Whether in tracing the history of the Roman people, from the
foundation of the city, I shall employ myself to a useful purpose,[1] I
am neither very certain, nor, if I were, dare I say: inasmuch as I
observe, that it is both an old and hackneyed practice,[2] later
authors always supposing that they will either adduce something more
authentic in the facts, or, that they will excel the less polished
ancients in their style of writing. Be that as it may, it will, at all
events, be a satisfaction to me, that I too have contributed my
share[3] to perpetuate the achievements of a people, the lords of the
world; and if, amidst so great a number of historians,[4] my reputation
should remain in obscurity, I may console myself with the celebrity and
lustre of those who shall stand in the way of my fame. Moreover, the
subject is both of immense labour, as being one which must be traced
back for more than seven hundred years, and which, having set out from
small beginnings, has increased to such a degree that it is now
distressed by its own magnitude. And, to most readers, I doubt not but
that the first origin and the events immediately succeeding, will
afford but little pleasure, while they will be hastening to these later
times,[5] in which the strength of this overgrown people has for a long
period been working its own destruction. I, on the contrary, shall seek
this, as a reward of my labour, viz. to withdraw myself from the view
of the calamities, which our age has witnessed for so many years, so
long as I am reviewing with my whole attention these ancient times,
being free from every care[6] that may distract a writer's mind, though
it cannot warp it from the truth. The traditions which have come down
to us of what happened before the building of the city, or before its
building was contemplated, as being suitable rather to the fictions of
poetry than to the genuine records of history, I have no intention
either to affirm or refute. This indulgence is conceded to antiquity,
that by blending things human with divine, it may make the origin of
cities appear more venerable: and if any people might be allowed to
consecrate their origin, and to ascribe it to the gods as its authors,
such is the renown of the Roman people in war, that when they represent
Mars, in particular, as their own parent and that of their founder, the
nations of the world may submit to this as patiently as they submit to
their sovereignty.—But in whatever way these and such like matters
shall be attended to, or judged of, I shall not deem of great
importance. I would have every man apply his mind seriously to consider
these points, viz. what their life and what their manners were; through
what men and by what measures, both in peace and in war, their empire
was acquired[7] and extended; then, as discipline gradually declined,
let him follow in his thoughts their morals, at first as slightly
giving way, anon how they sunk more and more, then began to fall
headlong, until he reaches the present times, when we can neither
endure our vices, nor their remedies. This it is which is particularly
salutary and profitable in the study of history, that you behold
instances of every variety of conduct displayed on a conspicuous
monument; that from thence you may select for yourself and for your
country that which you may imitate; thence note what is shameful
in the undertaking, and shameful in the result, which you may avoid.
But either a fond partiality for the task I have undertaken deceives
me, or there never was any state either greater, or more moral, or
richer in good examples, nor one into which luxury and avarice made
their entrance so late, and where poverty and frugality were so much
and so long honoured; so that the less wealth there was, the less
desire was there. Of late, riches have introduced avarice, and
excessive pleasures a longing for them, amidst luxury and a passion for
ruining ourselves and destroying every thing else. But let complaints,
which will not be agreeable even then, when perhaps they will be also
necessary, be kept aloof at least from the first stage of commencing so
great a work. We should rather, if it was usual with us (historians) as
it is with poets, begin with good omens, vows and prayers to the gods
and goddesses to vouchsafe good success to our efforts in so arduous an
undertaking.
[Footnote 1: “Employ myself to a useful purpose,”—facere operæ
pretium, “to do a thing that is worth the trouble,”—“to employ
oneself to a good purpose.”—See Scheller's Lat. Lexicon.]
[Footnote 2: “A practice,”—rem.—Some, as Baker, refer it to
res populi R. Others, as Stroth, to res pop. Rom. perscribere.]
[Footnote 3: “My share,”—pro virili parte, or, “to the best
of my ability.”]
[Footnote 4: “Historians.”—Those mentioned by Livy himself are Q.
Fabius Pictor, Valerius Antias, L. Piso, Q. Ælius Tubero, C. Licinius
Macer, Coelius, Polybius, etc.]
[Footnote 5: “Hastening to these later times.”—The history of the
recent civil wars would possess a more intense interest for the Romans
of the Augustan age.]
[Footnote 6: “From every care,”—the fear of giving offence by
expressing his opinions freely, and the sorrow, which, as a patriot, he
could not but feel in recording the civil wars of his countrymen.]
[Footnote 7: “Acquired.”—This refers to the whole period antecedent
to the time when Ap. Claudius carried the Roman arms beyond Italy
against the Carthaginians; (2) extended, from that time till the
fall of Carthage; (3) sinking, the times of the Gracchi; (4)
gave way more and more, those of Sulla; (5) precipitate,
those of Cæsar; (6) the present times, those of Augustus after
the battle of Actium.—Stocker.]