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

CHAP. XVII.

Expences to please the People allowable in some Cases; and what they are. Some Examples of laudable ones. Upon what one may best lay out his Money in this kind.

NO Man however should be so far moderate, as to draw upon himself the Suspicion of Ava∣rice. a Mamercus, a Person of very great Riches, was put by the Consulship for no other Reason, but because he refus'd to be Aedile first. b If such things therefore are demanded by the People, and allow'd of, tho' perhaps not desir'd, by good Men, they must ev'n be perform'd; but so as to keep within the compass of your Estate, as I my self did. Nay, tho' they should not be demanded by the People, yet they might wisely enough be presented 'em, upon a Prospect of gaining some more con∣siderable Advantage by it. Thus c Orestes of late got a great deal of Credit, by Giving the People a Dinner in the Streets, under the Notion of d Pay∣ing his Tenths to Hercules. Nor did any one ever find fault with M. Seius, for selling out Corn

at an easie Rate, in the time of a very great Dearth and Scarcity: for he got himself free from a great and inveterate Hatred of the People, by a Cost, which (considering he was at that time Aedile) was neither dishonest, nor yet extraordinary great: But of all my Friend Milo got the greatest Honour, by purchasing Gladiators for the Defence of the Publick, which was wholly included in my single Safety, and thereby de∣feating the mad and pernicious Attempts of e Clodius. Such Charges therefore are not to be shun'd, when ei∣ther they are necessary or very advantagious: but even when they are so, we must still not exceed the due Limits of Mediocrity. Luc. Philippus, the Son of Quin∣tus, an extraordinary ingenious and eminent Man, was wont, I confess, to be making his Brags, That he got all the Honours the Republick could give him, with∣out ever spending one Farthing that way: f Caius Curio us'd to say the same: and even I my self have some reason to boast upon this account: for considering the Greatness of the Honours I got, and that too by e∣very one of the Votes, and the very first Years I was

capable of 'em, (which is more then can be said by any one of those two whom I just now mention'd) the Charge of my Aedileship was very inconsiderable. But the best way of laying out Money in this kind, is to repair the City-walls, make Docks, Havens, Aquaeducts and the like; things that may serve to the general Use, and Advantage of the Publick. For tho' things which are present, and given down upon the nail, are more acceptable for a Time; yet the Memory of these will be more lasting, and con∣tinu'd even down to Posterity. I forbear to speak much against Theatres, Portico's, new Temples and the like, out of Respect to my old Friend Pompey: but I find 'em not approv'd of by the famousest Men; particularly not by Panaetius himself, whom I have very much follow'd, but not quite translated in this Work. Neither are they lik'd by Demetrius Phalereus, who blames Pericles, one of the greatest Men amongst all the Grecians, for squandring away such g a vast Sum of Money, upon that noble Stru∣cture at the entrance of the Acropolis. But I have spo∣ken sufficiently upon all this Subject, in those Books I have written h concerning the Republick. To con∣clude therefore, all such Profusions are generally speaking (I think) to be blam'd; but yet at some∣times, and upon certain Occasions, may be rendred necessary: However even then they must be propor∣tion'd to one's Estate, and kept within the Limits of Reason and Moderation.

Notes

• a

  A Name of the Emilian Family. Mamercus Aemilius Le∣pidus was Cos. with D. Brutus, An. U. C. 676. 'Tis uncertain whether he be meant here, or not.
• b

  When, and how far such sorts of Giving are allowable.
• c

  A Sirname of the Aurelian Family. This is Cn. Aufidi∣us Orestes, so call'd because he was adopted by Cn. Aufidius, [Cic. pro domo, ch. 18.] He was afterwards Cos. with Corn. Lentul•••• Sura, An. U. C. 682.
• d

  'Twas a Custom among the Romans, upon any great Undertaking, to Vow the Tenth of their Income to some God, to make him prosper 'em in their Undertakings. O∣restes, under Pretence of Paying this to Hercules, gave a great deal of Victuals to all the People in publick, that so he might gain their Favour.
• e

  Clodius was a vile and profligate Fellow, a great Enemy to Cicero, whom in his Tribuneship he got banisht, [See Ci∣cero's Life in Plut.] but Milo, being Tribune the Year fol∣lowing, endeavour'd to bring back Cicero again. Clodius violently oppos'd it; and getting together some of his own Gang, and a parcel of Gladiators, fell upon the People as they assembled about it, and shew several. Milo, on the other side, bought Gladiators to defend Cicero, and in him (as he says) the Republick it self. This is that Milo, who afterwards kil∣led this Clodius; for which being accus'd, he was defended by our Author in that incomparable Oration, which is still ex∣tant.
• f

  An excellent Roman, Cos. with Cn. Octavius, the Year of Rome 677; a good Man, and a Lover of Virtue, as well as Learning. He was also a very good Orator, and is often mention'd by our Author. His Son was that Curio, who was Tribune of the People, and the grand Incendiary in the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey.
• g

  Above two thousand Talents: This is that entrance to their ancient Tower call'd Acropolis and (because under the Protecti∣on of Pallas) Glaucopia, so often mention'd by ancient Writers. It had five noble Doors, was cover'd with curious white Stone, and was five Years in building. See Meurs. Cecropia.
• h

  This Work was in ten Books: but 'tis now all lost ex∣cept some few Fragments, of which Scipio's Dream is much the largest, as making a good part of the sixth Book.