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\



M. TULLII CICERONIS



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

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o



M. TULLII CICERONIS-



LAELIUS



De Amicitia



EDITED BY



A. SIDGWICK, M.A.

Assistant-Master at Rugby School, and late Fellow qf Trinity College,

Cambridge ,



RIVINGTONS
WATERLOO PLACE, LONDON

©xfotti anti Camfcutige

MDCCCLXXVIII



PREFACE.

In preparing this little edition of the * De Amicitia/ I
have kept in mind the requkements of the students who
enter for the University Local examinations ; and at the
same time have endeavoured to make it suitable for
those who read it in schools, or with a view to Matricula-
tion examinations.

In the Introduction I have tried to explain fully the
circumstances, object, and drift of the treatise ; and in
the notes to leave no allusion or grammatical difficulty
unnoticed, and at the same time to help the learner to a
suitable translation of the more difficult phrases. The
difficulty of translating Cicero seldom lies in the mean-
ing, which to any but a beginner is usuaUy clear ; but the
phrases are often hard to render aptly in English. It has
been my endeavour to meet all the needs of those who
wish to read and understand fully the treatise, possessing
only a dictionary and grammar.

The scheme of the subjunctive, I have been induced
to add, from my experience both of schoolboys and also
students reading by themselves for the Local examina-
tions, whom I have occasionally assisted. Such readers
often find themselves lost in the multiplicity of uses of



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



this mood in Latin, and cannot spare the time to hunt,
often without success, each usage in the grammar. The
result is a most slipshod and vague notion of the sub-
junctive, which makes them miss innumerable points in
the Latin.

At first sight many of the notes may appear too ele-
mentary. I venture to anticipate, however, that this view
is more likely to be taken by critics than by teachers \ and
if so, I shall be satisfied. In any case it is easy to omit
such notes as are superfluous.

The following books have been used in the preparation
of this edition ; and to them my best acknowledgments
are due : —

Laelius De Amicitia, ed. Madvig, Copenhagen, 1835.

„ ,, ,, Nauck, Berlin, 1875.

,, „ „ Lahmeyer, Leipzig, 1875.

„ „ ,, Koch, Hanover, 1852.

Cicero De Republica, ed. Angelo Mai, Rome, 1823.

„ Seleet Letters, ed. Watson, Oxford, 1874.

With the text I have not had yery much to do, as the
diiferences are very slight between the various editions.
Madvig, though he published his text forty years ago, has
shown his usual acumen and great knowledge of Latin ;
and I have compared his text all through, and taken
note of all his comments. The best MS., however (P.or
the Paris text) was not known at the time of his edition ;
and this forms the base of Nauck's and Lahmeyer's text,
to which I have mainly trusted, as well as of Halm's and
Baiter's recensions, which I have carefully considered.

VI



PREFACE

The chief points I have given at the end of the notes.
Mai's edition of the 'Republic* has been useful for the
speakers in the dialogue and the Scipionic circle ; and
Watson for the facts about Cicero, and the dates of his
compositions.

I have endeavoured to profit by recent improvements
in the accuracy of Latin spelling, to which increasing
attention has been paid in England ever since Mr. Munro
published his Lucretius. on this head I owe thanks to an
excellent little edition of Cicero's * Pro Archia,' published
by Mr. J. S. Reid, of Christ's College, Cambridge.
• It is scarcely necessary to mention such works as
Middleton's 'Cicero,' and Mommsen^s 'History of Rome' :
the latter of which I have consulted constantly.



\h



CONTENTS.

Introduction :

PAGK

$ I TlME AND ClRCUMSTANCES ix

§ 2 Dedication ix

§ 3 SCHEME OF THE DlALOGUE .... X
§ 4 CHARACTERS OF THE DlALOGUE : THE

SCIPIONIC ClRCLE xi

§ 5 Pedigree of the Scipios .... xvii

§ 6 CONSPECTUS OF THE DlALOGUE . . . xviii

§ 7 Analysis . xxii

Laelius De Amicitia I

Notes 39

scheme of the subjunctive 77

notes on the readings 83

INDICES 85



INTRODUCTION.

§ i.— TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE

DIALOGUE.

The ' De Amicitia J was written in B.c. 44, a few months
after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Cicero had joined
Pompey before Pharsalia, and after the overthrow of the
Pompeian party had been pardoned by Caesar and returned
to Rome. Finding not much further scope for his oratorical
abilities in the senate or courts, and no further political
work or scheming open to him, now that the ' condition of
the country ' (to use his own words, Nat. Deor. i* 4, 7) 'was
such that it had to be guided by the diligence and judgment
of one man,' he betook himself to the, composition of works
on philosophical subjects and literary essays» The rapidity
with which he worked (even if we admit, as we must, that
the philosophical value of these writings is not great, and
that most of the lighter treatises are but dull reading), is still
tnost extraordinary. In this last year but one of his life (he
was killed by order of Antony in December 43), he wrote
besides lesser works the ' De Natura Deorum/ the ' De
Divinatione/ ' De Gloria/ ' De Officiis/ ' De Sencctute/ * De
Amicitia/ a large number of letters, and the first four
Phijippic speeches against Antony ; and he finished and pub-
lished the long dialogue called the Tusculan Disputations.

§ 2.— DEDICATION.

The ' De Amicitia ' is addressed to Cicero^s most intimate
friend T. Pomponius Atticus. a worthy recipient of a work on
that subject. He was a Roman eques of Cicero's own age,
who was so thoroughly familiar with Greek literature and had



LAEL/C/S DE AMIClTLA



lived so long at Athens as to earn the name Atticus, or * thc
Athenian.' Amid the unhappiness, perplexities, and vacil-
lations of Cicero's public life, it is pleasant to think of the
constant affection which united him to Atticus, and the great
solace it was to him. The correspondence between thcm
(of which 396 letters from Cicero to Atticus are preserved)
lasted from B.c. 68 to 44, with but few gaps of any length ;
and is one of the most interesting and instructive memorials
of antiquity.

§ 3.-SCHEME OF THE DIALOGUE.

The essay on Friendship is thrown into the form of a
dialogue ; and the circumstances he explaina to his readers
in the dedication to Atticus, which is prefixed to the work,

He says that he remembers, when quite young, hearing
Q. Mucitis Scaevola the augur, who was son-in-law o(
Laelius, relate to him a conversation about friendship, held
some forty years before between Laelius and his two sons-
in-law, Scaevola himself, and Fannius. The occasion on
which Scaevola repeated this conversation was a propos of
the rupture between two persons who had been great friends,
Sulpicius Rufus and Q. Ponipeius, in the year 88. Cicero
was then a youth of 18. The conversation itself is supposed
to have taken place ' a few days after the death of Scipio
Africanus, , ue. in 129. Cicero, writing in 44, professes to
remember ' the drift/ or l thoughts/ of this dialogue, a§
reported by Scaevola ; but to have dramatised it, in order to
make it less tiresome to the reader. It is pfetty clear that
there is mofe of Cicero than of Laelius in this treatise.
Laelilis spoke of friendship in 129. Fortyone years latef
Scaevola related the dialogue to Cicero. Forty-four
yeafs later again Cicero dfamatises it for Atticlls and the
world.

In many of his philosophical works Cicero adopts the
dialogue form, no doubt in imitation of Plato. The imitation
is, however, a good way from the original. It is not merely
that Plato is a consummate master of irony, playfulness,

X



INTRODUCTION



variety, and vivacity of dialogue, in fact, a dramatic writer of
the highest genius ; and that Cicero is neither humorous nor
dramatic. But in Plato the interchange of question and
answer, and the investigation of truth by that means, is the
very essence of the Socratic method. Somebody states or
defines something ; and the truth is then found, or rather
sought, by cross-examining this statement or definition.* In
Cicero it is quite othenvise. The dialogue is a mere artificial
setting. The interlocutors are lay-figures, who make a few
remarks at the beginning, or in the pauses : while the main
disquisition soon falls into the hands of the leading per-
sonage, who delivers a long harangue on the subject, and
ends with a peroration.

The merits of the c De Amicitia/ as of all Cicero's philo-
sophic works or essays, lie mainly in the style. Cicero
founded the ' Latin prose style : ' and the treatise before us
is a good example of it. The treatment of his subject may
be not very original or profound ; but the style is varied, and
easy, and bright ; and the ｅxpression all through is marked
by the orator's rich and discriminating vocabulary, his neat-
ness of structure, his balance of period, and his delicate ear
for sound. It is for these reasons chiefly that Cicero has been
read so much : and for these reasons he deserves, and will
doubtless continue, to be read.

§ 4.— CHARACTERS OF THE DIALOGUE : THE

SCIPIONIC CIRCLE.

'Discourses of this kind/ says Cicero (Amic. i. 4), c seem
somehow to come with more force when they are put into
the mouth of distinguished men of old times ; ' and it will be
well to give a short account of the extremely distinguished
company, of whom Laelius was one, and who were gathered

* It is true that in the later dialogues the dramatic element
becomes very secondary : they are no longer a search for trtith, but
an exposition of a system. But this does not make the case for
Cicero any better. If he was to imitate Plato, why not Plato at his
best?

xi



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



round the younger Scipio, from about 170-130 B.c. They
included philosophers and politicians, poets and dramatists,
generals and orators, Romans and foreigners. They were
thoroughly versed in the Greek speech and literature, and
while they rather tehded to discourage any native literary
movement, their influence was strong in the direction of
truer criticism, higher culture, and, in particular, the purifi-
cation of the idiom and style of the Latin language. Cicero
himself had a great admiration for them on many grounds,
political as well as literary. He introduces a whole com-
pany of them in the work ' De Republica/ written about ten
years before the treatise on ' Friendship. , And in this book,
besides the prominence given to Scipio's sayings and doings,
several others of the Scipionic circle are mentioned ; and
Laelius, the main speaker, was a leading personage of the
group. So that it will cnable the reader to understand the
book better if a short account is given of the principal
persons among them.

Scipio Aemilianus Afrlcanus. — First comes Scipio
himself. His full name was Z. Cornclius Scipio Acmilianus
Africanus Nutnantinusj and he was the most prominent
Roman of his age. He was son of Aemilius Paulus, victor
of Pydna, and had been adopted a Scipio by the son of the
great Africanus who ended the 2nd Punic war. [See Pedi-
gree of the Scipios on page xvii.] He was born about 185,
distinguished himself as military tribune in Spain, 151, and
again in Africa, in the 3rd Punic war ; was elected consul by
acclamation, though under age, in 147, and in the next year
took and destroyed Carthage (146). When the war in Spain
had dragged on unsuccessfully for some years, Scipio was
again called to the consulship, and in 133 captured Numantia.

Politically, Scipio belonged to the moderate aristocratic or
senatorial party. He felt the evils which moved Tiberius
Gracchus (his brother-in-law) to his bold attempt at reform
in 133, but did not side with him ; and when Gracchus had
been slain in the riot, Scipio on his return from Spain ex-
pressed cold approval of his fatc. The agrarian law of

Xii



INTRODUCTIOJST



Gracchus was still, however, in force : and at first Scipio
helped to get it efficiently administered. Later, in 129, he
thought it had gone far enough, and mainly through his
influence it was shelved. A few days later, after agreat day
(§12) when Scipio had been escorted home. by large crowds
of senators and Latins, he was found dead in his bed. He
was murdered, most probably by some enraged democrat
(i 12,41).

Not merely was he ' the first general and statesman of his
age* (Momms. iii. 104), but, himself a man of the highest
culture and no mean orator, he gathered round him a most
remarkable society of men of thought and men of letters.

Xiaelius. — The eldest of the group was Laelius himself,
whose friendship with Scipio Cicero constantly mentions as
an illustrious example of what friendship should be. He was
rather the elder of the two (§ 15), being born about 190. In
146, Laelius fought under Scipio in Africa, and was praetor
145, consul 140 (§ 96). He distinguished himself against
Viriathus in Spain in 145. He was, however, more a man
of thought than action, and was devoted to philosophy, being
an adherent of the Stoic school. In politics, he plainly fol-
lowed Scipio.

There are also the two younger speakers in the dialogue,
Scaevola and Fannius, sons-in-law of Laelius, and both
speakers in the dialogue ' De Republica.'

Soaevola. — Quintus Mucius Scaevota, the Augur (who
must be carefully distinguished from the younger and greater
Quintus Mucius Scaevola, the Pontifex Maximus, probably
his cousin's son : both being mentioned here in § 1). He
was learned in the law, and published some books on the
subject : so is always spoken of with respect.

rannlus. — Caius Fannius is mentioned by Cicero as the
author of a not inelegant history, and is praised for his gift
of ｅxpression. Not much is known about him. He was the
elder of the two sons-in-law (Amicit. § 32).

Polyblus. — Among the earliest of Scipio^s friends was

xiii



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



Polybius, the gifted Greek historian, who came, 167, as
one of a thousand Achaean hostages sent to Rome. Scipio,
then 18 years old, got leave for Polybius to live at his father's
house, and bccame his intimate friend. The Greek lived
17 years at Rome, and accompanied Scipio on all his expe-
ditions. He is, however, not mentioned in the ' De Amicitia.'

Phllus. — Younger than Scipio was Z. Furius Philus (§ 14,
69, 101). Hc was consul 136, see note on § 14. He was
like the rest a cultivated man, is said by Cicero (Brut. 28) to
have been ' an excellent speaker, remarkable for the purity
of his style ;' and from the l De Republica' we learn that
he was acquainted with astronomy. Like Laelius, he is one
of the speakers in the ' De Republica/

Mumminft. — Spurius Mummius (§69, 10 1), the brother
of L. Mummius, the conqueror of Corinth, was a student
of Stoicism, and a man (says Cicero) of moderate eloquence.
From Cicero (Att. xiii. 6) we learn that he wrote amusing
verses. He is also a speaker in the * De Republica.'

Tubero. — Q. Aelius Tubero, nephew of Scipio by his
sister Aemilia, a Stoic philosopher, and learned in the law.
Cicero (Brut. 31) says he was a man of strict life (severus),
inferior as a speaker, but learned in philosophy. He also
calls him a 'man of principle and character' (fortis et
constans), by which he probably means a iirm supporter of
the nobility. He is mentioned here (§ 37 and ioi)'as a friend
of Laelius from his early youth, and an opponent of Ti.
Gracchus. He, again, is one of the company in the ' De
Republica/ and was clearly one of the younger members of
the circle. (See also Pedigree of the Scipios, p. xvii.)

RutUlus Rufus. — Another of the youthful members was
P. Rutilius Rufus, called by Laelius (§ 10 1) 'a very young
man.' He was evidently a very cultivated man, learned in
the law and in philosophy, an orator and writer. He was
also a man of firm and incorruptlble character (see note on
5 joi).

XiV



tNTRODUCTlOtt



Two other remarkable men are mentioned as friends of
Scipio : though one died when Scipio was a youth, the other
was a youth when Scipio died. Neither of them is men-
tioned here.

Terence, 195-159. — The poet P. Terentius Afer was a
Carthaginian slave who was educated and freed by his
master, and took to writing comedies. His first play excited
the admiration of Scipio (who was ten years younger, a boy
of 17), and Terence became a friend of him and of Laelius.
But the friendship only lasted a few years, as Terence left
Rome, and died at the age of 36. His six comedies are
extant ; and he is quoted here in § 89, and again § 93.

Xmcilius, 1*8-103. — The other was C Luci/ius, the in-
ventor of satire, or at least the first Roman satirist of mark,
well-known by Horace^s references to him as a rough-and-
ready composer and unsparing in censure. He is said to
have been an intimate friend of Laelius and Scipio, but it
must be borne in mind that he was only 19 when Scipio
died at the age of 56.

Cato. — A word must be said finally about the great Cato,
though he died B.c. 149, at the age of 85, when Scipio was
only 36, and though he had quarrelled so desperately with
the elder generation of Scipios, that he catt hardly at any
time have been much of a friend to the younger. He was in
mttny ways a femarkable man, being all through his life «1
flrm Bupporter of the old Roman f epllblican ideal — a state of
Bturdy farmer citizens attd soldiers, and aenatoHal govern-
ment by the old families. However good tlilts ideal may have
been of old, lt had cleafly beCome untenable when Rome had
entef ed on hef caf eef of cottquest. Cato traced much of thc
evil tendencies of the day to Greek customs and influence
of Greek literature and thought ; and his attack on all
luxury and ' un-Roman manners ' as he thought them began
with the cultivated Scipios, and was continued with a narrow
and unsparing persistency through his remarkable censorship.

In after years, it was the fashion to regard Catoas the typical

xr



LaeLius de aai/cit/A



d



virtuous Roman : a fashion for which there was doubtless
sorae ground, but which was carried to extremes, from political
motives, by the senatorial partisans and especially by Cicero.
In his old age — his temperance and splendid constitution
enabled him to live to 85 (see § 5) — he became somewhat
softened, and even was brought into a certain connexion
with the Scipios by the marriage of his son with Aemilia, thc
sister of Africanus. So Cicero, in the dialogue * De Senec-
tute, 5 chooses him as the type of noble old age, and makes
the conversation on that subject be carried on by Cato,
Scipio, and Laelius. It is related that at last he modified
his hatred of Greek literature, and confcssed that Homer
and Demosthenes were worth reading ; though to the end
he was a bitter opponent of Greek influence, of higher
culture, and of luxury in all forms.

Cato is referred to in 'De Amicitia,' §§ 4, 5, 6, 9 r 11,21, 90,
101.



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LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



i 6.— CONSPECTUS OF THE DIALOGUE.

To assist the less advanced reader, I have thought it better
to give both a conspectus and an analysis of the dialogue.
The first gives a detailed sketch of the matter : and the
latter puts the drift into a skeleton-form, in so far as it is
possible with Cicero's somewhat loose structure. For the
author wrote more for the general reader than the student
or philosopher, and the treatment is rhetorical rather than
logical ; containing digressions, enlivened with anecdote and
ailusions ; perhaps not very strict in arrangement, and even
liable to repetition. But the general purpose and plan is
fairly clear, and as such I have tried to present it.

i. When young I used to visit Mucius Scaevola the
Augur, who told many stories about his father-in-law
Laelius (i). I remember a talk once about the quarrel
between Sulpicius and Pompeius, who had been friends
(2) : and Scaevola related to us a discussion on friend-
ship between Laelius, himself, and Fannius (3). You
have often asked me to write on friendship : I have
obeyed you, by writing down this dialogue, in a dra-
matic shape. Laelius is an appropriate eulogist of
friendship, being himself a true friend ; and with equal
appropriateness I dedicate the dialogue to you (4-5).

The Dicdogue.

ii. rannius. — They all regard you as the wisest of men,
Laelius : wiser than Cato, or the Greeks, and wish to
know ljow you bear the death of Africanus (6-8).

Scaevola. — I reply you feel it, but show self-control.

Xiaellus. — Thank you ; but you underrate Cato : see

iii. how he bore the loss of his son (9-10) : as to Scipio,

I feel his death ; but am consoled by thinking that his

life was happy (11) and his death rapid and opportune.

iv. (12). The immortality of the soul I hold, with the

xvili



INTRODUCTION



best of the philosophers (13) ; and so did Scipio :
whose soul is then more happy in his new life? (14) In
any case it is a great consolation to think of our
friendship (15)

Fa. and Scaev. — Please talk about friendship (16).
v. Xiael. — I would if I had the power : it is the most
precious human treasure. only good men can reaUy
have friendship ; and by ' good ' I don't mean the
philosopher^s ideal good, which does not exist in
real life, but men who show good qualities (18-19).
Nature has implanted a certain sympathy, greater as
the bond is closer ; but friendship making its selection
out of the whole world is much more powerful (20).
vi. Friendship is the best gift of the gods, next to wisdom :
if you count virtue the summum bonum, virtue is the
base of friendship (21). Friendship covers the whole
of life (22).
vii. Friendship keeps up our hopes and energies, defies
absence, poverty, even death. Goodwill is the bond of
society (23) ; nay, Empedocles explained even the
combinations of nature, by referring them to love ! It
appeals to every heart : witness the applause in the
theatre at the devoted love of Pylades and Orestes ! (24).

Fannius. — Please go on.

Scaevola. — You can plead the cause of friendship as
well as you did that of justice (25).
viii. Iiaeliua. — What is the origin of friendship ? Not
interest, for the friendship that rests on that is often
hollow, but nature ; and it is seen in beasts as well as
men (26-27). Virtue in another is naturally attractive
ix. (28). To derive it from interest is to degrade it (29),
and would make the most deficient men the best
friends, which is absurd (30). Such a doctrine is
worthy of the Epicureans, and fails to account for the
permanenct of friendship, which outlives mere interest
(32). Do you agree ?

F. and s. — Yes.

xix



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



x. Then hear Scipio's views : He thought friendship
liable to many dangers, divergence of interest and
opinion (33), competition for marriage connexion or
honours (34), or demand for some dishonourable ser-
vice (35) ; eg. traitors' friends clearly ought to refuse
aid (36). Blossius of Cumae was plainly wrong in
saying he would have foHowed Gracchus in setting
fire to Rome (37). The best men do not ask any dis-
graceful service ; but you cannot lay down a rule that
a man should follow his friend, human wisdom being
imperfect (38-39).

xii. Friends therefore must refuse shameful service ; and
the rule is all the more needful as the times are dan-
gerous (40-41). Themistocles and Coriolanus found
no supporters (42-43).
xiii. True friendship demands therefore a high code of
duty (44). The idea of certain sophists, that it is safer
to love but little, and so be free from care, is low (45) ;
or that friendship is due to weakness, requiring aid
(47). All virtue involves trouble : to be free from
emotion is to be a stock and stone (47-48). Virtue is
the cement of friendship (49). The good have a
natural attraction for each other (50). The delight is
the love itself, not the mere gain of aid — nay, friend-
ship is evoked by rendering service, not receiving
them (51). The wealthiest and most powerful tyrants
have fewest friends ; e.g. Tarquin (52-53). Prosperity
is even a bar to friendship, as leading to arrogance
(54). They desire luxury only, and end in being friend-
less and miserable (55).

xvi. How far is love to go : Not(*) love your friend as
yourself : many acts are done for friends which no one
would do for himself (56-57). Nor( a ) love as you are
loved : such measurement of affection is foreign to the
spirit of friendship (58). Nor( 3 ) measure out your love
according to your friend^s estimate : often he is too
diffident. Nor( 4 ), as Bias said, 'Love as though you



INTRODUCTION



would one day hate, i.e. with reserve (59) ; rather
never begin a friendship which is likely to end (60).
xvii. Let union with good friends therefore be complete,
even stretching a point to please them, but avoiding
grave wrong (61). Be careful in the selection — Scipio
complains of the little care men give— and since you
must be friends first before you can test a man (62), let
friendship begin moderately; and try him in various
ways. Money is a good test, ambition a severe one

(63).

xviii. Prosperity and adversity areboth good tests (64). A
friend should be trusty, and not suspicious (65).
xix. Also gentle and kindly (66). Old friends are the best
(67). Not that new ones should be abjured ; but old
associations are justly strong (68). Above all, a friend
should be on footing of equality with his humbler
friends (69) : confer aid and honour on them (70).
xx. So the humbler should accept their inferiority : and
avoid expostulating or claiming credit (71). And
the great should help on the humbler (72), according
to the capacity of each (73). Childish friendships
constitute no obligation to remain friends, on the prin-
ciple that friends must have like interests, though
they should not be rudely dropped (74). A weak com-
plaisance must be resisted (75).
xxi. Friends must sometimes be dropped, gently, if pos-
sible (76). If changes make it necessary, it should be
done, but gradually; and never turn to active hos-
tility (77-78). Choose slowly, and choose worthily : a
worthy friend is rare ; but most men fail, from having
only self-interest at heart (79). You should love your
friend for his own sake (80) : even beasts want com-
rades ; and how much more men ! (81).

xxii. In addition to all the other rules, friends should respect
each other (82), and so be helpers in virtue, not
partners in vice (83) : so we should attend to virtue
(84), and not find out our mistake when too late (85).



xxi



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



xxiii. Opinions differ about what is desirable : all agree
that friendship is so (86). Even misanthropes fequire
society : and all luxuries, with solitude, would be only
misery (87). Even the beatific vision would be nothing
if seen alone (88).

xxiv. Offence should be avoided ; though it should be faced
when needful to warn a friend (88). Truth may give
offence ; but it is his fault who takes offence (89) ; he
is offended at the wrong thing, not his error, but his
friend's remonstrance (90).
xxv. Flattery isthe worstbane of friendship (91) ; it saps
the union and simplicity of the bond (92). What more
fickle than a parasite? (93). Still worse is an influ-
ential man acting a parasite's part (94). A flatterer
can be discerned however with care (95). Instances of
even the mob detecting and repudiating their flatterers

(96).

xxvi. How much greater must the power of truth be in
friendship ! (97). It is the vain an<i insincere who
chiefly listen to flattery (98), though even others may
be in danger from it (99).

xxvii. Peroration. Virtue is the bond of friendship, once
more,not interest ( 100). Instances of friendship between
persons of equal and unequal age (101). The value
and permanence of his friendship with Scipio (102-
104).

§ 7.— ANALYSIS.

1 - 1 6. Exordium. The occasion of the dialogue, the death of

Scipio : and the speakers.
17-25. General panegyric on friendship : based on virtue, it

brings all blessings and power and consolation.
26-32. The origin of friendship : not interest, but natural

kindliness and the attraction of goodness.
33-35. The dangers of friendship : divergence, competition,

demand for dishonourable service.

xxii



INTRODUCTION



36-43. The latter point discussed : such services ought to be

refused.
44-55. F&ke ideas of friendship.

(1.) That it is less trouble to love little : or still more

selfishly put, —
(2.) That the use of friendship is simplyas an aid to our
needs and weakness.
Answer, —

(1.) All good things require trouble.
(2.) Virtue is the real basis of friendship : the delight is
the love of another^s goodness — nay, the love
itself. Again, the tyrant, the most powerful, has
fewest friends.
56-61. Limits of friendship : the cbmmon rules are wrong,
e,g,, to love (*) as yourself, ( 2 ) as you are loved,
( 3 ) as your friend claims, ( 4 ) as if you would one day
hate.
The love should be unlimited, subject only to the condition
of avoiding evil services.
62-66. Selection offriends —

care required : tests (62-64)
qualities required (65-66)
67-99. Practical hints on behaviour —
Old friends and new (67-68).
Equality and inequality (69-73)
Dropping friends sometimes needful (74-78) [Re-

marks, 79-81],
Mutual respect needful (82-85) [Remarks, 86-88].
Giving offence : must be risked sometimes (88-90).
•Evils of insincerity and flattery (91-99).
100-104. Peroration.



xxitf



M. TULLII CICERONIS

LAELIUS DE AMICITIA

I. Quintus Mucius augur multa narrare de C. Laelio *
socero suo memoriter et iucunde solebat, nec dubitare
illum in omni sermone appellare sapientem. Ego autem
a patre ita eram deductus ad Scaevolam sumpta virili
toga, ut, quoad possem et liceret, a senis latere numquam
discederem. Itaque multa ab eo prudenter disputata,
multa etiam breviter et commode dicta memoriae
mandabam, fierique studebam eius prudentia doctior.
Quo mortuo me ad pontificem Scaevolam contuli, quem
unum nostrae civitatis et ingenio et iustitia praestantissi-
mum audeo dicere. Sed de hot alias ; nunc redeo ad
augurem. Cum saepe multa, tum memini domi, in 2
hemicyclio sedentem ut solebat, cum et ego essem una et
pauci admodum familiares, in eum sermonem illum
incidere, qui tum fere erat in ore. Meministi enim
profecto, Attice, et eo magis quod. P. Sulpicio utebare
multum, cum is tribunus plebis capitali odio a Q.
Pompeio qui tum erat consul dissideret, quocum con-
iunctissime et amantissime vixerat, quanta esset hominum
vel admiratio vel querela. Itaque tum Scaevola, cum 3
in eam ipsam mentionem incidisset, exposuit nobis

13 i




LAELIUS [4, 6



sermonem Laelii de amicitia, habitum ab illo secum et
cum altero genero, C. Fannio Marci filio, paucis diebus
post mortem Africani. Eius disputationis sententias
memoriae mandavi; quas hoc libro exposui arbitratu
meo : quasi enim ipsos induxi loquentes, ne itiquam et
inquit saepius interponeretur, atque ut tamquam a

4 praesentibus coram haberi sermo videretur. Cum enim
saepe mecum ageres ut de amicitia scriberem aliquid,
digna mihi res cum omnium cognitione tum nostra
familiaritate visa est. Itaque feci non invitus ut pro-
dessem multis rogatu tuo. Sed ut in Catone Maiore,
qui est scriptus ad te de senectute, Catonem induxi
senem disputantem, quia nulla videbatur aptior persona
quae de illa aetate loqueretur, quam eius, qui et diutissime
senex fuisset et in ipsa senectute praeter ceteros floruisset :
sic, cum accepissemus a patribus maxime memorabilem
C. Laelii et P. Scipionis familiaritatem fuisse, idonea
mihi Laelii persona visa est quae de amicitia ea ipsa
dissereret, quae disputata ab eo meminisset Scaevola.
Genus autem hoc sermonum, positum in hominum
veterum auctoritate et eorum illustrium, plus nescio quo
pacto videtur habere gravitatis. Itaque ipse mea legens
sic afficior interdum, ut Catonem, non me, loqui existi-

5 mem. Sed ut tum ad senem senex de senectute, sic hoc
libro ad amicum amicissimus scripsi de amicitia. Tum
est Cato locutus, quo erat nemo fere senior tem-
poribus illis, nemo prudentior : nunc Laelius, et sapiens
(sic enim est habitus) et amicitiae gloria excellens, de
amicitia loquetur. Tu velim a me animum parumper
avertas, Laelium loqui ipsum putes. C. Fannius et Q.
Mucius ad socerum veniunt post mortem Africani : a"b
his sermo oritur,-respondet Laelius : cuius tota disputatio
est de amicitia, quam legens te ipse cognosces.



&*] bk AMicMA



II. Fannius. Sunt ista, Laeli ; nec enim melior vir 6

fuit Africano quisquam nec clarior. Sed existimare debes

omnium oculos in te esse coniectos unum : te sapientem

et appellant et existimant. Tribuebatur hoc modo M.

Catoni ; scimus L. Acilium apud patres nostros appella-

tum esse sapientem ; sed uterque alio quodam modo :

Acilius quia prudens esse in iure civili putabatur, Cato

quia multarum rerum usum habebat. Multa eius et in

senatu et in foro vel provisa prudenter vel acta constanter

vel responsa acute ferebantur : propterea quasi cognomen

iam habebat m senectute Sapientis. Te autem alio

quodam modo, non solum natura et moribus, verum

etiam studio et doctrina esse sapientem, nec sicut

vulgus, sed ut eruditi solent appellare sapientem,

qualem in reliqua Graecia neminem, (nam qui septem 7

appellantur, eos qui ista subtilius quaerunt in numero

sapientium non habent), Athehis unum accepimus, et eum

quidem etiam* Apollinis oraculo sapientissimum iudica»

tum : hanc essef in te sapientiam existimant, ut omnia tua

in te posita esse ducas humanosque casus virtute

inferiores putes. Itaque ex me quaerunt, credo ex hoc

item Scaevola, quonam pacto mortem Africani feras :

eoque magis quod proximis Nonis, cum in hoftos D.

Bruti auguris commentandi causa, ut assolet, venissemus,

tu non affuisti, qui diligenlissime semper illum dietti et

illud munus solitus esses obire»

Scaevola; Quaerunt quidem, C* Laeli, friulti, ut est 8
a Fannio dictum» Sed ego id respondeo qtrod animum
adverti, te dolotem, quem adceperis cum summi viri turn
amicissimi morte, ferre moderate : nec potuisse liori
commoveri, nec fuisse id humanitatis tuae. Quod
autem Nonis in collegio nostro non affuisses; vale-
tudinem respondeo causam, non maestitiam fuisse.

3



LAELtUS [9-ii



Laelius. Recte tu quidem, Scaevola, et vere. Nec
enim ab isto officio, quod semper usurpavi cum valerem,

9 abduci incommodo meo debui; nec ullo casu arbitror
hoc constanti homini posse contingere, ut ulla inter-
missio fiat officii. Tu autem, Fanni, quod mihi tantum
tribui dicis, quantum ego nec agnosco nec postulo, facis
amice : sed ut mihi videris, non recte iudicas de Catone.
Aut enim nemo, quod quidem magis credo, aut, si quis-
quam, ille sapiens fuit. Quo modo, ut alia omittam,
mortem filii tulit ! Memineram Paulum, videram Galum ;
sed hi in pueris, Cato in perfecto et spectato viro.

10 Quam ob rem cave Catoni anteponas ne istum quidem
ipsum, quem Apollo, ut ais, sapientissimum iudicavit :
huius enim facta, illius dicta laudantur. De me autem,
ut iam cum utroque loquar, sic habetote.

III. Ego si Scipionis desiderio me moveri negem,
quam id recte faciam viderint sapientes : sed certe mentiar.
Moveor enim tali amico orbatus, qualis ut arbitror nerno
umquam erit, ut confirmare possum nemo certe fuit Sed
non egeo medicina: me ipse consolor, et maxime illo
Bolacio, quod eo errore careo quo amicorum decessu
plerique angi solent. Nihil mali accidisse Scipioni puto :

11 tnihi accidit, si quid accidit; suis autem incommodis
graviter angi non amicum sed se ipsum amantis est. Cum
iilo vero quis neget actum esse praeclare ? Nisi enim,
quod ille mmime putabat, immortalitatem optare velfet :
quid non adeptus est, quod homini fas esset optare ? qui
summam spem civium, quam de eo iam puero habuerant,
continuo adulescens incredibili virtute superavit ;, qui
consulatum petivit numquam, factus consul est bis, prrrnum
ante tempus, iterum sibi suo tempore, rei publicae paene
sero ; qui duabus urbibus eversis, inimicissimis huic
imperio, non modo praesentia verum etiam futura bella

4



12-14] DE AMICITIA



delevit. Quid dicam de moribus facillimis, de pietate in
matrem, liberalitate in sorores, bonitate in suos, iustitia in
omnes? Nota sunt vobis. Quam autem civitati carus
fuerit, maerore funeris iudicatum est Quid igiturhunc
paucorum annorum accessio iuvare potuisset ? Senectus
enim quamvis non sit gravis, ut memini Catonem anno
ante quam est mortuus mecum et cum Scipione disserere,
tamen aufert eam viriditatem, in qua etiam nunc erat
Scipio. Quam ob rem vita quidem talis fuit vel fortuna 12
vel gloria, ut nihil posset accedere ; moriundi autem
sensum celeritas abstulit. Quo de genere mertis difficile
dictii est ; quicj. homines suspicentur, videtis. Hoc vere
tamen licet dkere, P. Scipioni ex multis diebus, quos in
vita celeberrimos laetissimosque viderit, illum diem
clarissimum fuisse, cum senatu dimisso domum reductus
ad vesperum est a patribus conscriptis, populo Romano,
sociis et Latinis, pridie quam excessit e vita : ut ex tam
alto dignitatis gradu ad superos videatur deos potius,
quam ad inferos, pervenisse.

IV. Neque enim assentior eis, qui haec nuper disserere 13
coeperunt, cum corporibus simul animos interire, atque
omnia morte deleri. Plus apud me antiquorum auctoritas
valet : vel nostrorum maiorum qui mortuis tam religiosa
iura tribuerunt, quod non fecissent profecto si nihil ad
eos pertinere arbitrarentur ; vel eorum qui in hac terra
fuerunt, magnamque Graeciam, quae nunc quidem deleta
est, tunc florebat, institutis et praeceptis suis erudierunt ;
vel eius qui Apollinis oraculo sapientissimus est iudicatus,
qui non tum hqc tum illud, ut th plerisque, sed idem
semper, animos hominum esse divinos, eisque cum ex
corpore excessissent reditum in caelum patere, optimoque
et iustissimo cuique expeditissimum. Quod idem Scipioni 14
videbatur : qui quidem quasi praesagiret, perpaucis ante



LAELIUS [15, 16

mortem diebus, cum et Philus et Manilius adessent et alii
plures, tuque etiam, Scaevola, mecum venisses, triduum
disseruit de re publica ; cuius disputationis fuit extremum
fere de immortalitate animorum quae se in quiete per
visum ex Africano audisse dicebat. Id si ita est, ut
optimi cuiusque animus in morte facillime evolet tamquam
e custodia vinclisque corporis : cui censemus cursum ad
deos faciliorem fuisse quam Scipioni ? Quocirca maerere
hoc eius eventu vereor ne invidi magis quam amici sit.
Sin autem illa veriora, ut idem interitus sit animorum et
corporum nec ullus sensus maneat : ut nihil boni est in
morte, sic certe nihil mali. Sensu enim amisso fit idem,
quasi natus non esset omnino : quem tamen esse natum
et nos gaudemus, et haec civitas dum erit laetabitur.

15 Quam ob rem cum illo quidem, ut supra dixi, actum
optime est : mecum incommodius, quem fuerat aequius,
ut prius introieram, sic prius exire de vita. Sed tamen
recordatione nostrae amicitiae sic fruor, ut beate vixisse

• videar quia cum Scipione vixerim : quocum mihi coniuncta
cura de publica re et de privata fuit ; quocum et domus
fuit et militia communis, et id in quo est omnis vis
amicitiae, voluntatum studiorum sententiarum summa
consensio. Itaque non tam ista me sapientiae, quam
modo Fannius commemoravit, fama delectat, falsa
praesertim, quam quod amicitiae nostrae memoriam spero
sempiternam fore : idque eo mihi magis est cordi, quod
ex omnibus saeculis vix tria aut quattuor nominantur
paria amicorum, quo in genere sperare videor Scipionis et
Laelii amicitiam notam posteritati fore.

16 Fannius. Istuc quidem, Laeli, ita necesse est. Sed
quoniam amicitiae mentionem fecisti et sumus otiosi, per-
gratum mihi feceris — spero item Scaevolae — si quem
ad modum soles de ceteris rebus cum ex te quaeritur, sic



17 T 19] * DE AMICITIA



de amicitia disputaris, quid sentias, qualem existimes,
quae praecepta des. Scaevola. Mihi vero erit gratum :
atque id ipsum cum tecum agere conarer, Fannius
antevertit. Quam ob rem utrique nostrum gratum ad-
modum feceris.

V. Laelius. Ego vero non gravarer, si mihi ipse 17
confiderem ; nam et praeclara res est, et sumus, ut dixit
Fannius, otiosi. Sed quis ego sum, aut quae est in me
facultas? Doctorum est ista consuetudo, eaque Grae-
corum, ut eis ponatur de quo disputent quamvis subito.
Magnum opus est, egetque exercitatione non parva.
Quam ob rem quae disputari de amicitia possunt, ab eis
censeo petatis qui ista profitentur. Ego vos hortari
tantum possum, ut amicitiam omnibus rebus humanis
anteponatis; nihil est enim tam naturae aptum, tam
conveniens ad res vel secundas vel adversas. Sed hoc 18
primum sentio, nisi in bonis amicitiam esse non posse :
neque id ad vivum reseco, ut illi qui haec subtilius
disserunt, fortasse vere, sed ad communem utilitatem
parurn. Negant enim quemquam esse virum bonum
nisi sapientem. Sit ita sane : sed eam sapientiam inter-
pretantur, quam adhuc mortalis nemo est consecutus ;
nos autem ea quae sunt in usu vitaque communi, non ea
quae finguntur aut optantur, spectare debemus. Numquam
ego dicam C. Fabricium, M\ Curium, Ti. Coruncanium,
quos sapientes nostri maiores iudicabant, ad istorum
normam fuisse sapientes. Quare sibi habeant sapientiae
nomen, et invidiosum et obscurum : concedant ut hi viri
boni fuerint. Ne id quidem facient: negabunt id nisi
sapienti posse concedi. Agamus igitur pingui, ut aiunt, 19
Minerva. Qui ita se gerunt ita vivunt, ut eorum probetur
fides, integritas, aequalitas, liberalitas, nec sit in eis ulla
cupiditas libido audacia, sintque magna constantia, ut ei

7



LAELIUS [20, 21

fuerunt, modo quos nominavi : hos viros bonos, ut habiti
sunt, sic etiam appellandos putemus, quia sequantur,
quantum homines possunt, naturam, optimam bene
vivendi ducem. Sic enim mihi perspicere videor, ita
natos esse nos ut inter omnes esset societas quaedam,
maior autem ut quisque proxime accederet. Itaque
cives potiores quam peregrini, propinqui quam alieni ;
cum his enim amicitiam natura ipsa peperit ; sed ea non
satis habet firmitatis. Namque hoc praestat amicitia
propinquitati, quod ex propinquitate benevolentia tolli
potest, ex amicitia non potest; sublata enim benevo-
lentia amicitiae nomen tollitur, propinquitatis manet.

20 Quanta autem vis amicitiae sit ex hoc intellegi maxime
potest, quod ex infinita societate generis humani, quam
conciliavit ipsa natura, ita contracta res est et adducta
in angustum, ut omnis caritas aut inter duo aut inter
paucos iungeretur.

VI. Est enim amicitia nihil aliud, nisi omnium divi-
narum humanarumque rerum cum benevolentia et
caritate consensio; qua quidem haud scio an excepta
sapientia nihil melius homini sit a dis immortalibus
datum. Divitias alii praeponunt, bonam alii valetu-
dinem, alii potentiam, alii honores, multi etiam volup-
tates. Beluarum hoc quidem extremum ; illa autem
superiora caduca et incerta, posita non tam in consiliis
nostris quam in fortunae temeritate. Qui autem in
virtute summum bonum ponunt, praeclare illi quidem :
sed haec ipsa virtus amicitiam et gignit et continet, nec

21 sine virtute amicitia esse ullo pacto potest. Iam virtutem
ex consuetudine vitae sermoriisque nostri interpretemur,
nec eam, ut quidam docti, verborum magnificentia metia-
mur; virosque bonos eos qui habentur numeremus,
Paulos Catones Galos Scipiones Philos : his communis

8



22, 23] DE AMICITIA



vita contenta est ; eos autem omittamus qui omnino 22
nusquam reperiuntur. Tales igitur inter viros amicitia
tantas opportunitates habet, quantas vix queo dicere.
Principio 'qui potest esse vita vitalis/ ut ait Ennius,
quae non in amici mutua benevolentia conquiescit?
Quid dulcius, quam habere quicum omnia audeas sic
loqui ut tecum ? Qui esset tantus fructus in prosperis
rebus, nisi haberes qui illis aeque ac tu ipse gauderet?
Adversas vero ferre difficile esset sine eo, qui illas
gravius etiam quam tu ferret. Denique ceterae res
quae expetuntur opportunae sunt singulae rebus fere
singulis : divitiae ut utare, opes ut colare, honores ut
laudere, voluptates ut gaudeas, valetudo ut dolore
careas et muneribus fungare corporis : amicitia res
plurimas continet ; quoquo te verteris praesto est, nullo
loco excluditur, numquam intempestiva numquam molesta
est Itaque non aqua non igni, ut aiunt, locis pluribus
utimur quam amicitia. Neque ego nunc de vulgari aut ,
de mediocri, (quae tamen ipsa et delectat et prodest), sed
de vera et perfecta loquor, qualis eorum qui pauci
nominantur fuit. Nam et secundas res splendidiores facit
amicitia, et adversas, partiens communicansque, leviores.

VII. Cumque plurimas et maximas commoditates 23
amicitia contin^at, tum illa nimirum praestat omnibus,
quod bonam spem praelucet in posterum, nec debilitari
animos aut cadere patitur. Verum enim amicum qui
intuetur, tamquam exemplar aliquod intuetur sui. Quo-
circa et absentes adsunt et egentes abundant et imbecilli
valent et, quod difficilius dictu est, mortui vivunt : tantus
eos honos, memoria, desiderium prosequitur amicorum ;
ex quo illorum beata mors videtur, horum vita laudabilis.
Quod si exemeris ex rerum natura benevolentiae con-
iunctionem, nec domus ulla nec urbs stare poterit, ne agri



LAELIUS [24, 25

quidem cultus permanebit. Id si minus intellegitur,
quanta vis amicitiae concordiaeque sit ex dissensionibus
atque discordiis perspici potest Quae enirn domus tam
stabilis, quae tam firma civitas est, quae non odiis et
discidiis fundirus possit everti ? Ex quo quantum boni

24 sit in amicitia iudicari potest. Agrigentinum quidem
doctum quemdam virum carminibus Graecis vaticinatum
ferunt, quae in rerum natura totoque mundo constarent
quaeque moverentur, ea contrahere amicitiam, dissipare
discordiam. Atque hoc quidem omnes mortales et in-
tellegunt et re probant Itaque si quando aliquod officium
exstitit amici in periculis aut adeundis aut communican-
dis, quis est qui id non maximis efferat laudibus ? Qui
clamores tota cavea nuper in hospitis et amici mei M.
Pacuvii nova fabula: cum ignorante rege uter Orestes
esset, Pylades Orestem esse se diceret, ut pro illo neca-
retur, Orestes autem, ita ut erat, Orestem se esse
perseveraret ! Stantes plaudebant in re ficta : quid arbi-
tramur in vera facturos fuisse ? Facile indicabat ipsa
natura vim suam, cum homines quod facere ipsi non

. possent, id recte fieri in altero iudicarent. Hactenus
mihi videor de amicitia quid sentirem potuisse dicere.
Si quae praeterea sunt, credo autem esse multa, ab eis,
si videbitur, qui ista disputant quaeritote.

25 Fannius. Nos vero a te potius; quamquam etiam
ab istis saepe quaesivi, et audivi non invitus equidem ;
sed aliud quoddam filum orationis tuae.

Scaevola. Tum magis id diceres, Fanni, si nuper
in hortis Scipionis cum est de re publica disputatum
affuisses. Qualis tum patronus iustitiae fuit contra
accuratam orationem Phili !

Fannius. Facile id quidem fuit, iustitiam iustissimo
viro defendere.

10



36-28] DE AMICITIA



Scaevola. Quid^amicitiamj^ nonne facile ei, qui ob
eam summa fide constantia iustitiaque servatam maximam
gloriam ceperit ?

VIII. Laelius. Vim hoc quidem est afferre : quid 28
enim refert qua me ratione cogatis? Cogitis certe:
studiis enim generorum, praesertim in re bona, cum
difficile est tum ne aequum quidem obsistere.

Saepissime igitur mihi de amicitia cogitanti maxime

illud'considerandum videri solet, utrum propter imbe-

cillitatem atque inopiam desiderata sit amicitia, ut dandis

recipiendisque meritis, quod quis minus per se ipse

posset, id acciperet ab alio vicissimque redderet : an

esset hoc quidem proprium amicitiae, sed antiquior et

pulchrior et magis a natura ipsa profecta alia causa.

Amor enim, ex quo amicitia nominata est, princeps est

ad benevolentiam coniungendam. Nam utilitates quidem

etiam ab iis percipiuntur saepe, qui simulatione amicitiae

coluntur et observantur temporis causa ; in amicitia autem

nihil fictum est, nihil simulatum, et quidquid est, id est -

verum et voluntarium. Quapropter a natura mihi videtur 27

potius quam ab indigentia orta amicitia, applicatione

magis animi cum quodam sensu amandi, quam cogita-

tione quantum illa res utilitatis esset habitura. Quod

quidem quale sit, etiam in bestiis quibusdam animadverti

potest : quae ex se natos ita amant ad quoddam tempus

et ab eis ita amantur, ut facile earum sensus appareat.

Quod in homine multo est evidentius : primum ex ea

caritate quae est inter natos et parentes, quae dirimi riisi

detestabili scelere non potest ; deinde cum similis sensus

exstitit amoris si aliquem nacti sumus cuius cum moribus

et natura congruamus, quod in eo quasi lumen aliquod

probitatis et virtutis perspicere videamur. Nihil est28

enim virtute amabilius, nihil quod magis alliciat ad

li



LAELIUS [29, 30

diligendum: quippe cum propter virtutem et probita-
tem etiam eos, quos nunquam vidimus, quodam modo
diligamus. Quis est qui C. Fabricii, M/ Curii non cum
caritate aliqua benevolentiae memoriam usurpet, quos
nunquam viderit % quis autem est qui Tarquinium Super-
bum, qui Sp. Cassium, Sp. Maelium non oderit? Cum
duobus ducibus de imperio in Italia decertatum est,
Pyrrho et Hannibale : ab altero propter probitatem eius
non nimis alienos animos habemus, alterum propter
crudelitatem semper haec civitas oderit.

29 IX. Quod si tanta vis probitatis est, ut eam vel in
eis quos nunquam vidimus, vel quod maius est, in hoste
etiam diligaraus : quid mirum est si animi hominum
moveantur, cum eorum quibuscum usu coniuncti esse

' possunt virtutem et bonitatem perspicere videantur?
Quamquam confirmatur amor et beneficio accepto et
studio perspecto et consuetudine adiuncta : quibus rebus
ad illum primum motum animi et amoris adhibitis ad-
mirabilis quaedam exardescit benevolentiae magnitudo.
Quam si qui putant ab imbecillitate proficisci, ut sit per
quem assequatur quod quisque desideret ; humilem sane
relinquunt et minime generosum ut ita dicam ortum
amicitiae, quam ex inopia atque indigentia natam volunt
Quod si ita esset, ut quisque minimum in se esse arbi-
traretur, ita ad amicitiam esset aptissimus : quod longe

30 secus est. Ut enim quisque sibi plurimum confidit, et
ut quisque maxime virtute et sapientia sic munitus est
ut nullo egeat suaque omnia in se ipso posita iudicet ;
ita in amicitiis expetendis colendisque maxime excellit.
Quid enim ? Africanus indigens mei 1 Minime hercle,
ac ne ego quidem illius : sed ego admiratione quadam
virtutis eius, ille vicissim opinione fortasse nonnulla quam
de meis moribus habebat me dilexit. Auxit benevo-

12



Si-33] bE AMictTlA



lentiam consuetudo ; sed quamquam utilitates muitae et
magnae consecutae sunt, non sunt tamen ab earum spe
causae diligendi profectae. Ut enim benefici liberalesque 31
% sumus non ut exigamus gratiam (neque enim beneficium
feneramur), sed natura propensi ad liberalitatem sumus :
sic amicitiam non spe mercedi§ adducti, sed quod omnis ,
eius fructus in ipso amore inest, expetendam putarnus.
Ab his qui pecudum ritu ad voluptatem omnia referunt 32
longe dissentiunt, nec mirum. Nihil enim altum, nihil
magnificum ac divinum suspicere possunt, qui suas omnes
cogitationes abiecerunt in rem tam humilem tamque
contemptam. Quam ob rem hos quidem ab hoc ser-
mone removeamus ; ipsi autem intelligamus natura gigni
sensum diligendi et benevolentiae caritatem, facta sig-
nificatione probitatis. Quam qui appetiverunt, applicant
se et propius admovent, ut et usu eius quem diligere
coeperunt fruantur et moribus : suntque pares in amore
et aequales, propensioresque ad bene merendum quam
ad reposcendum, atque haec inter eos est honesta
certatio. Sic et utilitates ex amicitia maximae capien-
tur, et erit eius ortus a natura quam ab imbecillitate
gravior et veriof. Nam si utilitas amicitias conglutinaret,
eadem cotnmutata dissolveret: sed quia natufa mutari
hon potest, idcirco verae amicitiae sempitefnae sunt.
Ortum quidem amicitiae yidetis, nisi quid ad haec forte
vultis»

FanniUS. fu vero perge, Laeli; pro hoc enim, qui
minor est natu, meo iure respondeo.

Scaevola. Recte tu quidem. Quam ob rem audiamus.

X. Laelius. Audite vero, optimi viri, ea quae sae- 33
pissime inter me et Scipionem de amicitia disserebantur.
Quamquam ille quidem nihil difficilius esse dicebat, quam
amicitiam usque ad extremum vitae diem permanere :

13



LaeLWs £d4-3?



nam vel ut non idem expediret utrique incidere saepe, vel
ut de re publica non idem sentiretur. Mutari etiam mores
hominum saepe dicebat, alias adversis rebus alias aetate
ingravescente. Atque earum rerum exemplum ex simi-
litudine capiebat ineuntis aetatis, quod summi puerorum

34 amores saepe una cum praetexta toga ponerentur. Sin
autem ad adulescentiam perduxissent ; dirimi tamen
interdum contentione vel uxoriae condicionis, vel com-
modi alicuius quod idem adipisci uterque non posset.
Quod si qui longius in amicitia provecti essent, tamen
saepe labefactari si in honoris contentionem incidissent ;
pestem enim nullam maiorem esse amicitiis, quam in
plerisque pecuniae cupiditatem, in optimis quibusque
honoris certamen et gloriae, ex quo inimicitias maximas

35 saepe inter amicissimos exstitisse. Magna etiam discidia
et plerumque iusta nasci, cum aliquid ab amicis quod
rectum non esset postularetur, ut aut libidinis ministri
aut adiutores essent ad iniuriam ; quod qui recusarent,
quamvis honeste id facerent, ius tamen amicitiae dese*
fere arguerentur ab eis quibus obsequi nollent; illos
autem, qui quidvis ab amico auderent postulare, postu-
latione ipsa proflteri omnia se amici causa esse facturos.
Eoriim quetela inveterata non modo familiaritates
exstingui solef e, sed odia etiam gigni sempiteftia. Haec
ita multa quasi fata impetidere amicitiis, ut omttia
subterftigere non modo sapientiae, sed etiaffi fettcitatis
diceret sibi videri.

36 XL Quam ob rem id primutn videamUSj sl pladet,
quatenus amor in amicitia pfogredi debeat. Nuttlne, si
Coriolanus habuit amicps, ferre contra patriam arma illi
cum Coriolano debuerunt ? num Vecellinum amici reg-

37 num appetentem, num Maelium debuerunt iuvare ? Ti.
quidemGracchumrempublicamvexantema Q. Tuberone

14



38, 39] DE AMICITIA



aequalibusque amicis derelictum videbamus. At C.
Blossius Cumanus, hospes familiae vestrae, Scaevola,
cum ad me, quod aderam Laenati et Rupilio consulibus
in consilio, deprecatum venisset, hanc ut sibi ignoscerem
causam afferebat, quod tanti Ti. Gracchum fecisset, ut
quidquid ille vellet sibi faciendum putaret. Tum ego :
* Etiamne si te in Capitolium faces ferre vellet ? ' ' Num-
quam/ inquit, 'voluisset id quidem : sed si voluisset,
paruissem. , Videtis quam nefaria vox ! Et hercule ita
fecit, vel plus etiani quam dixit : non enim paruit ille
Ti. Gracchi temeritati sed praefuit, nec se comitem
illius furoris sed ducem praebuit. Itaque hac amentia
quaestione nova perterritus in Asiam profugit : ad hostes
se contulit, poenas rei publicae graves iustasque per-
solvit Nulla est igitur excusatio peccati, si amici causa
peccaveris; nam cum conciliatrix amicitiae virtutis
opinio fuerit, difficile est amicitiam manere si a virtute
defeceris. Quod si rectum statuerimus vel concedere 38
amicis quidquid velint, vel impetrare ab eis quidquid
velimus ; perfecta quidem sapientia si simus, nihil habeat
res vitii. Sed loquimur de eis amicis qui ante oculoa
sunt, quos videmus aut de quibus memoriam accepimus,
quos novit vita communis : ex hoc numero nobis
exempla sumenda sunt, et eorum quidern maxime, qui
ad sapientiam proxime accedunt Videmus Papum 30
Aemilium Luscino familiarem fuisse (sic a patribus
accepimus), bis una consules, collegas in censura ; turn
et cum eis et inter se coniunctissimos fuisse M'. Curium
Ti. Coruncanium memoriae proditum est. Igitur ne
suspicari quidem possumus quemquam horum ab amico
quippiam contendisse, quod contra fidem contra iusiu-
randum contra rem publicam esset. Nam hoc quidem
in talibus viris quid attinet dicere, si contendisset impe-

15



LAELIUS [40-42

traturum non fuisse : cum illi sanctissimi viri fuerint,
aeque autem nefas sit tale aliquid et facere rogatum et
rogare % At vero Ti. Gracchum sequebantur C. Carbo
C. Cato, et minime tunc quidem Caius frater, nunc idem
acerrimus.

40 XII. Haec igitur lex in amicitia sanciatur, ut neque
rogemus res turpes nec faciamus rogati : turpis enim
excusatio est et minime accipienda cum in ceteris peccatis,
tum si quis contra rem publicam se amici causa fecisse
fateatur. Etenim eo loco, Fanni et Scaevola, locati sumus,
ut nos longe prospicere oporteat futuros casus rei publicae.
Deflexit iam aliquantulum de spatio curriculoque con-

41 suetudo maiorum. Ti. Gracchus regnum occupare
conatus est, vel regnavit is quidem paucos merlses. Num
quid simile populus Romanus audierat aut viderat?
Hunc etiam post mortem secuti amici et propinqui quid
in P. Scipione efTecerin sine lacrimis non queo dicere.
Nam Carbonem quocumque modo potuimus, propter
recentem poenam Ti. Gracchi, sustinuimus : de Cai autem
tribunatu quid exspectem, non libet augurari. Serpit
deinde res: quae proclivis ad perniciem, cum semel
coepit, labitur. Videtis in tabella iam ante quanta sit
facta labes, primo Gabinia lege, biennio autem post
Cassk. Videre iam videor populum a senatu disiunctum,
multitudinis arbitrio res maximas agi. Plures enim
discent quem ad, modum haec flant, quam quem ad

42 modum his resistatur. Quorsum haec ? Quia sine sociis
nemo quidquam tale conatur. Praecipiendum est igitur
bonis, ut si in eius modi amicitias ignari casu aliquo
inciderint, ne existiment ita se alligatos, ut ab amicis in
magna aliqua re peccantibus non discedant : improbis
autem poena statuenda est, nec vero minor eis qui
secuti erunt alterum, quam eis qui ipsi fuerint impietatis

10



43-46] DE AMICITIA



duces. Quis clarior in Graecia Themistocle, quis poten-
tior? Qui cum imperator bello Persico servitute
Graeciam liberavisset, propterque invidiam in exilium
expulsus esset, ingratae patriae iniuriam non tulit, quam
ferre debuit : fecit idem, quod xx annis ante apud nos
fecerat Coriolanus. His adiutor contra patriam inventus
est nemo ; itaque sibi mortem uterque conscivit. Qua re 43
talis improborum consensio non modo excusatione
amicitiae tegenda non est, sed potius supplicio omni
vindicanda est : ut ne quis concessum putet amicum
vel bellum patriae inferentem sequi. Quod quidem,
ut res ire coepit, haud scio an aliquando futurum
sit. Mihi autem non minori curae est qualis res
publica post mortem meam futura, quam qualis hodie
sit.

XIII. Haec igitu^ prima lex amicitiae sanciatur, ut 44
ab amicis honesta petamus, amicorum causa honesta
faciamus, ne exspectemiis quidem dum rogemur. Studium
semper adsit, cunctatio absit : consilium vero dare
audeamus libere. Plurimum in amicitia amicorum bene
suadentium valeat auctoritas, eaque et adhibeatur ad
monendum non modo aperte, sed etiam acriter si res
postulabit, et adhibitae pareatur. Nam quibusdam, 45
quos audio sapientes habitos in Graecia, placuisse
opinor mirabilia quaedam (sed nihil est quod illi non
persequantur argutiis) : partim fugiendas esse nimias
amicitks, ne necesse sit unum sollicitum esse pro pluribus;
satis superque esse sibi suarum cuique rerum, alienis
nimis implicari molestum esse; commodissimum esse
quam laxissimas habenas habere amicitiae, quas vel
adducas cum velis vel remittas : caput enim esse ad beate .
vivendum securitatem, qua frui non possit animus si
tamquam parturiat unus pro pluribus. Alios autem dicere 43

c 17



LAELIUS [47, 48

aiunt multo etiam inhumanius — quem locum breviter
perstrinxi paulo ante — praesidii afliumentique causa, non
benevolentiae neque caritatis, amicitias esse expetendas,
itaque ut quisque minimum firmitatis haberet mini-
mumque virium, ita amicitias appetere maxime : ex eo
fieri ut mulierculae magis amicitiarum praesidia quaerant
quam viri, et inopes quam opulenti, et calamitosi quam

47 ei qui putentur beati. O praeclaram sapientiam ! Solem
enim e mundo tollere videntur, qui amicitiam e vita
tollunt : qua nihil a dis immortalibus melius habemus,
nihil iucundius. Quae est enim ista securitas % Specie
quidem blanda, sed reapse multis locis repudianda. Ne-
que enim est consentaneum ullam honestam rem
actionemve ne sollicitus sis aut non suscipere, aut sus-
ceptam deponere. Quod si curam fugimus, virtus
fugienda est, quae necesse est cum aliqua cura res
sibi contrarias aspernetur atque oderit : ut bonitas
malitiam, temperantia libidinem, ignaviam fortitudo.
Itaque videas rebus iniustis iustos maxime dolere, im-
bellibus fortes, flagitiosis modestos. Ergo hoc proprium
est animi bene constituti, et laetari bonis rebus et dolere

48 contrariis. Quam ob rem si cadit in sapientem animi
dolor, qui profecto cadit nisi ex eius animo exstirpatam
humanitatem arbitramur : quae causa est cur amicitiam
funditus tollamus e vita, ne aliquas propter eam suscipia-
mus molestias? Quid enim interest, motu animi sublato,
non dico inter pecudem et hominem, sed inter horriinem
et truncum aut saxum aut quidvis generis eiusdem?
Neque enim sunt isti audiendi, qui virtutem duram et
quasi ferream esse quandam volunt : quae quidem est
cum multis in rebus tum in amicitia tenera atque tracta-
bilis, ut et bonis amici quasi diffundantur et incommodis
contrahantur. Quam ob rem angor iste, qui pro amico

18



49-51] DE AMICITIA



saepe capiendus est, non tantum valet ut tollat e vita
amicitiam : non plus quam ut virtutes, quia nonnullas
curas et molestias afferunt, repudientur.

XIV. Cum autem contrahat amicitiam, ut supra dixi,
si qua significatio virtutis eluceat ad quam se similis
animus applicet et adiungat ; id cum contigit, amor
exoriatur necesse est. Quid enim tam absurdum quam 49
delectari multis inanibus rebus, ut honore, ut gloria, ut
aedificio, ut vestitu cultuque corporis ; animante virtute
praedito, eo qui vel amare vel ut ita dicam redamare
possit, non admodum delectari 1 Nihil est enim remune-
ratione benevolentiae, nihil vicissitudine studiorum offici-
orumque iucundius. Quid ? si illud etiam addimus, 50
quod recte addi potest, nihil esse quod ad se rem ullam
tam illiciat et attrahat quam ad amicitiam similitudo :
concedetur profecto verum esse ut bonos boni diligant,
adsciscantque sibi quasi propinquitate coniunctos atque
natura. Nihil est enim appetentius similium sui nec
rapacius quam natura. Quam ob rem hoc quidem, Fanni
et Scaevola, constet ut opinor, bonis inter bonos quas
necessariam benevolentiam, qui est amicitiae fons a
natura constitutus. Sed eadem bonitas etiam ad multi-
tudinem pertinet Non enim est inhumana virtus neque
immunis neque superba, quae etiam populos universos
tueri eisque optime consulere soleat : quod non faceret
profecto, si a caritate volgi abhorreret. Atque etiam 51
mihi quidem videntur, qui utilitatis causa fingunt ami-
citias, amabilissimum nodum amicitiae tollere. Non
enim tam utilitas parta per amicum quam amici amor
ipse delectat, tumque illud fit quod ab amico est profec-
tum iucundum si cum studio est profectum : tantumque
abest ut amicitiae propter indigentiam colantur, ut ei qui
opibus et copiis, maximeque virtute, in qua plurimum est

19



LAELIUS [52-54

praesidii, minime alterius indigeant, liberalissimi sint et
beneficentissimi. Atque haud sciam an ne opus sit
* quidem nihil umquam omnino deesse amicis. Ubi enim
studia nostra viguissent, si numquam consilio, numquam
opera nostra nec domi nec militiae Scipio eguisset?
Non igitur utilitatem amicitia, sed utilitas amicitiam
secuta est.

52 XV. Non ergo erunt homines deliciis diffiuentes audi-
endi, si quando de amicitia, quam nec usu nec ratione
habent cognitam, disputabunt. Nam quis est, proh
deorum fidem atque hominum ! qui velit, ut neque
diligat quemquam nec ipse ab ullo diligatur, circumfluere
omnibus copiis atque in omnium rerum abundantia
vivere? Haec enim est tyrannorum vita nimirum, in
qua nulla fides, nulla caritas, nulla stabilis benevolentiae
potest esse fiducia: omnia semper suspecta atque sol-

53 licita, nullus locus amicitiae. Quis enim aut eum diligat .
quem metuat, aut eum a quo se metui putet ? Coluntur
tamen simulatione dumtaxat ad tempus. Quod si forte,
ut fit plerumque, ceciderunt, tum intelligitur quam
fuerint inopes amicorum : quod Tarquinium dixisse
ferunt exsulantem, tum se intellexisse quos fidos amicos
habuisset quos infidos, cum iam neutris gratiam referre

54 posset. Quamquam miror, illa superbia et importunitate
si quemquem amicum habere potuit Atque ut huius,
quem dixi, mores veros amicos parare non potuerunt;
sic multorum opes praepotentium excludunt amicitias
fideles. Non enim solum ipsa Fortuna caeca est, sed
eos etiam plerumque efiicit caecos quos complexa est.
Itaque eflferuntur fere fastidio et contumacia, nec quid-
quam insipiente fortunato intolerabilius fieri potest.
Atque hoc quidem videre licet, eos, qui antea commodis
fuerint moribus, imperio potestate prosperis rebus immu-

20



65-58] DE AMICITIA



tari [sperni ab iis veteres amicitias, indulgeri novis].
Quid autem stultius, quam, cum plurimum copiis facul- 55
tatibus opibus possint, cetera parare quae parantur
pecunia, equos, famulos, vestem egregiam, vasa pretiosa;
amicos non parare, optimam et pulcherrimam vitae ut ita
dicam supellectilem ? Etenim cetera cum parant, cui
parent nesciunt nec cuius causa laborent ; eius enim est
istorum quidque, qui vicit viribus : amicitiarum sua
cuique permanet stabilis et certa possessio. Quod etiam si
illa maneant quae sunt quasi dona Fortunae, tamen vita
inculta et deserta ab amicis non possit esse iucunda.
Sed haec hactenus.

XVI. Constituendi autem sunt qui sint in amicitia 5fl
fines et quasi termini diligendi. De quibus tres video
sententias ferri, quarum nullam probo : unam ut eodem
modo erga amicum affecti simus, quo erga nosmet ipsos ;
alterum ut nostra in amicos benevolentia illorum erga
nos benevolentiae pariter aequaliterque respondeat ;
tertiam ut quanti quisque se ipse facit, tanti fiat ab
amicis. Harum trium sententiarum nulli prorsus assentior. 57
Nec enim illa prima vera est, ut quemadmodum in se
quisque, sic in amicum sit animatus. Quam multa enim,
quae nostra causa numquam faceremus, facimus causa
amicorum ! precari ab indigno, supplicare ; tum acerbius
in aliquem invehi, insectarique vehementius: quae in
nostris rebus non satis honeste, in amicorum fiunt hones-
tissime. Multaeque res sunt in quibus de suis commodis
viri boni multa detrahunt detrahique patiuntur, ut eis
amici potius quam ipsi fruantur. Altera sententia est, 58
quae definit amicitiam paribus ofhciis ac voluntatibus.
Hoc quidem est nimis exigue et exiliter ad'calculos
vocare amicitiam, ut par sit ratio acceptorum et datorum.
Divitior mihi et affluentior videtur esse vera amicitia, nec

21



LAELIUS [50-61

observare restrictc ne plus reddat quam acceperit. Neque
enim verendum est ne quid excidat, aut ne quid in
terram defluat, aut ne plus aequo quid in amicitiam con-

59 geratur. Tertius vero ille finis deterrimus, ut quanti
quisque se ipse faciat, tanti fiat ab amicis. Saepe enim
in quibusdam aut animus abiectior est, aut spes amplifi-
candae fortunae fractior. Non est igitur amici talem esse
in eum, qualis ille in se est; sed potius eniti et efficere, ut
amici iacentem animum excitet, inducatque spem cogi-
tationemque meliorem. Alius igitur finis verae amicitiae
constituendus est, si prius quid maxime reprehendere
Scipio solitus sit dixero. Negabat ullam vocem inimici-
orem amicitiae potuisse reperiri quam eius, qui dixisset
ita amare oportere ut si aliquando esset osurus : nec
vero se adduci posse ut hoc — quem ad modum putaretur
— a Biante dictum esse crederet, qui sapiens habitus
esset unus e septem : impuri cuiusdam aut ambitiosi, aut
omnia ad suam potentiam revocantis esse sententiam.
Quonam enim modo quisquam amicus esse poterit ei, cui
se putabit inimicum esse posse? Quin etiam necesse
erit cupere et optare ut quam saepissime peccet amicus,
quo plures det sibi tanquam ansas ad reprehenden-
dum ; rursum autem recte factis commodisque amicorum

60 necesse erit angi dolere invidere. Quare hoc quidem
praeceptum, cuiuscumque est, ad tollendam amicitiam
valet. Illud potius praecipiendum fuit, ut eam dili-
gentiam adhiberemus in amicitiis comparandis, ut ne
quando amare inciperemus eum quem aliquando odisse
possemus. Quin etiam si minus felices in deligendo
fuissemus, ferendum id Scipio potius quam inimicitiarum
tempus cogitandum putabat.

61 XVII. His igitur finibus utendum arbitror, ut cum
emendati mores amicorum sint, tum sit inter eos omnium



■13



62, 63] DE AMICITIA



rerum consiliorum voluntatum sine ulla exceptione com-
munitas : ut etiam si qua fortuna acciderit ut minus iustae
amicorum voluntates adiuvandae sint, in quibus eorum
aut caput agatur aut fama, declinandum de via sit, modo
ne summa turpitudo sequatur ; est enim quatenus
amicitiae dari venia possit. Nec vero neglegenda est^
fama, nec mediocre telum ad res gerendas existimare
oportet benevolentiam civium : quam blanditiis et assen-
tando colligere turpe est, virtus quam sequitur caritas
minime repudianda est. Sed — saepe enim redeo ad 62
Scipionem,cuiusomnis sermo erat de amicitia — querebatur
quod omnibus in rebus homines diligentiores essent :
capras et oves quot quisque haberet dicere posse, amicos
quot haberet non posse dicere ; et in illis quidem paran-
dis adhibere curam, in amicis eligendis neglegentes esse,
nec habere quasi signa quaedam et notas, quibus eos qui
ad amicitias essent idonei iudicarent. Sunt igitur firmi
et stabiles et constantes eligendi, cuius gerieris est magna
penuria : et iudicare difficile est sane nisi expertum, experi-
endum autem est in ipsa amicitia ; ita praecurrit amicitia
iudicium, tollitque experiendi potestatem. Est igitur 63
prudentis sustinere ut currum, sic impetum benevolentiae :
quo utamur quasi equis tentatis sic amicitia, aliqua parte
periclitatis moribus amicorum. Quidam saepe in parva
pecunia perspiciuntur quam sint leves, quidam autem
quos parva movere non potuit cognoscuntur in magna..
Sin vero erunt aliqui reperti, qui pecuniam praeferre
amicitiae sordidum existiment : ubi eos inveniemus, qui
honores, magistratus, imperia, potestates, opes amicitiae
non anteponant, ut cum ex altera parte proposita haec sint,
ex altera ius amicitiae, non multo illa malint ? Imbecilla
enim est natura ad contemnendam potentiam : quam
etiam si neglecta amicitia consecuti sint, obscuratum iri

23



LAELIUS [64, 65

arbitrantur quia non sine magna causa sit neglecta
amicitia. Itaque verae amicitiae difficillime reperiuntur

64 in eis, qui in honoribus reque publica versantur. Ubi
enim istum invenias, qui honorem amici anteponat suo ?
Quid? haec ut omittam, quam graves quam difficiles
plerisque videntur calamitatum societates ! Ad quas non
est facile inventu qui descendant. Quamquam Ennius
recte,

Atnicus certus in re incerta cernitur ;

tamen haec duo levitatis et innrmitatis plerosque con-
vincunt, aut si in bonis rebus contemnunt aut in malis
deserunt. Qui igitur utraque in re gravem, constantem,
stabilem se in amicitia praestiterit, hunc ex maxime raro
genere hominum iudicare debemus et paene divino.

65 XVIII. Firmamentum autem stabilitatis constantiaeque
est eius, quam in amicitia quaerimus, fides; nihil est
enim stabile, quod infidum est Simplicem praeterea et
communem et consentientem, id est, qui rebus eisdem
moveatur, eligi par est : quae omnia pertinent ad fidelita-
tem. Neque enim fidum potest esse multiplex ingenium
et tortuosum ; neque vero qui non eisdem rebus movetur
naturaque consentit, aut fidus aut stabilis potest esse.
Addendum eodem est ut ne criminibus aut inferendis
delectetur, aut credat oblatis : quae pertinent omnia ad
eam, quam iamdudum tracto, constantiam. Ita fit verum
illud quod initio dixi, amicitiam nisi inter bonos esse non
posse. Est enim boni viri, quem eundem sapientem
licet dicere, haec duo* tenere in amicitia : primum ne
quid fictum sit neve simulatum, aperte enim vel odisse
magis ingenui est quam fronte occultare sententiam ;
deinde non solum ab aliquo allatas criminationes repellere,
sed ne ipsum quidem esse suspiciosum, semper aliquid

21



66-70] DE AMICITIA



existimantem ab amico esse violatum. Accedat huc 66
suavitas quaedam oportet sermonum atque morum, haud-
quaquam mediocre condimentum amicitiae. Tristitia
autem et in omni re severitas habet illa quidem gravita-
tem \ sed amicitia remissior esse debet et liberior, et dul-
cior et ad omnem comitatem facilitatemque proclivior.

XIX. Exsistit autem hoc loco quaedam quaestio subdiffi- 67
cilis : num quando amici novi, digni amicitia, veteribus
sint anteponendi, ut equis vetulis teneros anteponere
solemus. Indigna homine dubitatio. Non enim debent
esse amicitiarum, sicut aliarum rerum, satietates : veter-
rima quaeque, ut ea vina quae vetustatem ferunt, esse debet
suavissima, verumque illud est quod dicitur, 'multos
modios salis simul edendos esse ut amicitiae munus
expletum sit.' Novitates autem si spem afferunt ut tan- 68
quam in herbis non fallacibus fructus appareat, non sunt
illae quidem repudiandae ; vetustas tamen suo loco con-
servanda, maxima est enim vis vetustatis et consuetudinis.
Quin etiam in ipso equo, cuius modo feci mentionem,
si nulla res impediat, nemo est quin eo quo consuevit
libentius utatur, quam intractato et novo. Nec vero in
hoc quod est animal, sed in iis etiam quae sunt inanima
consuetudo valet : cum locis ipsis delectemur, montuosis
etiam et silvestribus, in quibus diutius commorati sumus. 69

Sed maximum est in amicitia parem esse inferiori.
Saepe enim excellentiae quaedam sunt, qualis erat Scipi-
onis in nostro ut ita dicam grege. Numquam se ille
Philo, numquam Rupilio, numquam Mummio anteposuit,
numquam inferioris ordinis amicis: Q. vero Maximum
fratrem, egregium virum omnino, sibi nequaquani parem,
quod is anteibat aetate, tamquam superiorem, colebat,
suosque omnes per se esse ampliores volebat. Quod 70
faciendum imitandumque est omnibus, ut si quam prae-

25



LAKUUS [71-73



stantiam virtutis, ingenii, fortunae consecuti sint, imper-
tiant ea suis communicentque cum proximis, ut si parenti-
bus nati sint humilibus, si propinquos habeant imbecil-
liores vel animo vel fortuna, eorum augeant opes eisque
honori sint et dignitati : ut in fabulis qui aliquamdiu
propter ignorationem stirpis et generis in famulatu fuerunt,
cum cogniti sunt et aut deorum aut regum filii inventi,
retinent tamen caritatem in pastores quos patres multos
annos esse duxerint Quod est multo profecto magis in
veris patribus certisque faciendum. Fructus enim ingenii
et virtutis omnisque praestantiae tum maximus capitur,
cum in proximum quemque confertur.

71 XX. Ut igitur ei, qui sunt in amicitiae coniunctionisque
necessitudine superiores, exaequare se cum inferioribus
debent : sic inferiores non dolere se a suis aut ingenio
aut fortuna aut dignitate superari. Quorum plerique
aut queruntur semper aliquid, aut etiam exprobrant :
eoque magis, si habere se putant quod officiose et amice
et cum labore aliquo suo factum queant dicere. Odiosum
sane genus hominum, officia exprobrantium : quae me-
minisse debet is in quem collata sunt, non commemo-

72 rare qui contulit. Quam ob rem ut ei, qui superiores
sunt, summittere se debent in amicitia: sic quodam
modo inferiores extollere. Sunt enim quidam qui
molestas amicitias faciunt, cum ipsi se contemni putant :
quod non fere contingit nisi eis qui etiam contemnendos
se arbitrantur; qui hac opinione non modo verbis sed

73 etiam opere levandi sunt. Tantum autem cuique tribu-
endum, primum quantum ipse efficere possis ; deinde
etiam quantum ille, quem diligas atque adiuves, susti-
nere. Non enim neque tu possis, quamvis licet excellas,
omnes tuos ad honores amplissimos perducere : ut
Scipio P. Rupilium potuit consulem efficere, fratrem

26



74-76] DE AMICITIA



eius Lucium non potuit. Quod si etiam possis quidvis
deferre ad alterum, videndum est tamen quid ille possit
sustinere. Omnino amicitiae corroboratis iam confirma- 74
tisque et ingeniis et aetatibus iudicandae sunt, nec si
qui ineunte aetate venandi aut pilae studiosi fuerunt, eos
habere necessarios, quos tum eodem studio praeditos
dilexerunt Isto enim modo nutrices et paedagogi iure;
vetustatis plurimum benevolentiae postulabunt: qui
neglegendi quidem non sunt, sed alio quodam modo.
Aliter amicitiae stabiles permanere non possunt. Dis-
pares enim mores disparia studia sequuntur, quorum
dissimilitudo dissociat amicitias : nec ob aliam causam
ullam boni improbis, improbi bonis amici esse non
possunt, nisi quod tanta est inter eos, quanta maxima
potest esse, morum studiorumque distantia. Recte etiam 75
praecipi potest in amicitiis, ne intemperata quaedam
benevolentia, quod persaepe fit, impediat magnas utili-
tates amicorum. Nec enim, ut ad fabulas redeam,
Troiam Neoptolemus capere potuisset, si Lycomedem,
apud quem erat educatus, multis cum lacrimis iter suum
impedientem audire voluisset ; et saepe incidunt magnae
res ut discedendum sit ab amicis, quas qui impedire vult
quod desiderium non facile ferat, is et infirmus est
mollisque natura et ob eam ipsam causam in amicitia 76
parum iustus. Atque in omni re considerandum est
et quid postules ab amico, et quid patiare a te impe-
trari.

XXI. Est etiam quaedam calamitas in amicitiis dimit-
tendis nonnumquam necessaria : iam enim a sapientium
familiaritatibus ad vulgares amicitias oratio nostradela-
bitur. Erumpunt saepe vitia amicorum, tum in ipsos
amicos, tum in alienos, quorum tamen ad amicos redundet
infamia. Tales igitur amicitiae sunt remissione usus

27



LAELIUS [77-70

eluendae, et — ut Catonem dicere audivi — dissuendae
magis quam discindendae : nisi quaedam admodum in-
tolerabilis iniuria exarserit, ut neque rectum neque
honestum sit nec fieri possit ut non statim alienatio disiunc-

77 tioque facienda sit Sin autem aut morum aut studiorum
commutatio quaedam — ut fieri solet — facta erit, aut in
rei publicae partibus dissensio intercesserit : loquor enim
iam, ut paullo ante dixi, non de sapientium sed de
communibus amicitiis : cavendum erit ne non solum
amicitiae depositae, sed etiam inimicitiae susceptae
videantur. Nihil enim turpius quam cum eo bellum
gerere, quocum familiariter vixeris. Ab amicitia Q.
Pompeii meo nomine se removerat, ut scitis, Scipio;
propter dissensionem autem, quae erat in re publica,
alienatus est a collega nostro Metello : utrumque egit
graviter, auctoritate et offensione animi non acerba.

78 Quam ob rem primum danda opera est, ne qua amico-
rum discidia fiant ; sin tale aliquid evenerit, ut exstinctae
potius amicitiae quam oppressae esse videantur. Caven-
dum vero ne etiam in graves inimicitias convertant se
amicitiae : ex quibus iurgia, maledicta, contumeliae
gignuntur. Quae tamen, si tolerabiles erunt, ferendae
sunt, et hic honos veteri amicitiae tribuendus, ut is in
culpa sit qui faciat, non is qui patiatur iniuriam.

Omnino omnium horum vitiorum atque incommodo-

79 nim una cautio est atque una provisio : ut ne nimis cito
diligere incipiant, neve non dignos. Digni autem sunt
amicitia, quibus in ipsis inest causa cur diligantur.
Rarum genus ! Et quidem omnia praeclara rara, nec
quidquam difficilius quam reperire quod sit omni ex
parte in suo genere perfectum. Sed plerique neque in
rebus humanis quidquam bonum norunt, nisi quod fruc-
tuosum sit ; et amicos, tanquam pecudes, eos potissimum

28



80-88] DE AMICITIA



diligunt, ex quibus sperant se maximum fructum esse 80
capturos. Ita pulcherrima illa et maxime naturali carent
amicitia per se et propter se expetita, nec ipsi sibi
exemplo sunt haec vis amicitiae et qualis et quanta sit.
Ipse enim se quisque diligit non ut aliquam a se ipse
mercedem exigat caritatis suae, sed quod per se sibi
quisque carus est. Quod nisi idem in amicitiam trans-
feretur, verus amicus nunquam reperietur ; est enim is, 81
qui est tamquam alter idem. Quod si hoc apparet in
bestiis, volucribus nantibus agrestibus, cicuribus feris,
primum ut se ipsae diligant (id enim paritei: cum omni
animante nascitur), deinde ut requirant atque appetant,
ad quas se applicent, eiusdem generis animantes (idque
faciunt cum desiderio et cum quadam similitudine amoris
humani) : quanto id magis in homine fit natura, qui et se
ipse diligit, et alterum anquirit cuius animum ita cum
suo misceat, ut efficiat paene unum ex duobus !

XXII. Sed plerique perverse, ne dicam impudenter, 82
habere talem amicum volunt, quales ipsi esse non
possunt, quaeque ipsi non tribuunt amicis, haec ab eis
desideraht. Par est autem primum ipsum esse virum
bonum, tum alterum similem sui quaerere. In talibus
ea, quam iamdudum tractamus, stabilitas amicitiae con-
firmari potest : cum homines benevolentia coniuncti
primum cupiditatibus eis quibus ceteri serviunt impera-
bunt ; deinde aequitate iustitiaque gaudebunt, omniaque
alter pro altero suscipiet neque quidquam umquam nisi
honestum et rectum alter ab altero postulabit ; neque
solum colent inter se ac diligent, sed etiam verebuntur.
Nam maximum ornamentum amicitiae tollit, qui ex ea
tollit verecundiam. Itaque in eis perniciosus est error, 83
qui existimant libidinum peccatorumque omnium patere
in amicitia licentiam. Virtutum amicitia adiutrix a

29



LAELIUS [84-86

natura data est, non vitiorum comes, ut quoniam solitaria
non posset virtus ad ea quae summa sunt pervenire,
coniuncta et consociata cum altera perveniret : quae si
quos inter societas aut est aut fuit aut futura est, eorum
est habendus ad summum naturae bonum optimus beat-

84 issimusque comitatus. Haec est, inquam, societas in
qua omnia insunt quae putant homines expetenda,
honestas, gloria, tranquillitas animi atque iucunditas : ut et
cum haec adsint beata vita sit, et sine his esse non possit.
Quod cum optimum maximumque sit, si id volumus
adipisci virtuti opera danda est, sine qua nec amicitiam
neque ullam rem expetendam consequi possumus; ea
vero neglecta qui se amicos habere arbitrantur, tum se
denique errasse sentiunt, cum eos gravis aliquis casus

85 experiri cogit Quocirca — dicendum est enim saepius
— cum iudicaris diligere oportet, non cum dilexeris iudi-
care. Sed cum multis in rebus neglegentia plectimur,
tum maxime in amicis et diligendis et colendis : praepos-
teris enim utimur consiliis et acta agimus, quod vetamur
vetere proverbio. Nam implicati ultro et citro vel usu
diuturno vel etiam officiis, repente in medio cursu ami-
citias exorta aliqua offensione dirumpimus.

86 XXIII. Quo etiam magis vituperanda est rei maxime
necessariae tanta incuria. Una est enim amicitia in
rebus humanis, de cuius utilitate omnes uno ore
consentiunt. A multis virtus ipsa contemnitur, et
venditatio quaedam atque ostentatio esse dicitur : multi
divitias despiciunt, quos parvo contentos tenuis victus
cultusque delectat ; honores vero, quorum cupiditate
quidam infiammantur, qiiam multi ita contemnunt, ut
nihil inanius nihil esse levius existiment ! itemque cetera
quae quibusdam admirabilia videntur permulti sunt qui
pro nihilo putent : de amicitia omnes ad unum idem

30






87, 88] DE AMICITIA



sentiunt, et ei qui ad rem publicam se contulerunt, et ei
qui rerum cognitione doctrinaque delectantur, et ei qui
suum negotium gerunt otiosi, postremo ei qui se totos
tradiderunt voluptatibus, sine amicitia vitam esse nullam,
si modo velint aliqua ex parte liberaliter vivere. Serpit 87
enim nescio quo modo per omnium vitas amicitia, nec
ullam aetatis degendae rationem patitur esse expertem
sui. Quin etiam si quis asperitate ea est et immanitate
naturae, congressus ut hominum fugiat atque oderit,
qualem fuisse Athenis Timonem nescio quem accepimus ;
tamen is pati non possit ut non anquirat aliquem, apud
quem evomat virus acerbitatis suae. Atque hoc maxime
iudicaretur si quid tale posset contingere, ut aliquis nos
deus ex hac hominum frequentia tolleret et in solitudine
uspiam collocaret, atque ibi suppeditans omnium rerum
quas natura desiderat abundantiam et copiam, hominis
omnino adspiciendi potestatem eriperet. Quis tam esset
ferreus qui eam vitam ferre posset, cuique non auferret
fructum voluptatum omnium solitudo ? Verum ergo 88
illud est, quod a Tarentino Archyta, ut opinor, dici
solitum nostros senes commemorare audivi ab aliis
senibus auditum : si quis in caelum ascendisset natu-
ramque mundi et pulchritudinem siderum perspexisset,
insuavem illam admirationem ei fore : quae iucundissima
fuisset, si aliquem cui narraret habuisset. Sic natura
solitarium nihil amat, semperque ad aliquod tanquam
adminiculum adnititur : quod in amicissimo quoque
dulcissimum est.

XXIV. Sed cum tot signis eadem natura declaret quid
velit, anquirat, desideret ; tamen obsurdescimus nescio
quo modo, nec ea quae ab ea monemur audimus. Est
enim varius et multiplex usus amicitiae, multaeque causae
suspicionum offensionumque dantur: quas tum evitare

81



LAELIUS [89-01

tum elevaxe, tum ferre sapientis est. Una illa subeunda
offensio est, ut et utilitas in amicitia et fides retineatur :
nam et monendi amici saepe sunt et obiurgandi, et haec

89 accipienda amice cum benevole fiunt. Sed nescio quo
modo venim est quod in Andria familiaris meus dicit :

Obsequiutn atnicos, veritas odiutn parit.

Molesta veritas, si quidem ex ea nascitur odium, quod
est venenum amicitiae : sed obsequium multo molestius,
quod peccatis indulgens praecipitem amicum ferri sinit.
Maxima autem culpa in eo, qui et veritatem aspernatur
et in fraudem obsequio impellitur. Omni igitur hac in
re habenda ratio et diligentia est primum ut monitio
acerbitate, deinde ut obiurgatio contumelia careat. In
obsequio autem (quoniam Terentiano verbo lubenter
utimur) comitas adsit, assentatio vitiorum adiutrix procul
amoveatur : quae non modo amico sed ne libero quidem
digna est; aliter enim cum tyranno, aliter cum amico

90 vivitur. Cuius autem aures clausae veritati sunt, ut ab
amico verum audire nequeat : huius salus desperanda
est. Scitum est enim illud Catonis, ut multa : melius de
quibusdam acerbos inimicos mereri, quam eos amicos qui
dulces videantur; illos verum saepe dicere, hos nun-
quam. Atque illud absurdum, quod ei qui monentur eam
molestiam quam debent capere non capiunt, eam capiunt
qua debent vacare. Peccasse enim se non anguntur,
obiurgari moleste ferunt : quod contra oportebat, delicto
dolere, correctione gaudere.

91 XXV. Ut igitur et monere et moneri proprium est
verae amicitiae, et alterum libere facere, non aspere,
alterum patienter accipere, non repugnanter ; sic haben-
dum est, nullam in amicitiis pestem esse maiorum, quani
adulationem, blanditiam, assentationem : quamvis enim
multis nominibus est hoc vitium notandum levium homi-

32



02-96] DE AMICITIA



num atque fallacium, ad voluntatem loquentium omnia,
nihil ad veritatem. Cum autem omnium rerum simula- 92
tio vitiosa est (tollit enim iudicium veri idque adulterat),
tum amicitiae repugnat maxime : delet enim veritatem,
sine qua nomen amicitiae valere non potest. Nam cum
amicitiae vis sit in eo, ut unus quasi animus fiat ex
pluribus, qui id fieri poterit, si ne in uno quidem qupque
unus animus erit idemque semper, sed varius commu-
tabilis multiplex? Quid enim potest esse tam flexibile 93
tam devium, quam animus eius qui ad alterius non modo
sensum ac voluntatem, sed etiam vultum atque nutum
convertitur ?
" Negatquis, nego; ait, aib: postremo imperavi egomet mihi

Omnia assentari,
ut ait idem Terentius : sed ille in Gnathonis persona,
quod amici genus adhibere omnino levitatis est. Multi 94
autem Gnathonum similes cum sint loco fortuna fama
superiores, horum est assentatio molesta, cum ad vani-
tatem accessit auctoritas. Secerni autem blandus amicus 95
a vero et internosci tam potest adhibita diligentia, quam
omnia fucata et simulata a sinceris atque veris. Contio,
quae ex imperitissimis constat, tamen iudicare solet quid
intersit inter popularem, id est assentatorem et levem
civem, et inter constantem, severum et gravem. Quibus 96
blanditiis C. Papirius nuper influebat in aures contionis,
cum ferret legem de tribunis plebis reficiendis ! Dissuasi-
mus nos, sed nihil de me : de Scipione dicam libentius.
Quanta illl — di immortales ! — fuit gravitas, quanta in
oratione maiestas : ut facile ducem populi Romani, non
comitem diceres ! Sed affuistis, et est in manibus oratio.
Itaque lex popularis suffragiis populi repudiata est.
Atque ut ad me redeam, meministis, Q. Maximo fratre
Scipionis et L. Mancino consulibus, quam popularis lex

D 33



LAEUUS [97, 98

■■■««•^■■^■■■■■■■■•■■•■•■•■«■«.^^^^^^^^■■—■■^•^■■■■■■■■■■^■«■•■■■■■^•■■■«■■-^

de sacerdotiis C. Licinii Crassi videbatur! Cooptatio
enim collegiorum ad populi beneficium transferebatur.
Atque is primus instituit in forum versus agere cum
populo. Tamen illius vendibilem orationem religio
deorum immortalium, nobis defendentibus, facile vin-
cebat. Atque id actum est praetore me, quinquennio
ante quam consul sum factus. Ita re magis, quam
summa auctoritate causa illa defensa est.

97 XXVI. Quod si in scaena, id est in contione, in qua
rebus fictis et adumbratis loci plurimum est, tamen verum
valet, si modo id patefactum et illustratum est : quid in
amicitia fieri oportet, quae tota veritate perpenditur? In
qua nisi, ut dicitur, apertum pectus videas tuumque
ostendas, nihil fidum, nihil exploratum habeas, ne amare
quidem aut amari, cum id quam vere fiat ignores.
Quamquam ista assentatio, quamvis perniciosa sit, nocere
tamen nemini potest nisi ei, qui eam recipit atque ea
delectatur. Ita fit ut is assentatoribus patefaciat aures
suas maxime, qui ipse sibi assentetur et se maxime ipse

98 delectet Omnino est amans sui virtus ; optime enim se
ipsa novit, quamque amabilis sit intellegit : ego autem
non de virtute nunc loquor, sed de virtutis opinione.
Virtute enim ipsa non tam multi praediti esse quam
videri volunt. Hos delectat assentatio; his fictus ad
ipsorum voluntatem sermo cum adhibetur, orationem
illam vanam testimonium esse laudum suarum putant.
Nulla est igitur haec amicitia, cum alter verum audire
non vult, alter ad mentiendum paratus est. Nec para-
sitorum in comoediis assentatio faceta nobis videretur,
nisi essent milites gloriosi.

Magnas vero agere gratias Thais mihi?
Satis erat respondere Magnas : Ingentes inquit. Semper
auget assentator id, quod is cuius ad voluntatem dicitur

84



90-101] DE AMICITIA



vult esse magnum. Quam ob rem , quamquam blanda99
ista vanitas apud eos valet, qui ipsi illam allectant et
invitant ; tamen etiam graviores constantioresque admo-
nendi sunt, ut animadvertant ne callida assentatione
capiantur. Aperte enim adulantem nemo non videt, nisi
qui admodum est excors : callidus ille et occultus ne se
insinuet, studiose cavendum est. Nec enim facillime
agnoscitur : quippe qui etiam advef sando saepe assen-
tetur, et litigare se simulans blandiatur; atque ad
extremum det manus vincique se patiatur, ut is qui
illusus sit plus vidisse videatur. Quid autem turpius
quam illudi? Quod ut ne accidat magis cavendum est,
ut in Epiclero :

Ut me hodie ante omnes comicos stultos senes
Versaris atque emunxeris lautissime!
Haec enim etiam in fabulis stultissima persona est, im- 100
providorum et credulorum senum. Sed nescio quo
pacto, ab amicitiis perfectorum hominum, id est sapi-
entium — de hac dico sapientia, quae videturin hominem
cadere posse — ad leves amicitias deflux-it oratio. Quam
ob rem ad illa prima redeamus, eaque ipsa concludamus
aliquando.

XXVII. Virtus, virtus, inquam, C. Fanni et tu Q. Muci,
et conciliat amicitias et conservat : in ea est enim con-
venientia rerum, in ea stabilitas, in ea constantia. Quae
cum se extulit et ostendit suum lumen, et idem adspexit
agnovitque in alio, ad id se admovet vicissimque accipit
illud quod in altero e^t, ex quo exardescit sive amor sive
amicitia. Utrumque enim ductum est ab amando;
amare autem nihil est aliud, nisi eum ipsum diligere
quem ames, nulla indigentia, nulla utilitate quaesita:
quae tamen ipsa efflorescit ex amicitia, etiam si tu eam
minus secutus sis. Hac nos adulescentes benevolentia 101

35



LAEUUS [102-104

senes iilos L. Paulum M. Catonem C. Galum P. Nasi-
cam Ti. Gracchum Scipionis nostri socerum dileximus ;
haec etiam magis elucet inter aequales, ut inter me et
Scipionem, L. Furium, P. Rupilium, Sp. Mummium.
Vicissim autem senes in adulescentium caritate acqui-
escimus, ut in vestra, ut in Q. Tuberonis; equidem
etiam admodum, adulescentis P. Rutilii, A. Verginii
familiaritate delector. Quoniamque ita ratio comparata
est vitae naturaeque nostrae, ut alia aetas oriatur;
maxime quidem optandum est ut cum aequalibus possis,
quibuscum tanquam e carceribus emissus sis cum eisdem

102 ad calcem ut dicitur pervenire. Sed quoniam res humanae
fragiles caducaeque sunt, semper aliqui anquirendi sunt
quos diligamus et a quibus diligamur: caritate enim
benevolentiaque sublata omnis est e vita sublata iucundi-
tas. Mihi quidem Scipio, quanquam est subito ereptus,
vivit tamen semperque vivet: virtutem enim amavi
illius viri, quae exstincta non est Nec mihi soli versatur
ante oculos, qui illam semper in manibus habui; sed
etiam posteris erit clara et insignis. Nemo umquam
animo aut spe maiora suscipiet, qui sibi non illius memo-

103 riam atque imaginem proponendam putet Equidem ex
omnibus rebus, quas mihi aut fortuna aut natura tribuit,
nihil habeo quod cum amicitia Scipionis possim com-
parare. In hac mihi de re publica consensus, in hac
rerum privatarum consilium, in eadem requies plena
oblectationis fuit Numquam illum ne minima quidem
re oifendi, quod quidem senserim ; nihil audivi ex eo
ipse quod nollem : una domus erat, idem victus isque
communis; neque solum militia, sed etiam peregrina-

104tiones rusticationesque communes. Nam quid ego de
studiis dicam cognoscendi semper aliquid atque discendi,
in quibus remoti ab oculis populi omne otiosum tempus

86



DE AMICITIA



contrivimus? Quaram rerum recordatio et memoria si
una cum illo ocddisset, desiderium coniunctissimi atque
amantissimi viri ferre nullo modo possem. Sed nec illa
exstincta sunt, alunturque potius et augentur cogitatione
et memoria mea ; et si illis plane orbatus essem, magnum
tamen affert mihi aetas ipsa solatium. Diutius enim iam
in hoc desiderio esse non possum ; omnia autem brevia
tolerabilia esse debent, etiam si magna sunt

Haec habui, de amicitia quae dicerem. Vos autem
hortor ut ita virtutem locetis, sine qua amicitia esse non
potest, ut ea excepta nihil amicitia praestabilius putetis.



*7



NOTES



1. For Mucius and Laelius, see Introduction, ThcScipionic Circle.

memoriter, 'with clear memory.' That this is always the
meaning of memoriter (and not simply * by heart ' as opposed
to ex scripto % as dictionaries say) has been conclusively shown
by Madvig, Fin. i. x. 34. Indeed, memor meaning * mind-
ful,' the adverb naturally has this sense.

ita eram deductus ut, [my father] * had made such a point
o£ introducing me to : ' the word deducere means to ' take
to see,' and here he means that he commended the young man
to the old augur, acc. the Roman custom, that he might gain
by his society.

Scaevolam, see Introduction.

sumpta virili toga, boys at Rome wore the white woollen
toga with purple border {praetexta) : after the age of about 16
(the time was not apparently fixed by law) they took the ' tna n*s
toga,' pure white, without border, and were considered
grown up.

ojioad possem, subjunctive, because dependent on the other
consecutive subj. discederem, This subj. may always be used
when the dependent clause is closely attached to the princi-
pal, aspart ofthe consequence. See Scheme.

breviter et oommode diota, ' terse and apt sayings.'

pontificem Scaevolam, the younger Q. Mucius Scaevola,
prob. son of the Augur's cousin. He was a man of great
force and excellence of character, an illustrious orator and
jurisconsult : ' the founder,' says Mommsen [Hist, Rome
iii. 475], ' of the systematic study of the law/

me contuli, ( I attached myself to : ' being now a man, he
chose his own society and uses a dirferent word.

alias, (' I will speak) at another time : ' the verb being readily
understood.

2. oum saepe multa, tum memini : cum and tum often thus

used without any reference to time, simply equivalent to
'both . . and/ 'notonly . . but also.' ' Among many other
things, I remember.'

39



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [3, 4

hemieyelio, Greek word (V*> * half ; ' k&kXos, ' circle ') for a
Greek invention, ' semicircular seat,' ' sofa.'

sermo, 'subject.'

inoidere ; memini is properly used with pres. inf. of things of
which the person was himself witness.

fere, 'commonly,' 'generally.'

Attiee, see Introduction.

P. Sulpicius Bufus, a noble by birth, the greatest orator of
his day, who tried to reform the constitution by expelling
insolvent senators, giving the franchise to freedmen, equalising
the old burgesses and those newly admitted, and recalling
exiles recently and unjustly condemned. For this purpose he
joined the democratic party, and became tribune 88 B.c. He
was bitterly opposed by the senatorial party, with the consuls,
Sulla and Q. Pompeius Rufus at their head : and after
much disturbance and riot, Sulla occupied Rome with his
army, and Sulpicius was seized at Laurentum and put to
death.

utebare multum, 'were very intimate with.' Sulpicius'
brother had married a cousin of Atticus.

oapitali odio dissideret, ' had a deadly quarrel.'

esset, subj. of oblique question : see Scheme.

querela, ' distress ' at the trouble which such a quarrel fore-
boded.

3. oum in eam — incidisset, 'happening to speak of that parti-

cular thing.' ea tnentio — ' mention of that : common idiom.
O. Fannio, see Introduction, Scipionic circle.
mortem Africani. Scipio Africanus the younger died

129 B.c. See Introduction, Scipionic circle,
arbitratu meo : lit. ' at my own pleasure ; ' i.e. ' I have given

my own version ; * he has recast it, with a certain freedom as

to shape, preserving the substance. See, however, Introd. § 3.

quasi, adv. ' as it were.'

saepius, 'sooften.' The comparative implies 'more than is
desirable.'

4. ageres, lit. ' treated with me ; ' i.e. ' urged me.'
cum . . tum, see 2.

digna res . . . est, i.e. I was bound by friendship to do what
you asked, and also it was likely to be useful. The same
ldea is repeated in the next clause.

feci ut prodessem, ' I have resolved to serve ' {feci lit. ' I

have caused : ' common with the imperativey&^).
Cato, see Introduction, Scipionic circle.



6, 6] NOTES



persona, ' character : * properly, ' the players' mask - \per*son-
— ' sound through '], and so used of ^part on the stage, 93.
Hence the metaphor.

quae loqueretur, subjunctive (final) after aptus, dignus, &c,
with qui, ' fitter to speak.' See Scheme.

eius, sc. persona. We should say 'he.' So lower down
. Laelii persona,

qui . . . fuisset, subjunctive expressing the cause. See Scheme.

meminisset, because dependent on dissereret,

positum in auctoritate, 'referred to the authority,' 'given

on the authority.'
plus goes with grravitatis. veterum, not ' old,' but ' men of

past times ' : et eorum ' and they too.' See 17.
nescio quo pacto, adverbial, ' somehow : ' he feels it to be

unreasonable, but such is human nature.
ipse xnea legrens, a delicate touch of Cicero's vanity : ' when

I read my own dialogue, I am carried away — I quite forget

myself, the author : it seems to be Cato himself speaking ! '

5. velim avertas, 'please put me out of your thoughts.' This

is the brief form of the oblique petition, without ut, used
commonly with velim, malim, fac, licet, and other words.
See Scheme, where the origin is explained.

ab his . . . oritur, ' the conversation begins with (lit. ' from ')
them. '

quam . . . cognosces, because he was so true a friend : a delicate
compliment. For te ipse, compare me ipse consolor, 10, mihi
ipse confiderem, 17.

6. They have been speaking of the death of Scipio ; Laelius has

been deploring it : so we enter into the middle of the con-
versation dramatically with sunt ista, ' quite true : ' (lit ' what
you say, is so.' Iste is always used of the person addressed).
oeulos ln te conieotos, to see how a man so wise would behave
in sucn a sorrow as his friend^s death.

modo, ' recently.' Cato died in 149, Scipio in I2Q, B.c. : and this
dialogue is supposed to take place just after Scipio's death.

Ii. Acilius, known only as an early jurist, who lived about the
time of Cato maior.

usum, ' experience. , He was statesman, general, orator,
farmer, jurist, &c.

multa eius : eius is possessive genitive after multa provisa, 8lc*
In English, recast : ' Many stories were told of his wise
foresighV &c.

cognomen sapientis, 'the surname Wise:' they called him
M. Porcius Cato Sapiens.

41



LAELIUS DE AMJCITIA [7, 8

te . . . esse sapientem, understand 'people think : ' the verb

is deferred till we reach existimant, 7.
qualem in Graeoia neminem {ie. sapientem appellant),

' sttch as there are no instances of in the rest of Greece.' He

says reliqua Graecia, opposed to Athenis unum: there was

one instance at Athens.

7. Qni eeptem appellantur, ' the so-caUed seven sages.'
There were rather different lists of them, but perhaps the
commonest was Bias, Chilo, Cleobulus, Pittacus, Periander,
Solon, Thales.

qui ista subtilius auaerunt, ' those who study such things
more accurately,' he says ista, as Laelius is, and he himself
does not claim to be, a wise man.

unum acoepimns, ' we have been told of but one.' Socrates,
of course. The story is well known how Chaerephon, hisfriend,
went boldly to Delphi, and asked whether any was wiser than
Socrates, and the oracle answered 'None.'

et enm quidem, see 38.

hano sapientiam . . . ut duoas. This use of the consecutive
ut, after w, i/la, hic> &a, is common, expressing a definition
or expansion of the pronoun. ' This wisdom, namely
that you think ' . . . See Scheme.

omnia tua in te posita. ' AU that is yours is within you,'
i.e. all your resources and qualities : for Laelius was a Stoic,
and the Stoics taught the personal dignity of man, all external
things, wealth, pleasure, pain, station, fortune, death itself,
being quite secondary. For the phrase, see 30.

Nonis, the ' Nones ' were the 8th (the Romans, counting
inclusively, said 9th) day before the Ides, and were, there-
fore, in most months on 5U1, in March, July, October,
May, the 7th.

D. Iunius Brutus, consul 138, B.C., chiefly famous for his
victories in Spain, whence he obtained his surname, Callaecus.
He was a cuttivated man.

ut assolet, 'asusual,' impers.

q.ui . . . solitus esses, ' though you had been accustomed,'
concessive use of the subjunctive with qui ; see Scheme.

obeo, ' to go over/ lit. : here ' to keep ' both the day and the
observance.

8. anlmum adverti, prop. with ad or dat. Then it gets a secondary
meaning ' to notice, and simply takes a transitive accusative.
fuisse id humanitatis tuae, lit. ' it did not belong to your
kindness ' : *.<?. ' it was not possible for so kind-hearted a
man ' to be unmoved.

42



9, 10] NOT&S



«Mb



valet-adinem, ( your health ' : just as we say, meaning ill-health.
isto offlcio, * that ftaXyyou speak of?
inoommodo meo, ' by my own private grief.'
ebnstanti, ' a man of principle.'
9« nt . . . nat, after hoc, explaining it, see 7.

quod tribui dicis, 'in saying that so much is ascribed to
me ; ' quod is often used in Cic, to bring a fact or statement
before the reader, and then express an opinion on it.

si quisquam, instead of the ordinary si ouis, because he does
not himself think there is any.

fllii, Cato's elder son, also called M. Porcius Cato, who died
in 152 B.c, just before entering on his office as praetor.

Paulum, L. Aemilius Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia
(Macedonicus). He had four sons, the two elder of whom
being adopted respectivelv by Q. Fabius and P. Cornelius
Scipio, ceased to bear his name : the two younger, by a
striking fatality, died within a week of each otner, one before
and the othef just after his splendid triumph in 168, which
commemorated the battle of Pydna. See Pedigree of Scipios.

CK Sulpicius Gfaius in the same yearserved as military tribune
to Paulus. He was noted for his astronomic leaming, and the
night before the battle (June 21), an eclipse of the moon occur-
ring, he explained the matter to the soldiers, and allayed their
fears. Of this loss of his son nothing more is known. [The
best authorities (Baiter, Mommsen) approve the spelling,
Galus.]

hi in pueris, lit. ' these in the case of boys ' (see 24) (showed
their fortitude) : the verb is easily supplied. Construe :
' but the sons they lost were children, while Cato, &c.'

perfeoto et spectato, ' full grown and of tried worth.'

10. cave anteponas, * beware of preferring.' The negative does
not need inserting before the verb in this phrase, as cave
suggests the avoidance.

istum, as before, see 8, 'him you speak of,' Socrates.

huius, Cato, being nearer in time, though mentioned first.

desiderio, 'regretfor.'

si neerem, common form of the conditional, pure hypothesis :
'if I were to deny.'

viderint (jussive), ' let them see to it,' t.e. ' I leave that ques-
tion to them,' implying that he does not agree with them.

sapientes, ' philosophers : ' meaning the Stoics, who taught
that grief, like all other human strong emotion, was to be
suppressed.

43



LAELWS DE AMICITIA [U, 1£

errore ; the * mistake ' is to fancy death to be an evil, as he

explains in the next sentence.
amicnm, like sdpsum, governed by amantis. ( Is not love but

selfishness.'
11* actum esse praeclare cum illo, ( that it is well with him : '

an idiomatic phrase, with adverbs : cf. ( secum actum esse

pessime.' Verr. 2, 3, 50.

putabat, t.e. that it was desirable to live for ever.

vellet (as usual the imperfect expressing a condition excluded
by the facts), * he had wished.'

fas esset, consec. subj. ( of the kind that.'

ante tempns, the legal age (after 181) being 43, and Scipio's
first consulship being 147 B.c, when he was only 38 (acc.
others 35). The (third Punic) war was dragging on in
Africa, and Scipio had shown great qualities in service there :
he returned to Kome to sue for the aedileship, but was chosen
consul by acclamation.

iterum, &c. The war in Spain was being conducted slowly
and ill, and Numantia was holding out, when Scipio was
again called to the consulship, in 134, ( at the right time for
him, almost too late for the State,' says Cicero, pointedly.

urbibuB, Carthage, 146, Numantia, 133 B.c ; both were de-
stroyed, thus stopping not only those wars, but *all future
ones,' from those places.

pietate . . . liberalitate . . . bonitate. He is said to
have supported his divorced mother, and been most generous
in money matters towards his sisters, brother, and aunts.

ut xnemini disserere, for pres. inf. see 2. The conversation
alluded to is the basis of Cicero's own De Senectute.

viriditatem * freshness : ' ( ( cruda deo viridisque senectus ' of
Charon, Aen. vi. 304).

12. quo d,e genere mortis, 'about the manner of his death.'
Cicero says distinctly (Pro. Milone vii. 16) that he was
assassinated at night ; and this seems to have been the general
opinion. See Introduction. Laelius is speaking with the
delicate reserve which characterizes him in the dialogue :
though the accusation is more distinctly repeated below, 41.

celeberrimos. In Cic. this adjective always means ' crowded, '
( accompanied by crowds.' Translate : ( out of the many
days of public rejoicing, attended by immense gatherings,
which he saw in the course of his life.'

illum diem, sec Introduction.

populo Bomano, naturally they were his own friends, of the
44



13, 14] NOTES



senatorial party : but Cicero in a partizan spirit calls them

' populo Romano.'
et Iiatinis, being the foremost among the socii: they had

been frightened at the land assignations under Gracchus > law,

and obtained the aid of Scipio to stop them.
deos is really in apposition to superos, 'those below* being

not gods but • shades ' {rnanes). He represents him as being

almost deified by his supreme position at the time of his

death.

13. eis, the Epicureans, who taught the mortality of the soul.
religiosa iura, * religious ordinances : * he means the various

observances of burial : the argument is that the institution of
these observances implies the belief that the dead are affected
(pertinere adeos) by them, and so, that the soul did not perish
at death.
Observe /ecissent t 'would have done,' act: arbitrarentur 'had
thought,' state.

eoruxn, the Pythagoreans, who taught the transmigration of
souls, viz., that the soul of man after death passed into
another (human or animal) body, the good passing up through
higher forms of existence, the bad down through the lower
animals. The Pythagoreans were spread all over Magna
Graecia as it was called, i.e. the Greek colonies on the south
and west coasts of Italy, beginning from the 5th cent. B.c.

deleta, i.e. the old political status has disappeared ; it was
now all subject to Kome, of course.

tum hoe tuxn illud, ut in plerisque, sed idem semper,

no verbs, which however are easily supplied. * Who did not
think (about the Immortality question) rirst one thing and
then another, as he did on most subjects, but always ex-
pressed the same view.'

Socrates' main doctrine as a philosopher was the untrustworthi-
ness of most that was called knowledge ; the need of attack-
ing, examining, questioning every thing ; and so he founded the
dialectic method, examination by question and answer, and so
far from giving dogmatic teaching, he even, to get a thorough
investigation, took different sides of the same question at
different times.

optimo . . . cuique, idiomatic use of quisque, with superla-
tives ' to all the best . . .'

14. Philus, L. Furius Philus, consul 136 B.C., one of the incapable

generals in the Numantine war : * inasmuch as he did nothing
at all,' says Mommsen (Hist. Rome iii. 6), 'he came home
without defeat.' He was a friend of Scipio.

M. Manilius, consul 149 B.c, with Censorinus, in the third

4»



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [15—17

Punic war. They had to communicate to Carthage the cruel
resolve of the Senate that the city should be destroved : a
message which roused the people to their last resistance.
Manilius also seems to have been insignificant as a general.

These two belonged to the Scipionic circle (see Introduction),
and are both speakers in Cic.'s dialogue De Ke Publica,
which was the worked-up record of the conversation here
spoken of. The sixth book contains the 'Dream of Scipio,'
in which Africanus the Elder appears to him and reveals the
Future Life.

id si ita est, ut (see 7, 0), 'if the fact is so, that, &c.' So
' illa veriora, ut . . . ' below.

eventus, 'end.'

flt idem, * it comes to the same thing : ' idem, neuter.

quem tamen, &c. The argument in this section is : either
after death he has consciousness (sensus) or not : if he has,
he is gone to the blessed life, and is happy, and so death is a
good : or he is annihilated, and death is not an evil. Still,
even in this case it is a permanent joy to his fellow-country-
men that he has lived.

15. aotum est, 11.

priua : Laelius was born prob. about 190, Scipio, 185 B.c.

vixerim, subjunctive, because virtually oblique : * I think my
life happy because I have lived. . . . ' See Scheme.

studiorum, 'interests.'

cordi mihi est : ' I have at heart, I like : ' iwdftbeingprobabry
a locative (old case signifying * at '), like ruri, domt, humi,

[The other explanation, that cordi is predicative dative, like
'est mihi gaudio,' is very improbable, since cor is not an
abstract word.]

paria : 'pairs :' the adj. is used neut. as a substantive (cf.
'par nobile fratrum,' Hor. S. 2, 3, 243).

quo in genere, * in which class,' ' under which head.'

16. istuc ita neeesse est, ' that will certainly be so ' (necesse

est ita sit). Istuc is 'your wish ' about your friendship.
agere, see 4.

17. non gravarer, the imperfect conditional, as usual, implying

that the fact excludes the supposition being realised : ' If I
had confidence (which I have not) in myself, I should not
object.' See Index for other instances.

eaque Graecorom, ' and that too of Greek philosophers : '
isque or et is being only thus used, when a further point is
given to make a description more precise. See 7, 38.

46



18, 19] NOTES



quamvis subito, lit. 'however suddenly,' 'or suddenly as
you please : ' i.e. ' on the spur of the moment.'

oenseo petatis, ' I advise you to apply : ' for the constr. see
5, and Scheme.

18. neque ad vivum reseco, ' I don't cut it down to the quick : '
a vivid proverbial phrase for ' I do not press that point too
closely, ' I don't speak with rigorous strictness.'
illi, the Stoics, who taught that the philosopher (sapiens) alone
was good. Virtue was to live according to Reason, ignoring
all passions and feelings : and this only the philosopher could
do. Cicero here says that their standard of wisdom was an
ideal and unattainable one.

sit ita sane, ' granted, certainly. ,

eam sapientiam interpretantur : eam is really used pre-

dicatively, though agreeing with sapientiam, according to the

usual idiom. ' They mean by wisdom, that which, &c*
in usu vitaque communi, 'practical, in ordinary life.' So

finguntur . . . optantur may be rendered ' imaginary . . .

ideal.'

O. Pabricius Luscinus, consul in the war with Pyrrhus (278),
and a famous republican hero, of great simplicity and incor-
ruptibility. The two most memorable tales about him are
that he rerased the most splendid bribes from Pyrrhus, and
that he sent back to Pyrrhus a traitor who had come to him,
orTering to poison his enemy.

JF. Ourius Dentatus, another hero of the same type. He
fought against the Samnites (290) and Pyrrhus, and won im-
mense booty, from which he derived no wealth himself. After
his victories he retired to his Sabine farm ; and the best story
about him is that when the Samnites sent an embassy to him
with costly presents, he refused them all, saying he would
rather rule over those who had gold than have it himself.

Ti. Coruncanius, a third man of the same period, consul 280
B.c, successful in the field against Pyrrhus and the Etruscans.
He was the first plebeian pontifex maximus, and remarkable
for his law-learning.

invidiosum et obscurum, ' offensive and unintelligible * he
calls it, because it was presumptuous to claim the name of
Wise for their school ; and yet being only an Ideal, which
no man actually attained, the name seemed inappro-
priate.

conoedant ut fuerint, ut defming a point, ' let them admit

that they were, &c, ' lit. ' grant to have been. ' See 7, 9, 14, 50.

19. pingni Minerva, a proverbial ｅxpression : Minerva being the

goddess of wisdom stands for the quality here ; and pinguis

47



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [20, 21

is opposed to ' subtle,' ' fine : r so he means ' with rude com-
mon sense,' ' with rough or homely mother wit.'

liberalitas, ' generosity ' of temper.

audacia, ' recklessness.'

sint magna constantia, abl. of quality.

putemus, jussive, ' let us think,' ' we must think : * sequantur

is subj. as being dependent on the oblique appellandos.
societas quaedam, 'fellowship,' 'a feeling of sympathy.'

maior ut quisque proxime accederet, 'stronger in pro-
portion to the closeness of the connection.' (This ut is
simply ' as,' and the subj. is due to orat. obliq.)

ex propinquitate. . . potest, ex amicitia . . . non potest.
The sharpest antitheses in Latin are given thus with no
particle : see 66.

20. quod ex inflnita, &c, ' that from the vast fellowship of all

mankind, which nature herself has connected by a bond of
sympathy, the circle has been so narrowed and contracted,
tliat all ties of love are formed between two, or only a few
persons.'

(iungreretur. imperf. y because the verb contracta est is past.)

haud scio an nihil, lit. ' I don't know whether nothing has been
given : ' and as haud scio an always expresses, in a modest
way, the speaker's opinion, it means ' perhaps nothing better
has been given, &c.'

beluarum. hoc quidem extremum, 'this last (pleasure) it
belongs to beasts (to pursue) : ' the terse Latin being able to
dispense with the verb. The reference is to the Epicureans,
seeQ2.

posita in, ' depending on : ' the regular idiomatic phrase.

temeritas, 'caprice' [tcmere means 'casually,' used of things
occurring without any assigned principle or cause : hence this
meaning of temeritas).

21. ex consuetudine vitae sermonisque, 'by the ordinary

standard of life, and the common use of language,' i.e. virtue
as the average man understands it, and not the ideal virtue of
the philosopher, which no man attains. See 18.

Paulos, &c, for the names see above and Index. The plural
is used idiomatically in speaking of the man as a specitnen of
a class : we say on the other hand, 'a Cromwell,' 'a
Milton.'

his . . . contenta est : a touch of irony directed against the
Stoics : ' ordinary folk like us are satisfied with virtue as

. 48



22—24] NOTES



shown by Paulus, Cato, &c, ypu philosophers require an
ideal standard which — is never realized.'

22.' Q.ui potest : qui is old abl. oiquis or qui (cf. quicum), ' how.'
Ennius, a Greek by birth, lived 239-169 u.c, and was the father
of Latin poetry. His great work was ' Annales,' an epic
poem on the history of Rome in hexameters. Cic. often
quotes him, and Virgil has adopted some of his ｅxpressions.
He also wrote tragedies, see 64.

vlta vitalis, ' a life that is truly life,' ' a living life.'
audeas (final, after qui). See Scheme.

opportunae . . . singrulis, ' are usually adaptecl each to only
a single aim.'

aq.ua . . . igni, ut aiunt, ' fire and water ' being proverbially
spoken of as the necessaries of life : so the formula of
banishment was ' aqua ei igni inUrdicere*

eorum qui pauoi nominantur, ' of those rare cases that are
recorded.'

23, illa sc. oommoditas.

praeluoet, rare transitive use • kindles the iight of good hope
for the future.'

- quod dimcilius diotu est, 'and, though the ｅxpression
may seem rather strong.' The comparative is often used in this
sensei {Dictu> called the supine, is really abl. of the vcrbal
substantive ; and difficile dictu is strictly ' hard in the say-

benevolentiae ooniunctionem, 'the bond of good will : ' the
argutnent of the passage is : ' the worth of friendship is
inftnite : friends ciefy absence, poverty, weakness, even
death : nay, goodwill (the lower principle, benevolentia> of
which amicitia is the highest outcome), is the very founda-
tion of all common life. If this is not clear, consider what
happens when it is removed.'

quae non . . . possit, consec. subj. with qui, common espe-
cially in such interrog. sentences, * who is tnere so . . « that he
cannot. . .' See 24, ' quis est qui non efferat?' and Scheme.

24. Agrrigrentinum . . . virum. Empedocles of Agrigentum in

Sicily, an early Greek philosopher (flourished about 444 B.c.)«
taught that the universe was all composed of the four
elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water : the various changes
that go on in nature he explained as being the combining and
parting of these elements, regulated by attraction and repul-
sion, or as he vividly called them, Love and Hate. He
wrote in Hexameter verse.

hoc quidem, the power of Love or Friendship.

e 49



LdELlUS £>E AMICITIA [25, 26

re probant, 'establish by experience.'

exatitit, 'has come to light,' 'has been recorded.'

M. Paouvii, Roman tragic poet (and painter), bom about
220 B.c, and so some 30 years older than Laelius : he.wrote
many tragedies, mostly founded on Greek, which were great
favourites with the Romans.

The scene alluded to here is from the Iphigenia in Tauris.
Orestes and his friend Pylades have been caught, and Orestes
is to be slain. Pylades, to save his friend, protests that he is
Orestes, and a generous conflict ensues, each claiming to be
the one to die.

Cicero refers again to the r passage, De Fin. v. 22, and quotes
the words thus : —

Orestes. Ego sum Orestes.

Pylades. Immo enimvero ego sum inquam Orestes.

Thoas. Ambo ergo una necamini ? Both. Precamur.

Thoas is the King of Tauri, and he is asking which is Orestes.

stantes, the whole theatre rose in its enthusiasm.

in altero, 'in the case of another,' a regular Latin use ofin,
9. Cf Aen. ii. 390, ' dolus au virtus, quis in hoste requirat ? '

si quae, from si quis.

qui . . . disputant, i.e. the philosophers, see 17.

quaeritote, calledfut. imper., being regularly used with futures
(as here si videtitur).

25. quamquam in its adverbial use as a corrective particle, 'yet.'
[This really comes quite simply from its conjunctional use, by
brevity of style : and we do exactly the same with * though.'
Thus : ' As he asked me, I went and found him. Though I
scarcely think he was glad to see me ' ue. (it was at his own
request), though, &c.]

nlum, 4 the texture/ 'the quality:* not 'the thread* in our
sense, meaning 'drifV Thus Cic. says, Argutnentandi tenue
filum, Orator 36, 124 : uberioreJUo, de Or. 2, 22, 93 : and
tenui deducta poemata fihy Hor. Ep. 2, i. 225.

tum, used as a kind of antecedent to si: 'in that case, if,'
see 51.

in hortis, see 14.

patronus iustitiae. In the third book of Cicero's Republic,
Philus is induced to maintain, for the sake of the discussion,
the thesis ' that no state can be governed without injustice.'
(Cic. Rep. iii. v. 8.)

[qui . . ceperit, consec.]
28. cum . . tum, see 4.

quod quis, the enclitic quis ' anyone,* tot aliquis,

50



&7, 28] tiOTES



iiim



an esset hoc quidem . . . sed . . . alia causa< Ih

English we should put the quidem-c\a.\isQ into the form of a
subordinate sentence, thus : ' or whether, while this was a
property of friendship, the origin of it was different, and
more ancient,' &c. Observe that the sequence here is incor-
rect, though most natural : solet leads to desiderata sit (perf.),
as is right : the dependent clauses to that are historic, posset,
acciperet, &c, as is right : but these insensibly lead him to
put esset instead of fuerit when he comes to the second
alternative.

prinoeps est ad, 'is the main agent in.'

naxn utilitates quidexn, &c. The argument is : It cannot
be the desire of advantage which originated friendship : for
advantage is received from those who are regarded with pro-
fessed and not real friendship : but in friendship there cannot
be anything forced or false. [ab eis percipiuntur be careful to
construe 'is received from those.']

27. applicatio, 'attachment.'

ad quoddam texnpus, i.e. till they are able to manage for
themselves.

soelere, like the treason of the sons of Brutus, which made
their father execute them : or the crime of Clytaemnestra,
which made her son slay her.

exstitit, 'hasarisen.'

si aliquem, ' if we have found seme one ' [si auem, ' if . . .
anyone '].

congruaxnus, 'we agree,' or, as we should say more precisely,
'ours agree,' i*e» our character and disposition. The subj. is
consec. Videamur is virtual oblique: 'we love him . .
because we seem to see in him (as we think) a light,' &c. It
would have been sufficient, however, for this to have had
either perspiciamus or perspicere videmur ; but this irregidarity
is very natural, and occurs several times. Compare :

' compleverunt, quod se bellum gesturos dicerent? Caes.
B. G. vii. 75.

' rediit, quod se oblitum nescio quid diceret? Cic. Off. i. 13.

•'accusant, quod negent te respondere.' Cic. Fam. vii. 6.

The verb of saying or thinking being subj. instead of the
thing said. .SteRoby, Lat. Gram., § 1746.

28. Fabrioii, Ourii, see 18.
usurpet, 'cherish.'

viderit, concessive subjunctive with auos. 'Though he has
never seen them.' See 7, and Scheme.

51



lAELiUS DE AMICifiA [2d, 30

! '

I

Tarquinius, Lucius, the famous tyrant, who murdered his

wife and his father, and was an accomplice in the murder of

his brother.
Sp. Cassius, consul 486 B.c, and proposed an agrarian law, but

when he resigned his office was condemned of aiming at

sovereignty, and put to death (Liv. ii. 41).

Sp. Maelius, a wealthy plebeian, during a severe dcarth (315
B. c. ) sold corn cheap to the poor. This annoyed the authorities,
who had to look after the corn-market, and they raised the
cry again of 'aspiring to sovereignty.' A dictator was
appointed, and his master of the horse, Ahala, slew Maelius
with his own hand. Cicero speaks of him with horror, as a
conspirator : but he was probably a benevolent patriot, the
victim of aristocratic hatreo^.

non nimis alienos animos, * no very great aversion.' The
' virtue ' he speaks of was Pyrrhus' general conciliatoriness, his
kind treatment of prisoners, and especially his restoration of
captives without ransom, in return for Fabricius' honorable
dealing, see 18.

crudelitatem, the Romans were always unjust towards Han-
nibal. Livy himself relates instances of Hannibal's gentle
behaviour : e.g, when after Trasimene he let go all the Latin
prisoners (xxii. 7), or when Gracchus' head was restored by
nim to the Romans in 212 (xxv. 17). Similarly they talked
of his per/ufy, though the only perfidy was on their side.

29» cum videantur, subj. because dependent on and assimilated
to moveantur. See Scheme and Index.

usu coniuncti, 'associated in intimacyi' Utor is often used of
enjoying the society of a person.

auamojiam, see 25.

studium is 'kind feelingj' consuetudo % ' intercourse,' motus^
'impulse»'

asseguatur, final subj. aftel* qui % desideret dependent oh it, the
iiotioti of purpose being cdntinued on intt> the relative ciause*

lit ita dicam is added because generosum is properly * high-
bofh)' and is used here ndt in its secondary sense of ' morally
iloble,' but with a distiriCt feeling bf the metaphor^ ahd so
requiririg the apoiojjetic ' sb to speak.' The metaphot t>f the
birth of friendship is kept up throughbut the passage»

ut, *as, J *lri pfbpoftidh as»*

arbitraretur, siibj. because it is part of the conditional
senterice : see Scheme.

minimum in se esse, 'that he ismost deficient.'

30. suaque omnia, &c, see 7.

52



31—84] NOTES



■MM



ne ego qnidem, ' no more am I,' a regular use.

causae diligrendi profectae, 'the attachment originated.'

31 1 neque enim benenoium feneramur, 'for we do not treat
kindness as an investment, , demanding a return with interest:
the forcible metaphor is 1^1 up to by exigamus, 'exact.'

32. ab bis, ' from this doctrine,' neut.

qui pecudum ritu, &c. Another contemptuous reference to
the Epicureans. Epicurus (342 — 272 B.c), a Greek philo-
sopher, taught for the last 35 years of his life in his famous
garden at Athens. His doctrine was that the end of life is
happiness, and this he identified with pleasure. He did not
exclude the highest forms of pleasure, on the contrary, he
inculcated them, and especially both preached and practised
temperance, with a view to true pleasure : but other schools,
with a good deal of misrepresentation, denounced his doctrine
as bestial. So Cic. savs here pecudum ritu 9 and above (20)
Muarum hoc est: and the garden was called *a sty : ' as
Horace playfully says of himself (Ep. i. 4, 16), Epicuri de
grege porcum,

suspicere, in its literal sense, 'lookupto.'

abiecerunt, 'have degraded.'

ad bene xnerendum quam. ad reposcendum, ' to confer

kindnesses rather than to demand return.'
gravior, 'deeper, more worthy.'
nam si utilitas, &c. The argument is : True friendship,

depending on nature which is constant, is constant too : if it

depended on interest which is shifting, it would disappear

with the change of interest.

ad haec vultis, /.*., ' to reply :' the verb readily supplied.

33. quamquam, corrective as before, see 25 : ' yet.' The sense is,

' We talked over friendship : yet he thought rather differently

from me.'
ut non idem expediret . . . sentiretur, these «/-clauses

dependon inddere : 'it often occurred that either their interests

clashed, or their opinions on public matters dirTered.'
togra praetexta, the boy's toga : see 1.

34. eontentione, &c, ' rivalry for.' The phrase ' uxoria

condicio ' shows that Cic. is thinking of the rivalry rather in
the light of conflicting ambition than love : it is ' an alliance,'
' a connexion. ' So commodi is ' advantage. '
quod idem, both neut.

labefactari, the subject of this, like dirimi, is amicitiam or
amores. The construction would be a little awkward, if the
sense was not so clear.

63



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [35-37

honoris, in the technical Latin sense of * public office.'
optimis quibusque, see 18. The unusual plural is required
here, for in each case there are two friends.

eat quo . . . exstitisse : this construction can only occur in
the relative sentence, when the relative is a mere connexion
z=.et ex eo t and the sentence can be therefore treated as a prin-
cipal clause.

35i plerumque iusta, ( in most cases justified,' manifestly on the
part of the man who refuses to render the wrong service.
quidvis . . . postulare, notice the meaning of quidvis [esp.
as compared with cUiquid above] : * to make any demand : '
i.e. to stick at nothing.

Haec— videri. 'These, he said, were the fatalities, so to
speak [quasi apologizing for the metaphorical fata, see 29],
which threatened friendship, so numerous, that he said he
thought it best to avoid them all, in the interest not merely
of wisdom, but even of happiness.' The diceret videri is a
(natural but unnecessary) expansion of videretur, illustrating
in a milder way the construction above, see W7.

36, numne, rare (but good Latin), for num.

Coriolanus, the famous Cn. Marcius, surnamed Coriolanus from
Corioli the Volscian town which he conquered : and who
afterwards, indignant against his ungrateful country from
which he had been expelled, led a Volscian army against it,
and was only dissuaded from his purpose by his wife and
mother.

The story is well known to English readers from Shakespeare's
Coriolanus.

Vecellinus, surname of Sp. Cassius, see 28.

Maelius, see2S.

37. Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, tribune of the plebs, 133

B.c, feeling deeply the agrarian distress, owing to the growth
of large estates and slave-culture, while the small farmer-
class were dying out, proposed land-laws to remedy this ; but
was violently opposed by the aristocracy, and though his law
was carried, a not was raised at the summer elections (133),
and he was killed. Cicero, when he says rem publicam vex-
antem, is speaking as a member of the senatorial or aristo-
cratic party, to whom the popular leaders were odious.

Q. Aelius Tubero, a Stoic and a man of talent, nephew of
Africanus the younger, but a bitter opponent of Tiberius
Gracchus, and ten years later (when he was praetor) also of
his younger brother C. Gracchus. See Introd. Scipionic circle.

C. Blossius, of Cumae (in Campania), a philosopher, a friend
of Ti. Gracchus, who after Gracchus' death (iti B.c.) was

51



38, 89] NOTES

forced to flee, and took refoge with Aristonicus, king of
Pergamns, in Asia ; and ultimately committed suicide, when
Aristonicns was conqueied by the Romans.
P. Popilius Taenas, a stern and proud man, adherent of the
aristocratical party, consul for 132 B.C., was president of a
gpecial commission for prosecuting the followers of Gracchus
(Mommsen, Hist. Rome, voL iii. 95).

P. Rupiliua Lupus, the other consul of the same year 152, also
took a vehement part in the prosecution of the Gracchans.
He was a friend of the younger Scipio : but in 123, in the
tribunate of C Gracchns, was condemned for his illegal and
cruel acts nine years before.

aderam in consilio, ' I was an adviser of : ' he was a member
of. the investigation committee ; acting, of course, against
the Graccban party.

causam ut, because it is not a reason for a fact iguod), but a
ground for a request,

Observe the antitheses paruit . . praefmt, .... comitem . .

ducem : * did not obey, but command, . . was not a follower,

but a leader.'
illiufl faroris, ' his extravagances : ' illms depends aafuroris.

nam eum, &c, 'for since the friendship was cemented by the
belief in your virtue, it is difficult for the friendship to subsist
if you raU away from virtue.'
38* statuerimus, with st, see 16.

perfecta sapientia, abl. quality ( if we were perfectly wise,'
i.e. if we had the ideal wisdom of which the Stoics talk, see
above, 18 ; there is here the same antithesis between ideal
wisdom, and that practkally attainablc.

hoc numero, 'their number.'

et eorum quidem, regular use of et . . guidem, ' and of those
two especially, &c.' See 7.

39* M. Aemilius Papus is not known except from the magis-
trates' lists ; he was consul with Fabrictus, as C. here says,
twice, in 282 and 278, and censor with him 275 b.c.

Luscinus : for C. Fabricius Luscinus, see 18 ; where also an
account of Curius and Coruncanius is given.

contendisse, 'solicit,' 'entreat:' properly 'tostrain, strive. '

in talibus viris, ' in the case of,' see 9.

impetraturum faisse, is or. obliq. for impetravisset.

cum . . . faerint, causal.

rogratum, masculine, agreeing with subject of facere: see
faciamus rogati three lines further down.

65 •



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [40, 41

O. Papirius Carbo, an energetic and able adherent of Ti.
Gracchus, who, after his death, was one of the distributors of
the lands under his agrarian law. He was tribune of the plebs
in 131 B.C., but shortly after changed sides, and after ener-
getically opposing C. Gracchus, was attacked by the demo-
crats, and, being deserted by his new friehds, committed
suicide.

C. Cato, grandson of Cato the Censor (see Introd. Scipionic
circle), consul 114 8.C. : little else is known of him.

minime tiim quidem. C. Gracchus was doubtless a sym-
pathiser all along in his brother's proiects, but did not lake
a prominent part in politics till after his brother's death. He
was, however, then appointed a member of the commission
to carry out Tiberius' agrarian law, and so Laelius says,
' nunc quidem acerrimus, speaking, it must be remembered,
in 129. [It is not therefore necessary to suppose, with
Madvig, that Cic. means minime aeer, and not minime seqtte-
batur: which would anyhow be a harsh construction.]

idexn, idiomatic Latin use, when contrasting two points in the
same person : we should say ' now on the contrary.'

40. spatio curriouloque, 'the course and track/ metaphor from

racing.

41. reg-num oooupare conatus, 'tried to make himself king,'

the regular aristocratic accusation against popular leaders.
It was probably true, that any efhcient refbrm could only be
carried against the senate by one man making himself practi-
cally despot through the popular support : and Mommsen^s
view is that Ti. Gracchus tried the reform without seeing
where he was going, but that C. Gracchus did aim at such a
practical despotism, taking the form of a permanent tribune-
ship through constant re-election by the people.

amici et propinqui, see 12. Here he distinctly charges the
democrats with the assassination of Scipio.

Others refer this to P. Scipio Nasica Serapio [see Pedigree of
Scipios], consul 138, who, in 133 B.c, led the senate to the
attack against Tiberius Gracchus (his cousin) and the mob ;
in which attack and t)ie consequent confusion Tiberius was
killed. Nasica became so odious for this that he was
despatched to Asia, nominally on a mission, really to get him
out of the way.

But it is highly improbable that Laelius would refer to him
without further distinction : and Laelius, as a moderate,
would scarcely be so devoted to the violent Nasica ; and in
any case his fate was not such that ' it would not be men-
tioned without tears.'

in Scipione, see 9,



42—44] NOTES



Carbonem . . . sustinuimus. *We have endured,' i.e.
not actively resisted, but only stoodfinn under his attempts :
not wishing any more victims.

non libet, he says, out bf delicacy : see 12.

' serpit, 'advances.'

res is a mild word for ' the mischief/ i.e. the democratic
movement, which of course seems to Laelius a 'down-hill
course * (proclivis labitur).

in tabella, ' in the matter of the voting tablet.' The use of
the tablet, or batiot, as we should say, had been recently
adopted to secure secrecy, by the following laws : —

(i) Gabinia, 139B.C, proposed by tribune Q. Gabinius, for
elections of magistrates.

(2) Cassia, 137, by tribune L. Cassius Longinus, for the
popular tribunals.

(?) -Pqpiru*, 13 h by tribune C. Papirius Carbo (see 39), for
voting on legislative proposals. This Laelius does not
mention.

nant . . . not 'how . . . are done* (indirect question), but

' how . . . are to be done ' (indirect deliberative).
42* quorsum haeo, * what is the drift (quorsum = quo-versum) of

all this ? ' He sees that political feeling has led him into a

slight digression.
Observe the convenient ut ne for ne. Observe also that it is

ut ne in the final clause (obliq. petit.) ; ut non in the con-

secutive clause.

Themiatocles, the famous Athenian, commanded the Athe-
nian fleet at Salamis, 480 B.c. (imperator) : becoming vain,
ostentatious, and corrupt after his victory, he was expelled
by ostracism, 471. A few years after he fled (fecit idetn quod
Coriolanus) to Persia, and made friends with Artaxerxes the
Great King.

zx annis. Coriolanus (see 86) fled to Volscians, 491 b.c.

uterque conscivit. Themistocles was rumoured to have
poisoned himslf, but Thuc. (i. 138) denies this, and says he
died of disease. Coriolanus' death was also variously reported.

43. haud scio an, see 20. ' According to ' the turn things are

taking, perhaps it may some day come to pass.

This prophecy Cicero puts into Laelius' mouth (although he
says abbve, 41, ' non libet augurari '), thinking of the years
of civil wars which followed the Gracchi.

44. non modo aperte sed etiam acriter, 'not only plainly,

but cven sharply.'

eaque et adnibeatur . , . et pareatur; the nom. is

57



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [46, 46



changed, shice fareatur requires dat. : a slight but very
natural irregulanty.
45. nain quibusdam, &c. Cicero in this passage is partly, no
doubt, attacking the Epicurean selfishness, which was carried
into their notions of friendsliip, prompting them to avoid
anything excessive or painful : but chieny he is thinking of a
passage of Euripides, in the Hippolytus, 1. 253, where
Phaedra's nurseVsays :•—

* Mortals should be mode- XW 9 7*P firrpias cls aW^Xouf

rate in friendship, tptXias Bvrrtobs avaKipvaaOai

' Not love to the inmost soul : koI /a^ xpb s facpov pw\bv tyvxv*»

* The bonds of heart should

be loosely tied, f tikura 8' tlvai ovtpyrjdpa (pptvafv

' So that we can unloose and fe ^ &<rcur0M Ka} ^^

tighten.
' That one soul should tra- rb J' vwcp ZuxoSv fdav wMvtiv

vail for two
' Is grievous, as I suifer for tyodiv, x a ^** ov P*P 05 > & s K&yw

her. •TJjfo° vrtpaXyv.

' Therefore excess I esteem , ovrta rb \iav ^atrov ivaivw

less than moderation, rov pifihv &yav.

' And all the wise will assent ical ^vfxtp^ffova-i erwpoi fiou

to me.'
nihil est quod illi non persequantur argutiis (subj.
consec. after gui), ' There is nothing they do not split hairs
about.'

sibi cuique, idiomatic phrase, 'to each for himsehV

quas vel adducas, flnal subj., 'that you may tighten them.'

eaput esse seeuritatem, ' the chief thing is freedom from
trouble.'

tamquam, 'so to speak,' making more smooth the strong
metaphor in parturiat, which renders the Greek wtivciy (in
the passage above), ' to travail.'

46* alios, the Cyrenaics, called so from Aristippus of Cyrene. He
taught that the good was identical with pleasure, but that
pleasure must be moderately pursued in order to be enjoyed.
dioere multo inhuxnanius, 'express a much morc cynical
view.'

paulo ante, see 26-32 ; locum, as often ' a point.'

ut quisque . . . haberet. Observe here the mood and the
tense. The meaning is: 'In proportion as each has least
. . . so he is most anxious, &c.' The subj. therefore is due
to orat. obliq., not to ut t which in the sense of as takes indic.

As to the tense, strictly after aiunt it should have been primary,
habeat ; but as he is speaking of the doctrine of a school

58



47, 48] NOTES

(namely, the Cyrenaics), to which the past is as applicable as
the present, the irregularity is quite natural. Notice also
that he returns below (guaerant . . . putentur) to the strict
sequence.
mulierculae, the diminutive gives a touch of pity or contempt
to the word ; it suggests the helplessness of women.

47. O praeclaram, ironical, of course, ' a fine philosophy in

truth ! '
ista, as though he were addressing the Epicureans straight
reapse, as though re-eapse (old declension of ipse), ( in the

thing itself,' ' m reality.'

locis, * points of view.'

consentaneum, lit. 'suitable, agrecable to,' i.e. toreason : and
so ' reasonable.' Thus Cicero, de OfF. i. 20, 68, ' non est
consentaneum, qui metu non frangatur, eum frangi cupiditate.'

quae necesse est, &c. The argument is : * You may aim at
escaping trouble, but virtue involves and entails some trouble ;
for example, the indignation and hatred which virtue has for
vice is incompatible with perfect securitas or tranquillity.'

asperoetur after neeesse est f oblique petition, see Scheme.

flagitiosis modestos, 'respectable people towards violent

excesses.'
proprium, as we say, * a property.'

48. qui profeoto oadit, ' which certainly does occur to him.'

tollamus, dubitative or deliberative, ' why we are to,' see 41.

ne aliQuas, a little more stress on the word than in the
common nequas ' to escape w^trouble/ 'some little trouble* :
cf. sialiquem, 27.

motu animi, * emotion.'

isti, the Stoics, see 18.

quandam, like auasi 9 qualiiies the word ferream, ' a kind of
iron thing so to speak.' Duratn means ' rigid.'

difrundatur ' expands ' : the nominative is virtus, but he is
thinking here of the Aeart, not of the mere quality. The
metaphor of the heatf expanding and shrinking under joy
and grief is quite intelligible.

quasi, see 35.

non plus quam ut, the meaning is plain : . . . ' any more
than virtue is rejected because it involves trouble ' : but the
construction is a little illogical, ut . . repudientur being
grammatically dependent on tantum valet. If he had put it
strictly, it would have been, 'non plus quam fit ut virtutes,'
&c. ; or ' non plus quam nonnullae curae, quas afferunt, valent

59



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [49-51

ut virtutes repudientur. , But C. is quite clear : the trouble
in either case does not cause the good thing to be neglected.

contrahat . • . si, ' it is a bond of friendship, if . . ' See
28, sqq.

49. animante, ' a living being,'

ut ita dioam, apology for coining the word redamare.
viciSBitudine studiorum, 'interchange of attentions.'

50. nihil esae . . . similitudo. Again there is obviously a little

looseness in the statement ; though again the meaning is
quite clear, ( There is no attraction so strong as resemblance
in friendship.'

verum esse ut, usualiy after verum est the acc. inf. would be
used ; but the ut construction is used here (somewhat as it is
in 7, 14, 18) as defining a pcint: ' the tnfth of this point will
be admitted, that,' &c. .

similium, gen. after appetens: forparticiples used as adjectives
regularly take gen. {servantissiftius aequi).

constet, jussive, 'let it be established.'

benevolentiam, qui est fons : relative attracted, as often, to

predicate.
pertinet, 'extends.'

inhumana, 'narrow,* 'selnsh* : immunis, lit. 'not taking its
share in the common burdens/ 'contributing nothing°; a
very expressive word, [Others read, with less authority,
immanis, 'cruel.' Compare communis, 65, in opp. sense.]

quae . . . soleat, causal, see 4.

eis optime consulere, ' heartily devoled to their welfare.'

caritate volgi, 'affection for people in general.'

51. flngrunt amicitias, ' imagine friendship (to be made) . . '
tumque goes with si : ' it is only in that case pleasant if . . . '

see 25.

tantum abest followed as usual by two *//-clauses : the first
the defining ut, the second consecutive : so that the first
clause is practically the subject to abest, lit. ' So far removed
is the making offriendskip on account of personal needs that,
&c.' : i.e. 'it is so far from being true that friends are
cherished on account of personal needs, that,' &c.

opibus et copiis, abl. of cause ' from their wealth and resources.'
quod ab amico est profectum, lit. 'that which has come

from a friend, , i.e. ' the advantage derived from a friend. ,
Atque haud sciam, &c., 'and perhaps it is not even
desirable that there should be nothing at all wanting to
friends, , i.e. perhaps it is even a good thing that there should

60



fc2— 86] tfO?£S

be some deficiency, for then it brings out the devotion of
friends. The Epicureans and Cyrenaics say, Friendship is
based on need, a man cultivating you because you can be
useful to him. No, says Cicero : the most devoted and
beneficent friends are those who need you least. Nay, I will
go further : it is good that a friend should need you, but good
for you and not for him : it brings out your devotion.

domi . . militiae, old Jocatives, a case which disappeared and
only survives in a few words [ruri, humi, cordi, &a) see 15,

52. delioiis diffluentes, lit. 'dissolving with delights,' a very
expressive phrase both from the metaphor and the sound :
' in the lap of luxury.'

ratio and usus correspond to our ' theory' and 'practice.'

habent cogrritam, a kind of elaborate perfect, describing not
only the acquisition, but the possession, of the truth. [So in
Greek /jlo0w)> *x f * ' and compare English perfect.]

proh deorum, &c, this solemn adjuration used (as we might
use ' in the name of gods and men ') to indicate the strength
of his feeling on the subject.

ut neque diligat, lit. ' so that he should neither love,' ue>
'on the condition of neither loving/ &c. [a natural extension
of the consecutive ut. Compare Greek &o , rc, and English use
of so : ' I care not, so he gets the prize.']

nimirum goes best with what precedes : ' This is in good truth

what the life of tyrants is,' nimirum affirming wnat might

be rather startling.

63» quis diligrat, ' who woltld love,' potential \ quem metuat is

dependent onit, part ofthe supposition, see arbitraretur^ 20»

dumtaxat, restrictive, ( at any rate/ qualifying ' ad tempus»'

q.uod . . dixisse t dixisse has an acc» inf» sentence after it,
Which is pradtlcally the expansion or explanation of this quodx
In Englisn it will be neater to say, ' As they say T» said» that
he then discovered, &et'

[Tarquinium, the Prdud Tarcjuin, whose drueltyand despotistti
caused the expulsion of the kmg« : a proverb of pride, see 28.]

54t quamquam, adverbialj ste 25»

illa superbia, 'with that atrdgailce,' as we say : the ablative

of circumstatlces, whieh actount for ihe Wondet.
efleruntur, ' are carried aWay.'

. [sperni . . novis], not found in one MS., and perhaps not

genuine : it reads rather as if inserted, without much regard

to smoothness, to bring back Cicero to the point of friendship.

55. parare . . non parare, antithesis with no particle (we should

say ' but *) : see 10.

Gl



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [56—61

._ . ^__^__ ___ .

istorum, i.e., ' those I have mentioned to you,' as frequently.
amicitiaram, with possessio.

quod etiamsi (like quod si) ' but even if.' The MSS. read
' ut etiam si,' which does not seem to make sense. Another
conjecture, quinetiam, wouldalso make sense,and maybe right.
56. diligrendi, gen.
ferri, 'propounded.'

unam, ut, &c. These being rules, the «/-clause is natural
and necessary.
57« non satis honeste, &c, ' which it is not very respectable to
do in our own affairs ; * satis used to express the negative more
mildly.

68i definit paribus omoiis, lit. ' bounds friendship with? i.e.
' restricts friendship to equality of attentions and good will.'
exigrue et exiliter, the alliteration helps the contemptuous
effect : ' in too narrow and niggardly a spirit.'

ad calculos vocare, *to summon to a reckoning,' *to take
stock of:' calculus being originally 'a pebble,' used for
counting. The phrase is proverbial in character.

ratio, ' account,' keeps up the commercial metaphor.

excidat, 'fall out,' defluat, 'bespilt;' congreratur, 'heaped
up ; ' the metaphor is from measures y something sold by the
quart : it is this retail-dealer spirit he is denouncing.

59. finis/ ' limitation. ,

faciat, subj. dependent onfiat. How optional these assimilaled
subjunctives are, we have an instance here, comparing this
with the corresponding clause in 56, which ha&facit for
faciat* See Scheme.
iacentem animum, as we say, ' low spirits.'
quem ad modum putaretur, 'as was supposed ' (subj. because
it is oblique) : for it was variously reported. See cuiuscumque }
6o. For unus e septem, see7.

Quin etiam, &c The argument is : if you love your friend
with such caution and reser,ve, as would come from looking
forward to a future quarrel, then you would be glad of his
faults, and regret his good qualities and deeds : for you
would be always thinking of what would be useful against
him when the friendship is over.

60. valet, 'its influence is, 'tends to.'

possemus, subordinate and assimilated to inciperemus.

61. cum emendati sint : cum, 'when,' does not take subj. in

primary tenses : this subj. therefore is due to its being sub-
ordinate to sit,

62



62, 63] MOTES

ut etiam, consec. *so that even.'

si <fua fortuna acoiderit ut . . . sint, ( if any chance occurs
that . . . have to be supported ' . . . The consec. sentence
ut . . . sint develops and explains the chance, just as accidit
impers. has an wtf-clause after it.

in quibus agratur, dependent (and assimilated) subj. after
acciderit : it is part of the supposition.

agutur caput, ( their personal safety is at stake :' caput either
referring to the life (as in capitis damnatus) or to thz _position>
civil rights, &c. (as in capitis minor). For agatur compare
* tua res agitur,' the common phrase.

modo ne, see Scheme.

est quatenus . . . possit, ( can be to a certain extent,' just
2A est qui possit means, ( there is some one who can.' The
subj. is consec.

The argument is : When the character of friends is good, then
thef e should be complete companionship in act, thought, and
will : extending even to slight deviations from right conduct,
if it is not too far : since some concessions may be made to
friendship.

virtus quam sequitur earitas, &c. The argument is :
Popularity too should not be neglected : only it must not be
sought by flattery and timeserving : if it follows on virtuous
conduct it is legitimate.

We might perhaps have expected caritas t quae sequitur
virtutem . . . But the fact is, he wishes to jput it more
pointedly : if you reject the popularity which is the legiti-
mate fruit of virtue, lt is practically repudiating the virtue.

62. quod . . . essent, virtually oblique : the substance cf his

contplainU

63. est igitur, &c, a sentence requiring a little care : ( it is

therefore prudent to keep a tight hand on the impetuous
impulse of our affection, as on a team of horses, that we may
test to some extent the character of our friends, and then
enjoy the benefit of our friendship, as of horses that have
been tried.'

corrtLm* for cursum t the old reading, is a great improvement.

quo = ut eo, ( that so,' final.

utamur, being the regular Latin word for ( intercourse ' with
friends, make the phrase smoother in the Latin and more
natural.

Notice the clearness and terseness of the Latin, from putting
the «Aclause first, then the sic.

in parva pecunia ; for in 9 see 9.

63



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [64—67

ut . . . cum . . . sint, . . . malint, consecutive, with the

dependent clause assimilated.
obscuratum iri, *it (the neglect of friendship for interest)

will be put out of sight,' and so forgiven or excused.
64. ubi invenias, dubitative, * where are you to find,' * where can

you find ? *
quid P often used in transitions, where we should say ' further '

or ' again.'
descendant [consec. subj. with qui\> often used of disagreeable

or discreditable things : ' to submit to,' ' to face.'
Bnnius, see 22. Notice the (old-fashioned) alliteration in the

line.
haec duo, ( these two cases.'
qui . . . praestiterit, fut. perf. just as it is frequently used

with si quis, ' anyone who shows . . .'
66* oommunem et oonsentientem, ' unselfish and sympathetic. ,

pertinent ad, ' are connected with : ' pertineo used in a wide
and vague sense.

multiplex et tortuosum, &c, 'thesubtle, scheming mind.'

eodem, adv.

ut ne : he uses ihzjtttal particles after addendum est, because
it is a rule orprinciple he is laying down : * that he tnust not
take detight.'

iamdudum, with the present, according to the regular Latin
usage ; we should say, * I Jtave been dealing with.

haeo duo . . . ne quid . . . sit . . . non . • repellere. Observe
the two constructions both possible : these two principles . . .
firat, that tkere should be nothing [final, oblique petition after
notion of a rule\ . . . secondly, not only to repudiate [put
simply as a conception, ( the not repudiating,' and so acc.
with inf.]

fironte oocultare sententiam, l to hide your feelings behind
your face,' a very exDressive phrase ; perhaps we may render
' to conceal your dishke with a mask of cordiality.'

ne . , . quidem, not here = ' not even,' but ' not . . . either,' the
negative of ' also.' ' Not merely to repel charges, but not him-
self either to be suspicious,' ' but also to reject suspicions
himself.' Compare ' ne ego quidem/ 80.

aliquid violatum, ' some wrong has been done.'

66. illa quidem, pronoun (grammatically superfluous) added to

bear the quidem, ' Sternness and strictness have, for their part,
it is true, a certain impressiveness.'

67. 'multos modios, Ao.' a very good proverb, 'youmust eat

64



68-71] NOTES



many bushels of salt together [be intimatc for a long time]

that the ftmction of friendship may be complete.'
68, ut . . . fructus appareat, consec. ( so that . . . fruit is forth-

coming.'
illae quidem, exactly as above, see 66.
Observe in this section the slightly strained meanings of the

abstracts navitates ('new acquaintances '), vetustas ('old

friendship ').

montuosis etiam et silvestribus : a striking example of
the absence of the love of scenery, at least of the giander
kind, which is so marked in the ancients.

69i excellentiae, seems to mean ' cases of individual superiority, ,
where a man is distinctly the king of his own circle.

Philo, see 14 ; Rupilio, see 37.

Sp. Mummio, one of the chief of the Scipionic circle, brothor
of L. Mummius, who conqucred Greece 146 b.c, a Stoic, an
orator, and a man of high character. He is one of thc
speakers in the dialogue De Republica, spoken of above.
See Introduction, Scipionic circle.

Q. Maximum, Scipio's elder brother, who had been adopted
by Q. Fabius Maximus (and was now, therefore, called Q.
Fabius Maximus Aemilianus), just as he had been by Scipio.
He was consul 145 B.c, and carried on the war in Spain un-
successfully against the patriot Viriathus. Sec Pedigree of
the Scipios.

omnino, * most certainly 1 ' introducing the antithesis sibi
nequaquam parem.

esse ampliores, ( to be more distingiiished,' ( tobe raised.'
70t ut . . . impertiant, explaining, expanding, the ( quod : ' see 0.

The second ?/l-clause, ut . . . augeant, is ordinary consecutive,

* so that.'
stirpis et ereneris, ' family and rank.'

quos duxerint, causal, ' as they have considered them their
fathers for many years.' Perhaps the correction duxerunt
would be an improvement : but the subj. is quite good sense.

He is 'thinking of stories like those of Cyrus the elder, and
Romulus and Remus, who were brought up by shepherds.
71 • coniunctionis, ' connexion ' generally : though chiefly, no
doubt, he is thinking of relationship.

si nabere . . . dicere, * if they think they have some friendly
service they can point to, rendered at the cost of some effort
on their part.'

officia exprobrantium, ' who claim credit forservice.'

F M



LAEUUS DE AMICITIA [72-75

72. sic quodam modo inferiores extollere, 'so m a certain

sense ought they (the superiors) to raise the inferior.' The
order would be a little more accurate if ut came before
summittere: but the sense is unmistakeable.

opere, 'actions.'

73. possis, diligas, adiuves, really belong to the consec. class of

subjunctives. They are generic. 'Such a quantity as you
can.' ' The person you are fond of.' See Scheme.

neque tu possis. There is no second nec to answer to this.
He was going to say, ' Nor can your friend be equal to all
honours ; ' but instead, he puts the same sense otherwise.

quamvis lioet excellas, a fuller form of ' quamvis excellas : '
both originally jussives : 'Let you excel as much as you
please,' and so coming to be equivalent to a concesswe
sentence : ' though you excel cver so much.' Compare the
use of modo, 61.

Bupilium, see 87. We see from this how great Scipio's
influence was : Cic. even speaks of his ' obtaining the con-
sulship ' for Rupilius.

non potnit : Pliny tells us, that when his brother heard of this
failure, he fell down dead.

74. oorroboratis iam oonnrmatisqne, ' when they have come

to their full strength and maturity : ' t.e. not till then.

isto, ' that I have mentioned to you : ' we should say here
simply ' this.'

paedagrogi [Greek word, ircui-ayafyoi, ' boy-leaders '], trusty
slaves, who looked after the boy on his way to and from
school or the gymnasium.

▼etustatis, see 68.

sed alio qnodam modo, i.e t 'non sunt neglegendi.' 'You
. must remember them,' says Cicero, 'but in a difTerent way '
from the friends of your own rank.

aliter, /.*. if you don't observe my caution about waiting till
you are fully mature before settling fmally who are to be
your friends.

dispares . . . seqnnntnr. It is probably best to take mores
nom. ' Dissimilar characters are attracted to dissimilar
pursuits.' The argument is : as you grow older, the characters
cliverge ; this entails a divergencc of interests, and so an end
of friendship.

75. Neoptolemus, son of Achilles and Deidamia, brought up at

thc court of his mothcr's father Lycomedes, king of Scyros :

hence hc was fetched by Ulysses to Troy, because it had

lieen prophcsied that Troy could not bc taken without him.

Lycomedes was reluctant to lct him po.
oc



76—79] NOTES



impedientem, ' trying to prevent.'

ferat is virtually oblique, 'because (as he says) he cannot,' the
reason as felt or alleged*
76. est etiam — necessaria. * There is also one kind of misfor-
tune, occasionally inevitable, consisting in breaking ofF a
friendship.'

quorum tamen redundet infamia, consec. ' yet so that the
disgrace of them reaches to their friends : ' explaining tum
in a/ienos, which otherwise might seem not to concern the
friends of the offender.

eluendae, 'dissolved,' and dissuendae 'unravelled,' describe,
by two different metaphors, the gradual quiet process which
he recommends.

neo fieri possit, 'possible.'
/ 1. in rei publieae partibus, ' on a political party-question.'

vixeris, generic : * a man with whom.'

Q, Pompeius Nepos, the first of the family who rose to high
office, an incapable and unprincipled man, who having (when
consul 141 B.c.) made peace with Numantines in Spain, dis-
owned his promise (Mommsen, J/ist. Rome, iii. 14). The story
here alluded to was that he had promised to support Laelius in
his candidature for 141, but when the time came, competed
himself and was elected.

meonomine, 'on my account,' a commpn idiom, possibly the
same metaphor as the English : for nomen was the debtor's
name in the creditor's book, and so came to be used for a
person's account, or debU

It may, however, be simply ' in my name/ alleging me as the
ground.

Metello ; Q. Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, who conducted
successfully the last Macedonian war against the pretender
Andriscus (148), and triumphed 146 B.C., was afterwards an
augur, and colleague in that office with Laelius and Scipio.
grraviter, auctoritate . . . acerba, ' with dignity, without
any offensive parade of hi£ personal influence or displeasure.'
Rather a strange use of auctoritate, and the reading is not
quite certain, but the sense is tolerably clear.
78. exstinctae . . oppressae, ' rather to have expired than been
destroyed,' a ?tatural rather than violent death.

ut . . . in culpa sit, «/-clause defining hic honos t as so often :

' that the blame be considered his who, &c.'
omnino. 'generally speaking.'
una cautio, ' one means of avoiding.'

79» cur dilig-antur, deliberative, ' why they should be loved,' i.e,
ground for loving.

07



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [80-86

80. P er se et propter se, * by itself and for itself.'

neo ipsi sibi exemplo sunt, i.e. ' thcy do not learn from
themselves (as they might — scc next sentence) how precious
and strong such a friendship is. '

A very strange notion : a man loves himself disinterestedly,
because he expects no good from himself : such disinterested-
ness he ought to extend to his friends. A curious confusion
of thought, which comes from arguing on the verbal distinc-
tion of me from myself. one would think it was playful,
if it were not that Cic. is not given to such playfulness.

alter idem, ' a second self.'

81. ad quas se applioent (final subj.), 'to associate with.'

quanto id, &c, ' how much more is that naturally the case with
man.'

82. par est, 'it is fair,' ' reasonable :' compare the use of aequus

and iniquns.

colent inter se ao diligrent : intcr se is used after verbs for
' each other,* just like an accusative, or whatever case thc
verb requires; there being no Latin pronoun for 'each
other,' corresponding to the Greek &Wj\ovs. Compare Cic.
Cat. 3. 5, 'furtim inter sese aspiciebant.'

verebuntur . . . verecundiam, 'respect.'

83. patere licentiam, 'free licence is allowed.'

virtutum adiutrix . . . vitiorum comes, arc thc prc-
dicates.

posset, subj. as subordinate and assimilated to flnal pervenirct^

si quos inter, order changed to keep si quos together.

comitatus, ' companionship.'

84. rem expetendam, ' thing worth aiming at.'
experiri, 'put them (friends) to the test.'

85. plectimur, ' we are punished' for our neglect [neglegentia, abl.

of cause].

praeposteris . . . consiliis. praeposterus, 'front-behind,'
i.e., ' upside down,' a very expressive word. Const. ' we are
beginning at the wrong end.'

acta agere, proverbial, ' to do what's done ; ' i.c. ' to try in
vain when it's too late.' So Cic. Att. ix. 5. ' Sed acta ne
agamus : reliqua paremus.'

ultro et citro, 'mutually,' 'reciprocally.'

usu, 'intercourse.'

86. quo etiam magris, 'and therefore all the more,' i.e. because

caretessness leads to such embarrassments and troubles as he
has iust enumerated.

C8



87, 88] NOTES

a multis : the MSS. read here quamquam a multis, vvhich
some.of the comm. attempt elaborately to justify. Madvig,
however, points out clearly that it spoils the sense ; and I
have followed him in omitting it. It is nonsense to say
• Friendship is the only tliing all admire, though some despise
virtue.'

venditatio, 'display.' It is an expressive word, describing
the spirit of commercial ' pumng. >

cultus includes all comforts and luxuries. The whole phrase
means just ' plain living.'

ad unum, 'to a man.'

se contulerunt, 'have taken to.'

suum negotium grerunt otiosi, one of those epigrammatic
self-contradictions of phrase (like Sophocles' Zata iravovpyho-ao-a
or Tennyson's ' faith unfaithful kept him falsely true '), called
oxymoron, He means 'live a life of leisure [from public
interests], engrossed in their own afTairs.'

esse nullam, ' is nothing.'

si . . . relint : the subj. is due to the or. obliq.

87. vitas : plural rare.

Timonem nescio quem, ' like the Athenian Timon we have
heard of, whoever he was,' implying that nothing was known
about him but the fact of his being a misanthrope.

It is recorded that he lived in the end of the 4th century B.c,
became a misanthrope from disappointments, and associated
with Alcibiades chiefly, whose complete recklessness pleased
him. He is of course well known to Englishmen from
Shakespeare.

immanitas is used for anything savage or unnatural.

possit, • would not be able/ though the first half of the sen-
tence (protasis) was si . . . est : a slight irregularity, but quite
natural.

apud quem, 'into whose ear* (subj. final). Noticethe strong
metaphor.

atque hoc . . . iudicaretur, *and this would be most
clearly seen if,' &c. The subjunctives are all imperf* in this
sentence, on the principle explained in 17.

ferreus, ferre, auferret, clearly an intentional jingle.

88. Archytas, a Pythagorean philosopher of Tarentum, friend of

Plato, flourished somewhere 400-370 B.c r He was drowned
in the Adriatic : Hor. Od. i. 28.

The phrase used here looks at first sight as if Cicero meant that
Laelius had heard in his youth old men say they remembered
other old men, who reported the saying of Archytas, being

C9



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA [8d

contemporaries of his ; but as there must have been nearly
two centuries betwcen Archytas* time and Laelius' boyhood
(375-175 about), this is hardly likely. The alii senes heard
the saying quoted ; and Cicero goesback so far, in order to
strengthen the authority, not to complete the chain of
tradition.

si quis ascendisset, i.e. ( alone.' The point is, that the
splendour of the sight is not pleasurable (insuavemf unless
there is some one to share the impression.

si aliquem, see27.

adnititur ad, 'leans towards.'

quoque, with superl., see 13.

usus amioitiae, 'intercour.se.'

tum . . . tum, 'sometimes . . . sometimes.'

una illa subeunda est offensio, ( this one ground of oflence
must be encountered : ' the illa is explained by the clause
nam — obiurgandi.

I have adopted Madvig's reading subeunda for the ordinary
sublevanda [which properly means to alleviate> i.e. the same
as elevare above, to which it is manifestly opposed here] : if
we adopt the latter we must construe it as'meaning * endure,'
which is unlikely.

89. familiaris meus, * my intimate friend,' namcly, P. Terentius ;
he was born at Carthage, 195 B.c, became the slave of a
Roman senator, Terentius, was set free, and became a popu-
lar comic poet. Six plays remain, the Andria among them.
He was a friend of Laelius and Scipio, see Scipionic circle.
It is fair to say that the character in the play who utters this
sentiment adds, *hoc tempore,' and is really sneering at the
degenerate times. (Andr. i. 1, 41.)
Terence's comedies wcre mostly versions of the Greek
Menander.

praecipitem ferri, * to pursue his downward way unchecked. '

fraudem, 'delusion/ a common meaning: cf. Cic. Pis. i. I,
*hic infraudem homines impulit : hic eos . . . decepit.'

monitio, 'warning,' before : objur^atio, 'reproof,' after.

comitas, ( friendliness, } the good side oidbsequium: assentatio,

( flattery,' the badj«

odsit, jussive, * let it . . .'

non modo amico, according to the Latin usage, when the
sentence is negative, the negative is reserved for the principal
clause ne-quidem. * Not merely (is not worthy) of a friend,
but noteven,'&c. Thus the ordinary statement 'non-t/todo

70



90—96] NOTES

is used for non modo non,' though practically true is badly
expressed, obscuring the simple origin of the usage.

90. Catonis, see Introduction.

quod contra oportebat, lit. ' which ought to have been just
theotherway;' quod, acc. after oportebat, mtumderstood, and
the other infinitives simply specifying the point.

91. ad voluntatem loquentium, &c, * with a view to pleasc,

not to be true.'

92. adulterat, ' pollutes/nearer to its original sense than our word

adulterate. ,

qui id fleri, &o., * how ? ' : it is an old abl. of quis, see 22.

93. flexibile, < inconstant, , devium, 'irregular , : both good meta-

phors in Latin, and expressive words.

negat quis, &c. This is from another extant play, the
Eunuchus (2, ii. 21). It is the character Gnatho, the parasite,
who is speaking.

persona, see 4.

adhibere omnino, 'to admit at all ' (to your acquaintance).

94. Sense : * as there are many people like Gnatho (parasites) in

a higher position, their flattery is injurious, their compliments
having more authority. ,

95. oontio, c a crowd,' *a ^^^6^^^' of people.

popularem, * a popular leader.' Here Cicero again shows his
political leanings through the mouth of Laelius ; the demo-
crats, who were the opponents of the senatorial party which
Cicero supported (and of which Laelius in his day was a
moderate member), calling themselves/^w/0?w, 'supporters
of the people.' He considers the popularis the natural
antithesis to co/tstantem, severum, ac gravem a'vem 9 the ' man
of character and strict principle.'

96. quibus blanditiis influebat, 'what smooth flattery he

poured.'

Papirius Carbo (see 39) had proposed in his tribunate, B.c.
131, that tribunes should be re-eligible at the end of their
year of omce. The object of this cnange was to secure the
power and position of popular reformers (like Tiberius
Gracchus, who had been driven to insist iliegally on such
re-election) against the Optimates. Laelius and Scipio spoke
against it, and it was thrown out : but it was passed a few
years later (Mommsen^s Hist. Rome, iii. 106).

ut facile . . . diceres, ' so that you would naturally have said
(lit. have been saying) he was, &c* This seems tobe one of

71



LAELIUS Dk AMIC/TIA [07, §6

those rare cases where the conditional subjunctive diceres
is retained, though the ut requires a subj. on its own
account.
Compare Cic. Sest. 62, ' quod si repudiasset, dubitatis quin
ei vis csset adlaia ? ' and again, 83, * non dubito quin si
esset . . . senatus, statua ei statucrctur.

comitem, i.e. 'a private citizen.'

Q. Maximo, see 60.

Licinius Crassus, tribune 145 B.c, proposed to make the
priestly colleges, which filled their own vacancies, .surrender
this right to the popular election. Laelius spoke against it, and
it was rejected. The proper name of this election by the
body itself was co-optatio, 'a joint ^^005^.'

in forum versus agrere cum populo, ' to turn towards the
forum and address the rabble.' The rostra or platform was
between the comitium or sacred meeting-place (open to the
sky, but marked off from the forum) and the openforum. In
old days the speakers addressed the burgesses in the comi-
tium : Crassus began the custom of turning his back on the
comitium and addressing the mob in the forum. (Burn, Rome
andthe Campagna, p. 01.)

praetoro me, see Introduction, Scipionic circle, Laelius.

vendibilis, prop. 'saleable,* used to mean 'agreeable,
'popular.'

re maerie, 'more by the strength of the case.'

97. in scaena : he calls the public assembly contemptuously A a

stage.'
looi plurimum, ' most scope. '
exploratum, in its-common sense 'certain.'
ciui ipse sibi assentetur, an expressive phrase, ' who flatters

himself.' The sUbj. probably consec, ' the kind of man who.'

081 omnino, ' most certainly,' used like a stronger quidetn, conced-
ihg but drawing a distinction in a later clause {ego^ autem; &c.)
It is used just so above, see 60.

virtutis opinione, ' supposed virtue.'

nisi essent milites gloriosi, 'unless there were (on the stage)
sWaggerittgsoldiers^one of whom, 'the soldier Thraso,' in
Terence Eunuchus 3, i. \\ he proceeds to quote. The
words militcs gloriosi are, nowever, doubtless suggested by
the title of a play of Plautus, Milcs Gloriosus,

Jffagmus vero, &c. The ' swaggering soldier ' asks his parasitc
Gnatho how Thais, his beloved, had taken a present he had
sent. The verb understood is, ' does she say.'



d



©9—101] NOTES



ad voluntatem, see 91.

99. excors, ' silly . ' Cor was in Latin the seat of the intclligmce,
not affections (compare Corculum, ioi).

det manus, ' gives in : ' the metaphor being from the attitude
of clasping hands (as sign of surrender), for the conqucror to
bind.

qyxi illusus sit, subj. subordinate (and assimilated) to the final
vidcatur.

plus vidisse, ' to have been clearer-sighted.'

ut in Epiclero, 'as in (the play of) Epiclerus, or the Heiress?
4t(k\vpos being the Greek for ' heiress,' and l>eing the name
of a play of the Greek poet Menander, which had been
translated by Caecilius Statius, a poet who lived in the third
century B.c. It is from Caecilius that Cicero here quotes.

The meaning of the extract is :

'How you will to-day have deluded and humbugged me
splendidly, beyond all the silly old men of comedy/

versaris and emunxeris are used in a slangy sense. [The
reading, however, is not certain ; cmunxcris being an emen-
dation of Bentley's, which Madvig also adopts.]
100« de hao dico sapientia, i.e. as he insists in 18, and again
in 88, he is speaking of ordinary wisdom such as can be
realised, not the ideal and impossible wisdom of the
Stoics.
eaque ipsa, ' and even those.' He naturally dwells more on
the higher kinds of friendship ; but he has nearly exbauated
eveti that topic.
aliquando, ' at length.'

This last chapter contains the rhetorical peroration, in which

he surna up.
convenientia, 'harmony,' ' conformity.'

eum ipsum diligrere, ipsum ts the emphatic word.

qtuaesita goes with utilitatex 'not from anv need, nor in
the hope of any advantage, though that, &c.

minus, as constantly in Latin, is an elegant negative.

101. These names have somc of them bcen commented on : Paulus
9, Cato 4, Ga/usy*

T* Nasica was the father of Nasica Serapio mentioned in 41
(see pedigree of the ScipiosJ : he was consul 162 and 155 n.c,
and Pontifex Maximus 150 : he married Cornelia (daughter
of Africanus Maior), his second cousin : and he had the sur*
name Corculum for his wisdom, sce 99.

F 2 73



LAELIUS &E AMICITIA [102—104

Tiberius Sempronius Gracohus the elcler, consul 177 and
163, father of the two famous tribunes • Tiberius and Caius,
and himself distinguished by his able, honest, and humane
administration in Spain 181 — 179 B.c. His daughter Sem-
pronia married Scipio Africanus minor, and so he is called
Scipionis nostri socerum. See Pedigree.

L. Furius Philus, see 14 : Eupilius Lupus, see 37 : and
Spurius Mummius, have all been mentioned together as
friends in 69.

Tuberonis, see 37, and Pedigree of the Scipios.

P. Rutilius (Rufus), an able and incorruptible man ; served
with honour under Scipio before Numantia(i33 B.c.) ; was
consul 105, and afterwards served as legatus in Asia under
Mucius Scaevola, where he so rcsisted the extortion of the
pMicani as to incur the hostility of the equites at Rome,
who audaciously condemned him to exile for extortion !
(Mommsen^s Hist* Kome, iii. 219.)

He is here ' quite a youth ' (129 B.c).

Of A. Verginius nothing is known. He is supposed to have
been a youthful student.

ratio oomparata est, 'system is so arranged.'

ut alia aetas oriatur, rather obscure ; and the reading hap
been doubted ; but perhaps it merely means ' that a different
age arises after us.' [Madvig, Baiter, and Orelli, read alia
ex alia : which is a neat correction, if correction is required.]

e carceribus . . . ad calcem, metaphors from the race, ' from
the starting-point . . . to the goal. Carceres were the vaults,
closed by wooden gates, where the horses stood before the
start : calx (' chalk ') was the chalked rope which served as
the line for the end of the race in the circus.

emissus sis, dependent on the oblique possis ; it is part of
the ivish : see Scheme.

102. in manibus, ' in the closest connexion.'

animo aut spe maiora suscipiet, ' entertain great projects or
hopes. >

103. quod quidem senserim, ' so far, at least, as I was aware % \

the restrictive use of the consec. subj. with quu Literally —
' at least such as I was aware of.*

quod nollem, ' that I did not like ' : the most delicate expres-
sion he could use for ' nothing offensive.'

104. desiderium, 'longing,' *regret J : asoften, for something lost.
afrert. The natural sequence would give ajfirret, ' would have



104] NOTES



brought me ' : but the alteration, the break of construction,
is effective : the memories are not lost ; but he has the con-
solation all the same.

diutius, ' much longer.' Clearly Laelius himself did not long
survive his friend.

ita locetis, * set virtue so high.'

Every one will feel how skilfully this peroration is written, and
what a charm it has from its melody, and pathos, and
dignity.



75



I.AELIUS DE AMICITIA



THE SUBJUNCTIVE.

To the student of Latin nothing is more important in the whole
Syntax than to understand thoroughly the various uses of the
Subjunctive. And there is no writer more instructive on this point
than Cicero; inasmuch as, his style being at once delicate and
precise, expressing a variety of fine shades of meaning, with a
copious resource of form as well as vocabulary, his prose is a very
storehouse of subjunctives.

It would be very little use to give a general theory of the sub-
junctive, presented in a definition consisting of abstract terms. To
the beginner it would be meaningless ; to the scholar probably
superfluous. The first thing is carefully to classify the uses % until
they become familiar, and the object of this scheme is to enable the
learner to do so, with the subjunctives in this book, and so to learn
to discriminate the uses generally. It would be quite possible to
get a wide and accurate knowledge of this departmcnt of syntax
from the De Amicitia only.

There will be doubtless many who read this edition to whom such
classification is already familiar. These can easily omit this sec-
tion. But considerable teaching experience leads me to think there
will be more to whom it may be of use.



76



THE SUBJUNCTIVE.



SCHEME OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE.

i. Optative and Jussive.

[a common use of the subj. as a principal verb is to express a
luish or command: grammatically they are the same, though they
cliffer in the feeling, and the difference is expressed in the tone].

a. direft.

Type : faciai! ' may he do it ' (oflt.), or ' let him do it ' (jussive).
Examples ; sit ita sane, lo.

agamus pingui Minerva, 10.

studium semper adsit, 44. So 50, 89.
(so perfect).

viderint sapientes, 10.

b. indirect.

Type : velim facias, ' I would wish you to do it.'
Examples : velim animum averias, 5.
censeo petatis, 17.
necesse est asperneiur, 47.
cave anteponas (where cave = negative, see
notes) 10.

c. inierrogative. Dubitative or Deliberative.

[The interrogative form of a jusstve is that in which a man asks
himself what he must do, what he is to do : and so is naturally
used in the mental condition of doubt or deliberation, hence the
name.]

(i) direct dubitative.
Type : quid faciam? * What must I do? '

(No examples in this book. )
(2) indirect.
Type : doceo quid faciat, ' I teach him what to do.'

Examples: Plures discent quem ad modum haec
fiant t 41.
causa est cur amicitiam tollamus t 48.
causa cur diligantur (are to be loved), 79.
2. FlNAL.

[the subjunctive also expresses, as in most languages, the end or
purpose. ]

a. with ut t ne, and nt ne.
Types : Vigilo, utfaciaw, ' I watch, in order to do it.'

orabam, utfaceret, ' I prayed him to do it ' (see oblique

petition, below).
Examples : hortari possum ut amicitiam anteponatis, 17.
ageres ut scriberem, 4.
praecipiendum ut ne existiment, 42; and

60, 65.

7:



LA&LIUS DE AMJCITIA



(even after causa) causam afferebat ut ignoscerem, 37.
others in 22, 59, 60 : and often.

b. with qui.

[a neat use of the relative, making the structure more close and
dear ; very idiomatic and common in Latin.]
Type : mitto quifaciat, ' I send a man to do it.'

Examples : habere quicum audeas loqui, 22.
sit per quem assequatur, 29.
others in 45, 48, 59, 62, and 87.
: so aptus qui faciat, * fit to do.'

apta quae loqueretnr, 4 : and idonea quae dissereret, ib.

c. with dum, priusquam, implying purpose :

[the conjunctions *until,' ' before that,' especially with negatives,
often express thepurpose of the mind, and so take the subjunctive.
This will be seen in a moment by comparing the two sentences,
'the wind falls before the sun rises* (indic), and *I will not go
away before the sun rises ' (subj.)]
Types : maneo dum faciat, • 1 wait till he does it.'

: non abibo priusquam/^w/, ' I will not go away before

he does it.'
Example: ne exspectemus quidem dum rogemur, 44,

3. Consecutive ('so that/ expressing result).
Type : talis sum utfaciam, * I am such that I do it.*

Examples : tantum yalet ut tollat amicitiam, 48.

tantum abest . . . ut liberalissimi sint, 51.
ita alligatos, ut non discedant, 42.
[an extremely common use in Cic. is after pronouns like hoc, illud,
&c, where the «/-clause does little more than expand the pronoun,
defining the thing meant more precisely. Hence this use is some-
times called the Definitiveor Explanatory use of ut: a few examples
will make it plain.]

ExamUes : hanc amicitiam, ut omnia . . postea ducas, 7.

hoc contingere, ut ulla intermissio fiat, 9.

id si ita est, ut animus . . . evolet, 14.
ancl others, 50, 61, 70, 78, 92 ; so the first #/-clause with tantum
abest is Dcfinitive, 51.

This subj. is also used with many verbs, expressing the result.

Examples: facereut ... 4.

incidere ut . . . 83.
fieri posse ut . . . 76.
pati ut, 87, &c
[a special use of the consecutive is as a condition ; like the
English * I care not so that you come. '] *

Example: quis est qui velit .... vivere, ut neque
diligat, 52. .
[for consecutive subj. with qui see below, 6.]

78



SUBJUNCTIVE



4. Causal ('since, whereas, > &c).

a. cum [meaning ' since, , always with subj.]
Type : cum faciat t 'since he does.'

Examples : cum illi sanctissimi/ite/T/*/, 39.
cum contrabat amicitiam, 48.
So 68, 84, 92, 97 : very common.

b. [but ctim also takes subj. of historic tenses when it simply
means ' w/ieti ' : the fact being that in narrating a chain of events
there was a feeling of one thing being the occasion of the other. ]

Examples : cum ego essem una, 2.

cum in eam mentionem incidisset, 3.
cum tecum agere cotiarcr, 16.
and very common in all Latin.
[for causal subj. with qtti, see below, 6.]

5. Concessive ('although').

f ypc : quamvis faciat, abibo, ' though he does it, I shall go. *
[The ongin of this use is the jussive- meaning, no doubt ; and the
above sentence meant literally * Let him do it as much as you please,
I shall go * : a vivid primitive way of saying althoug/u The same
origin is still clearer in modo faciat, 'only let him do it,' licet
fac/at, ' let him do it.']

Examplcs : quamvis non sit gravis, 11.

quamvis honeste id facerent, 35.
(' provided that') modo ne summa turpitudo scquatur % 61«
also with quamvis licct.

quamvis licet exceilas^ 73.
[for concesBive subj. with qui, see below, 6.]

6. SUBJUNCTIVES with qui.

The subjunctive is used with qui to indicate that the relative is
ttsed not in adefinite and specific sense, as ' Hic est qttijecitj 'he
is the man who did it * ; but in a generic sense, as sunt quifaciailt^
' there are people of t/te kind who do it ' : non is sum quifaciat/t t
' I am not tne tind ofman to do it«'

This use is very idiomatic and comhion» and graditates Into
several different shades of meaning, usually classed urtder different
heads, which we give below.

a. Generic or Consecutive.
[The commonest is the use implying 'any one who,' 'the kind of
person who,' ' such a person who,' generally called consccutwe,
though the term generic is often more applicable : the meanings
being very near together, and easily sliding mto each other.]
Types : quis est qui faciat, ' who is there who does ? '
Examples : quis est qui non efferat ? 24.

nemo quin utatur t 68 and 102.
so nihil quod, 28, 45, 103.



LAELWS ££ AMICITIA



Type : is qmfaciat, aliquis qui faciat, 'one who does,' ' any one
whodoes.'
Examplcs : eum quem ames, 100.

ei qui ceperit, 25 ; so existiment, 63 ; qtteant,

71 ; diligas, 73.
aliquis qui, 27, &c, see 76, 70, 97.
compare ; cum assittt, ' any case when,' 84.
: tam bonus qui faciat, ' so good as to do ' [consecutive
proper].

tam firma quae non possit everti, 23.
tam ferreus qui ferre possit, 87.

b. Causal, ' because.'
tThe subiunctive, fundamentally the same as (a), often expresses
the reason.J

Type: culpo te qaifacias (lit. ' I blame you, a man ivho does'),
' I blame you for doing.'

Examples t eius quis senex fuisset, 40.
so : quae soleat, 50.
quos duxerint, 70.
So with quippe : agnoscitur, quippe qui assentetur, 99 : compare
quippe cum, 28,

c. ConcessiVE, 'although.'

fthe same subjunctive expfessing the thing or quality in spitc oj
ivkick the statement of the principaT verb is made].
Type t nunc non facit, qxxifetefaciat [lit. 'now he does not do it,
a nian who usually does it'], 'he does not do it now,
though he Usttally does it.*
Examples i non affuisti, qui semper solitus esses, 7.
so : quos nunquam viderit, 28.

d. ReSTRIcTIVE.

tthe same sttbjttnctive. often with qtiidem after qui, having the
effect of a restrietion or limit on the pdncipal clause :]
Type : nemo, quem quidem noverim, adest, ' No one is here of
the kind at least 1 know, whom at least I know.'
Examples : numquam offendi, quod quidem senserim,
103.
i.e., *so far at least as I perceived.'

7. CONDITIONAL.

a. Principal verb (apodosis).
Types : faciam,fecerim, *I would do.'
Examples : certe mentiar, 10.

pergroXumfeceris, 16.
: facerem, fectssem, ' I should have been doing,' ' I should
have done. '
Examples : Ego non gravarcr, 17.

Tum magis id diccrcs, 25.

80



SUBJUNCTIVE



So 29 : faceret, 50 : indicaretur, 87.
paruissem, 37.

[all these instances have a condition attached in a clause be-
ginning with ' if,' as is natural : sometimes the same subjunctive is
found with the //'-clause omitted, and then is called Potential:]

Examples: admodum graiVLmfeceris, 16.

quae nostra causa nunquamfaceremus, 57.
quis diJigat? 53.

b. Dependent verb (Protasis).

[The tenses in ordinary sequence strictly corresponding to those
in the Apodosis, ue., primary tenses to primary, historic to
historic.]

Type : sifaciam, sifecerim, ' if I should do.'
Examples : si me moveri negem, 10.

si de amicitia disputaris, 16.
others ; 38, 42, 48, 100.

: si facere/fi t si fecisscm, ' if I had been doing,' or ' had
done.'

' Examples : si mihi ipse confiderem, 17.

so : esset, 29, conglutinaret, 32, &c.
si voluisset, 37, contendisset, 39, &c.

Note. — A change is sometimes introduced, on purpose to express
a change in the idea, so that the sequence is not kept.

Examples : Si illis orbatus essem, magnum tamen affert
solatium, 104.

8. Oratio Obliqua.

(a) statement: only in dependent clauses.

Type : dixit se quod iussissem facere, ' he said he was doing that
which I had ordered.'

Examples : te dolorem, quem acceperis, ferre, 8
quod facere non possent, id fieri, 24.

so accederet, 19 : see 35, 39, 45, 46, &c, very often.

So when the clause is really though not inform oblique, called
virtually oblique,

Type : irascor quod facias, * I am angry on the ground that you
do it, 'because, as I allege, you doit.'

Examples : quia vixcrim, 15.

querebatur quod essent, 62.

impedire vult quod non facile ferat, 75.

[for incorrect virtual oblique with verbs of saying or thinking,
see 27, notes.]

(b) oblique question*

Type : nescio qwd faciat, ' I don't know what he does.'

si



LAELIUS DE AMICITIA



ExampUs: quam id recte faciam viderint, 10.
(disputaris) quid sentias, &c, 16.

so: 36, 48, 53, 97, &c, very common.
observe one instance with the sequence broken, owing to inter-
vening historic verbs :

meministi quanta tsset admiratio, 2.
instead offuerit.

(c) oblique pditioiu
[under this convenient name have been united sentences of a
different grammatical character, but in sense closely allied.]

Types : \e\im facias; see 1, (b.)
oro vXfacias ; see 2, (a.)
pati ut faciat; see 3.

o. [It only remains to consider the cases where a subordinate
clause {nsually with relative) is put into the subjunctive not to carry
any new sense, but simply because the principal clause is subjunctive.
The leading subjunctive is due to one or other of the reasons above
classified : and the dependent clause is assimilated to it]

Dependent and assimilated subjunctive.

Examples : {finat) per quem assequatur quod desiderct, 29.

ne plus reddat quam acceperit, 66.
ut ne inciperemus amare quem odisse

possemus, 60.
so : quoniam non posset, 83.
{cottsec.) ita ut quoad possem numquam disce-
derem, 1.
ut is qui illusus sit plus vidisse vidcatur,

99.
so : emendati sint t 61, sit, 83.
(conditional) ita esset aptissimus, ut ar&itraretur, 20.
quis diligat quem metttat, 62.
so : agatur, 61.
It should be added that these cannot sometimes be distinguished
from one or other of the subjunctives treated in 6. Often they may
be referred to either.



NOTES on THE READINGS



NOTES on THE READINGS.

26. quod quis mintts : so P. : Madv., Baiter, and Halm read quisque.
quis makes perfectly good sense.

32. ab his, Baiter with the MSS. Halm, Madv., read at iu

46. putentur, P. Halm, Baiter, Madv., putaniur.

49. animante, P. and Baiter. Halm and Madv. read animo autcm,
but the strange word animante is more liable to get altered :
and autem is not so good in such an antithesis as there is no
connexion.

53. exsidantem, tum is Madvig's neat correction for the clumsy tum
exsulantetn.

55. quod etiam si is Lahmeyer's correction for the MSS. ut etiam
si, which does not make sense.

57. causa amicorum is the MSS. readiug adopted by Halm : it is
ugly certainly, but perhaps felt to be necessary by the writer
after nostra, to which amicorum simply would not be a
perfect antithesis.

70. consecuti sint, P. and Baiter : Halm and Madv. read sunt.
The subj. is quite natural, and we had better follow the
best MS.

duxerint, again P. : Madv., Halm, and Baiter read duxerunt.
Again the subj . is quite right : see notes.

86. a multis. The MSS. insert before this quamquam, which is not
sense, and so Madv. and Baiter omit it.

88. subeiinda, Facciolati's correction adopted by Madv. for suble-
vanda ; see notes.

99. ef/tunxeris, Bentley's emendation adopted by Madv. The MSS.

have ut iusseris; corrupt plainly.

100. ductum, P. Baiter. Madv. and Halm read dictum, which is

perhaps commoner for ' derived ;' but ductutn will do.

104. affert. P. Madv., Baiter, and Halm read afferrct, which is not
nccessary though natural : see notes.



6»



INDICES

mmm»mmmm*m***m***m**mmi^—^^^-m^



INDICES.



(I.) NAMES.

Acilius, 6
Aelius, 37
Aemilius Papus, 39
Agrigentum, 24
Archytas, 88
Aristippus, 46
Atticus, 1

Blossius, 37
Brutus, 7

Carbo, 30, 41, 96
Carthage, 11
Cassius, 28, 36

,, Longinus, 41
M. Cato, 4
C. Cato, 39
Coriolanus, 36, 42
Coruncanius, 18, 39
Crassus, 96
Curius, 18, 28, 39
Cyrenaics, 46

Empedocles, 24
Ennius, 22
Epicurus, 32

Epicureans, 13, 20, 32, 45
Euripides, 45

Fabius Maximus, 69
Fabricius, 18, 28, 39
Fannius, 3
Furius, 14, 69, 101



Gabinius, 41
Galus, 9

C. Gracchus, 37, 39
TL Gracchus, 37, 101
Graecia, Magna, 13

Hannibal, 28
Hippolytus, 45

Laelius, 1
Laenas, 37
Licinius Crassus, 96
Lupus, 37
Luscinus, 18,39
Lycomedes, 75

Maelius, 28, 36
Manilius, 14
Maximus, 69
Metellus, 77
Mummius, 69, 101

Nasica, 41

,, Corculum, 101
Neoptolemus, 75
Numantia, 11

Orestes, 24

Pacuvius, 24
Papirius, 39, 41, 96
Papus, 39
Paulus, 9

Philus, 14, 69, 101
Pompeius Nepos, 77



fi5



LAELIUS DE AMICITLA



Popilius, 37
Pylades, 24
Pythagoras, 13

Rupilius Lupus, 37, 69, 73, 101
Rutilius Rufus, 101

N Scaevola, 1
Scipio, 3, 12, 41
,, Nasica, 41
,, ,, Corculum, 101

Socrates, 7, 13
Stoics, 18, 48
Sulpicius, 2

,, Galus, 9

Tarquinius, 28, 63

Themistocles, 42

Ti. Gracchus (father), 101

„ (son), 37

Tubero, 37, 101



Vecellius, 38
Verginius, 101

(2.) THINGS.

abl. quality, 19

„ circumstances, 64
acc. (animum adverto), 8
acta agere t 86
actum est cum, 11, 16
agere, ' to ask,' 'press,' 4, 16
agitur, 61

aiiquis, after ne, si, 27, 48, 88
alliteration, 68, 87
antithesis, no conjunction, 19, 56
aqua et ignis, 22
attraction ot relative, 50

ballot, 41

calculos, vocare aa*, 58
Cicero's politics, 12, 37, 95

„ philosophy, 45

„ vanity, 4
comparative, particip., 59



86



cordi, 15

cum-tum, 4, 26, 40, &c.

diminutive, 46
dumtaxat, 53

est qui, 61

filum, 25

fut. imperat., 24

gen. after partic, 50

haud scio an, 20, 42, 51
honos, 34

idem, 39, 65

ille, 66

in, ' in case of,' 9, 24, 26, 39,

41, 63, 81, &c.
inf. and relative, 34
injustice toward Hannibal, 28
ipse se, me, te, 5, 10, 17, 97, 98
irregularity, 44, 46, 87
isque, 17

iste, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 47
„ (by a stretch), 64

locative, 15, 51
locus, 46

in manibus, 102
memini, pres. inf., 2, 11
metaphors, 31, 40, 58, 76, 87,
92, 93, 101

ne aliquis, 48

ne quidem, 'no more,' 30

65
nescio quis, 4
nimirum, 52 ,

non modo, 89
numne, 36

omnino, 69, 98
oxymoron, 86



INDICES



paedagogi, 74
par, 82
partes, 77
pingui Minerva, 19
plural, 21

praeluceo (trans. ), 23
proverbs, 18, 19, 85

quamquam, adv., 25, 29, 38,

54
qnasi with met., 35, 48, 82
qui, how ? 92
quid, 84

quidem, et is, 7$ 38
quidam, 48
quis, enclitic, 26
quisque with superl., 13, 34, 88

reapse, 47
rel. and inf., 34
„ attracted, 50

satis y 57



scenery, no love of, 68
s^quence, 2, 20, 46
si aliquis, 27, 88
subj. and inf. mixed, 65
supine in u, 23

tamquam, 45
tantum abest, 51
toga praetexta, 1, 33

,, virilis, 1
transmigration, 13
tum and «', 25, 51

ut me, 42, 43, 65

ui definitive, 7, 9, 14, 35
,, after causa, 37
«f ffa dicam, with new word, 49
,, with metaphors, 29,
69
ut consec, ' on condition that,
52

verb omitted, 1, 20, 32



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