Gaius Sallustius Crispus [Sallust]
86-35 BC Rome
Trans RMBullard
Latin (Republican Era/Golden Age of Latin Literature)
ORATIO PHILIPPI IN SENATV
1 Maxume vellem, patres conscripti,
[Senators, most of all do I wish]
rem publicam quietam esse aut in periculis a promptissumo quoque defendi,
[that the Republic be at peace, and also be secure in times of danger from by a most ready protector,]
denique prava incepta consultoribus noxae esse.
[until such time that wicked things be conducted against those who advocated for its harm.]
Sed contra seditionibus omnia turbata sunt
[but, instead, all things have been disrupted by rebellions,]
et ab eis quos probibere magis decebat;
[and from those men whom, in the past, it seemed more proper to restrain.]
postremo, quae pessumi et stultissumi decrevere, ea bonis et sapientibus faciunda sunt.
[and finally, the very things that the worst kinds of people, the most stupid of all, have decreed, are now things that are about to done by good and wise ones.]
2 Nam bellum atque arma, quamquam vobis invisa,
[you see, war and warfare, although you despise them,]
tamen quia Lepido placent, sumunda sunt,
[still must now be prepared, because they are pleasing to Lepidus,]
nisi forte cui pacem praestare et bellum pati consilium est.
[unless perhaps there exists some way for peace to prevail and for war to endured.]
3 Pro di boni, qui hanc urbem omissam cura nostra adhuc tegitis, M. Aemilius, omnium flagitiosorum postremus,
[For the sake of the gods that yet protect his city, now bereft from our care, it is Marcus Aemilius who is the ultimate actor of all provocations,]
qui peior an ignavior sit deliberari non potest,
[a man who can not possibly have an inferior or more ignoble comparison,]
exercitum opprimundae libertatis habet
[ who commands an army in order to stamp out freedom,]
et se e contempto metuendum effecit;
[and who has made himself fearful out of sheer contempt.]
vos mussantes et retractantes verbis et vatum carminibus pacem optatis magis quam defenditis,
[for your own part, while you frequently mutter and then retract your statements, you rather pray for peace through the sayings and songs of your bards, than defend it,]
neque intellegitis mollitia decretorum vobis dignitatem, illi metum detrahi.
[nor do you get that your own dignity is being dragged away by the softness of your declarations, by your fear for that man I've mentioned.]
4 Atque id iure;
[and all this is legal;]
quoniam ex rapinis consulatum, ob seditionem provinciam cum exercitu adeptus est,
[and since, from his robbery of the consul's office, he gained the armor through his sedition, and his army,]
quid ille ob bene facta cepisset,
[what had that fellow done for the sake of any good,]
cuius sceleribus tanta praemia tribuistis?
[he whose crimes you have rewarded with so tremendous rewards?]
5 At scilicet eos, qui ad postremum usque legatos, pacem, concordiam, et alia huiuscemodi decreverunt, gratiam ab eo peperisse!
[but surely indeed, those are the same man who decreed for the future that their ambassadors, peace, unity and all kinds of these of this nature, their kindness had suffered harm from him!]
Immo despecti et indigni re publica habiti praedae loco aestumantur,
[I declare, despicable habits, ones deemed unworthy of your commonwealth, are now being esteemed in the place of plunder]
quippe metu pacem repetentes,
[and indeed, there are men who seek peace once again out of fear]
quo habitam amiserant.
[even after they had abandoned their *purpose.]
6 Equidem a principio, cum Etruriam coniurare, proscriptos arcessi, largitionibus rem publicam lacerari videbam
[And indeed, from the very beginning did I begin to see your Republic conspire with Tuscany, and summon forth conscripts, and be torn apart by largesses]
, maturandum putabam
[and I was beginning to think that time was right]
et Catuli consilia cum paucis secutus sum;
[and alongside few did I follow the advice of Catulus]
ceterum illi qui gentis Aemiliae bene facta extollebant
[and beside, those were the very men who used to extol well the deeds of the Aemilian clan]
et ignoscundo populi Romani magnitudinem auxisse,
[and not even were they aware that they had increased the influence of the Roman people]
nusquam etiam tum Lepidum progressum aiebant,
[never in the past did they grant Lepidus passage]
cum privata arma opprimundae libertatis cepisset,
[when before he had taken up arms from his own resources for the purpose of subduing freedom]
sibi quisque opes aut patrocinia quaerundo consilium publicum corruperunt.
[each one, by seeking wealth and patronage, broke their public obligation.]
Immo despecti et indigni re publica habiti praedae loco aestumantur,
[I declare, despicable habits, ones deemed unworthy of your commonwealth, are now being esteemed in the place of plunder]
quippe metu pacem repetentes,
[and indeed, there are men who seek peace once again out of fear]
quo habitam amiserant.
[even after they had abandoned their *purpose.]
6 Equidem a principio, cum Etruriam coniurare, proscriptos arcessi, largitionibus rem publicam lacerari videbam
[And indeed, from the very beginning did I begin to see your Republic conspire with Tuscany, and summon forth conscripts, and be torn apart by largesses]
, maturandum putabam
[and I was beginning to think that time was right]
et Catuli consilia cum paucis secutus sum;
[and alongside few did I follow the advice of Catulus]
ceterum illi qui gentis Aemiliae bene facta extollebant
[and beside, those were the very men who used to extol well the deeds of the Aemilian clan]
et ignoscundo populi Romani magnitudinem auxisse,
[and not even were they aware that they had increased the influence of the Roman people]
nusquam etiam tum Lepidum progressum aiebant,
[never in the past did they grant Lepidus passage]
cum privata arma opprimundae libertatis cepisset,
[when before he had taken up arms from his own resources for the purpose of subduing freedom]
sibi quisque opes aut patrocinia quaerundo consilium publicum corruperunt.
[each one, by seeking wealth and patronage, broke their public obligation]
7 At tum erat Lepidus latro cum calonibus et paucis sicariis,
[But then there was that bandit Lepiuds, with his lieutenants and a few of his assassins,]
quorum nemo diurna mercede vitam mutaverit;
[men of whom nobody would be willing to pay any price today for their life;]
nunc est pro consule
[Now it falls to the consul]
cum imperio non empto sed dato a vobis,
[alongside his constitutional power, which was not paid for, but granted by you all,]
cum legatis adhuc iure parentibus,
[alongside you senators still in charge over the law,]
et ad eum concurrere homines omnium ordinum corruptissumi,
[and now the most corrupt men of all your classes run en masse to him,]
flagrantes inopia et cupidinibus,
[writing with poverty and ambitious desires]
scelerum conscientia exagitati,
[riled up by their common mastery of wicked crimes]
quibus quies in seditionibus, in pace turbae sunt.
[in whose plots there is only silence, but in times of peace, there are riots.]
Hi tumultum ex tumultu, bellum ex bello serunt,
[These are the kind of men that sow rioting, for the sake of rioting, and war for the sake war]
Saturnini olim, post Sulpici, dein Mari Damasippique, nunc Lepidi satellites.
[once they were the followers of Saturninus, next of Sulpicius, then of Marius and Damasippios, and now of Lepidus]
8 Praeterea Etruria atque omnes reliquiae belli arrectae,
[Moreover, there was Etruria, and all the remaining coalition of war,]
Hispaniae armis sollicitae,
[Spain, grown troublesome by warfare]
Mitbridates in latere vectigalium nostrorum quibus adhuc sustentamur,
diem bello circumspicit;
[and <Mithridates> brought a time of war to the boundaries of our own territory, over which we to this day control,]
quin praeter idoneum ducem nihil abest ad subvortundum imperium.
[why indeed, nothing now is missing to take our government down except a qualified general.]
9 Quod ego vos oro atque obsecro, patres conscripti,
[Such is the thing that I, for my part, beg form you, and pray to you, fellow senators,]
ut animadvortatis neu patiamini licentiam scelerum quasi rabiem ad integros contactu procedere;
[And why? So that you heed my warning not to fall prey to unfettered and wicked deeds, as though blind rage were attacking the health of your men through its spread.]
nam ubi malos praemia secuntur,
[you see, whenever prizes are given to wicked men,]
haud facile quisquam gratuito bonus est.
[it is not easy for any good man to get ahead.]
10 An expectatis
[Or what do you expect]
dum exercitu rursus admoto ferro atque flamma urbem invadat?
[when a person invades your city with his army built back up, bringing iron and flame?]
Quod multo propius est ab eo quo agitat statu,
[Something which is by far more proper in the state in which he causes trouble,]
quam ex pace et concordia ad arma civilia.
[than to go from peace and harmony, to civil war.]
11 Quae ille advorsum divina et humana omnia cepit,
[Acts which, contrary to all things divine and human, he undertook,]
non pro sua aut quorum simulat iniuria,
[he pretends not to do them for his own sake and for the injury of these things,]
sed legum ac libertatis subvortundae.
[but really he does them to subvert the laws and freedom.]
ut animadvortatis neu patiamini licentiam scelerum quasi rabiem ad integros contactu procedere;
[And why? So that you heed my warning not to fall prey to unfettered and wicked deeds, as though blind rage were attacking the health of your men through its spread.]
nam ubi malos praemia secuntur,
[you see, whenever prizes are given to wicked men,]
haud facile quisquam gratuito bonus est.
[it is not easy for any good man to get ahead.]
10 An expectatis
[Or what do you expect]
dum exercitu rursus admoto ferro atque flamma urbem invadat?
[when a person invades your city with his army built back up, bringing iron and flame?]
Quod multo propius est ab eo quo agitat statu,
[Something which is by far more proper in the state in which he causes trouble,]
quam ex pace et concordia ad arma civilia.
[than to go from peace and harmony, to civil war.]
11 Quae ille advorsum divina et humana omnia cepit,
[Acts which, contrary to all things divine and human, he undertook,]
non pro sua aut quorum simulat iniuria,
[he pretends not to do them for his own sake and for the injury of these things,]
sed legum ac libertatis subvortundae.
[but really he does them to subvert the laws and freedom.]
Agitur enim ac laceratur animi cupidine et noxarum metu,
[You see, it's been led around, and done harm by the desire of the mind, and the fear of crimes,]
expers consili, inquies, haec atque illa temptans, metuit otium, odit bellum,
[well experienced in plots, but never at peace, trying this and that, he fears the thought of taking a break, and he hates war,]
luxu atque licentia carendum videt
[he sees a man lacking both luxury, and indulgences]
atque interim abutitur vostra socordia.
[and, at the same time, your own slothfulness is being taken for granted.]
12 Neque mihi satis consili est,
[Nor is it worthy enough for me to advise,]
metum an ignaviam an dementiam eam appellem,
[that I call this fear either "ignorance" or "insanity",]
qui videmini tanta mala quasi fulmen optare se quisque ne attingat,
[when you all see such great evils, just as no one might endeavour for himself to be struck by lightning,]
sed prohibere ne conari quidem.
[but in fact, he would not try to prevent it from happening.]
13 Et quaeso considerate quam convorsa rerum natura sit;
[And I ask that you consider how the nature of your affairs has been taken over;]
antea malum publicum occulte,
auxilia palam instruebantur
[beforehand, evil deeds of the state were done in secret, but a remedy to them could be openly gathered]
et eo boni malos facile anteibant:
[and then, good men easily prevailed over wicked ones:]
nunc pax et concordia disturbantur palam,
[now peace and concord are shattered in the open,]
defenduntur occulte;
[and only defend in secret;]
quibus illa placent in armis sunt, vos in metu.
[the very affairs that inspire you to arms, brings you into a state of panic.]
Quid expectatis?
[And what do you expect?]
Nisi forte pudet aut piget recte facere.
[Except that it might cause you shame perhaps, or might actually ail you act correctly.]
14 An Lepidi mandata animos movere?
[Or do Lepidus' commands actually stir your spirits?]
Qui placere ait
[The very man who says it brings him pleasure]
sua cuique reddi et aliena tenet,
[, to whom I've returned his possessions, and things that don't belong to him,]
belli iura rescindi,
[that is, promises to disengage from warfare]
cum ipse armis cogat,
[while it is he himself who forces the matter to arms,]
civitatem confirmari, quibus ademptam negat, concordiae gratis tribuniciam potestatem restitui,
[I've helped your city be strengthened for you whom he refuses to let fall in your hands, and restored the power of your tribune, as a step towards concord,]
ex qua omnes discordiae accensae.
[from which matter, all causes of our discord flared up.]
15 Pessume omnium atque impudentissume, tibine egestas civium et luctus curae sunt?
[You very worst of all men, and the most impudent of all too, do you intend the poverty and misery of your citizens?]
Cui nihil est domi nisi armis partum aut per iniuriam!
[To you, nothing matters except spawning wars, or causing offense!]
Alterum consulatum petis,
[You're running for another term as consul]
quasi primum reddideris,
[as if you will've returned firstly,]
bello concordiam quaeris quo parta disturbatur,
[you seek concord in the very war that it has been harassed, from the moment of its inception,]
nostri proditor, istis infidus, hostis omnium bonorum!
[you've betrayed us, you're faithless towards men like these, you're the enemy of all good people!]
Ut te neque hominum neque deorum pudet,
[Likewise, neither men nor the gods can cause you to feel shame,]
quos per fidem aut periurio violasti!
[not the ones that you once violated, in terms of your 'loyalty', or your breaking of oaths!]
16 Qui quando talis es,
[And you, when you are this type of person,]
maneas in sententia
et retineas arma te hortor,
[I urge that you stay in state of mind, and that you hold onto your arms,]
neu prolatandis seditionibus, inquies ipse, nos in sollicitudine attineas;
[that you, the Warmonger, not bring us into stay of anxiety, despite your attempts to foment rebellions;]
neque te provinciae neque leges neque di penates civem patiuntur;
[neither can our provinces, or your laws, or our native gods bear to have you, even as a citizen;]
perge qua coeptas,
[Keep doing what you had started,]
ut quam maturrume merita invenias.
[so that you get what's coming to you as very soon as possible.]
17 Vos autem, patres conscripti,
[But you all, members of the Senate,]
quo usque cunctando rem publicam intutam patiemini
[to what purpose did you allow your commonwealtht to be endangered, as you dallied,]
et verbis arma temptabitis?
[and will you try attached arms to your deeds?]
