522 Cicero '* Work on the Republic. [MAY, 



And since it forms part of the plan of the Monthly, to disseminate the 

 truest political principles,, a portion of its pages cannot be better filled 

 than in giving extracts from this work of Tally's, accompanied by such 

 reflections as the original may suggest. It has never been translated 

 into English,* and, therefore its perusal is confined to the select few 

 who have time to devote themselves to such pursuits ; which further in- 

 duced us to suppose that a translation of some parts would not be unac- 

 ceptable. 



It has been already stated, that it was discovered in the Vatican 

 Library, at Rome. The manuscript, however, is so defaced, that many 

 sentences and even pages, are illegible, and we have to lament the 

 entire loss of some parts. Yet we admire it as we should a beautiful 

 specimen of Grecian sculpture, chiselled by the hands of a Phidias or a 

 Lysippus, which, notwithstanding the mutilations it may have received 

 from the violence of barbarians, and the devastations of time, still re- 

 tains enough of its former glory, to win our admiration, and to call forth 

 our sorrow at the ravages committed on its beauty. The work was 

 originally divided into six books ; the greater part of the first and second 

 remains j of the third, only a small portion ; of the fourth and fifth, but 

 a few fragments ; and of the sixth, the Vatican manuscript does not 

 contain a single trace. It was written in the form of a dialogue, in 

 imitation of Plato, who has composed all his writings in that style ; the 

 dramatis persona? are the most eminent men of Rome in the time of 

 Scipio, in whose gardens the conversation is supposed to be conducted. 

 Scipio himself is the principal speaker; all the others yield to his 

 opinion, and his words are law r . It was an excellent plan for Cicero to 

 deliver his sentiments on the important subject of government, by the 

 mouth of a man so greatly revered as Scipio was, by all classes in the 

 state ; for men listen with more respect to the opinions of the dead, than 

 to the words of the living, however learned and eloquent they may be. 

 Nor could a better period in the history of Rome have been selected. 

 She had just conquered her rival, Carthage, and was herself yet uncon- 

 quered by luxury ; learning was beginning to be generally diffused, 

 and oratory to be cultivated diligently and systematically ; while 

 comedy, under the genius of Plautus and Terence, arrived by a rapid 

 growth at the highest degree of perfection which it was destined to 

 attain. In fact, Cicero made choice of this epoch as the most glorious 

 in the annals of his country ; and he selected the interlocutors of his 

 dialogue from among those who were illustrious by their warlike ex- 

 ploits and civil honours, in order that his work might receive the greater 

 regard and veneration, as containing the sentiments of such virtuous 

 patriots. 



There is a kind of preface, or introduction, to the first two books, in 

 which Tully combats the opinion of the Epicureans, that no wise man 

 will ever engage in affairs of state; and proofs are given, that wise men 

 ought to devote themselves to the service of their country, and should 

 not listen to the voice of indolence and ease. An advice worthy the 

 attention of our English aristocracy, who are by birth the legislators 

 of our realm ; and who too often permit themselves to sink into repose, 



* We are happy, however, to be enabled to inform our readers that a translation 

 of it is now preparing by a gentleman, who, by his great talents, critical acumen, 

 and extensive knowledge, is well qualified to execute so arduous a task. 



