Tully's three books of offices, in English with notes explaining the method and meaning of the author.

CHAP. XXII.

'Tis no less great and commendable to Manage Affairs of Peace, than of War. Several Examples to prove this. Arms useless abroad, without Civil Prudence at home. Cicero's eminent Services to the Repub∣lick: A Saying of Pompey the Great's to him up∣on that Subject.

BUt seeing most People are apt to imagin, that 'tis greater and more glorious to Manage Af∣fairs of War, than Peace; a 1.1 I shall endeavour to les∣sen this general Opinion. For the Greatness of that Glory, which is given to Warriors, has made ma∣ny People, for no other reason, desirous of Quarrels; especially Men of the greatest Parts and most aspi∣ring Minds; particularly if they are qualify'd for a Soldier's Life, and their Disposition carry 'em to the Profession of Arms. But if we would make a just Estimate of the case, we should find both greater and more glorious Actions done by Wis∣dom at home, than by Arms abroad. For what tho' b 1.2 Themistocles be deservedly Commended, and his Name more Illustrious than that of c 1.3 Solon?

And tho' Salamis be brought for the proof of a Vi∣ctory, which is far to be prefer'd to the Wisdom of Solon, in constituting and setling the Senate of Areopagus? Yet in truth ought this to be judg'd no less great and extraodinary than that: for Themisto∣cles's Victory was only a Kindness to the Common∣wealth once; but Solon's Counsel will be so for ever: Seeing 'tis by this that the Laws of the Athenians, and Constitutions of their Ancestors are kept up and maintain'd. Beside, Themistocles can name nothing in the World, wherein he assisted the Areopagus: but Solon on his part may truly say, That he, by his Wisdom, was assisting to Themistocles; for the War was carried on by the Directions of that Se∣nate, which he by his Prudence at first appointed. The same may be said of d 1.4 Pausanias and Lysander; for tho' by their Valour they are thought to have enlarg'd the Dominion of the Spartans, yet 'tis by no means at all to be compar'd with the Laws and Discipline of the wise e 1.5 Lycurgus: beside that to no∣thing but these Laws, and this Discipline, they ow'd all the Courage and Obedience of their Ar∣mies. I, for my own part, was always of Opinion, That f 1.6 Marcus Scaurus, when I was a Boy, was by

no means inferior to g 1.7 Caius Marius; nor h 1.8 Quintus Ca∣tulus, since I meddled with the Republick, to i 1.9 Cneus Pompeius; for Armies can signifie but little abroad, un∣less there be Counsel and wise Management at home. Neither was the Rasing and Destroying of Numan∣tia, by that incomparable Person, and brave Com∣mander the Second Africanus, a greater and more signal piece of Service to the Republick, than the Murther of Tiberius Gracchus by k 1.10 Nasica, tho' a meer private Citizen at the same time. 'Tis true, this Action had something of the Soldier in it, as being done by Force and down-right Violence, and so does not wholly come under the Notion of Civil Con∣cerns: however, I have brought it as an Instance of these, because 'twas effected by this Civil sort of Prudence, and without the Assistance of a Military Power. I can't but therefore still extreamly ap∣prove of that Saying of mine, which I'm told some malicious and envious Fellows most mightily carp at,

Let warlike Arms give place to th' peaceful Gown, And to the Statesman's Praise the Victor yeild his Crown.

For not to say any thing of other People, when I my own self sat at the Helm of the Government, did not Arms then give place to the Gown? l 1.11 Never was the State in more imminent Danger, and yet never were things better and more happily quieted. Thus by my Prudence and careful Management, the most impudent and audacious of all the Citi∣zens let, as 'twere, their Arms fall out of their Hands. What Action then was there ever perform'd in War like this? Or where's the Triumph that can be compar'd to it? For I think I may venture a little to boast before you, Son Mark, whose Hap∣piness it is to succeed in the Glory, and whose Du∣ty to imitate the Excellence of my Actions: This I am sure of, even Pompey himself (a Man the most famous for Martial Atchievements) did me that Ju∣stice in the hearing of several, as to say,

That his returning home with his third Triumph, had been to but little or no purpose, unless my En∣deavours and Services to the Republick had pre∣serv'd the City for him to Triumph in.

I con∣clude therefore, from what has been observ'd, That

that sort of Courage which is seen in the Manage∣ment of Civil Affairs, is no less deserving than that which consists in the Business of Fighting; and the former requires more Pains and Application to be perfect in it, than the latter doth.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Before he lays down any particular Rules about the se∣veral sorts of Fortitude, he compares the Civil and Military together, and gives the Preference to the former.
• b 1.2

  A famous Athenian General, by whose Prudence and Conduct especially, the Greeks conquer'd Xerxes in that great Battle at the Island Salamis. See his Life in Plut. and Corn. Nep.
• c 1.3

  An eminent Philosopher and Lawgiver of the Athenians, one of the seven Wise Men of Greece, who is suppos'd by some to have first instituted their great Council of Areopa∣gus. His Life is written by Plut. Aristotle indeed, and some others, tell us, That he did not first set on foot, but only confirm'd the Council of Areopagus, whereas he abolish'd most other things in the former Constitution. For which reason Langius will have Cicero mean by the Word insti∣tuit here, no more than stabilivit or confirmavit, confirm'd or establish'd.
• d 1.4

  Two famous Spartan Generals, who got several Victo∣ries over the Athenians and Persians, and made Lacedaemox the Empress of all Greece. See their Lives in Corn. Nep.
• e 1.5

  A Noble and most Wise Lawgiver of the Spartans, who, as long as they liv'd up to his Discipline, were one of the bravest Nations in the World. His Life is at large in Plut.
• f 1.6

  An excellent Roman, Cos. about the Year of Rome 632, and afterwards Censor, about the time that Cicero was Born. He was Father of that Scaurus, whose magnificent Aedileship he mentions afterwards. He was of great Credit and Autho∣rity in the Senate-house, and is commonly call'd, Princeps Scuatus, commended by all for his Gravity, Abstinence, &c.
• g 1.7

  One who tho' of mean Parentage, yet by his Valour and Courage rais'd himself to be seven times made Cos. of Rome. His Life is in Plut.
• h 1.8

  There were two of that Name, Father and Son, very particularly Famous, and often mention'd by our Author, for their Learning, Wisdom, Eloquence, &c. See his De Oratore, Brutus, &c. The Father was Cos. with Marius, An. U. C. 651; and the Year after being Proconsul, shar'd with him in the Victory over the Cimbri. At last he was kill'd by his cruel Orders in the Year 666; Cicero being but twenty Years old: So that he must here mean the Son, who was Heir to his Father's Virtues, Cos. with Lepidus, An. 675. Our Author in his Brutus, ranks him in praesidiis reip. among those who by their Wisdom supported the State.
• i 1.9

  Pompey the Great, who held the Civil War against Cae∣sar, and was beaten by him. All the Historians are full of him.
• k 1.10

  P. Scipio Nasica, Grandson of him, who by the Senate was judg'd to be the honestest Man in Rome; who while Gracchus was persuading his pernicious Laws, and the Consul slack in endeavouring to suppress him, rose up in the Senate, and bid all those who were for the Good of the Republick follow him: which several doing, they went and kill'd Gracchus presently.
• l 1.11

  By the Conspiracy of L. Cataline, a Noble and Valiant, but Wicked and Debauch'd Roman, who, together with some others that were like himself, form'd most pernicious Designs against the Empire; which were defeated and brought to nought by the Vigilance and excellent Conduct of Cicero then Consul. For which extraordinary Service, he was by common Vote styl'd, Father of his Country, an Honour which he's frequently boasting of in his Writings. See the whole History at large in Sallust.