- Humphrey Lemuel
- Spear William
- Degrand P. P. F.
I rose this morning as usual at four, after a good Night’s rest and much
refreshed. I had finished yesterday the fragments of Cicero’s Philosophical works, closing
with the translation of Plato’s
unintelligible Timaeus— This
morning I began the books de Republica, recently recovered though in a
very imperfect state by Angelo May,
and published at Rome in 1822— There is internal evidence of its
authenticity and probably one fourth part of the work—enough at least to
make the mouth water for the rest— It begins by stating that the first
34 pages of the manuscript are missing— It opens in the midst of a
discussion by Cicero, upon the Question whether a wise man ought to take
part in the Administration of public Affairs—of which he maintains the
affirmative. He then undertakes to set forth a discourse of the second
Scipio Africanus,
which he says was related to him, and to Brutus, then a youth, by Publius Rutilius Rufus at Smyrna. The occasion is said to
have been during the Feriae Latinae, Tuditanus and Aquilius being Consuls, (year of Rome 625.[)] about 80
years before the composition of the work. Scipio passes the festival
days at his Gardens where he is visited by his familiar friends— First
appears his Sister’s Son, Quintus
Tubero— Then Lucius Furius
Philus and Publius Rutilius and finally Laelius, with Spurius Mummius, Caius Fannius and Quintus Scaevola; and last of all
Marcus Manilius— The
conversation is commenced by Tubero who enquires of Scipio what he
thinks of the phenomenon said to have been recently observed, of a
double Sun— Scipio transfers the question to Philus, between whom and
Laelius some desultory dialogue occurs— The other personages take part
in it—till after much variety of observation, Laelius calls upon Scipio,
to speak of higher topics, and instead of attempting to account for two
Suns—to explain, how in one Republic there have come to be two Senates
and two Peoples, as there seemed to be by the dissensions consequent
upon the tribunate and death of Tiberius Gracchus— The
proper subject of the work is thus introduced, and at the request of
Laelius, seconded by the other interlocutors, Scipio discourses upon
Forms of Government and Republics. This introduction occupies more than
half of the first Book; and more than half of it is yet unrecovered. It
amused and entertained me till Mr. Humphrey called to finish
the survey of Mount Wollaston farm— We resumed it 9where we had finished yesterday and Alpheus Spear was with us this day. We came round upon
the borders of the broad Meadows, and after dining between two and three
O’Clock under an Oak tree, finished the survey about five, and which I
immediately came home; not much fatigued, and quite well— Degrand came, on a visit from Boston,
and spent an hour with us; and I went to a wedding party at the widow Baxter’s— Her daughter had just before been
married by Mr.
Whitney to Mr Hallett of Boston— A
numerous Company; from Boston, Milton and Quincy; few of whom were known
to me— Came home before nine.