Iug. 4.1Cēterum ex aliīs negōtiīs, quae ingeniō exercentur, in prīmīs magnō ūsuī est memoria rērum gestārum.But among other occupations which are pursued by the intellect, the recording of past events is of especially great service. Iug. 4.2Quoius dē virtūte quia multī dīxēre, praetereundum putō, simul nē per īnsolentiam quis existumet mēmet studium meum laudandō extollere.Since many have spoken of its merit, I think I should pass over it, and at the same time so that no one may think that I am vainly exalting my own pursuit by praising it. Iug. 4.3Atque ego crēdō fore quī, quia dēcrēvī procul ā rē pūblicā aetātem agere, tantō tamque ūtilī labōrī meō nōmen inertiae inpōnant, certē quibus maxuma industria vidētur salūtāre plēbem et convīviīs grātiam quaerere.And yet I believe there will be some who, because I have resolved to spend my life far from public affairs, will give the name of idleness to my labour, so great and so useful as it is; certainly those to whom it seems the greatest industry to court the common people and to seek favour by banquets.
Iug. 4.4Quī sī reputāverint, et quibus ego temporibus magistrātūs adeptus sim et quālēs virī idem adsequī nequīverint et posteā quae genera hominum in senātum pervēnerint, profectō existumābunt mē magis meritō quam ignāviā iūdicium animī meī mūtāvisse maiusque commodum ex ōtiō meō quam ex aliōrum negōtiīs reī pūblicae ventūrum.Yet if they consider both in what times I won my magistracies, and what kind of men were unable to attain the same, and what sorts of men have since entered the senate, they will surely judge that it was for good reason rather than through sloth that I changed my mind, and that greater benefit will come to the state from my leisure than from the busy activity of others. Iug. 4.5Nam saepe ego audīvī Q. Maxumum, P. Scīpiōnem, praetereā cīvitātis nostrae praeclārōs virōs solitōs ita dīcere, quom maiōrum imāginēs intuērentur, vehementissumē sibi animum ad virtūtem accendī.For I have often heard that Quintus Maximus, Publius Scipio and other eminent men of our state used to say that, when they gazed on the masks of their ancestors, their minds were most fiercely kindled to virtue. Iug. 4.6Scīlicet nōn cēram illam neque figūram tantam vim in sēsē habēre, sed memoriā rērum gestārum eam flammam ēgregiīs virīs in pectore crēscere neque prius sēdārī, quam virtūs eōrum fāmam atque glōriam adaequāverit.Of course it was not that wax or that likeness that had such power in itself, but the memory of their deeds made that flame grow in the breasts of outstanding men, and it was not quenched until their own merit had equalled their ancestors' fame and glory.
Iug. 4.7At contrā quis est omnium hīs mōribus, quīn dīvitiīs et sūmptibus, nōn probitāte neque industriā cum maiōribus suīs contendat?But now, by contrast, given the present morals, who is there of all men who does not compete with his ancestors in riches and extravagance rather than in honesty and diligence? Iug. 4.7Etiam hominēs novī, quī anteā per virtūtem solitī erant nōbilitātem antevenīre, fūrtim et per latrōcinia potius quam bonīs artibus ad imperia et honōrēs nītuntur;Even new men, who formerly used to surpass the nobility through merit, strive towards commands and honours by stealth and banditry rather than by good practices; Iug. 4.8proinde quasi praetūra et cōnsulātus atque alia omnia huiusce modī per sē ipsa clāra et magnifica sint ac nōn perinde habeantur, ut eōrum quī ea sustinent virtūs est.just as if a praetorship and a consulship and all other things of this kind were illustrious and splendid in themselves, and were not esteemed just in proportion to the merit of those who hold them. Iug. 4.9Vērum ego līberius altiusque prōcessī, dum mē cīvitātis mōrum piget taedetque.But I have gone on too freely and too far, while the morals of our state vex and weary me.
Iug. 4.9Nunc ad inceptum redeō.Now I return to my undertaking.