§2.1Ex Macedonum autem gente duo multo ceteros antecesserunt rerum gestarum gloria: Philippus, Amyntae filius, et Alexander Magnus.
But of the Macedonian nation, two far surpassed the others in the glory of their deeds: Philip, the son of Amyntas, and Alexander the Great.
horum alter Babylone morbo consumptus est, Philippus Aegiis a Pausania, cum spectatum ludos iret, iuxta theatrum occisus est. §2.2unus Epirotes, Pyrrhus, qui cum populo Romano bellavit.
Of these, one was consumed by disease at Babylon; Philip was killed near the theater at Aegae by Pausanias, when he was going to watch the games. There was one Epirote, Pyrrhus, who waged war against the Roman people.
is cum Argos oppidum oppugnaret in Peloponneso, lapide ictus interiit.
When he was besieging the town of Argos in the Peloponnese, he died, struck by a stone.
unus item Siculus, Dionysius prior.
There was likewise one Sicilian, Dionysius the Elder.
nam et manu fortis et belli peritus fuit et, id quod in tyranno non facile reperitur, minime libidinosus, non luxuriosus, non avarus, nullius denique rei cupidus nisi singularis perpetuique imperii ob eamque rem crudelis: nam dum id studuit munire, nullius pepercit vitae, quem eius insidiatorem putaret. §2.3hic cum virtute tyrannidem sibi peperisset, magna retinuit felicitate: maior enim annos sexaginta natus decessit florente regno.
For he was both brave in hand-to-hand combat and skilled in war, and—something not easily found in a tyrant—very little given to lust, not luxurious, not avaricious, and finally covetous of nothing except a singular and perpetual power, and for that reason cruel; for while he studied to fortify it, he spared the life of no one whom he considered a plotter against it. Since this man had acquired the tyranny for himself by his own ability, he retained it with great good fortune; for he died when he was more than sixty years old, while his kingdom was flourishing.
neque in tam multis annis cuiusquam ex sua stirpe funus vidit, cum ex tribus uxoribus liberos procreasset multique ei nati essent nepotes.
Nor did he, in so many years, see the funeral of anyone of his own offspring, although he had procreated children from three wives and many grandsons had been born to him.