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I shall not therefore stay to inquire what sort of men Romulus
gathered together, seeing he deliberated much about them, how, being
assumed out of that life they led into the fellowship of his city, they
might cease to think of the punishment they deserved, the fear of which
had driven them to greater villainies; so that henceforth they might be
made more peaceable members of society. But this I say, that the
Roman empire, which by subduing many nations had already grown great
and an object of universal dread, was itself greatly alarmed, and only
with much difficulty avoided a disastrous overthrow, because a mere
handful of gladiators in Campania, escaping from the games, had
recruited a great army, appointed three generals, and most widely and
cruelly devastated Italy. Let them say what god aided these men, so
that from a small and contemptible band of robbers they attained to a
kingdom, feared even by the Romans, who had such great forces and
fortresses. Or will they deny that they were divinely aided because
they did not last long? As if, indeed, the life of any man whatever
lasted long. In that case, too, the gods aid no one to reign, since
all individuals quickly die; nor is sovereign power to be reckoned a
benefit, because in a little time in every man, and thus in all of
them one by one, it vanishes like a vapor. For what does it matter to
those who worshipped the gods under Romulus, and are long since dead,
that after their death the Roman empire has grown so great, while they
plead their causes before the powers beneath? Whether those causes are
good or bad, it matters not to the question before us. And this is to
be understood of all those who carry with them the heavy burden of their
actions, having in the few days of their life swiftly and hurriedly
passed over the stage of the imperial office, although the office
itself has lasted through long spaces of time, being filled by a
constant succession of dying men. If, however, even those benefits
which last only for the shortest time are to be ascribed to the aid of
the gods, these gladiators were not a little aided, who broke the
bonds of their servile condition, fled, escaped, raised a great and
most powerful army, obedient to the will and orders of their chiefs and
much feared by the Roman majesty, and remaining unsubdued by several
Roman generals, seized many places, and, having won very many
victories, enjoyed whatever pleasures they wished, and did what their
lust suggested, and, until at last they were conquered, which was
done with the utmost difficulty, lived sublime and dominant. But let
us come to greater matters.
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