Delphi Complete Works of Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Illustrated) (Delphi Ancient Classics Book 79)

by Dionysius of Halicarnassus

  [41.1] “For surely you do not imagine that I am joining in their deception knowingly and that I have concerted with them to do you some injury. For if it occurs to you to entertain these thoughts of me, do to me what you will, treating me as the most depraved of all men. Believe, then, what I say and banish this suspicion from your minds. Turn your anger from your friends to your enemies, who have come with the purpose of taking your city and making you slaves instead of free men, and are striving to inflict on you every other severity which mankind holds in the greatest fear, and are now said to be not far from your confines.

  [2] προθύμως οὖν ἀπολύσασθε τὰς διαβολὰς καὶ δείξατε αὐτοῖς, ὅτι καὶ στασιάζουσα ἡ Ῥωμαίων δύναμις κρείττων ἑτέρας ἐστὶν ὁμονοούσης: ἢ γὰρ οὐχ ὑπομενοῦσιν ὑμᾶς ἐπιόντας ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἢ δίκας ὑφέξουσι τῆς τόλμης ἀξίας: ἐνθυμήθητε γάρ, ὅτι Οὐολοῦσκοι καὶ Σαβῖνοί εἰσιν, ὧν πολλάκις ἐκρατήσατε μαχομένων, οἱ τὸν πόλεμον ἐπάγοντες ὑμῖν, οὔτε σώματα νῦν μείζονα λαβόντες οὔτε ψυχὰς τῶν προτέρων ἀλκιμωτέρας κτησάμενοι, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐχθρῶς πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἐχόντων [p. 323] καταφρονήσαντες ὑμῶν. ὅταν δὲ τοὺς πολεμίους τιμωρήσησθε, ἐγγυῶμαι ὑμῖν τὴν βουλὴν ἐγὼ τάς τε ὑπὲρ τῶν χρεῶν φιλονεικίας καὶ ὅ τι ἂν ἄλλο παρ᾽ αὐτῆς αἰτῆσθε μέτριον, ἀξίως τῆς ἀρετῆς, ἣν ἂν παράσχησθε ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ, βραβεύσειν.

  [2] Withstand them, therefore, with alacrity and show them that the power of the Romans, though weakened by sedition, is superior to any other when harmonious; for either they will not sustain your united attack or they will suffer condign punishment for their boldness. Bear in mind that those who are making war against you are Volscians and Sabines, whom you have often overcome in battle, and that they have night larger bodies nor braver hearts now than their ancestors had, but have conceived a contempt for you because they thought you were at odds with one another. When you have taken revenge on your enemies, I myself pledge that the senate will reward you, both by composing these controversies concerning the debts and by granting everything else you can reasonably ask of them, in a manner adequate to the valour you shall show in the war.

  [3] τέως δ᾽ ἀφείσθω πᾶσα μὲν οὐσία, πᾶν δὲ σῶμα, πᾶσα δ᾽ ἐπιτιμία πολίτου Ῥωμαίου ἀρρυσίαστος ἀπό τε δανείου καὶ ἄλλου παντὸς συμβολαίου. τοῖς δὲ προθύμως ἀγωνισαμένοις κάλλιστος μὲν στέφανος πόλις ἥδε ἡ γειναμένη στᾶσα ὀρθή, καλὸς δὲ καὶ ὁ παρὰ τῶν συνόντων ἔπαινος ὑπάρξει: καὶ ὁ παρ᾽ ἡμῶν κόσμος ἱκανὸς οἶκόν τ᾽ ἐπανορθῶσαι χρήμασι καὶ γένος ἐπιλαμπρῦναι τιμαῖς. παράδειγμά τε ὑμῖν ἀξιῶ γενέσθαι τοὐμὸν εἰς τοὺς κινδύνους πρόθυμον: ὑπεραγωνιοῦμαι γὰρ ὡς ὁ κράτιστα ἐρρωμένος ὑμῶν.

  [3] In the mean time let every possession, every person, and every right of a Roman citizen be left secure are seizure for either debt or any other obligation. To those who shall fight zealously their most glorious crown will be that this city, which gave them birth, still stands intact, and glorious praise also from their fellow-soldiers will be theirs; and the rewards bestowed by us will be sufficient both to restore their fortunes by their value and to render their families illustrious by the honours bestowed. I desire also that my zeal in exposing myself to danger may be your example; for I will fight for my country as stoutly as the most robust among you.”

  [1] ταῦτ᾽ εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ πᾶς ὁ δῆμος ἄσμενος ἀκούσας ὡς οὐδὲν ἔτι φενακισθησόμενος ὑπέσχετο συνάρασθαι τοῦ πολέμου, καὶ γίνεται δέκα στρατιωτικὰ τάγματα, ἐξ ἀνδρῶν τετρακισχιλίων ἕκαστον. τούτων τρία μὲν ἑκάτερος τῶν ὑπάτων ἔλαβε καὶ τῶν ἱππέων ὅσον ἑκάστῳ προσεμερίσθη: τὰ δὲ τέτταρα καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἱππεῖς ὁ δικτάτωρ. καὶ αὐτίκα παρασκευασάμενοι ᾤχοντο διὰ τάχους ἐπὶ μὲν Αἰκανοὺς Τῖτος Οὐετούριος, ἐπὶ δ᾽ Οὐολούσκους Αὖλος Οὐεργίνιος, [p. 324] αὐτὸς δ᾽ ὁ δικτάτωρ Οὐαλέριος ἐπὶ Σαβίνους, τὴν δὲ πόλιν ἅμα τοῖς γεραιτέροις καὶ ὀλίγῳ τινὶ στρατεύματι ἀκμαίῳ Τῖτος Λάρκιος ἐφύλαττεν.

  [42.1] While he was speaking, all the people listened with great pleasure, and believing that they were no longer to be imposed upon, promised their assistance in the war; and ten legions were raised, each consisting of four thousand men. Of these each of the consuls took three, and as many of the horse as belonged to the several legions; the other four, together with the rest of the horse, were commanded by the dictator. And having straightway got everything ready, they set out in haste, Titus Veturius against the Aequians, Aulus Verginius against the Volscians, and the dictator Valerius himself against the Sabines, while the city was guarded by Titus Larcius together with the older men and a small body of troops of military age.

  [2] ὁ μὲν οὖν Οὐολούσκων πόλεμος ταχεῖαν τὴν κρίσιν ἔλαβε: πλήθει γὰρ ὑπεραίρειν πολὺ νομίσαντες τῶν προτέρων κακῶν ἀναμνησθέντες, ἀγωνισταὶ ταχίους ἢ φρονιμώτεροι ἀναγκασθέντες γενέσθαι θᾶττον πρῶτοι ὥρμησαν ἐπὶ τοὺς Ῥωμαίους, ἡνίκα ὤφθησαν ἐν συνόψει στρατοπεδεύσαντες. γενομένης δὲ μάχης καρτερᾶς πολλὰ μὲν δράσαντες γενναῖα, πλείω δὲ τὰ δεινὰ ὑπομείναντες εἰς φυγὴν τρέπονται, καὶ ὅ τε χάραξ αὐτῶν ἑάλω καὶ πόλις ἐπιφανὴς ἐκ πολιορκίας παρέστη: Οὐέλιτραι δ᾽

  [2] The Volscian war was speedily decided. For these foes, looking upon themselves as much superior in number and recalling the wrongs they had suffered, were driven to fight with greater hasten than prudence, and were the first to attack the Romans, which they did too impetuously, as soon as the latter had encamped within sight of them. There ensued a sharp battle, in which, though they performed many brave deeds, they nevertheless suffered greater losses and were put to flight; and their camp was taken, and a city of note, Velitrae by name, reduced by siege.

  [3] ὄνομα αὐτῇ. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ τὸ Σαβίνων φρόνημα ἐν ὀλίγῳ πάνυ ἐταπεινώθη χρόνῳ μιᾷ παρατάξει ἐξ ἀμφοτέρων βουληθέντων ἐπικρατεῖν. ἔπειτα ἥ τε χώρα προὐνομεύθη, καὶ πολίχναι τινὲς ἑάλωσαν, ἐξ ὧν πολλὰ καὶ σώματα καὶ χρήματα οἱ στρατιῶται ἔλαβον. Αἰκανοὶ δὲ τὰ τῆς ἀσθενείας ἑαυτῶν ὑφορῶντες ἐπεὶ τὰ τῶν συμμάχων τέλος ἔχοντα ἐπύθοντο, χωρίοις τ᾽ ἐχυροῖς ἐπεκάθηντο καὶ εἰς μάχας οὐ προῄεσαν, τάς τ᾽ ἀποχωρήσεις, ὅπῃ ἐδύναντο, δι᾽ ὀρῶν ἢ δρυμῶν κρυφαίας [p. 325] ἐποιοῦντο, καὶ διέτριψαν μὲν ἄχρι τινὸς διαφέροντες τὸν πόλεμον: ο
ὐ μέντοιγε διασώσασθαι ἀθῶον τὴν στρατιὰν ἐδυνήθησαν ἐπιθεμένων αὐτοῖς τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἐν χωρίοις κρημνώδεσι τολμηρῶς καὶ λαβόντων τὸ στρατόπεδον κατὰ κράτος. ἔπειτα φυγή τ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐκ τῆς Λατίνων γῆς ἐγένετο καὶ παραδόσεις τῶν πόλεων, ἃς ἔτυχον αὑτῶν τῇ πρώτῃ ἐφόδῳ καταλαβόμενοι, εἰσὶ δ᾽ ὧν καὶ ἐκ φιλονεικίας οὐκ ἐκλιπόντων τὰς ἄκρας ἁλώσεις.

  [3] In like manner the pride of the Sabines was also humbled in a very short time, both nations having wished to win the war by a single pitched battle. After this their country was plundered and some small towns were captured, from which the soldiers took many persons and great store of goods. The Aequians, distrusting their own weakness and learning that the war waged by their allies was at an end, not only encamped in strong positions and would not come out to give battle, but also effected their retreat secretly, wherever they could, through mountains and woods, and thus dragged out and prolonged the war for some time; but they were not able to preserve their army unscathed to the last, since the Romans boldly fell upon them in their rugged fastnesses and took their camp by storm. Then followed the flight of the Aequians from the territory of the Latins and the surrender of the cities they had seized in their first invasion, as well as the captured of some of the men who in a spirit of rivalry had refused to abandon the citadels.

  [1] Οὐαλέριος δὲ κατὰ νοῦν χωρήσαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ πολέμου τὸν εἰωθότα θρίαμβον ἀπὸ τῆς νίκης καταγαγὼν ἀπέλυσε τὸν δῆμον ἀπὸ τῆς στρατείας, οὔπω τῆς βουλῆς καιρὸν εἶναι νομιζούσης, ἵνα μὴ τὰς ὑποσχέσεις ἀπαιτοῖεν οἱ ἄποροι: εἰς δὲ τὴν δορίκτητον, ἣν Οὐολούσκους ἀφείλοντο, κληρούχους ἀπέστειλεν ἐπιλέξας ἄνδρας ἐκ τῶν ἀπόρων, οἳ τήν τε πολεμίαν φρουρήσειν ἔμελλον καὶ τὸ ἐν τῇ πόλει στασιάζον ἔλαττον ἀπολείψειν.

  [43] Valerius, having succeeded in this war according to his desire and celebrated the customary triumph in honour of his victory, discharged the people from the service, though the senate did not regard it as the proper time yet, fearing the poor might demand the fulfilment of their promises. After this he se out colonists to occupy the land they had taken from the Volscians, choosing them from among the poor; these would not only guard the conquered country but would also leave the seditious element in the city diminished in number.

  [2] ταῦτα διοικησάμενος ἠξίου τὴν βουλὴν τὰς ὑποσχέσεις αὐτῷ βεβαιῶσαι κεκομισμένην τὸ παρὰ τοῦ πλήθους πρόθυμον ἐν τοῖς ἀγῶσιν. ὡς δ᾽ οὐ προσεῖχεν αὐτῷ τὸν νοῦν, ἀλλ᾽, ὅπερ πρότερον ἠναντιοῦτο, τῇ γνώμῃ συστρέψαντες ἑαυτοὺς νέοι καὶ βίαιοι καὶ πλήθει τῶν ἑτέρων ἐπικρατοῦντες καὶ τότε ἀντέπραττον καὶ πολλῇ καταβοῇ ἐχρῶντο, τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ δημοκόλακα ἀποφαίνοντες καὶ νόμων [p. 326] πονηρῶν ἀρχηγόν, ᾧ δὲ μάλιστα ἠγάλλοντο οἱ ἄνδρες ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῶν δικαστηρίων πολιτεύματι, τούτῳ πᾶσαν ἠφανικέναι τὴν τῶν πατρικίων δυναστείαν αἰτιώμενοι: σχετλιάσας ὁ Οὐαλέριος πολλὰ καὶ ὡς οὐ δίκαια πάσχοι διαβεβλημένος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν δῆμον ὀνειδίσας, τήν τε μέλλουσαν καταλήψεσθαι σφᾶς τύχην τοιαῦτα βουλευσαμένους ἀνακλαυσάμενος, καὶ οἷα εἰκὸς ἐν τοιούτῳ κακῷ, τὰ μὲν ἐκ πάθους, τὰ δὲ ἀπὸ τοῦ πλεῖόν τι τῶν πολλῶν νοεῖν, ἀποθεσπίσας, ᾤχετο ἀπιὼν ἐκ τοῦ βουλευτηρίου: καὶ συγκαλέσας τὸν δῆμον εἰς ἐκκλησίαν, ἔλεξε:

  [2] Having made these arrangements, he asked the senate to fulfil for him the promises they had made, now that they had received the hearty co-operation of the plebeians in the later engagements. However, the senate paid no regard to him, but, just as before the young and violent men, who were superior to the other party in number, had joined together to oppose his motion, so on this occasion also they opposed it and raised a great outcry against him, calling his family flatterers of the people and the authors of vicious laws, and charging that by the very measure on which the Valerii prided themselves most, the one concerning the function of the assembly as a court of justice, they had totally destroyed the power of the patricians. Valerius became very indignant at this, and after reproaching them with having exposed him to the unjust resentment of the people, he lamented the fate which would come upon them for taking such a course, as might be expected in such an unhappy situation, uttered some dire prophecies, inspired in part by the emotion he was then under and in part by his superior sagacity. Then he flung himself out of the senate chamber; and assembling the people, he said:

  [3] πολλὴν χάριν ὑμῖν εἰδώς, ὦ πολῖται, τῆς τε προθυμίας, ἣν παρέσχεσθέ μοι ἑκούσιοι συναράμενοι τοῦ πολέμου, καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον τῆς ἀρετῆς, ἣν ἐν τοῖς ἀγῶσιν ἐπεδείξασθε, μεγάλην μὲν ἐποιούμην σπουδὴν ἀμείψασθαι ὑμᾶς τοῖς τε ἄλλοις καὶ τῷ μὴ ψεύσασθαι τὰς ὑποσχέσεις, ἃς ὑπὲρ τῆς βουλῆς ἐποιούμην πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ εἰς ὁμόνοιαν ἤδη ποτὲ καταστῆσαι τὴν στάσιν ὑμῶν σύμβουλος καὶ διαιτητὴς ἀμφοῖν γενόμενος: κωλύομαι δὲ πράττειν αὐτὰ διὰ τοὺς οὐ τὰ βέλτιστα τῷ κοινῷ, τὰ δὲ σφίσιν αὐτοῖς ἐν τῷ παρόντι κεχαρισμένα προαιρουμένους, οἳ πλήθει τ᾽ ἐπικρατοῦντες τῶν ἑτέρων καὶ δυνάμει, ἣν τὸ νέον αὐτοῖς παρέχεται μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ πράγματα, ἔρρωνται.

  [3] “Citizens, feeling myself under great obligations to you both for the zeal you showed in giving me your voluntary assistance in the war, and still more for the bravery you displayed in the various engagements, I was very desirous of making a return to you, not only in other ways, by particularly by not breaking the promises I kept giving you in the name of the senate, and, as an adviser and umpire between the senate and you, by changing at last the discord that now exists between you into harmony. But I am prevented from accomplishing these things by those who prefer, not what is most advantageous to the commonwealth, but what is pleasing to themselves at the present moment, and who, being superior to all the rest both in number and in the power they derive from their youth rather than from the present situation, have prevailed.

  [4] ἐγὼ δὲ γέρων τε δή, ὡς ὁρᾶτε, καὶ ἑτέρους τοιούτους ἔχω συμμάχους, ὧν ἡ ἐν τῇ γνώμῃ οὖσα ἰσχὺς ἀδύνατός [p. 327] ἐστιν ἔργῳ ἐπεξελθεῖν, καὶ περιέστηκεν ἡ δοκοῦσα ἡμῶν τοῦ κοινοῦ πρόνοια ἰδία πρὸς ἑκάτερον μέρος ἀπέχθεια φαινομένη. τῇ τε γὰρ βουλῇ δι᾽ αἰτίας εἰμὶ ὡς τὸ ὑμέτερον πλῆθος θεραπεύων καὶ πρὸς ὑμᾶς διαβέβλημαι, ὡς ἐκείνῃ μᾶλλον τὴν εὔνοιαν ἀποδεικνύμενος.
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br />   [4] Whereas I, as you see, an old man, and so are all my associates, whose strength consists in counsel which they are incapable of carrying out in action; and what was regarded as our concern for the commonwealth has turned out to have the appearance of a private grudge against both sides. For I am censured by the senate for courting your faction and misrepresented to you as showing greater goodwill to them.

  [1] εἰ μὲν οὖν ὁ δῆμος εὖ προπαθὼν ἐξέλιπε τὰς δι᾽ ἐμοῦ τῇ βουλῇ γενομένας ὑποσχέσεις, ἐκεῖνά μοι ἀπολογητέα ἦν, ὅτι ἐψεύσασθε ὑμεῖς, ἐν ἐμοὶ δ᾽ οὐδὲν κακούργημα ἦν: ἐπεὶ δὲ τὰ παρὰ τῆς βουλῆς ὁμολογηθέντα οὐ γέγονεν ὑμῖν ἐπιτελῆ, πρὸς τὸν δῆμον ὁ λόγος ἤδη ἀναγκαῖος γίγνεταί μοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἐμοὶ συνδοκοῦντα πεπόνθατε, ἀλλ᾽ ὁμοίως πεφενακίσμεθα καὶ παραλελογίσμεθα ἀμφότεροι, καὶ μᾶλλον ὑμῶν ἐγώ, ὅς γε οὐχ ἃ κοινῇ ἠπάτημαι μετὰ πάντων μόνον ἀδικοῦμαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅσα ἰδίᾳ κακῶς ἀκήκοα, ὡς δὴ τά τε παρὰ τῶν πολεμίων ἁλόντα οὐ μετὰ κοινῆς γνώμης τοῦ συνεδρίου τοῖς ἀπόροις ὑμῶν βουλόμενος ἰδίαν ὠφέλειαν περιποιήσασθαι παρασχὼν καὶ τὰς τῶν πολιτῶν οὐσίας δημεύειν ἀξιῶν ἐκείνης γε κωλυούσης καὶ μὴ παρανομεῖν, στρατιάς τ᾽ ἐναντιουμένων τῶν βουλευτῶν ἀφεικώς, δέον ὑπὸ ταῖς ἀγραυλίαις καὶ πλάναις [p. 328]