Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 30.8.10

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[10] Besides this there was a fire of envy in the very marrow of this same emperor, and knowing that most vices are wont to assume the appearance of virtues,¹ he had ever upon his lips the saying, that malice of severity is the inseparable associate of rightful power. And as men of the highest position always think that everything is allowed them, and they are strongly inclined to suspect those who oppose them and to overthrow better men than themselves, so he hated the well dressed, the learned, the rich, and the high-born; and he depreciated brave men, in order to give the appearance of surpassing all men in good qualities, a fault, as we read, by which the emperor Hadrian was inflamed.²

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 30.8.10 focus

[10] Invidia praeter haec ante dictus medullitus urebatur, et sciens pleraque vitiorum imitari solere virtutes, memorabat assidue, livorem severitatis rectae potestatis esse individuam¹ sociam. Utque sunt dignitatum apices maximi, licere sibi cuncta existimantes, et ad suspicandum² contrarios, exturbandosque meliores pronius inclinati, bene vestitos oderat et eruditos et opulentos et nobiles, et fortibus detrahebat, ut solus videretur bonis artibus eminere, quo vitio exarsisse principem legimus Hadrianum.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. Cf. Cicero, Part. orat., 81

cernenda autem sunt diligenter, nefallant ea nos vitia quae virtutem videntur imitari

; Seneca, Epist. 45, 7; Juv. xiv. 109.

2. See Spartianus, Hadrian, 15, summed up in 15, 13, non recte suadetis, familiares, qui non patimini me illum doctiorem omnibus credere, qui habet triginta legiones; so also Caligula; see Suet., Calig. 35.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 30.8.10

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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