C. Sallustius Crispus, Bellum Catilinae 6.4–7

Sallust describes how early Rome defended itself through unity and valor, but when kingship turned to tyranny replaced it with two annually elected consuls as a check against the corrupting effects of unchecked power.

 

Tier 1

Igitur reges populique, qui prope erant, Romanos bello temptabant. Romani paucos ex amicis qui poterat adiuvare; nam ceteri perturbatus metu aberant a periculis.

Sed domi et militiae, Romani studiosi festinare, parabant, alius hortabatur alium, ibant contra hostes, et libertatem et patriam et parentes armis defendebant.

Cum Romani pericula removerat virtute, Romani portabant auxilia sociis et amicis, Romani parabant amicitias dandis beneficiis magis quam accipiendis beneficiis.

Romani habebant regium nomen imperi. Erat imperium legum. Viri qui delecti sunt, quia multos annos etiam sapientiam magnam habebant, rei publicae consultabant;

Hi viri nominabantur 'patres,' vel aetate eorum vel similitudine curae.

regium imperium initio fuerat conservandae libertatis et faciendi rem publicam fortiorem. Sed cum regium imperium se convertit in arrogantiam et dominationem, more Romanorum inmutato, Romani sibi fecerunt binos (duo in eodem tempore) imperatores imperia annua (with annual power.)

eo modo Romani putabant animum humanum minime posse insolentem crescere per libertatem sine legibus.

Written by Robert Amstutz

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