§7at vero huius gloriae, C. Caesar, quam es paulo ante adeptus socium habes neminem: totum hoc quantumcumque est, quod certe maximum est, totum est, inquam, tuum.
But indeed of this glory, Julius Caesar, which you have obtained just now, you have no partner; all of this, however great it is, which is certainly greatest, is, I say, entirely yours.
nihil sibi ex ista laude centurio, nihil praefectus, nihil cohors, nihil turma decerpit; quin etiam illa ipsa rerum humanarum domina, Fortuna, in istius se societatem gloriae non offert: tibi cedit, tuam esse totam et propriam fatetur.
No centurion, no prefect, no cohort, no squadron of cavalry snatches anything from that praise for himself; nay, even Fortune herself, that mistress of human affairs, does not offer herself for partnership in that glory of yours; she yields to you, she confesses that it is entirely yours and your own.
numquam enim temeritas cum sapientia commiscetur nec ad consilium casus admittitur.
For rashness is never mingled with wisdom, nor is chance admitted to counsel.
§8domuisti gentis immanitate barbaras, multitudine innumerabilis, locis infinitas, omni copiarum genere abundantis: ea tamen vicisti quae et naturam et condicionem ut vinci possent habebant.
You have subdued nations barbarian in their ferocity, countless in their number, boundless in their territories, and rich in every kind of resources; yet you conquered things which possessed both the nature and condition to be able to be conquered.
nulla est enim tanta vis quae non ferro et viribus debilitari frangique possit.
For there is no force so great that it cannot be weakened and broken by iron and strength.
animum vincere, iracundiam cohibere, victo temperare, adversarium nobilitate, ingenio, virtute praestantem non modo extollere iacentem sed etiam amplificare eius pristinam dignitatem, haec qui faciat, non ego eum cum summis viris comparo, sed simillimum deo iudico.
To conquer one's mind, to restrain anger, to spare the vanquished, and not only to raise up a fallen adversary outstanding in nobility, genius, and virtue, but even to increase his former dignity—he who does these things, I do not compare him with the greatest men, but judge him to be most like to a god.
§9itaque, C. Caesar, bellicae tuae laudes celebrabuntur illae quidem non solum nostris sed paene omnium gentium litteris atque linguis, neque ulla umquam aetas de tuis laudibus conticescet; sed tamen eius modi res nescio quo modo, etiam cum leguntur, obstrepi clamore militum videntur et tubarum sono.
Therefore, Julius Caesar, those military praises of yours will indeed be celebrated not only in our own literature and languages but in those of almost all nations, nor will any age ever be silent concerning your praises; yet, somehow or other, things of that kind, even when they are read, seem to be drowned out by the shout of soldiers and the sound of trumpets.
at vero cum aliquid clementer, mansuete, iuste, moderate, sapienter factum, in iracundia praesertim quae est inimica consilio, et in victoria quae natura insolens et superba est, audimus aut legimus, quo studio incendimur, non modo in gestis rebus sed etiam in fictis ut eos saepe quos numquam vidimus diligamus!
But indeed, when we hear or read of something done with clemency, mildness, justice, moderation, and wisdom—especially in anger, which is hostile to counsel, and in victory, which by its nature is insolent and proud—with what enthusiasm are we inflamed, not only in real exploits but even in fictitious stories, so that we often love those whom we have never seen!
§10te vero quem praesentem intuemur, cuius mentem sensusque et os cernimus, ut, quicquid belli fortuna reliquum rei publicae fecerit, id esse salvum velis, quibus laudibus efferemus, quibus studiis prosequemur, qua benevolentia complectemur? parietes, me dius fidius, ut mihi videtur, huius curiae tibi gratias agere gestiunt, quod brevi tempore futura sit illa auctoritas in his maiorum suorum et suis sedibus.
But you, whom we look upon present here, whose mind and feelings and countenance we discern, in that you wish whatever remnant of the republic the fortune of war has left to be safe—with what praises shall we extol you, with what enthusiasm shall we follow you, with what goodwill shall we embrace you? By Hercules, as it seems to me, the very walls of this senate-house are eager to thank you, because in a short time that authority is going to be in these seats of its ancestors and its own.
equidem cum C. Marcelli, viri optimi et commemorabili pietate praediti lacrimas modo vobiscum viderem, omnium Marcellorum meum pectus memoria offudit, quibus tu etiam mortuis M. Marcello conservato dignitatem suam reddidisti nobilissimamque familiam iam ad paucos redactam paene ab interitu vindicasti.
Indeed, when I just now saw with you the tears of Gaius Marcellus, a most excellent man endowed with memorable affection, the memory of all the Marcelli flooded my heart, to whom, even dead, you have restored their dignity by preserving Marcus Marcellus, and have rescued from near destruction a most noble family now reduced to few.
§11hunc tu diem tuis maximis et innumerabilibus gratulationibus iure anteponis.
This day you rightly prefer to your greatest and countless thanksgiving celebrations.
haec enim res unius est propria C. Caesaris; ceterae duce te gestae magnae illae quidem, sed tamen multo magnoque comitatu.
For this deed is the exclusive property of one man, Julius Caesar; the other things accomplished under your leadership, great as they indeed were, yet had a large and great company.
huius autem rei tu idem dux es et comes: quae quidem tanta est ut tropaeis et monumentis tuis adlatura finem sit aetas—nihil est enim opere et manu factum quod non conficiat et consumat vetustas— §12at haec tua iustitia et lenitas florescet cotidie magis.
But of this deed you are at once the leader and the companion; and indeed it is so great that time will bring an end to your trophies and monuments—for there is nothing made by hand and work which age does not weaken and consume— yet this justice and gentleness of yours will flourish more and more every day.
ita quantum operibus tuis diuturnitas detrahet, tantum adferet laudibus.
Thus, as much as length of time takes away from your works, so much will it add to your praises.
et ceteros quidem omnis victores bellorum civilium iam antea aequitate et misericordia viceras: hodierno vero die te ipse vicisti.
And indeed, you had already surpassed all other victors of civil wars in equity and mercy; but today you have conquered yourself.
vereor ut hoc quod dicam perinde intellegi possit auditu atque ipse cogitans sentio: ipsam victoriam vicisse videris, cum ea quae erant adempta victis remisisti.
I fear that what I am about to say cannot be understood by hearing in the same way as I feel it in my thoughts: you seem to have conquered victory itself, when you restored to the vanquished those things which had been taken away.
nam cum ipsius victoriae iure omnes victi occidissemus, clementiae tuae iudicio conservati sumus.
For since by the very right of victory we, the vanquished, had all perished, we have been preserved by the decision of your clemency.
recte igitur unus invictus es a quo etiam ipsius victoriae condicio visque devicta est.
Rightly, therefore, you alone are unconquered, by whom even the condition and force of victory itself has been conquered.