St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

How the ancient Romaines obtained this increase of their Kingdome, at the true Gods hand, being that they ne∣uer worshipped him. CHAP. 12.

NOw let vs look what desert of the Romains moued the true God to augment their dominion, he in whose power al the Kingdoms of the earth are. For the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 performāce of w^t we wrot our last book before, to proue y^• their gods whom

they worshipped in such ridiculous manner, had no such power; & thus f•…•…r haue we proceeded in this book, to take away the questiō of destiny & fate, least some man being perswaded that it was not the deed of the gods, should rather ascribe it vnto fate then to gods wil, so mighty & so omnipotent. The ancient Romains ther∣fore (as their histories report) though like to all other nations (exceping the He∣brewes) they worshipped Idols and false goddes, offering their sacrifices to the di∣uels, not to the true Deity; yet their desire of praise made them bountifull of their purses, they loued glory & wealth honestly gotten: honor they dearly affected & * 1.1 honestly, offering willingly both their liues, and their states for them The zea∣lous desire of this one thing suppressed al other inordinate affects: and hence they desired to keep their country in freedom, and then in soueraingty, because the saw how basenesse went with seruitude, and glory with dominion. Where-vpon they * 1.2 reiected the imperiousnesse of their Kings, and set downe a yearely gouernment betweene two heads, called Consuls à Consulendo, of prouiding; not Kings, nor Lords of reig•…•… and rule: (though Rex do seeme rather to come à Regendo, of gouerning, & * 1.3 regnum; the Kingdome, of Rex, then otherwise:) but they held the state of a King to consist more in this imperious domination, then either in his discipline of gouer∣nance, or his beneuolent prouidence: so hauing expelled Tarquin, and instituted Consuls, then (as (a) Salust saith wel in their praise) the citty getting their freedom thus memorably, grew vp in glorie, as much as it did in power: the desire of w^t glo ry wrought al these world-admired acts which they performed: Salust praiseth al∣so M. Cato and C. Caesar, both worthy men of his time, saying y^e Cōmon-wealth had not had a famous man of a long time before, but that thē it had a couple of illustri∣ous vertue, though of diuers conditions: he praiseth Caesar, for his desire of Em∣pire, armes and war, wherby to exemplifie his valour: trusting so in the fortune of a great spirit, that he rouled vp the poore Barbarians to war, tossing Bellona's bloudy en•…•…igne about, that the Romaines might thereby giue proofe of their vigors. This wrought he for desire of praise and glory. Euen so in the precedent ages, their loue, first of liberty, and afterward of soueraignty and glory, whetted them to all hard attem•…•…. Their famous Poet giues testimony for both: saying:

Nec non Tarquinium ei•…•…ctum Porsenna i•…•…bebat Accipere, inge•…•…ti{que} vrbem obsidiore premeba•…•… Aenead 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in serrum pro libertat•…•… r•…•…bant, &c.

Porsenn•…•… gui•…•…ts them with a world of men, Commands that T•…•…rquin be restor'd. But then To armes the Romaines for their freedome runne.

For then was it honour to die brauely, or to liue freely, but hauing got their free∣dome, then succeeded such a greedynesse of glory in them, that freedome alone seemed nothing, without domination, hammering vpon that, which the same Poet maketh Ioue to speake in prophetique-wise.

—Quin aspera Tuno Qua •…•…re nunc, terras{que} metu, c•…•…lumque satigat, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in melius reseret, mecum{que} fouebit 〈◊〉〈◊〉, rerum dominos gentem{que} togatum. S•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lustris labentibus •…•…tas, C•…•… d•…•… A•…•…raci Phithiam, charas{que} Mycenas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pr•…•…et, ac victis dominabitur argis.

—•…•…nd Iuno though shee yet Fill heauen and earth with her disquiet fitte, Shall turne her minde at length, and ioyne with me, To guard the Romaines (c) go•…•…ned progeny, It stands, succeeding times shall see the day, That old (d) Assaracus his stocke shal sway (e) Phithia, Micena and all Argos round &c.

VVhich Virgill maketh Iupiter speake, as prophetically, beeing falne out true before he wrote these verses: But this by the way to shew that the Romaines af∣fection of liberty and domination, was a parcell of their most principall glory and lustre. Hence it is, that the same Poet in distributing the artes amongst the Na∣tions, giues the Romains the art of Domination & soueraignty ouer others saying.

Ex•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sp•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cr•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…re 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…elius, c•…•…li{que} meatus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 r•…•…dio & surgentia sydera dicent, T•…•…ere imperio populos, Romane, memento, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…es, paci{que} imponere morem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & debellare superbos.

Others c•…•… better c•…•… in brasse perhaps, (f) Tis •…•…ue; or cutte the •…•…one to humaine shapes: Others can better practise lawes loud iarres, Or teach the motions of the fulgid starres. But (Romanes) be your artes, to rule, in warres, To make all knees to sacred peace be bow'd, To spare the lowly and pull downe the proud.

Th•…•…se artes they were the more perfect in, through their abstinence from plea∣sur•…•…, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 couetousnesse after ritches, (the corrupters both of body and minde) from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the poore cittizen, bestowing on beastly plaiers. So that in th•…•… dominion of those corruptions which befell afterwards, when Virgil and Sa∣•…•… did both write, the Romaines vsed not the fore-said arts, but deceites and •…•…es, •…•…o raise their glories. And therefore Salust saith, At first mens hearts gaue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…bition, rather then couetousnesse, because that was more neere to vertue: for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…rious and the sloathful haue both one desire of honor, glory and souerainty. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (saith he) goeth the true way to worke, the later by craft & false means, because he h•…•… •…•…t the true course. The true, are these, to come to honor by vertue, not by ambi∣ti•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honor, Empire, and glory, good and bad wish both alike. But the good goeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that is, by vertue leading him directly to his possession of honor, glory, soue∣•…•…. T•…•…t this was the Romanes course, their temples shewed, vertues & honors being 〈◊〉〈◊〉) close togither: (though herein they tooke Gods gifts for gods them∣selu•…•…) * 1.4 wherein you might easily see, that their end was, to shew that their was no accesse to honor but by vertue, wherevnto all they that were good referred it: f•…•… •…•…e euil had it not, though they laboured for honor by indirect means, name∣ly by •…•…ceite and illusion. The praise of Cato excelleth, of whom he saith that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ned glory, the more it pursued him. For this glory that they seeke, is the goo•…•… (〈◊〉〈◊〉) •…•…ion of men concerning such or such. And therefore that is the best vertue, * 1.5 that s•…•…h not vpon others iudgements, but vpon ones own conscience, as the Ap•…•… •…•…h: Our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience: and againe: Let euery 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his owne worke, and so shall hee haue glory in himselfe onely, and not in ano∣•…•… * 1.6 •…•…o that glory & honor which they desire so, & aime so after, by good means, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 go before vertue, but follow it: for there is no true vertue, but leuelleth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chiefest good. And therefore the honors that Cato required (i) he should * 1.7 not haue required, but the city should haue returned him them, as his due desart. But whereas there were but two famous Romaines in that time, Caesar & Cato, Ca∣toes v•…•…tue seemes far nerer the truth of vertue, then Caesars. And let vs take Cato's (k) opinion of the state of the city, as it was then, & as it had bin before. Thinke not (saith he) that our ancestry brought the citty vnto this hight by armes. If it were so, we •…•…ld make it far more admirable then euer. But they had other meanes which we want: industry at home, equity abroad, freedome in consultation, and purity of mindes in all •…•…en, free from lust and error. For these haue we gotten riot, and auarice, publike begge∣ry and priuate wealth: ritches we praise, and sloath we follow: good & bad are now vndi∣si•…•…guished, ambition deuouring all the guerdon due to vertue. Nor wonder at it, when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 patcheth vp a priuate estate, when you serue your lusts at home, and your profit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ffect here. This is that that layeth the state open to all incursion of others. (l) He that •…•…deth these words of Cato in Salust, may think that y^e old Romaines were al such 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ose, whom we haue shewne to be so praise-worthy before: it is not so: for o∣•…•…wise his words which we related in our second booke should be false, where he saith: that the city grew troubled with the oppressing powre of the great ones, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…he people grew to a diuision from their fathers vpon this cause: that there we•…•… di•…•…ers other dangerous dissentions, and that they agreed in honesty & con∣co•…•… longer then they stood in feare of Tarquin, & of the great war of Hetru∣ria: which being ended, the Senators began to make slaues of the people, to •…•…udg * 1.8

of their liues as imperiously as the Kings had done, to chase men frō their posses∣sions, & only their factiō bare the sway of all; vnto which discords (the one desy∣ring to rule, & the other refusing to obey) the second African warre gaue end be∣cause a feare began then to returne vpon them, and called their turbulent spirits •…•…om those alterations to looke to the maine, and establish a concord: But all the great affaires were managed by a few that were as honest as the times afforded, and so by tolerating those euills, the state grew well vp, through the prouidence of a few good gouernors: for as this writer saith, that hauing heard & read of many memorable military deeds of the Romaines by sea & land, he had a great desire to know what it was that supported those great busynesses, wherein the Romaines very often with a handfull of men (to count of) haue held out war with most powreful, rich & victorious Kings: & hauing lookt wel into it, he findeth, that the egregious vertue of a very few citizens hath bin cause of this happy successe of al the rest: surmoūting wealth by pouerty, & multitude by scar∣city. But after that corruption had eaten through the City (saith hee) then the greatnesse of the common-wealth supported the viciousnesse of her magistrats. So the vertue of a few, ayming at glory, honor, & soueraignty, by a true line: that same vertue, is that which Cato, so preferreth: This was the industry at home, that he so commended, which made their publike treasury rich, though the priuate were but meane (m) And the corruption of maners he bringeth in as the iust contrary, producing pub∣like beggery through priuate wealth. Wherfore, whereas the Monarchies of the East had bin along time glorious, God resolued to erect one now in the West al∣so, which although it were after thē in time, yet should bee before them in great∣nesse and dignity. And this he left in the hands of such men as swaied it, especially to punish the vicious states of other nations: and those men were such, as for ho∣nor & dominations sa•…•…e would haue an absolut care of their coūtry, whence they receiued this honor: and would not stick to lay down their own liues for their fel∣lowes, suppressing couetousnesse, & al other vices, only with the desire of honor.

L. VIVES.

CAlled (a) Consulls] That Consul comes of Consulo, this all do acknowledge: but Consulo sig∣nifieth many things, and here ariseth the doubt in what sence Consul is deriued from it. * 1.9 Quintil. lib. 1. Whether Consul come of Prouiding for, or of Iudging, for the old writers vsed Consulo to iudge, and it is yet a phrase, boni consulas, iudge well. Liuy and Quintil. say that the Consul was once called Iudge. But I rather hold with Varro, that the Consul is a name of minis∣tery, implying that he hath no powre nor authority in the state, but onely to be the warner of the Senate, and to aske the peoples counsell, what they would haue done. For the Senate of old, neuer did any thing▪ but the Conful first asked the peoples mindes, and brought them word how it passed, whence this ordinary phrase ariseth: He intreated the Consul to bring word backe how this or this passed: Caesars letters beeing brought by Fabius to the Consuls, The Trib•…•…s could very hardly with much contention obtaine that they should be read in the Senate, but th•…•… their contents should bee related to the Senate, they could not be perswaded. Caes. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. de bello Pompei. lib. 1. Whereby it appeareth that the Senate gaue not their verdits vpon any thing, but what was related to thē by the Consuls which custome was duly obserued in old times. But afterwards some of the magistrates got powre to enforce the senates voices to any thing what they listed prefer. Uarro's words are these (de ling. lat. lib. 4.) He was called y^• Cons•…•…l for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the people and senate. Vnlesse it be as Actius saith in Brutus hee that Iudgeth right [Q•…•…i recte consulat,] Let him bee Consul. (b) Saluste] In bello Catilin. (c) Gowned] Rightly go•…•…d (•…•…ith Ser•…•…) for al ages and sexes there ware g•…•…nes. (d) Assaracus] Grandsire to An∣chises, father to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of whom came Aeneas, of him Iulus, of him the Alban King and of * 1.10 them Ro•…•…lus. (e) 〈◊〉〈◊〉] This is touching the reuenge of Troy, that their countries that bur∣•…•…ed Troy should be subdued by a progeny of Troyans. So saith the Aeneads.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ille Argos, Agamemnonias{que}, Mycenas, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 A•…•…cidem genus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ac•…•…li 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Troi•…•…, & templa 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mineruae

The towers of Argos he shall vndermine, And wrack (Pelides) that great sonne of thine, Reuenging •…•…roy and Pallas wronged shrine.

Phthia was Achilles his natiue soile, a towne in Phtheias a part of Macedoniae. Hee was * 1.11 bro•…•…ght vp tho at Larissa, and therefore called Larissaeus: though Phithia and Larissa bee both in Achaia, as else where I will make plaine, as also that the Argiue towre was called Larissa. Phthia in Macedonea was subdued by L. Aemilius, after he had ouerthrowne Per∣s•…•… * 1.12 •…•…nae, is in Argolis, as Mela testifieth, and from thence the Kingdome was transferred to •…•…gos. L. Mummius conquered it, together with all Achaia: Argos is neere Mycenae saith * 1.13 M•…•…. The Kingdome was the Argiues from Inachus to Pelops DXLIIII. yeares. Euseb. Iu∣•…•… Higi•…•…us saith that Uirgill erreth in these verses, for hee that conquered Argos did not 〈◊〉〈◊〉-•…•…hrow Pyrrhus, so that hee would haue the middle verse taken out. But Seruius saith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is, Ille{que}, and hee, to be vnderstood, it beeing vnderstood of Curius. (f) Tis true] Nay all 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Marius built them after the Cymbrian warre: but because there was a gutter betwixt them, they seemed a couple. (h) Opinion of men] This is glory in generall: but the true glorie * 1.14 is a so•…•…d a•…•…d expresse thing (saith Tully) no shadow: and that is the vniforme praise of them that are goo•…•…, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vncorrupted voice of such as iudge aright of vertues exellence: which answeres ver∣t•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eccho, and followeth it like a shadow. Tusc. quaest. lib. 3. (i) Should not▪ This Cato of Utica (of whom he speaketh) sued for the tribuneshippe, and got it: the praetorship, and (after * 1.15 one repulse, Vatinius (a fellow hated of GOD and man) beeing preferred before him) got that too: the consulship, and there had a finall repulse. Hee was a man (saith Plutarch) fit to bee •…•…ought for a magistrate, and more fit to bee forced vnto dignities, then to sue for them. (k) Opinion] In his oration which (beeing Tribune) hee made in the Senate, against the C•…•…spiratours. Salust, Catilin. (l) Hee that heareth▪ The later Romaines were alwaies a talk∣ing of the vertues of their ancestry, extolling them to heauen: either because all things de∣clined from better to worse, or because they thought still that the times past were best. (m) And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ption] A diuersity of reading, vitium esse contrarium & è contrario, all to one sence: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ter is in all the old manuscripts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Loue of glory.
• * 1.2

  Kings.
• * 1.3

  Consuls
• * 1.4

  Vertues and honors temples.
• * 1.5

  Glory.
• * 1.6

  2. Cor. 1. Galat. 6.
• * 1.7

  True ver∣tue.
• * 1.8

  Lib. 2. Cap. 18.
• * 1.9

  Consulls.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.11

  Phthia. Larissa.
• * 1.12

  Micaenae.
• * 1.13

  Argos.
• * 1.14

  Glory.
• * 1.15

  Cato of v∣tica.