη εἰ μὴ Λεύκουλλος ἐτρύφα, Πομπήιος οὐκ ἂν ἔζησε; καὶ χαίρειν ἐάσας τὸν ἰατρὸν ἔλαβέ τι τῶν εὐπορίστων.
89.11. At a time when there was a serious scarcity of grain in Rome he was appointed nominally overseer of the market, but actually supreme master on land and sea, and sailed to Africa, Sardinia, and Sicily. Having got together a great quantity of grain, he was eager to get to Rome. A great storm arose and the pilots were hesitating, when he, going on board first himself, gave orders to weigh anchor, crying out, “To sail is a necessity; to live is not a necessity.”
89.11. ἰσχυρᾶς δὲ σιτοδείας ἐν Ῥώμῃ γενομένης, ἀποδειχθεὶς λόγῳ μὲν ἀγορᾶς ἐπιμελητής, ἔργῳ δὲ γῆς καὶ θαλάσσης κύριος, ἔπλευσεν εἰς Λιβύην καὶ Σαρδόνα καὶ Σικελίαν· καὶ πολὺν ἀθροίσας σῖτον ἔσπευδεν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην. μεγάλου δὲ χειμῶνος γενομένου καὶ τῶν κυβερνητῶν ὀκνούντων, πρῶτος ἐμβὰς καὶ τὴν ἄγκυραν ἆραι κελεύσας ἀνεβόησε πλεῖν ἀνάγκη, ζῆν οὐκ ἀνάγκη.
89.12. When his falling-out with Caesar came to light, one Mareellinus, who was among those reputed to have been advanced by Pompey but had gone over to Caesar, inveighed against him at great length in the Senate. “Mareellinus,” said Pompey, “are you not ashamed to revile me, when it is all owing to me that you, from being inarticulate, have become so fluent, and from being a starveling, are now able to eat and disgorge and eat again?”
89.12. τῆς δὲ πρὸς τὸν Καίσαρα διαφορᾶς ἀποκαλυπτομένης καὶ Μαρκελλίνου τινὸς τῶν ὑπὸ Πομπηίου προῆχθαι δοκούντων μεταβεβλημένου δὲ πρὸς Καίσαρα πολλὰ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐν συγκλήτῳ λέγοντος, οὐκ αἰσχύνῃ Μαρκελλῖνε εἶπεν ἐμοὶ λοιδορούμενος, διʼ ὃν ἐξ ἀφώνου λόγιος ἐκ δὲ πεινατικοῦ ἐμετικὸς γέγονας;
89.13. Cato assailed him bitterly, because when he himself had often foretold that Caesar’s power and his rise to fame boded no good to the democracy, Pompey had taken the opposite side; whereupon Pompey replied, “Your words were more prophetic, but my actions were more friendly.”
89.13. πρὸς δὲ Κάτωνα πικρῶς καθαψάμενον, ὅτι πολλάκις αὐτοῦ προαγορεύοντος τὴν Καίσαρος δύναμιν καὶ αὔξησιν οὐκ ἐπʼ ἀγαθῷ τῆς δημοκρατίας γινομένην αὐτὸς ἀντέπραττεν, ἀπεκρίνατο τὰ μὲν σὰ μαντικώτερα, τὰ δʼ ἐμὰ φιλικώτερα.
89.14. Speaking frankly about himself, he said that he had attained every office sooner than he had expected, and laid it down sooner than had been expected. 15. After the battle of Pharsalus he fled to Egypt, and as he was about to transfer from the trireme to a fishing-boat which the king had sent for him, he turned to his wife and son, and said never a word except the lines of Sophocles: “Whoever comes to traffic with a king Is slave to him, however free he come.” When he landed, he was struck with a sword, and uttering one groan, he covered his face and surrendered himself to be slain.
89.14. περὶ δὲ αὑτοῦ παρρησιαζόμενος εἶπεν, ὡς πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ ἔλαβε θᾶσσον ἢ προσεδόκησε, καὶ καταθοῖτο θᾶσσον ἢ προσεδοκήθη. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐν Φαρσάλῳ μάχην φεύγων εἰς Αἴγυπτον, ὡς ἔμελλε διαβαίνειν ἐκ τῆς τριήρους εἰς ἁλιευτικὸν πλοῖον ἀποστείλαντος τοῦ βασιλέως, ἐπιστραφεὶς πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὸν υἱὸν οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἢ τὸ τοῦ Σοφοκλέους εἶπενὅστις δὲ πρὸς τύραννον ἐμπορεύεται,κείνου ʼστὶ δοῦλος, κἂν ἐλεύθερος μόλῃ.μεταβὰς δὲ καὶ πληγεὶς ξίφει καὶ στενάξας ἅπαξ, εἰπὼν δὲ μηδὲν ἀλλʼ ἐγκαλυψάμενος παρέδωκεν ἑαυτόν.
90.1. Cicero, the orator, was often twitted about his name, and his friends urged him to have it changed, but he said that he would make Cicero to be held in higher esteem than the Catos, the Catuli, and the Scauri.
90.1. Κικέρων ὁ ῥήτωρ εἰς τοὔνομα σκωπτόμενος καὶ τῶν φίλων μεταθέσθαι κελευόντων, ἔφη τὸν Κικέρωνα ποιήσειν τῶν Κατώνων καὶ τῶν Κάτλων καὶ τῶν Σκαύρων ἐνδοξότερον.
90.2. When he dedicated a silver goblet to the gods, he caused the engraver to cut the letters of his first two names, but instead of “Cicero” to engrave a chick-pea.
90.2. ἔκπωμα δὲ ἀργυροῦν τοῖς θεοῖς ἀνατιθεὶς τὰ μὲν πρῶτα τῶν ὀνομάτων γράμμασιν ἐσήμανεν, ἀντὶ δὲ τοῦ Κικέρωνος ἐρέβινθον ἐτόρευσε.
90.3. He used to say that those of the orators who are given to violent vociferation rely on noise to carry them through because of weakness, just as lame men mount horses.
90.3. τῶν δὲ ῥητόρων τοὺς μέγα βοῶντας ἔλεγε διʼ ἀσθένειαν ἐπὶ τὴν κραυγὴν ὡς χωλοὺς ἀναβαίνειν ἐφʼ ἵππον.
90.4. Verres, who had a son that had been anything but virtuous when a boy, rebuked Cicero for effeminacy and called him a corrupter of youth. “Don’t you know,” said Cicero, “that it is proper for children to be scolded behind the doors of their own home?”
90.4. Οὐέρρου δὲ υἱὸν ἔχοντος οὐκ εὖ κεχρημένον ἐφʼ ὥρᾳ τῷ σώματι, τὸν δὲ Κικέρωνα λοιδοροῦντος εἰς μαλακίαν καὶ κίναιδον ἀποκαλοῦντος, ἀγνοεῖς εἶπεν ὅτι προσήκει τοῖς τέκνοις ἐντὸς θυρῶν λοιδορεῖσθαι;
90.5. Metellus Nepos said to him, “You have caused the death of more men by your testimony than you have saved by your advocacy.” “Yes,” said Cicero, “the reason is that I am endowed with more credibility than eloquence!”
90.5. Μετέλλου δὲ Νέπωτος εἰπόντος πρὸς αὐτὸν ὅτι πλείονας μαρτυρῶν ἀπέκτονας ἢ συνηγορῶν σέσωκας, καὶ γὰρ ἔστιν ἔφη πλεῖον ἐμοὶ πίστεως ἢ λογιότητος.
90.6. When Metellus kept asking him who his father was, Cicero said, “The answer to that same question your mother has made the more difficult for you!” For Metellus’s mother was far from virtuous, and Metellus himself was light-minded, vacillating, and carried away by his impulses.
90.6. ἐρωτῶντος δὲ τοῦ Μετέλλου τίς αὐτοῦ πατήρ ἐστι, ταύτην ἔφη τὴν ἀπόκρισιν χαλεπωτέραν ἡ σὴ μήτηρ πεποίηκεν. ἦν γὰρ ἡ τοῦ Μετέλλου ἀκόλαστος, ὁ δὲ Μέτελλος αὐτὸς ὑπόκουφος καὶ ἀβέβαιος καὶ φερόμενος ταῖς ὁρμαῖς.
90.7. When Diodotus, Metellus’s teacher of oratory died, Metellus had a marble raven placed over his grave. “A very just tribute,” said Cicero, “for he taught Metellus to be high-flown, but not to be a speaker.”
90.7. Διοδότῳ δὲ τῷ διδασκάλῳ τῶν ῥητορικῶν ἀποθανόντι κόρακα λίθινον ἐπιστήσαντος αὐτοῦ, δικαίαν ἔφη τὴν ἀμοιβὴν γεγονέναι· πέτεσθαι γὰρ τοῦτον οὐ λέγειν ἐδίδαξεν.
90.8. Vatinius, who was at odds with Cicero, and was a bad character generally, Cicero heard was dead, and then later discovered that he was alive. “Curses on the rascal who lied so!” said he. To a man who appeared to be of African race, and asserted that he could not hear Cicero when he spoke, Cicero retorted, “Yet you have ears that are not wanting in holes.”
90.8. Οὐατίνιον δὲ ἄνθρωπον ἑαυτῷ διάφορον καὶ μοχθηρὸν ἄλλως ἀκούσας ὅτι τέθνηκεν, εἶτα γνοὺς ὕστερον ὅτι ζῇ, κακός εἶπεν ἀπόλοιτο κακῶς ὁ ψευσάμενος πρὸς δὲ τὸν δοκοῦντα Λίβυν ἀπὸ γένους εἶναι, φήσαντα δὲ αὐτοῦ μὴ ἀκούειν λέγοντος, καὶ μὴν οὐκ ἀτρύπητον ἔχεις τὸ οὖς εἶπε.
90.10. Cicero summoned as a witness in a certain case Castus Popillius, who wanted to be a lawyer, but was ignorant and stupid. When he denied knowing anything, Cicero said, “Very likely you think you are being asked about some point of law!”
90.10. Κάστον δὲ Ποπίλλιον νομικὸν εἶναι βουλόμενον, ὄντα δὲ ἀμαθῆ καὶ ἀφυῆ, προσεκαλεῖτο μάρτυρα πρός τινα δίκην· εἰπόντος δὲ ἐκείνου μηδὲν γινώσκειν, οἴει γὰρ ἴσως εἶπε περὶ τῶν νομίμων ἐπερωτᾶσθαι.
90.11. Hortensius, the orator, received as a fee a silver sphinx from Verres. When Cicero used innuendo in something that he said, Hortensius declared that he had no skill in solving riddles. Cicero retorted, “And yet you have the sphinx at your house!”
90.11. Ὁρτησίου δὲ τοῦ ῥήτορος λαβόντος μισθὸν ἀργυρᾶν σφίγγα παρὰ τοῦ Βέρρου καὶ πρὸς τὸν Κικέρωνα πλαγίως τι εἰπόντα φήσαντος αἰνιγμάτων λύσεως ἀπείρως ἔχειν, καὶ μὴν ἡ σφίγξ ἔφη παρὰ σοί ἐστιν.
90.12. Meeting Voconius with three daughters who had very ugly faces, he said softly to his friends, “Phoebus forbade when he his children got.”
90.12. Οὐοκωνίῳ δὲ ἀπαντήσας μετὰ τριῶν θυγατέρων ἀμορφοτάτων τὴν ὄψιν ἀτρέμα πρὸς τοὺς φίλους εἶπεν Φοίβου ποτʼ οὐκ ἐῶντος ἔσπειρεν τέκνα.
90.13. When Faustus, the son of Sulla, because of a multitude of debts, posted a notice of an auction of his goods, Cicero said, “I find this notice more welcome than the kind which his father used to post.”
90.13. Φαύστου δὲ τοῦ Σύλλα παιδὸς διὰ πλῆθος δανείων ἀπάρτιον προγράψαντος, ταύτην ἔφη μᾶλλον ἀσπάζομαι τὴν προγραφὴν ἢ τὴν πατρῴαν αὐτοῦ.
90.14. When Pompey and Caesar took opposite sides, he said, “I know from whom I flee without knowing to whom to flee.”
90.14. Πομπηίου δὲ καὶ Καίσαρος διαστάντων, ἔφη γινώσκω ὃν φύγω, μὴ γινώσκων πρὸς ὃν φύγω.
90.15. He blamed Pompey for abandoning the city, and imitating Themistocles rather than Pericles, when his situation was not like that of Themistocles, but rather that of Pericles.
90.15. καὶ Πομπήιον ἐμέμψατο τὴν πόλιν ἐκλιπόντα καὶ Θεμιστοκλέα μᾶλλον ἢ Περικλέα μιμησάμενον, οὐκ ἐκείνοις τῶν πραγμάτων ἀλλὰ τούτοις ὁμοίων ὄντων.
90.16. When he went over to Pompey s side, changing his mind again, and was asked by Pompey where he had left Piso, his son-in-law, he said, “With your father-in-law!”
90.16. γενόμενος δʼ οὖν παρὰ Πομπηίῳ καὶ πάλιν μετανοῶν, ἐρωτηθεὶς ὑπὸ Πομπηίου ποῦ Πείσωνα τὸν γαμβρὸν ἀπολέλοιπεν ἔφη παρὰ τῷ σῷ πενθερῷ.
90.17. One man changed from Caesar’s side to Pompey’s, and said that as the result of haste and eagerness he had left his horse behind. Cicero said that the man showed greater consideration-for his horse!
90.17. μεταβαλομένου δέ τινος ἀπὸ Καίσαρος πρὸς τὸν Πομπήιον, λέγοντος ὑπὸ σπουδῆς καὶ προθυμίας ἀπολελοιπέναι τὸν ἵππον, βέλτιον ἔφη αὐτὸν περὶ τοῦ ἵππου βεβουλεῦσθαι.
90.18. To the man who reported that Caesar’s friends were downcast he retorted, “You speak as if they were Caesar’s foes!”
90.18. πρὸς δὲ τὸν ἀπαγγέλλοντα τοὺς Καίσαρος φίλους σκυθρωποὺς εἶναι λέγεις ἔφη δυσνοεῖν αὐτοὺς Καίσαρι.
90.19. After the battle of Pharsalus, when Pompey had fled, one Nonius declared that on their side were still seven eagles, and exhorted them, therefore, to have courage. “Your advice would be good,” said Cicero, “if we were making war on jackdaws.”
90.19. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐν Φαρσάλῳ μάχην Πομπηίου μὲν φυγόντος, Νωνίου δέ τινος ἔτι παρʼ αὑτοῖς ἀετοὺς ἑπτὰ φήσαντος εἶναι καὶ διὰ τοῦτο θαρρεῖν παρακαλοῦντος, καλῶς ἂν παρῄνεις εἶπεν εἰ κολοιοῖς ἐπολεμοῦμεν.
90.20. After Caesar had conquered, he set up again with honour Pompey s statues which had been thrown down. Cicero, in speaking of him, said that Caesar, by restoring Pompey’s statues, made his own secure.
90.20. ἐπεὶ δὲ Καῖσαρ κρατήσας τὰς Πομπηίου καταβεβλημένας εἰκόνας ἀνέστησε μετὰ τιμῆς, ἔφη περὶ αὐτοῦ λέγων ὁ Κικέρων ὅτι τοὺς Πομπηίου Καῖσαρ ἀνδριάντας ἱστὰς τοὺς ἑαυτοῦ πήγνυσιν.
90.21. He set a very high value on excellent speaking, and strove especially for this, so much so that once, when he had a case to plead before the court of the centum viri, and the day was almost come, and his slave Eros reported to him that the case had been postponed to the following day, he gave the slave his freedom.
90.21. οὕτω δὲ πολλοῦ τὸ καλῶς λέγειν ἐτίμα τε καὶ περὶ τοῦτο μάλιστα ἠγωνία, ὥστε προκειμένης δίκης ἐπὶ τῶν ἑκατὸν ἀνδρῶν καὶ ἐπικειμένης τῆς ἡμέρας, Ἔρωτα ἀπαγγείλαντα αὐτῷ τὸν οἰκέτην εἰς τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ὑπερτεθῆναι τὴν δίκην ἠλευθέρωσε.
91.1. Gaius Caesar, while still a young man, in trying to escape from Sulla, fell into the hands of pirates. First of all, when demand was made upon him for a very large sum of money, he laughed at the robbers for their ignorance of the man they had in their power, and agreed to give double the sum. Later, being kept under guard while he was getting together the money, he enjoined upon the men that they should give him a quiet time for sleep and should not talk. He wrote speeches and poems, and read them to his captors, and those who did not speak very highly of them he called dull barbarians, and threatened laughingly to hang them. And this he actually did a little later. For when the ransom was brought, and he was set free, he got together men and ships from Asia Minor, seized the robbers, and crucified them.
91.1. Γάιος Καῖσαρ, ὅτε Σύλλαν ἔφευγεν ἔτι μειράκιον ὤν, περιέπεσε πειραταῖς· καὶ πρῶτον μὲν αἰτηθεὶς ἀργυρίου πλῆθος κατεγέλασε τῶν λῃστῶν ὡς ἀγνοούντων ὃν ἔχουσι, καὶ διπλάσιον ὡμολόγησε δώσειν· ἔπειτα φρουρούμενος, ἕως συνῆγε τὰ χρήματα, προσέταττεν ἡσυχίαν αὐτῷ παρέχειν κοιμωμένῳ καὶ σιωπᾶν. λόγους δὲ καὶ ποιήματα γράφων ἀνεγίνωσκεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοὺς μὴ λίαν ἐπαινοῦντας ἀναισθήτους καὶ βαρβάρους ἀπεκάλει καὶ μετὰ γέλωτος ἠπείλει κρεμᾶν αὐτούς· ὃ καὶ μετʼ ὀλίγον ἐποίησεν τῶν γὰρ λύτρων κομισθέντων ἀπολυθεὶς καὶ συναγαγὼν ἄνδρας ἐξ Ἀσίας καὶ πλοῖα συνήρπασε τοὺς λῃστὰς καὶ προσήλωσεν.
91.2. In Rome he entered into a contest against Catulus, the leading man among the Romans, for the office of Pontifex Maximus, and, as he was accompanied to the door by his mother, he said, “To-day, mother, you shall have as your son a Pontifex Maximus or an exile.”
91.2. ἐν δὲ Ῥώμῃ πρὸς Κάτλον πρωτεύοντα Ῥωμαίων εἰς ἅμιλλαν ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης καταστὰς καὶ προπεμπόμενος ὑπὸ τῆς μητρὸς ἐπὶ τὰς θύρας, σήμερον εἶπεν ὦ μῆτερ, ἀρχιερέα τὸν υἱὸν ἢ φυγάδα ἕξεις.
91.3. He put away his wife Pompeia because her name was linked in gossip with Clodius, but later, when Clodius was brought to trial on this charge, and Caesar was cited as a witness, he spoke no evil of his wife. And when the prosecutor asked, “Then why did you put her out of the house?” he replied, “Because Caesar’s wife must be free from suspicion.”
91.3. Πομπηίαν δὲ τὴν γυναῖκα κακῶς ἀκούσασαν ἐπὶ Κλωδίῳ παραιτησάμενος, εἶτα τοῦ Κλωδίου φεύγοντος ἐπὶ τούτῳ δίκην μάρτυς εἰσαχθεὶς οὐδὲν εἶπε φαῦλον περὶ τῆς γυναικός· ἐρομένου δὲ τοῦ κατηγόρου διὰ τί τοίνυν ἐξέβαλες αὐτήν, ὅτι τὴν Καίσαρος ἔφη γυναῖκα καὶ διαβολῆς δεῖ καθαρὰν εἶναι.
91.4. While he was reading of the exploits of Alexander, he burst into tears, and said to his friends, “When he was of my age he had conquered Darius, but, up to now, nothing has been accomplished by me.”
91.4. τὰς δʼ Ἀλεξάνδρου πράξεις ἀναγινώσκων ἐδάκρυσε καὶ πρὸς τοὺς φίλους εἶπεν ὅτι ταύτην τὴν ἡλικίαν ἔχων ἐνίκησε Δαρεῖον, ἐμοὶ δὲ μέχρι νῦν οὐδὲν πέπρακται.
91.5. As he was passing by a miserable little town in the Alps, his friends raised the question whether even here there were rival parties and contests for the first place. He stopped and becoming thoughtful said, “I had rather be the first here than the second in Rome.”
91.5. πολίχνιον δὲ αὐτοῦ λυπρὸν ἐν ταῖς Ἄλπεσι παρερχομένου, καὶ τῶν φίλων διαπορούντων εἰ καὶ ἐνταῦθά τινες στάσεις εἰσὶ καὶ ἅμιλλαι περὶ πρωτείων, ἐπιστὰς καὶ σύννους γενόμενος μᾶλλον ἄν ἔφη ἐβουλόμην πρῶτος ἐνταῦθα εἶναι ἢ δεύτερος ἐν Ῥώμῃ.
91.6. He said that the venturesome and great deeds of daring call for action and not for thought.
91.6. τῶν δὲ τολμημάτων τὰ παράβολα καὶ μεγάλα πράττειν ἔφη δεῖν, ἀλλὰ μὴ βουλεύεσθαι.
91.7. And he crossed the river Rubicon from his province in Gaul against Pompey, saying before all, “Let the die be cast.”
91.7. καὶ διέβη τὸν Ῥουβίκωνα ποταμὸν ἐκ τῆς Γαλατικῆς ἐπαρχίας ἐπὶ Πομπήιον, εἰπών πᾶς ἀνερρίφθω κύβος.
91.8. When Pompey had fled to sea from Rome, Caesar wished to take money from the treasury, but Metellus, who was in charge, tried to stop him, and locked up the treasury, whereupon Caesar threatened to kill him. Metellus was astounded, but Caesar said, “Young man, that was harder for me to say than to do.”
91.8. ἐπεὶ δὲ Πομπηίου φεύγοντος ἐπὶ θάλασσαν ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης, καὶ Μέτελλος ἔπαρχος ὢν τοῦ ταμιείου βουλόμενον αὐτὸν χρήματα λαβεῖν ἐκώλυε καὶ τὸ ταμιεῖον ἀπέκλεισεν, ἠπείλησεν ἀποκτενεῖν αὐτόν· καταπλαγέντος δὲ τοῦ Μετέλλου, τοῦτο εἶπεν ὦ νεανίσκε, φῆσαί μοι χαλεπώτερον ἦν ἢ ποιῆσαι.
91.9. As the transportation of his soldiers from Brundusium to Dyrrachium proceeded slowly, he, without being seen by anybody, embarked in a small boat, and attempted the passage through the open sea. But as the boat was being swamped by the waves, he disclosed his identity to the pilot, crying out, “Trust to Fortune, knowing it is Caesar you carry.”
91.9. τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν αὐτῷ βραδέως εἰς Δυρράχιον ἐκ Βρεντεσίου κομιζομένων, λαθὼν ἅπαντας εἰς πλοῖον ἐμβὰς μικρὸν ἐπεχείρησε διαπλεῖν τὸ πέλαγος· συγκλυζομένου δὲ τοῦ πλοίου, ποιήσας τῷ κυβερνήτῃ φανερὸν ἑαυτὸν ἀνεβόησε πίστευε τῇ τύχῃ γνοὺς ὅτι Καίσαρα κομίζεις.
91.10. At that time he was prevented from crossing, as the storm became violent, and his soldiers quickly gathered about him in a state of high emotion if it could be that he were waiting for other forces because he felt he could not rely on them. A battle was fought and Pompey was victorious; he did not, however, follow up his success, but withdrew to his camp. Caesar said, “To-day the victory was with the enemy, but they have not the man who knows how to be victorious.”
91.10. τότε μὲν οὖν ἐκωλύθη, τοῦ χειμῶνος ἰσχυροῦ γενομένου καὶ τῶν στρατιωτῶν συνδραμόντων καὶ περιπαθούντων, εἰ περιμένει δύναμιν ἄλλην ὡς ἀπιστῶν αὐτοῖς· ἐπεὶ δὲ μάχης γενομένης νικῶν ὁ Πομπήιος οὐκ ἐπεξῆλθεν, ἀλλὰ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον, τήμερον εἶπεν ἦν ἡ νίκη παρὰ τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἀλλὰ τὸν εἰδότα νικᾶν οὐκ ἔχουσιν.
91.11. At Pharsalus Pompey gave the word for his regiments after they had formed for battle to stand in their tracks and meet the onset of the enemy. In this Caesar said that he made a mistake, inasmuch as he lost the effect on his soldiers of the intensity and excitement which comes from rushing to the onset with enthusiasm.
91.11. ἐν δὲ Φαρσάλῳ Πομπηίου παρατεταγμένην τὴν φάλαγγα κατὰ χώραν ἑστάναι καὶ προσδέχεσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους παρεγγυήσαντος, ἁμαρτεῖν αὐτὸν ἔλεγε τὸν ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς μετʼ ἐνθουσιασμοῦ τόνον καὶ ῥοῖζον ἐκλύσαντα τῶν στρατιωτῶν.
91.12. After he had conquered Pharnaces of Pontus by a swift drive against him, he wrote to his friends, “I came, saw, conquered.”
91.12. Φαρνάκην δὲ νικήσας τὸν Ποντικὸν ἐξ ἐφόδου πρὸς τοὺς φίλους ἔγραψε ἦλθον εἶδον ἐνίκησα.
91.13. Following upon the flight of Scipio and his followers in Africa Cato took his own life; whereat Caesar said, “I begrudge you your death, Cato, for you begrudged me the saving of your life.”
91.13. μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἐν Λιβύῃ τῶν περὶ τὸν Σκιπίωνα φυγὴν καὶ ἧτταν Κάτωνος ἑαυτὸν ἀνελόντος, φθονῶ σοι Κάτων εἶπε τοῦ θανάτου· καὶ γὰρ σὺ ἐμοὶ τῆς σῆς σωτηρίας ἐφθόνησας.
91.14. Some looked with suspicion upon Antony and Dolabella and urged Caesar to be on his guard, but he said that he did not fear these fat and sleek tradesmen and craftsmen but those lean and pale fellows, indicating Brutus and Cassius.
91.14. Ἀντώνιον δὲ καὶ Δολοβέλλαν ὑφορωμένων ἐνίων καὶ φυλάττεσθαι κελευόντων, οὐ τούτους ἔφη δεδιέναι τοὺς βαναύσους καὶ λιπῶντας, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἰσχνοὺς καὶ ὠχροὺς ἐκείνους δείξας Βροῦτον καὶ Κάσσιον.
91.15. When the conversation at dinner once digressed to the subject of death, regarding what kind of death is the best, he said, “Sudden death.”
91.15. λόγου δὲ παρὰ δεῖπνον ἐμπεσόντος περὶ θανάτου ποῖος ἄριστος, ὁ ἀπροσδόκητος εἶπε.
92.1. Caesar, who was the first to bear the title of Augustus, was only a youth when he made formal demand upon Antony for the million pounds which had belonged to the first Caesar, who had been assassinated, and which Antony had transferred from Caesar’s house to his own keeping; for Augustus wished to pay to the citizens of Rome the sum which had been left to them by Caesar, three pounds to each man. But when Antony held fast to the money, and also suggested to Augustus that, if he had any sense, he had better forget about his demand, Augustus announced an auction of his ancestral property and sold it; and by paying the bequest he fostered popularity for himself and hatred for Antony on the part of the citizens.
92.1. Καῖσαρ ὁ πρῶτος ἐπικληθεὶς Σεβαστός, ἔτι μειράκιον ὢν Ἀντώνιον ἀπῄτει δισχιλίας πεντακοσίας μυριάδας τοῦ πρώτου Καίσαρος ἀναιρεθέντος, ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας ἃς πρὸς αὑτὸν ὁ Ἀντώνιος μετήνεγκεν ἀποδοῦναι βουλόμενος Ῥωμαίοις τὸ καταλειφθὲν ὑπὸ Καίσαρος, ἑκάστῳ δραχμὰς ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε· τοῦ δὲ Ἀντωνίου τὰ μὲν χρήματα κατέχοντος, ἐκεῖνον δὲ τῆς ἀπαιτήσεως ἀμελεῖν, εἰ σωφρονεῖ, κελεύοντος, ἐκήρυττε τὰ πατρῷα καὶ ἐπίπρασκε· καὶ τὴν δωρεὰν ἀποδοὺς εὔνοιαν μὲν αὑτῷ, μῖσος δὲ ἐκείνῳ παρὰ τῶν πολιτῶν περιεποίησεν.
92.2. Rhoemetalces, king of the Thracians, who had changed his alliance from Antony to Augustus, could not practise moderation when there was any drinking going on, and gave much offence by his disparaging remarks about his new alliance, whereat Augustus, as he drank to one of the other kings, said, “I like treachery, but I cannot say anything good of traitors.”
92.2. ἐπεὶ δὲ Ῥοιμητάλκης ὁ τῶν Θρᾳκῶν βασιλεὺς ἀπʼ Ἀντωνίου μεταβαλόμενος πρὸς αὐτὸν οὐκ ἐμετρίαζεν παρὰ τοὺς πότους, ἀλλʼ ἦν ἐπαχθὴς ὀνειδίζων τὴν συμμαχίαν, προπιών τινι τῶν ἄλλων βασιλέων ὁ Καῖσαρ εἶπεν ἐγὼ προδοσίαν φιλῶ, προδότας δʼ οὐκ ἐπαινῶ.
92.3. After the capture of Alexandria, the people of the city were expecting to be treated with the most frightful severity, but when he had mounted the tribune and had directed Areius of Alexandria to take a place beside him, he declared that he spared the city, first because of its greatness and beauty, secondly because of its founder, Alexander, and thirdly because of Areius his own friend.
92.3. τῶν δὲ Ἀλεξανδρέων μετὰ τὴν ἅλωσιν τὰ δεινότατα πείσεσθαι προσδοκώντων, ἀναβὰς ἐπὶ τὸ βῆμα καὶ παραστησάμενος Ἄρειον τὸν Ἀλεξανδρέα φείδεσθαι μὲν τῆς πόλεως ἔφη πρῶτον διὰ τὸ μέγεθος καὶ τὸ κάλλος, ἔπειτα διὰ τὸν κτίστην Ἀλέξανδρον, τρίτον δὲ διʼ Ἄρειον τὸν φίλον.
92.4. When it was told him that Eros, procurator in Egypt, had bought a quail which had defeated all others in fighting and was the undisputed champion, and that Eros had roasted this quail and eaten it, the emperor sent for him and examined him regarding the charge; and when the man admitted the fact, the emperor ordered him to be nailed to a ship’s mast.
92.4. ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἔρως ὁ τὰ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ διοικῶν ὄρτυγα τὸν κρατοῦντα πάντων ἐν τῷ μάχεσθαι καὶ ἀήττητον ὄντα πριάμενος ὀπτήσας κατέφαγε, μετεπέμψατο αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνέκρινεν· ὁμολογήσαντα δὲ ἐκέλευσεν ἱστῷ νηὸς προσηλωθῆναι.
92.5. In Sicily he appointed Areius procurator in place of Theodorus; and when someone handed him a paper on which was written, “Theodorus of Tarsus is a bald-pate or a thief; what opinion have you?” Caesar, having read it, wrote underneath, “It is my opinion.”
92.5. ἐν δὲ Σικελίᾳ Ἄρειον ἀντὶ Θεοδώρου κατέστησε διοικητήν· ἐπιδόντος δέ τινος αὐτῷ βιβλίον, ἐν ᾧ γεγραμμένον ἦν φαλακρὸς ἢ κλέπτης Θεόδωρος ὁ Ταρσεύς· τί σοι δοκεῖ; ἀναγνοὺς Καῖσαρ ὑπέγραψε δοκεῖ.
92.6. From Maecenas, his bosom-friend, he used to receive each year on his birthday a drinking-cup as a birthday present.
92.6. παρὰ δὲ Μαικήνα τοῦ συμβιωτοῦ καθʼ ἕκαστον ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν τοῖς γενεθλίοις δῶρον ἐλάμβανε φιάλην.
92.7. Athenodorus, the philosopher, because of his advanced years begged to be dismissed and allowed to go home, and Augustus granted his request. But when Athenodorus, as he was taking leave of him, said, “Whenever you get angry, Caesar, do not say or do anything before repeating to yourself the twenty-four letters of the alphabet,” Augustus seized his hand and said, “I still have need of your presence here,” and detained him a whole year, saying, “—ldquo; No risk attends the meed that silence brings. —rdquo;”
92.7. Ἀθηνοδώρῳ δὲ τῷ φιλοσόφῳ διὰ γῆρας εἰς οἶκον ἀφεθῆναι δεηθέντι συνεχώρησεν. ἐπεὶ δὲ ἀσπασάμενος αὐτὸν ὁ Ἀθηνόδωρος εἶπεν ὅταν ὀργισθῇς, Καῖσαρ, μηδὲν εἴπῃς μηδὲ ποιήσῃς πρότερον ἢ τὰ εἴκοσι καὶ τέτταρα γράμματα διελθεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτόν, ἐπιλαβόμενος αὐτοῦ τῆς χειρὸς ἔτι σοῦ παρόντος ἔφη χρείαν ἔχω· καὶ κατέσχεν αὐτὸν ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον, εἰπὼν ὅτι ἔστι καὶ σιγῆς ἀκίνδυνον γέρας.
92.8. He learned that Alexander, having completed nearly all his conquests by the time he was thirtytwo years old, was at an utter loss to know what he should do during the rest of his life, whereat Augustus expressed his surprise that Alexander did not regard it as a greater task to set in order the empire which he had won than to win it.
92.8. ἀκούσας δέ, ὅτι Ἀλέξανδρος δύο καὶ τριάκοντα γεγονὼς ἔτη κατεστραμμένος τὰ πλεῖστα διηπόρει τί ποιήσει τὸν λοιπὸν χρόνον, ἐθαύμαζεν, εἰ μὴ μεῖζον Ἀλέξανδρος ἔργον ἡγεῖτο τοῦ κτήσασθαι τὴν ἡγεμονίαν τὸ διατάξαι τὴν ὑπάρχουσαν.
92.9. After promulgating the law about adulterers, in which it was specified how the accused were to be tried, and how the convicted were to be punished, he later, under stress of anger, fell upon a young man whose name had been linked in gossip with his daughter Julia, and struck him with his fists; but when the young man cried out, “You have made a law, Caesar,” such a revulsion of feeling came over him that he refused food the rest of the day.
92.9. γράψας δὲ τὸν περὶ τῶν μοιχῶν νόμον, ἐν ᾧ διώρισται πῶς δεῖ κρίνεσθαι τοὺς ἐν αἰτίαις γενομένους καὶ πῶς δεῖ κολάζεσθαι τοὺς ἁλόντας, εἶτα προσπεσὼν ὑπʼ ὀργῆς τὸν ἐπὶ Ἰουλίᾳ τῇ θυγατρὶ διαβεβλημένον νεανίσκον ἔτυπτε ταῖς χερσίν· ἐκείνου δὲ ἀναβοῶντος νόμον ἔθηκας, ὦ Καῖσαρ, οὕτω μετενόησεν, ὥστε τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην παραιτήσασθαι τὸ δεῖπνον.
92.10. When he dispatched Gaius his daughter’s son into Armenia, he besought the gods that the popularity of Pompey, the daring of Alexander, and his own good luck might attend the young man.
92.10. Γάιον δὲ τὸν θυγατριδοῦν εἰς Ἀρμενίαν ἀποστέλλων ᾐτεῖτο παρὰ τῶν θεῶν εὔνοιαν αὐτῷ τὴν Πομπηίου, τόλμαν δὲ τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου, τύχην δὲ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρακολουθῆσαι.
92.11. He said that he would leave to the Romans as his successor on the throne a man who never had deliberated twice about the same thing, meaning Tiberius.
92.11. Ῥωμαίοις δὲ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἔλεγεν ἀπολείψειν διάδοχον, ὃς οὐδέποτε περὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πράγματος δὶς ἐβουλεύσατο, Τιβέριον λέγων.
92.12. When he was trying to quiet the young men in high station who were in an uproar, and they paid no heed, but continued with their uproar, he said, “Do you young men listen to an old man, to whom old men listened when he was young.”
92.12. θορυβοῦντας δὲ τοὺς ἐν ἀξιώματι νέους καταστεῖλαι βουλόμενος, ὡς οὐ προσεῖχον ἀλλʼ ἐθορύβουν, ἀκούσατε εἶπε νέοι γέροντος, οὗ νέου γέροντες ἤκουον.
92.13. When, as it appeared, the Athenian people had committed some offence, he wrote from Aegina that he supposed they could not be unaware that he was angry; otherwise he would not have spent the whole winter in Aegina. But he neither said nor did anything else to them.
92.13. τοῦ δὲ Ἀθηναίων δήμου ἐξημαρτηκέναι τι δόξαντος, ἔγραψεν ἀπʼ Αἰγίνης οἴεσθαι μὴ λανθάνειν αὐτοὺς ὀργιζόμενος, οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐν Αἰγίνῃ διαχειμάσειεν ἄλλο δὲ οὐδὲν οὔτε εἶπεν αὐτοὺς οὔτε ἐποίησε.
92.14. One of the accusers of Eurycles was unsparing and tiresome with his frank utterances, and went so far as to say, “If these things, Caesar, do not seem to you to be of high importance, order him to repeat for me the seventh book of Thucydides”; and Augustus, much incensed, ordered the man away to prison, but, on learning that he was the sole survivor of Brasidas’s descendants, he sent for him, and, after reproving him moderately, ordered that he be released.
92.14. τῶν δὲ Εὐρυκλέους κατηγόρων ἑνὸς ἀφειδῶς καὶ κατακόρως παρρησιαζομένου καὶ προαχθέντος εἰπεῖν τι τοιοῦτον εἰ ταῦτά σοι, Καῖσαρ, οὐ φαίνεται μεγάλα, κέλευσον αὐτὸν ἀποδοῦναί μοι Θουκυδίδου τὴν ἑβδόμην· διὸ ὀργισθεὶς ἀπάγειν ἐκέλευσε· πυθόμενος δέ, ὅτι τῶν ἀπὸ Βρασίδου γεγονότων ὑπόλοιπος οὗτός ἐστι, μετεπέμψατο, καὶ μέτρια νουθετήσας ἀπέλυσε.
92.15. When Piso built his house with great care from the foundation to the roof-tree, Augustus said, “You make my heart glad by building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.”
92.15. Πείσωνος δὲ τὴν οἰκίαν ἐκ θεμελίων ἄχρι πάσης στέγης ἐπιμελῶς οἰκοδομοῦντος, εὔθυμον ἔφη με ποιεῖς οὕτως οἰκοδομῶν, ὡς ἀιδίου τῆς τῆς Ῥώμης ἐσομένης.