Paktor@cup.portal.com (David L Paktor) (10/24/88)
In article <509@oravax.UUCP> harper@oravax.UUCP (Doug Harper) writes: > I merely wish to defend the good name of > Cincinnatus. > > Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519? - ?439 BC) was a Roman > citizen-soldier "famed for the simplicity and austerity of his ways" > (trans. from Nouveau Petit Larousse, 1972). The Senate twice took the > extraordinary step of making him dictator, risking the Republic to save > Rome from dire military threats. Both times, he resigned the office > after discharging his duty, returning to his farm (The American Peoples > Encyclopedia, 1962). > > Legend has it that he was offered the kingship and, a true republican, > declined it. and, in article <827@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM> mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer) writes: > Cincinnattus was a model of Roman virtue and humility. In the republic, > the excutive was split between two consuls. However, in time of war, > a single executive with !temporary! extraordinary powers could be > appointed, called the dictator (unlike current holders of the term, > they were historically virtuous men). > > Cincinnatus was appointed dictator. After winning his war, the people > were so pleased with his rule that they insisted he remain. Instead, > the humble Cincinnatus asked only a small boon from the people, as much > land to farm as he could plow around in a single day. Far from an > elitist, I would say. Well, I certainly do not mean to impugn the good name of anyone -- especially someone I never met, and who did me no harm (far as I can tell... ;-> )! As I said, my knowledge of the subject was extremely vague. Thanks, both Doug and Dan, for the clarification! My remarks regarding my impressions of the Cincinnatus Society, however, still stand, unless and until indicated otherwise! David ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ === Mister Systems === | Imray Klaatu Na'Arawak: David L Paktor | Macro provaal barada, l'upden sol impiclit. | Ya vo taray axel Paktor@cup.Portal.com | b'gletio barengi degas... | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright (C) 1988, except for the cute quote in the .signature... Permission to reprint may be requested by sending E-Mail to the author. Permission is granted to quote from this article in follow-up articles; all other rights reserved by the author.