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

CHAP. VIII.

The Desire of Riches, which is one Cause of Injustice, whence it proceeds. 'Tis allowable enough so long as it does not draw Men to the Injuring of others. The Desire of Honours, &c. another Cause of Inju∣stice. It usually is found in Men of the greatest Minds. There's a difference to be made between those Injuries, that are done hastily and in a Pas∣sion, and those that proceed from premeditated Ma∣lice.

RIches then are most commonly desir'd, either to supply us with the Necessaries of Life, or fur∣nish us with the Pleasures and Conveniences of it or else, as it often is observ'd to happen in Persons of great and aspiring Minds, as a means of obtain∣ing an Interest in the Publick, and a Power of O∣bliging and Gratifying one's Friends: to which pur∣pose was that Saying of the late a 1.1 Marcus Crassus, That whoever design'd to be a leading Man in the Commonwealth, ought never to think he had Estate enough, till he could maintain b 1.2 an Army with its yearly Revenue. Others take pleasure in Splendor

and Magnificence; in a handsom, noble and plen∣tiful way of Living; All which things have begot an insatiable Greediness after Money, without which they can never be supported and maintain'd. Not but that a moderate Desire of Riches, and better∣ing a Man's Estate, so long as it abstains from op∣pressing of others, is allowable enough; but a ve∣ry great care ought always to be taken, that we ben't drawn to any Injustice by it. There's another c 1.3 Desire that makes Men as apt to be forgetful of Justice, as that after Ricfies; the Thirst, I mean, of Empire, Glory, Honours, &c. For that Saying of d 1.4 Ennius, There's no inviolable Faith or Friend∣ship in the Matter of a Kingdom, tho' apply'd by him to that one case only, is yet full out as true in a great many others; for where-ever the Subject of Contention is such, as that only one Party can meet with Success, and the rest must fall short of what they desire; things are usually carry'd to so great a height, as that 'tis very difficult not to break in up∣on Faith and Friendship. This hath appear'd but too manifestly of late, in that rash and most impudent Attempt of e 1.5 Caesar's; who has broke thro' all those Ties and Obligations, that either by Gods or Men could be laid upon him; for the compassing and get∣ting

of that Empire to himself, which he vainly propos'd in his deprav'd Imagination. But in this case, 'tis one very great unhappiness, that the Thirst after Honour, Empire, Power &c. falls most upon Men of the greatest Souls, and most exalted Na∣tures; wherefore the f 1.6 greater care ought to be ta∣ken, that nothing of Offence be committed in this kind. Now it makes a great difference in all Acts of Injustice, whether they proceed from some vio∣lent Passion, (which is for the most part of short continuance) or are done with Design and previous Deliberation: For those that are the Effects of a sudden gust of Passion, ought not to be esteem'd of so heinous a Nature, as those that proceed from premeditated Malice. And this may suffice for the first sort of Injustice, which consists in The actual doing of Wrong; and the Causes of it.

Notes

• a 1.1

  A noble and wealthy, but very covetous Roman, twice Consul with Pompey the Great, whom Vell. Patenc. calls In∣victum par Consulum. He was made Proconsul of Apulia, where he quell'd Spartacus, Ring-leader of the Slaves, and put an end to the Servile War. At last he, with Pompey, and Caesar, divided the whole Roman Empire between 'em, and made the first Triumvirate. Here the East falling to his share, he made War upon the Parthians, out of a Desire of Money; but was conquer'd and slain by 'em and had melted Gold poured down the Throat of his dead Body. His Life is writ by Plutarch.
• b 1.2

  A Roman Army was four Legions, each consisting of six Thousand Foot, and three Hundred Horse; two of these Legi∣ons were given to each Consul every Year. The monthly Pay of an Army came to about 25000 Pounds: By which it appears what an Estate Crassus desir'd, to keep 'em a whole Year.
• c 1.3

  A second Desire, that is very often the Cause of In∣justice, is, That of Honour, Glory, &c.
• d 1.4

  A famous ancient Latin Poet, born at Rudiae, a Town in Calobria, thence by our Author call'd Rudius homo, in his Oration pro Archia. He was very familiar with Africanus Major, the Wise Laelius, Cato Censorius, &c. which last brought him first to Rome. His Works are lost, except some Fragments preserv'd by Cicero, and others.
• e 1.5

  Julius Caesar, who, ambitious of the Empire, rais'd a Civil War against the Senate and Pompey the Great; whom he conquer'd in the Pharsalian Field. See an Account by him∣self in his Commentaries.
• f 1.6

  For we should increase our Care according to the great∣ness of our Danger; and where we are likely to be most violently Assaulted, there we should place the strongest Guard.