[261] We have lost the real names of things, etc.--Imitated from Thucydides, iii. 32: [Greek: _Kai taen eiothuian axiosin ton onomaton es ta erga antaellaxan tae dikaiosei. Tolma men gar alogistos, andria philetairos enomisthae, mellasis te promaethaes, deilia euprepaes to de sophron. Tou anandrou proschaema, kai to pros apan syneton, epi pan argon_.] "The ordinary meaning of words was changed by them as they thought proper. For reckless daring was regarded as courage that was true to its friends; prudent delay, as specious cowardice; moderation, as a cloak for unmanliness; being intelligent in every thing, as being useful for nothing." _Dale's_ translation; Bohn's Classical Library. [262] Elegant language--_Compositè_. See above, c. 51. [263] In a most excellent condition--_Multo pulcherrumam._ See c. 36. [264] For of allies and citizens, etc.--Imitated from Demosthenes, Philipp. III.4. [265] I advise you to have mercy upon them--_Misereamini censeo, i.e._, censeo _ut_ misereanum, spoken ironically. Most translators have taken the words in the sense of "You would take pity on them, I suppose," or something similar. [266] Unless this be the second time that he has made war upon his country--"Cethegus first made war on his country in conjunction with Marius." _Bernouf_. Whether Sallust alludes to this, or intimates (as Gerlach thinks) that he was engaged in the first conspiracy, is doubtful. [267] Is ready to devour us--_Faucibus urget_. Cortius, Kritzius, Gerlach, Burnouf, Allen, and Dietsch, are unanimous in interpreting this as a metaphorical expression, alluding to a wild beast with open jaws ready to spring upon its prey. They support this interpretation by Val. Max., v. 3: "Faucibus apprehensam rempublicam;" Cic. pro. Cluent., 31: "Quum faucibus premetur;" and Plaut. Casin. v. 3,4, "Manifesto faucibus teneor." Some, editors have read _in faucibus_, and understood the words as referring to the jaws or narrow passes of Etruria, where Catiline was with his army. [268] LIII. All the senators of consular dignity, and a great part of the rest--_Consulares omnes, itemque senatus magna pars_. "As the consulars were senators, the reader would perhaps expect Sallust to have said _reliqui senatús_ but _itemque_ is equivalent to _et praeter eos_." _Dietsch_. [269] That they had carried on wars--_Bella gesta_. That wars had been carried on _by them_.