[11] Respecting the frequent position of _igitur_ at the beginning of a sentence in Sallust, see Zumpt, S 357. [12] _Pars_, instead of _alii_, probably to avoid the repetition of _alii_, and to produce variety. [13] _Postea vero quam_, for _postquam vero_. The author means to say, that after the formation of great empires by extensive conquests, the truth became manifest that even in war mind was superior to mere bodily strength. He mentions Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lacedaemonians and Athenians, because the earlier empires of the Egyptians and Assyrians did not yet belong to accredited history. [14] Sallust here introduces, by _quodsi_ (and if, or yes, if), an illustration connected with the preceding remarks. Respecting this connecting power of _quodsi_, as distinguished from the simple _si_, see Zumpt, S 807. This illustration, which ends with the word _transfertur_, was suggested to Sallust especially by the consideration of the recent disturbances in the Roman republic under Pompey, Caesar, and Mark Antony, three men who, in times of peace, saw their glory, previously acquired in war, fade away. [15] _Animi virtus_; these two words are here united to express a single idea, 'mental greatness.' [16] _Aliud alio ferri_, 'that one thing is drawn in one direction, and the other in another.' For _aliud alio_, see Zumpt, S 714; and for _cerneres_, in which the second person singular of the subjunctive answers to the English 'you' when not referring to any definite person, S 381. [17] _Optimum quemque_, 'to every one in proportion as he is better than others.' Respecting this relative meaning of _quisque_, see Zumpt, S 710. 'Every one,' absolutely, is _unusqisque_, and adjectively _omnis_. [18] 'They have passed through life like strangers or travellers;' that is, as if they had no concern with their own life, although it is clear that human life is of value only when men are conscious of themselves, and exert themselves to cultivate their mental powers, and apply them to practical purposes. [19] 'I set an equal value upon their life and their death;' that is, an equally low value, _juxta_ being equivalent to _aeque_ or _pariter_. [20] _Verum enimvero;_ these conjunctions are intended strongly to draw the attention of the reader to the conclusion from a preceding argument. [21] 'Intent upon some occupation.' _Intentus_ is commonly construed with the dative, or the preposition _in_ or _ad_ with the accusative; but as a person may be intent _upon_ something, so he also may be intent _by_, or _in consequence of_, something, so that the ablative is perfectly consistent.