|  |
| Toynbee "Cincinnato" |
Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, one of the heroes
of the old Roman republic; he was regarded as the Roman model of
frugality and integrity; he was born c. 519 B.C.; he distinguished
himself as an opponent of the plebeians in the struggle between
them and the patricians (462-454); according to several accounts,
he was living on his farm, which he cultivated himself, when, in
458 B.C., he was called from the plough to assume the dictatorship,
in order to deliver the Roman army from the Aequians; having
accomplished this task, and defeated the enemy, he is said to have
returned to his farm after holding the dictatorship only sixteen
days. Although in this case the story is probably not based on
fact, it is reported that in 439 he was a second time appointed
dictator at the age of 80.
The Emperor Justinian (in the Heaven of Mercury) mentions him in
connexion with the exploits of the Roman Eagle, referring to him
(in allusion to the name Cincinnatus, i.e. 'shaggyhaired', as D.
understood it) as
Quinzio che dal cirro / negletto fu nomato,
[Par vi 46-47]
[Aquila_1]; he is mentioned again (as
Cincinnato) by Cacciaguida (in the Heaven of Mars), who,
speaking of the degenerate state of Florence says that in his day
such a person as Lapo Salterello would have been as great a marvel
in that city as Cincinnatus would be now,
[Par. xv. 127-129]
[Lapo_2];
his laying down of the dictatorship and voluntary return to the
plough are referred to,
Conv. IV. v. 15; and, with a reference to
Livy ({Livy. iii. 26}), though D. was more probably thinking of the account
of Orosius ({Orosius. II. xii. 7-8}), and to Cicero ({Cic. De finibus II. iv. 12}),
Mon. II. v. 9-10.
©Oxford University Press 1968. From A Dictionary of Proper Names and Notable Matters in the Works of Dante by Paget Toynbee
(1968) by permission of Oxford University Press