Part 2

Mark Sharp / Tacitus Annals Part 1
  • Created on 2020-05-01 00:31:17
  • Modified on 2020-05-01 02:50:50
  • Aligned by Mark Sharp
Latin
English
English
Annals (Perseus)
Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb (Perseus)
Queen Elizabeth (Hooker transcription)
sed veteris populi Romani prospera vel adversa claris scriptoribus memorata sunt ; temporibusque Augusti dicendis non defuere decora ingenia , donec gliscente adulatione deterrerentur . Tiberii Gaique et Claudii ac Neronis res florentibus ipsis ob metum falsae , postquam occiderant recentibus odiis compositae sunt . inde consilium mihi pauca de Augusto et extrema tradere , mox Tiberii principatum et cetera , sine ira et studio , quorum causas procul habeo .
Postquam Bruto et Cassio caesis nulla iam publica arma , Pompeius apud Siciliam oppressus exutoque Lepido , interfecto Antonio ne Iulianis quidem partibus nisi Caesar dux reliquus , posito triumviri nomine consulem se ferens et ad tuendam plebem tribunicio iure contentum , ubi militem donis , populum annona , cunctos dulcedine otii pellexit , insurgere paulatim , munia senatus magistratuum legum in se trahere , nullo adversante , cum ferocissimi per acies aut proscriptione cecidissent , ceteri nobilium , quanto quis servitio promptior , opibus et honoribus extollerentur ac novis ex rebus aucti tuta et praesentia quam vetera et periculosa mallent . neque provinciae illum rerum statum abnuebant , suspecto senatus populique imperio ob certamina potentium et avaritiam magistratuum , invalido legum auxilio quae vi ambitu postremo pecunia turbabantur .

But the successes and reverses of the old Roman people have been recorded by famous historians ; and fine intellects were not wanting to describe the times of Augustus , till growing sycophancy scared them away . The histories of Tiberius , Caius , Claudius , and Nero , while they were in power , were falsified through terror , and after their death were written under the irritation of a recent hatred . Hence my purpose is to relate a few facts about Augustus—more particularly his last acts , then the reign of Tiberius , and all which follows , without either bitterness or partiality , from any motives to which I am far removed .
When after the destruction of Brutus and Cassius there was no longer any army of the Commonwealth , when Pompeius was crushed in Sicily , and when , with Lepidus pushed aside and Antonius slain , even the Julian faction had only Cæsar left to lead it , then , dropping the title of triumvir , and giving out that he was a Consul , and was satisfied with a tribune ' s authority for the protection of the people , Augustus won over the soldiers with gifts , the populace with cheap corn , and all men with the sweets of repose , and so grew greater by degrees , while he concentrated in himself the functions of the Senate , the magistrates , and the laws . He was wholly unopposed , for the boldest spirits had fallen in battle , or in the proscription , while the remaining nobles , the readier they were to be slaves , were raised the higher by wealth and promotion , so that , aggrandised by revolution , they preferred the safety of the present to the dangerous past . Nor did the provinces dislike that condition of affairs , for they distrusted the government of the Senate and the people , because of the rivalries between the leading men and the rapacity of the officials , while the protection of the laws was unavailing , as they were continually deranged by violence , intrigue , and finally by corruption .
As for the auncient Roman peo|ple , both prosperous and miserable , by cleare authors are well remembred . | There lacked not florishing wittes , to se*te out Augustus dayes vntill | flatteries glose to muche affrighted them . Tiberius , Caius , Claudius , | and Neroes time , when they florished for feare of falshood ; after their | dayes , by fresh hates were accorded . This made me take in hande the | laste and few of Augustus dayes , and so Tiberius rule and all the rest , | without malice or zeale , from which both , I am farre of . [ 1 . 2 ] After Brutus | and Cassius slaine there were no common armes . Pompey oppressed in | Sicilia , Lepidus rejected , Anthony killed ; and none left for Julius parte , | but Cesar alone , who leauing the name of Triumuir remained but Consul , | contented by Tribunes right to defend the people . Wherein when he had | won the soldier by gifts , the people by gyftes ( ? ) plentie , and all by eases | sweetnes ; then began he to pluck and drawe , the Senates office , the Magis-|trates power , and all lawes to himselfe . none gainsaying , when the stowt=|est by battayle or exyle were decayed . The rest of noblest , as redyest in | service , so moste aduanced in wealth and dignitie , increased by new gyftes | chose rather the saffe , and present , then ancient and dangerous . Nether | did the Prouinces gainsay this ordered state . The rule of Senate and people | suspected for the great ones striffes , and magistrates auarice , nought | availing lawes healpe , which by violence , ambition , at laste for money | were all shaken .

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