Project Sherlock

Book

54 BCE

De Re Publica

Cicero

Cicero's dialogue on the ideal constitution argues Rome's mixed government, balancing monarchic, aristocratic and democratic elements across its consuls, senate and assemblies, is the best-realised approximation of the ideal state.

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This edition
The text is a ruin. Most of it was lost until 1819, when a palimpsest gave back about a quarter; the closing 'Dream of Scipio' survived separately because a commentator quoted it whole. Expect gaps mid-argument.
FreeAdvancedabout 2.5 hours to readlink checked 17 Sept 2026

Filed under Ancient Rome in History.