5

ΙΟ

15

20

of bad taste to accentuate it. Horace here laments the rapid change, and notes that in the good old times with private simplicity and economy went generous expenditure on public worship.

(See I. 7 and 8.)

§ I

Contrast between Simplicity of Earlier and Extravagance of Later Republican Styles.

$2

Ill fares the land, to hast'ning ills a prey,
Where Wealth accumulates, and Men decay.'

Sallust makes the same indictment against the later Republic. His practice as a soldier in the provinces and also in the City as a wealthy magnate belied his schoolroom philosophy, which is not free from a trace of pedantry and bookishness. There is a variety of evidence to bear out the general truth of his accusations. Horace, Odes ii, 18 (II. 7) refers to the same extravagant abuses of wealth, though Horace shows real moral fervour and real love of simplicity. Sallust never knew the inspiration of the 'Augustan Renascence'.

B

EFORE long, Wealth began to be the badge of honour : glory, power, position followed it. The flower of our national character then began to droop: poverty became a stigma of shame, and honesty came to be taken for intrigue. As a result of wealth extravagance and greed united with pride 5 to assail the younger generation: covetousness and plunder were the order of the day; contempt of one's own, lust for one's neighbour's property. Self-respect, chastity, the laws of heaven and earth, alike were sneered at and ignored. It is worth while, as you study our town- and country-houses, 10 miniature cities in themselves, to pay a visit to the cathedrals which our religious forefathers erected. Ah, they adorned their shrines with reverence, their private homes with honour; and they did not rob even their conquered foes of anything save their sting. But the next degraded generation were past- 15 masters in wickedness, robbing even their allies of what a nobler age left to a vanquished foe, exactly as if the sceptre of Empire were a petty tyrant's rod. It is hardly necessary to mention their extravagance, incredible till you have seen it--such as the excavation of mountains by private enterprise and the 20 paving of the very sea. They have made a mockery of wealth, I feel, wealth which they were free to keep with honour and yet have disgracefully degraded.

SALLUST, Catiline xii and xiii. (41 B. C.)

§ 3

Cicero's Advice to his Brother on the Architecture

of a Country House.

M. CICERO S. D. Q. FRATRI

In this letter of Cicero to his brother Quintus we see the same tendency developing, which began soon after the Punic Wars (circ. 200 в. c.) the tendency among men of taste to seek perfection, regardless of expense, in the details of their houses. It was no doubt their success which led to the rivalry of the vulgar upstart who traded on the misfortunes of the times and degraded what he imitated.

Cicero, a thoroughly bad business man, is most himself when discussing houses, libraries, and society generally. A pleasant humour pervades his writing.

EGO

ex magnis caloribus (non enim meminimus maiores) in Arpinati summa cum amoenitate fluminis me refeci ludorum diebus, Philotimo tribulibus commendatis. in Arcano a. d. IIII Idus Septembris fui. ibi Mescidium cum Philoxeno aquam5 que, quam ii ducebant non longe a villa, belle sane fluentem vidi, praesertim maxima siccitate, uberioremque aliquanto sese conlecturos esse dicebant. apud Herum recte erat. in Manliano offendi Diphilum Diphilo tardiorem; sed tamen nihil ei restabat praeter balnearia et ambulationem et aviarium. villa mihi 10 valde placuit propterea quod summam dignitatem pavimentata porticus habebat, quod mihi nunc denique apparuit postea quam et ipsa tota patet et columnae politae sunt. totum in eo est, quod mihi erit curae, tectorium ut concinnum sit. pavimenta recte fieri videbantur; cameras quas15 dam non probavi mutarique iussi. quo loco in porticu te scribere aiunt ut atriolum fiat, mihi ut est magis placebat. neque enim satis loci videbatur esse atriolo neque fere solet nisi in iis aedificiis fieri in quibus est atrium maius nec habere poterat adiuncta cubicula et eius modi membra. nunc hoc 20 vel honestae testudinis valde boni aestivi locum obtine

bit. tu tamen si aliter sentis, rescribe quam primum. in balneariis assa in alterum apodyteri angulum promovi propterea quod ita erant posita ut eorum vaporarium, ex quo ignis erumpit, esset subiectum cubiculis. subgrande cubiculum autem et hibernum alterum valde probavi quod et ampla erant 25 et loco posita ambulationis uno latere, eo quod est proximum balneariis. columnas neque rectas neque e regione Diphilus conlocarat. eas scilicet demolietur. aliquando perpendiculo et linea discet uti. omnino spero paucis mensibus opus Diphili perfectum fore; curat enim diligentissime Caesius, qui tum 30 mecum fuit.

Ex eo loco recta Vitularia via profecti sumus in Fufidianum fundum, quem tibi proximis nundinis Arpini de Fufidio HS cccɔɔɔ cɔɔ emeramus. ego locum aestate umbrosiorem vidi numquam; permultis locis aquam profluentem et eam 35 uberem. quid quaeris? iugera L prati Caesius inrigaturum facile te arbitrabatur. equidem hoc quod melius intellego adfirmo, mirifica suavitate villam habiturum piscina et salientibus additis, palaestra et silva viridicata. fundum audio te hunc Bovillanum velle retinere. de eo quid videatur ipse 40 constitues. Caesius aiebat aqua dempta et eius aquae iure constituto et servitute fundo illi imposita tamen nos pretium servare posse si vendere vellemus. Messidium mecum habui. is se ternis nummis in pedem tecum transegisse dicebat, sese autem mensum pedibus aiebat passuum IIICIɔ. mihi plus 45 visum est; sed praestabo sumptum nusquam melius posse poni. Cillonem arcessieram Venafro; sed eo ipso die quattuor eius conservos et discipulos Venafri cuniculus oppresserat. Idibus Septembr. in Laterio fui. viam perspexi ; quae mihi ita placuit ut opus publicum videretur esse, praeter CL passus (sum enim 50 ipse mensus) ab eo ponticulo, qui est ad Furinae, Satricum versus. eo loco pulvis non glarea iniecta est (et mutabitur), et ea viae pars valde acclivis est; sed intellexi aliter duci non potuisse, praesertim cum tu neque per Lucustae neque per Varronis velles ducere. Varro viam ante suum fundum probe 55

munierat; Lucusta non attigerat. quem ego Romae adgrediar et, ut arbitror, commovebo et simul M. Taurum, quem tibi audio promisisse, qui nunc Romae erat, de aqua per fundum eius ducenda rogabo. Nicephorum, vilicum tuum, sane probavi 60 quaesivique ex eo ecquid ei de illa aedificatiuncula Lateri de qua mecum locutus es mandavisses. tum is mihi respondit se ipsum eius operis HS XVI conductorem fuisse sed te postea multa addidisse ad opus, nihil ad pretium; itaque id se omisisse. mihi me hercule valde placet te illa ut constitueras addere; quamquam 65 ea villa, quae nunc est, tamquam philosopha videtur esse quae obiurget ceterarum villarum insaniam. verum tamen illud additum delectabit. topiarium laudavi; ita omnia convestivit hedera, qua basim villae, qua intercolumnia ambulationis, ut denique illi palliati topiariam facere videantur et hederam 70 vendere. iam ἀποδυτηρίῳ nihil alsius, nihil muscosius. habes fere de rebus rusticis. urbanam expolitionem urget ille quidem et Philotimus et Cincius sed etiam ipse crebro interviso, quod est facile factu. quam ob rem ea te cura liberatum volo.

75

Reddita etiam mihi est pervetus epistula, sed sero adlata, in qua de aede Telluris et de porticu Catuli me admones. fit utrumque diligenter. ad Telluris quidem etiam tuam statuam locavi. item de hortis me quod admones, nec fui umquam valde cupidus et nunc domus suppeditat mihi hortorum 80 amoenitatem.

85

Romam cum venissem a. d. XIII K. Octobris, absolutum offendi in aedibus tuis tectum, quod supra conclavia non placuerat tibi esse multorum fastigiorum, id nunc honeste vergit in tectum inferioris porticus.

Te oro etiam atque etiam, mi frater, ut valeas.