Cornelii Nepotis Vitae (Hamilton)/Epaminondas

by Cornelius Nepos

Cornelius Nepos

Vitae (Editio Interlinearis Latina-Anglica Ad Modum Hamiltonii)

XV. Epaminondas

editio: Philadelphia, 1890(?); Iacobus Hamiltonius (James Hamilton) et Ioannes Gulielmus Subsilvius (J. W. Underwood) recensuit

XIV. Datames	XVI. Pelopidas

I

Epaminondas	Thebanus,	filius	Polymni.	Prius-quam
Epaminondas	the Theban,	son	of Polymnus.	Before that

scribamus (sub.)	de	hoc,	haec	videntur
we write	of	this (man,)	these (things)	seem (fit)

praecipienda	lectoribus,	ne	referant	alienos
to be prefaced	to readers,	lest	they may refer	foreign

mores	ad	suos,	neve	arbitrentur	ea,
manners	to	their own,	nor	may think	those (things),

quae	sunt	leviora	ipsis,	fuisse	pari
which	are	lighter	to themselves,	to have been	in like

modo	apud	ceteros.	Enim	scimus,	musicen
manner	among	others.	For	we know,	music

nostris	moribus	abesse	a	persona
by our	manners	to be absent	from	the character

principis,	vero	saltare	poni	etiam
of a chief-man,	but	to dance	to be placed	even

in	vitiis.	Omnia	quae	apud	Graecos
in (among)	vices.	All	which	at (with)	the Greeks

ducuntur	et	grata	et	digna
are led (esteemed)	both	agreeable	and	worthy

laude.	Autem	quum	velimus (sub.)	exprimere
with praise.	But	since	we wish	to express

imaginem	consuetudinis	atque	vitae	Epaminondae,
a picture	of the custom	and	life	of Epaminondas,

videmur	debere	praetermittere	nihil	quod	pertineat
we seem	to ought	to pass by	nothing	which	may tend

ad	eam	declarandam.	Quare	dicemus
to	it	to be made clear.	Wherefore	we shall speak

primum	de	genere	eius;	deinde,	quibus	disciplinis,
first	of	the race	of him;	then,	in what	disciplines,

et	a	quibus	eruditus-sit (sub.);	tum	de
and	by	whom	he was instructed;	then	concerning

moribus,	que	facultatibus	ingeni,	et	si	qua
the morals,	and	powers	of genius,	and	if	any

alia	erunt	digna	memoria;	postremo
other (things)	shall be	worthy	with remembrance;	lastly

de	rebus	gestis,	quae	a	plurimis
concerning	the things	performed,	which	by	most

anteponuntur	virtutibus	omnium.
are preferred	to the virtues	of all.

II

Natus	igitur	patre,	quo	diximus,
Born	therefore	from the father,	from whom	we said,

honesto	genere,	iam	relictus	pauper	a	maioribus;
from honourable	race,	now	left	poor	by	ancestors;

autem	sic	eruditus,	ut	nemo	Thebanus
but	so	instructed,	that	no one	Theban (was)

magis.	Nam	doctus-est	et	citharizare,
more.	For	he was taught	both	to play upon harp,

et	cantare	ad	sonum	chordarum	a	Dionysio,
and	to sing	to	the sound	of strings	by	Dionysius,

qui	fuit	non	minore	gloria	in	musicis,
who	was	not	in less	glory	in (among)	musicians,

quam	Damon	aut	Lamprus,	nomina	quorum
than	Damon	or	Lamprus,	the names	of whom

sunt	pervulgata;	cantare	[carmina]	tibiis	ab
are	spread abroad;	to sing	[songs]	to pipes	by

Olympiodoro,	saltare	a	Calliphrone.	At	habuit
Olympiodorus,	to dance	by	Calliphron.	But	he had

praeceptorem	philosophiae	Lysim	Tarentinum,
(as) preceptor	of philosophy	Lysis	the Tarentine,

Pythagoreum;	cui	quidem	fuit	sic	deditus,
a Pythagorean;	to whom	indeed	he was	so	devoted,

ut	adolescens	anteposuerit (sub.)	tristem	et
that	(being) a youth	he preferred	a sad	and

severum	senem	omnibus	suis	equalibus	in
severe	old (man)	to all	his own	equals	in

familiaritate,	neque	dimiserit (sub.)	eum	a	se,
intimacy,	nor	dismissed	him	from	himself,

prius-quam	antecessit	condiscipulos	tanto,	ut
before that	he excelled	schoolfellows	by so much,	that

posset (sub.)	facile	intelligi,	pari	modo
it could	easily	to be understood,	in like	manner

superaturum	omnes	in	ceteris	artibus.	Atque
about to surpass	all	in	other	arts.	And

haec	ad	nostram	consuetudinem	sunt	levia,
these (things)	to	our	custom	are	light,

et	potius	contemnenda;	at	in	Graecia	utique
and	rather	to be despised;	but	in	Greece	certainly

olim	erant	magnae	laudi.	Post-quam	factus-est
formerly	they were	to great	praise.	After that	he became

ephebus	et	coepit	dare	operam
a youth	and	began	to give	labour

palaestrae,	servivit	non	magnitudini
to the wrestling school,	he applied	not	to greatness

virium	tam	quam	velocitati.	Enim	existimabat
of strengths	so	as	to swiftness.	For	he did think

illam	pertinere	ad	usum	athletarum,	hanc	ad
that	to belong	to	the use	of wrestlers,	this	to

utilitatem	belli.	Itaque	exercebatur	plurimum
advantage	of war.	Therefore	he was exercised	very much

currendo	et	luctando	ad	eum	finem,	quoad
in running	and	in wrestling	to	this	end,	whilst

stans	posset	complecti	atque	contendere.
standing	he might be able	to clasp	and	to struggle.

Consumebat	plurimum	studii	in	armis.
He did spend	very much	of application	in	arms.

III

Ad	hanc	firmitatem	corporis	etiam	plurima
To	this	strength	of body	also	very many

bona	animi	accesserant.	Enim	erat
good (things)	of mind	had been added.	For	he was

modestus,	prudens,	gravis,	sapienter	utens	temporibus,
modest,	prudent,	grave,	wisely	using	the times,

peritus	belli,	fortis	manu,	maximo	animo;
skilled	of war,	brave	in hand,	with greatest	mind;

adeo	diligens	veritatis,	ut	mentiretur	ne-quidem
so	loving	of truth,	that	he would lie	not even

ioco.	Idem	continens,	clemens,	que	patiens
in jest.	The same (was)	continent,	merciful,	and	patient

in	modum	admirandum,	ferens	iniurias,	non
into	a degree	to be admired,	bearing	injuries,	not

solum	populi,	sed	etiam	amicorum,	que
only	of the people,	but	also	of friends,	and

inprimis	celans	commissa,	quod	interdum
especially	concealing	(things) intrusted,	which	sometimes

prodest	non	minus,	quam	dicere	diserte;
profits	not	less,	than	to speak	eloquently;

studiosus	audiendi:	enim	ex	hoc	arbitrabatur
desirous	of hearing:	for	from	this	he did think

disci	facillime.	Itaque	quum	venisset (sub.)
to be learned	most easily.	Therefore	when	he had come

in	circulum,	in	quo	disputaretur	aut
into	a circle,	in	which	it might be disputed	either

de	republica,	aut	sermo	haberetur
concerning	the commonwealth,	or	discourse	might be held

de	philosophia,	discessit	numquam	inde
concerning	philosophy,	he departed	never	thence

prius-quam	sermo	adductus-esset (sub.)	ad	finem.
before that	the discourse	had been brought	to	end.

Perpessus-est	paupertatem	adeo	facile,	ut	ceperit (sub.)
He endured	poverty	so	easily,	that	he took

nihil	de	republica	praeter	gloriam.
nothing	from	the commonwealth	except	glory.

Caruit	facultatibus	amicorum	in	tuendo
He was without	the substances	of friends	in	defending

se,	saepe	usus-est	fide	ad	alios	sublevandos
himself,	often	he used	credit	to	others	to be relieved

sic,	ut	possit	iudicari,	omnia
so,	that	it may be able	to be judged,	all (things)

fuisse	communia	ei	cum	amicis.	Nam
to have been	common	to him	with	friends.	For

quum	aut	aliquis	suorum	civium	captus-esset (sub.)
when	either	some one	of his own	citizens	had been taken

ab	hostibus,	aut	nubilis	virgo	amici
by	enemies,	or	a marriageable	virgin	of a friend

posset	non	collocari	propter	paupertatem,
might be able	not	to be settled	on account of	poverty,

habebat	concilium	amicorum,	et	imperabat,
he held	a counsel	of friends,	and	did command,

quantum	quisque	daret	pro	facultatibus.
how much	each	should give	according to	substances.

Que	quum	fecerat	eam	summam,	prius-quam
And	when	he had made	that	sum,	before that

acciperet (sub.)	pecuniam,	adducebat	eum,
he did receive	the money,	he did bring	him,

qui	quaerebat,	ad	eos	qui	conferebant,	que
who	did seek,	to	those	who	did contribute,	and

faciebat	ut	ipsi	numerarent	ei,	ut	ille,
did make	that	they	should count	to him,	that	he,

ad	quem	ea	res	perveniebat,	sciret
to	whom	that	thing	did come,	might know

quantum	deberet (sub.)	cuique.
how much	he did owe	to each.

IV

Autem	abstinentia	eius	tentata-est	a
But	the abstinence	of him	was tried	by

Diomedonte	Cyziceno.	Namque	is	rogatu
Diomedon	the Cyzicenian.	For	he	by request

Artaxerxis	susceperat	corrumpendum	Epaminondam
of Artaxerxes	had undertaken	to corrupt	Epaminondas

pecunia.	Hic	venit	Thebas	cum	magno
by money.	He	came	(to) Thebes	with	a great

pondere	auri	et	quinque	talenti	perduxit
weight	of gold,	and	with five	talents	brought over

ad	suam	voluntatem	Micythum	adolescentulum,	quem
to	his	will	Micythus	a little youth,	whom

tum	Epaminondas	diligebat	plurimum.	Micythus
then	Epaminondas	did love	very much.	Micythus

convenit	Epaminondam,	et	ostendit	caussam
met	Epaminondas,	and	shewed	the cause

adventus	Diomedontis.	At	ille	coram
of the arrival	of Diomedon.	But	he	in presence of

Diomedonte	inquit:	Est	nihil	opus	pecunia.
Diomedon	says:	There is	nothing (not any)	need	with money.

Nam	si	rex	vult	ea,	quae	sint
For	if	the king	wishes	those (things),	which	may be

utilia	Thebanis,	sum	paratus	facere
useful	to the Thebans,	I am	ready	to do (them)

gratis;	sin-autem	contraria,	habet	non
freely;	but-if	the contrary (things),	he has	not

satis	auri	atque	argenti.	Namque	nolo
enough	of gold	and	of silver.	For	I will not

accipere	divitias	orbis	terrarum	pro
to receive	the riches	of the globe	of the earths	for

caritate	patriae.	Miror	non	quod	tu	tentasti
love	of country.	I wonder	not	that	thou	hast tried

me	incognitum,	que	existimasti	similem	tui,
me	unknown,	and	hast thought	(me) like	of thee,

que	ignosco	tibi.	Sed	egredere	propere,	ne
and	I pardon	to thee.	But	go off	speedily,	lest

corrumpas	alios,	quum	potueris (sub.)	non	me.
thou mayest corrupt	others,	when	thou couldst	not	me.

Tu,	Micythe,	redde	argentum	huic;	nisi
Thou,	Micythus,	return	the silver	to him;	unless

facis	id	confestim,	ego	tradam	te
thou doest	that	immediately,	I	will deliver	thee

magistratui.	Quum	Diomedon	rogaret (sub.)	hunc,
to the magistrate.	When	Diomedon	did ask	him,

ut	liceret	exire	tuto,	que
that	it might be allowed	to depart	safely,	and

efferre	sua,	quae	attulisset (sub.),
to carry away	his own (things)	which	he had brought,

Faciam	istud	quidem,	inquit,	neque	tua-caussa,
I will do	that	indeed,	says he,	nor	for thy sake,

sed	mea;	ne,	si	pecunia	ademta-sit
but	mine;	lest,	if	the money	may have been taken away

tibi,	aliquis	dicat	id	ereptum
from thee,	some one	may say	that	taken by force

pervenisse	ad	me,	quod	noluissem (sub.)	accipere
to have come	to	me,	which	I had willed not	to receive

delatum.	A	quo	quum	quaesisset (sub.)	quo
being offered.	From	whom	when	he had asked	whither

vellet (sub.)	se	duci,	et	ille	dixisset (sub.),
he did will	himself	to be led,	and	he	had said,

Athenas,	dedit	praesidium,	ut	perveniret
(to) Athens,	he gave	a guard,	that	he might arrive

[eo]	tuto.	Vero	neque	habuit	id	satis,
[thither]	safely.	But	neither	held he	that	enough,

sed	etiam,	effecit	per	Chabriam	Atheniensem,
but	also,	he accomplished	through	Chabrias	the Athenian,

de	quo	fecimus	mentionem	supra,
concerning	whom	we have made	mention	above,

ut	ascenderet (sub.)	in	navem	inviolatus.	Hoc
that	he did ascend	into	a ship	uninjured.	This

testimonium	abstinentiae	erit	satis.	Possemus (sub.)
proof	of abstinence	will be	enough.	We could

quidem	proferre	plurima;	sed	modus	est
indeed	to bring forward	very many;	but	a mean	is

adhibendus,	quoniam	hoc	uno	volumine
to be applied,	since	in this	one	volume

constituimus	concludere	vitas	complurium
we have determined	to include	the lives	of several

excellentium	virorum,	quorum	complures	scriptores
excellent	men,	of whom	several	writers

ante	nos	explicarunt	separatim	multis
before	us	have unfolded	severally	in many

millibus	versuum.
thousands	of lines.

V

Fuit	etiam	disertus,	ut	nemo	Thebanus
He was	also	eloquent,	so that	no one	Theban

esset (sub.)	par	ei	eloquentia,	neque	minus
was	equal	to him	in eloquence,	nor	less

concinnus	in	brevitate	respondendi,	quam	ornatus
neat	in	brevity	of answering,	than	elegant

perpetua	oratione.	Habuit	quemdam	Meneclidam
in continuous	speech.	He had	a certain	Meneclidas

obtrectatorem,	indidem	Thebis,	et
slanderer,	from the same place	Thebes,	and

adversarium	in	republica	administranda,	satis
an adversary	in	the commonwealth	to be managed,	enough

exercitatum	in	dicendo,	scilicet	ut	Thebanum.
exercised	in	speaking,	namely	as	a Theban.

Namque	plus	virium	quam	ingenii	inest
For	more	of strengths	than	of genius	is in

illi	genti.	Is,	quod	videbat	Epaminondam
to that	nation.	He,	because	he did see	Epaminondas

florere	in	militari	re,	solebat	hortari
to flourish	in	military	affair,	was wont	to exhort

Thebanos,	ut	anteferrent	pacem	bello,	ne
the Thebans,	that	they should prefer	peace	to war,	lest

opera	illius	imperatoris	desideraretur.	Ille
the assistance	of that	commander	should be wanted.	He

inquit,	Fallis	tuos	cives	verbo,	quod
says,	Thou deceivest	thy	citizens	by a word,	because

avocas	hos	a	bello.	Enim	concilias
thou callest off	them	from	war.	For	thou reconcilest

servitutem	nomine	otii.	Nam	pax	paritur
slavery	by the name	of ease.	For	peace	is produced

bello.	Itaque	qui	volunt	frui	ea
by war.	Therefore	(those) who	wish	to enjoy	it

diutina,	debent	esse	exercitati	bello.	Quare
lasting,	ought	to be	exercised	in war.	Wherefore

si	vultis	esse	principes	Graeciae,	est	utendum
if	ye wish	to be	chiefs	of Greece,	it is	to be used

castris	vobis,	non	palaestra.	Quum
with camps	to (by) you,	not	with wrestling-school.	When

ille	idem	Meneclidas	obiiceret (sub.)	huic,	quod
that	same	Meneclidas	did object	to him,	that

haberet (sub.)	non	liberos,	neque	duxisset (sub.)
he had	not	children,	nor	had led (married)

uxorem,	que	maxime	insolentiam,	quod
a wife,	and	chiefly	(his) arrogance,	because

videretur (sub.)	sibi	consecutus	gloriam
he did seem	to himself	having attained	the glory

belli	Agamemnonis:	at	ille	inquit,	Desine,
of war	of Agamemnon:	but	he	says,	Cease,

Meneclida,	exprobrare	mihi	de	uxore.	Nam
Meneclidas,	to reproach	to me	concerning	a wife.	For

volo	uti	consilio	nullius	minus	in	ista
I will	to use	the counsel	of none	less	in	that

re.	(Enim	Meneclidas	habebat	suspicionem
thing.	(For	Meneclidas	had	suspicion

adulterii.)	Autem	quod	putas	me	aemulari
of adultery.)	But	that	thou thinkest	me	to rival

Agamemnonem,	falleris.	Namque	ille	cum
Agamemnon,	thou art deceived.	For	he	with

universa	Graecia	vix	cepit	unam	urbem
whole	Greece	hardly	took	one	city (Troy)

decem	annis;	ego	contra,	ex	nostra	urbe
in ten	years;	I	on the contrary	out of	our	city

una,	que	uno	die	liberavi	totam	Graeciam,
alone,	and	in one	day	freed	whole	Greece,

Lacedaemoniis	fugatis.
the Lacedemonians	being routed.

VI

Quum	idem	venisset (sub.)	in	conventum
When	the same	had come	into	an assembly

Arcadum,	petens	ut	facerent	societatem
of Arcadians,	desiring	that	they would make	alliance

cum	Thebanis	et	Argivis,	que	contra
with	the Thebans	and	Argives,	and	on the other hand

Callistratus,	legatus	Atheniensium,	qui
Callistratus,	the ambassador	of the Athenians,	who

eo	tempore	praestaret (sub.)	omnes	eloquentia,
in that	time	did surpass	all	in eloquence,

postularet (sub.)	ut	sequerentur	potius
did request	that	they should follow	rather

amicitiam	Atticorum,	et	in	sua	oratione
the friendship	of the Athenians,	and	in	his	speech

invectus-esset (sub.)	multa	in	Thebanos	et
had inveighed	many (things)	against	the Thebans	and

Argivos,	que	posuisset (sub.)	hoc	in	eis,
Argives,	and	had placed	this	in (among)	them,

Arcadas	debere	animadvertere,	quales	cives
the Arcadians	ought	to consider,	what sort of	citizens

utraque	civitas	procreasset (sub.)	ex	quibus
each	state	had produced,	out of	whom

possent (sub.)	iudicare	de	ceteris:	enim	Orestem
they could	to judge	concerning	the rest:	for	Orestes

et	Alcmaeonem,	matricidas,	fuisse
and	Alcmaeon,	murderers of mothers,	to have been

Argivos;	Oedipum	natum	Thebis,	qui,	quum
Argives;	Oedipus	born	in Thebes,	who,	when

interfecisset (sub.)	suum	patrem,	procreasset (sub.)
he had killed	his own	father,	had begotten

liberos	ex	matre.	Hic	Epaminondas	in	respondendo,
children	of	mother.	This	Epaminondas	in	replying,

quum	perorasset (sub.)	de	ceteris,	post-quam
when	he had ended speaking	about	the rest,	after that

pervenit	ad	illa	duo	opprobria,	dixit,	se
he came	to	these	two	reproaches,	said,	himself

admirari	stultitiam	Attici	rhetoris,	qui
to wonder at	the folly	of the Athenian	rhetorician,	who

animadverteret (sub.)	non,	illos	natos	innocentes,	scelere
did consider	not,	them	born	innocent,	crime

admisso	domi,	quum	expulsi-essent (sub.)
being committed	at home,	when	they had been driven out

patria,	receptos-esse	ab	Atheniensibus.
from country,	to have been received	by	the Athenians.

Sed	eloquentia	eius	legati	Spartae
But	the eloquence	of him	(being) ambassador	at Sparta

ante	Leuctricam	pugnam	eluxit	maxime.
before	Leuctrian	battle	shone forth	chiefly.

Quo	quum	legati	omnium	sociorum
Whither	when	the ambassadors	of all	the allies

convenissent (sub.),	coram	frequentissimo
had assembled,	in presence of	a most numerous

conventu	legationum	coarguit	tyrannidem
convention	of deputations	he reproved	the tyranny

Lacedaemoniorum	sic,	ut	illa	oratione
of the Lacedemonians	so,	that	by that	speech

concusserit (sub.)	opes	eorum	non	minus
he shook	the resources	of them	not	less

quam	Leuctrica	pugna.	Enim	tum	perfecit,
than	by Leuctrian	battle.	For	then	he accomplished,

quod	post	apparuit,	ut	Lacedaemonii
what	afterwards	appeared,	that	the Lacedemonians

privarentur (sub.)	auxilio	sociorum.
were deprived of	the assistance	of allies.

VII

Haec	sunt	testimonia	fuisse	patientem
These	are	the evidences	to have been	patient

que	ferentem	iniurias	suorum	civium,	quod
and	bearing	injuries	of his own	citizens,	because

duceret (sub.)	esse	nefas	se	irasci
he did lead (think it)	to be	unlawful	himself	to be angry

patriae.	Quum	cives	noluissent (sub.)
to country.	When	(his) citizens	had been unwilling

praeficere	eum	exercitui	propter	invidiam,
to appoint	him	to the army	on account of	envy,

que	dux	imperitus	belli	delectus-esset (sub.),
and	a general	unskilled	of war	had been chosen,

errore	cuius	illa	multitudo	militum
by the error	of whom	that	multitude	of soldiers

deducta-esset (sub.)	eo,	ut	omnes
had been brought	to that,	that	all

pertimescerent (sub.)	de	salute,	quod
did dread	concerning	safety,	because

clausi	angustiis	locorum	obsidebantur	ab
being shut up	in defiles	of places	they were blockaded	by

hostibus,	diligentia	Epaminondae	coepta-est
enemies,	the diligence	of Epaminondas	began

desiderari.	Enim	erat	ibi	privatus	numero
to be wanted.	For	he was	there	a private	in the number

militis.	A	quo	quum	peterent (sub.)	opem,
of a soldier.	From	whom	when	they did ask	aid,

adhibuit	nullam	memoriam	contumeliae,	et
he retained	no	remembrance	of affront,	and

reduxit	domum	exercitum	incolumem,	liberatum
brought back	home	the army	safe,	freed

obsidione.	Neque	vero	fecit	hoc	semel,
from the blockade.	Nor	indeed	did he	this	once,

sed	saepius.	Autem	maxime	illustre	fuit,
but	oftener.	But	(his) most	illustrious (deed)	was,

quum	duxisset (sub.)	exercitum	in	Peloponnesum
when	he had led	an army	into	Peloponnesus

adversus	Lacedaemonios,	que	haberet (sub.)	duos
against	the Lacedemonians,	and	had	two

collegas,	alter	quorum	erat	Pelopidas,	fortis
colleagues,	one	of whom	was	Pelopidas,	a brave

ac	strenuus	vir.	Quum	hi	omnes	venissent (sub.)
and	active	man.	When	these	all	had come

in	invidiam	criminibus	adversariorum,	que	ob
into	envy	by accusations	of adversaries,	and	for

eam	rem	imperium	abrogatum-esset (sub.)	his,
that	thing	the command	had been abrogated	to them,

atque	alii	praetores	successissent (sub.)	in	locum
and	other	commanders	had succeeded	into	place

eorum,	Epaminondas	paruit	non	scito	populi,
of them,	Epaminondas	obeyed	not	to the decree	of people,

que	persuasit	collegis,	ut	facerent
and	persuaded	to colleagues,	that	they should do

idem,	et	gessit	bellum,	quod	susceperat.
the same,	and	carried on	the war,	which	he had undertaken.

Namque	animadvertebat,	nisi	fecisset (sub.)	id,
For	he did observe,	unless	he had done	that,

totum	exercitum	periturum	propter
the whole	army	about to perish	on account of

imprudentiam	que	inscientiam	belli
the imprudence	and	ignorance	of war

praetorum.	Lex	erat	Thebis,	quae
of the commanders.	A law	was	in Thebes,	which

multabat	morte,	si	quis	retinuisset (sub.)
did punish	with death,	if	any one	had retained

imperium	diutius	quam	praefinitum-foret (sub.)	lege:
command	longer	than	had been prescribed	by law:

Epaminondas,	quum	videret (sub.)	hanc	latam
Epaminondas,	when	he did see	this (law)	passed

caussa	reipublicae	conservandae,
for the sake	of the commonwealth	to be preserved,

noluit	conferre	ad	perniciem	civitatis,
was unwilling	to conduce	to	the destruction	of the state,

et	gessit	imperium	quatuor	mensibus	diutius
and	bore	command	by four	months	longer

quam	populus	iusserat
than	the people	had ordered.

VIII

Postquam	reditum-est	domum,	collegae
After that	it was returned	home,	the colleagues

eius	accusabantur	hoc	crimine.	Quibus	ille
of him	were accused	with this	crime.	To whom	he

permisit,	ut	transferrent	omnem	caussam	in
permitted,	that	they might transfer	all	the cause	unto

se,	que	contenderent	factum	sua
himself,	and	might contend	(it to have been) done	by his

opera,	ut	obedirent (sub.)	non	legi.	Illis
work,	that	they did obey	not	to the law.	They

liberatis	periculo	qua	defensione,	nemo
being freed	from danger	by which	defence,	no one

putabat	Epaminondam	responsurum,	quod
did think	Epaminondas	about to answer,	because

haberet (sub.)	non	quid	diceret.	At	ille	venit
he had	not	what	he might say.	But	he	came

in	iudicium,	negavit	nihil	eorum,
into	judgment,	he denied	nothing	of those (things),

quae	adversarii	dabant	crimini,	que	confessus-est
which	adversaries	did give	to accusation,	and	confessed

omnia	que	collegae	dixerant;	neque	recusavit
all (things)	which	colleagues	had said;	nor	refused

quominus	subiret	poenam	legis;
but that	he would undergo	the punishment	of the law

sed	petivit	unum	ab	iis,	ut	in	suo
but	he sought	one (thing)	from	them,	that	in	his

periculo	inscriberent:	Epaminondas	multatus-est
risk	they should write:	Epaminondas	was punished

morte	a	Thebanis,	quod	coegit	eos
with death	by	the Thebans,	because	he compelled	them

apud	Leuctra	superare	Lacedaemonios,	quos,
at	Leuctra	to overcome	the Lacedemonians,	whom,

ante	se	imperatorem	nemo	Boeotiorum
before	himself	(being) general	no one	of the Boeotians

ausus-fuit	adspicere	in	acie;	que	quod
dared	to look at	in	field-of-battle;	and	because

uno	praelio	retraxit	non	solum	Thebas	ab
in one	battle	he withdrew	not	only	Thebes	from

interitu,	sed	etiam	vindicavit	universam	Graeciam
destruction,	but	also	avenged	whole	Greece

in	libertatem,	que	perduxit	res	utrorumque
into	liberty,	and	brought	the things	of both

eo,	ut	Thebani	oppugnarent (sub.)	Spartam,
thither,	that	the Thebans	did besiege	Sparta,

Lacedaemonii	haberent (sub.)	satis,	si
the Lacedemonians	did hold (reckon it)	enough,	if

possent	esse	salvi;	neque	destitit	bellare
they might be able	to be	safe;	nor	he ceased	to war

prius-quam,	Messene	constituta,	clausit	urbem
before that,	Messene	being erected,	he shut up	the city

eorum	obsidione.	Quum	dixisset (sub.)	haec,
of them	by siege.	When	he had said	these (things),

risus	omnium	coortus-est	cum	hilaritate,	neque
the laughter	of all	arose	with	mirth,	nor

quisquam	iudex	ausus-est	ferre	suffragium	de
any	judge	dared	to bear	vote	concerning

eo.	Sic	discessit	a	iudicio	capitis
him.	Thus	he departed	from	judgment	of head

maxima	gloria.
with greatest	glory.

IX

Hic	extremo	tempore	imperator	apud
He	in last	time	(being) commander	at

Mantineam,	quum	acie	instructa	instaret (sub.)
Mantinea,	when	with line	formed	he did press on

hostes	audacius,	cognitus	a	Lacedaemoniis,
enemies	too boldly,	being known	by	the Lacedemonians,

quod	putabant	salutem	patriae	sitam
because	they did think	the safety	of country	placed

in	pernicie	eius	unius,	universo	fecerunt
in	the destruction	of him	alone,	the whole	made

impetum	in	unum,	neque	abscesserunt
an attack	against	(him) alone,	nor	departed

prius-quam,	magna	caede	[facta	que	multis
before that,	great	slaughter	[being made	and	many

occisis,]	viderunt	Epaminondam	ipsum	pugnantem
being slain,]	they saw	Epaminondas	himself	fighting

fortissime,	percussum	sparo	eminus,
very bravely,	struck	with a lance	from distance,

concidere.	Boeotii	retardati-sunt	aliquantum
to fall.	The Boeotians	were retarded	somewhat

casu	huius,	neque	tamen	excesserunt	pugna
by the fall	of him,	nor	however	departed they	from battle

prius-quam	profligarunt	repugnantes.	At
before that	they routed	(those) opposing.	But

Epaminondas,	quum	animadverteret (sub.)	se
Epaminondas,	when	he did perceive	himself

accepisse	mortiferum	vulnus,	que	simul,
to have received	a deadly	wound,	and	at the same time,

si	extraxisset	ferrum,	quod	remanserat
if	he should have drawn out	the iron,	which	had remained

in	corpore	ex	hastili,	statim	amissurum
in	the body	from	the shaft,	immediately	about to lose

animam,	retinuit	usque	eo,	quoad	renuntiatum-est,
life,	retained (it)	even	to that,	until	it was reported,

Boeotios	vicisse.	Post-quam	audivit	id,
the Boeotians	to have overcome.	After that	he heard	that,

Vixi,	inquit,	satis;	enim	morior
I have lived,	says he,	enough;	for	I die

invictus.	Tum,	ferro	extracto,
unconquered.	Then,	the iron	being drawn out,

confestim	exanimatus-est.
immediately	he expired.

X

Hic	numquam	duxit	uxorem.	In	quo	quum
He	never	led	a wife (married).	In	which	when

reprehenderetur (sub.)	a	Pelopida,	qui	habebat
he was blamed	by	Pelopidas,	who	had

infamem	filium,	que	diceret (sub.)	eum	consulere
an infamous	son,	and	did say	him	to consult

male	patriae	in	eo,	quod	relinqueret (sub.)	non
ill	to country	in	this,	that	he did leave	not

liberos:	Vide,	inquit,	ne	tu	consulas
children:	See,	says he,	lest	thou	mayst consult

peius,	qui	relicturus-sis (sub.)	talem	natum	ex
worse,	who	art about to leave	such	a son	from

te.	Neque	vero	potest	stirps	deesse
thee.	Nor	indeed	can	offspring	to be wanting

mihi,	namque	relinquo	Leuctricam	pugnam	natam
to me,	for	I leave	Leuctrian	battle	born

ex	me,	quae	est	necesse	sit	non
from	me,	which	it is	necessary	may be	not

modo	superstes	mihi,	sed	etiam	immortalis.
only	surviving	to me,	but	also	immortal.

Quo	tempore,	Pelopida	duce,	exsules
In what	time,	with Pelopidas	(as) leader,	the exiles

occuparunt	Thebas,	et	expulerunt	praesidium
seized upon	Thebes,	and	expelled	the garrison

Lacedaemoniorum	ex	arce,	Epaminondas,
of the Lacedemonians	out of	the citadel,	Epaminondas,

quamdiu	caedes	civium	facta-est,	tenuit
as long as	a slaughter	of the citizens	was made,	held

se	domo,	quod	volebat	neque	defendere
himself	from home,	because	he did will	neither	to defend

malos,	neque	impugnare,	ne	cruentaret	manus
the bad,	nor	to attack,	lest	he might imbrue	hands

sanguine	suorum.	Namque	putabat
in the blood	of his own (citizens).	For	he did think

omnem	civilem	victoriam	funestam.	Idem
every	civil	victory	fatal.	The same

post-quam	coepit	pugnam	cum	Lacedaemoniis
after that	it began	to be fought	with	the Lacedemonians

apud	Cadmeam,	stetit	in	primis.	Satis
at	Cadmea,	stood	in (among)	the first.	Enough

erit	dictum	de	virtutibus	que	vita
will be	said	concerning	the virtues	and	life

huius,	si	adiunxero	hoc	unum,
of this (man),	if	I shall have adjoined	this	one (thing),

quod	nemo	eat-infitias,	Thebas,	et	ante
which	no one	may-deny,	Thebes,	both	before

Epaminondam	natum,	et	post	interitum	eius,
Epaminondas	being born,	and	after	the death	of him,

perpetuo	paruisse	alieno	imperio;	contra
constantly	to have obeyed	to a foreign	power;	contrary to

ea,	quam-diu	ille	praefuerit (sub.)
those (things),	as long as	he	was over

reipublicae,	fuisse	caput	totius
to the commonwealth,	to have been	the head	of the whole

Graeciae.	Ex	quo	potest	intelligi,
Greece.	From	which	it is able	to be understood,

unum	hominem	fuisse	pluris,
one	man	to have been	of more (importance),

quam	civitatem.
than	the state.