II. * * * * * * No prerogative more royal than the administration of
justice, in which was comprehended the expounding of rights, for
individuals were accustomed to seek justice from kings. On which account
the lands, the fields, the groves, the extensive and rich grazing
districts were defined, which belonged to the sovereign, and were all
managed without any care or labour on his part; that none of the cares
of private business, might abstract him from the affairs of the public.
Nor was any man an umpire or arbitrator of any legal contention, but all
things were decided by royal judgments. And it seems to me, that our
Numa chiefly adopted this ancient custom from the kings of Greece. For
the others, although they also discharged this function, yet a great
many of them waged wars, and occupied themselves in establishing the
rules of war. But that long peace of Numa, was the parent of law and
religion to this city. He also was the writer of those laws which you
know to be extant: all which is appropriate to the very citizen whose
character we are drawing * * * * * *
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III. S. Do you think there is any harm in his being acquainted with the
nature of roots and seeds?
M. None, if only his work is not neglected.
S. But do you think it to be properly the study of a farmer?
M. Not in the least; for the cultivation of the land would often be
unattended to.
S. Therefore, as a farmer is acquainted with the nature of his soil, a
steward with the nature of letters, and each can turn from the amusement
of theory to the greater utility of practice; so this our ruler may be
thoroughly conversant with the knowledge of rights and of laws; he may
have looked even into the very fountains of them: but let not his
consultations, his constant readings, and his writings occupy him too
much; but let him be as it were both steward and farmer to the
commonwealth. Let him be skilled in the principles of law without which
no man can be just; let him not be ignorant of civil law: but let it be
as the pilot who studies the stars; the physician who studies the nature
of plants and minerals; each turning his knowledge to the benefit of his
art, without permitting it to impede the practical use of his
vocation * * *
[An unknown number of pages wanting.]
IV. * * * * In those states where the good look for praise and honour,
and fly from ignominy and disgrace. Not so much restrained by
apprehension of the penalties established by law, but by a sentiment of
self-respect, which nature has planted in man, a sort of dread of
deserved censure. This sentiment the ruler of a state strengthens by
public opinion, and confirms by education, and by institutions, that
shame may deter the citizen from crime as much as fear. But these
considerations properly belong to renown, and shall be more abundantly
considered.
V. Life, however, and the comfortable enjoyment of it, are constituted
by legal marriages, lawful children; the keeping hallowed the seats of
the penate gods, and the domestic lares; that all may enjoy public and
private comforts. Without good government, private life cannot be
agreeable, nor can any one be more happy than in a well regulated
state * * * *
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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Corrected items noted in the Errata.
2. Silently corrected typographical errors in the Preface,
Introduction, and footnotes.
3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed in the
Preface, Introduction, and footnotes.
4. Did not alter punctuation or spellings in the Translation with the
exception of joining words split by pages.
5. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
End of Project Gutenberg's The republic of Cicero, by Marcus Tullius Cicero