oughta take care of your young 'uns better
Just scooped what looked like a drowned baby rat - about 5 cm long, slim black body, thin tail - off the top of the swimming pool.
EW.
~
By now you're no doubt sick of the America-Rome comparisons, but this, remember, was written in 1971:
Letter: Julius Caesar to Gaius Octavius at Apollonia, from Rome (44 B.C.)
[...]
How long have we been living the Roman lie? Ever since I can remember, certainly; perhaps for many years before. And from what source does that lie suck its energy, so that it grows stronger than the truth? We have seen murder, theft, and pillage in the name of the Republic - and call it the necessary price we pay for freedom. Cicero deplores the depraved Roman morality that worships wealth - and, himself a millionaire many times over, travels with a hundred slaves from one of his villas to another. A consul speaks of peace and tranquillity - and raises armies that will murder the colleague whose power theatens his self-interest. The Senate speaks of freedom - and thrusts upon me powers that I do not want but must accept and use if Rome is to endure. Is there no answer to the lie?
I have conquered the world, and none of it is secure; I have shown liberty to the people, and they flee it as if it were a disease; I despise those whom I trust, and love those best who would most quickly betray me. And I do not know where we are going, though I lead a nation to its destiny.
Such, my dear nephew, whom I would call my son, are the doubts that beset the man whom they would make a king. I envy your your winter in Apollonia; I am pleased with the reports of your studies; and I am happy that you get along so well with the officers of my legions there. But I do miss our talks in the evenings. I comfort myself with the thought that we shall resume them this summer on our Eastern campaign. We shall march across the country, feed upon the land, and kill whom we must kill. It is the only life for a man. And things shall be as they will be.
(Excerpt from "Augustus" by John Williams)
EW.
~
By now you're no doubt sick of the America-Rome comparisons, but this, remember, was written in 1971:
Letter: Julius Caesar to Gaius Octavius at Apollonia, from Rome (44 B.C.)
[...]
How long have we been living the Roman lie? Ever since I can remember, certainly; perhaps for many years before. And from what source does that lie suck its energy, so that it grows stronger than the truth? We have seen murder, theft, and pillage in the name of the Republic - and call it the necessary price we pay for freedom. Cicero deplores the depraved Roman morality that worships wealth - and, himself a millionaire many times over, travels with a hundred slaves from one of his villas to another. A consul speaks of peace and tranquillity - and raises armies that will murder the colleague whose power theatens his self-interest. The Senate speaks of freedom - and thrusts upon me powers that I do not want but must accept and use if Rome is to endure. Is there no answer to the lie?
I have conquered the world, and none of it is secure; I have shown liberty to the people, and they flee it as if it were a disease; I despise those whom I trust, and love those best who would most quickly betray me. And I do not know where we are going, though I lead a nation to its destiny.
Such, my dear nephew, whom I would call my son, are the doubts that beset the man whom they would make a king. I envy your your winter in Apollonia; I am pleased with the reports of your studies; and I am happy that you get along so well with the officers of my legions there. But I do miss our talks in the evenings. I comfort myself with the thought that we shall resume them this summer on our Eastern campaign. We shall march across the country, feed upon the land, and kill whom we must kill. It is the only life for a man. And things shall be as they will be.
(Excerpt from "Augustus" by John Williams)