Nam postquam res publica in paucorum potentium ius atque dicionem concessit, semper illis reges, tetrarchae vectigales esse, populi, nationes stipendia pendere; ceteri omnes, strenui, boni, nobiles atque ignobiles, volgus fuimus sine gratia, sine auctoritate, eis obnoxii, quibus, si res publica valeret, formidini essemus.
For ever since the state fell under the jurisdiction and sway of a few powerful men, it is always to them that kings and petty rulers are tributary, to them nations and peoples pay taxes. All the rest of us, energetic, good'nobles as well as nobodies'have been a common herd, without influence, without prestige, subservient to those to whom, if the state were healthy, we would be an object of dread.
final_alignments\Sallust_Catiline.json