西塞罗的史学观念及实践——以罗马骑士叙述为例

Cicero’s Historical Thought and Practice:Taking His Narrative of Roman Cavalrymen

西塞罗虽非专业史学家,但留下了许多关于历史书写的论述。他对求真原则和撰写当代史的强调,叙事技艺上的修辞学方法及对话体、书信体的使用,成为其史学观念的主要表现。西塞罗的写作实践基本贯彻了他的这一史学观念,在他对罗马骑士的叙述中有集中表现。他著作中关于《归还公马法》《罗斯西乌斯法》《阿西里亚法》等涉及骑士的记载,反映了罗马骑士等级的演变和演变,丰富了罗马当代史叙述。西塞罗通过对修辞学的手法以及对话体、书信体裁的使用,塑造了公马骑兵、“共和国栋梁”的包税商和“公正的法庭陪审员”的骑士的三重形象。尽管未能完成一部史学著作,但西塞罗的史学实践基本践行了其史学观念,推动了罗马史学的发展。

Cicero was not a professional historian, but he left behind many discussions of historical narrative. His historical thought was manifested in his discussions of the principle of searching for the truth and writing contemporary history, and rhetoric, dialogic and epistolary styles in his narrative technique. Cicero actively carried out his historical thought in his narrative, especially in his writings on Roman cavalrymen. His plebiscitum reddendorum equorum, lex Roscia, lex Acilia, which depicted the evolution and features of Roman cavalrymen, enriches our understanding of Roman history. With rhetoric, dialogic and epistolary styles, Cicero created the triple image of cavalrymen, namely, equites equo publico(horsemen whose mounts were provided by the public), Roman public contractors who were as “pillars of the SPQR” and “impartial court jurors”. Though without a historical book, Cicero's historical practice had basically carried out his historical thought and promoted the development of Roman historiography.