PRAYER OF A GOOD MAN. Ann. iv. 38. Quæ saxo struuntur, si judicium posterorum in odium vertit, pro sepulchris spernuntur. Proinde socios, cives, et deos ipsos precor: hos ut mihi ad finem usque vitæ quietam et intelligentem humani divinique juris mentem duint; illos, ut, quandoque concessero, cum laude et bonis recordationibus, facta atque famam nominis mei prosequantur. Piles of stone and marble structures, when the idol ceases to be adored, and the judgment of posterity rises to execration, are mere charnel houses, that moulder into ruin. I therefore now address myself to the allies of the empire, to the citizens of Rome, and to the immortal gods: to the gods, it is my prayer that, to the end of life, they may grant the blessing of an undisturbed, a clear, a collected mind, with a just sense of laws, both human and divine. Of mankind I request, that, when I am no more, they will do justice to my memory, and, with kind acknowledgments, record my name, and the actions of my life. A MIND ENFEEBLED. Ann. iv. 68. Sunt molles in calamitate mortalium animi, effurdit lacrimas. When the mind of man is enfeebled by misfortunes, he bursts into tears. TYRANTS. Neque frustra præstantissimus sapientiæ firmare solitus est, si recludantur tyrannorum mentes, posse adspici laniatus et ictus; quando, ut corpora verberibus, ita sævitiâ, libidine, malis consultis, animus dilaceretur. So true is the saying of the great philosophers, the oracle of ancient wisdom, that if the minds of tyrants were laid open to our view, we should see them gashed and mangled with the whips and stings of horror and remorse. By blows and stripes the flesh is made to quiver; and in like manner, cruelty and inordinate passions, malice and evil deeds, become internal executioners, and, with increasing torture, goad and lacerate the heart. PLANS OF REFORMATION. Ann. vi. 17. Acribus initiis, incurioso fine. Like most plans of reformation, it was embraced at first with ardour; but the novelty ceased, and the scheme ended in nothing. THE MOB. Ann. vi. 22. Neque mala vel bona, quæ vulgus putet. Things are neither good nor bad, as they appear to the judgment of the mob. MAN OF FORTITUDE. Ann. vi. 22. Multos qui conflictari adversis videantur, beatos; ac plerosque quanquam magnas per opes, miserrimos: si illi gravem fortunam constanter tolerant, hi prosperâ inconsulte utantur. There are many who encounter adversity, that are happy; while some in the midst of riches are miserable: everything depends on the fortitude with which the former bear their misfortune, and on the manner in which the latter employ their wealth. CAPACITY FOR BUSINESS. Ann. vi. 39. Nullam ob eximiam artem, sed quod par negotiis, neque supra erat. Not for any extraordinary talents, but because he had a capacity of a level for business, and not above it. DEMOCRACY. Ann. vi. 42. Populi imperium juxta libertatem; paucorum dominatio regiæ libidini propior est. A regular democracy holds too much of civil liberty; while the domination of the few differs but little from absolute monarchy. PRECEDENTS. Ann. xi. 24. Inveterascet hoc quoque: et quod hodie exemplis tuemur, inter exempla erit. The measure which I now defend by examples will, at a future day, become another precedent. It is now a new regulation; in time it will be history. EMBELLISHMENT OF A STORY. Compositum miraculi causâ. A story embellished merely to create astonishment. POPULAR OPINION. Ann. xiii. 19. Nihil rerum mortalium tam instabile ac fluxum est, quam fama potentiæ, non suâ vi nixa. In the mass of human affairs, there nothing so vain and transi tory as the fancied pre-eminence which depends on popular opinion, without a solid foundation to support it. LOVERS' QUARRELS. Ann. xiii. 44. Tum, ut adsolet in amore et irâ, jurgia, preces, exprobratio, satisfactio. The scene which usually occurs when love is stung to jealousy, was acted between the parties: reproaches, fond endearments, rage, and tenderness, war and peace, took their turn. THE RESULT OF A GROSS ACT OF INIQUITY. Ann. xiv. 44. Habet aliquid ex iniquo omne magnum exemplum, quod contra singulos, utilitate publicâ rependitur. There arises a great example from every gross act of iniquity, which, however individuals may suffer, tends ultimately to the public good. THE AGENTS IN EVIL ACTIONS. Ann. xiv. 62. Malorum facinorum ministri quasi exprobrantes aspiciuntur. The assistants in the commission of crimes are always regarded as if they were reproaching the act. NEW BROOMS. Ann. xv. 21. Initia magistratuum nostrorum meliora ferme, finis inclinat. Magistrates discharge their duties best at the beginning, and fall off at the conclusion. LUST OF POWER. Ann. xv. 53. Cupido dominandi cunctis affectibus flagrantior est. THE BOLD. Etiam fortes viros subitis terreri. Even the bravest men are not proof against a surprise. CUTTING JOKES. Sæpe asperis facetiis inlusus; quæ, ubi multum ex vero traxere, acrem sui memoriam relinquunt. He had often made the prince the subject of his raillery; and raillery, when seasoned with truth, never fails to leave a sting that festers in the memory. EFFECT OF INDOLENCE. Ann. xvi. 18. Utque alios industria, ita hunc ignavia ad famam protulerat. While other men have been advanced to eminence by industry, this man succeeded by mere sluggishness and indolence. ARBITER OF TASTE. Ann. xvi. 18. Inter paucos familiarium Neroni adsumptus est, elegantiæ arbiter. Being in favour at court, and cherished as the companion of Nero in his select parties, he was allowed to be the arbiter of taste and elegance. CALUMNY. Obtrectatio et livor pronis auribus accipiuntur: quippe adulationi fœdum crimen servitutis, malignitati falsa species libertatis inest. Spleen and calumny are devoured with a greedy ear. Flattery wears a badge of servitude; while malignity speaks the tone of independence, and is therefore well received. FREEDOM. Hist. i. 1. Rarâ temporum felicitate, ubi sentire, quæ velis, et, quæ sentias, dicere licet. Through the rare felicity of the times, a man may think with freedom; and what he thinks, he may publish to the world. ROMAN PEOPLE. Neque enim hic, ut in ceteris gentibus, quæ regnantur certa dominorum domus, et ceteri servi: sed imperaturus es hominibus, qui nec totam servitutem pati possunt, nec totam libertatem. It is not in Rome as in despotic governments, where one family towers above mankind, and their subjects groan in bondage. You are to reign over a people whom no extreme will suit: when in full possession of liberty, enemies to their own happiness; when reduced to slavery, impatient of the yoke. A SUCCESSOR. Hist. i. 21. Suspectum semper invisumque dominantibus, qui proximus destinaretur. The man, whom the public voice has named for the succession, is sure to be suspected by the reigning prince. TO MEET DANGER WITH FORTITUDE. Si cadere necesse est, occurrendum discrimini. THE COWARD IS A BOASTER AFTER BATTLE. Ignavissimus quisque, et, ut res docuit, in periculo non ausurus, nimii verbis, linguâ feroces. Every coward, who has shewed his timidity in the hour of danger, was the greatest boaster after the battle. FOREBODING OF A STORM. Hist. i. 40. Neque populi aut plebis ulla vox, sed adtoniti vultus et conversæ ad omnia aures. Non tumultus, non quies : quale magni metus et magnæ iræ silentium est. |