§27Decimus quidem Brutus, summus vir et imperator, Acci, amicissimi sui, carminibus templorum ac monumentorum aditus exornavit suorum.
Decimus Brutus, indeed, a most excellent man and general, adorned the entrances of his own temples and monuments with the verses of Accius, his very close friend.
iam vero ille qui cum Aetolis Ennio comite bellavit Fulvius non dubitavit Martis manubias Musis consecrare.
Moreover, that famous Fulvius, who waged war with the Aetolians with Ennius as his companion, did not hesitate to consecrate the spoils of Mars to the Muses.
qua re, in qua urbe imperatores prope armati poetarum nomen et Musarum delubra coluerunt, in ea non debent togati iudices a Musarum honore et a poetarum salute abhorrere. §28atque ut id libentius faciatis, iam me vobis, iudices, indicabo et de meo quodam amore gloriae nimis acri fortasse, verum tamen honesto vobis confitebor.
Therefore, in that city where generals almost in arms honored the name of poets and the shrines of the Muses, togated judges ought not to shrink from the honor of the Muses and the safety of poets. And so that you may do this more willingly, judges, I will now reveal myself to you and confess to you a certain love of glory of mine, perhaps too eager, but nevertheless honorable.
nam quas res nos in consulatu nostro vobiscum simul pro salute huius urbis atque imperi et pro vita civium proque universa re publica gessimus, attigit hic versibus atque inchoavit.
For those things which we, in our consulship, performed together with you for the safety of this city and empire, and for the lives of the citizens, and for the entire republic, this man has touched upon in his verses and has begun.
quibus auditis, quod mihi magna res et iucunda visa est, hunc ad perficiendum adornavi.
Having heard these, because it seemed to me a great and pleasant thing, I encouraged him to complete it.
nullam enim virtus aliam mercedem laborum periculorumque desiderat praeter hanc laudis et gloriae; qua quidem detracta, iudices, quid est quod in hoc tam exiguo vitae curriculo et tam brevi tantis nos in laboribus exerceamus? §29certe, si nihil animus praesentiret in posterum, et si, quibus regionibus vitae spatium circumscriptum est, isdem omnis cogitationes terminaret suas, nec tantis se laboribus frangeret neque tot curis vigiliisque angeretur nec totiens de ipsa vita dimicaret.
For virtue desires no other reward for labors and dangers except this one of praise and glory; indeed, if this is taken away, judges, what is there for which we should busy ourselves in so great labors in this so narrow and so brief course of life? Certainly, if the mind foresaw nothing for the future, and if it bounded all its thoughts within the same limits by which the space of life is circumscribed, it would neither break itself with such great labors, nor be tormented by so many cares and vigils, nor fight so many times for life itself.
nunc insidet quaedam in optimo quoque virtus, quae noctes ac dies animum gloriae stimulis concitat atque admonet non cum vitae tempore esse dimittendam commemorationem nominis nostri, sed cum omni posteritate adaequandam. §30an vero tam parvi animi videamur esse omnes qui in re publica atque in his vitae periculis laboribusque versamur ut, cum usque ad extremum spatium nullum tranquillum atque otiosum spiritum duxerimus, nobiscum simul moritura omnia arbitremur? an statuas et imagines, non animorum simulacra, sed corporum, studiose multi summi homines reliquerunt; consiliorum relinquere ac virtutum nostrarum effigiem nonne multo malle debemus summis ingeniis expressam et politam? ego vero omnia quae gerebam iam tum in gerendo spargere me ac disseminare arbitrabar in orbis terrae memoriam sempiternam.
But now there dwells in every best man a certain virtue, which night and day incites the mind with the spurs of glory and admonishes it that the remembrance of our name is not to be dismissed with the time of life, but must be made equal with all posterity. Or indeed, should we all who are engaged in public affairs and in these dangers and labors of life appear to be of so small a mind that, though we have drawn no tranquil and peaceful breath up to the very last moment, we think that all things will die together with us? Did many most excellent men diligently leave behind statues and images, not likenesses of minds, but of bodies; ought we not to desire much more to leave behind an image of our counsels and virtues, expressed and polished by the highest talents? I indeed, even then in the very doing, thought that I was sowing and scattering all things that I was doing into the everlasting memory of the world.
haec vero sive a meo sensu post mortem afutura est, sive, ut sapientissimi homines putaverunt, ad aliquam animi mei partem pertinebit, nunc quidem certe cogitatione quadam speque delector. §31qua re conservate, iudices, hominem pudore eo quem amicorum videtis comprobari cum dignitate, tum etiam vetustate, ingenio autem tanto quantum id convenit existimari, quod summorum hominum iudiciis expetitum esse videatis, causa vero eius modi quae beneficio legis, auctoritate municipi, testimonio Luculli, tabulis Metelli comprobetur.
And whether this is to be absent from my consciousness after death, or, as the wisest men have thought, it will pertain to some part of my mind, now indeed I am certainly delighted by a certain thought and hope. Therefore, judges, preserve this man, who is of such modesty as you see approved by his friends, both for his worth and also for his long-standing friendship, and of such talent as is fitting to be estimated, which you see was sought after by the judgments of the highest men, and with a cause of such a kind as is approved by the benefit of the law, the authority of the municipium, the testimony of Lucullus, and the tablets of Metellus.
quae cum ita sint, petimus a vobis, iudices, si qua non modo humana verum etiam divina in tantis ingeniis commendatio debet esse, ut eum qui vos, qui vestros imperatores, qui populi Romani res gestas semper ornavit, qui etiam his recentibus nostris vestrisque domesticis periculis aeternum se testimonium laudis daturum esse profitetur, quique est ex eo numero qui semper apud omnis sancti sunt habiti itaque dicti, sic in vestram accipiatis fidem ut humanitate vestra levatus potius quam acerbitate violatus esse videatur. §32quae de causa pro mea consuetudine breviter simpliciterque dixi, iudices, ea confido probata esse omnibus; quae a foro aliena iudicialique consuetudine et de hominis ingenio et communiter de ipso studio locutus sum, ea, iudices, a vobis spero esse in bonam partem accepta, ab eo qui iudicium exercet certo scio.
Since these things are so, we ask of you, judges, if there ought to be any recommendation, not only human but also divine, for such great talents, that you receive him into your protection, who has always adorned you, your generals, and the exploits of the Roman people, who also promises that he will give an eternal testimony of praise for these recent domestic dangers of ours and yours, and who is of that number who have always been held and called holy among all, in such a way that he may seem to have been relieved by your humanity rather than violated by your severity. The things which I have spoken briefly and simply according to my custom concerning the cause, judges, I trust have been approved by all; the things which I have spoken, foreign to the forum and judicial custom, concerning the man's talent and generally concerning the study itself, those, judges, I hope have been taken by you in good part, and I know for certain they have been so taken by him who presides over the trial.