Page:Correspondence of Marcus Cornelius Fronto volume 2 Haines 1920.djvu/157

 of course I pass over the mule of eloquence: he is labelled as no expert at the lyre

10. To many even unworthy sons the father's place has handed down the sovranty: just as chicks have all the marks of their kind present in them even from the egg, namely combs and feathers and crowing and wakeful ways, so for the sons of kings even in their mother's womb is supreme power destined: they receive the sovranty at the midwife's hand

11. Between Romulus and Remus, as they took the auguries on separate hills, birds decided the question of sovranty, and one of the Persian kings (is said in old days to have gained) the kingdom not by a race but by priority in the neighing of his horse.

12. We know that the plots and conspiracies of others have often deprived one man of his sovranty and handed it over to another. But eloquence when once found can neither be taken away, nor when taken away by death be transferred to another. With you your brother approves these deeds of Romulus

13. Cato was already recovering Spain, Gracchus already farming Asia and parcelling Carthage out among individual settlers  Now, Marcus Tullius was  141

