Augustine
had a different concept of history than the Roman historians had: for him time
and thus history has a beginning and an end. History happens sub specie aeternitatis. This gives a
different perspective on historical events. When Augustine wrote his De Civitate Dei between 413 and 426, the
Roman Empire was in turmoil, at least in the West. Not all Romans were
Christians and some believed that the disasters were a result of abandoning the
Roman gods. Augustine points out that Rome had undergone times of peril before
and had risen again. One of such perils was the slave uprising in 73 -71 under
Spartacus. Were those slaves helped by the
gods because they were successful, however short? Is anyone helped by the gods?
For Augustine the answer is a definite no: not only because he is a Christian,
but also because in his opinion this life is only transitory and worldly power is
as well. The only lasting empire is the kingdom of God. Whether we agree with
his attitude or not, he is a remarkable intellectual.
Augustinus,
De Civitate Dei, 4.5
[V]
…. Hoc dico, quod ipsum Romanum imperium iam magnum multis gentibus subiugatis
ceterisque terribile, acerbe sensit, grauiter timuit, non paruo negotio
deuitandae ingentis cladis oppressit, quando paucissimi gladiatores in Campania
de ludo fugientes magnum exercitum compararunt, tres duces habuerunt, Italiam
latissime et crudelissime uastauerunt. Dicant, quis istos deus adiuuerit, ut ex
paruo et contemptibili latrocinio peruenirent ad regnum tantis iam Romanis
uiribus arcibusque metuendum. An quia non diu fuerunt, ideo
diuinitus negabuntur adiuti? Quasi uero ipsa cuiuslibet hominis uita diuturna
est. Isto ergo pacto neminem dii adiuuant ad regnandum, quoniam singuli quique
cito moriuntur, nec beneficium deputandum est. quod exiguo tempore in unoquoque
homine ac per hoc singillatim utique in omnibus uice uaporis euanescit. Quid
enim interest eorum, qui sub Romulo deos coluerunt et olim sunt mortui, quod
post eorum mortem Romanum tantum creuit imperium, cum illi apud inferos causas
suas agant? utrum bonas an malas, ad rem praesentem non pertinet. Hoc autem de
omnibus intellegendum est, qui per ipsum imperium (quamuis decedentibus
succedentibusque mortalibus in longa spatia protendatur) paucis diebus uitae
suae cursim raptimque transierunt, actuum suorum sarcinas baiulantes. Sin uero
etiam ipsa breuissimi temporis beneficia deorum adiutorio tribuenda sunt, non
parum adiuti sunt illi gladiatores: seruilis condicionis uincla ruperunt,
fugerunt, euaserunt, exercitum magnum et fortissimum collegerunt, oboedientes
regum suorum consiliis et iussis multum Romanae celsitudini metuendi et aliquot
Romanis imperatoribus insuperabiles multa ceperunt, potiti sunt uictoriis
plurimis, usi uoluptatibus quibus uoluerunt, quod suggessit libido fecerunt,
postremo donec uinceretur, quod difficillime factum est, sublimes regnantesque
uixerunt. Sed
ad maiora ueniamus.
Hoc dico: I mention that
multis gentibus subiugatis multis
gentibus subiugatis ceterisque terribile: having subdued many nations and dreadful for
others. (ceterisque terribile is not
part of the abl. abs.)
sensit: experienced
acerbe… oppressit: note the asyndetic construction
negotium: difficulty
deuitandae ingentis cladis: for/regarding (gen.obj.)
the enormous disaster to be avoided
ludum: school (for gladiators)
comparo: to gather
tres duces: Spartacus, Crixus and
Oenomaus
latissime: widely
vasto: to ravage, devastate
dicant: let people tell (i.e.
those who believed that the disasters were the result of abandoning the Roman
gods))
adiuvo adjuvi adiutum (-are): to help
latrocinium: band of robbers
arx arcis (f.): stronghold
divinitus (adv.) in a divine way
diuturnus: long-lasting
isto ergo pacto: this being thus agreed (that
people don’t live long)
singuli quique: every single person
nec beneficium deputandum
est: gaining
power (ad regnandum) is not to be
regarded as a benefit (because those who have can only shortly enjoy this)
quod (beneficium)
exiguus: little
ac per hoc singillatim
utique in omnibus: and through this one by one (living a short time) finally in all men
vice (+ gen.): like
cum illi apud inferos causas
suas agant:
when they are pleading their causes amongst the dead (note the sarcasm
concerning the Roman predilection of juridical procedures)
utrum bonas an malas (causas)
decedentibus
succedentibusque mortalibus: while mortals are deceasing and following
protendo protendi
protensum/tum:
to prolong, extend
cursim raptimque: hastily and speedily
actuum suorum sarcinas
baiulantes:
carrying the burden of their affairs
adiutorio tribuenda sunt: are to be acknowledged as
help
rumpo rupi ruptum: to break
regum suorum: the three leaders mentioned
above
Romanae celsitudini: by the Roman highness (celsitudo is mockingly used)
potior potitus (+ gen., acc. or abl.): to
acquire, gain
uoluptatibus
quibus = uoluptatibus,
quas (attraction of case)
sublimes regnantesque: `luxurious and as kings’
Translation
by Marcus Dods (1913)
But
this I say, that the Roman empire, which by subduing many nations had already
grown great and an object of universal dread, was itself greatly alarmed, and
only with much difficulty avoided a disastrous overthrow, because a mere
handful of gladiators in Campania, escaping from the games, had recruited a
great army, appointed three generals, and most widely and cruelly devastated
Italy. Let them say what god aided these men, so that from a small and
contemptible band of robbers they attained to a kingdom, feared even by the
Romans, who had such great forces and fortresses. Or will they deny that they
were divinely aided because they did not last long? As if, indeed, the life of
any man whatever lasted long. In that case, too, the gods aid no one to reign,
since all individuals quickly die; nor is sovereign power to be reckoned a
benefit, because in a little time in every man, and thus in all of them one by
one, it vanishes like a vapor. For what does it matter to those who worshipped
the gods under Romulus, and are long since dead, that after their death the
Roman empire has grown so great, while they plead their causes before the
powers beneath? Whether those causes are good or bad, it matters not to the
question before us. And this is to be understood of all those who carry with
them the heavy burden of their actions, having in the few days of their life
swiftly and hurriedly passed over the stage of the imperial office, although
the office itself has lasted through long spaces of time, being filled by a
constant succession of dying men. If, however, even those benefits which last
only for the shortest time are to be ascribed to the aid of the gods, these
gladiators were not a little aided, who broke the bonds of their servile
condition, fled, escaped, raised a great and most powerful army, obedient to
the will and orders of their chiefs and much feared by the Roman majesty, and
remaining unsubdued by several Roman generals, seized many places, and, having
won very many victories, enjoyed whatever pleasures they wished, and did what
their lust suggested, and, until at last they were conquered, which was done
with the utmost difficulty, lived sublime and dominant. But let us come to
greater matters.
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