2. Nam uti genus hominum compositum ex corpore et anima est, ita res cunctae studiaque omnia nostra corporis alia, alia animi[10] naturam sequuntur. Igitur praeclara facies, magnae divitiae, ad hoc vis corporis et alia hujuscemodi omnia brevi dilabuntur; at ingenii egregia facinora sicuti anima immortalia sunt. Postremo corporis et fortunae bonorum ut initium sic finis est, omniaque orta occidunt et aucta senescunt: animus incorruptus[11] aeternus, rector humani generis, agit atque habet cuncta neque ipse habetur.[12] Quo magis pravitas eorum admiranda est,[13] qui dediti corporis gaudiis per luxum atque ignaviam aetatem agunt, ceterum[14] ingenium, quo neque melius neque amplius aliud in natura mortalium est, incultu atque socordia torpescere sinunt; quum praesertim tam multae variaeque sint artes animi, quibus summa claritudo paratur. [10] According to the common arrangement of words, it would be _alia corporis, alia animi_; but Sallust abandons this order just because it is common. For the same reason he prefers _alii--pars_ to _alii--alii_. _Naturam corporis_ (or _animi_) _sequuntur_, 'they follow the nature (that is, they are of the same kind) of body and mind.' Regarding the change of _anima_ into _animus_, it must be observed that _anima_ is 'the soul,' the seat and basis of _animus_ (mind), which is the activity of the _anima_. [11] 'But the mind is not subject to corruption' (that is, to dissolution and annihilation), for a perfect participle with the negative prefix in frequently denotes a passive impossibility, which is usually expressed by adjectives ending in _ilis_ or _bilis_; as _invictus miles_, an invincible soldier. [12] 'The mind possesses all things, but itself is not possessed;' that is, it is free. This is an imitation of a well-known Greek phrase, [Greek: echo, ouk echomai]. [13] _Admirari_ signifies not only 'to admire,' but also 'to wonder,' at anything which is surprising or displeasing; and in the latter sense it is the same as _mirari_. [14] Respecting _ceterum _ as an adversative conjunction, see Zumpt, S 349. 3. Verum ex his magistratus et imperia, postremo omnis cura rerum publicarum minime mihi hac tempestate[15] cupiunda videntur; quoniam neque virtuti honos datur, neque illi, quibus per fraudem is fuit,[16] tuti aut eo magis honesti[17] sunt. Nam vi quidem regere patriam aut parentes,[18] quamquam et possis et delicta corrigas,[19] tamen importunum est; quum praesertim omnes rerum mutationes caedem, fugam, aliaque hostilia portendant,[20] frustra autem niti,[21] neque aliud se fatigando nisi odium quaerere, extremae dementiae est; nisi forte[22] quem inhonesta et perniciosa libido[23] tenet, potentiae paucorum decus atque libertatem suam gratificari.