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Sallust - Speech of Cotta 2.47 = 2.

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[44] {47.M} [Post] paucos dies Cotta mutata veste permaestus, quod pro cupita
voluntate plebes abalienata fuerat, hoc modo in contione populi disseruit:
Quirites, multa mihi pericula domi militiaeque, multa aduorsa fuere; quorum alia
toleraui, partim reppuli deorum auxiliis et uirtute mea. In quis omnibus
numquam animus negotio defuit neque decretis labos. Malae secundaeque res
opes, non ingenium, mihi mutabant. 2 At contra in his miseriis cuncta me cum
fortuna deseruere. Praeterea senectus per se grauis curam duplicat, cui misero
acta iam aetate ne mortem quidem honestam sperare licet. 3 Nam si parricida
uostri sum et, bis genitus hic, deos penatis meos patriamque et summum
imperium uilia habeo, quis mihi uiuo cruciatus satis est aut quae poena mortuo?
Quin omnia memorata apud inferos supplicia scelere meo uici.
A few days later, Cotta changed his clothing most gloomily, because the plebs
had been disaffected in place of the goodwill he desired, and in this way he
made a speech to the assembly:
Fellow citizens, there have been many dangers for me at home and abroad, and
many adversities; some of these I have endured, others I have repelled with the
aid of the gods and by my courage. In all these I never lacked spirit to make
decisions nor the energy to act. Evil and favourable circumstances changed my
resources, not my character. But in these wretched times everything is different
and everything has deserted me along with fortune. Moreover, old age which is
in itself a serious affliction doubles my worry, in which it is my wretched
misfortune when near the end of life to be allowed to hope even for an
honourable death. For if I am a traitor to you, and although twice born here I hold
cheap my household goods and country and its greatest power, what torture
while I am alive is enough or what punishment once I am dead? Surely my I have
overcome in my crime all the well-known punishments in hell.

4 A prima adulescentia in ore uostro, priuatus et in magistratibus, egi. Qui lingua,


qui consilio meo, qui pecunia uoluere, usi sunt; neque ego callidam facundiam
neque ingenium ad male faciundum exercui. Auidissumus priuatae gratiae
maxumas inimicitias pro re publica suscepi; quis uictus cum illa simul, cum
egens alienae opis plura mala expectarem, uos, Quirites, rursus mihi patriam
deosque penatis cum ingenti dignitate dedistis. 5 Pro quibus beneficiis uix satis
gratus uidear, si singulis animam, quam nequeo, concesserim. Nam uita et mors
iura naturae sunt; ut sine dedecore cum ciuibus fama et fortunis integer agas, id
dono datur atque accipitur.

From my earliest boyhood have passed my life in your eyes, as a private citizen
and as an individual. Those who needed my voice, those who needed my advice,
those who needed my money, they have used it; and I have not practised a
cunning eloquence nor a character for doing evil. Most desirous of private
goodwill, I have incurred the greatest enmities on behalf of the state; when I was
overcome with these at the same time, when in need of help from others I
expected more evils, you, fellow citizens, again gave my country to me and my

household gods along with your highest mark of distinction. In return for these
kindnesses I should seem barely grateful enough, if I should give up my life for
each of you, which I am unable to do. For life and death are the laws of nature; to
live without shame among ones fellow citizens with fame and fortune intact,
that is something given and received.
6 Consules nos fecistis, Quirites, domi bellique impeditissuma re publica.
Namque imperatores Hispaniae stipendium, milites, arma, frumentum poscunt;
et id res cogit, quoniam defectione sociorum et Sertori per montis fuga neque
manu certare possunt neque utilia parare. 7 Exercitus in Asia Ciliciaque ob
nimias opes Mithridatis aluntur; Macedonia plena hostium est, nec minus Italiae
marituma et prouinciarum; cum interim uectigalia parua et bellis incerta uix
partem sumptuum sustinent. Ita classe, quae commeatus tuebatur, minore quam
antea nauigamus. 8 Haec si dolo aut socordia nostra contracta sunt, agite, ut
monet ira, supplicium sumite; sin fortuna communis asperior est, quare indigna
uobis nobisque et re publica incipitis?
you elected us consuls, fellow citizens, when at home and abroad the republic is
beset by the severest difficulties. For the commanders in Spain demand money,
soldiers, weapons, grain; and the situation compels it, since with the defection
of our allies and the flight of Sertorius through the mountains neither can they
strive in battle nor can they provide for their necessities. The armies in Asia and
Cilicia are maintained through the excessive wealth of Mithridates; Macedonia is
full of enemies, and no less in the sea-coast of Italy and the provinces. In the
meantime our revenues small and uncertain in times of war scarcely sustain part
of our expenditure. Thus we sail a fleet which is smaller than the one which used
to guard our supplies. If this state of affairs has been brought about by treachery
or by negligence on our part, come, as our anger warns us, inflict punishmen ton
us; but if common fortune is harsher, why do you begin acts unworthy of you, of
us and of the republic?
9 Atque ego, cuius aetati mors propior est, non deprecor, si quid ea uobis
incommodi demitur; neque mox ingenio corporis honestius quam pro uostra
salute finem uitae fecerim. 10 Adsum en C. Cotta consul; facio quod saepe
maiores asperis bellis fecere: uoueo dedoque me pro re publica, quam deinde cui
mandetis circumspicite. 11 Nam talem honorem bonus nemo uolet, cum fortunae
et maris et belli ab aliis acti ratio reddunda aut turpiter moriundum sit. 12
Tantum modo in animis habetote non me ob scelus aut auaritiam caesum, sed
uolentem pro maxumis beneficiis animum dono dedisse.
13 Per uos, Quirites, et gloriam maiorum, tolerate aduorsa et consulite rei
publicae. 14 Multa cura summo imperio inest, multi ingentes labores, quos
nequiquam abnuitis et pacis opulentiam quaeritis, cum omnes prouinciae, regna,
maria terraeque aspera aut fessa bellis sint.
And I whose death is closer in my lifetime, do not beg it off, if that will lessen
some inconveniences for you. Nor could I end my life as in the law of nature it
soon must more honourably than in defence of your safety. Well I am here, Gaius
cotta consul; I do that which my ancestors often did in times of bitter warfare; I
dedicate and vow that myself for the republic; then look for someone two whom
you entrust it. for no good man desires such an honour, when one must render
an account both for the chances of fortune both on the sea and in war driven on
by others, or else die a shameful death. Only bear in mind that I was put to
death not for crime or greed, but that I willingly gave my life as a gift in return for
the greatest kindnesses.

Through you, fellow citizens, and through the glory of our ancesters, bear
adversity and take thought for the republic. There are many cares in the greatest
power, there are many great labours, which in vain for you to ignore and search
for the opulence of peace, when all the provinces, kingdoms, seas and lands are
devastated or exhausted by wars.

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