[47]
It remains for me timidly and briefly to speak of his good fortune, a quality which no man
ought to boast of in his own case, but which we may remember and commemorate an happening to
another, just as a man may extol the power of the gods. For my judgment is this, that very
often commands have been conferred upon, and armies have been entrusted to Maximus, to
Marcellus, to Scipio, to Marius, and to other great generals, not only on account of their
valour, but also on account of their good fortune. For there has been, in truth, in the case
of some most illustrious men, good fortune added as some contribution of the gods to their
honour and glory, and as a means of performing mighty achievements. But concerning the good
fortune of this man of whom we are now speaking, I will use so much moderation as not to say
that good fortune was actually placed in his power, but I will so speak as to appear to
remember what is past, to have good hope of what is to come; so that my speech may, on the one
hand, not appear to the immortal gods to be arrogant, nor, on the other hand, to be
ungrateful.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. Henry G. Bohn, York Street, Covent Garden. 1856.
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