The extraordinary powers which that champion of Corporativisimo, Hank Paulson, would like to arrogate to himself sparked the following comparison:-
‘Dictatorem(que) dici placeret qui rem perculsam restitueret, L. Quinctius Cincinnatus consensu omnium dicitur… et plebis concursus ingens fuit; sed ea nequaquam tam laeta Quinctium uidit, et imperium nimium et uirum ipso imperio uehementiorem rata’
‘And they were determined that a Dictator should be appointed to restore their embarrassed affairs, so, by universal consent, they chose Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus… There was a large gathering of the people, but, by no means, did they regard him with equal delight, considering both the extent of his authority as too great and the man vested with such authority as rather arbitrary’ Livy, History of Rome, Bk III.26
Of course, old ‘Curly’ did what he had to to rescue the Romans then went straight back to his plough, leaving the political and economic system undisturbed behind him.
I don’t suppose his smooth-headed successor is likely to be quite so obliging!



{ 2 comments }
Thank you Mr. Corrigan,
Interestingly enough, I have been, in other fora, making reference to Cincinnatus in the context of our current situation (Paulson, ‘Bailout’, et al.)
And, in conversation, illuminating some of the reasons that Latin is sold as a ‘dead’ language v. our use of it everyday..
Stay well, and keep an eye the rigging
“Old ‘Curly’ did what he had to to rescue the Romans then went straight back to his plough, leaving the political and economic system undisturbed behind him.”
Old Curly was not a privileged member of an inner circle with world hegemony in their sights.
“His smooth-headed successor” has responsibilities as a member of the unConstitutional coup. You can’t expect him to leave voluntarily. So I guess that means he will have to leave unvoluntarily!
Comments on this entry are closed.