the meditations-第45章
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'It is very nice of you;' he writes to Fronto;(1) 'to ask for my hexameters ; I would have sent them at once if I had them by me。 The fact is my secretary; Anicetus…you know who I mean…did not pack up any of my compositions for me to take away with me。 He knows my weakness; he was afraid that if I got hold of them I might; as usual; make smoke of them。 However; there was no fear for the hexameters。 I must confess the truth to my master: I love them。 I study at night; since the day is taken up with the theatre。 I am weary of an evening; and sleepy in the daylight; and so I don't do much。 Yet I have made extracts from sixty books; five volumes of them; in these latter days。 But when you read remember that the 〃sixty〃 includes plays of Novius; and farces; and some little speeches of Scipio; don't be too much startled at the number。 You remember your Polemon; but I pray you do not remember Horace; who has died with Pollio as far as I am concerned。(2) Farewell; my dearest and most affectionate friend; most distinguished consul and my beloved master; whom I have not seen these two years。 Those who say two months; count the days。 Shall I ever see you again?'
Sometimes Fronto sends him a theme to work up; as thus: 'M。 Lucilius tribune of the people violently throws into prison a free Roman citizen; against the opinion of his colleagues who demand his release。 For this act he is branded by the censor。 Analyse the case; and then take both sides in turn; attacking and defending。'(3) Or again: 'A Roman consul; doffing his state robe; dons the gauntlet and kills a lion amongst the young men at the Quinquatrus in full view of the people of Rome。 Denunciation before the censors。'(4) The prince has a fair knowledge of Greek; and quotes from 1 Ad M。 Caes。; ii。 10。
2 He implies; as in i。 6; that he has ceased to study Horace。
3 Pollio was a grammarian; who taught Marcus。
4 Ad M。 Caes。; v。 27;; V。 22。
Homer; Plato; Euripides; but for some reason Fronto dissuaded him from this study。(5) His Meditations are written in Greek。 He continued his literary studies throughout his life; and after he became emperor we still find him asking his adviser for copies of Cicero's Letters; by which he hopes to improve his vocabulary。(6) Pronto Helps him with a supply of similes; which; it seems; he did not think of readily。 It is to be feared that the fount of Marcus's eloquence was pumped up by artificial means。
1 Ad M。 Caes。; ii。 10。
2 He implies; as in i。 6; that he has ceased to study Horace。
3 Pollio was a grammarian; who taught Marcus。
4 Ad M。 Caes。; v。 27;; V。 22。
5 Ep。 Gracae; 6。
6 Ad Anton。 Imp。; 1I。 4。
Some idea of his literary style may he gathered from the letter which follows:(1) 'I heard Polemo declaim the other day; to say something of things sublunary。 If you ask what I thought of him; listen。 He seems to me an industrious farmer; endowed with the greatest skill; who has cultivated a large estate for corn and vines only; and indeed with a rich return of fine crops。 But yet in that land of his there is no Pompeian fig or Arician vegetable; no Tarentine rose; or pleasing coppice; or thick grove; or shady plane tree; all is for use rather than for pleasure; such as one ought rather to commend; but cares not to love。
A pretty bold idea; is it not; and rash judgment; to pass censure on a man of such reputation? But whenas I remember that I am writing to you; I think I am less bold than you would have me。
'In that point I am wholly undecided。
'There's an unpremeditated hendecasyllable for you。 So before I begin to poetize; i'll take an easy with you。 Farewell; my heart's desire; your Verus's best beloved; most distinguisht consul; master most sweet。 Farewell I ever pray; sweetest soul。
What a letter do you think you have written me I could make bold to say; that never did she who bore me and nurst me; write anything SO delightful; so honey…sweet。 And this does not come of your fine style and eloquence: otherwise not my mother only; but all who breathe。' 1 Ad M。 Caes; ii。 5。
To the pupil; never was anything on earth so fine as his master's eloquence ; on this theme Marcus fairly bubbles over with enthusiasm。
(1)'Well; if the ancient Greeks ever wrote anything like this; let those who know decide it: for me; if I dare say so; I never read any invective of Cato's so fine as your encomtum。 O if my Lord(2) could be sufficiently praised; sufficiently praised he would have been undoubtedly by you! This kind of thing is not done nowadays。(3) It were easier to match Pheidias; easier to match Apelles; easier in a word to match Demosthenes himself; or Cato himself; than to match this finisht and perfect work。 Never have I read anything more refined; anything more after the ancient type; anything more delicious; anything more Latin。 0 happy you; to be endowed with eloquence so great! 0 happy I; to be tinder the charge of such a master! 0 arguments;(4) O arrangement; 0 elegance; 0 wit; 0 beauty; 0 words; 0 brilliancy; 0 subtilty; 0 grace; 0 treatment; 0 everything! Mischief take me; if you ought not to have a rod put in your hand one day; a diadem on your brow; a tribunal raised for you; then the herald would summon us all…why do I say 〃us〃? Would summnon all; those scholars and orators: one by one you would beckon them forward with your rod and admonish them。 Hitherto I have had no fear of this admonition; many things help me to enter within your school。 I write this in the utmost haste; for whenas I am sending you so kindly a letter from my Lord; what needs a longer letter of mine? Farewell then; glory of Roman eloquence; boast of your friends; magnifico; most delightful man; most distinguished consul; master most sweet。
'After this you will take care not to tell so many fibs of me; especially in the Senate。 A monstrous fine speech this is! 0 if 1 could kiss your head at every heading of it! You have looked down on all with a vengeance。 This oration once read; in vain shall we study; in vain shall we toil; in vain strain every nerve。 Farewell always; most sweet master。'
1 Ad M。 Caes。; ii。 3。
2 The Emperor Antoninus Pius is spoken of as dominus vieus。
3 This sentence is written in Greek。
4 Several of these words are Greek; and the meaning is not quite
clear。
Sometimes Fronto descends from the heights of eloquence to offer practical advice; as when he suggests how Marcus should deal with his suite。 It is more difficult; he admits; to keep courtiers in harmony than to tame lions with a lute; but if it is to be done; it must be by eradicating jealousy。 ' Do not let your friends;' says Fronto;'(1) 'envy each other; or think that what you give to another is filched from them。
Keep away envy from your suite; and you will find your friends kindly and harmonious。'
Here and there we meet with allusions to his daily life; which we could wish to be more frequent。 He goes to the theatre or the law…courts;(2) or takes part in court ceremony; but his heart is always with his books。 The vintage season; with its religious rites; was always spent by Antoninus Pius in the country。 The following letters give sonic notion of a day's occupation at that time:(3) 'MY DEAREST MASTER; …I am well。 To…day I studied from the ninth hour of the night to the second hour of day; after taking food。 I then put on my slippers; and from time second to the third hour had a most enjoyable walk up and down before my chamber。 Then booted and cloaked…for so we were commanded to appear…I went to wait upon my lord the emperor。 We went a…hunting; did doughty deeds; heard a rumour that boars had been caught; but there was nothing to see。 However; we climbed a pretty steep hill; and in the afternoon returned home。 I went straight to my books。 Off with the boots; down with the cloak; I spent a couple of hours in bed。 I read Cato's speech on the Property of Pulchra; and another in which he impeaches a tribune。 Ho; ho! I hear you cry to your man; Off with you as fast as you can; and bring me these speeches from the library of Apollo。 No use to send: I have those books with me too。 You must get round the Tiberian librarian; you will have to spend something on the matter; and when I return to town