1. Polybius, Histories, 39.1 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE) Tagged with subjects: •scipio africanus, criticized for luxurious living and philhellenic attitudes Found in books: Isaac (2004) 387 | 39.1. 1. Aulus Postumius was a man deserving of mention for the following reason.,2. He was a member of one of the first families, but naturally wordy, loquacious, and vainglorious to excess.,3. From childhood he had set his heart on acquiring Greek culture and the Greek tongue, and in both he was too much of an adept, so much so that it was partly his fault that admiration for Greece became offensive in the eyes of the older and more distinguished Romans.,4. He even went so far as to attempt to write in Greek a poem and a serious history, in the preface to which he begs his readers to excuse him, if, as a Roman, he has not a complete mastery of the Greek language and their method of treating the subject.,5. Marcus Porcius Cato answered him, as I think, very properly on the subject. For he said he wondered what reason he had for making this apology.,6. Had he indeed been ordered by the Amphictyonic Council to write a history, possibly he would have been justified in speaking thus and offering excuses;,7. but to undertake of his own accord and under no compulsion to write a history, and then to beg to be pardoned for his barbarisms, was obviously ludicrous, and served just as little purpose, as if a man who had entered his name at the games for the boxing-contest or the pancration, upon appearing in the stadium, when the time came for the fight, were to beg the spectators to pardon him if he could not support the labour of the tussle or the blows.,9. For it is evident that such a man would certainly be ridiculed and receive summary punishment; and so should such historians have been treated, to prevent them from such audacious disregard of the proprieties.,10. This man in the rest of his behaviour likewise had adopted the worst vices of the Greeks. For he was both fond of pleasure and averse to toil,,11. as will be evident from the actual facts. On his very first appearance, indeed, in Greek parts, when the battle in Phocis took place, he feigned indisposition and retired to Thebes so as not to have to take part in the fight,,12. and when it was over he was the first to write to the senate about the victory, adding abundance of detail as if he had himself taken part in the engagement. The Capture of Corinth (From Strabo VIII.6.28) |
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