the shade of cicero spoke to me
Ξ Tuesday, 29 Nov 2005 at 09:48 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Normal |
longius progrediatur aliquis. in regnum rei publicae transformationem non pertenuit nihilo opinio (nec etiam recognitio) ut reformatio provincialis sit desideratio. speculationem securam dictatoris Caesaris consilia non sinunt, sed de administratione provinciale firmiter cautum se demonstravit. provinciarum tenorem dictatoris decretum definit duo annos esse de consulibus prioribus et unum annum de praetoribus prioribus; in ipsius C. Sullae spiritu nihil magis fuisse potuit. vitatio docta in provinciarum transmarinarum gubernatione principium remansit fixum. sub Augusto et successoribus eius res emendavere – aut sic saepe obtenditur. sed politicae perstetere appositiones et tamen administratores praedatorii populum subiectum extorsere, et provincialium gemitus et querellae persterunt. rei publicae transitio automatarie transmarinae administrationis rationem illuminatam non traxit.
One may proceed further. A belief – or even a recognition – that provincial reform was a desideratum in no way pertained to the transformation of the republic into a kingship. The plans of Caesar the dictator do not permit secure speculation, but he showed himself to be firmly cautious concerning provincial administration. A decree of the dictator limited the holding of the provinces to two years with respect to ex-consuls, and to one year with respect to ex-praetors; nothing could have been more in the spirit of Cornelius Sulla himself. A learned avoidance in the governing of territories over the sea remained as a fixed principle. Matters improved under Augustus and his successors – or so it is often alleged. But political appointments continued, and predatory administrators still extorted the subject populace; the lamentations and complaints of provincials persisted. The passing of the Republic did not automatically bring an illuminated policy of overseas administration.
- translated from Erich S. Gruen, The Last Generation of the Roman Republic, p. 503, for my Latin class of course — lest you think I made this up myself. hopefully you all think it interesting. pZ.
