Stelle iustinus, qui graecam uel potius pe...; (De civitate Dei (413 - 427), Lib. 4, Cap. 6 (lin. 1)) [1646]

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ID 1646
Text De civitate Dei (413 - 427) Augustine of Hippo
Quotation iustinus, qui graecam uel potius peregrinam trogum pompeium secutus non latine tantum, sicut ille, uerum etiam breuiter scripsit historiam, opus librorum suorum sic incipit: "principio rerum gentium nationumque imperium penes reges erat, quos ad fastigium huius maiestatis non ambitio popularis, sed spectata inter bonos moderatio prouehebat. populi nullis legibus tenebantur, fines imperii tueri magis quam proferre mos erat, intra suam cuique patriam regna finiebantur.
Translation Justinus, who followed Trogus Pompeius in writing Greek – or, rather, foreign – history not only in Latin, as Trogus did, but also with brevity, commences his first book as follows. At the beginning of the affairs of tribes and nations, power was in the hands of kings, who were raised to the pinnacle of their majesty not by wooing the people, but by the knowledge that good men had of their moderation. The people were not bound by any laws. It was the custom rather to defend than extend the boundaries of empire, and the sway of each king was confined to his own fatherland. (Trans. Dyson)
Quotation source Lib. 4, Cap. 6 (lin. 1)
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