[10] _That of_ intellectual power is illustrious and immortal--_Virtus clara aeternaque habetur_. The only one of our English translators who has given the right sense of _virtus_ In this passage, is Sir Henry Steuart, who was guided to it by the Abbé Thyvon and M. Beauzée. "It appears somewhat singular," says Sir Henry, "that none of the numerous translators of Sallust, whether among ourselves or among foreign nations--the Abbé Thyvon and M. Beauzée excepted--have thought of giving to the word _virtus_, in this place, what so obviously is the meaning intended by the historian; namely, 'genius, ability, distinguished talents.'" Indeed, the whole tenor of the passage, as well as the scope of the context, leaves no room to doubt the fact. The main objects of comparison, throughout the three first sections of this Proemium, or introductory discourse, are not vice and virtue, but body and mind; a listless indolence, and a vigorous, honorable activity. On this account it is pretty evident, that by _virtus_ Sallust could never mean the [Greek _aretae_], 'virtue or moral worth,' but that he had in his eye the well-known interpretation of Varro, who considers it _ut viri vis_ (De Ling. Lat. iv.), as denoting the useful energy which ennobles a man, and should chiefly distinguish him among his fellow-creatures. In order to be convinced of the justice of this rendering, we need only turn to another passage of our author, in the second section of the Proemium to the Jugurthine War, where the same train of thought is again pursued, although he gives it somewhat a different turn in the piece last mentioned. The object, notwithstanding, of both these dissertations is to illustrate, in a striking manner, the pre-eminence of the mind over extrinsic advantage, or bodily endowments, and to show that it is by genius alone that we may aspire to a reputation which shall never die. "_Igitur praeclara facies, magnae divitiae, adhuc vis corporis, et alia hujusmondi omnia, brevi dilabuntur: at ingenii egregia facinora, sicut anima, immortalia sunt_". [11] It is necessary to plan before beginning to act--_Priusquam incipias, consulto--opus est_. Most translators have rendered _consulto_ "deliberation," or something equivalent; but it is _planning_ or _contrivance_ that is signified. Demosthenes, in his Oration _de Pace_, reproaches the Athenians with acting without any settled plan: [Greek: _Oi men gar alloi puntes anthropoi pro ton pragmatonheiothasi chraesthai to Bouleuesthai, umeis oude meta ta pragmata_.] [12] To act with promptitude and vigor--_Maturè facto opus est_. "Maturè facto" seems to include the notions both of promptitude and vigor, of force as well as speed; for what would be the use of acting expeditiously, unless expedition be attended with power and effect? [13] Each--_Utrumque_. The corporeal and mental faculties.