« Sal. Cat. 8 | Sal. Cat. 9 | Sal. Cat. 10 | About This Work »
9Accordingly, good morals were cultivated at home and in the field; there was the greatest harmony and little or no avarice; justice and probity prevailed among them, thanks not so much to laws as to nature. 2Quarrels, discord, and strife were reserved for their enemies; citizen vied with citizen only for the prize of merit. They were lavish in their offerings to the gods, frugal in the home, loyal to their friends. 3By practising these two qualities, boldness in warfare and justice when peace came, they watched over themselves and their country. 4In proof of these statements I present this convincing evidence: firstly, in time of war punishment was more often inflicted for attacking the enemy contrary to orders, or for withdrawing too tardily when recalled from the field, than for venturing to abandon the standards or to give ground under stress; 5and secondly, in time of peace they ruled by kindness rather than fear, and when wronged preferred forgiveness to vengeance.
« Sal. Cat. 8 | Sal. Cat. 9 | Sal. Cat. 10 | About This Work »