Sertorius is a play by Pierre Corneille on the revolt by Quintus Sertorius, created for the Théâtre du Marais of Paris for the 25 February 1662, afterwards published in July of the same year. The literary scholar George Saintsbury considered Sertorius to be "one of Corneille’s finest plays", and declared that "the characters of Aristie, Viriate and Sertorius himself [...] are not to be surpassed in grandeur of thought, felicity of design or appropriateness of language".
“They were more than kings, now they are less than slaves.”
Ils etaient plus que rois; ils sont moindres qu'esclaves.
Sertorius, act III, scene i
Sertorius describes Roman citizens after they had fallen under tyranny.
Sertorius (1662)
Rome seule aujourd'hui peut résister à Rome.
Viriate, act II, scene i.
Sertorius (1662)
“Rome is no longer in Rome, it is here where I am.”
Rome n'est plus dans Rome, elle est toute où je suis.
Sertorius, act III, scene i.
Sertorius (1662)
“It is hard to hate what one has loved,
And a half-extinguished fire is soon relit.”
On a peine à haïr ce qu'on a bien aimé,
Et le feu mal éteint est bientôt rallumé.
Sertorius, act I, scene iii.
Sertorius (1662)
