The Society for Ancient Languages
Week Eleven
AMMIANI MARCELLINI |
AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS |
DE JULIANO AUGUSTO |
EMPEROR JULIAN |
| X. Antiochiae hiemans Iulianus iura reddit, nec quemquam propter religionem gravat. | 10. Wintering at Antioch Julian interprets laws, nor does he oppress anyone on account of his religion. |
| 1. Ibi hiemans ex sententia, nullis interim
voluptatium rapiebatur illecebris, quibus abundant Syriae omnes, verum per speciem
quietis, iudicialibus causis intentus, non minus quam arduis bellicisque, distrahebatur
multiformibus curis, exquisita docilitate deliberans, quibus modis suum cuique tribueret,
iustisque sententiis, et improbi modicis coercerentur suppliciis, et innocentes fortunis
defenderentur intactis. 2. Et quamquam in disceptando aliquotiens erat
intempestivus, quid quisque iurgantium coleret, tempore alieno interrogans, tamen nulla
eius definitio litis a vero dissonans reperitur, nec argui umquam potuit, ob religionem
vel quodcumque aliud ab aequitatis recto tramite deviasse. 3. Iudicium enim hoc est
optandum et rectum, ubi per varia negotiorum examina, iustum distinguitur et iniustum; a
quo ille ne aberraret, tamquam scopulos cavebat abruptos. Hoc autem ideo assequi potuit,
quod levitatem agnoscens commotioris ingenii sui, praefectis proximisque permittebat, ut
fidenter impetus suos aliorsum tendentes atque decebat, monitu opportuno frenarent;
monstrabatque subinde se dolere delictis et gaudere correctione. 4. Cumque eum defensores causarum, ut conscium rationis perfectae, plausibus maximis celebrarent, fertur id dixisse permotus: "Gaudebam plane praeque me ferebam, si ab his lauderer, quos et vituperare posse adverterem, siquid factum sit secus aut dictum." 5. Sufficiet autem pro multis, quae clementer egit in litibus cognoscendis, hoc unum ponere nec abhorrens a proposito, nec absurdum. Inducta in iudicium femina quaedam, cum palatinum adversarium suum e numero proiectorum cinctum praeter spam conspexisset, hoc factum insolens tumultuando querebatur, et imperator "Prosequere" ait "mulier, siquid te laesam existimas; hic enim sic cinctus est, ut expeditius per lutum incedat: parum nocere tuis partibus potest." |
1. Wintering there by choice was seized by no
enticements of pleasures with which all Syria overflows, but, on the pretext of repose,
intent upon causes judicial as much as difficult and warlike, he was distracted by
multiform cares, deliberating with carefully sought docility, by which methods he might
award his (own) to each with just opinion, and the unrighteous might be confined with
moderate punishments, and innocents defended with fortune intact. 2. And although
several times in debating he was untimely, asking at an inappropriate time what each of
the quarreling ones practiced, nevertheless, by no interpretation of his legal arguing is
he found sounding apart from the truth, nor could it ever be argued that on account of
religion or whatever else, he deviated from the right path of equity. 3. For this
judgment is desirable and right, when through varied considerations of matters, justice is
distinguished, even injustice; from which he, lest he depart, guarded himself just as
against sharp rocks. Moreover, this he was able to attain, therefore, because he would
permit, knowing the fickleness of the excitement of his own nature, to his prefects and
those closest to him, that they faithfully check his impulses, directing them elsewhere,
as was fitting, with a convenient reminder, and from time to time he showed himself to
suffer from his wrongs and to be glad for the correction. 4. And on the condition that (whenever) the defenders of causes honored him, aware of the complete reason, with very great applause, it is said that he, thoroughly moved, said this. "I would thoroughly rejoice and let myself be seen, if I were praised by those whom I perceived to be also able to censure, if anything were done or said otherwise." 5. It will suffice, moreover, in place of many, which he dealt with in a kindly way, in deciding cases, to put forth one neither inappropriate by design nor absurd. A certain woman was led into court, when she saw, beyond her anticipation, her palatine adversary surrounded by a number of prominent men, she bewailed this unusual deed by raising a tumult, and the emperor said, "Go on, woman, if you think yourself any way violated; for he has been escorted thus, that he might advance through the mud more easily: he is little able to harm your parts." |
| 6. Et aestimabatur per haec et similia, ut ipse dicebat assidue, vetus illa Iustitia, quam offensam vitiis hominum, Aratus extollit in caelum, imperante eo reversa ad terras, ni quaedam suo ageret, non legum arbitrio, erransque aliquotiens, obnubilaret gloriarum multiplices cursus. 7. Post multa enim etiam iura quaedam correxit in melius, ambagibus circumcisis, indicantia liquide, quid iuberent fieri vel vetarent. Illud autem erat inclemens, obruendum perenni silentio, quod arcebat docere magistros rhetoricos et grammaticos, ritus Christiani cultores. | 6. And it was thought by these and similar (instances) as he himself would assiduously say, that goddess Justice whom, offended by the vices of men, old Aratus raised into heaven, with him ruling (Julian) turned back to earth, except he would do things on his own authority, not on the authority of laws, and straying several times he would obscure the manifold passage of his fame. 7. After much, for he even amended certain laws for the better, abridged ambiguities, laws plainly not saying what they ordered to be done or forbad. However, that inhumane thing should be buried in permanent silence, that he prevented teachers of rhetoric and literary thing from teaching supporters of the Christian way. |