Adhuc autem quamlibet sincera rectaque ingenia, etsi non detorquebat, hebetabat tamen misera sed vera reputatio: Vides enim: si quid bene fecero sciet Caesar? aut si scierit testimonium reddet? Ita eadem illa seu neglegentia seu malignitas principum, cum male consultis impunitatem, recte factis nullum praemium polliceretur, nec illos a crimine et hos deterrebat a laude.
Hitherto, however honest and upright his nature, a mans views were distorted, or at any rate weakened, by the reflection'lamentable but true'that even if he did well, would Caesar know? And if he knew, would he show it? And so the emperors in their malice or their indifference allowed evil counsels to go unpunished, while promising no rewards to deeds well done; thus they deterred some from seeking distinction but no one from crime.
final_alignments\Pliny_Younger_Panegyricus.json