Chapter 9 Sallustius

Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
CHAPTER 9 – SALLUSTIUS: MIND,
BODY, & GLORY
2000 YEARS OF LATIN PROSE
A 21st Century Anthology of Latin Prose
A LATIN ANTHOLOGY FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY
T
wo thousand years of Latin Prose is a digital anthology of
Latin Prose. Here you will be able to find texts from two
millennia of gems in Latin. In this nineth chapter, we will
learn more about Sallustius, known to many as Sallust. We will
also read a passage from his most famous work Bellum Catilinae.
If you want to learn more about the anthology, you will find the
preface here.
CHAPTER 9: SALLUSTIUS
CONTENTS
1.The Life and Works of Sallustius
2.Audio & Video
3.Latin Text
4.Keywords & Commentary
5.English Translation
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
❶
LIFE AND WORKS
In this section you will learn about the life and works of
Sallustius.
SALLUSTIUS
PORTAIT OF SALLUSTIUS BY LOUIS-GABRIEL
MONNIER, 1777
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
Prior to 52 B.C. Sallustius might have been a quaestor, though
this has been disputed. In 52 B.C. he became a Tribune of the
Plebs. However, two years later in 50 B.C. he was, along with
some others, driven from the senate. This was perhaps (but
nothing is certain) due to his sympathies towards Julius Caesar,
a man he would support and later thank for his life.
Caesar later appointed Sallustius commander of a legion. Even
though he did not stand out militarywise, he was rewarded for
his support and loyalty by being appointed governor of the
province Africa Nova (the old Kingdoms of Numidia and
Mauretania in northwestern Africa).
Sallustius was not a good governor. If we are to believe historian
Dio Cassius (155-235 A.D.), he was a terrible, oppressive
governor. According to Cassius (lib 43.9), he harassed and
plundered his subjects, confiscated property and took bribes to
line his own pockets. When he returned to Rome, sometime
around 45 or 44 B.C., it was only thanks to Julius Caesar that he
escaped charges.
Sallustius turned away from public life, perhaps after Caesar's
death, though the exact time for his withdrawal is uncertain. He
then spent the rest of his days writing historical literature and
developing his gardens, the Horti Sallustiani.
LIEBIG CARD SET: "GRANDS HISTORIENS ET EPISODES DE LEUR VIE", CA 1900
Sallustius life was a little bit of a contradiction:
On the one hand, we have an active politician whose writings,
that we soon shall turn to, are (amongst other things) famous
for their stern critique of the loose morality of the Roman
aristocracy, and for their concern about Rome's moral
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
decline.
On the other hand, we have a man who oppressed the region he
was supposed to govern and was infamous for his loose living.
As an example: Aulus Gellius relates a story from Varro about
the time when Sallustius was caught, red-handed, by Titus
Annius Milo (known from Cicero's speech Pro Milone)
committing adultery. Rumour has it that the woman Sallustius
was sleeping with was none other than Milo's own wife Fausta
Cornelia, daughter of Sulla. Gellius does not point her out;
however, Milo's reaction to Sallustius' indiscretion speaks for
itself: he beat the author with thongs and refused to let him
leave until Sallustius had paid him a sum of money.
"in adulterio deprehensum ab Annio Milone
loris bene caesum dicit et, cum dedisset
pecuniam, dimissum. "
– Aulus Gellis, lib. XVII.xviii
Dio Cassius, though not a contemporary, harshly remarks that
Sallustius did not practice what he preached. (Dio Cass. 43. 9)
WORKS OF SALLUSTIUS
Three of Sallustius' works remain today; Fragments of
the Historiae, Bellum Iugurthinum, and Bellum Catilinae.
The Historiae was a continuation of Cornelius Sisenna's (120-67
B.C.) now lost work, also called Historiae. Sisenna's work was a
history covering the years 90 B.C. to 78 B.C.
Sallustius' Historiae began where Sisenna's work ended, 78 B.C.
and continued to the year 67 B.C. It would have continued
onwards, but Sallustius died before he could finish it.
Today we have parts left from the Historiae; four speeches, two
letters and about 500 fragments.
Bellum Iuguthinum was written around 40 B.C. and deals with
the Jugurthine War (111-105 B.C.) fought between Jugurtha, king
of Numidia and Rome.
.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
THE BEGINNING OF SALLUST’S
BELLUM IUGURTHINUM, IN MS.
BIBLIOTECA APOSTOLICA
VATICANA, VATICANUS PALATINUS
LAT. 883, FOL. 21R., 12TH CENTURY.
The conspiracy was that of a plot to
overthrow the Roman Republic and
has been named after the main
conspirator, Lucius Sergius Catilina.
Though the conspiracy happened
during SallustiusÕ life, it is most
likely that he was not in Rome at the
time, but instead was in the service
DE CONJURATIONE CATILINAE,
MANUSCRIPT FROM 1475
of the military. His Bellum Catilina is
not written around the time of the
conspiracy in the 60's B.C. but between 44 and 40 B.C. Thus,
ca. 20 years had passed in between the actual events and the
book.
The passage we shall be looking at today is the beginning
of Bellum Catilina. Sallustius is not one to go straight to the
point, but instead sets the tone of his work with this passage
with thoughts on the mind, body, and glory.
written by Amelie Rosengren, M.A.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
FURTHER READING AND RESOURCES
If you can't get enough of Sallustius and Bellum Catilinae, you
can listen to another passage here: Sallust on the death of Catiline,
and yet another one here: Catilina coniuratos hortatur.
If you are a Patron on Patreon.com/latinitium, you can also find
a video lesson on the part chapter of Bellum Catilinae where
Daniel goes through the text, you can find it here. As a Patron
you can also find a video lesson on Sallustius' passage on the
death of Catiline: Exitus Catilinae, as well as one of his "fake
speeches": Ficta Marii Oratio
Michael von Albrecht's A History of Roman Literature: From
Livius Andronicus to Boethius or The Cambridge companion to the
writings of Julius Caesar, edited by Luca Grillo, Christopher B.
Krebs, is a treasure when learning about Roman authors and
their literary styles.
❷
AUDIO & VIDEO
Click below to read and listen to a passage from
Sallustius' "Bellum Catilinae".
VIDEO WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
AUDIO OF LATIN TEXT
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
009. Sallustius Ð 2000 Years of Latin Prose Ð
Latinitium.com.mp3
Daniel Pettersson
❸
Download
LATIN TEXT
Below you will find the original text of the passage in
Latin.
BELLUM CATILINAE, 1.1–3
Omnis homines, qui sese student praestare ceteris animalibus,
summa ope niti decet, ne vitam silentio transeant veluti pecora,
quae natura prona atque ventri oboedientia finxit. Sed nostra
omnis vis in animo et corpore sita est: animi imperio, corporis
servitio magis utimur; alterum nobis cum dis, alterum cum
beluis commune est. Quo mihi rectius videtur ingeni quam
virium opibus gloriam quaerere et, quoniam vita ipsa, qua
fruimur, brevis est, memoriam nostri quam maxume longam
efficere. Nam divitiarum et formae gloria fluxa atque fragilis est,
virtus clara aeternaque habetur. Sed diu magnum inter mortalis
certamen fuit, vine corporis an virtute animi res militaris magis
procederet. Nam et, prius quam incipias, consulto et, ubi
consulueris, mature facto opus est. Ita utrumque per se indigens
alterum alterius auxilio eget.
Igitur initio reges Ð nam in terris nomen imperi id primum fuit
Ð divorsi pars ingenium, alii corpus exercebant: etiam tum vita
hominum sine cupiditate agitabatur; sua cuique satis placebant.
Postea vero quam in Asia Cyrus, in Graecia Lacedaemonii et
Athenienses coepere urbis atque nationes subigere, lubidinem
dominandi causam belli habere, maxumam gloriam in maxumo
imperio putare, tum demum periculo atque negotiis compertum
est in bello plurumum ingenium posse. Quod si regum atque
imperatorum animi virtus in pace ita ut in bello valeret,
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
aequabilius atque constantius sese res humanae haberent neque
aliud alio ferri neque mutari ac misceri omnia cerneres. Nam
imperium facile iis artibus retinetur, quibus initio partum est.
Verum ubi pro labore desidia, pro continentia et aequitate
lubido atque superbia invasere, fortuna simul cum moribus
inmutatur. Ita imperium semper ad optumum quemque a minus
bono transfertur. Quae homines arant, navigant, aedificant,
virtuti omnia parent. Sed multi mortales, dediti ventri atque
somno, indocti incultique vitam sicuti peregrinantes transiere;
quibus profecto contra naturam corpus voluptati, anima oneri
fuit. Eorum ego vitam mortemque iuxta aestumo, quoniam de
utraque siletur. Verum enim vero is demum mihi vivere atque
frui anima videtur, qui aliquo negotio intentus praeclari
facinoris aut artis bonae famam quaerit. Sed in magna copia
rerum aliud alii natura iter ostendit.
Pulchrum est bene facere rei publicae, etiam bene dicere haud
absurdum est; vel pace vel bello clarum fieri licet; et qui fecere
et qui facta aliorum scripsere, multi laudantur. Ac mihi quidem,
tametsi haudquaquam par gloria sequitur scriptorem et actorem
rerum, tamen in primis arduum videtur res gestas scribere:
primum, quod facta dictis exaequanda sunt; dehinc, quia
plerique, quae delicta reprehenderis, malevolentia et invidia
dicta putant, ubi de magna virtute atque gloria bonorum
memores, quae sibi quisque facilia factu putat, aequo animo
accipit, supra ea veluti ficta pro falsis ducit.
Sed ego adulescentulus initio sicuti plerique studio ad
rempublicam latus sum, ibique mihi multa advorsa fuere. Nam
pro pudore, pro abs​tinentia, pro virtute audacia largitio
avaritia vigebant. Quae tametsi animus aspernabatur insolens
malarum artium, tamen inter tanta vitia imbecilla aetas
ambitione corrupta tenebatur; ac me, cum ab reliquorum malis
moribus dissentirem, nihilo minus honoris cupido eadem quae
ceteros fama atque invidia vexabat.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
EXPLAINED IN LATIN
If you are a Patron on
Patreon.com/latinitium, you
can also find a video lesson on
the first part, 1.1, of Bellum
Catilinae where Daniel goes
through the text, you can find
it here.
❹
EXPLAINED IN LATIN
If you are a Patron on
VOCABULARY & COMMENTARY
Below you will find some keywords and comments on the
text.
VOCABULARY & COMMENTARY
These following words are key to understanding the text, if you
already know them - great! - if not, make a mental note of them.
sese præstare: acc. and inf. after student, a rare constr. instead
of the simple inf., which is the rule after verbs of wishing,
seeking, etc., when the subject of both verbs is the same. In
Cicero and Caesar the reflexive pronoun is generally expressed
after verbs of wishing and striving only when the infinitive
takes a pred. noun or adj. (Ramsey 1984), e.g. gratum se videri
studet, Ôhe is anxious to seem pleasingÕ (Cic., de Off. ii. 20. 7.).
Some editors think that the insertion of the pron. sese gives
special emphasis, others that it is a colloquialism or archaism.
summa ope: Instead of the more common summopere, likely to
add an archaic flavour. (McGushin 1980)
silentio: pass, sense, Ônot spoken about,' Ôin obscurity,' or
Ôunnoticed.'
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
prona finxit: Ôwhom nature has made to gaze on the ground
and serve their bellyÕ; ventri, i. e. the natural appetites.
Sed nostra omnis vis: ÔNow our capacity, taken as a whole,
resides in the mind and the body jointly; we employ the
governance of the mind, the service rather of the body (or more
freely, Ôthe mind is the ruling, the body rather the serving
element in usÕ). For omnis cf. CaesarÕs Gallia est omnis divisa in
partes tres (B. G. I. 1.). Sed is not adversative and only introduces
a new concept (McGushin 1980).
alterum…alteram: refers loosely to animus and corpus, Ôthe one
we share with the gods, the other with the beasts.'
quo mihi rectius videtur: Ôand so it seems to me more
reasonable to seek gloryÉÕ; quo is simply Ôand therefore,' and
should not be taken with rectius; Some editors, however, take
quo as the common abl. with the comp. rectius (Ôby whichÉthe
more reasonableÕ) and explain by an ellipse, quanto di pr¾stant
beluuis tanto rectius mihi videtur, Ôin proportion as gods surpass
beasts, so much the more reasonable does it seem to me.'
vita ipsa qua fruimur: our life on earth contrasted with the
legacy and memory that lives on after our time. (McGushin
1980)
fluxa atque fragilis: alliterative,Õfleeting and frail.'
virtus…habetur: Ômerit is a noble and eternal possessionÕ;
habetur: not Ôis considered,' but Ôis a possessionÕ.
mortalīs: Sallust uses omnes homines and omnes mortales
indifferently and there is nothing to support the view that it is
used because it is an archaic word. (McGushin 1980)
nam et…prius opus est: the present and perfect subjunctive with
the second person refers to an undefined person ÔyouÕ,
ÔoneÕ; Ôfor there is need both of deliberation before one
begins, and of well-timed action after one has deliberated.'
utrumque: Ôeach, incomplete by itself, needs the help the one
of the otherÕ, i. e., Ôneeds the otherÕs helpÕ; alterum resumes
the utrumque.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
igitur: Sall. puts igitur as the first word except in questions. This
is an archaism. (McGushin 1980)
divorsi pars… alii: Ôtaking opposite courses, some employed the
intellect, others the bodily powersÕ; pars, alii, inpartitive
apposition to reges; pars is often opposed by Sall. to alii, multi,
pauci, to give variety, instead of the regular parsÉpars.
agitabatur:Ôto liveÕ, an archaich use. Sall., is especially fond of
frequentative forms.
lubidinem…habere: Ôto have in their lust for rule a pretext for
war, to find the greatest glory in the greatest empire.'
periculo atque negotiis: Ôit was found out by experienceÕ.
Nonius 578L quotes this phrase to show that periculum is
sometimes equivivalent to experimentum. (McGushin 1980)
regum atque imperatorum animi virtus: the intellectual
excellence (or ÔabilityÕ) of kings and rulersÕ; imperatores in a
wider sense than regum, not in the technical Roman sense of
Ômilitary commandersÕ.
neque aliud … cerneres: Ônor would you have seen constant
shiftings to and fro, and the whole world in a state of change
and confusionÕ; alio, adverb.
iis artibus: Ôby those qualitiesÕ or ÔmeansÕ; artes, a favourite
word of Sall., especially in phrases bonae artes, ÔvirtuesÕ; malae
artes, Ôvices.'
invasere: as we say Ôhave come inÕ in sense of Ôhave become
commonÕ; a favourite word of Sall.; here used absol., but
usually with acc. or in and acc.
quae: cognate acc. to the three verbs, arant, navigant, aedificant;
lit.' the ploughings which men plough, the sailings which they
sail, etc.'; each of the three phrases, quae arant, etc., is equiv. to
a subst., and the three, taken up and repeated by omnia, are
subj. of parent: Ôwhether men plough, or sail the sea or build,
everything they do depends upon meritÕ (or Ôupon energyÕ).
McGushin (1980) paraphrases the sentence for clarity as quae
homines arando, navigando, aedificando efficunt.
sicuti peregrinantes: i. e. passing carelessly through life without
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
real knowledge or study of its possibilities, as a tourist does not
trouble to study a land in which he is only temporarily settled.
iuxta aestumo: ÔI value alike,' i. e. at an equally low rate; for
iuxta = Ôequally,'
is demum…: Ôthat man, and that man alone, seems to me to live
and have real enjoyment of his vital powersÉÕ
negotio intentus: Commentators dispute whether the case in
this and similar phrases (proelio intentus, etc.) is dat. or abl.;
prob. the latter, intentus keeping its participial force, Ôkept on
the stretch byÉÕ; intentus is generally used absolutely.
bene facere rei publicae: facere contrasted with dicere, hence
transl. here not Ôto benefit the state,' but Ôto act well for the
advantage of the state,' Ôto benefit the state by action.'
bene dicere: is used absolutely, and does not govern rei
publicae.
laudantur: its subj. is the antecedent of qui fecere, qui scripsere,
to which multi is added in apposition; transl. Ômany, both
those who have done great deeds, and those who have described
the deeds of others, win praise.'
primum: three reasons are given introd. by primum, dehinc, ubi
de.
facta dictis exaequanda sunt: lit. Ôthe deeds must be matched
by the words.' as we might say, Ônoble actions must be worthily
describedÕ; dictis, abl. of means.
plerique…: Ômost men think that the faults you have censured
(quae delicta reprehenderis) have been mentioned (dicta) out of
spite and envy.'
supra ea: for quae supra ea sunt, Ôwhat goes beyond that he
regards as false (pro falsis), as though it were a mere invention
(veluti ficta).'
ambitione corrupta tenebatur: better (1) corrupta nom.,
agreement with aetas, Ôwas seduced and held prisoner by a love
of honourÕ than (2) as Dietsch, corrupta, abl. agreement with
ambitione, Ôby a corruptÕ or Ôcorrupting ambition.'
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
honoris cupido eadem qua ceteros…: the order is honoris cupido
vexabat me eadem fama atque invidia qua ceteros (vexabat), Ôthe
desire for the honours of office caused me to be dogged with the
same slander and jealousy as the rest (of my competitors)'; fama
in sense of mala fama.
❺
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Below you will find an English translation of the text.
THE CATILINE WAR, 1.1-3
It behooves all men who wish to excel the other animals to
strive with might and main not to pass through life unheralded,
like the beasts, which Nature has fashioned grovelling and slaves
to the belly. All our power, on the contrary, lies in both mind
and body; we employ the mind to rule, the body rather to serve;
the one we have in common with the Gods, the other with the
brutes. Therefore I find it becoming, in seeking renown, that we
should employ the resources of the intellect rather than those of
brute strength, to the end that, since the span of life which we
enjoy is short, we may make the memory of our lives as long as
possible. For the renown which riches or beauty confer is
fleeting and frail; mental excellence is a splendid and lasting
possession.
Yet for a long time mortal men have discussed the question
whether success in arms depends more on strength of body or
excellence of mind; for before you begin, deliberation is
necessary, when you have deliberated, prompt action. Thus each
of these, being incomplete in itself, requires the other's aid.
Accordingly in the beginning kings (for that was the first title
of sovereignty among men), took different courses, some
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
training their minds and others their bodies. Even at that time
men's lives were still free from covetousness; each was quite
content with his own possessions. But when Cyrus in Asia and
in Greece the Athenians and Lacedaemonians began to subdue
cities and nations, to make the lust for dominion a pretext for
war, to consider the greatest empire the greatest glory, then at
last men learned from perilous enterprises that qualities of
mind availed most in war.
Now if the mental excellence with which kings and rulers are
endowed were as potent in peace as in war, human affairs would
run an evener and steadier course, and you would not see power
passing from hand to hand and everything in turmoil and
confusion; for empire is easily retained by the qualities by which
it was first won. But when sloth has usurped the place of
industry, and lawlessness and insolence have superseded selfrestraint and justice, the fortune of princes changes with their
character. Thus the sway is always passing to the best man from
the hands of his inferior. Success in agriculture, navigation, and
architecture depends invariably upon mental excellence. Yet
many men, being slaves to appetite and sleep, have passed
through life untaught and untrained, like mere wayfarers in
these men we see, contrary to Nature's intent, the body a source
of pleasure, the soul a burden. For my own part, I consider the
lives and deaths of such men as about alike, since no record is
made of either. In very truth that man alone lives and makes the
most of life, as it seems to me, who devotes himself to some
occupation, courting the fame of a glorious deed or a noble
career. But amid the wealth of opportunities Nature points out
one path to one and another to another.
It is glorious to serve one's country by deeds; even to serve her
by words is a thing not to be despised; one may become famous
in peace as well as in war. Not only those who have acted, but
those also who have recorded the acts of others oftentimes
receive our approbation. And for myself, although I am well
aware that by no means equal repute attends the narrator and
the doer of deeds, yet I regard the writing of history as one of
the most difficult of tasks: first, because the style and diction
must be equal to the deeds recorded; and in the second place,
because such criticism as you make of others' shortcomings are
thought by most men to be due to malice and envy.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
Furthermore, when you commemorate the distinguished merit
and fame of good men, while every one is quite ready to believe
you when you tell of things which he thinks he could easily do
himself, everything beyond that he regards as fictitious, if not
false.
When I myself was a young man, my inclinations at first led me,
like many another, into public life, and there I encountered
many obstacles; for instead of modesty, incorruptibility and
honesty, shamelessness, bribery and rapacity held sway. And
although my soul, a stranger to evil ways, recoiled from such
faults, yet amid so many vices my youthful weakness was led
astray and held captive my ambition; for while I of took no part
in the evil practices of the others, yet the desire for preferment
made me the victim of the same ill-repute and jealousy as they.
Translation by John C. Rolfe (1931).
BEHIND 2000
LATIN PROSE
YEARS
OF
Daniel Pettersson, M.A., is co-founder of
Latinitium and is currently teaching Latin at
Stockholm University where he is also working on his PhD dissertation on
Humanist Colloquia. Daniel believes in the importance of Latin literature in
the modern world, and that you can teach yourself Latin with the right
motivation, method and material.
Amelie Rosengren, M.A. and co-founder of Latinitium, is a published
author, illustrator and historian. She specializes in daily life, has a soft spot
for historic curiosities, and works as a museum educator at the worldÕs
oldest open air museum, Skansen.
Chapter 9 – Sallustius: Mind, Body, & Glory — Latinitium
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