THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. Quod cum ita sit, tribus primis generibus longe præstat mea sententiâ regium; regio autem ipsi præstabit id, quod erit æquatum et temperatum ex tribus optimis rerum publicarum modis. Placet enim esse quiddam in republicâ præstans et regale; esse aliud auctoritate principum partum ac tributum; esse quasdam res servatas judicio voluntatique multitudinis. Since this is so, in my opinion monarchy is by far the best of the three forms; but the monarchical is excelled by that which is made up and formed of the three best kinds of government. In a state there ought to be something super-eminent and royal; another portion of power ought to be assigned to the nobles, and some ought to be reserved for the lower classes. GREATEST NUMBER. De Republ. ii. 22. Semper in republicâ tenendum est, ne plurimum valeant plurimi. In a state this rule ought always to be observed, that the greatest number should not have the predominant power. JUSTICE ORDERS TO CONSULT THE GOOD OF ALL. De Republ. iii. 12. Justitia præcipit parcere omnibus, consulere generi hominum, suum cuique reddere, sacra, publica, aliena non tangere. Justice commands us to have mercy on all men, to consult for the interests of mankind, to give every one his due, not to commit sacrilege, and not to covet the goods of others. A MODEST MAN. Grave est enim homini pudenti, petere aliquid magnum ab eo, de quo se bene meritum putet: ne id, quod petat, exigere magis, quam rogare; et in mercedis potius, quam beneficii loco numerare videatur. Est animi ingenui, cui multum debeas, eidem plurimum velle debere. It is annoying to a modest man to ask anything of value from one on whom he thinks that he has conferred a favour, lest he should seem to demand as a right rather than ask as a favour : and should appear to account it as a remuneration rather than a kindness. It is the feeling of a noble and liberal mind to be willing to owe much to the man to whom you already owe much. ADVICE WISEST FROM YOURSELF. Ep. ii. 7. Nemo est qui tibi sapientius suadere possit teipso: numquam labere, si te audies. There is no one who can give wiser advice to you than yourself: you will never err if you listen to yourself. VICTORY IN CIVIL WAR. Victoriæ, quæ civilibus bellis semper est insolens. Spirit of insolence, which victory in all civil wars never fails to inspire. EMPIRICS. Neque imitare malos medicos, qui in alienis morbis profitentur tenere se medicinæ scientiam, ipsi se curare non possunt. Nor resemble those unskilful empirics, who, at the same time that they pretend to be furnished with remedies for other men's disorders, are altogether incapable of finding a cure for their own. GRIEF LESSENED BY TIME. Nullus dolor est, quem non longinquitas temporis minuat, ac molliat. There is no grief which time does not lessen and soften. CIVIL WARS. Omnia sunt misera in bellis civilibus, sed miserius nihil, quam ipsa victoria: quæ etiamsi ad meliores venit, tamen eos ipsos ferociores, impotentioresque reddit: ut, etiamsi naturâ tales non sint, necessitate esse cogantur; multa enim victori eorum arbitrio, per quos vicit, etiam invito, facienda sunt. All civil wars abound with numberless calamities: but amidst its many miserable consequences, none is more justly to be dreaded than victory itself. For though it should turn on the more meritorious side, yet it will be apt to inspire even these with a spirit of insolence and cruelty: and if they should not be so by inclination, they at least will by necessity. For in many instances the victor must find himself constrained to comply with the will of those who assist him in his conquest. CHANGES SUITED TO AMUSE. Ep. v. 12. Nihil est aptius ad delectationem lectoris quam temporum varietates fortunæque vicissitudines. There is nothing more suited to amuse the reader than the changes to which we are subject and the vicissitudes of fortune. NOTHING TO BE MORE GUARDED AGAINST THAN CRIME. Ep. vi. 1. Simus eâ mente, quam ratio, et virtus præscribit, ut nihil in vitâ nobis præstandum, præter culpam, putemus: eâque cum careamus, omnia humana placate et moderate fera mus. Let us be of that opinion, which reason and virtue dictate, that we have nothing to guard against in life except crime; and when we are free from that, we may endure everything else with patience and moderation. CONSOLATION UNDER ADVERSITY. Conscientiam rectæ voluntatis, maximam consolationem esse rerum incommodarum: nec esse ullum magnum malum, præter culpam. It is, indeed, the greatest consolation under adversity, to be conscious of having always meant well, and to be persuaded that nothing but guilt deserves to be considered as a severe evil. ALLEVIATION OF MISFORTUNE. Levat enim dolorem communis quasi legis, et humanæ conditionis recordatio. For to reflect on the misfortunes to which mankind in general are exposed, greatly contributes to alleviate the weight of those which we ourselves endure. LOVE SOMETIMES COUNTERFEIT. Non facile dijudicatur amor verus, et fictus, nisi aliquod incidat ejusmodi tempus, ut, quasi aurum igni, sic benevolentia fidelis periculo aliquo perspici possit: cætera sunt signa communia. It must be confessed, at the same time, that a pretended affection is not easily discernible from a real one, unless in seasons of distress. For adversity is to friendship what fire is to gold-the only infallible test to discover the genuine from the counterfeit. In all other circumstances they both bear the same common signatures. BLUNDERS. Culpa enim illa, bis ad eundem, vulgari reprehensa proverbio est. For to stumble twice against the same stone is a disgrace, you know, even to a proverb. THE MENACES OF ANY ONE ARE IMPOTENT TO THE FREE. Ep. xi. 3. Nulla enim minantis auctoritas apud liberos est. To the free and independent, the menaces of any man are perfectly impotent. THE MISERY OF THE VANQUISHED IN CIVIL WARS. Ep. xii. 18. Bellorum civilium hi semper exitus sunt, ut non ea solum fiant, quæ velit victor, sed etiam, ut iis mos gerendus sit, quibus adjutoribus sit parta victoria. It is the certain consequence, indeed, of all civil wars, that the vanquished must not only submit to the will of the victor, but to the will of those also who assisted him in his conquest. THE FIRST APPROACHES OF FRIENDSHIP ARE IMPORTANT. Ep. xiii. 10. In omnibus novis conjunctionibus interest, qualis primus aditus sit, et quâ commendatione quasi amicitiæ fores aperiantur. But, in forming new connexions of every sort, it is of much importance in what manner the first approaches are made, and by whose hands the avenues of friendship (if I may so express myself) are laid open. TO BE PRAISED BY ONE PRAISED BY ALL THE WORLD. Ep. xv. 6. Lætus sum laudari me, inquit Hector, opinor apud Nævium, abs te, pater, laudato viro. I am delighted to be praised by one who is praised by all the world. THERE IS HOPE WHILE THERE IS LIFE. Ep. ad Att. ix. 10. Egroto, dum anima est, spes est. THE VIRTUOUS ARE NOT SUSPICIOUS. Ep. ad Fratr. i. 1. Nam ut quisque est vir optimus, ita difficillime esse alios improbos suspicatur. For the more virtuous any man is in himself, the less easily does he suspect others to be vicious. HYPOCRISY IN MOST MEN. Multis enim simulationum involucris tegitur, et quasi velis quibusdam obtenditur uniuscujusque natura: frons, oculi, vultus persæpe mentiuntur; oratio vero sæpissime. For every man's nature is concealed with many folds of disguise, and covered as it were with various veils. His nature, his brows, his eyes, and very often his countenance are deceitful, and his speech is most commonly a lie. SELF-LOVE. Ep. ad Fratr. iii. 8. Quam se ipse amans sine rivali. How much in love with himself, and that without a rival. |
