Nepos, Miltiades 8

Milt. 8.1Hic etsī crīmine Pariō est accūsātus, tamen alia causa fuit damnātiōnis.

Although he was accused on the Parian charge, there was another reason for his condemnation.

Milt. 8.1Namque Athēniēnsēs propter Pīsistratī tyrannidem, quae paucīs annīs ante fuerat, nimiam cīvium suōrum potentiam extimēscēbant.

For because of the tyranny of Pisistratus, which had existed a few years before, the Athenians were afraid of too much power in any of their citizens.

Note. Pisistratus and his sons ruled Athens as tyrants until 510 BC; after them the Athenians feared any citizen who grew too powerful, and later used ostracism to send such men away.

Milt. 8.2Miltiadēs, multum in imperiīs magistrātibusque versātus, nōn vidēbātur posse esse prīvātus, praesertim cum cōnsuētūdine ad imperiī cupiditātem trahī vidērētur.

Miltiades, much engaged in commands and magistracies, did not seem able to be a private citizen, especially since habit seemed to draw him towards the desire for power.

Note. multum … versātus: 'much engaged'. nōn vidēbātur posse esse prīvātus: 'did not seem able to be a private citizen'.

Milt. 8.3Nam in Chersonēsō omnēs illōs quōs habitārat annōs perpetuam obtinuerat dominātiōnem tyrannusque fuerat appellātus, sed iūstus.

For in the Chersonese he had held lasting rule through all the years he had lived there and had been called a tyrant, but a just one.

Note. omnēs illōs … annōs: accusative of duration of time. habitārat = habitāverat.

Milt. 8.3Nōn erat enim vī cōnsecūtus, sed suōrum voluntāte, eamque potestātem bonitāte retinēbat.

For he had not won it by force but by the goodwill of his own people, and he kept that power by his goodness.

Milt. 8.3Omnēs autem et dīcuntur et habentur tyrannī, quī potestāte sunt perpetuā in eā cīvitāte, quae lībertāte ūsa est.

But all are both called and considered tyrants who hold lasting power in a state that has enjoyed freedom.

Note. The Greek word tyrannos meant a ruler who held one-man power outside the constitution, whether he ruled well or badly.

Milt. 8.4Sed in Miltiade erat cum summa hūmānitās tum mīra commūnitās, ut nēmō tam humilis esset, cui nōn ad eum aditus patēret;

But in Miltiades there was both the greatest kindness and a remarkable approachability, so that no one was so humble that access to him was not open to him;

Note. cum … tum: 'both … and', 'not only … but also'. cui nōn … patēret: a result clause after tam, 'that access to him was not open to him'.

Milt. 8.4magna auctōritās apud omnēs cīvitātēs, nōbile nōmen, laus reī mīlitāris maxima.

great authority among all the states, a famous name, the highest reputation in military matters.

Note. A sentence without a verb: supply erat. maxima is the superlative of magnus.

Milt. 8.4Haec populus respiciēns māluit illum innoxium plectī quam sē diūtius esse in timōre.

Looking at these things, the people preferred that he be punished though innocent rather than that they themselves remain longer in fear.

Note. māluit … plectī quam … esse: 'preferred that he be punished than that they be'. innoxium: 'though innocent', the adjective has concessive force.