Somnium Scipionis, Part XXI

“Moreover, if that generation of future men should wish to hand down the taken praises of each one of us from their fathers to their descendants, nevertheless because of the inundations and conflagrations of the lands, which it is necessary happen at a certain time, we are not able to achieve not only an eternal glory, but not even a long lasting one. But what does it matter that there will be discussion concerning you by those who will be born afterwards, since there was none by them who were born before, who where not fewer, and who were certainly better men; particularly since, among those men themselves from whom our name is able to be heard, no one could retain memory of one year?