"When an adventurer raised troops in Italy on his own initiative, *privato consilio*, it was claimed that the Senate could at once legalize treason, condoning the private act through *publica auctoritas*; the bribery of the troops of the Roman State was coolly described as the generous investment of a patrimony for the public good; when the legions of a consul deserted, it was taken to prove that the consul was not a consul. The author of this audacious proposal represented it to be nothing less than ‘laying the foundations of constitutional government’. Again, when private individuals seize provinces and armies, the higher legality is expressly invoked—‘the ordinance enacted by Heaven itself, namely that all things advantageous for the State are right and lawful’. Extraordinary commands were against the spirit of the constitution—but they might be necessary to save the State. Of that the Senate was supreme judge. What if it had not lent its sanction? Why, true patriots were their own Senate."
Why is Sir Ronald Syme so mean to Chickpea? :(
first of all he is mean to almost everyone due to his tacitean nature. second HE HAS A POINT cicero talks sooooo much shit 😭😭😭
Your lord seems to divinity equal be what ever manner of man he is who sits and wonders at enchantment: hears you speak
that music from the spheres — O it started one poor heart of mine. I do fear to find mine eye too great a flatterer, for brief sight of you bade me never speak again
tongue strangled and too fast this havoc in limbs and love’s night creeps in at mine eyes and fulsome to mine ear this howling upbraids me
and wind and weather usurps me. How now! Even so quickly may one catch the plague? How am I beguiled! Poor fool, methinks I am drowned.
In chase of you a most extracting frenzy. ‘Twill endure
terentia thanks atticus for keeping cicero alive! cicero is maybe his most miserable yet! cicero doesn’t know what to write but hopes atticus will still love him! and this letter is dispatched from a definitely unhaunted location!
ALT
