The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.

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Title
The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero.
Author
Sallust, 86-34 B.C.
Publication
[London :: Printed by Elizabeth Allde,] Are to be sould at the Eagle and Child in Brittaines Burse by Tho: Walkley,
1629.
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"The workes of Caius Crispus Salustius contayning the Conspiracie of Cateline The Warre of Iugurth. V. bookes of historicall fragments. II orations to Cæsar for the institution of a co[m]monwealth and one against Cicero." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A11365.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 31, 2024.

Pages

Page 636

Collections out of the fifth booke of SALVSTS Historicall Fragments.

The Oration of Ca. Cotta the Consull, to the people.

MAny dangers (O ye Ro∣manes) haue happened to me, both at home, and abroad, many calamities: some of which I haue suffered, others I haue re∣pelled by the ayde of the gods, and my owne vertue: in all which neither my minde was wanting to my businesse, nor labour to my resolutions. Aduerse and pros∣perous affaires changed wealth, not my wit.

But contrariwise in these mise∣ries, all things haue forsaken me: besides, old age greeuous in it selfe, doth redouble my care: to whom being wretched, it is not

Page 637

lawfull in these my last yeeres to hope for an honest death. For if I am a Paricide of you, and being borne for you, haue vilifi∣ed my houshold gods, my Country, and this most glorious Empire, what torment is suffici∣ent for me in my life, or what pu∣nishment after death? when with my wickednesse I haue exceeded all the punishments mentioned in hell.

From my first youth I liued in your eye both a priuate person & Magistrate; those that would, vsed my tongue, counsell, and money: neither did I exercise my eloquence craftily, nor my wit mischieuously: being most co∣uetous of priuate fauour, I vnder∣tooke great quarrells for the Commonwealth: who being vanquished together with her, when destitute of other helpe, I expected farther miseries; you (O ye Romanes) restored againe to me my Country, and houshold

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gods, with an exceeding great dignity.

For which benefits I should not seeme sufficiently thankfull, if for them seuerally, which I can∣not doe, I should expend my ve∣ry soule. For life and death are the rights of nature; that thou mayest liue without disgrace with thy fellow Citizens, thy fame and fortunes being intire, that is nei∣ther giuen, nor taken as a do∣natiue.

You haue made vs Consuls (O ye Romanes) the Common∣wealth being much intangled both at home and abroade: for the Generalls of Spaine re∣quire pay, Souldiers, Armes, and corne, and the occasion inforceth it: for after the reuolt of our Confederates, and the flight of Sertorius ouer the mountaines, they can neither come to fight, nor prouide necessaries. Our Armies, in regard of Mithridates great forces, are maintained in

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Asia and Cilicia: full of enemies is Macedonia: no lesse the mari∣time regions of Italy, and the Prouinces: when in the meane time our tributes being small and vncertainely ballanced for the warres, scarce sustaine a part of the charges: thus we saile with a lesse Fleet, then formerly we did, for the Conuoy of victuals.

If these things are contracted by our negligence and fraudu∣lent dealing, proceed, and take punishment as you will: but if the common fortune be in fault, wherefore doe you vndertake things vnworthy of your selues, of vs and the Commonwealth? And I, ouer whose age death is impendent, doe pray for it, if by that you can quit any inconueni∣ence: neither can any thing more honest this ingenious body, then if it cease to liue for your safety.

Behold I C. Cotta the Consull am here, I doe that which our ancestours haue often done in

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dangerous warres: I vow and a∣bandon my selfe for the Com∣mon-wealth: the which to whom you may commit, bee circum∣spectiue from hence forwards; for no good man will desire that honour, when as of the fortune of peace and warre transacted an ac∣count is to be giuen, or an igno∣minious death to be suffred. One∣ly reserue this in your mindes, that I was not slain for lewdnesse, or auarice, but for the requitall of your greatest benefits, I gaue vp my soule as a free-wil offring,

Coniured therefore by your selues, and the glory of your an∣cestours (O ye Romanes) be pa∣tient in aduersities, and prouide for the Common-wealth: much care attends the chefest com∣mand, and many vast labours: which you refuse in vaine, and seeke the plenty of peace: when all Prouinces, Kingdomes, Seas, and Lands, are indangered and harraged with the warres.

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