CHASE AND STUART'S CLASSICAL SERIES.
THE GERMANIA, AGRICOLA,
AND
DIALOGUS DE ORATORIBUS
OF TACITUS.
Wixth QoXllutltatorg!  4ta0t
BY
GEORGE STUART, A.M.,
PEOFESSOR OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE IN THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOTL
OF PHILADELPHIA.
PHILADELPHIA:
ELDREDGE & BROTHER,
No. 17 North Seventh Street.
187.




'lh --    Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by
in the    ELDREDGE  & BROTHER,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
J. FAGAN & SON, 
ELECTROTYPERS,'PHILAD'A.
CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN & CO.




PREFACE.
THERE is no reduction of our indebtedness to the
scholars of Germany. They make ancient eloquence
more eloquent, and ancient poetry more poetical. Halm,
Wex, Kritz, Ritter, Haase, and others, have labored successfully in correcting many of the errors which marred
the earlier editions of Tacitus. Labor, learning, and
criticism have accomplished much. With the help of
more numerous and more trustworthy manuscripts and
marginal readings, and by a judicious use of the annotations of the ancient commentators, long desired improvements have been introduced into the text. Wex's searching examination of the text of the Agricola is contained
in a stout octavo volume of more than two hundred
pages.
Of the collective works of Tacitus, Halm's text enjoys
a confessed superiority. But editors who have labored
on special portions of the works of Tacitus may reasonably be expected to have some special merits. Hence
while Halm is made the basis of the text herewith presented, such special merits were not overlooked. Whenever in the text of the Germania Kritz or Haase seemed
to have something better, it was selected; and in the
Agricola, which is still in an unsatisfactory condition,




iV                  PREFACE.
and in a few places perhaps incurably corrupt, a similar
preference was sometimes given to Wex. The text of
the Dialogue is almost entirely that of Halm: in one
instance Brotier's reading of a corrupt passage made it
more intelligible, and was adopted. All the leading
deviations from JIalm are mentioned in the Notes.
The principal works of Tacitus were composed towards
the close of the first century or in the beginning of the
second, and as language has its periods of growth and
decay, his phraseology sometimes differs from that of the
Augustan age. The Dialogue was one of his earlier
works, and in the greater ease and sprightliness of its
structure still shows the influence of the Ciceronian style.
Attention is called in the Notes to the leading departures
from golden usage.
The manuscripts of Tacitus exhibit great variety in
their orthography, and show, not how Tacitus, but how
his transcribers spelled. While, therefore, wide departures from established usage were avoided, a strictly uniform orthography was not considered desirable.
Geographical, historical, and biographical information
has been freely given, especially where such information
seemed necessary for the elucidation of the text.
GEORGE STUART.
CENTRAL lIGH SCHOOL,
Philadelphia, July 1st, 1875.




LIFE OF TACITUS.
ITTLE is known of the life of Tacitus, except what he tells us
himself, or what we may gather from the epistles of his friend,
the younger Pliny. The time and place of his birth are unknown.
Pliny was born A. D. 61, and as Tacitus was a few years older than
Pliny, several circumstances render it probable that the date of
his birth was not far from A. D. 51. His praenoinen is also a
matter of doubt. It is commonly written Caius, on the authority
of Sidonius Apollinaris, though. it is given as Publius in the best
manuscript of the Annals. The name Cornelius suggests a possible connection with the great patrician Cornelia gens; but as
there was also a plebeian house of the same name, the connection
cannot be assumed with certainty. The town of Interamna, in
Umbria, has been named as the birthplace of Tacitus. This
assertion, however, rests on insufficient proof, and was probably
based upon the known fact, that this town was in the third century
the seat of the family of the emperor Tacitus, who claimed descent
from the historian, and honored his memory by directing that ten
copies of his works should be annually transcribed and placed in
the public libraries. With regard to his parentage, we have at
least a probable conjecture to guide us. The elder Pliny was, as
he tells us, acquainted with one Cornelius Tacitus, who was then
a procurator in Gallia Belgica, and who had a son. Plinius died
A. D. 79, and the procurator cannot have been the historian; but
it has been supposed that this Tacitus was the historian's father.
A procurator was generally a person of equestrian rank.
Tacitus was first promoted by the emperor Vespasian, and he
received other favors from his sons Titus and Domitian. What
offices he may have held under the first and second of these
princes, it is impossible to determine. C. Julius Agricola, who
was consul A. D. 77, betrothed his daughter to Tacitus in that year,
A2                      v




vi               LIFE  OF  TACITUS.
but the marriage did not take place until the following year. In
the reign of Domitian, and in A.D. 88, Tacitus was praetor, and
he assisted as one of the quindecemviri at the solemnity of the
Ludi Saeculares which were celebrated in that year, the fourteenth
consulship of Domitian. Agricola died at Rome A.D. 93, but
neither Tacitus nor the daughter of Agricola was then with him.
It is not known where Tacitus was during the last illness of Agricola, for the assumption that he ever visited either Britain or Germany cannot be proved. He appears to say that he was himself
a witness of some of the atrocities of Domitian. In the reign of
Nerva, A. D. 97, Tacitus was appointed consul suffectus, in the
place of T. Virginius Rufus, who had died in that year.. Tacitus
pronounced. the funeral oration of Rufus, " and it was," says Pliny,
"the completion of the felicity of Rufus to have his panegyric
pronounced by so eloquent a man."  Tacitus had attained oratorical distinction when Pliny was commencing his career. In
A. D. 100, he was appointed, together with Pliny, who was then
consul elect, to conduct the impeachment preferred by the province of Afriica against the proconsul Marcus Priscus. Pliny, who
relates the trial at length, describes the oratory of Tacitus as grave
and dignified. Here the public life of Tacitus terminated.
Tacitus and Pliny were most intimate friends. In the collection
of the letters of Pliny, there are eleven letters addressed to Tacitus. In a letter to his friend Maximus, Pliny shows that he considered his friendship with Tacitus a great distinction, and he tells
the following anecdote. On one occasion, when Tacitus was a spectator at the Ludi Circenses, ho fell into conversation with a Roman
eques, who, after they had discoursed on various literary subjects
for some time, asked Tacitus if he was an. Italian or a provincial;
to which Tacitus replied, "You are acquainted with me, and by
my pursuits."  "Are you," rejoined the stranger, "Tacitus or
Pliny?"  The sixteenth letter of the sixth book, in which Pliny
describes the great eruption of Vesuvius, and the death of his
uncle, is addressed to Tacitus, and for the purpose of enabling
him to state the facts in his historical writings.
The date of the death of Tacitus is unknown, but that he lived
at least down to the end of Trajan's reign, we may infer from
Ann. II. 61, where he says that the Roman empire, "Nunc ad




LIFE  OF  TACITUS.                      Vii
rubrum mare patescit," an expression which must refer to the successes obtained by Trajan in his eastern expedition, A. D. 114117.
The extant works of Tacitus are, the Life of Julius Agricola, a
treatise on the Germans, Histories, Annals, and a Dialogue on the
Causes of the Decline of Eloquence. The life of Agricola was
written after the death of Domitian, A. D.. 96, as we may probably
conclude from the introduction, which was certainly written after
Trajan's accession. This life is justly admired as a specimen of
biography; though it is sometimes very obscure. It is a monument to the memory of a good man, and an able commander and
administrator, by an affectionate son-in-law, who has portrayed in
his peculiar manner, and with many masterly touches, the virtues
of one of the most illustrious of the Romans. To Englishmen
this life is peculiarly interesting, as Britain was the scene of Agricola's great exploits, who carried the Roman eagles even to the
base of the Grampian mountains. It was during his invasion of
Caledonia that Britain was first circumnavigated by a Roman
fleet.
The treatise entitled De Moribus et Populis Germani&e treats of
the Germanic nations, or of those whom Tacitus comprehended
under that name. It has little value as a geographical description. The main matter is the description of the political institutions, the religion, and the habits of the various tribes included
under the denomination of Germani. The sources of the author's
information are not stated, but as there is no reason to suppose
that he had seen Germany, all that he could know must have been
derived from the Roman expeditions east of the Rhine and north
of the Danube, and from the accounts of traders, who went at least
as far as the Roman eagles, and perhaps farther. The value of
the information contained in this treatise has often been discussed,
and its credibility attacked; but we may estimate its true character
by observing the precision of the writer as to those Germans who
were best known to the Romans from being near the Rhine. That
the hearsay accounts of more remote tribes must partake of the
defects of all such evidence is obvious; but to consider the Germany as a fiction, is one of those absurdities which need only be
recorded, not refuted.




Viii             LIFE  OF  TACITUS.
The Historiae were written after the death of Nerva., A. D. 98,
and before'the Annales. They comprehended the period from
the second consulship of Galba, A. D. 68, to the death of Domitian,
and the author designed to add the reigns of Nerva and Trajan.
The first four books alone are extant in a complete form, and they
comprehend only the events of about one year. The fifth book is
imperfect, and goes no farther than the commencement of the
siege of Jerusalem by Titus, and the war of Civilis in Germany.
It is not known how many books of the Histories there were, but
it must have been a large work, if it was all written on the same
scale as the first five books.
The Annales commence with the death of Augustus, A'. D. 14,
and comprise the period to the death of Nero, A. D. 68, a space of
fifty-four years. The work contained sixteen books, but several
entire books and portions of others are lost. The first five books
were found, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, in the Abbey
of Corvey in Westphalia, and they were first published at Rome
by Philippus Beroaldus, in 1515.
The dialogue entitled De Oratoribus, which we have no hesitation in ascribing to the pen of Tacitus, must be his earliest work,
as it was written in the sixth year of Vespasian. The style is
more easy than that of the Annals, more diffuse, less condensed;
but there is no obvious difference between the style of this Dialogue
and that of the Histories, nothing so striking as to make us contend for a different authorship. Besides this, it is nothing unusual
for works of the same author which are written at different times
to vary greatly in style, especially if they treat of different matters. The old MSS. attribute this Dialogue to Tacitus. One of
the speakers in the Dialogue attributes the decline of eloquence at
Rome to the neglect of the arduous study of the old Roman orators,
to which Cicero has left his testimony; but another speaker,
Maternus, has assigned a direct and immediate cause, which was
the change in the political constitution. Oratory is not the product of any system of government, except one in which the popular
element is strong.
The moral dignity of Tacitus is impressed upon his works; the
consciousness of a love of truth, of the integrity of his purpose.
His great power is in the knowledge of the human mind, his in



LIFE OF TACITUS.                        iX
sight into the motives of human conduct; and he found materials
for this study in the history of the emperors, and particularly
Tiberius. We know men's intellectual powers, because they seek
to display them: their moral character is veiled under silence and
reserve, which are sometimes diffidence, but more frequently dissimulation. But dissimulation alone is not a sufficient cloak; it
merely seeks to hide and cover, and, as the attempt to conceal excites suspicion, it is necessary to divert the vigilance of this active
inquisitor. The dissembler therefore assumes the garb of goodness; and thus he is a hypocrite complete. In detecting these
slight indications of character lies the great power of Tacitus: he
penetrates to the hidden thoughts through the smallest avenue.
Tacitus knew nothing of Christianity, which, says Montaigne,
was his misfortune, not his fault. His practical morality was the
stoical, the only one that could give consolation in the age in
which he lived. He had not the belief in the moral government
of the world which the emperor Aurelius had, whose golden book
is the noblest monument that a Roman has left behind him; or,
if he had this belief, he has not expressed it distinctly. He loved
virtue, he abhorred vice; but he has not shown that the constitution of things has an order impressed upon it by the law of its
existence, which implies a lawgiver. A belief in existence independent of a corporeal form, of a life after death, is rather a hope
with him than a conviction.
The style of Tacitus is peculiar, though it bears some resemblance to that of Sallust. In the Annals it is concise, vigorous,
and pregnant with meaning; labored, but elaborated with art, and
stripped of every superfluity. A single word sometimes gives
effect to a sentence, and if the meaning of the word is missed, the
sense of the writer is not reached. HIe leaves something for the
reader to fill up, and does not overpower him with words. The
words that he does use are all intended to have a meaning.
The style of the Ciceronian age aimed at richness of expression,
and smoothly flowing and gracefully finished periods. It was
brought by Cicero to perhaps as high a degree of perfection as the
Latin language admitted. The succeeding age proposed to itself
a somewhat different aim. Hence quite a different set of literary
characteristics. A style sententious and concise, sometimes un



x                LIFE OF TACITUS.
pleasantly abrupt, with far-fetched, poetical, and even archaic
terms and expressions, became fashionable. Scope was thus given
to some of the worst extravagances of bad taste, and we find
nearly all the writers of what is called the silver age indulging in
pedantries and affectations which frequently render them harsh
and obscure. A reaction followed in favor of the earlier or Ciceronian style. Of this we have evident traces in Tacitus. He
seems to have aimed at combining some of Cicero's most conspicuous graces with the pointed and sententious character of the
new style. In the style of Tacitus the form is always subordinate
to the matter; the ideas maintain their due supremacy over the
language in which they are conveyed. There is none of that
striving after epigrammatic terseness which savors of affectation.
His brevity, like that which characterizes the style of Thucydides,
is the necessary condensation of a writer whose thoughts flow
more quickly than his pen can express them. Hence his sentences
are suggestive of far more than they express; they are enigmatical
hints of deep and hidden meaning, which keep the mind active
and the attention alive, and delight the reader with the pleasures
of discovery and the consciousness of difficulties overcome. Nor
is this natural and unintentional brevity unsuitable to the cautious
reserve with which all were tutored to speak and think of political
subjects in perilous times. It is extraordinary how often a similarity between his mind and that of Thucydides inadvertently
discovers itself, not only in his mode of thinking, but also in his
language, even in his grammatical constructions, especially in his
frequent substitution of attraction for government, in instances of
condensed construction, and in the connection of clauses grammatically different, although they are metaphysically the same.
Nor is his brevity dry or harsh: it is enlivened by copiousness,
variety, and poetry. He scarcely ever repeats the same idea in
the same form. No author is richer in synonymous words, or
arranges with more varied skill the position of words in a sentence.
As for poetic genius, his language is highly figurative; his descriptions of scenery and incidents are eminently picturesque; his
characters dramatic; the expression of his own sentiments and
feelings as subjective as lyric poetry.
Full of sagacious observation and descriptive power, Tacitus




LIFE OF TACITUS.                        Xi
engages the most serious attention of the reader by the gravity of
his condensed and comprehensive style, as he does by the wisdom
and dignity of his reflections. Living amidst the influences of a
corrupt age, he was uncontaminated; and by his virtue and integrity, his chastened political liberty, commands our admiration
as a man, whilst his love of truth is reflected in his character as a
historian.
It has been usual to regard Cicero as the representative of the
most perfect Latinity, and Tacitus as a man of genius belonging
to a declining age, and infected by many of its chief literary
vices. This view ignores several important considerations; and
requires correction, It is true that the style of Cicero, from its
general conformity to certain precise and definite rules, is fitted to
be a model of Latinity in a sense in which that of Tacitus cannot
be. A modern scholar feels instinctively that the former is much
more suitable for imitation; but it is, we think, a great mistake to
claim on this ground for Cicero a distinct superiority over Tacitus.
Cicero, indeed, was enabled, by his great abilities and wide culture, to give a richness and flexibility to the Latin language which
it had not known before his time, and we may venture to affirm
that without him there could not have been a Tacitus. If, however, we are to measure excellence of style by its capacity of adequately representing the profound and subtle ideas of a really
great thinker, we shall see good reason for placing Tacitus in at
least as high a rank as Cicero. In vividness of imagination, in
insight into the intricacies of human character, in breadth and
comprehensiveness of his historical faculty, he stands first among
Roman writers. These qualities are continually reflected in his
style. In the language of the time, permeated as it was with
Greek ideas and phrases, he found an instrument ready to his
hand; he used it with consummate mastery of its various resources, and succeeded in giving to great thoughts a singularly
characteristic expression. - Compiled from various sources.








CORNELII TACITI
DE ORIGINE, SITU, MORIBUS AC POPULIS
G E R l A N I A E
LIBER.
BREVIARIU M.
CAP. 1. Germaniae situs. 2. Incolae indigenae. Auctores gentis. Nominis origo. Hercules. 3. Barditus. Ara
Ulixis. 4. Germani, gens sincera. Habitus corporum. 5.
Terrae natura. Non aurum, non argenturn, nec aestimatum. 6. Germanorum arnia, equitatus, peditatus, ordo
militiae. 7. Reges, duces, sacerdotes. 8. Ferninarum
virtus et veneratio. Veleda. Albruna (al. Aurinia). 9.
Dii, sacra, simulacra nulla.  10. Auspicia, sortes.  Ex
equis, e captivo praesagia. 11. Consultationes publicae
et conventus. 12. Accusationes, poenae, jus redditum.
13. Scuto frameaque ornati juvenes, principum comnites.
Eorum virtus et fanma. 14. Gentis bellica studia. 15. In
pace venatio, otium. Collata principibus munera. 16.
Urbes nullae. Vici, donmus, specus suffugium hienli et receptaculum frugibus. 17. Vestitus virorum, feminarum.
18. Matrimonia severa. Dos a marito oblata. 19. Pudicitia, adulterii poena. Monogamia. Liberoruin numerus
non finitus. 20. Liberoruni educsatio. Successionis leges.
21. Patris, propinqui, amicitiae inimicitiaeque susceptae.
Homicidii pretium. Hospitalitas. 22. Lotio, victus, ebriorum rixae. Consultatio in conviviis. 23. Potus, cibus.
B                xiii




14             CORNELII T-ACITI
24. Spectacula.  Aleae furor. 25. Servi, libertini.  26.
Fenus ignotum. Agricultura. Anni tempora. 27. Funera, sepulchra, luctus. 28. Singularurm  gentium  instituta. Galli, olim valida gens, in Germaniam transgressi,
Helvetii, Boii.  Aravisci, Osi, incertum  genus.  Germanicae originis populi Treveri, Nervii, Vangiones, Triboci, Nemetes, Ubii. 29. Batavi, Chattorum proles. Mattiaci. Decumates agri. 30, 31. Chattorumn regio, habitus,
disciplina militaris, vota, virtutis incentiva.  32. Usipi,
Tenctberi, equitatu praestantes. 33. Bructerorum sedes, a
Chamavis et Angrivariis occupatae. 34. Dulgibini. Chasuari. Frisii. 35. Chauci, pacis studio, justitia et virtute
nobiles. 36. Cherusci et Fosi, a Chattis victi. 37. Cimbrorum parva civitas, gloria ingens. Romanorum clades.
Germani triumphati magis quam  victi.  38. Sueborum
numerus, mores. 39. Semnonum  religio, victimae hunmanae. 40. Langobardi. Reudigni. Aviones. Anglii.
Varini. Eudoses. Suardones. Nuitones. Nerthi cultus
communis. 41. Hermunduri. 42. Naristi.  Marcomani.
Quadi.  43. Marsigni.  Gotini.  Osi. Buri.  Lygiorum
civitates, Harii, Helvecones, Manimi, Elisii, Nahanarvali;
horum  numen Alcis.  Gotones.  Rugii.  Lemovii. 44.
Suiones, classibus valentes. 45. Mare pigrum. Aestii,
mnatris deum cultores, succinum legunt. Sitonibus femina
imperat. 46. Peucini, Venedi, Fenni, Germani an Sarmatae?  Eorum feritas, paupertas. Hominum  monstra,
Hellusii, Oxiones.
1. Germania omnis a Gallis Raetisque et Pannoniis
Rheno et Danuvio fluminibus, a Sarmatis Dacisque
mutuo metu aut montibus separatur; cetera oceanus
ambit, latos sinus et insularuin immensa spatia com



GERMANIA.                       15
plectens, nuper cognitis quibusdam gentibus ac regibus, quos bellum  aperuit.  Rhenus, Raeticarum
Alpium inaccesso ac praecipiti vertice ortus, modico
flexu in occidentem versus septentrionali oceano miscetur. Danuvius, molli et clementer'edito montis 5
Abnobae jugo effusus, plures populos adit, donec in
Pouticum mare sex meatibus erumpat: septimum os
paludibus hauritur.
2. Ipsos Germanos indigenas crediderim, minimleque aliarum gentium adventibus et hospitiis mixtos, 10
quia nec terra olim sed classibus advehebantur qui
mutare sedes quaerebant, et immensus ultra, utque
sic dixerim, adversus oceanus raris ab orbe nostro
navibus aditur. Quis porro, praeter periculumr horridi et ignoti maris, Asia aut Africa aut Italia relicta, 15
Germaniam peteret, informem terris, asperam caelo,
tristem cultu aspectuque, nisi si patria sit?
Celebrant carminibus antiquis, quod unum  apud
illos memoriae et annalium genus est, Tuistonem
deum  terra editum, et filium  Mannum, originem 20
gentis conditoresque. Manno tres filios assignant, e
quorum nominibus proximi oceano Ingaevones, medii
Herminones, ceteri Istaevones vocentur. Quidam, ut
in licentia vetustatis, plures deo ortos pluresque gentis
appellationes, Marsos, Gambrivios, Suebos, Vandalios, 25
affirmant, eaque vera et antiqua nomina; ceterum
Germaniae vocabulum recens et nuper additum, quoniam qui primi Rhenum transgressi Gallos expulerint,




16              CORNELII TACITI
ut nunc Tungri, tunc Germani vocati sint: ita nationis nomen, non gentis, evaluisse paulatim, ut omnes
primum  a victore ob metum, mox etiam a se ipsis
invento nomine Germani vocarentur.
5 3. Fuisse apud eos et Herculeml memorant, primumque omnium virorum fortium ituri in proelia canunt.
Sunt illis haec quoque carmina, quorum relatu, quem
barditum vocant, accendunt animos, futuraeque pugnae fortunam ipso cantu augurantur; terrent enim
10 trepidantve, prout sonuit acies; nec tam vocis ille
quam virtutis concentus videtur. Affectatur praecipue asperitas soni et fractum murmur, objectis ad
os scutis, quo plenior et gravior vox repercussu intumescat. Ceterum et Ulixem quidam opinantur longo
15 illo et fabuloso errore in hunc oceanurnm delatum adisse
Germaniae terras, Asciburgiumque, quod in ripa
Rheni situm hodieque incolitur, ab illo constitutum
nominatumque; aram quin etiam Ulixi consecratam,
adjecto Laertae patris nomine, eodem'loco olim re20 pertam, monumentaque et tumulos quosdam Graecis
litteris inscriptos in confinio Germaniae Riaetiaeque
adhuc exstare; quae neque confirmare argumentis
neque refellere in animo est: ex ingenio suo quisque
demat vel addat fidem.
25  4. Ipse eorum opinionibus accedo, qui Germaniae
populos nullis alliis aliarum nationum connubiis infectos propriam et sinceram et tantum sui similem
gentem exstitisse arbitrantur. Unde habitus quoque




GERMANIA.                      17
corporum, quamquam  in tanto hominum  numero,
idem omnibus: truces et caerulei oculi, rutilae comae,
magna corpora et tantum ad impetum valida; laboris
atque operum non eadem patientia; ininimeque sitim
aestumque tolerare, frigora atque inediam caelo solove 5
assuerunt.
5. Terra, etsi aliquanto specie differt, in universum
tamen aut silvis horrida aut paludibus foeda, humidior
qua Gallias, ventosior qua Noricum ac Pannoniam
aspicit; satis ferax, frugiferarum arborum impatiens, 10
pecorum  fecunda, sed plerumque improcera.  Ne
armentis quidem suus honor aut gloria frontis; numero gaudent, eaeque solae et gratissimae opes sunt.
Argentum et aurum propitiine an irati di negaverint
dubito. Nec tamen affirmaverim nullam Germaniae 15
venam argentum aurumve gignere; quis enim scrutatus est? Possessione et usu baud perinde afficiuntur. Est videre apud illos argentea vasa, legatis et
principibus eorum muneri data, non in alia vilitate
quam quae humo finguntur; quamquam proximi ob 20
usumn commerciorum  aurum  et argentum in pretio
habent, formasque quasdam nostrae pecuniae agnoscunt atque eligunt; interiores simplicius et antiquius
permutatione mercium utuntur. Pecuniam probant
veterem et diu notam, serratos bigatosque. Argentum 25
quoque magis quam aurum sequuntur, nulla affectione
animi, sed quia numerus argenteorum facilior usui
est promiscua ac vilia mercantibus.
2- Tac.           B 2




18              CORNELII TACITI
6. Ne ferrum quidem superest, sicut ex genere telorum  colligitur. Rari gladiis aut majoribus lanceis
utuntur; hastas, vel ipsorum vocabulo frameas gerunt,
angusto et brevi ferro, sed ita acri et ad usum habili,
5 ut eodem telo, prout ratio poscit, vel comminus vel
eminus pugnent. Et eques quidem scuto frameaque
contentus est; pedites et missilia spargunt, pluraque
singuli, atque in immensum vibrant, nudi aut sagulo
leves. Nulla cultus jactatio; scuta tantum lectissimis
10 coloribus distinguunt. Paucis loricae, vix uni alterive cassis aut galea. Equi non forma, non velocitate
conspicui; sed.cnee variare gyros in morem nostrum
docentur: in rectum aut uno flexu dextros agunt, ita
conjuncto orbe ut nemo posterior sit. In universum
15 aestimanti plus penes peditem roboris: eoque mixti
proeliantur, apta et congruente ad equestrem pugnam
velocitate peditum, quos ex omni juventute delectos
ante aciem locant. Definitur et numerus: centeni ex
singulis pagis sunt, idque ipsum inter suos vocantur,
20 et quod primo numerus fuit, jam nomen et honor est.
Acies per cuneos componitur.  Cedere loco, dummodo
rursus instes, consilii quain formidinis arbitrantur.
Corpora suorum etiam in dubiis proeliis referunt.
Scutum reliquisse praeecipuum flagitium, nec aut
25 sacris adesse aut concilium inire ignominioso fas:
multique superstites bellorum infamiam laqueo finierunt.
7. Reges ex nobilitate, duces ex virtute sumunt.




GERMANIA.                      19
Nec regibus infinita aut libera potestas, et duces exemplo potius quam imperio, si prompti, si conspicui,
si ante aciem agant, admiratione praesunt. Ceterum
neque animadvertere neque vincire, ne verberare quidem nisi sacerdotibus permissum, non quasi in poenam 5
nec ducis jussu, sed velut deo imperante, quem adesse
bellantibus credunt. Effigiesque et signa quaedam
detracta lucis in proeliu-m ferunt; quodque praecipuumr fortitudinis incitamentum est, non casus neque
fortuita conglobatio turmam aut cuneum facit, sed 10
familiae et propinquitates; et in proximo pignora,
unde feminarum ululatus audiri, unde vagitus infantium. Hi cuique sanctissimi testes, hi maximi
laudatores: ad matres, ad conjuges vulnera ferunt;
nec illae numerare aut exigere plagas pavent, cibosque 15
et hortamina pugnantibus gestant.
8. Memoriae proditur quasdam acies inclinatas jam
et labantes a feminis restitutas constantia precum et
objectu pectorum et monstrata comminus captivitate,
quam longe impatientius feminarum suarum nomine 20
timent, adeo ut efficacius obligentur animi civitatum,
quibus inter obsides puellae quoque nobiles imperantur. Inesse quin etiam sanctum aliquid et providum putant, nec aut consilia earum aspernantur
aut responsa negligunt. Vidimus sub divo Vespa- 25
siano Veledam, diu apud plerosque numinis loco habitam; sed et olim Albrunamn et complures alias venerati
sunt, non adulatione, neque tamquam facerent deas.




20              CORNELII TACITI
9. Deorum maxime Mercurium  colunt, cui certis
diebus humanis quoque hostiis litare fas habent.
Martem concessis animalibus placant L[et Herculem].
Pars Sueborum et Isidi sacrificat: unde causa et origo
5 peregrino sacro parum  comperi, nisi quod signum
ipsum in modum liburnae figuratum docet advectam
religionem. Ceterum nec cohibere parietibus deos
neque in ullam humani oris speciem assinlulare ex
magnitudine caelestium arbitrantur; lucos ac nemora
10 consecrant, deorumque nominibus appellant secretum
illud quod sola reverentia vident.
10. Auspicia sortesque ut qui maxime observant.
Sortium  consuetudo simplex.  Virgam  fiugiferae
arbori decisam in surculos amputant, eosque notis
15 quibusdam discretos super candidam vestem temere
ac fortuito spargunt. Mox, si publice consultetur,
sacerdos civitatis, sin privatim, ipse pater familiae,
precatus deos caelumque suspiciens ter singulos tollit,
sublatos secundum impressam ante notam  interpre20 tatur. Si prohibuerunt, nulla de eadem re in eundem
diem consultatio; sin permissum, auspiciorum adhuc
fides exigitur. Et illud quidem  etiam  hic notum,
avium voces volatusque interrogare. Proprium gentis
equorum quoque praesagia ac monitus experiri. Pub25 lice aluntur isdem nemoribus ac lucis, candidi et nullo
mortali opere contacti; quos pressos sacro curru sacerdos ac rex vel princeps civitatis comitantur, hinnitusque ac fremitus observant. Nec ulli auspicio major




G(ERMANIA.                      21
fides, non solum apud plebem, sed apud proceres, apud
sacerdotes; se enim ministros deorum, illos conscios
putant. Est et alia observatio auspiciorum, qua gravium bellorum eventus explorantur: ejus gentis, cum
qua bellum est, captivum  quoquo modo interceptum 5
cum  electo popularium  suorum, patriis quemque
armis, committunt: victoria hujus vel illius pro praejudicio accipitur.
11. De mninoribus rebus principes consultant, de
majoribus omnes, ita tamen ut ea quoque, quorum 10
penes plebem arbitrium est, apud principes pertractentur. Coeunt, nisi quid fortuitum et subitum incidit, certis diebus, cum aut inchoatur luna aut impletur;
nam agendis rebus hoc auspicatissimum initium credunt. Nec dierum numerum, ut nos, sed noctium 15
computant. Sic constituunt, sic condicunt: nox ducere diem videtur. Illud ex libertate vitium, quod
non simul nec ut jussi conveniunt, sed et alter et tertius dies cunctatione coeuntium absumitur. Ut turbae
placuit, considunt armati. Silentium per sacerdotes, 20
quibus turn et coercendi jus est, imperatur. Mox rex
vel princeps, prout aetas cuique, prout nobilitas, prout
decus bellorum, prout facundia est, audiuntur, auctoritate suadendi magis quam jubendi potestate. Si displicuit sententia, fremitu aspernantur; sin placuit, 25
frameas concutiunt. Honoratissimum assensus genus
est armis laudare.
12. Licet apud concilium accusare quoque et discri



22              CORNELII TACITI
men capitis intendere. Distinctio poenarum ex delicto. Proditores et transfugas arboribus suspendunt;
ignavos et imbelles et corpore infames coeno ac palude,
injecta insuper crate, mergunt. Diversitas supplicii
5 illuc respicit, tamquam scelera ostendi oporteat, dum
puniuntur, flagitia abscondi. Sed et levioribus delictis pro modo poena: equorum pecorumque numero
convicti multantur. Pars multae regi vel civitati,
pars ipsi qui vindicatur vel propinquis ejus exsolvitur.
10 Eliguntur in isdem conciliis et principes, qui jura per
pagos vicosque reddunt; centeni singulis ex plebe
coinites, consilium simul et auctoritas, adsunt.
13. Nihil autem neque publicae neque privatae rei
nisi armati agunt. Sed arma sumere non ante cui15 quam  moris quam  civitas suffecturum  probaverit.
Tumrn in ipso concilio vel principum aliquis vel pater
vel propinqui scuto frameaque juvenem ornant: haec
apud illos toga, hic primus juventae honos; ante hoc
domus pars videntur, mox rei publicae. Insignis
20 nobilitas aut magna patrum merita principis dignationem etiam adolescentulis assignant: ceteris robustioribus ac jam pridem probatis aggregantur, nec rubor
inter comites aspici. Gradus quin etiam ipse comitatus habet, judicio ejus quem sectantur; magnaque
25 et comitum aemulatio, quibus primus apud principem
suum locus, et principum, cui plurimi et acerrimi
coinites. Haec dignitas, hae vires, magno semper
electorum juvenum globo circumdari, in pace decus,




GERMANIA.                     23
in bello praesidium. Nec solum in sua gente cuique,
sed apud finitimas quoque civitates id nomen, ba gloria
est, si numero ac virtute comitatus emineat; expetuntur enim legationibus et muneribus ornantur et ipsa
plerumque fama bella profligant.                5
14. Cum ventum in aciem, turpe principi virtute
vinci, turpe comitatui virtutem principis non adaequare. Jam vero infame in omnem vitam ac probrosum superstitem principi suo ex acie recessisse:
illum defendere, tueri, sua quoque fortia facta gloriae 10
ejus assignare, praecipuum sacramentum est. Principes pro victoria pugnant, comites pro principe. Si
civitas in qua orti sunt longa pace et otio torpeat,
plerique nobilium  adolescentium  petunt ultro eas
nationes, quae turn bellum aliquod gerunt, quia et 15
ingrata genti quies, et facilius inter ancipitia clarescunt, magnumque comitatum non nisi vi belloque
tuentur; exigunt enim principis sui liberalitate illum
bellatorem equum, illam cruentam victricemque frameam. Nam epulae et, quamquam incompti, largi 20
tamen apparatus, pro stipendio cedunt.  Materia
munificentiae per bella et raptus. Nec arare terrain
ant exspectare annum tam facile persuaseris quam
vocare hostem et vulnera mereri. Pigrum quin immo
et iners videtur sudore acquirere quod possis sanguine 25
parare.
15. Quotiens bella non ineunt, multum venatibus,
plus per otium transigunt, dediti somno ciboque, for



24              CORNELII TACITI
tissimus quisque ac bellicosissimus nihil agens, delegata domus et penatium et agrorum cura feminis
senibusque et infirmissimo cuique ex familia: ipsi
hebent, mira diversitate naturae, cum iidem homines
5 sic ament inertiam et oderint quietem. Mos est civitatibus ultro ac viritim conferre principibus vel armentorum vel frugum, quod pro honore acceptum etiam
necessitatibus subvenit. Gaudent praecipue finitimarum gentium donis, quae non modo a singulis sed et
10 publice mittuntur, electi equi, magna arma, phalerae
torquesque. Jam et pecuniam accipere docuimus.
16. Nullas Germanorum populis urbes habitari
satis notum est, ne pati quidem inter se junctas sedes.
Colunt discreti ac diversi, ut fons, ut campus, ut
15 nemus placuit. Vicos locant non in nostrum morem
connexis et cohaerentibus aedificiis: suam quisque
domum spatio circumdat, sive adversus casus ignis
remedium sive inscitia aedificandi. Ne caementorum
quidem apud illos aut tegularum usus; materia ad
20 omnia utuntur informi et citra speciem aut delectationem. Quaedam loca diligentius illinunt terra ita
pura ac splendente, ut picturam ac lineamenta colorum imitetur. Solent et subterraneos specus aperire
eosque multo insuper fimo onerant, suffugium hiemi
25 et receptaculum frugibus, quia rigorem frigorum ejus
modi locis molliunt, et si quando hostis advenit, aperta
populatur, abdita autem et defossa aut ignorantur aut
eo ipso fallunt, quod quaerenda sunt.




GERMANIA.                     25
17. Tegumen omnibus sagum fibula aut, si desit,
spina consertum; cetera intecti totos dies juxta focum
atque ignem agunt. Locupletissimi veste distinguuntur, non fluitante, sicut Sarmatae ac Parthi, sed stricta
et singulos artus exprimente. Gerunt et ferarum 5
pelles, proximi ripae negligenter, ulteriores exquisitius, ut quibus nullus per commercia cultus. Eligunt
feras et detracta velamina spargunt maculis pellibusque beluarum, quas exterior oceanus atque ignotum
mare gignit. Nec alius feminis quam viris habitus, 10
nisi quod feminae saepius lineis amictibus velantur
eosque purpura variant, partemque vestitus superioris
in manicas non extendunt, nudae brachia ac lacertos;
sed et proxima pars pectoris patet. Quamquam severa
illic matrimonia, nec ullam morum partem magis lau- 15
daveris: nam prope soli barbarorum singulis uxoribus contenti sunt, exceptis admodum paucis, qui non
libidine sed ob nobilitatem pluribus nuptiis ambiuntur.
18. Dotem non uxor marito, sed uxori maritus 20
offert. Intersunt parentes ac propinqui ac munera
probant, munera non ad delicias muliebres quaesita
nec quibus nova nupta comatur, sed boves et frenatum equum et scutum cumn framea gladioque. In haec
munera uxor accipitur, atque in viceln ipsa arinorum 25
aliquid viro affert: hoc maximum vinculum, haec
arcana sacra, hos conjugales deos arbitrantur. Ne se
mulier extra virtutum cogitationes extraque bellorum
C




26              CORNELII TACITI
casus putet, ipsis incipientis matrimonii auspiciis admonetur venire se laborum periculorumque sociam,
idem in pace, idem in proelio passuram ausuramque:
hoe juncti boves, hoe paratus equus, hoe data arma
5 denuntiant: sic vivendum, sic pereundum: accipere
se quae liberis inviolata ae digna reddat, quae nurus
accipiant, rursusque ad nepotes referantur.
19. Ergo septa pudicitia agunt, nullis spectaculorum illecebris, nullis conviviorum irritationibus cor10 ruptae. Litterarum secreta viri pariter ac feminae
ignorant. Paucissima in tam numerosa gente adulteria, quorum poena praesens et maritis permissa:
abscisis crinibus, nudatam, coram propinquis expellit
domo maritus ac per omnem vicum verbere agit; publi15 catae enim pudicitiae nulla venia: non forma, non
aetate, non opibus maritum invenerit. Nemo enim
illie vitia ridet, nee cqrrumpere et corrumpi saeculum
vocatur. Melius quidem adhuc eae civitates, in quibus tantum virgines nubunt et cum spe votoque uxoris
20 semel transigitur. Sic unum accipiunt maritum quomodo unum corpus unamque vitam, ne ulla cogitatio
ultra, ne longior cupiditas, ne tamquam maritum sed
tamquam matrimonium ament. Numerum liberorum
finire aut quemquam ex agnatis necare flagitium babe25 tur, plusque ibi boni mores valent quam alibi bonae
leges.
20. In omni domo nudi ac sordidi in hos artus, in
haec corpora, quae miramur, excrescunt. Sua quem



GERM ANIA.                    27
que mater uberibus alit, nec ancillis aut nutricibus
delegantur. Dominum ac servum nullis educationis
deliciis dignoscas: inter eadem pecora, in eadema humo
degunt, donec aetas separet ingenuos, virtus agnoscat.
Sera juvenum venus, eoque inexhausta pubertas. Nec 5
virgines festinantur; eadem juventa, similis proceritas: pares validaeque miscentur, ac robora parentum
liberi referunt. Sororum filiis idem apud avunculum
qui apud patrem honor. Quidam sanctiorem artioremque hune nexum sanguinis arbitrantur, et in acci- 10
piendis obsidibus magis exigunt, tamquam et animum
firmius et domum latius teneant. Heredes tamen successoresque sui cuique liberi, et nullum testamentum.
Si liberi non sunt, proximus gradus in possessione fratres, patrui, avunculi. Quanto plus propinquorum, 15
quo major affiniumr numerus, tanto gratiosior senectus;
nec ulla orbitatis pretia.
21. Suscipere tam inimicitias seu patris seu propinqui quam amicitias necesse est; nec implacabiles
durant: luitur enimn etiam homicidium certo armento- 20
rum ac pecorum numero, recipitque satisfactionem
universa domus, utiliter in publicum, quia periculosiores sunt inimicitiae juxta libertatem.
Convictibus et hospitiis non alia gens effusius indulget. Quemcumque mortalium arcere tecto nefas 25
habetur; pro fortuna quisque apparatis epulis excipit.
Cum defecere, qui modo hospes fuerat, monstrator
hospitii et comes; proximam domum non invitati.




28              CORNELII TACITI
adeunt: nec interest: pari humanitate accipiuntur.
Notum ignotumque, quantum ad jus hospitis, nemo
discernit. Abeunti, si quid poposcerit, concedere moris; et poscendi in vicem eadem facilitas.~ Gaudent
5 muneribus, sed nec data imputant nec acceptis obligantur. Victus inter hospites comis.
22. Statim e somno, quem plerumque in diem extrahunt, lavantur, saepius calida, ut apud quos plurimum
hiems occupat. Lauti cibum capiunt: separatae sin10 gulis sedes et sua cuique mensa. Tum ad negotia, nec
minus saepe ad convivia, procedunt armati. Diem
noctemque continuare potando nulli probrum. Crebrae, ut inter vinolentos, rixae raro conviciis, saepius
caede et vulneribus transiguntur. Sed et de reconci15 liandis in vicem inimicis et jungendis affinitatibus et
asciscendis principibus, de pace denique ac bello plerumque in conviviis consultant, tamquam nullo magis
tempore aut ad simplices cogitationes pateat animus
aut ad magnas incalescat. Gens non astuta nec cal20 lida aperit adhuc secreta pectoris licentia joci; ergo
detecta et nuda omnium mens; postera die retractatur, et salva utriusque temporis ratio est: deliberant,
dum fingere nesciunt; constituunt, dum errare non
possunt.
25  23. Potui humor ex hordeo aut frumento, in quandam similitudinem vini corruptus: proximi ripae et
vinum mercantur. Cibi simplices, agrestia poma, recens fera aut lac concretum: sine apparatu, sine blandi



GERMANIA.                     29
mentis expellunt famem. Adversus sitim non eadem
temperantia: si indulseris ebrietati suggerendo quantum concupiscunt, haud minus facile vitiis quam armis
vincenltur.
24. Genus spectaculorum unum atque in omni coetu 5
idem. Nudi juvenes, quibus id ludicrum est, inter
gladios se atque infestas frameas saltu jaciunt. Exercitatio artein paravit, ars decorem, non in quaestum
tamen aut mercedem; quamvis audacis lasciviae pretium est voluptas spectantiuIn. Aleam, quod mirere, 10
sobrii inter seria exercent, tanta lucrandi perdendive
temeritate ut, cum omnia defecerunt, extremo ac novissimo jactu de libertate ac de corpore contendant.
Victus voluntariam servitutem adit: quamvis juvenior, quamvis robustior, alligari se ac venire patitur. 15
Ea est in re prava pervicacia: ipsi fidem vocant.
Servos condicionis hujus per commercia tradunt, ut
se quoque pudore victoriae exsolvant.
25. Ceteris servis non in nostrum morem descriptis
per familiam ministeriis utuntur: suam quisque 20
sedem, suos penates regit. Frumenti modum dominus aut pecoris aut vestis ut colono injungit, et servus
hactenus paret: cetera domus officia uxor ac liberi
exsequuntur. Verberare servum ac vinculis et opere
coercere rarum: occidere solent, non disciplina et 25
severitate, sed impetu et ira, ut inimicum, nisi quod
impune est. Liberti non multum supra servos sunt,
raro aliquod momentum in domo, numquam in civiC 2




30              CORNELII TACITI
tate, exceptis dumtaxat iis gentibus quae regnantur;
ibi enim et super ingenuos et super nobiles ascendunt:
apud ceteros impares libertini libertatis argumentum
sunt.
5  26. Fenus agitare et in usuras extendere ignotum;
ideoque magis servatur quam si vetitum esset. Agri
pro numero cultorum ab universis in vices occupantur, quos mox inter se secundum dignationem partiuntur; facilitatem partiendi camporum spatia prae10 bent. Arva per annos mutant, et superest ager.
Nec enim cum ubertate et amplitudine soli labore
contendunt, ut pomaria conserant et prata separent
et hortos rigent: sola terrae seges imperatur. Unde
annum quoque ipsum non in totidem digerunt species:
15 hiems et ver et aestas intellectum ac vocabula habent;
autumni perinde nomen ac bona ignorantur.
27. Funerum nulla ambitio: id solum observant,
ut corpora clarorumr virorum certis lignis crementur.
Struem rogi nec vestibus nec odoribus cumulant: sua
20 cuique arma, quorundam  igni et equus adjicitur;
sepulcrum caespes erigit: monumentorum arduum et
operosumn honorem ut gravem defunctis aspernantur.
Lamenta ac lacrimas cito, doloremr et tristitiam tarde
ponunt. Feminis lugere honestum est, viris memi25 nisse.
Haec in commune de omnium Germanorum origine
ac moribus accepimus: nunc singularum gentium instituta ritusque, quatenus differant, quae nationes e Germaniain Gallias commigraverint, expediam.




GERMANIA.                      31
28. Validiores olim Gallorum  res fuisse summus
auctor divus Julius tradit; eoque credibile est etiam
Gallos in Germaniam transgressos: quantulum enim
amnis obstabat quo minus, ut quaeque gens evaluerat,
occuparet permutaretque sedes promiscuas adhuc et 5
nulla regnorum potentia divisas? Igitur inter Hercyniam silvam Rhenumque et Moenum amnes Helvetii, ulteriora Boii, Gallica utraque gens, tenuere.
Manet adhuc Boihaemi nomen signatque loci veterem
memoriam quamvis mutatis cultoribus. Sed utrum 10
Aravisci in Pannoniam ab Osis, Germanorum natione,
an Osi ab Araviscis in Germaniam commigraverint,
cum eodem adhuc sermone, institutis, moribus utantur,
incertum est, quia pari olim inopia ac libertate eadem
utriusque ripae bona malaque erant.  Treveri et 15
Nervii circa affectationem Germanicae originis ultro
amnbitiosi sunt, tamquam per hanc gloriam sanguinis
a similitudine et inertia Gallorum separentur. Ipsam
Rheni ripam haud dubie Germanorum populi colunt,
Vangiones, Triboci, Nemetes. Ne Ubii quidem, quam- 20
quam Romana colonia esse meruerint ac libentius
Agrippinenses conditoris sui nomine vocentur, origine
erubescunt, transgressi olim et experimento fidei super
ipsam Rheni ripam collocati, ut arcerent, non ut custodirentur.                                        25
29. Omnium  harum  gentium  virtute praecipui
Batavi non multum ex ripa, sed insulam Rheni amnis
colunt, Chattorum quondam populus et seditione do



32               CORNELII TACITI
mestica in eas sedes transgressus, in quibus pars Romani imperil fierent. Manet honos et antiquae societatis insigne; nam  nec tributis contemnuntur nec
publicanus atterit: exempti oneribus et collationibus
5 et tantum  in usum  proeliorum  sepositi, velut tela
atque arma, bellis reservantur. Est in eodem obsequio et Mattiacorum gens; protulit enim  magnitudo
populi Romani ultra Rhenum ultraque veteres terminos imperil reverentiam: ita sede finibusque in sua
10 ripa, mente animoque nobiscum agunt, cetera similes
Batavis, nisi quod ipso adhuc terrae suae solo et caelo
acrius animantur.
Non numeraverim inter Germaniae populos, quamquam trans Rhenum Danuviumque consederint, eos
15 qui decumates agros exercent: levissimus quisque
Gallorum et inopia audax dubiae possessionis solum
occupavere; mox limite acto promotisque praesidiis
sinus imperii et pars provinciae habentur.
30. Ultra hos Chatti: initium sedis ab Hercynio
20 saltu inchoatur, non ita effusis ac palustribus locis, ut
ceterae civitates in quas Germania patescit; durant si
quidem  colles paulatim  rarescunt, et Chattos suos
saltus Hercynius prosequitur simul atque deponit.
Duriora genti corpora, stricti artus, minax vultus et
25 major animi vigor; multum, ut inter Germanos,
rationis ac sollertiae: praeponere electos, audire praepositos, nosse ordines, intelligere occasiones, differre
impetus, disponere diem, vallare noctem, fortunam




GERMANIA.                      33
inter dubia, virtutem inter certa numerare, quodque
rarissimum nec nisi Romanae disciplinae concessum,
plus reponere in duce quam in exercitu. Omne robur
in pedite, quem super arma ferramentis quoque et
copiis onerant: alios ad proelium ire videas, Chattos 5
ad bellum; rari excursus et fortuita pugna; equestrium sane virium id proprium, cito parare victorianm,
cito cedere: velocitas juxta formidinem, cunctatio propior constantiae est.
31. Et allis Germanorum populis usurpatum raro 10
et privata cujusque audentia apud Chattos in consensum vertit, ut primum adoleverint, crinem barbamque submittere, nec nisi hoste caeso exuere votivum
obligatumnque virtuti oris habitum. Super sanguinem
et spolia revelant frontem, seque tum demum pretia 15
nascendi retulisse dignosque patria ac parentibus
ferunt: ignavis et imbellibus manet squalor. Fortissimus quisque ferreum insuper anulum (ignominiosum id genti) velut vinculum gestat, donec se caede
hostis absolvat. Plurimis Chattorum hice placet habi- 20
tus, jamque canent insignes et hostibus simul suisque
monstrati.  Omnium  penes hos initia pugnarum;
haec prima semper acies, visu nova; nam ne in pace
quidem vultu mitiore mansuescunt. Nulli domus aut
ager aut aliqua cura: prout ad quemque venere, 25
aluntur, prodigi alieni, contemptores sui, donec exsanguis senectus tam durae virtuti impares faciat.
32. Proximi Chattis certum jam alveo Rhenum
3- Tac.




34              CORNELII TACITI
quique terminus esse sufficiat, Usipi ac Tencteri
colunt. Tencteri super solitum bellorum decus equcstris disciplinae arte praecellunt; nec major apud
Chattos peditum laus. quam Tencteris equitum. Sic
5 instituere majores: posteri imitantur. Hi lusus infantium, haec juvenum aemulatio; perseverant senes.
Inter familiam et penates et jura successionum equi
traduntur: excipit filius, non ut cetera, maximus natu,
sed prout ferox bello et melior.
10   33. Juxta Tencteros Bructeri olim  occurrebant:
nunc Chamavos et Angrivarios immigrasse narratur:
pulsis ]Bructeris ac penitus excisis vicinarum consensu
nationum; sel superbiae odio seu praedae dulcedine
seu favore quodam erga nos deorum; nam ne specta15 culo quidem proelii invidere. Super sexaginta milia
non armis telisque Romanis, sed quod magnificentius
est, oblectationi oculisque ceciderunt. Maneat, quaeso,
duretque gentibus, si non amor nostri, at certe odium
sui, quando urgentibus imperii fatis nihil jam prae20 stare fortuna majus potest quam hostium discordiam.
34. Angrivarios et Chamavos a tergo Dulgibini et
Chasuarii cludunt aliaeque gentes baud perinde memoratae; a fronte Frisii excipiunt. Majoribus minoribusque Frisiis vocabulum est ex modo virium. Utrae25 que nationes usque ad oceanum Rheno praetexuntur
ambiuntque immensos insuper lacus et Romanis classibus navigatos. Ipsum  quin etiam  oceanum  illa
temptavimus; et superesse adhuc Herculis columnas




GERNMANTA.                      35
fama vulgavit, sive adiit Hercules, seu quidquid ubique magnificum est, in claritatem  ejus referre consensimus. Nec defuit audentia Druso Gernmanico:
sed obstitit oceanus in se simul' atque in Herculem
inquiri. Mox nemo temptavit, sanctiusque ac reve- 5
rentius visum de actis deorum credere quam scire.
35. Hactenus in occidentem. Germaniam novimus:
in septentrionem ingenti flexu redit. Ac primo statim
Chaucorum  gens, quaniquam  incipiat a Frisiis ac
partem litoris occupet, omnium quas exposui gentium 10
lateribus obtenditur, donec in Chattos usque sinuetur.
Tam immensum terrarum spatium non tenent tantum
Chauci, sed et implent, populus inter Germanos nobilissimus quique magnitudinem  suam malit justitia
tueri; sine cupiditate, sine impotentia, quieti secre- 15
tique nulla provocant bella, nullis raptibus aut latrociniis populantur. Id praecipuum virtutis ac virium
argumentum est, quod, ut superiores agant, non per
injurias assequuntur; prompta tamen omnibus arma
et, si res poscat, exercitus, plurimum virorum equo- 20
rumque; et quiescentibus eadem fama.
36. In latere Chaucorum  Chattorumque Cherusci
nimiam ac marcentem diu pacem illacessiti nutrierunt; idque jucundius quam tutius fuit, quia inter
impotentes et validos falso quiescas: ubi manu agitur, 25
modestia ac probitas nomina superioris sunt. Ita qui
olim boni aequique Cherusci, nunc inertes ac stulti
vocantur: Chattis victoribus fortuna in sapientiam




36              CORNELII TACITI
cessit. Tracti ruina Cheruscorum  et Fosi, contermina gens, adversarum reruin ex aequo socii sunt,
cum in secundis minores fuissent.
37. Eundem Germaniae sinum proximi oceano
5 Cimbri tenent, parva nunc civitas, sed gloria ingens;
veterisque famae lata vestigia manent, utraque ripa
castra ac spatia, quorum ambitu nune quoque metiaris
molem manusque gentis et tam magni exitus fidem.
Sexcentesimum et quadragesimum annum urbs nostra
10 agebat, cum primum  Cimbrorum audita sunt arma,
Caecilio Metello et Papirio Carbone consulibus; ex
quo si ad alterum  imperatoris Trajani consulatum
computemus, ducenti ferme et decem anni colliguntur: tam diu Germania vincitur. Medio tam longi
15 aevi spatio multa in vicein damna; non Samnis, non
Poeni, non Hispaniae Galliaeve, ne Parthi quidem
saepius admonuere: quippe regno Arsacis acrior est
Germanorum libertas. Quid enim aliud nobis quam
caedem Crassi, amisso et ipse Pacoro, infra Ventidium
20 dejectus oriens objecerit? At Germani Carbone et
Cassio et Scauro Aurelio et Servilio Caepione, Marco
quoque Manlio fusis vel captis, quinque simul consulares exercitus populo Romano, Varum tresque cum
eo legiones etiam Caesari abstulerunt; nec impune C.
25 Marius in Italia, divus Julius in Gallia, Drusus ac
Nero et Germanicus in suis eos sedibus perculerunt.
Mox ingentes C. Caesaris minae in ludibrium versae.
Inde otium, donec occasione discordiae nostrae et




GERMANIA.                     37
civilium  armorum, expugnatis legionum  hibernis,
etiam Gallias affectavere; ac rursus inde pulsi proximis temporibus triumphati magis quam victi sunt.
38. Nunc de Suebis dicendum est, quorum non una,
ut Chattorum  Tencterorumve gens; majorem  enim  5
Germaniae partem obtinent, propriis adhuc nationibus nominibusque discreti, quatnquam  in commune
Suebi vocentur. Insigne gentis obliquare crinem nodoque substringere: sic Suebi a ceteris Germanis, sic
Sueborum ingeunui a servis separantur. In aliis genti- 10
bus seu cognatione aliqua Sueborum seu, quod saepe
accidit, imitatione, rarum et intra juventae spatium:
apud Suebos usque ad canitiem horrentem capillum
retro sequuntur, ac saepe in ipso vertice religatur;
principes et ornatiorem habent. Ea cura formae, sed 15
innoxia; neque enim ut ament amenturve, in altitudinem quandam et terrorem adituri bella, compti ut
hostium oculis, ornantur.
39. Vetustissimos se nobilissimosque Sueborum
Semnones memorant; fides antiquitatis religione 20
firmatur. Stato tempore in silvam auguriis patrum
et prisca formidine sacram omnes ejusdem sanguinis
populi legationibus coeunt, caesoque publice homine
celebrant barbari ritus horrenda primordia. Est et
alia luco reverentia: nemo nisi vinculo ligatus ingre- 25
ditur, ut minor et potestatem numinis prae se ferens.
Si forte prolapsus est, attolli et insurgere baud licitum:
per humum evolvuntur. Eoque omnis superstitio reD




38              CORNELII TACITI
spicit, tamquam inde initia gentis, ibi regnator omnium
deus, cetera subjecta atque parentia. Adjicit auctoritatemn fortuna Semnonum: centum pagis habitant,
magnoque corpore efficitur ut se Sueborum caput
5 credant.
40. Contra Langobardos paucitas nobilitat: plurimis ac valentissimis nationibus cincti non per obsequium, sed proeliis et periclitando tuti sunt. Reudigni
deinde et Aviones et Anglii et Varini et Eudoses et
10 Suardones et Nuitones fluminibus aut'silvis muniuntur. Nec quicquam notabile in singulis, nisi quod
in commune Nerthum, id est, Terrain matrem colunt,
eamque intervenire rebus hominum, invehi populis,
arbitrantur. Est in insula oceani castum nemus,
15 dicatumque in eo vehiculum, veste contectum; attingere uni sacerdoti concessum. Is adesse penetrali
deam intelligit, vectamque bubus feminis multa cum
veneratione prosequitur. Laeti tune dies, festa loca,
quaecumque adventu hospitioque dignatur.  Non
20 bella ineunt, non arma sumunt; clausum omne ferrum; pax et quies tune tantum nota, tune tantum
amata, donec idem sacerdos satiatam conversatione
mortalium deam templo reddat. Mox vehiculum et
vestes et, si credere velis, numen ipsum secreto lacu
25 abluitur. Servi ministrant, quos statim idem lacus
haurit. Arcanus hine terror sanctaque ignorantia,
quid sit illud quod tantum perituri vident.
41. Et haec quidem pars Sueborum in secretiora




GERMANIA.                      39
Germaniae porrigitur: propior (ut, quo modo paulo
ante Rhenumn, sic nunc Danuvium sequar), Hermundurorumn civitas, fida Romanis; eoque solis Germnanorum non in ripa commercium, sed penitus atque in
splendidissima Raetiae provinciae colonia. Passimrn  5
sine custode transeunt; et cum ceteris gentibus arnma
modo castraque nostra ostendamus, his domos villasque patefecimus non concupiscentibus. In Hermunduris Albis oritur, flumen inclutum et notum olim;
nunc tantumn auditur.                            10
42. Juxta Hermunduros Naristi ac deinde Marco
mani et Quadi agunt. Praecipua Marcomanorum
gloria viresque, atque etiain ipsa sedes pulsis olim
Boiis virtute parta. Nec Naristi Quadive degenerant.
Eaque Germaniae velut frons est, quatenus Danuvio 15
peragitur. Marcomanis Quadisque usque ad nostram
memoriam reges manserunt ex gente ipsorum, nobile
Marobodui et Tudri genus: jam et externos patiuntur,
sed vis et potentia regibus ex auctoritate Romana.
Raro armis nostris, saepius pecunia juvantur, nec 20
minus valent.
43. Retro Marsigni, Cotini, Osi, Buri terga Marcomanorum  Quadoruinque claudunt. E quibus Marsigni et Buri sermone cultuque Suebos referunt:
Cotinos Gallica, Osos Pannonica lingua coarguit non 25
esse Germanos, et quod tributa patiuntur. Partern
tributorum Sarmatae, partemr  Quadi ut alienigenis
imponunt: Cotini, quo magis pudeat, et ferrum effo



40              CORNELII TACITI
diunt.  Omnesque hi populi pauca campestrium,
ceterum saltus et vertices montium jugumque insederunt. Dirimit enim scinditque Suebiam continuum
montium jugum, ultra quod plurimae gentes agunt;
5 ex quibus latissime patet Lygiorum nomen, in plures
civitates diffusum. Valentissimas nominasse sufficiet,
Harios, Helveconas, Manimos, Elisios, Nahanarvalos.
Apud Nahanarvalos antiquae religionis lucus ostenditur. Praesidet sacerdos muliebri ornatu, sed deos
10 interpretatione Romana Castorem  Pollucemque memorant. Ea vis numini; nomen Alcis. Nulla simulacra, nullum peregrinae superstitionis vestigium; ut
fratres tamen, ut juvenes venerantur. Ceterum Harii
super vires, quibus enumeratos paulo ante populos
15 antecedunt, truces insitae feritati arte ac tempore
lenocinantur: nigra scuta, tincta corpora; atras ad
proelia noctes legunt, ipsaque formidine atque umbra
feralis exercitus terrorem inferunt, nullo hostium sustinente novum ac velut infernum aspectum; nam primi
20 in omnibus proeliis oculi vincuntur.
44. Trans Lygios Gotones regnantur, paulo jam
adductius quam ceterae Germanorum gentes, nondum
tamen supra libertatem. Protinus deinde ab oceano
Rugii et Lemovii; omniumque harum  gentium in25 signe rotunda scuta, breves gladii et erga reges obsequium.
Suionum hine civitates, ipso in oceano, praeter viros
armaque classibus valent. Forma navium eo differt,




GERMANIA.                     41
quod utrimque prora paratam semper appulsui frontem
agit; nec velis ministrantur nec remos in ordinem
lateribus adjungunt; solutum, ut in quibusdam fluminum, et mutabile, ut res poscit, hinc vel illine remigium. Est apud illos et opibus honos, eoque unus 5
imperitat, nullis jam exceptionibus, non precario jure
parendi. Nec arma, ut apud ceteros Germanos, in
promiscuo, sed clausa sub custode, et quidem servo,
quia subitos hostium incursus prohibet oceanus; otiosae
porro armatorum manus facile lasciviunt; enimvero 10
neque nobilein neque ingenuum, ne libertinum quidem
armis praeponere regia utilitas est.
45. Trans Suionas aliud mare, pigrum ac prope
imnimotum, quo cingi cludique terrarum orbem hine
fides, quod extremus cadentis jam solis fulgor in ortum 15
edurat adeo clarus, ut sidera hebetet; sonum insuper
emnergentis audiri formasque deorum et radios capitis
aspici persuasio adjicit. Illuc usque, et fama vera,
tantum natura. Ergo jam dextro Suebici maris litore
Aestiorum gentes alluuntur, quibus ritus habitusque 20
Sueborum, lingua Britannicae propior.  Matrem
deum venerantur. Insigne superstitionis formas aprorum gestant: id pro armis omnique tutela securum
deae cultorem  etiam  inter hostes praestat. Rarus
ferri, frequens fustium usus. Frumenta ceterosque 25
fructus patientius quam pro solita Germanorum
inertia laborant. Sed et mare scrutantur, ac soli
omnium sucinum, quod ipsi glesum vocant, inter vada
D2




42              CORNELII TACITI
atque in ipso litore legunt. Nec quae natura quaeve
ratio gignat, ut barbaris, quaesitum  compertumve;
diu quin etiam inter cetera ejectamenta maris jacebat,
donec luxuria nostra dedit nomen. Ipsis in nullo
5 usu: rude legitur, informe perfertur, pretiumque
mirantes accipiunt. Sucum tamen arborurn esse intelligas, quia terrena quaedam atque etiam volucria
animalia plerumque interlucent, quae implicata humore mox durescente materia cluduntur. Fecundiora
10 igitur nemora lucosque, sicut orientis secretis, ubi tura
balsamaque sudantur, ita occidentis insulis terrisque
inesse crediderim; quae vicini solis radiis expressa
atque liquentia in proximum mare labuntur ac vi
tempestatum in adversa litora exundant. Si naturamn
15 sucini admoto igni temptes, in modum taedae accenditur alitque flammam pinguem et olentem; mox ut
in picem resinamve lentescit.
Suionibus Sitonum gentes continuantur. Cetera
similes uno differunt quod feniina dominatur: in
20 tantum non modo a libertate sed etiam a servitute
degenerant., Hic Suebiae finis.
46. Peucinorum Venetorumque et Fennorum  nationes Germanis an Sarmatis ascribam dubito, quamquam Peucini, quos quidam Bastarnas vocant, sermone,
25 cultu, sede ac domiciliis ut Germani agunt. Sordes
omnium ac torpor procerum; connubiis mixtis nonnihil in Sarmatarum  habitum  foedantur.  Veneti
multuim ex moribus traxerunt; nam quidquid inter




GERMANIA.                      43
Peucinos Fennosque silvarum  ac montium erigitur,
latrociniis pererrant. Hi tamen inter Germanos potius referuntur, quia et domos figunt et scuta gestant
et pedum  usu ac pernicitate gaudent: quae omnia
diversa Sarmatis sunt in plaustro equoque viventibus. 5
Fennis mira feritas, foeda paupertas: non arma, non
equi, non penates; victui herba, vestitui pelles, cubile
humus: sola in sagittis spes, quas inopia ferri ossibus
asperant. Idemque venatus viros pariter ac feminas
alit; passim enim comitantur partemque praedae pe- 10
tunt. Nec aliud infantibus ferarum imbriumque suffugium quam ut in aliquo ramorum nexu contegantur:
huc redeunt juvenes, hoc senum receptaculum. Sed
beatius arbitrantur quam ingemere agris, illaborare
domibus, suas alienasque fortunas spe metuque versare: 15
securi adversus homines, securi adversus deos, rem difficillimam assecuti sunt, ut illis ne voto quidem opus
sit. Cetera jam fabulosa: Hellusios et Oxionas ora
hominum  vultusque, corpora atque artus ferarum
gerere: quod ego ut incompertum in medium relin- 20
quam.




CORNELII TACITI
DE VITA ET MORIBUS
JULII AGRICOLAE
LIBE3R.
BREVIARIUM.
CAP. 1-3. Scribendi clarorum virorum vitam  mos antiquus, sub malis principibus periculosus, sub Trajano in
honorem Agricolae repetitus a Tacito, qui non eloquentiam,
sed pietatem pollicetur. 4. Agricolae stirps, educatio, studia. 5, 6. Positis in Britannia primis castrorum rudimentis,
uxorem ducit. Fit quaestor, tribunus, praetor. Recogfioscendis templorum donis praefectus. 7. Othonliano bello
matrem partemque patrimonii amittit. 8. In Vespasiani
partes transgressus, legioni vicesimae in Britannia praepositus, alienae fanmae cura promovet suam. 9. Redux
inter patricios ascitus Aquitaniaml regit. Consul factus
Tacito filiani despondet. Britanniae praeficitur.
10. Britanniae descriptio. Thulecognita. Marepigrum.
11, 12. Britannorum  origo, habitus, sacra, sermo, mores;
militia, regimen, rarus conventus. Caelum, solum, metalla, Inargarita. 13. Victae gentis ingeniuin. Caesarum
in Britanniam expeditiones. 14. Consularium legatorum
res gestae. 15, 16. Britanniae rebellio, Boudicea duce
coepta, a Suetonio Paulino compressa. Huic succedunt
ignavi. 17-21. Rem restituunt Petilius Cerialis et Julius
Frontinus; hic Silures, ille Brigantes vincit; Agricola
44




CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA.                  45
Ordovices et Monam. Totam provinciam pacat et moderatione, prudentia, abstinentia, aequitate in obsequio retinet, animosque artibus et voluptatibus mollit.
22-23. Nova expeditio novas gentes aperit, quae praesidio firmantur.  Agricolae candor in communicanda
gloria.  24. Consiliuni de occupanda Hibernia.  25-27.
Civitates trans Bodotriam  sitae explorantur. Caledonii,
Romanos aggressi, consilio ductuque.Agricolae pulsi, sacrificiis conspirationemr civitatum sanciunt. 28. Usipiorum
cohors miro casu Britanniain circunmvecta.  Agricolae
filius obit. 29-32. Bellum Britanni reparant Calgaco duce;
ejus oratio ad suos.  33, 34. Romanos quoque hortatur
Agricola. 35-37. Atrox et cruentum proelium. 38. Penes
Romanos victoria. Agricola Britanniam circumvehi praecipit.
39. Domitianus, fronte laetus, pectore anxius, nuntium
victoriae excipit. 40. Honores tamen Agricolae decerni
jubet, condito odio, donec provincia decedat Agricola. Is
redux modeste agit. 41. Periculuml  ab accusatoribus et
laudatoribus.  42. Excusat se, ne provinciam  sortiatur
proconsul. 43. Obit non sine veneni suspicione a Dornitiano dati. 44. Ejus aetas, habitus, honores, opes. 45.
Mortis opportunitas ante Domitiani atrocitates. 46. Questus scriptoris et ex virtute solatia. Fama Agricolae ad
posteros transmissa.
1. Clarorum virorum facta moresque posteris tradere, antiquitus usitatum, ne nostris quidem temporibus
quamquam  incuriosa suorum  aetas omisit, quotiens
magna aliqua ac nobilis virtus vicit ac supergressa est
vitium parvis magnisque civitatibus commune, igno- 5




46               CORNELII TACITI
rantiam recti et invidiam. Sed apud priores ut agere
digna mnemoratu pronum magisque in aperto erat, ita
celeberrimus quisque ingenio ad prodendam virtutis
memoriam sine gratia aut ambitione bonae tantum
5 conscientiae pretio ducebatur. Ac plerique suam ipsi
vitam narrare fiduciam  potius mrorum  quam  arrogantiam arbitrati sunt; nec id Rutilio et Scauro citra
fidem aut obtrectationi fuit: adeo virtutes isdem temporibus optime aestimantur, quibus facillime gignun10 tur. At nunc narraturo mihi vitam defuncti hominis
venia opus fuit, quam non petissem incusaturus tamn
saeva et infesta virtutibus tempora.
2. Legimus, cum Aruleno Rustico Paetus Thrasea,
Herennio Senecioni Priscus Helvidius laudati essent,
15 capitale fuisse, neque in ipsos modo auctores sed in
libros quoque- eorum saevitum, delegato triumviris
ministerio ut monumenta clarissimorum ingeniorum
in comitio ac foro urerentur. Scilicet illo igne vocem
populi Romani et libertatem senatus et conscientiam
20 generis humani aboleri arbitrabantur, expulsis insuper
sapientiae professoribus atque omni bona arte in
exsilium acta, ne quid usquam honestum occurreret.
Dedimus profecto grande patientiae documenturn; et
sicut vetus aetas vidit quid ultimum in libertate esset,
25 ita nos quid in servitute, adeinpto per inquisitiones
etiam loquendi audiendique cominercio. Memoriam
quoque ipsam  cum  voce perdidissemus, si tam  in
nostra potestate esset oblivisci quam tacere.




AGRICOLA.                       47
3. Nune demum rediit animus, et quamquam primo
statim beatissimi saeculi ortu Nerva Caesar res olihm
dissociabiles miscuerit, principatum ac libertatem,
augeatque quotidie felicitatem temporum Nerva Trajanus, nec spem modo ac votum securitas publica sed  5
ipsius voti fiduciam ac robur assumpserit, natura tamen
infirmitatis humanae tardiora sunt remedia quam
mala; et ut corpora nostra lente augescunt, cito exstinguuntur, sic ingenia studiaque oppresseris facilius
quam revocaveris. Subit quippe etiam ipsius inertiae 10
dulcedo; et invisa primo desidia postremo amatur.
Quid, si per quindecim annos, grande mortalis aevi
spatium. multi fortuitis casibus, promptissimus quisque
saevitia principis interciderunt?  Pauci, ut ita dixerim, non modo aliorum sed etiam  nostri superstites 15
sumus, exemptis e media vita tot annis, quibus juvenes
ad senectutem, senes prope ad ipsos exactae aetatis
terminos per silentium veninus.  Non tamen pigebit
vel incondita ac rudi voce memoriam prioris servitutis
ac testimonium  praesentium  bonorum  composuisse. 20
Hic interim liber honori Agricolae soceri mei destinatus, professione pietatis aut laudatus erit aut excusatus.
4. Cnaeus Julius Agricola, vetere et illustri Forojuliensium colonia ortus, utrumque avum procuratoremn 25
Caesarurn habuit, quae equestris nobilitas est. Pater
Julius Graecinus, senatorii ordinis, studio eloquentiae
sapientiaeque notus, iisque ipsis virtutibus iram Caii




48               CORNELII TACITI
Caesaris meritus: namque M. Silanumn accusare jussus,
et quia abnuerat, interfectus est. Mater Julia Procilla fuit, rarae castitatis. In hujus sinu indulgentiaque educatus, per omnem honestarum artium  cultumr
5 pueritiaml adolescentiamque transegit. Arcebat eum
ab illecebris peccantium praeter ipsius bonam integramque naturam, quod statim  parvulus sedem  ac
magistram studiorum Massiliam habuit, locum Graeca
comitate et provinciali parsimonia mixtum ae bene
10 compositum. Memoria teneo solituln ipsum narrare
se prima in juventa studium philosophiae acrius, ultra
quam  concessum  Romano ac senatori, hausisse, ni
prudentia matris incensumr  ac flagrantemn  animum
coercuisset. Scilicet sublime et erectum  ingenium
15 pulchritudinem ac speciem magnae excelsaeque gloriae
vehementius quam caute appetebat.  Mox mitigavit
ratio et aetas, retinuitque, quod est difficillimum, ex
sapientia modum.
5. Prima castrorum rudimenta in Britannia Sue20 tonio Paulino, diligenti ac moderato duci, approbavit,
electus quem contubernio aestimaret. Nec Agricola
licenter, more juvenum  qui militiam  in lasciviam
vertunt, neque segniter ad voluptates et commeatus
titulum  tribunatus et inscitiam rettulit: sed noscere
25 provinciam, nosci exercitui, discere a peritis, sequi
optimos, nihil appetere in jactationem, nihil ob formidinem recusare, simulque et anxius et intentus agere.
Non sane alias exercitatior magisque in ambiguo




AGRICOLA.                     49
Britannia fuit: trucidati veterani, incensae coloniae,
intercepti exercitus; tumrn de salute, mox de victoria
certavere. Quae cuncta etsi consiliis ductuque alterius agebantur, ac summa rerum et recuperatae provinciae gloria in ducem  cessit, artem et usum  et 5
stimulos addidere juveni, intravitque animum militaris
gloriae cupido, ingrata temporibus quibus sinistra erga
eminentes interpretatio, nec minus periculum ex magna
fama quam ex mala.
6. Hine ad capessendos magistratus in urbem di- 10
gressus Domitiam Decidianam, splendidis natalibus
ortam, sibi junxit; idque matrimonium ad majora
nitenti decus ac robur fuit; vixeruntque mira concordia, per mutuam caritatem et in vicem se anteponendo, nisi quod in bona uxore tanto major laus 15
quanto in mala plus culpae est. Sors quaesturae provinciam Asiam, proconsulem Salvium Titianum dedit,
quorum neutro corruptus est, quamquam et provincia
dives ac parata peccantibus, et proconsul in omnem
aviditatem pronus quantalibet facilitate redempturus 20
esset mutuam dissimulationemr  mali. Auctus est ibi
filia, in subsidiumr simul et solatium; nam filium ante
sublatum brevi amisit. Mox inter quaesturam ac tribunatum plebis atque ipsum etiam tribunatus annum
quiete et otio transiit, gnarus sub Nerone temporum, 25
quibus inertia pro sapientia fuit. Idem praeturae
tenor et silentium; nec enim jurisdictio obvenerat.
Ludos et inania honoris medio rationis atque abun4 - Tac.          E




60              CORNELII TACITI
dantiae duxit, uti longe a luxuria, ita famae propior.
Tum electus a Galba ad dona templorum recognoscenda, diligentissima conquisitione effecit, ne cujus
alterius sacrilegium res publica quam  Neronis sen5 sisset.
7. Sequens annus gravi vulnere animum domumque
ejus afflixit. Nam classis Othoniana licenter vaga
dum Intemelios (Liguriae pars est) hostiliter populatur, matrem Agricolae in praediis suis interfecit,
10 praediaque ipsa et magnam patrimonii partem diripuit, quae causa caedis fuerat. Igitur ad sollemnia
pietatis profectus Agricola, nuntio affectati a Vespasiano imperii deprehensus ac statim in partes transgressus est.  Initia principatus ac statum  urbis
15 Mucianus regebat, juvene admodum Domitiano et ex
paterna fortuna tantum  licentiam  usurpante.  Is
missum ad delectus agendos Agricolam integreque ac
strenue versatum vicesimae legioni tarde ad sacramentum transgressae praeposuit, ubi decessor seditiose
20 agere narrabatur: quippe legatis quoque consularibus
nimia ac formidolosa erat, nec legatus praetorius ad
cohibendum potens, incertum suo an militum ingenio.
Ita successor simul et ultor electus, rarissima moderatione maluit videri invenisse bonos quam fecisse.
25   8. Praeerat tune Britanniae Vettius Bolanus placidius, quam feroci provincia dignum est. Temperavit
Agricola vim suam ardoremque compescuit, ne incresceret, peritus obsequi eruditusque utilia honestis




AGRICOLA.                       51
miscere. Brevi deinde Britannia consularem Petilium
Cerialem accepit. Habuerunt virtutes spatium exemplorum, sed primo Cerialis labores modo et discrimina,
mox et gloriam communicabat; saepe parti exercitus
in experimentum, aliquando majoribus copiis ex eventu  o
praefecit. Nec Agricola umquam in suam famam
gestis exsultavit; ad auctorern ac ducem ut minister
fortunam referebat. Ita virtute in obsequendo, verecundia in praedicando, extra invidiam nec extra gloriam erat.                                         10
9. Revertentem ab legatione legionis divus Vespasianus inter patricios ascivit; ac deinde provinciae
Aquitaniae praeposuit, splendidae inpriruis dignitatis
administratione ac spe consulatus, cui destinarat.
Credunt plerique militaribus ingeniis subtilitatem 15
deesse, quia castrensis jurisdictio secura et obtusior ac
plura manu agens calliditatem fori non exerceat.
Agricola naturali prudentia, quamvis inter togatos,
facile justeque agebat. Jam vero tempora curarum
remissionumque divisa: ubi conventus nac judicia 20
poscerent, gravis, intentus, severus, sed saepius misericors: ubi officio satis factum, nulla ultra potestatis
persona: tristitiam et arrogantiam et avaritiam exuerat.
Nec illi, quod est rarissimum, aut facilitas auctoritatem  aut severitas amorem deminuit. Integritatem 25
atque abstinentiam in tanto viro referre injuria virtutum fuerit. Ne famam quidem, cui saepe etiam boni
indulgent, ostentanda virtute aut per artem quaesivit:




52              CORNELII TACITI
procul ab aemulatione adversus collegas, procul a
contentione adversus procuratores, et vincere inglorium et atteri sordidum arbitrabatur.  Minus triennium  in ea legatione detentus ac statim  ad spem
5 consulatus revocatus est, comitante opinione Britanniam ei provinciain dari, nullis in hoc suis sermonibus,
sed quia par videbatur. Haud semper errat fama;
aliquando et elegit. Consul egregiae tum spei filiam
juveni mihi despondit ac post consulatum collocavit,
10 et statim Britanniae praepositus est, adjecto pontificatus sacerdotio.
10. Britanniae siturn populosque multis scriptoribus
memoratos non in comparationem  curae ingeniive
referam, sed quia tum  primrum  perdomita est: ita
15 quae priores nondum comperta eloquentia percoluere,
rerum  fide tradentur.  Britannia, insularum  quas
Roinana notitia complectitur maxima, spatio ac caelo
in orientem  Germaniae, in occidentemr  Hispaniae
obtenditur, Gallis in meridiem etiam inspicitur; sep20 tentrionalia ejus,z: nullis contra terris, vasto atque
aperto mari pulsantur. Formam  totius Britanniae
Livius veterum, Fabius Rusticus recentium eloquentissimi auctores oblongae scutulae vel bipenni assimulavere; et est ea facies citra Caledoniam, unde et in
25 universum fama est transgressa: sed immensum et
enorme spatium procurrentium extremrno jam litore
terrarum  velut in cuneum  tenuatur. Hane oram
novissimi maris tune primum Romana classis circum



AGRICOLA.                       63
vecta insulam  esse Britanniam  affirmavit, ac simul
incognitas ad id tempus insulas, quas Orcadas vocant,
invenit domuitque. Dispecta est et Thule, quia hactenus jussum; et hiemis appetebat.  Sed mare pigruml
et grave rernigantibus perhibent ne ventis quidem  5
perinde attolli, credo quod rariores terrae montesque,
causa ac materia tempestatum, et profunda moles continui maris tardius impellitur.  Naturam oceani atque
aestus neque quaerere hujus operis est, ac multi rettulere: unum addiderim, nusquam latius dominari mare, 10
multum  fluminuin hue atque illuc ferre, nec litore
tenus accrescere aut resorberi, sed influere penitus
atque ambire, et jugis etiam ac montibus inseri velut
in suo.
11. Ceterum Britanniam qui mortales initio colue- 15
rint, indigenae an advecti, ut inter barbaros, parum
conlpertum. Habitus corporum  varii atque ex eo
argumenta. Namque rutilae Caledonianl habitantium
comae, magni artus Germanicam originem asseverant.
Siluruin colorati vultus, torti plerumque crines et 20
posita contra Hispania Hiberos veteres trajecisse easque
sedes occupasse fidem faciunt. Proximi Gallis et similes sunt, seu durante originis vi, seu procurrentibus in
diversa terris positio caeli corporibus habitum dedit.
In universum tamen aestimanti Gallos vicinam insulam 25
occupasse credibile est. Eorum  sacra deprehendas,
superstitionum  persuasiones; sermo haud multum
diversus, in deposcendis periculis eadem audacia et,
E2




54              CORNELII TACITI
ubi advenere, in detrectandis eadem'formido. Plus
tamen ferociae Britanni praeferunt, ut quos nondum
longa pax emollierit. Nam Gallos quoque in bellis
floruisse accepimus; mox segnitia cum otio intravit,
5 amissa virtute pariter ac libertate. Quod Britannorum olim victis evenit: ceteri manent quales Galli
fuerunt.
12. In pedite robur; quaedam nationes et curru
proeliantur. -Honestior auriga, clientes propugnant.
10 Olim regibus parebant, nunc per principes factionibus
et studiis distrahuntur. Nec aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro nobis utilius quam quod in commune
non consulunt. Rarus duabus tribusve civitatibus ad
propulsandum commune periculum conventus: ita
15 singuli pugnant, universi vincuntur. Caelum crebris
imbribus ac nebulis foedum; asperitas frigorum abest.
Dierum spatia ultra nostri orbis mensuram; nox clara
et extrema Britanniae parte brevis, ut finem atque
initium lucis exiguo discrimine internoscas. Quod si
20 nubes non officiant, aspici per noctem solis fulgorem,
nec occidere et exsurgere sed transire affirmant.
Scilicet extrema et plana terrarum humnili umbra non
erigunt tenebras, infraque caelum et sidera nox cadit.
Solum, praeter oleam vitemque et cetera calidioriblus
25 terris oriri sueta, patiens frugum, fecundum: tarde
mitescunt, cito proveniunt; eademque utriusque rei
causa, multus humor terrarum caelique. Fert Britannia aurum et argentum et alia metalla, pretium




AGRICOLA.                       55
victoriae. Gignit et oceanus margarita, sed subfusca
ac liventia. Quidam artem abesse legentibus arbitrantur; nam in rubro mari viva ac spirantia saxis
avelli, in Britannia, prout expulsa sint, colligi. Ego
facilius crediderim naturam margaritis deesse quam 5
nobis avaritiam.
13. Ipsi Britanni delectum ac tributa et injuncta
imperii munera impigre obeunt, si injuriae absint: has
aegre tolerant, jam domiti ut pareant, nondum ut
serviant. Igitur primus omnium Romnanorum divus 10
Julius cum exercitu Britanniam ingressus, quamquam
prospera pugna terruerit incolas ac litore potitus sit,
potest videri ostendisse posteris, non tradidisse. Mox
bella civilia et in rem publicam versa principum arma,
ac longa oblivio Britanniae etiam in pace: consilium 15
id divus Augustus vocabat, Tiberius praeceptum. Agitasse Caiumr Caesarem de intranda Britannia satis constat, ni velox ingenio, mobilis poenitentiae, et ingentes
adversus Germaniam conatus frustra fuissent. Divus
Claudius auctor tandem operis, transvectis legionibus 20
auxiliisque et assumpto in partem rerum Vespasiano,
quod initium venturae mox fortunae fuit: domitae
gentes, capti reges et monstratus fatis Vespasianus.
14. Consularium primus Aulus Plautius praepositus
ac subinde Ostorius Scapula, uterque bello egregius; 25
redactaque paulatim in formam provinciae proxima
pars Britanniae; addita inlsuper veteranorunm colonia.
Quaedam  civitates Cogidum'lo regi donatae (is ad




56              CORNELII TACITI
nostraml usque memoriam fidissimus mansit), vetere
ac jam pridem recepta populi Romani consuetudine,
ut haberet instrumenta servitutis et reges.  Mox
Didius Gallus parta a prioribus continuit, paucis
5 admodum castellis in ulteriora promotis, per quae
fama aucti officii quaereretur.  Didium  Veranius
excepit, isque intra annum exstinctus est. Suetonius
hinc Paulinus biennio prosperas res habuit, subactis
nationibus firmatisque praesidiis; quorumn fiducia
10 Monam  insulam  ut vires rebellibus ministrantem
aggressus terga occasioni patefecit.
15. Namque absentia legati remoto metu, Britanni
agitare inter se mala servitutis, conferre injurias et
interpretando accendere: nihil profici patientia nisi
15 ut graviora tamquam  ex facili tolerantibus imperentur.  Singulos sibi olim reges fuisse, nune binos
imponi, e quibus legatus in sanguinem, procurator in
bona saeviret.  Aeque discordiam  praepositorum,
aeque  concordiam  subjectis  exitiosam.  Alterius
20 manum centuriones, alterius servos vim et contumelias
miscere. Nihil jam cupiditati, nihil libidini exceptum.
In proelio fortiorem esse qui spoliet: nunc ab ignavis
plerumque et imbellibus eripi domos, abstrahi liberos,
injungi delectus, tamquam  mori tantum  pro patria
25 nescientibus. Quantulum enim transisse militum, si
sese Britanni numerent?  Sic Germnanias excussisse
jugunm: et flumine, non oceano defendi. Sibi patriam,
conjuges, parentes, illis avaritiam et luxuriam causas




AGRICOLA.                       57
belli esse. Recessuros, ut divus Julius recessisset,
modo virtutem majorurn suorum aemularentur. Neve
proelii unius aut alterius eventu pavescerent: plus
impetus, majorem  constantiam  penes miseros esse.
Jam Britannorum etiam deos misereri, qui Romanum  5
ducem absentem, qui relegatum in alia insula exercitum detinerent; jam ipsos, quod difficillimum fuerit,
deliberare. Porro in ejus modi consiliis periculosius
esse deprehendi quam audere.
16. His atque talibus in vicem instincti, Boudicea, 10
generis regii femina, duce (neque enimn sexunm in imperiis discernunt) sumpsere universi bellum; ac sparsos
per castella milites consectati, expugnatis praesidiis
ipsam coloniam  invasere, ut sedem  servitutis; nec
ullum in barbaris saevitiae genus omisit ira et vic- 15
toria. Quod nisi Paulinus cognito provinciae motu
propere subvenisset, amissa Britannia foret; quam
unius proelii fortuna veteri patientiae restituit, tenentibus arma plerisque, quos conscientia defectionis et
proprius ex legato timor agitabat, ne, quamquam egre- 20
gius cetera, arroganter in deditos et, ut suae exercitusque injuriae ultor, durius consuleret. Missus igitur
Petronius Turpilianus, tamquam exorabilior et delictis
hostium novus eoque poenitentiae mitior, compositis
prioribus nihil ultra ausus, Trebellio Maximo pro- 25
vinciam tradidit. Trebellius, segnior et nullis castrorum experimentis, comitate quadam curandi provinciam tenuit.  Didicere jam barbari quoque ignoscere,




58              CORNELII TACITI
vitiis blandientibus, et interventus civilium armorum
praebuitjustam segnitiae excusationem. Sed discordia
laboratum, cum  assuetus expeditionibus miles otio
lasciviret. Trebellius, fuga ac latebris vitata exercitus
5 ira indecorus atque humilis, precario mox praefuit;
ac velut pacti, exercitus licentiam, dux salutem, et
seditio sine sanguine stetit. Nec Vettius Bolanus,
manentibus adhuc civilibus bellis, agitavit Britanniam
disciplina: eadem inertia erga hostes, similis petu10 lantia castrorum, nisi quod innocens Bolanus et nullis
delictis invisus caritatem paraverat loco auctoritatis.
17. Sed ubi cum cetero orbe Vespasianus et Britanniam recuperavit, magni duces, egregii exercitus,
minuta hostium  spes.  Et terrorem  statim  intulit
15 Petilius Cerialis, Brigantum civitatem, quae numerosissima provinciae totius perhibetur, aggressus. Multa
proelia et aliquando non incruenta; magnamque Brigantum partem aut victoria amplexus est aut bello.
Et Cerialis quidem alterius successoris curam farmam20 que obruisset sustinuitque molem Julius Frontinus,
vir magnus, quantum licebat; validamque et pugnacem Silurum gentem armis subegit, super virtutem
hostium locorum quoque difficultates eluctatus.
18. Hunc Britanniae statum, has bellorum vices
25 media jam aestate transgressus Agricola invenit, cum
et milites velut omissa expeditione ad securitatem et
hostes ad occasionem verterentur. Ordovicum civitas
baud multo ante adventurm ljus alamn in finibus suis




AGRICOLA.                       59
agentem prope universam obtriverat, eoque initio
erecta provincia; et quibus bellum volentibus erat,
probare exemplum ac recentis legati animum opperiri,
cum Agricola, quamquam transvecta aestas, sparsi per
provinciam  numeri, praesumpta apud militem illius 5
anni quies, tarda et contraria bellumn inchoaturo, et
plerisque custodiri suspecta potius videbatur, ire obviam discrimini statuit; contractisque legionum vexillis
et modica auxiliorum manu, quia in aequum degredi
Ordovices non audebant, ipse ante agmen, quo ceteris 10
par animus simili periculo esset, erexit aciein; caesaque prope universa gente, non ignarus instandum
fainae ae, prout prima cessissent, terrorem ceteris fore,
Monam  insulam, cujus possessione revocatum  Paulinuln rebellione totius Britanniae supra memoravi, 15
redigere in potestatem  animo intendit. Sed, ut in
dubiis consiliis, naves deeralnt: ratio et constantia
ducis transvexit. Depositis omnibus sarcinis lectissimos auxiliarium, quibus nota vada et patrius nandi
usus, [uo simul seque et arma et equos regunt, ita re- 20
pente immisit, ut obstupefacti hostes, qui classem, qui
naves, qui mare exspectabant, nihil arduum aut invieturn crediderint sic ad bellum venientibus.  Ita
petita pace ac dedita insula clarus ac magnus haberi
Agricola, quippe cui ingredienti provinciam, quod 25
tempus alii per ostentationem  et officiorum ambitum
transigunt, labor et periculum placuisset. Nec Agricola prosperitate rerum  in vanitatemn  usus, expedi.




60              CORNELII TACITI
tionem aut victoriam vocabat victos continuisse; ne
laureatis quidem gesta prosecutus est, sed ipsa dissimulatione famae famam  auxit, aestimantibus quanta
futuri spe tam magna tacuisset.
5   19. Ceterum animorum provinciae prudens, simulque dodtus per aliena experimenta parum profici
armis, si injuriae sequerentur, causas bellorum statuit
excidere. A se suisque orsus primum domum suam
coercuit, quod plerisque haud minus arduum est quam
10 provinciam  regere.  Nihil per libertos servosque
publicae rei, non studiis privatis nec ex commendatione aut precibus centurionem militesve ascire, sed
optimum quemque fidissimum putare. Omnia scire,
non omnia exsequi. Parvis peccatis veniam, magnis
15 severitatem commodare; nec poena semper, sed saepius poenitentia contentus esse;- officiis et administrationibus potius non  peccaturos praeponere, quam
damnare cum peccassent. Frumenti et tributorum
exactionem aequalitate munerum mollire, circumcisis
20 quae in quaestum reperta ipso tributo gravius tolerabantur. Namque per ludibriurl assidere clausis horreis et emere ultro frumenta ac luere pretio cogebantur.
Devortia itinerum et longinquitas regionum indicebatur, ut civitates proximis hibernis in remota et avia
25 deferrent, donec quod omnibus in promptu erat, paucis
lucrosum fieret.
20. Haec primo statim anno comprimendo egregiam
famam paci circumdedit, quae vel incuria vel intole



AGRICOLA.                       61
rantia priorum  haud minus quam bellum timebatur.
Sed ubi aestas advenit, contracto exercitu multus in
agmine, laudare modestiam, disjectos coercere, loca
castris ipse capere, aestuaria ac silvas ipse praetemptare; et nihil interim  apud hostes quietum pati, quo  5
minus subitis excursibus popularetur; atque ubi satis
terruerat, parcendo rursus invitamenta pacis ostentare.
Quibus rebus multae civitates, quae in illum diem ex
aequo egerant, datis obsidibus iraml posuere, et praesidiis castellisque circumdatae tanta ratione curaque, 10
ut nulla ante Britanniae nova pars pariter illacessita
transierit.
21. Sequens hiems saluberrimis consiliis absumpta.
Namque ut homines dispersi ac rudes eoque in bella
faciles quieti et otio per voluptates assuescerent, hortari 15
privatim, adjuvare publice, ut templa, fora, domos
exstruerent, laudando promptos et castigando segnes:
ita honoris aemulatio pro necessitate erat. Jam vero
principum filios liberalibus artibus erudire, et ingenia
Britannorum studiis Gallorum anteferre, ut qui modo 20
linguam  Romanam  abnuebant, eloquentiam  concupiscerent. Inde etiam habitus nostri honor et frequens
toga. Paulatimque discessum ad delenimnenta vitiorum, porticus et balnea et conviviorum elegantiam.
Idque apud imperitos humanitas vocabatur, cum pars 25
servitutis esset.
22. Tertius expeditionum  annus novas gentes aperuit, vastatis usque ad Tanaum (aestuario normen est)
F




6-2             CORNELII TACITI
nationibus. Qua formidine territi hostes quamquam
conflictatum saevis tempestatibus exercitum lacessere
non ausi; ponendisque insuper castellis spatium fuit.
Annotabant periti non alium ducem opportunitates
5 locorum sapientius legisse; nullumrn ab Agricola positum  castellum  aut vi hostium  expugnatum  aut
pactione ac fuga desertum; crebrae eruptiones; nam
adversus moras obsidionis annuis copiis firmabantur.
Ita intrepida ibi hiems et sibi quisque praesidio, irritis
10 hostibus eoque desperantibus, quia soliti plerumque
damna aestatis hibernis eventibus pensare, turn aestate
atque hieme juxta pellebantur.. Nee Agricola umquam per alios gesta avidus intercepit: seu centurio
seu praefectus incorruptum facti testem habebat.
15 Apud quosdam acerbior in conviciis narrabatur; ut
erat comis bonis, ita adversus malos injucundus.
Ceterum ex iracundia nihil supererat; secretum vel
silentium ejus non timeres: honestius putabat offendere quam odisse.
20   23. Quarta aestas obtinendis quae percucurrerat
insumpta; ae si virtus exercituum et Romani nominis
gloria pateretur, inventus in ipsa Britannia terminus.
Namque Clota et Bodotria diversi maris aestibus per
immensum revectae, angusto terrarumn spatio diri25 muntur: quod turn praesidiis firmabatur, atque omnlis
propior sinus tenebatur, summotis velut in aliaia
insulam hostibus.
24. Quinto expeditionum anno nave prima trans



AGRICOLA.                      63
gressus ignotas ad id tempus gentes crebris simul ac
prosperis proeliis dornuit; eamque partem Britanniae,
quae Hiberniamr aspicit, copiis instruxit, in spem magis
quam ob formidinemn; si quidem Hibernia, medio inter
Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita et Gallico quoque 5
mari opportuna, valentissimam imperii partem magnis
in vicem usibus miscuerit. Spatium  ejus, si Britanniae comparetur, angustius, nostri maris insulas superat. Solum caelumque et ingenia cultusque hominurm
baud multum a Britannia differunt. Melius aditus 10
portusque per commercia et negotiatores cogniti.
Agricola expulsum seditione domestica unum ex regulis gentis exceperat ac specie amicitiae in occasionem
retinebat. Saepe ex eo audivi legione una et modicis
auxiliis debellari obtinerique Hiberniam posse; idque 15
etiam adversus Britanniain profuturum, si Romana
ubique arma et velut e conspectu libertas tolleretur.
25. Ceterum aestate, qua sextum  officii annum inchoabat, amplexus civitates trans Bodotriam sitas,
quia motus universarum ultra gentiumr et infesta hosti- 20
lis exercitu sitinera timebantur, portus classe exploravit; quae ab Agricola primum assumpta in partem
virium sequebatur egregia specie, cum simul terra
simul mari bellum impelleretur, ac saepe isdem castris
pedes equesque et nauticus miles, mixti copiis et lae- 25
titia, sua quisque facta, suos casus attollerent, ac modo
silvarum ac montium profunda, modo tempestatum ac
fluctuum  adversa, hinc terra et hostis, hin cvictus




64               CORNELII TACITI
oceanus militari jactantia compararentur.  Britannos
quoque, ut ex captivis audiebatur, visa classis obstupefaciebat, tamquam aperto maris sui secreto ultimunl
victis perfugium  clauderetur. Ad manus et arma
5 conversi Caledoniam incolentes populi, paratu magno,
majore fama, uti mos est de ignotis, oppugnare ultro
castellum adorti, metum ut provocantes addiderant;
regrediendumque  citra Bodotriam  et excedendum
potius quain pellerentur ignavi specie prudentium
10 admonebant; cum interim  cognoscit hostes pluribus
agminibus irrupturos. Ac ne superante numero et
peritia locorum circumiretur, diviso et ipse in trcs
partes exercitu incessit.
26. Quod ubi cognitum hosti, mutato repente con15 silio, universi nonam legionem ut maxime invalidam
nocte aggressi, inter somnum ac trepidationem caesis
vigilibus irrupere.  Jamque in ipsis castris pugnabatur, cum Agricola iter hostium  ab exploratoribus
edoctus et vestigiis insecutus, velocissimos equitum
20 peditumque assultare tergis pugnantium  jubet, mox
ab universis adjici clamoremra; et propinqua luce fulsere
signa. Ita ancipiti malo territi Britanni; et Romanis
rediit animus, ac securi pro salute de gloria certabant.
Ultro quin etiam erupere, et fuit atrox in ipsis por25 tarum angustiis proelium, donec pulsi hostes, utroque
exercitu certante, his, ut tulisse opem, illis, ne eguisse
auxilio viderentur. Quod nisi paludes et silvae fugientes texissent, debellatum illa victoria foret.




AGRICOLA.                      65
27. Cujus conscientia ac fama ferox exercitus nihil
virtuti suae invium et penetrandam Caledoniam inveniendumque tandem Britanniae terminum continuo
proeliorum cursu fremebant. Atque illi modo cauti
ac sapientes prompti post eventum ac magniloqui erant. 5
Iniquissima haec bellorum condicio est: prospera omnes
sibi vindicant, adversa uni imputantur. At Britanni
non virtute sed occasione et arte victos rati, nihil ex
arrogantia remittere, quo minus juventutem armarent,
conjuges ac liberos in loca tuta transferrent, coeti- 10
bus ac sacrificiis conspirationem civitatium sancirent.
Atque ita irritatis utrimque animis discessum.
28. Eadem aestate cohors Usipiorum, per Germanias
conscripta et in Britanniam transmissa, magnum ac
memorabile facinus ausa est. Occiso centurione ac 15
militibus, qui ad tradendam disciplinam immixti manipulis exemplum et rectores habebantur, tres liburnicas
adactis per vim gubernatoribus ascendere; et uno remigante, suspectis duobus eoque interfectis, nondum vulgato rumore ut miraculum praevehebantur. Mox 20
adaquatum atque utilia raptum exeuntes, cum plerisque Britannorum sua defensantium proelio congressi; ac saepe victores, aliquando pulsi, eo ad extremum inopiae venere, ut infirmissimos suorum, mox
sorte ductos vescerentur. Atque ita circumvecti Bri- 25
tanniam, amissis per inscitiam regendi navibus, pro
praedonibus habiti, primumn a Suebis, mox a Frisiis
intercepti sunt. Ac fuere quos per commercia venum5- Tac.            F2




66              CORNELII TACITI
datos et in nostram usque ripam mutatione ementium
adductos indicium tanti casus illustravit.
29. Initio aestatis Agricola domestico vulnere ictus,
anno ante natum filium amisit. Quem casum neque
5 ut plerique fortium virorum ambitiose, neque per
lamenta rursus ac maerorem muliebriter tulit: et in
luctu bellum inter remedia erat.  Igitur praemissa
classe, quae pluribus locis praedata magnum et incertum terrorem faceret, expedito exercitu, cui ex
10 Britannis fortissimos et longa pace exploratos addiderat, ad montem Graupium pervenit, quem jam hostis
insederat. Nam Britanni nihil fracti pugnae prioris
eventu, et ultionem aut servitium exspectantes, tandemque docti commune periculum concordia propul15 sandum, legationibus et foederibus omnium civitatium
vires exciverant. Jamque super triginta milia armatorum aspiciebantur, et adhuc affluebat omnis juventus
et quibus cruda ac viridis senectus, clari bello et sua
quisque decora gestantes, cum inter plures duces vir20 tute et genere praestans, nomine Calgacus, apud contractam multitudinem proelium poscentem in hunc
modum locutus fertur:
30. "Quotiens causas belli et necessitatem nostram
intueor, magnus mnihi animus est hodiernum diem con25 sensumque vestrum initium libertatis toti Britanniae
fore; nam et universi servitutis expertes, et nullae
ultra terrae, ac ne mare quidem securum imminente
nobis classe Romana. Ita proelium atque arma, quae




AGRICOLA.                      67
fortibus honesta, eadem etiam ignavis tutissima sunt.
Priores pugnae, quibus adversus Romanos varia fortuna certatum est, spem ac subsidium in nostris manibus habebant, quia nobilissimi totius Britanniae eoque
in ipsis penetralibus siti nec servientium litora aspi- 5
cientes, oculos quoque a contactu dominationis inviolatos habebamus. Nos terrarum ac libertatis extremos
recessus ipse ac sinus famae in hunc diem defendit:
nunc terminus Britanniae patet, atque omne ignotum
pro magnifico est. Sed nulla jam ultra gens, nihil 10
nisi fluctus et saxa, et infestiores Romani, quorum
superbiam frustra per obsequium ac modestiam effugeris. Raptores orbis, postquam cuncta vastantibus
defuere terrae, jam  et mare scrutantur; si locuples
hostis est, avari; si pauper, ambitiosi; quos non oriens, 15
non occidens satiaverit.  Soli onnium  opes atque
inopiam pari affectu concupiscunt. Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium, atque ubi
solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant."
31. "Liberos cuique ac propinquos suos natura 20
carissimos esse voluit: hi per delectus alibi servituri
auferuntur: conjuges sororesque etiam si hostilem
libidinem effugiant, nomine amicorum atque hospitum
polluuntur.  Bona fortunaeque in tributum, ager
atque annus in frumentum, corpora ipsa ac manus 25
silvis ac paludibus emuniendis inter verbera ac contumelias conteruntur. Nata servituti mancipia semel
veneunt, atque ultro a dominis aluntur: Britannia




68               CORNELII TACITI
servitutem  suam quotidie emit, quotidie pascit. Ac
sicut in familia recentissimus quisque servorum etiam
conservis ludibrio est, sic in hoc orbis terrarum vetere
famlulatu novi nos et viles in excidium  petimur;
5 neque enim arva nobis aut metalla aut portus sunt,
quibus exercendis reservemur. Virtus porro ac ferocia subjectorum ingrata imperantibus; et longinquitas
ac secretum  ipsum  quo tutius, eo suspectius. Ita
sublata spe veniae tandem  sumite animum, tam qui10 bus salus qualn quibus gloria carissima est. Brigantes
femina duce exurere coloniam, expugnare castra, ac
nisi felicitas in socordiam vertisset, exuere jugum
potuere: nos integri et indomiti et in libertatem, non
in poenitentiam  arcm laturi, primo statim  congressu
15 ostendamus, quos sibi Caledonia viros seposuerit."
32. "An eandem Romanis in bello virtutem quam
in pace lasciviam adesse creditis? Nostris illi dissensionibus ac discordiis clari vitia hostium in gloriam
exercitus sui vertunt; quem contractum ex diversissi20 mis gentibus ut secundae res tenent, ita adversae dissolvent: nisi si Gallos et Germanos et (pudet dictu)
Britannorum plerosque, licet dominationi alienae sanguinem commodent, diutius tamen hostes quam servos,
fide et affectu teneri putatis. Metus ac terror sunt
25 infirma vincla caritatis; quae ubi removeris, qui
timere desierint, odisse incipient.  Omnia victoriae
incitamenta pro nobis sunt: nullae Romanos conjuges
accendunt, nulli parentes fugam exprobraturi sunt;




AGRICOLA.                       69
aut nulla plerisque patria aut alia est. Paucos numero, locorum trepidos ignorantia, caelum ipsum ac
mare et silvas, ignota omnia circum spectantes, clausos
quodam modo ac vinctos di nobis tradiderunt. Ne
terreat vanus aspectus et auri fulgor atque argenti, 5
quod nec tegit nec vulnerat. In ipsa hostiumr acie
inveniemus nostras manus.  Agnoscent Britanni suam
causam, recordabuntur Galli prioreni libertatem; deserent illos ceteri Germani, tamn  quam nuper Usipi reliquerunt. Nec quicquam  ultra formidinis; vacua 10
castella, senum coloniae, inter male parentes et injuste
imperantes aegra municipia et discordantia.  Hic dux,
hic exercitus: ibi tributa et metalla et ceterae servientiumn poenae, quas in aeternum perferre aut statim
ulcisci in hoc campo est. Proinde ituri in aciemn et 15
majores vestros et posteros cogitate."
33. Excepere orationem alacres, ut barbaris mnoris,
cantu fremituque et clamoribus dissonis. Jamque
agmina et armorumr fulgores audentissimi cujusque
procursu; simul instruebatur acies, cum  Agricola 20
quamquamn laetum et vix munimentis coercitum militem accendendum  adhuc ratus, ita disseruit: "Octavus annus est, commilitones, ex quo virtute et auspiciis
imperii Romani, fide atque opera vestra Britanniamr
vicistis.  Tot expeditionibus, tot proeliis, seu fortitu- 25
dine adversus hostes, seu patientia ac labore paene
adversus ipsam rerum. naturam opus fuit, neque me
militum neque vos ducis poenituit. Ergo egressi, ego




70              CORNELII TACITI
veterum legatorum, vos priorurn exercituum terminos,
finemi Britanniae non fama nec rumore sed castris et
armis tenemus. Inventa Britannia et subacta. Equidem saepe in agmine, cum vos paludes montesve et
5 flumina fatigarent, fortissimi cujusque voces audiebam:' Quando dabitur hostis, quando acies?' Veniunt, e
latebris suis extrusi, et vota virtusque in aperto,
omniaque prona victoribus atque eadem victis adversa.
Nam  ut superasse tantum  itineris, silvas evasisse,
10 transisse aestuaria pulchrum ac decorum in frontem,
ita fugientibus periculosissima, quae hodie prosperrima
sunt. Neque enim nobis aut locorum eadem notitia
aut coIlmeatuum  eadem  abundantia, sed manus et
arma et in his omnia. Quod ad me attinet, jam pri15 dem mihi decreturn est neque exercitus neque ducis
terga tuta esse. Proinde et honesta mors turpi vita
potior, et incolumitas ac decus eodem loco sita sunt;
nec inglorium fuerit in ipso terrarum  ac naturae fine
cecidisse."
20   34. "Si novae gentes atque ignota acies constitisset,
aliorum  exercituum  exemplis vos hortarer: nunc
vestra decora recensete, vestros oculos interrogate.
Hi sunt quos proximo anno unam legionem furto
noctis aggressos clamore debellastis; hi ceterorum
25 Britannorum fugacissimi, ideoque tam diu superstites.
Quo modo silvas saltusque penetrantibus fortissimum
quodque animal contra ruere, pavida et inertia ipso
agminis sono pelluntur, sic acerrimi Britannorum jam




AG(RICOLA,                     71
pridem ceciderunt; reliquus est numerus ignavorum
et metuentium. Quos quod tandem invenistis, non
restiterunt, sed deprehensi sunt; novissimae res, et
extremo metu corpora defixere aciem in his vestigiis,
in quibus pulchram et spectabilem victoriam ederetis. 5
Transigite cum expeditionibus, imponite quinquaginta
annis magnum diem, approbate rei publicae numquam
exercitui imputari potuisse aut moras belli aut causas
rebellandi."
35. Et alloquente adhuc Agricola militum ardor 10
eminebat, et finem orationis ingens alacritas consecuta
est; statimque ad arma discursum. Instinctos ruentesque ita disposuit, ut peditum auxilia, quae octo
milium erant, mediam aciem firmarent, equitum tria
milia cornibus affunderentur. Legiones pro vallo 15
stetere, ingens victoriae decus, citra Romanum sanguinem bellanti, et auxilium, si pellerentur. Britannorum acies in speciem  simul ac terrorerm  editioribus
locis constiterat ita, ut primum agmen in aequo, ceteri
per acclive jugum connexi velut insurgerent; media 20
campi covinnarius eques strepitu ac discursu complebat. Tum Agricola superante hostium  multitudine
veritus, ne simul in frontem simul et latera suorum
pugnaretur, diductis ordinibus quamquam porrectior
acies futura erat et arcessendas plerique legiones ad- 25
monebant, promptior in spem et firmus adversis,
dimisso equo pedes ante vexilla constitit.
36. Ac primo congressu eminus certabatur; simul



72              CORNELII TACITI
que constantia, simul arte Britanni ingentibus gladiis
et brevibus cetris missilia nostrorurn vitare vel excutere, atque ipsi magnam vim telorum superfundere,
donee Agricola Batavorum cohortes ac Tungrorum
5 duas cohortatus est, ut rem  ad mucrones ac manus
adducerent; quod et ipsis vetustate militiae exercitaturn et hostibus inhabile, parva scuta et enormes gladios gerentibus.  Nam  Britannorum   gladii sine
mucrone complexum  armorum  et in arto pugnam
10 non tolerabant. Igitur ut Batavi miscere ictus, ferire
umbonibus, ora foedare, et stratis qui in aequo adstiterant, erigere in colles aciem  coepere, ceterae
cohortes aemulatione et impetu connisae proximos
quosque caedere; ac plerique semineces aut integri
15 festinatione victoriae relinquebantur. Interim equiturn turmae, ut fugere covinnarii, peditum se proelio
miscuere; et quamquam recentem terrorem intulerant,
densis tamen hostium agminibus et inaequalibus locis
haerebant; mininmeque aequa nostris jam pugnae facies
20 erat, cum aegre jam diu ante stantes simul equorum
corporibus impellerentur; ac saepe vagi currus, exterriti sine rectoribus equi, ut quemque formido tulerat, -transversos aut obvios incursabant.
37. Et Britanni, qui adhuc pugnae expertes summa
25 collium insederant et paucitatem nostrorum vacui
spernebant, degredi paulatim et circumire terga vincentium coeperant, ni id ipsum veritus Agricola
quattuor equitum alas, ad subita belli retentas, veni



AGRICOLA.                        73
entibus opposuisset, quantoque ferocius accucurrerant, tanto acrius pulsos in fugam disjecisset. Ita consilium Britannorum in ipsos versum; transvectaeque
praecepto ducis a fronte pugnantium alae aversam
hostium  aciem invasere. Tum vero patentibus locis 5
grande et atrox spectaculum: sequi, vulnerare, capere,
atque eosdem oblatis alliis trucidare. Jam hostium,
prout cuique ingenium  erat, catervae armatorum
paucioribus terga praestare, quidam  inermes ultro
ruere ac se morti offerre. Passim arma et corpora et 10
laceri artus et cruenta humus; et aliquando etiam
victis ira virtusque. Postquam silvis appropinquaverunt, collecti primos sequentium, incautos et locorum
ignaros, circumveniebant.  Quod ni frequens ubique
Agricola validas et expeditas cohortes indaginis modo, 15
et sicubi artiora erant, partem equitum dimissis equis,
simul rariores silvas equitem persultare jussisset, accepturn aliquod vulnus per nimiam  fiduciam foret.
Ceterum ubi compositos firmis ordinibus sequi rursus
videre, in fugam  versi, non agminibus ut prius, nec 20
alius alium  respectantes, rari et vitabundi in vicein
longinqua atque avia petiere.  Finis sequendi nox et
satietas fuit. Caesa hostium ad decem milia: nostrorum trecenti sexaginta cecidere; in quis Aulus Atticus
praefectus cohortis, juvenili ardore et ferocia equi hosti- 25
bus illatus.
38. Et nox quidem gaudio praedaque laeta victoribus; Britanni palantes mixtoque virorum mulierumG




74              CORNELII TACITI
que ploratu trahere vulneratos, vocare integros, deserere domos ac per iram ultro incendere, eligere latebras et statim relinquere; miscere in vicem consilia
aliqua, deinde separare; aliquando frangi aspectu
5 pignorum suorum, saepius concitari; satisque constabat saevisse quosdam in conjuges ac liberos, tamquam
misererentur. Proximus dies faciem victoriae latius
aperuit: vastum ubique silentium, deserti colles,
fumantia procul tecta, nemo exploratoribus obvius;
10 quibus in omnem partem dimissis, ubi incerta fugae
vestigia neque usquam conglobari hostes compertum,
et exacta jam aestate spargi bellum nequibat, in fines
Borestorum exercitum deducit. Ibi acceptis obsidibus, praefecto classis circumvehi Britanniam praecipit.
15 Datae ad id vires, et praecesserat terror. Ipse peditemn
atque equites lento itinere, quo novarum  gentium
animi ipsa transitus mora terrerentur, in hibernis
locavit.  Et simul classis secunda tempestate ac fama
Trutulensem portum tenuit, unde proximo Britanniae
20 latere lecto omni redierat.
39. Hunc rerum  cursum, quamquam nulla verborum jactantia epistolis Agricolae auctum, ut Domitiano moris erat, fronte laetus, pectore anxius excepit.
Inerat conscientia derisui fuisse nuper falsum e Ger25 mania triumphum, emptis per commercia, quorum
habitus et crines in captivorum speciem formarentur;
at nunc veram  magnamque victoriam  tot milibus
hostium caesis ingenti fama celebrari. Id sibi maxime




AGRICOLA.                       75
formidolosum, privati hominis nomen supra principis
attolli: frustra studia fori et civilium artium decus in
silentium acta, si militarem gloriam alius occuparet;
cetera utcumque facilius dissimulari, ducis boni imperatoriam virtutem esse. Talibus curis exercitus, quod- 5
que saevae cogitationis indicium  erat, secreto suo
satiatus, optimum in praesentia statuit reponere odium,
donec impetus famae et favor exercitus languesceret;
nam etiam turn Agricola Britanniam obtinebat.
40. Igitur triumphalia ornamenta et illustris statuae 10
honorem, et quidquid pro triumpho datur, multo verborum honore cumulata, decerni in senatu jubet addique insuper opinionem, Syriam provinciam Agricolae
destinari, vacuam tum morte Atilii Rufi consularis et
majoribus reservatam.  Credidere plerique libertum 15
ex secretioribus ministeriis missum ad Agricolam codicillos, quibus ei Syria dabatur, tulisse, cum praecepto
ut, si in Britannia foret, traderentur; eumque libertum
in ipso freto oceani obvium Agricolae, ne appellato
quidema eo ad Domitianum remeasse; sive verum istud, 20
sive ex ingenio principis fictum  ac compositum est.
Tradiderat interim Agricola successori suo provinciam
quietarn tutamque. Ac ne notabilis celebritate et frequentia occurrentium introitus esset, vitato amicorum
officio noctu in palatium, ita ut praeceptum erat, venit; 25
exceptusque brevi osculo et nullo sermone turbae servientium immixtus est. Ceterum uti militare nomen,
grave inter otiosos, aliis virtutibus temperaret, tran



76              CORNELII TACITI
quillitatem atque otium penitus hausit, cultu modicus,
sermone facilis, uno aut altero amicorum  comitatus,
adeo uti plerique, quibus magnos viros per ambitionem aestimare mos est, viso aspectoque Agricola quae5 rerent famam, pauci interpretarentur.
41. Crebro per eos dies apud Domitianum absens
accusatus, absens absolutus est. Causa periculi non
crimen ullum aut querela laesi cujusquam, sed infensus
virtutibus princeps et gloria viri ac pessimum inimi10 corumn genus, laudantes. Et ea insecuta sunt rei
publicae tempora, quae sileri Agricolam non sinerent:
tot exercitus in Moesia Daciaque et Germania et Pannonia temeritate aut per ignaviam ducum amissi, tot
militares viri cum tot cohortibus expugnati et capti;
15 nec jam de limite imperii et ripa, sed de hibernis
legionum et possessione dubitatum. Ita cum damna
damnis continuarentur atque omnis annus funeribus
et cladibus insigniretur, poscebatur ore vulgi dux
Agricola, comparantibus cunctis vigorem et constan20 tiarm et expertum bellis animum cum inertia et formidine ceterorum.  Quibus sermonibus satis constat
Domitiani quoque aures verberatas, dum optimus
quisque libertorum  amore et fide, pessimi malignitate
et livore pronum deterioribus principem exstiinula25 bant. Sic Agricola sitnul suis virtutibus, simul vitiis
aliorum in ipsam gloriam praeceps agebatur.
42. Aderat jam annus, quo proconsulatuml Asiae et
Africae sortiretur; et occiso Civica nuper nec Agric



AGRICOLA.                       77
olae consilium  deerat nec Domitiano  exemplum.
Accessere quidam cogitationum principis periti, qui,
iturusne esset in provinciam, ultro Agricolam interrogarent. Ac primo occultius quietem et otium laudare,
mox operam suam in approbanda excusatione offerre, 5
postremo non jam obscuri suadentes simul terrentesque
pertraxere ad Domitianum.  Qui paratus simulatione,
in arrogantialn compositus, et audiit preces excusantis
et, cum annuisset, agi sibi gratias passus est, nec erubuit beneficii invidia.  Salarium tamen proconsulari 10
solitum offerri et quibusdam a se ipso concessum Agricolae non dedit, sive offensus non petitum, sive ex conscientia, ne quod vetuerat videretur emisse. Proprium
humani ingenii est odisse quem laeseris: Domitiani
vero natura, praeceps in iram, et quo obscurior, eo 15
irrevocabilior, moderatione tamen prudentiaque Agricolae leniebatur, quia non contumacia neque inani
jactatione libertatis famam  fatumque provocabat.
Sciant, quibus moris est illicita mirari, posse etiam sub
malis principibus magnos viros esse, obsequiumque ac 20
modestiam, si industria ac vigor adsint, eo laudis excedere, quo plerique per abrupta, sed in nullum rei
publicae usum, anibitiosa morte inclaruerunt.
43. Finis vitae ejus nobis luctuosus, amicis tristis,
extraneis etiam ignotisque non sine cura fuit. Vulgus 25
quoque et hic aliud agens populus et ventitavere ad
domurn et per fora et circulos locuti sunt; nec quisquam audita morte Agricolae aut laetatus aut statim
G2




78              CORNELII TACITI
oblitus est. Augebat miserationem  constans rumor
veneno interceptum: nobis nihil comperti affirmare
ausim. Ceterum per omnem valetudinem ejus crebrius quam ex more principatus, per nuntios visentis,
5 et libertorum primi et medicorum intimi venere, sive
cura illud sive inquisitio erat. Supremo quidem die
momenta ipsa deficientis per dispositos cursores nuntiata constabat, nullo credente sic accelerari, quae
tristis audiret. Speciem tamen doloris animo vultu10 que prae se tulit, securus jam odii, et qui facilius dissimularet gaudium  quam  metum. Satis constabat,
lecto testainento Agricolae, quo coheredem  optimae
uxori et piissimnae filiae Domitianum scripsit, laetatum
eum velut honore judicioque. Tam caeca et corrupta
15 mens assiduis adulationibus erat, ut nesciret a bono
patre non scribi heredem nisi malum principem.
44. Natus erat Agricola Caio Caesare tertium consule idibus Juniis: excessit sexto et quinquagesimo
anno, decimo kalendas Septembres Collega Priscoque
20 consulibus. Quod si habitum quoque ejus posteri
noscere velint, decentior quam sublimior fuit; nihil
metus in vultu: gratia oris supererat. Bonum virum
facile crederes, magnum libenter. Et ipse quidem,
quamquam medio in spatio integrae aetatis ereptus,
25 quantum  ad gloriam, longissimum  aevum  peregit.
Quippe et vera bona, quae in virtutibus sita sunt,
impleverat, et consulari ac triumphalibus ornamentis
praedito quid aliud adstruere fortuna poterat? Opi



AGRICOLA.                       79
bus nimiis non gaudebat; speciosae contigerant. Filia
atque uxore superstitibus potest videri etiam beatus
incolumi dignitate, florente fama, salvis affinitatibus et
amicitiis futura effugisse. Nam sicut magnae cujusdam felicitatis esset durare in hac beatissimi saeculi 5
luce ac principem Trajanum videre, quod augurio
votisque apud nostras aures ominabatur, ita festinatae
mortis grande solatium tulit evasisse postremum illud
tempus, quo Domitianus non jam per intervalla ac
spiramenta temporum, sed continuo et velut uno ictu 10
rem publicanm exhausit.
45. Non vidit Agricola obsessam curiam et clausum
armis senatum et eadem strage tot consularium caedes,
tot Nobilissimarum feminarum  exsilia et fugas.  Una
adhuc victoria Carus Metius censebatur, et intra Alba- 15
nam  arcein sententia Messalini strepebat, et Massa
Baebius jam tum reus erat: mox nostrae duxere Helvidiuin in carcerem manus; nos Maurici Rusticique
visus, nos innocenti sanguine Sene-io perfudit.  Nero
tamen subtraxit oculos suos jussitque scelera, non spec- 20
tavit; praecipua sub Domitiano miseriarum pars erat
videre et aspici, cum suspiria nostra subseriberentur,
cum denotandis tot hominum palloribus sufficeret
saevus ille vultus et rubor, quo se contra pudorem
muniebat.                                          25
Tu vero felix, Agricola, non vitae tantum claritate
sed etiam  opportunitate mortis.  Ut perhibent qui
interfuerunt novissimis sermonibus tuis, constans et




80              CORNELII TACITI
libens fatum excepisti, tamquam  pro virili portione
innocentiam  principi donares.  Sed mihi filiaeque
ejus praeter acerbitatem parentis erepti auget maestitiam, quod assidere valetudini, fovere deficientem,
5 satiari vultu complexuque non contigit. Excepissemus certe mandata vocesque, quas penitus animo
figeremus. Noster hic dolor, nostrum vulnus, nobis
tam longae absentiae condicione ante quadriennium
amnissus est. Omnia sine dubio, optime parentum,
10 assidente amantissima uxore, superfuere honori tuo;
paucioribus tamen lacrimis comploratus es, et novissima in luce desideravere aliquid oculi tui.
46. Si quis piorum manibus locus, si, ut sapientibus
placet, non cum corpore exstinguuntur magnae ani15 mae, placide quiescas, nosque, domum tuam, ab infirmo
desiderio et muliebribus lamentis ad contemplationem
virtutum  tuarum  voces, quas nec lugeri nec plangi
fas est. Admiratione te potius et immortalibus laudibus et, si natura suppeditet, imitando colamus: is
20 verus honos, ea conjunctissimi cujusque pietas. Id
filiae quoque uxorique praeceperim, sic patris, sic
mariti memoriam venerari, ut omnia facta dictaque
ejus secum revolvant, formamque ac figuram animi
magis quam corporis complectantur, non quia inter25 cedendum putem imaginibus quae marmore aut aere
finguntur, sed, ut vultus hominurn, ita simulacra
vultus imbecilla ac mortalia sunt, forma  mentis
aeterna, quam tenere et exprimere non per alienam




AGRICOLA.                      81
materiam et artem, sed tuis ipse moribus possis.
Quidquid ex Agricola amavimus, quidquid mirati
sumus, manet mansurumque est in animis hoininum,
in aeternitate temporum, fama rerum; nam multos
veterum velut inglorios et ignobiles oblivio obruet: 5
Agricola posteritati narratus et traditus superstes
erit.
6- Tac.




CORNELII TACITI
DIALOGUS
DE  O R A T O R I B U S.
B REVIARIU M.
CAP. 1. Postquam Justus Fabius saepe ex auctore dialogi
requisiverat, cur non amplius vigeat eloquentiae studium,
hic non suam proferre sententiam statuit, sed repetere sermonem hominum  disertissimorum, quos eandem quaestionem pertractantes admodum juvenis audivisset. 2, 3.
Hi sunt Curiatius Maternus, ex oratore poeta, M. Aper et
Julius Secundus, celeberrima tum fori ingenia, qui mirantur, quod Maternus fastiditis orationum causarumque
studiis omne nunc tempus circa tragoedias consunmat, quarum tanmen recitatione offendisse potentium animos dicatur. 4. Hic poesin a se nunc coli profitetur, quia sanctior
haec et augustior sit eloquentia.
5-8. Hine oritur disceptatio, utrurn praestantior sit a.rs
oratoria an poetica. Aper magnis laudibus praedicat oratoriae artis utilitatem, voluptatemn, dignitatem, ac provocat
ad exempla Marcelli Eprii et Crispi Vibii. 9, 10. Poetarum
contra nullam esse dignitatem dicit et utilitatem; voluptatem vero brevem, laudem  inanemn, infructuosam multisque recitationum molestiis ac sumptibus partamn. Iis
in solitudinem secedendum, si modo dignum aliquid elaborare velint, et mediocres nemini notos, bonos paucis;
studium denique illorum non minus obnoxium offensae
82




TACITI DIALOGUS DE ORATORIBUS. 83
quam oratorum. Itaque Materno, ad altiorem eloquentiam et summa nato, non subsistendum esse in levioribus,
sed ab auditoriis et theatris in forum et ad causas veraque
proelia redeundum.
11-13. Quae curn Aper dixisset acrius et intento ore,
remissus et subridens respondet Maternus; poeticae studio
majorem parari securitatem et gloriarm, quam forensi labore
et strepitu litigantium aut comitatuum  salutationumque
frequentia; puriorem vero voluptatem  securo et secreto
secessu in nernora et lucos, quam lucrosa et sanguinante
in foro eloquentia, quae non, ut poesis, aureo, sed ferreo
saeculo et propter malos hominum mores in locum teli
reperta sit. Dulcem  esse poetarum  vitam  et curarum
expertem, anxiam vero oratorum, qui semper vel timeant
vel timeantur.
14. Colloquio supervenit Vipstanus Messala, admirator
veterum ternporum oratorumque, recentiorum contemptor. 15-17. Hinc Aper, saeculi sui novorumque rhetorum
patronus, accuratius definiendum censet, quinam oratores
vocandi sint antiqui: utrum Ulixes tanturn et Nestor et
Menenius Agrippa, an et jam Demosthenes et Hyperides,
inter quorum et hoc aevum non multo plures quamn CCCC
anni intersint, aut Cicero, Caesar, Caelius, Calvus, Brutus,
Asinius et Messala, qui vix unius hominis aetate sint priores. 18. Formas autem et genera dicendi cum temporibus ac diversitate auriumn mutari monet, et vitio malignitatis humanae semper laudari vetera, praesentia fastidiri.
19, 20. Cassium Severum a multis velut terminum antiquitatis constitui primumque flexisse ab illa vetere atque
directa dicendi via, non infirmitate ingenii nec inscitia
litterarum, sed judicio et intellectu. Olim in honore fuisse
longa principia et narrationes, divisionum argumentorumque multorum ostentationem et philosophica orationi~inserta; nunc ab oratore laetitiam  et pulchritudinem orationis poeticumque decorem exigi. 21, 22. In orationibus
Calvi quoque, Caelii, Caesaris, Asinii, Corvini ipsiusque
Ciceronis multa deprehendi antiquitatis vitia, sordes ver



84             TACITI DIALOGIUS
borum, hiantem compositioneml et sensus inconditos, quae
tanuen sola nirentur perversi imitatores. 23. Iniquos igitur
judices esse, qui antiqua tantum  efferant laudibus rhetorumque recentiorum cornmentarios fastidiant. Postremo
Messalae et Materni et Secundi virtutes praedicat eosque
ad illustranduni saeculum  sulum  pulcherriino dicendi
genere exhortatur, cum videat eos, quae vera sit eloquentiae ars, laetissima quaeque antiquorum imnitari ac gravitati sensuum nitorem cultumque verborum mniscere.
24. Turn Maternus admonet Messalam ut, missa antiquorum laudatione, qui ea non indigeant, memor potius
promissi causas expromat, cur in tanturn ab eloquentia
eorum recesserit aetas recentior. 25. Hic primum docet,
quinam  antiqui sint appellandi; plures etiam  dicendi
formas isdem sa.eculis fuisse et singulares Calvi, Asinii
aliorumque virtutes: quod vero se invicem obtrectaverint,
non esse oratorum vitiumn, sed hominum: 26, gravitatem
denique et cultum oratorium imnpetumque veterum longe
praeferendum esse verborurn lasciviae, levitati sententiarum et conlpositionis licentiae, in quibus sibi placeant
recentiores.
27-29. Materno iterum rogante Messala transit ad explicandas causas corruptae eloquentiae, primas vero et praecipuas putat desidiam juventutis et negligentiam parentum
et inscientiam praecipientium et moris antiqui oblivionem.
Liberos enim non jam educari in gremio ac sinu castae
matris aut a propinqua majore natu, sed Graeculae ancillae
delegari et servis, a quibus teneri eorum  aninli fabulis,
erroribus vitiisque imbuantur. 30-33. Eorundem ingenium
non, ut quondam, severa disciplina et infinito labore et
quotidiana meditatione et in omni genere studiorum
exercitationibus formari atque subigij.sed in pueritia et
juventute nihil disci, quod usum habeat. Hine antiquam
eloquentiam ex omnium rerum scientia pluribusque artibus exundasse et oratorem potuisse de omni quaestione
pulchre et ornate et varie et ad persuadendum apte dicere;
horumn vero temporum disertos, aridis rhetorum praeceptis




DE   ORATORISUS.                    85
artificiilsque sordidissirnis contentos, grammatices, legurn
et philosophiae ignaros esse.
34, 35. {Materno deinde hortante Messala progreditur ad
aliam corruptae eloquentiae causam, ad eximiam antiquoruml oratorum et perversain recentiorum  exercitationem.
Juvenes dicit, imbutos jam domestica disciplina, honestis
studiis refertos ac bene praeparatos, a patre olim vel propinquis fuisse deductos ad principes oratorum, quos sectati
in judiciis, foro contionibusque pugnare in ipsa veluti
arena et acie didicissent; at nune educatione depravatos,
inscios ac torpentes transire in rhetorum scholas, in quibus
duo materiarum genera, suasoriae et controversiae, tractentur, nec facile dixeris, utrumne locus ipse an genus
studiorum an condiscipuli plus mali ingeniis afferant.
Hic Messalae sermo mutilus est: eum statim  excepisse
videtur sermo Materni, internis corruptae eloquentiae
causis externas adnectentis has:
36, 37. (1) Uberiorein ad dicendum materiam fuisse oratoribus antiquis, splendorem  rerum  et' magnitudinem
causarum, leges rogandas et populare nomen, contiones
magistratuum, accusationes potentiurm reorum et assignatas etiam domibus inimicitias, procerum factiones et assidua senatus adversus plebem  certamina,  (2) Majora
isdem  praemia fuisse proposita, faciliores ad summos
honores aditus eloquentia patefaciendos, plus apud principes et magistratus provinciales gratiae, apud patres
auctoritatis, apud plebem notitiae ac nominis, clientelas
exterarum nationum, praeturas et consulatus. 3840. (3)
Formam et consuetudinem veterum judiciorum oratoribus
favisse, causas in foro, non in auditoriis tabulariisve explicatas, liberum et dicendi et cormperendinandi tempus, clamorem et plausum et studia certantis populi, reos concursu
totius civitatis et accusatos et defensos, contiones assiduas
et datum jus potentissimum  quemque vexandi. 40, 41.
Neque tamen propterea ]audandam censet Maternus valentiorem eloquentiam, quod licentiae, quam stulti libertatem
vocent, alumna sit et comes seditionurn et effrenati populi
H




86             TACITI DIALOGUS
incitamentum. Earn quidem vigere dicit in civitatibus,
quae discordiis et partibus se ipsae conficiant, sed in quietis
ac bene constitutis non opus esse tali eloquentia longisve
in senatu sententiis et multis apud populum contionibus:
multo minus in re publica, in qua non imperiti et multi
deliberent, sed sapientissimus et unus. Melius esse non
queri quam vindicari, et si inveniretur aliqua civitas, in
qua nemo peccet, supervacaneum fore inter innocentes et
mores bonos et in obsequium regentis paratos oratorem
sicut inter sanos medicum. Itaque non dolendum, quod
minor nunc oratorum obscuriorque gloria sit, sed utendum
potius bonis sui cuique saeculi citra obtrectationem alterius.
42. Dissolvitur colloquium. (Habituml fingitur anno u.
828, p. Ch. 75.)
1. SAEPE ex me requiris, Juste Fabi, cur, cum
priora saecula tot eminentium oratorum ingeniis gloriaque floruerint, nostra potissimum aetas deserta et
laude eloquentiae orbata vix nomen ipsum  oratoris
5 retineat; neque enim ita appellamus nisi antiquos:
horum autem temporum diserti causidici et advocati
et patroni et quidvis potius quam oratores vocantur.
Cui percontationi tuae respondere et tam  magnae
quaestionis pondus excipere, ut aut de ingeniis nostris
10 male existimandum sit, Si idem adsequi non poss1umus,
aut de judieiis, si nolumus, vix hercule auderem, si
mihi mea sententia proferenda ac non disertissimorum,
ut nostris temporibus, hominum  sermo repetendus
esset, quos eandem hane quaestionem pertractantes




DE ORATORIBUS.                  87
juvenis admodum audivi. Ita non ingenio sed memoria et recordatione opus est, ut quae a praestantissimis viris et excogitata subtiliter et dicta graviter
accepi, cum singuli diversas, vel easdem, sed probabiles causas adferrent, dum formam sui quisque et 5
animi et ingenii redderent, isdem nunc numeris isdemque rationibus persequar, servato ordine disputationis.
Neque enim defuit qui diversam quoque partem susciperet, ac multum vexata et irrisa vetustate nostrorum
temporum eloquentiam antiquorum ingeniis anteferret. 10
2. Nam postero die quam Curiatius Maternus Catonem recitaverat, cum offendisse potentium animos
diceretur, tamquam in eo tragoediae argumento sui
oblitus tantum Catonem cogitasset, eaque de re per
urbem fiequens sermo haberetur, venerunt ad eurn 15
Marcus Aper et Julius Secundus, celeberrima tum
ingenia fori nostri, quos ego in judiciis non utrosque
modo studiose audiebam, sed domi quoque et in publico
adsectabar mira studiorum cupiditate et quodam ardore juvenili, ut fabulas quoque eorum et disputationes 20
et arcana semotae dictionis penitus exciperem, quam
vis maligne plerique opinarentur, nec Secundo promptum  esse sermonem et Aprum  ingenio potius et vi
naturae quam institutione et litteris famam eloquentiae
consecutum. Nam et Secundo purus et pressus et, in 25
quantum satis erat, profluens sermo non defuit, et
Aper omni eruditione imbutus contemnebat potius
litteras quam nesciebat, tamquam majorem industriae




88             TACITI DIALOGUS
et laboris gloriam habiturus, si ingeniumrn ejus nullis
alienaruin artium adminiculis inniti videretur.
3. Igitur ut intravimus cubiculum Materni, sedentem ipsumque quem pridie recitaverat librum intra
5 manus habentein deprehendimus.
Tum  Secundus,' Nihilne te,' inquit,'Materne,
fabulae malignorum terrent, quo minus offensas Catonis tui ames? An ideo librum istum apprehendisti,
ut diligentius retractares, et sublatis si qua pravae
10 interpretationi materiam dederunt, emitteres Catonem.
non quidem meliorem. sed tamen securiorem?'
Turn ille,'Leges,' inquit,'quid Maternus sibi debuerit, et agnosces quae audisti. Quod si qua omisit
Cato, sequenti recitatione Thyestes dicet; hane enim
15 tragoediam disposui jam et intra me ipse formavi.
Atque ideo maturare libri hujus editionem festino,
ut dimissa priore cura novae cogitationi toto pectore
incumbam.''Adeo te tragoediae istae non satiant,' inquit Aper,
20'quo minus omissis orationuIn et causarum studiis
omne tempus modo circa Medeam, ecce nunc circa
Thyestem consumas, cum te tot amicorum causae, tot
coloniarum et municipiorum clientelae in forum
vocent, quibus vix suffeceris, etiam si non novum tibi
25 ipse negotium importasses, Domitium et Catonem, id
est, nostras quoque historias et Romana nomina Graecorum fabulis aggregares.'
4. Et Maternus:' Perturbarer hac tua severitate,




DE ORATORIBUS.                    89
nisi frequens et assidua nobis contentio jam  prope in
consuetudinemn vertisset. Namn nec tu agitare et insequi poetas intermittis, et ego, cui desidiam advocationum objicis, quotidianum hoc patrocinium  defendendae adversus te poeticae exerceo. Quo laetor 5
magis oblatum nobis judicem, qui me vel in futurum
vetet versus facere, vel, quod jam  pridem opto, sua
quoque auctoritate compellat, ut omissis forensium
causarum  angustiis, in quibus mihi satis superque
sudatum est, sanctiorem illam et augustiorem eloquen- 10
tiam colam.'
5.'Ego vero,' inquit Secundus,'antequam  me
judicem Aper recuset, faciam quod probi et moderati
judices solent, ut in iis cognitionibus se excusent, in
quibus manifestum est, alteram apud eos partem gratia 15
praevalere. Quis enim nescit neminem mihi conjunctiorem esse et usu amicitiae et assiduitate contubernii
quam Saleium Bassum, cum optimum virum tum absolutissimum poetam? Porro si poetica accusatur, non
alium video reum locupletiorem.'                  20'Securus sit,' inquit Aper,'et Saleius Bassus et
quisquis alius studium poeticae et carminum gloriam
fovet, cum causas agere non possit. Ego enim, quatenus arbitrum litis hujus inveni, non patiar Maternum
societate plurium defendi, sed ipsum solum apud te 25
coarguam, quod natus ad eloquentiam virilem et oratoriam, qua parere simul et tueri amicitias, adsciscere
necessitudines, complecti provincias possit, omittit stu1 2




90            TACITI DIALOGUS
dium, quo non aliud in civitate nostra vel ad utilitatem fructuosius vel ad dignitatem amplius vel ad
urbis famam pulchrius vel ad totius imperii atque
omniumr gentium notitiam illustrius excogitari potest.
5 Nam si ad utilitatem vitae omnia consilia factaque
nostra dirigenda sunt, quid est utilius quam eam
exercere artem, qua semper armatus praesidium
amicis, opem alienis, salutem periclitantibus, invidis
vero et inimicis metum et terrorem ultro feras, ipse
10 securus et quadamr velut perpetua potentia ac potestate munitus? Cujus vis et utilitas, rebus prospere
fluentibus, aliorum perfugio et tutela intelligitur: sin
proprium periculum increpuit, non hercule lorica et
gladius in acie firmius munimentum quam  reo et
15 periclitanti eloquentia, praesidium simul ac teluin,
quo propugnare pariter et incessere vel in judicio
sive in senatu sive apud principem possis. Quid
aliud infestis patribus nuper Eprius Marcellus quam
eloquentiaml suam opposuit? Qua accinctus et minax
20 disertam  quidem, sed inexercitatam  et ejus modi
certaminum rudem Helvidii sapientiam elusit. Plura
de utilitate non dico, cui parti minime contradicturum
Maternum meum arbitror.
6. Ad voluptatem oratoriae eloquentiae transeo,
25 cujus jucunditas non uno aliquo momento sed omnibus prope diebus ac prope omnibus horis contingit.
Quid enim dulcius libero et ingenuo animo et ad
voluptates honestas nato quam videre plenam semper




DE ORATORIBUS.                  91
et frequentem domum suam concursu splendidissimorum hominum? Idque scire non pecuniae, non orbitati, non officii alicujus administrationi, sed sibi ipsi
dari? Ipsos quin immo orbos et locupletes et potentes
venire plerumque ad juvenem et pauperem, ut aut 5
sua aut amicorum discrimina commendent. Ullane
tanta ingentium opum ac magnae potentiae voluptas
quam spectare homines veteres et senes et totius orbis
gratia subnixos in summa rerum omnium abundantia
confitentes, id quod optimum sit se non habere? Jam 10
vero qui togatorum  cornitatus et egressus! quae in
publico species! quae in judiciis veneratio! quod
gaudium consurgendi adsistendique inter tacentes et
in unum  conversos! coire populum  et circumfundi
coronam et accipere adfectum quemcumque orator 15
induerit! vulgata dicentium gaudia et imperitorum
quoque oculis exposita percenseo: illa secretiora et
tantum ipsis orantibus nota majora sunt. Sive accuratam meditatamque profert orationem, est quoddam
sicut ipsius dictionis, ita gaudii pondus et constantia; 20
sive novam et recentem curam non sine aliqua trepidatione animi attulerit, ipsa sollicitudo commendat
eventum et lenocinatur voluptati. Sed extemporalis
audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua jucunditas est; nam in ingenio quoque, sicut in agro, quam- 25
quam alia diu serantur atque elaborentur, gratiora
tamen quae sua sponte nascuntur.
7. Equidem, ut de me ipse fatear, non eum diem




92             TACITI DIALOGUS
laetiorem egi, quo mihi latus clavus oblatus est, vel
quo homo novus et in civitate minime favorabili
natus quaesturam  aut tribunatum  aut praeturam
accepi, quam eos, quibus mihi, pro mediocritate hujus
5 quantulaecuinque in dicendo facultatis, aut reum
prospere defendere aut apud centumviros causam
aliquam feliciter orare aut apud principem  ipsos illos
libertos et procuratores principum tueri et defendere
datur. Tum mihi supra tribunatus et praeturas et
10 consulatus ascendere videor, tum habere quod, si non
in animo oritur, nec codicillis datur nec curl gratia
venit. Quid? fama et laus cujus artis cum oratorum
gloria comparanda est?  Qui tam illustres in urbe
non solum apud negotiosos et rebus intentos, sed etiam
15 apud vacuos et adolescentes, quibus modo recta indoles est et bona spes sui?  Quorum nomina prius
parentes liberis suis ingerunt?  Quos saepius vulgus
quoque imperitum et tunicatus hic populus transeuntes
nomine vocat et digito deronstrat? Advenae quoque
20 et peregrini jam in municipiis et coloniis suis auditos,
cum primum urbem attigerunt, requirunt ac velut
agnoscere concupiscunt.
8. Ausim contendere Marcellum hunc Eprium, de
quo modo locutus sum, et Crispuna Vibium (libentius
25 enim novis et recentibus quam remotis et obliteratis
exemplis utor) non minus notos esse in extremis partibus terrarurn quam Capuae aut Vercellis, ubi nati
dicuntur. Nec hoc illi alterive ter milies sestertium




DE ORATORIBUS.                   93
praestat, quamquam ad has ipsas opes possunt videri
eloquentiae beneficio venisse, sed ipsa eloquentia;
cujus numen et caelestis vis multa quidem omnibus
saeculis exempla edidit, ad quam  usque fortunam
homines ingenii viribus pervenerint, sed haec, ut supra 5
dixi, proxima et quae non auditu cognoscenda, sed
oculis spectanda habemus. Nam quo sordidius et
abjectius nati sunt, quoque notabilior paupertas et
angustiae rerum  nascentes eos circumsteterunt, eo
clariora et ad demonstrandam oratoriae eloquentiae 10
utilitatem illustriora exempla sunt, quod sine commendatione natalium, sine substantia facultatum,
neuter moribus egregius, alter habitu quoque corporis
contemptus, per multos jam annos potentissimi sunt
civitatis ac, donec libuit, principes fori, nunc principes 15
in Caesaris amicitia agunt feruntque cuncta atque ab
ipso principe cum quadam reverentia diliguntur, quia
Vespasianus, venerabilis senex et patientissimus veri,
bene intelligit ceteros quidem amicos suos iis niti, quae
ab ipso acceperint quaeque ipsi accumulare et in alios 20
congerere promptum sit, Marcellum autem et Crispum
attulisse ad amicitiam suam quod non a principe acceperint nec accipi possit. Minimum inter tot ac
tanta locum obtinent imagines ac tituli et statuae,
quae neque ipsa tamen negliguntur, tam hercule quam 25
divitiae et opes, quas facilius invenies qui vituperet
quam qui fastidiat. His igitur et honoribus et ornamentis et facultatibus refertas domos eorum videmus,




94            TACITI DIALOGUS
qui se ab ineunte adolescentia causis forensibus et
oratorio studio dederunt.
9. Nam  carmina et versus, quibus totam vitam
Maternus insumere optat (inde enim omnis fluxit
5 oratio), neque dignitatem ullam auctoribus suis conciliant neque utilitates alunt; voluptatem autem
brevem, laudem inanem et infructuosam consequuntur. Licet haec ipsa et quae deinceps dicturus sum
aures tuae, Materne, respuant, cui bono est, si apud
10 te Agamemnon aut Jason diserte loquitur? Quis
ideo domum defensus et tibi obligatus redit?  Quis
Saleium nostrum, egregium poetam vel, si hoc honorificentius est, praeclarissimum vatem, deducit aut
salutat aut prosequitur? Nempe, si amicus ejus, si
15 propinquus, si denique ipse in aliquod negotium inciderit, ad hune Secundum recurret aut ad te, Materne, non quia poeta es, neque ut pro eo versus facias;
hi enim Basso domi nascuntur, pulchri quidem et
jucundi, quorum tamen hic exitus est, ut cum toto
20 anno, per omnes dies, magna noctium parte unum
librum excudit et elucubravit, rogare ultro et amnbire
cogatur, ut sint qui dignentur audire, et ne id quidem
gratis; nam et domum mutuatur et auditorium exstruit et subsellia conducit et libellos dispergit; et ut
25 beatissimus recitationem ejus eventus prosequatur,
omnis illa laus intra unum aut alterum diem, velut
in herba vel flore praecepta, ad nullam certam et
solidam  pervenit frugem, nec aut amicitiam  inde




DE ORATORIBUS.                    95
refert aut clientelam aut mansurum in animo cujusquam beneficium, sed clamorern vagum et voces inanes
et gaudium volucre. Laudavimus nuper ut miram et
eximiam  Vespasiani liberalitatem, quod quingenta
sestertia Basso donasset. Pulchrumn id quidem, in- 5
dulgentiam principis ingenio mereri: quanto tamen
pulchrius, si ita res familiaris exigat, se ipsum colere,
suum  geniurn propitiare, suam experiri liberalitatem?
Adjice quod poetis, si modo dignum aliquid elaborare
et efficere velint, relinquenda conversatio amicorum et 10
jucunditas urbis, deserenda cetera officia et, ut ipsi
dicunt, in nemlora et lucos, id est, in solitudinem secedendum est.
10. Ne opinio quidem et fama, cui soli serviunt et
quod unum  esse pretium laboris sui fatentur, aeque 15
poetas quam oratores sequitur, quoniam mediocres
poetas nemo novit, bonos pauci. Quando enim rarissimarum recitationum fama in totam urbem penetrat?
nedum ut per tot provincias innotescat. Quotus quisque, cum ex Hispania vel Asia, ne quid de Gallis 20
nostris loquar, in urbem venit, Saleium Bassum requirit?  Atque adeo si quis requirit, ut semel vidit,
transit et contentus est, ut si picturam aliquam vel
statuamn vidisset. Neque hunc meum sermonem sic
accipi volo, tamquam eos, quibus natura sua oratorium 25
ingenium denegavit, deterreamr a carminibus, si modo
in hac studiorumn parte oblectare otium et nomen inserere possunt famae.  Ego vero omnem eloquentiam




96             TACITI DIALOGUS
omnesque ejus partes sacras et venerabiles puto, nec
solum cothurnum vestrum  aut heroici carminis sonum, sed lyricorum quoque jucunditatem et elegorum
lascivias et iamborum amaritudinem et epigrammatum
5 lusus et quamcumque aliam speciem eloquentia habet,
anteponendam  ceteris aliarum artium  studiis credo.
Sed tecum mihi, Materne, res est, quod, cum natura
tua in ipsam arcem eloquentiae ferat, errare mavis et
summa adepturus in levioribus subsistis. Ut si in
10 Graecia natus esses, ubi ludicras quoque artes exercere
honestum est, ac tibi Nicostrati robur ac vires di dedissent, non paterer immanes illos et ad pugnam
natos lacertos levitate jaculi aut jactu disci vanescere,
sic nunc te ab auditoriis et theatris in forum et ad
15 causas et ad vera proelia voco, cum praesertim ne ad
illud quidem confugere possis, quod plerisque patrocinatur, tamquam minus obnoxium sit offendere poetarum quam oratorum studium. Effervescit enim vis
pulcherrimae naturae tuae, nec pro amico aliquo, sed,
20 quod periculosius est, pro Catone offendis. Nec excusatur offensa necessitudine officii aut fide advocationis
aut fortuitae ac; subitae dictionis impetu: meditatus
videris etiam  elegisse personam  notabilem  et cum
auctoritate dicturam. Sentio quid responderi possit:
25 hine ingentes assensus, haec in ipsis auditoriis praecipue laudari et mox omniumr sermonibus ferri. Tolle
igitur quietis et securitatis excusationem, cum tibi
sumas adversarium superiorem. Nobis satis sit pri



DE ORATORIBUS.                    97
vatas et nostri saeculi controversias tueri, in quibus
expressis si quando necesse sit pro periclitante amico
potentiorum aures offendere, et probata sit fides et
libertas excusata.'
11. Quae cum dixisset Aper acrius, ut solebat, et 5
intento ore, remissus et subridens Maternus,' Parantem
me,' inquit,'non minus diu accusare oratores quam
Aper laudaverat (fore enim arbitrabar ut a laudatione
eorum digressus detrectaret poetas atque carminum
studium prosterneret) arte quadam mitigavit, conce- 10
dendo iis qui causas agere non possent, ut versus
facerent. Ego autemr sicut in causis agendis efficere
aliquid et eniti fortasse possum, ita recitatione tragoediarum et ingredi famam auspicatus sum, cum quidem
in Nerone improbam et studiorum  quoque sacra pro- 15
fanantem Vatinii potentiam fregi, et hodie si quid in
nobis notitiae ac nominis est, magis arbitror carminum
quam orationum gloria partum. Ac jam  me dejungere a forensi labore constitui, nec comitatus istos et
egressus aut frequentiam  salutationum  concupisco, 20
non magis quam aera et imagines, quae etiam me
nolente in domuln meam irrumpunt. Nam statum
hucusque ac securitatem melius innocentia tueor
quam eloquentia, nec vereor ne mihi unmquam verba
in senatu nisi pro alterius discrimine facienda sint.  25
12. Nemora vero et. luci et secretum ipsum, quod
Aper increpabat, tantam mihi adferunt voluptatem,
ut inter praecipuos carminum fructus numerem, quod
7- Tac.            I




98             TACITI DIALOGUS
nonl in strepitu nec sedente ante ostium litigatore nec
inter sordes ac lacrimas reoruin componuntur, sed
secedit animus in loca pura atque innocentia, fruiturque sedibus sacris. Haec eloquentiae primordia, haec
5 penetralia; hoc primum  habitu- cultuque commendata mortalibus in illa casta et nullis contacta vitiis
pectora influxit; sic oracula loquebantur.  Nam
lucrosae hujus et sanguinantis eloquentiae usus recens
et malis moribus natus, atque, ut tu dicebas, Aper, in
10 locum teli repertus. Ceterum felix illud et, ut more
nostro loquar, aureunm saeculum et oratorurn et criminum  inops, poetis et vatibus abundabat, qui bene
facta canerent, non qui male admissa defenderent.
Nec ullis aut gloria major aut augustior honor, pri15 mum apud deos, quorum proferre responsa et interesse
epulis ferebantur, deinde apud illos dis genitos sacrosque reges, inter quos neminem  causidicorum, sed
Orphea et Linum ac, si introspicere altius velis, ipsum
Apollinein accepimus.  Vel si haec fabulosa nimis et
20 composita videantur, illud certe mihi concedes, Aper,
non minoremn  honorem  Homero quali Demostheni
apud posteros, nec angustioribus terminis famam
Euripidis aut Sophoclis quam Lysiae aut Hyperidis
includi. Plures hodie reperies qui Ciceronis gloriam
25 quam qui Virgilii detrectent; nee ullus Asinii ant
Messalae liber tam illustris est quam Medea Ovidii
aut Varii Thyestes.
13. Ac ne fortunam quidem vaturn et illud felix




DE ORATORIBUS.                   99
contubernium comparare timuerim cuin inquieta et
anxia oratorum vita. Licet illos certamina et pericuia
sua ad consulatus evexerint; malo securum et quietum  Virgilii secessum, in quo tamen neque apud
divum Augustum gratia caruit neque apud populum  5
Romanum  notitia.  Testes Augusti epistolae, testis
ipse populus, qui auditis in theatro Virgilii versibus
surrexit universus et forte praesentem spectantemque
Virgilium veneratus est sic quasi Augustum. Ne
nostris quidem temporibus Secundus Pomponius Afro 10
Domitio vel dignitate vitae vel perpetuitate famae
cesserit. Namn Crispus iste et Marcellus, ad quorum
exempla me vocas, quid habent in hac sua fortuna
concupiscendum?  Quod timent, an quod timentur?
Quod, cum quotidie aliquid rogentur, ii quibus prae- 15
stant indignantur?  Quod alligati adulatione nec
imperantibus umquam satis servi videntur nec nobis
satis liberi?  Quae haec summa eorum' potentia est?
Tantum posse liberti solent. Me vero dulces, ut Virgilius ait, Musae, remotuni a sollicitudinibus et curis 20
et necessitate quotidie aliquid contra animunl faciendi,
in illa sacra illosque fontes ferant; nec insanum ultra
et lubricum forum famamque pallentem trepidus experiar; non me fremitus salutantium nec anhelans
libertus excitet, nec incertus futuri testamentum pro 25
pignore scribam, nec plus habeam quam quod possim
cui velim relinquere, quandoque.fatalis et rmeus dies
veniet, statuarque tumulo non maestus et atrox, sed




100            TACITI DIALOGUS
hilaris et coronatus, et pro memoria mei nec consulat
quisquam nec roget.'
14. Vitlum finierat Maternus, concitatus et velut
instinctus, cum Vipstanus Messala cubiculum  ejus
5 ingressus est, suspicatusque ex ipsa intentione singulorum altiorem inter eos esse sermonem,'Num parum
tempestivus,' inquit,'interveni secretum consilium et
causae alicujus meditationem tractantibus?''Minime, minirne,' inquit Secundus,'atque adeo
10 vellem inaturius intervenisses; delectasset enim te et
Apri nostri accuratissimus sermo, cum Maternum ut
omne ingenium ac studium suum ad causas agendas
converteret exhortatus est, et Materni pro carminibus
suis laeta, utque poetas defendi decebat, audentior et
15 poetarum quain oratorum similior oratio.''Me vero,' inquit,'et sermo ipse infinita voluptate
adfecisset, atque id ipsum delectat, quod vos, viri
optimi et temporum nostrorum oratores, non forensi-.
bus tantum negotiis et declamatorio studio ingenia
20 vestra exercetis, sed ejus inodi etiam disputationes
adsuinitis, quae et ingenium  alunt et eruditionis ac
litterarum jucundissimum oblectamentum curn vobis,
qui ista disputatis, adferunt, tum etiam iis, ad quorum
aures pervenerint. Itaque hercle non minus probari
25 video in te, Secunde, quod Julii Asiatici vitam componendo spem hominibus fecisti plurium  ejus Inodi
librorum, quam in Apro, quod nondum  ab scholasticis controversiis recessit et otiumi suum mavult novo



DE ORATORIBUS.                  101
rum rhetorum more quam veterum oratorum consumere.'
15. Tum  Aper:'Non  desinis, Messala, vetera,
tantum et antiqua mirari, nostrorum autem temporum studia irridere atque contemnere?  Nam hunc 5
tuum sermonemn saepe excepi, curn oblitus et tuae et
fratris tui eloquentiae neminem hoc tempore oratorem
esse contenderes prae antiquis, eo, credo, audacius,
quod malignitatis opinionem non verebaris, cum earn
gloriam, quam tibi alii concedunt, ipse tibi dene- 10
gares.''Neque illius,' inquit,'sermonis mei poenitentiam
ago, neque aut Secundum  aut Maternum  aut te
ipsum, Aper, quamquam interdum in contrarium
disputes, aliter sentire credo. Ac velim impetratum 15
ab aliquo vestrum, ut causas hujus infinitae differentiae scrutetur ac reddat, quas mecum ipse plerumque
inquiro. Et quod quibusdam solatio est, milhi auget
quaestionem, quia video etiam Graiis accidisse, ut
longius absit Aeschine et Demosthene Sacerdos ille 20
Nicetes, et si quis alius Ephesum vel Mytilenas concentu scholasticorum et clamoribus quatit, quam Afer
aut Africanus aut vos ipsi a Cicerone aut ab Asinio
recessistis.'
16.'Magnam,' inquit Secundus,'et dignam trac- 25
tatu quaestionem movisti. Sed quis eam justius explicabit quam tu, ad cujus summam eruditionem et
I2




102           TACITI DIALOGUS
praestantissimum ingenium cura quoque et meditatio
accessit?'
Et Messala,'Aperiam,' inquit,'cogitationes meas,
si illud a vobis ante impetravero, ut vos quoque ser5 monem hunc nostrum adjuvetis.''Pro duobus,' inquit Maternus,'promitto; nam
et ego et Secundus exsequemur eas partes, quas intellexerimus te non tam omisisse quam nobis reliquisse. Aprum enim solere dissentire et tu paulo
10 ante dixisti, et ipse satis manifestus est jam dudum
in contrarium accingi nec aequo animo perfeire hanc
nostram pro antiquorum laude concordiam.''Non enim,' inquit Aper,'inauditum et indefensum
saeculum  nostrum  patiar hac vestra conspiratione
15 damnari: sed hoc primum interrogabo, quos vocetis
antiquos, quam oratorum aetatem significatione ista
determinetis. Ego enim cum audio antiquos, quosdam veteres et olim natos intelligo; ac mihi versantur
ante oculos Ulixes ac Nestor, quorum aetas mille fere
20 et trecentis annis saeculum nostrum antecedit: vos
autem Demosthenem et Hyperidem profertis, quos
satis constat Philippi et Alexandri temuporibus floruisse, ita tamen ut utrique superstites essent; ex quo
apparet non multo plures quam trecentos annos inte25 resse inter nostram et Demosthenis aetatem. Quod
spatium temporis si ad infirmitatem corporum nostrorum referas, fortasse longum videatur; si ad naturam
saeculorum ac respectum immensi hujus aevi, per



DE ORATORIBUS.                  103
quam breve et in proximo est. Nam si, ut Cicero in
HEortensio scribit, is est magnus et verus annus, quo
eadem positio caeli siderumque, quae cum  maxime
est, rursuin exsistet, isque annus horum, quos nos
vocamus, annorum duodecim milia nongentos quin- 5
quaginta quattuor complectitur, incipit Demosthenes
vester, quem vos veterem et antiquum fingitis, non
solum eodem anno quo nos, sed fere eodem mense exstitisse.
17. Sed transeo ad Latinos oratores, in quibus non 10
Menenium, ut puto, Agrippam, qui potest videri antiquus, nostrorum temporumn disertis anteponere soletis,
sed Ciceronem et Caesarern et Caelium et Calvum et
Brutum et Asinium et Messalam: quos quid antiquis
temporibus potius adscribatis quam nostris, non video. 15
Nam ut de Cicerone ipso loquar, Hirtio nempe et
Pansa consulibus, ut Tiro libertus ejus scripsit, septimo
idus Decembres occisus est, quo anno divus Augustus
in locum Pansae et Hirtii se et Q. Pedium consules
suffecit. Statue sex et quinquaginta annos, quibus 20
mox divus Augustus remt publicam  rexit; adjice
Tiberii tres et viginti, et prope quadriennium Gai, ac
bis quaternos denos Claudii et Neronis annos, atque
illum Galbae et Othonis et Vitellii longum et unum
annum, ac sextam jam felicis hujus principatus sta- 25
tionem, qua Vespasianus rem publicam fovet: centum
et viginti anni ab interitu Ciceronis in hunc diem
colliguntur, unius hominis aetas. Nam ipse ego in




104            TACITI DIALOGUS
Britannia vidi senem, qui se fateretur ei pugnae interfuisse, qua Caesarem inferentem arma Britanniae
arcere litoribus et pellere aggressi sunt. Ita si eum,
qui armatus C. Caesari restitit, vel captivitas vel
5 voluntas vel fatum  aliquod in urbem  pertraxisset,
idem Caesarem ipsum et Ciceronem audire potuit et
nostris quoque actionibus interesse. Proximo quidem
congiario ipsi vidistis plerosque senes, qui se a divo
quoque Augusto semel atque iterum  accepisse con10 giarium narrabant. Ex quo colligi potest et Corvinuin ab illis et Asinium audiri potuisse; nam Corvinus in medium usque Augusti principatum, Asinius
paene ad extremum duravit: ne dividatis saeculum,
et antiquos ac veteres vocetis oratores, quos eorundem
15 hominum aures agnoscere ac velut conjungere et copulare potuerunt.
18. Haec ideo praedixi, ut si qua ex horum- oratorum fama gloriaque laus temporibus adquiritur,
eandem docerem in medio sitam et propiorem nobis
20 quam Servio Galbae aut Gaio Carboni quosque alios
merito antiquos vocaverimus; sunt enimn horridi et
impoliti et rudes et informes, et quos utinam nulla
parte imitatus esset Calvus vester aut Caelius aut ipse
Cicero. Agere enim fortius jam et audentius volo,
25 si illud ante praedixero, mutari cum temporibus
formas quoque et genera dicendi. Sic Catoni seni
comparatus C. Gracchus plenior et uberior, sic Graccho politior et ornatior Crassus, sic utroque distinctior




DE ORATORIBUS.                  105
et urbanior et altior Cicero, Cicerone mitior Corvinus
et dulcior et in verbis magis elaboratus. Nec quaero
quis disertissimus: hoc interim probasse contentus
sum, non esse unum eloquentiae vultum, sed in illis
quoque quos vocatis antiquos plures species depre- 5
hendi, nec statim deterius esse quod diversum est, vitio
autem malignitatis humanae vetera semper in laude,
praesentia in fastidio esse. Num dubitamus inventos
qui prae Catone Appium Caecum magis mirarentur?
Satis constat ne Ciceroni quidem obtrectatores defuisse, 10
quibus inflatus et tumens nec satis pressus, sed supra
modurmn exsultans et superfluens et parumAtticusvideretur. Legistis utique et Calvi et Bruti ad Ciceronern
missas epistolas, ex quibus facile est deprehendere
Calvum quidem Ciceroni visum exsanguem et aridumrn; 15
Brutum  autem otiosum atque dijunctum: rursusque
Ciceronem  a Calvo quidem  male audisse tamquam
solutum et enervem, a Bruto autem, ut ipsius verbis
utar, tamquam fractum atque elumbem. Si me interrogas, omnes mihi videntur verum dixisse: sed mox 20
ad singulos veniam; nunc mihi cum universis negotium est.
19. Nam quatenus antiquorum admiratores hune
velut terminum antiquitatis constituere solent, usque
ad Cassium Severum, quem primum adfirmnant flexisse 25
ab illa vetere atque directa dicendi via, non infirmi
tate ingenii nec inscitia litterarum transtulisse se ad
illud dicendi genus contendo, sed judicio et intellectu.




106            TACITI DIALOGUS
Vidit namque, ut paulo ante dicebam, cum condicione
temporum et diversitate aurium formam quoque et
speciem orationis esse mutandam. Facile perferebat
prior ille populus, ut imperitus et rudis, impeditissi5 marum orationum spatia, atque id ipsum laudabat, si
dicendo quis diem eximeret. Jam vero longa principiorum praeparatio et narrationis alte repetita series
et multarum divisionum ostentatio et mille argumentorum gradus, et quidquid aliud aridissimis Herma10 gorae et Apollodori libris praecipitur, in honore erat;
quod si quis odoratus philosophiam videretur et ex
ea locum aliquemn orationi suae insereret, in caelum
laudibus ferebatur. Nec mirum; erant enim haec
nova et incognita, et ipsorum quoque oratorumrn pau15 cissimi praecepta rhetorum aut philosophoruin placita
cognoverant. At hercule pervulgatis jam omnibus,
cum vix in cortina quisquam adsistat quin elementis
studiorum, etsi non instructus, at certe imrbutus sit,
novis et exquisitis eloquentiae itineribus opus est, per
20 quae orator fastidiumr aurium effugiat, utique apud
eos judices, qui vi et potestate, non jure aut legibus
cognoscunt, nec accipiunt tempora, sed constituunt,
nec exspectandum habent oratorem, dum illi libeat
de ipso negotio dicere, sed saepe ultro admonent
25 atque alio.transgredientem revocant et festinare se
testantur.
20. Quis nunc feret oratorem de infirmitate valetudinis suae praefantem?  Qualia sunt fere principia




DE ORATORIBUS.                  107
Corvini. Quis quinque in Verrem libros exspectabit?
Quis de exceptione et formula perpetietur illa immensa
volumina quae pro M. Tullio et Aulo Caecina legimus? Praecurrit hoc tempore judex dicentem, et nisi
aut cursu argumentorurm aut colore sententiarum aut 5
nitore et cultu descriptionum invitatus et corruptus
est, aversatur dicentem.  Vulgus quo que adsistentium
et adfluens et vagus auditor adsuevit jam  exigere
laetitiam  et pnlchritudinem  orationis;  nec magis
perfert in judiciis tristem  et impexam antiquitatem, 10
quam si quis in scena Roscii aut Turpionis Ambivii
exprimere gestus velit. Jam vero juvenes et in ipsa
studiorum incude positi, qui profectus sui causa oratores sectantur, non solum audire sed etiam  referre
domum aliquid illustre et dignum memoria volunt; 15
traduntque in vicem ac saepe in colonias et provincias
suas scribunt, sive sensus aliquis arguta et brevi sententia effulsit, sive locus exquisito et poetico cultu
enituit. Exigitur enim jam ab oratore etiam poeticus
decor, non Accii aut Pacuvii veterno inquinatus, sed 20
ex Horatii et Virgilii et Lucani sacrario prolatus.
Horum igitur auribus et judiciis obtemperans nostroruim oratorum aetas pulchrior et ornatior exstitit.
Neque ideo minus efficaces sunt orationes nostrae,
quia ad aures judicantium curn voluptate perveniunt. 25
Quid enim, si infirmiora horum temporum  templa
credas, quia non rudi caemento et informibus tegulis
exstruuntur, sed marmore nitent et auro radiantur?




108           TACITI DIALOGUS
21. Equidem fateor vobis simpliciter me in quibusdam antiquorum vix risum, in quibusdam autem
vix somnum  tenere.  Nec unum  de populo, non
Canutii aut Arii deformitatem memorabo, quique alii
5 in eodem valetudinario haec ossa et hane maciem
probant: ipse mihi Calvus, cum unum et viginti, ut
puto, libros reliquerit, vix in una et altera oratiuncula satis facit. Nec dissentire ceteros ab hoc meo
judicio video: quotus enim quisque Calvi in Asitium
10 aut in Drusum legit?  At hercule in omnium studiosorum manibus versantur accusationes quae in Vatinium  inscribuntur, ac praecipue secunda ex iis
oratio; est enim verbis ornata et sententiis, auribus
judicum accommodata, ut scias ipsum quoque Calvum
15 intellexisse quid melius esset, nec voluntatem ei, quo
sublimius et cultius diceret, sed ingenium ac vires
defuisse. Quid? ex Caelianis orationibus nempe eae
placent, sive universae sive partes earum, in quibus
nitorem et altitudinem horum temporum agnoscimus.
20 Sordes autem illae verborum et hians compositio et
inconditi sensus redolent antiquitatem; nec quemquam adeo antiquarium puto, ut Caelium ex ea parte
laudet qua antiquus est. Concedamus sane C. Caesari, ut propter magnitudinem cogitationum et occu25 pationes rerum minus in eloquentia effecerit quam
divinum ejus ingenium postulabat, tam hercule quam
Brutum philosophiae suae relinquamus: nam in orationibus minorem  esse fama sua etiam admiratores




DE ORATORIBUS.                   109
ejus fatentur: nisi forte quisquam aut Caesaris pro
Decio Samnite aut Bruti pro Deiotaro rege ceterosque
ejusdem lentitudinis ac teporis libros legit, nisi qui et
carmina eorundemi miratur. Fecerunt enim et carmina et in bibliothecas rettulerunt, non 1melius quain  5
Cicero, sed felicius, quia illos fecisse pauciores sciunt.
Asinius quoque, quamquam  propioribus temporibus
natus sit, videtur mihi inter Menenios et Appios studuisse. Pacuvium certe et Accium non solum tragoediis sed etiam orationibus suis expressit: adeo durus 10
et siccus est. Oratio autem, sicut corpus hominis, ea
demum pulchra est, in qua non eminent venae nee
ossa numerantuic, sed temperatus aec bonus sanguis
implet membra et exsurgit toris ipsosque nervos rubor
tegit et (tecor commendat. Nolo Corvinum insequi, 15
quia nee per ipsum stetit quo minus laetitiam nitoremque nostrorum temporum exprimeret: viderimus, in
quantum judicio ejus vis aut animi aut ingenii suffecerit.
22. Ad Ciceronem venio, cui eadem pugna cum 20
aequalibus suis fuit quae mihi vobiscum est. Illi
enim antiquos mirabantur, ipse suorum temporum
eloquentiam anteponebat; nee ulla re magis oratores
aetatis ejusdem  praeecurrit quamn judicio.  Primus
enim excoluit orationem, primus et verbis delectumi 25
adhibuit et compositioni artem, locos quoque laetiores
attentavit et quasdam  sententias invenit, utique in iis
orationibus quas jam senior et juxta finem vitae eomK




110            TACITI DIALOGUS
posuit, id est, postquam magis profecerat usuque et
experimentis didicerat quod optimum dicendi genus
esset. Nam priores ejus orationes non carent vitiis
antiquitatis: lentus est in principiis, longus in narra5 tionibus, otiosus circa excessus: tarde commovetur,
raro incalescit; pauci sensus apte et cum quodam
lumine terminantur. Nihil excerpere, nihil referre
possis, et velut in rudi aedificio, firmus sane paries et
duraturus, sed non satis expolitus et splendens.  Ego
10 autem oratorem, sicut locupletem  ac lautum patrem
familiae, non tantum eo volo tecto tegi quod imbrem
ac ventum  arceat, sed etiam  quod visum et oculos
delectet; non ea solum instrui supellectile quae necessariis usibus sufficiat, sed sit in apparatu ejus et
15 aurum  et gemmae, ut sumere in manus et aspicere
saepius libeat.  Quaedam vero procul arceantur ut
jam  obliterata et olentia: nullum  sit verbum  velut
rubigine infectum, nulli sensus tarda et inerti structura
in morem annalium componantur; fugitet foedam et
20 insulsam scurrilitatem, variet compositionem, nec
omnes clausulas uno et eodem modo determinet.
23. Nolo irridere " rotam Fortunae," et "jus Verrinum," et illud tertio quoque sensu in omnibus orationibus pro sententia positum, " esse videatur." Nam
25 et haec invitus rettuli et plura omisi, quae tamen sola
mirantur atque exprimunt ii qui se antiquos oratores
vocant. Neminem nominabo, genus hominum significasse contentus: sed vobis utique versantur ante oculos




DE ORATORIBUS.
illi, qui Lucilium pro Horatio et Lucretium  pro Virgilio legunt, quibus eloquentia Aufidi Bassi aut Servilii Noniani ex comparatione Sisennae aut Varronis
sordet, qui rhetorumn nostrorumn commentarios fastidiunt, oderunt, Calvi mirantur.  Quos more prisco apud  5
judicema fabulantes non auditores sequuntur, non populus audit, vix denique litigator perpetitur: adeo maesti
et inculti illain ipsam, quam jactant, sanitatem non
firmitate sed jejunio consequuntur.  Porro ne in corpore quidern valetudinern medici probant quae nimia 10
anxietate contingit; parum est aegrum non esse: fortemrn et laetum et alacrem volo. Prope abest ab infirmitate, in quo sola sanitas laudatur.  Vos vero, disertissimi, ut potestis, ut facitis, illustrate  saeculum
nostrum  pulcherrimo genere dicendi.  Narn et te, 15
Messala, video laetissima quaeque antiquorum imitantem, et vos, Materne ac Secunde, ita gravitati sensuum
nitorem  et cultum verborum  miscetis, ea electio inventionis, is ordo rerum, ea, quotiens causa poscit,
ubertas, ea, quotiens permittit, brevitas, is composi- 20
tionis decor, ea sententiarum planitas est, sic exprimitis adfectus, sic libertatem  temperatis, ut etiam si
nostra judicia malignitas et invidia tardaver;t, verum
de vobis dicturi sint posteri nostri.'
24. Quae cum Aper dixisset,' Agnoscitisne,' inquit 25
Maternus,'vim  et ardorem Apri nostri?  Quo torrente, quo imapetu saeculum nostrum defendit! Quam
copiose ac varie vexavit antiquos! Quanto non solum




112           TACITI DIALOGUS
ingenio ac spiritu, sed etiam eruditione et arte ab ipsis
mutuatus est per quae mnox ipsos incesseret! Tuum
tamen, Messala, promissum  immutasse non debet.
Neque enim defensorem  antiquorum  exigimus, nec
5 quemquam nostrum, quamquam modo laudati sumus,
iis quos insectatus est Aper comparamus. Ac ne
ipse quidem ita sentit, sed more veteri et a vestris
philosophis saepe celebrato sumpsit sibi contradicendi
partes. Igitur exprome nobis non laudationem anti10 quorum (satis enim illos fama sua laudat), sed causas
cur tantum  ab eloquentia eorum recesserimus, cum
praesertim centum et viginti annos ab interitu Ciceronis in hunc diem effici ratio temporum collegerit.'
25. Tum Messala:'Sequar praescriptam a te, Ma15 terne, formarn; neque enim diu contradicendum  est
Apro, qui primum, ut opinor, nominis controversiam
movit, tamquam parum proprie antiqui vocarentur
quos satis constat ante centum annos fuisse. Mihi
autem de vocabulo pugna non est; sive illos antiquos
20 sive majores sive quo alio mavult nomine appellet,
dum modo in confesso sit emninentiorem illorum temporum eloquentiam fuisse. Ne illi quidem parti sermonis ejus repugno, quo minus fatear plures formas
dicendi etiam isdem saeculis, nedum diversis exstitisse.
25 Sed quo modo inter Atticos oratores primae Demostheni tribuuntur, proximum autem locum Aeschines
et Hyperides et Lysias et Lycurgus obtinent, omniumrn
autem concessu haec oratorumrn aetas maxime pro



DE OATO)RIBUS.                  113
batur, sic apud nos Cicero quidern ceteros eorundem
temporum disertos antecessit, Calvus autem et Asinius
et Caesar et Caelius et Brutus suo jure et prioribus et
sequentibus anteponuntur. Nec refert quod inter se
specie differunt, cum genere consentiant. Adstrictior 5
Calvus,-numerosior Asinius, splendidior Caesar, amarior Caelius, gravior Brutus, vehementior et plenior
et valentior Cicero: omnes tamen eandem sanitatem
eloquentiae ferunt, ut si omnium  pariter libros in
manum sumpseris, scias, quamvis in diversis ingeniis, 10
esse quandam judicii ac voluntatis similitudinem et
cognationem. Narn quod in vicem se obtrectaverunt
et sunt aliqua epistolis eorum inserta ex quibus mutua
malignitas detegitur, non est oratorum vitium sed hominum. Nam et Calvum et Asinium et ipsum Cice- 15
ronem credo solitos et invidere et livere et ceteris
humanae infirmitatis vitiis adfici: solum  inter hos
arbitror Brutum  non malignitate nec invidia, sed
simpliciter et ingenue judicium animi sui detexisse.
An ille Ciceroni invideret, qui mihi videtur ne Cae- 20
sari quidem invidisse?  Quod ad Ser. Galbam et C.
Laelium attinet, et si quos alios antiquorum agitare
non destitit, non exigit defensorem, cum fatear quaedam eloquentiae eorum ut nascenti adhuc nec satis
adultae defuisse.                                 25
26. Ceterum si omisso optimo illo et perfectissimo
genere eloquentiae eligenda sit forma dicendi, malim
hercule C. Gracchi impetum aut L. Crassi maturitatem
8-Tac.             K 2




114            TACITI DIALOGUS
quam calamistros Maecenatis aut tinnitus Gallionis:
adeo melius est oratorern vel hirta toga induere quam
fucatis et meretriciis vestibus insignire. Neque enim
oratorius iste, immo hercule ne virilis quidem cultus
5 est, quo plerique temporum nostrorum oratores ita
utuntur, ut lascivia verborum et levitate sententiarum
et licentia compositionis histrionales modos exprimant. Quodque vix auditu fas esse debeat, laudis et
gloriae et ingenii loco plerique jactant cantari saltari10 que commentarios suos. Unde oritur illa foeda et
praepostera, sed tamen frequens quibusdam exclamatio, ut oratores nostri tenere dicere, histriones
diserte saltare dicantur. Equidem  non negaverim
Cassium Severum, quem solum Aper noster nominare
15 ausus est, si iis comparetur qui postea fuerunt, posse
oratorem vocari, quamquam in magna parte librorum
suorum  plus vis habeat quam  sanguinis. Primus
enim conteinpto ordine rerum, omissa modestia ac
pudore verborum, ipsis etiam quibus utitur armis in20 compositus et studio feriendi plerumque dejectus, non
pugnat sed rixatur. Ceterum, ut dixi, sequentibus
comparatus et varietate eruditionis et lepore urbanitatis et ipsarum virium robore multum ceteros superat,
quorum neminem Aper nominare et velut in aciem
25 educere sustinuit. Ego autem exspectabam, ut incu.
sato Asinio et Caelio et Calvo aliud nobis agmen produceret, pluresque vel certe totidem nominaret, ex
quibus alium Ciceroni, alium Caesari, singulis deinde




DE ORATORIBUS.                   115
singulos opponeremus. Nune detrectasse nominatim
antiquos oratores contentus nemlinem sequentium laudare ausus est nisi in publicum et in commune, veritus
credo, ne multos offenderet, si paucos excerpsisset.
Quotus enim  quisque scholasticorum  non hac sua 5
persiuasione fruitur, ut se ante Ciceronem numeret,
sed plane post Gabinianum?  At ego non verebor
nominare singulos, quo facilius propositis exemplis
appareat, quibus gradibus fracta sit et deminuta eloquentia.'                                          10
27.'Appara te,' inquit Maternus,'et potius exsolve
promissum. Neque enim  hoe colligi desideramus,
disertiores esse antiquos, quod apud me quidem  in
confesso est, sed causas exquirirnus, quas te solitum
tractare paulo ante dixisti, plane mitior et eloquentiae 15
temporum nostrorum minus iratus, antequam te Aper
offenderet majores tuos lacessendo.''Non sum,' inquit,'offensus Apri illa disputatione;
nam et vos offendi dedecebit, si quid forte aures vestras
perstringat, cum sciatis hanc esse ejus modi sermonum 20
legern, judicium animi citra damnum adfectus proferre.''Perge,' inquit Maternus,'et cum  de antiquis
loquaris, utere antiqua libertate, a qua vel magis
degeneravimus quam ab eloquentia.'                 25
28. Cui Messala,'Non reconditas, Materne, causas
requiris, nec aut tibi ipsi aut huic Secundo vel huic
Apro ignotas, etiam si mihi partes adsignatis pro



116            TACITI DIALOGUS
ferendi in medium quae omnes sentimus. Quis enim
ignorat et eloquentiam et ceteras artes descivisse ab
illa vetere gloria non inopia horninum, sed desidia
juventutis et negligentia parentumrn et inscientia prae5 cipientium et oblivione moris antiqui?  Quae mala
primumrn in urbe nata, mox per Italiam fusa, jam in
provincias manant.  Quamquam vestra vobis notiora
sunt: ego de urbe et his propriis ac vernaculis vitiis
loquar, quae natos statim excipiunt et per singulos
10 aetatis gradus cumulantur, si prius de severitate ac
disciplina majoruIn circa educandos formandosque
liberos pauca praedixero. Nam pridem suus cuique
filius, ex casta parente natus, non in cella emptae
nutricis sed gremio ac sinu matris educabatur, cujus
15 praecipua laus erat tueri domum et inservire liberis.
Eligebatur autemn major aliqua natu propinqua, cujus
probatis spectatisque moribus omnis ejusdem familiae
suboles committeretur; coram qua neque dicere fas
erat quod turpe dictu, neque facere quod inhonestum
20 factu videretur.  Ac non studia modo curasque, sed
remnissiones etiam  lustsque puerorum sanctitate quadam ac verecundia temperabat. Sic Corneliam Gracchorum, sic Aureliam Caesaris, sic Atiam Augusti
matrem praefuisse educationibus ac produxisse prin25 cipes liberos accepimus. Quae disciplina ac severitas
eo pertinebat, ut sincera et integra et nullis pravitatibus detorta unius cujusque natura toto statirn pectore
arriperet artes honestas, et sive ad rem militarem sive




D)E OnRATOR1tn~S.                117
ad juris scientiam sive ad eloquentiac studium  inclinasset, id solum ageret, id universum hauriret.
29. At nulIc natus infans delegatur Graeculae alicui
ancillae, cui adjungitur unus aut alter ex omnibus
servis, plerumque vilissimus nec cuiquam  serio mini- 5
sterio accommodatus.  Horum  fabulis et erroribu9
teneri statim et rudes animi imbuuntur; nec quisquam
in tota domo pensi habet quid coramn infante domino
aut dicat aut faciat. Q&uin etiam  ipsi parentes nec
probitati neque modestiae parvulos adsuefaciunt, sed; 10
lasciviae et dicacitati, per quae paulatim impudentia
irrepit et sui alienique contemptus.  Jam vero propria
et peculiaria hujus urbis vitia paene in utero matris
concipi mihi videntur, histrionalis favor et gladiatorum
equorumque studia: quibus occupatus et obsessus ani- 15
inus quantulum loci bonis artibus relinquit? Quotum
quemque invenies qui domi quicquam aliud loquatur?
Quos alios adolescentulorum  sermones excipimus, si
quando auditoria intravimus? Ne praeceptores quidem  ullas crebriores cum  auditoribus suis fabulas 20
habent; colligunt enim discipulos non severitate disciplinae nec ingenii experimento, sed ambitione salutationum et illecebris adulationis.
30. Transeo prima discentium elementa, in quibus
et ipsis parum laboratur, nec in auctoribus cognoscen- 25
dis nec in evolvenda antiquitate nec in notitia vel
rerum vel hominum vel temporum satis operae insumitur. Sed expetuntur quos rhetoras vocant; quorum




118            TACITI DIALOGUS
professio quando primurn in hane urbem introducta
sit quamque nullam apud majores nostros auctoritatem
habuerit, statimn dicturus, referam necesse est animum
ad earn disciplinam, qua usos esse eos oratores acce5 pimus, quorum infinitus labor et quotidiana meditatio
et in omni genere studiorum assiduae exercitationes
ipsorum  etiam  continentur libris. Notus est vobis
utique Ciceronis liber qui Brutus inscribitur, in cujus
extrema parte (nam prior commemorationerm veterum.
10 oratorum habet) sua initia, suos gradus, suae eloquentiae velut quandam educationem refert: se apud Q.
Mucium jus civile didicisse, apud Philonem Academicum, apud Diodotum  Stoicum omnes philosophiae
partes penitus hausisse; neque iis doctoribus conten15 tum, quorum  ei copia in urbe contigerat, Achaiam
quoque et Asiam  peragrasse, ut omnem  omnium
artium  varietatem  complecteretur.  Itaque hercule
in libris Ciceronis deprehendere licet, non geometriae,
non musicae, non grammaticae, non denique ullius
20 artis ingenuae scientiam ei defuisse: ille dialecticae,
subtilitatem, ille moralis partis utilitatem, ille rerum
motus causasque cognoverat. Ita est enim, optimi
viri, ita: ex multa eruditione et plurimis artibus et
omnium rerum scientia exundat et exuberat illa
25 admirabilis eloquentia: neque oratoris vis et facultas,
sicut ceterarum rerum, angustis et brevibus terminis
cluditur, sed is est orator, qui de omni quaestione
pulchre et ornate et ad persuadendum  apte dicere




DE ORATORIBUS.                  119
pro dignitate rerum, ad utilitatem temporum, curn
voluptate audientium possit.
31. Hoc sibi illi veteres persuaserant, ad hoc efficiendum intelligebant opus esse, non ut in rhetorum scholis
declamarent, nec ut fictis nec ullo modo ad veritatemn  5
accedentibus controversiis linguam modo et vocem
exercerent, sed ut iis artibus pectus implerent, in quibus de bonis ac malis, de honesto et turpi, de justo et
injusto disputatur; haec enimrn est oratori subjecta ad
dicendum materia.  Naml in judiciis fere de aequitate, 10
in deliberationibus de honestate disserimus, ita ut plerumque haec in vicem misceantur: de quibus copiose
et varie et ornate nemo dicere potest, nisi qui cognovit
naturam humanam et vim virtutum  pravitatemque
vitiorum et intellectum eorum quae nec in virtutibus 15
nec in vitiis numerantur.  Ex his fontibus etiam illa
profiuunt, ut facilius iram judicis vel instiget vel
leniat, qui scit quid ira, promptius ad miserationem
impellat, qui scit quid sit misericordia et quibus animi
motibus concitetur. In his artibus exercitationibusque 20
versatus orator, sive apud infestos sive apud cupidos
sive apud invidentes sive apud tristes sive apud
timentes dicendum habuerit, tenebit venas animorum,
et prout cujusque natura postulabit. adhibebit manuni
et temperabit orationem, parato omni instrumento et 25
ad omnem usum reposito. Sunt apud quos adstrictum
et collectumrn et singula statim argumenta concludens
dicendi genus plus fidei meretur: apud hos dedisse




120            TACITI DIALOGUS
operam dialecticae proficiet. Alios fusa et aequalis
et ex conlmunibus ducta sensibus oratio magis de.
lectat: ad hos permovendos mutuabimur a Peripateticis aptos et in omnemn disputationem  paratos jam
5 locos. Dabunt Academici puguacitatem, Plato altitudinem, Xenophon jucunditatem: ne Epicuri quidem
et Metrodori honestas quasdam exclamationes adsumere iisque prout res poscit uti alienumr erit oratori.
Neque enim sapientem informamus neque Stoicorum
10 artem, sed eum qui quasdam  artes haurire, omnes
libare (lebet. Ideoque et juris scientiam veteres oratores coinprehendebant, et grammaticae, musicae et
geometriae imbuebantur.  Incidunt enim  causae,
plurimae quidem ac paene omnes, quibus juris notitia
15 desideratur, pleraeque autemn in quibus haec quoque
scientia requiritur.
32. Nec quisquam respondeat sufficere ut ad tempus
simplex quiddam  et uniforme doceamur. Primum
enim aliter utimur propriis, aliter commodatis, longe20 que interesse manifestum est, possideat quis quae profert an mutuetur.  Deinde ipsa multarum  artium
scientia etiam aliud agentes nos ornat, -atque ubi
ininime credas, eminet et excellit. Idque non doctus
modo et prudens auditor sed etiam populus intelligit
25 ac statim ita laude prosequitur, ut legitime studuisse,
ut per omnes eloquentiae numeros isse, ut denique
oratorem esse fateatur; quem non posse aliter exsistere
nec exstitisse uinquam confirmo, nisi eum, qui tam



DE ORATORIBUS.                   121
quam in aciem omnibus armis instructus, sic in forum
omnibus artibus armatus exierit.  Quod adeo negligitur ab horum temporum disertis, ut in actionibus
eorum hujus quoque quotidiani sermonis foeda ac
pudenda vitia deprehendantur; ut ignorent leges, non  5
teneant senatus consulta, jus civitatis ultro derideant,
sapientiae vero  studium  et praecepta prudentium
penitus reformident, in paucissimos sensus et augustas
sententias detrudant eloquentiam  velut expulsam
regno suo, ut quae olim  omnium  artiunt domina 10
pulcherrimo comitatu pectora implebat, nunc circumcisa et amputata, sine apparatu, sine honore, paene
dixerim sine ingenuitate, quasi una ex sordidissimis
artificiis discatur. Ergo hanc primam et praecipuam
causam arbitror, cur in tantum ab eloquentia antiquo- 15
rum oratorurn recesserimus. Si testes desiderantur,
quos potiores nominabo quam apud Graecos Demosthenem, quem  studiosissimum  Platonis auditorem
fuisse memoriae proditum  est?  Et Cicero his, ut
opinor, verbis refert, quidquid in eloquentia effecerit, 20
id se non rhetorum  officinis, sed Academiae spatiis
consecutum. Sunt aliae causae, magnae et graves,
quas a vobis aperiri aequum est, quoniam quidem ego
jam meum munus explevi, et quod mihi ill consuetudine est, satis multos offendi, quos, si forte haec audi- 25
verint, certum habeo dicturos me, dum juris et philosophiae scientiam tamquam oratori necessariam laudo,
ineptiis meis plausisse.'
L




122            TACITI DIALOGUS
33. Et Maternus,' Mihi quidem,' inquit'susceptum
a te munus adeo peregisse nondum videris, ut inchoasse tantum et velut vestigia ac lineamenta quaedamn ostendisse videaris. Nam quibus artibus instrui
5 veteres oratores soliti sint dixisti, differentiamque
nostrae desidiae et inscientiae adversus acerrima et
fecundissima eorum studia demonstrasti: cetera exspecto, ut quem ad modum ex te didici, quid aut illi
scirint aut nos nesciamus, ita hoc quoque cognoscam,
10 quibus exercitationibus juvenes jam et forum ingressuri confirmare et alere ingenia sua soliti sint. Neque
enim tantum arte et scientia sed longe magis facultate
et usu eloquentiam contineri, nec tu puto abnues et hi
significare vultu videntur.'
15   Deinde cum Aper quoque et Secundus idem adnuissent, Messala quasi rursus incipiens:'Quoniam
initia et semina veteris eloquentiae satis demonstrasse
videor, docendo quibus artibus antiqui oratores institui erudirique soliti sint, persequar nune exerci20 tationes eorum.  Quamquam ipsis artibus inest exercitatio, nec quisquam percipere tot tam reconditas
tamque varias res potest, nisi ut scientiae meditatio
meditationi facultas, facultati usus eloquentiae accedat. Per quae colligitur eandem  esse rationem  et
25 percipiendi quae proferas et proferendi quae perceperis. Sed si cui obscuriora haec videntur isque
scientiam ab exercitatione separat, illud certe concedet,
instructum et plenum his artihus animumrn longe para



DE ORATORIBUS.                  123
tiorem ad eas exercitationes venturum, quae propriae
esse oratorum videntur.
34. Ergo apud majores nostros juvenis ille qui foro
et eloquentiae parabatur, imbutus jam domestica disciplina, refertus honestis studiis deducebatur a patre vel 5
a propinquis ad eum oratorem, qui principem in civitate locumn obtinebat. Hune sectari, hunc prosequi,
hujus omnibus dictionibus interesse sive in judiciis
sive in contionibus adsuescebat, ita ut altercationes
quoque exciperet et jurgiis interesset utque sic dixerim, 10
pugnare in proelio disceret. Magnus ex hoc usus
multumque constantiae, plurimum judicii juvenibus
statimn contingebat, in media luce studentibus atque
inter ipsa discrimina, ubi nemo impune stulte aliquid
aut contrarie dicit, quo minus et judex respuat et 15
adversarius exprobret, ipsi denique advocati aspernentur.  Igitur vera statim  et incorrupta eloquentia imbuebantur; et quamquam unum sequerentur, tamen
omnes ejusdem aetatis patronos in plurimis et causis
et judiciis cognoscebant; habebantque ipsius populi 20
diversissimarum aurium copiam, ex qua facile deprehenderent quid in quoque vel probaretur vel displiceret. Ita nec praeceptor deerat, optimus quidem et
electissimus, qui faciem eloquentiae, non imaginem
praestaret, nec adversarii et aemuli ferro, non rudibus 25
dimicantes, sed auditorium  semper plenum, semper
novum ex invidis et faventibus, ut nec bene nec male
dicta dissimularentur.  Scitis enim magnam illam et




124            TACITI DIALOGUS
duraturam  eloquentiae famam non minus in diversis
subselliis parari quam suis; inde quin immo constantius surgere, ibi fidelius corroborari. Atque hercule
sub ejus modi praeceptoribus juvenis ille de quo
5 loquilnur, oratorum discipulus, fori auditor, sectator
judiciorum, eruditus et adsuefactus alienis experimentis, cui quotidie audienti notae leges, non novi
judicum vultus, frequens in oculis consuetudo contionum, saepe cognitae populi aures, sive accusatio.
10 nemr susceperat sive defensionem, solus statim et unus.
cuicumque causae par erat. Nono decimo aetatis
anno L. Crassus C. Carbonem, uno et vicesimo Caesar
Dolabellam, altero et vicesimo Asinius Pollio C. Catonem, non multum  aetate antecedens Calvus Va15 tinium iis orationibus insecuti sunt, quas hodie quoque
cumn adiniratione legimus.
35. At nunc adolescentuli nostri deducuntur ill
scenam scholasticorumn, qui rhetores vocantur, quos
paulo ante Ciceronis tempora exstitisse nec placuisse
20 majo.ribus nostris ex eo manifestum est, quod Crasso
et Dornitio censoribus cludere, ut ait Cicero, ludum
impudentiae jussi sunt. Sed ut dicere institueram,
deducuntur in scholas, in quibus non facile dixerim
utrumne locus ipse an condiscipuli an genus studio25 rum plus mali ingeniis adferant. Nam in loco nihil
reverentiae est, in quem nemo nisi aeque imperitus
intrat; in condiscipulis nihil profectus, cum pueri
inter pueros et adolescentuli inter adolescentulos pari




DE ORATORIBUS.                     125
securitate et dicant et audiantur; ipsae vero exercitationes inagna ex parte contrariae.  Nempe enim  duo
genera materiarumn apud rhetoras tractantur, suasoriae
et controversiae. Ex his suasoriae quidein, tamrquam
plane leviores et minus prudentiae exigentes, pueris  5
delegantur; controversiae robustioribus adsignantur,
quales, per fidem, et quamu incredibiliter compositae!
Sequitur autemn ut materiae abhorrenti a veritate declamatio quoque adhibeatur.  Sic fit ut tyrannicidarum praemia aut vitiatarum electiones aut pestilentiae 10
reinedia aut incesta matrumn aut quidquid in schola
quotidie agitur, in foro vel raro vel numquam, ingentibus verbis persequantur; cum ad veros judices ventumr
est, juvenes, puerilibus institutis sine ulla privati publicique juris experientia per plures annos innutriti, nihil 15
adferunt quod fori dignitatemn deceat, aut clientium alat
utilitates; at vitia, quae umbratici doctores iis infudere,
irreverenter et temere explicant.
36. Unus Demosthenes solaque sua eloquentia armatus, adversus domesticos externosque hostes stat interritus; 20
patriam a veterno revocat et novo libertatis amore succendit; Philippum  eludit, artes ejus retegit, ei conflat
odia.  Quantis opus fuit eloquentiae fulgoribus, ut animos perstringeret!  Quanta orationis vi, ut parata tot
machinamenta subverteret!  Quot illi subeunda peri- 25
cula!  At iis valescebat discriminibus; patriae caritate,
servitii odio, libertatis aestu instinctus, certaque immortalitatis spe, quam jamn praesentiscebat, animatus, nihil
L2




126            TACITI DIALOGUS
valebat nisi excelsum, nisi sublime, sine ullo privatae
utilitatis studio, ob patriam  tantum et publicam remn
cogitare; nihil humile vel abjectum eloqui poterat.
Magna eloquentia, sicut flamma, materia alitur et
5 motibus excitatur et urendo clarescit. Eadem ratio
in nostra quoque civitate antiquorum  eloquentiam
provexit.  Nam  etsi horum  quoque temporum  oratores ea consecuti sunt, quae composita et quieta et
beata re publica tribui fas erat, tamen illa perturba10 tione ac licentia plura sibi adsequi videbantur, cum
mixtis omnibus et moderatore uno carentibus tantum
quisque orator saperet quantum  erranti populo persuaderi poterat. Hinc leges assiduae et populare
nomen, hine contiones magistratuum paene pernoc15 tantium in rostris, hinc accusationes potentium reorunl
et adsignatae etiam domibus inimicitiae, hinc procerum factiones et assidua senatus adversus plebem
certamina.  Quae singula etsi distrahebant rein
publicam, exercebant tamen illorum temporum elo20 quentiam et magnis cumulare praemiis videbantur,
quia quanto quisque plus dicendo poterat, tanto
facilius honores adsequebatur, tanto magis in ipsis
honoribus collegas suos anteibat, tanto plus apud
principes gratiae, plus auctoritatis apud patres, plus
25 notitiae ac nominis apud plebem parabat. Hi clientelis etiam  exterarum  nationum  redundabant, hos
ituri in provincias magistratus reverebantur, hos
reversi colebant, hos et praeturae et consulatns vocare




DE ORATORIBUS.                  127
ultro videbantur, hi ne privati quidem sine potestate
erant, cum et populum et senatum consilio et auctoritate regerent.  Quin immo sibi persuaserant neminem
sine eloquentia aut adsequi posse in civitate aut tueri
conspicuum et eminentem  locum.  Nec mirum, cum  5
etiam inviti ad populum producerentur, curn parumn
esset in senat1L breviter censere, nisi qui ingenio et
eloquentia sententiam suam tuerentur, cum in aliquam
invidiam aut crimen vocati sua voce respondendum
haberent, cum testimonia quoque in judiciis publicis 10
non absentes nec per tabellam dare, sed coram et praesentes dicere cogerentur.  Ita ad summa eloquentiae
praemia magna etiam necessitas accedebat, et quo
modo disertum  haberi pulchrum  et gloriosum, -sic
contra mutum et elinguem videri deforme habebatur. 15
37. Ergo non minus rubore quam praemiis stimulabantur, ne clientulorum loco potius quam patronorum
numerarentur, ne traditae a majoribus necessitudines
ad alios transirent, ne tamquamn inertes et non suffecturi honoribus aut non impetrarent aut impetratos 20
male tuerentur.  Nescio an venerint in manus vestras
haec vetera, quae et in antiquariorum bibliothecis
adhuc manent et cum maxime a Muciano contrahuntur, ac jam undecim, ut opinor, Actorum libris et
tribus Epistolarum composita et edita sunt. Ex his 25
intelligi potest Cn. Pompeium  et M. Crassum non
viribus modo et armis sed ingenio quoque et oratione
valuisse; Lentulos et Metellos et Lucullos et Curiones




128            TACITI DIALOGUS
et ceteram procerum manum  multum  in his studiis
operae curaeque posuisse, nec quemquam illis temporibus magnam potentiain sine aliqua eloquentia consecutum. His accedebat splendor reorum et magnitudo
5 causarum, quae et ipsa plurimum  eloquentiae praestant. Nam multum interest, utrumne de furto aut
formula et interdicto dicendum habeas, an de ainbitu
comitiorum, expilatis sociis et civibus trucidatis.
Quae mala sicut non accidere melius est isque opti10 mus civitatis status habendus est, in quo nihil tale
patimur, ita cum  acciderent, ingentem  eloquentiae
materiam subministrabant.  Crescit enim cum amplitudine rerum vis ingenii, nec quisquam  claram et
illustrem orationem efficere potest nisi qui eausam
15 parem invenit. Non, opinor, Demosthenem orationes
illustrant quas adversus tutores suos composuit, nec
Ciceronem magnum  oratorem  P. Quinctius defensus
aut Licinius Archias faciunt: Catilina et Milo et
Verres et Antonius hane illi famam circumdederunt:
20 non quia tanti fuit rei publicae malos ferre cives, ut
uberem  ad dicendum  materiam  oratores haberent,
sed, ut subinde admoneo, quaestionis meminerimus
sciamusque nos de ea re loqui, quae facilius turbidis
et inquietis temporibus exsistit. Quis ignorat utilius
25 ac melius esse frui pace quam bello vexari? Plures
tamen bonos proeliatores bella quam  pax ferunt.
Similis eloquentiae  condicio.  Nam  quo saepius
steterit tamquam in acie quoque plures et intulerit




DE ORATORIBUS.                 129
ictus et exceperit quoque majores adversarios acrioresque pugnas sibi ipsa desumpserit, tanto altior et
excelsior et illis nobilitata discriminibus in ore hominum agit, quorum ea natura est, ut secura velint.
38. Transeo ad formam et consuetudinem veterum  5
judiciorum, quae etsi nunc aptior existimatur, eloquentiam tamen illud forum magis exercebat, in quo
nemo intra paucissimas horas perorare cogebatur et
liberae comperendinationes erant et modum dicendi
sibi quisque sumebat et numerus neque dierum neque 10
patronorum finiebatur. Primus haec tertio consulatu
Cn. Pompeius adstrinxit imposuitque veluti frenos
eloquentiae, ita tamen ut omnia in foro, omnia legibus, omnia apud praetores gererentur; apud quos
quanto majora negotia olim exerceri solita sint, quod 15
majus argumentum est quam quod causae centumvirales, quae nune primum obtinent locum, adeo splendore aliorum judiciorum obruebantur, ut neque Ciceronis neque Caesaris neque Bruti neque Caelii neque
Calvi, non denique ullius magni oratoris liber apud 20
centumviros dictus legatur, exceptis orationibus Asinii
quae pro heredibus Urbiniae inscribuntur, ab ipso
tamen Pollione rnediis divi Augusti.temporibus habitae, postquam longa temporum quies et continuum
populi otium et assidua senatus tranquillitas et 25
maxime principis disciplina ipsam quoque.eloquentiam sicut omnia pacaverat?
39. Parvum et ridiculum fortasse videbitur quod
9 - Tac.




130            TACITI DIALOGUS
dicturus sum, dicam tamen, vel ideo ut ridear. Quantum humilitatis putamus eloquentiae attulisse paenulas
istas, quibus adstricti et velut inclusi cum judicibus
fabulamur?  Quantum  virium  detraxisse orationi
5 auditoria et tabularia credimus, in quibus jam fere
plurimae causae explicantur?  Nam  quo modo nobiles equ-os cursus et spatia probant, sic est aliquis
oratorum campus, per quem nisi liberi et soluti ferantur, debilitatur ac frangitur eloquentia. Ipsam quin
10 immo curam et diligentis still anxietatem contrariam
experimur, quia saepe interrogat judex, quando incipias, et ex interrogatione ejus incipiendum est.
Frequenter probationibus et testibus silentium patronus indicit. Unus inter haec dicenti ant alter adsistit,
115 et res velut in solitudine agitur. Oratori autem clamore plausuque opus est et velut quodam theatro;
qualia quotidie antiquis oratoribus contingebant, cum
tot pariter ac tam nobiles forum coartarent, cum clientelae quoque ac tribus ac municipiorum etiam lega20 tiones ac pars Italiae periclitantibus adsisteret, cum
in plerisque judiciis crederet populus Romanus sua
interesse quid judicaretur. Satis constat C. Cornelium
et M. Scaurum et T. Milonem et L. Bestiam et P.
Vatinium concursu totius civitatis et accusatos et de25 fensos, ut frigidissimos quoque oratores ipsa certantis
populi studia excitare et incendere potuerint. Itaque
hercule ejus modi libri exstant, ut ipsi quoque qui
egerunt non allis magis orationibus censeantur.




DE ORATORIBUS.                 131
40. Jam vero contiones assiduae et datum jus
potentissimum quemque vexandi atque ipsa inimicitiarum gloria, cum se plurimi disertorum ne a Publio
quidem Scipione aut Sulla aut Cn. Pompeio abstinerent, et ad incessendos principes viros, ut est natura 5
invidiae, populi quoque ut histriones plausibus uterentur, quantum ardorem ingeniis, quas oratoribus
faces admovebant! Non de otiosa et quieta re loquimur et quae probitate et modestia gaudeat, sed est
magna illa et notabilis eloquentia alumna licentiae, 10
quam stulti libertatem vocabant, comes seditionum,
effrenati populi incitamentum, sine obsequio, sine
servitute, contumax, temeraria, arrogans, quae in
bene constitutis civitatibus non oritur. Quem enim
oratorem Lacedaemonium, quem Cretensem  accepi- 15
mus? Quarum  civitatum  severissima disciplina et
severissimae leges traduntur. Ne Macedonum quidem ac Persarum  aut ullius gentis, quae certo imperio contenta fuerit, eloquentiam novimus. Rhodii
quidam, plurimi Athenienses oratores exstiterunt, 20
apud quos omnia populus, omnia imperiti, omnia, ut
sic dixerim, omnes poterant. Nostra quoque civitas,.
donee erravit, donee se partibus et dissensionibus et
discordiis confecit, donee nulla fuit in foro pax, nulla
in senatu concordia, nulla in judiciis moderatio, nulla 25
superiorum reverentia, nullus magistratuum modus,
tulit sine dubio valentiorem eloquentiam, sicut indomitus ager habet quasdam herbas laetiores. Sed nee




132           TACITI DIALOGUS
tanti rei publicae Gracchorum  eloquentia fuit, ut
pateretur et leges, nec bene famam eloquentiae Cicero
tali exitu pensavit.
41. Sic quoque quod superest antiqui oratoribus
5 fori non emendatae nec usque ad votum compositae
civitatis argumentum est. Quis enim nos advocat
nisi aut nocens aut miser? Quod inunicipium  in
clientelam nostram venit nisi quod aut vicinus populus aut domestica discordia agitat? Quam provin10 cialn tuemur nisi spoliatam vexatamque? Atqui
melius fuisset non queri quam vindicari. Quod si
inveniretur aliqua civitas in qua nemo peccaret,
supervacuus esset inter innocentes orator sicut inter
sanos medicus. Quo modo enim minimum usus mini15 mumque profectus ars medentis habet in iis gentibus,
quae firmissima valetudine ac saluberrimis corporibus
utuntur, sic minor oratorum obscuriorque gloria est
inter bonos mores et in obsequium regentis paratos.
Quid enim opus est longis in senatu sententiis, cum
20 optimi cito consentiant? Quid multis apud populum
contionibus, cum de re publica non imperiti et multi
deliberent, sed sapientissimus et unus? Quid voluntariis'accusationibus, cum  tam  raro et tam parce
peccetur?  Quid invidiosis et excedentibus modum
25 defensionibus, cum  clementia cognoscentis obviam
periclitantibus eat? Credite, optimi et in quantum
opus est disertissimi viri, si aut vos prioribus saeculis
aut illi quos miramur his nati essent, ac deus aliquis




DE ORATORIBUS.                  133
vitas ac tempora vestra repente mutasset, nec vobis
summa illa laus et gloria in eloquentia neque illis
modus et temperamentum  defuisset: nunc, quoniam
nemo eodem tempore adsequi potest magnam famam
et magnam quietem, bono saeculi sui quisque citra 5
obtrectationemn alterius utatur.'
42. Finierat Maternus, cum Messala:'Erant quibus contradicerem, erant de quibus plura dici vellem,
nisi jam dies esset exactus.''Fiet,' inquit Maternus,'postea arbitratu tuo, et si qua tibi obscura in hoc 10
meo sermone visa sunt, de iis rursus conferemus.' Ac
simul adsurgens et Aprum  complexus,'Ego,' inquit,'te poetis, Messala antiquariis criminabimur.''At
ego vos rhetoribus et scholasticis,' inquit.
Cum arrisissent, discessimus.                   15








NOTES
TO THE
GERMANIA, AGRICOLA, AND DIALOGUS DE ORATORIBUS.
135




REFERENCES AND ABBREVIATIONS... u. c., in the year of the city.     Editors and Commentators.
B. C., before Christ.                C.............. Church and Brodribb.
Cf. (confer) = compare.              D...............Draeger.
e. g. (exempli gratia) =for ex- He............ Haase.
ample.                           Hm........... Halim.
etc. (et cetera) -and so forth.      K............. Kritz.
i. e. (id est) — that is.            M............. Miillenhoff.
in fin. (in fine) a=  t the end.     P..............Pabst.
lit. = literally.                    R i............  itter.
MS. =  manascript.                   R............. Ruperti.
MSS. =  manuscripts.                 S.............. Smith.
p. (pagina) =page.                   T.............. Tyler.
pp. (paginae) = —pages.              V..............Valpy.
se. (scilicet) =-understand, spply.............    Wex.
Grammars.
A............................. Alen and Greenotugh's.
A. & S.................. Andrews and Stoddard's.
B............................. Bullions and Morris's.
G............................. Gildersleeve's.
H............................Harkness's.
M............................fadvig'8.
Z............................. Zumpt's.
Crombie, - Crombie's Gymnasium sive Symbola Critica.
Dict. Antiqq., - Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.
Diet. Biog., - Smith's Dictionary of Greek aid Roman Biography and
Mythology.
Diet. Geog.,- Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography.
Hill, - Hill's Synonyms of the Latin Language.
Lex., — Andrewus's Frensd's Latin Lexicon.
136




NOTES
TO THE
G E R M A N I A.
IN TR OD IJ C TIO N.
THE information contained in the treatise on the geography, manners, and nations of Germany, is exactly of that character which
might be expected, considering the sources from which it was derived.
Tacitus was never in Germany, and therefore his knowledge was collected from those who had visited it for the purposes either of war or
commerce. Hence his geographical descriptions are often vague and
inaccurate; a mixture of the marvellous shows that some of his narratives consist in mere travellers' tales, whilst the salient points and
characteristic features of the national manners bear the impress of
truth, and are supported by the well-known habits and institutions of
the Teutonic nations.
He tells of their bards, and explains the etymology of the term by
the word barditum, which signified the recitation of their songs. He
hints at wild legends and dark superstitions with which the German
imagination still loves to people the dark recesses of their forests. He
describes their pure and unmixed race, and, consequently, the universal
prevalence of the national features: blue eyes, red or sandy hair, and
stalwart and gigantic frames. According to his account, their political
constitutions were elective monarchies, but the monarch was always of
noble birth, and his power limited; and all matters of importance were
debated by the estate of the people. In the solemn permission accorded to a German youth to bear arms, and his investiture with lance
and shield, is seen the origin of knighthood; and in the sanctity of
the marriage tie, the chastity of the female sex, their social influence,
and the respect paid to them, the rarity of adultery and its severe
punishment, and the total absence of polygamy, we recognize the germ
of the distinguishing characteristics of chivalry. They were hosM2                   137




138                        NOTES.
pitable and constant to their hereditary friendships, but stern in perpetuating family feuds; passionately fond of gambling, and strict in
their regard for debts of honor; inveterate drinkers, and their favorite
potation was beer; they could not consult on important matters without a convivial meeting; if they quarrelled over their cups, they had
recourse rarely to words, usually to blows. Their slaves were in the
condition of serfs or villains, and paid to the lord a fixed rent in corn,
or cattle, or manufactures. They reckoned their time by nights instead of days, just as we are accustomed to use the expressions
se'nnight and fortnight.
After having sketched the manners and customs of the nation as a
whole, he proceeds to treat of each tribe separately. In speaking of
the Angli, who inhabited part of the modern territory of SleswickHolstein, and whose name is still retained in the district of Angeln,
one word which he uses is an English one. The Angli, he says,
together with the conterminous tribes, worship Herthus (Nerthus), i. e.,
Terra. Even in these early times he mentions the naval superiority of
the Suiones, who were the ancestors of the Normans and Sea-kings.
With these he affirms that the continent of Europe terminates, and all
beyond is a motionless and frozen ocean. Truth in these distant
climes mingles with fable. Daylight continues after the sun has set,
but a hissing noise is heard as his blazing orb plunges into the sea,
and the forms of the gods, and the radiant glories which surround
their heads, are visible. The list of marvels ends with fabulous beings,
whose bodies and limbs are those of wild beasts, whilst their heads and
faces are human. Browne's Roman Classiecal Literature.
Page
14   1-4. Germania omnis here is Germany proper, east of the
Rhine, excluding the Roman provinces of Germania Superior (or
Germania Prima) and Germania Inferior (or Germania Secunda),
which lay on the left or west of the Rhine. For a clear view of
this and other geographical allusions, see "Long's Classical
Atlas," map of " Germania Magna with the Provinces on the
Upper Danube." 2. Rheno, which separates Germany from
Gaul. Danuvio (Danubio), which separates Germany from Raetia
(Rhaetia) and Pannonia. Sarmatis, occupying the country between the Vistula and the Don, and thus embracing a large portion
of the present European Russia.  3. Montibus, the Carpathian
range. Cetera (se. loca), the other parts, the rest. Ocelnus.
The German ocean (North sea) and the Baltic. Tacitus elsewhere
(cap. 45) calls the Baltic Suevicum. mare. 4. Sinus, peninsulas,




GERMANIA.                            139
Page
lands bending or curving out into the sea. For similar uses of the 14
word (which generally means gulf or bay), of. cap. 29, 35, and 37;
and Agric. cap. 23; and note its connection with insularum
spatia. By latos sinus is more particularly meant the Cimbric
Chersonesus, i. e. Jutland (Denmark). Insularum —spatia, the
islands in the Baltic sea; but especially Scandinavia (Sweden and
Norway), which the Romans at that time supposed to be an
island.
1-8. Gentibus ac regibus, those, namely, inhabiting the penin- 15
sulas and islands just referred to, which became known to the
Romans in the course of their more recent wars; the word nuper,
as Kritz remarks, embracing a period of nearly a hundred years.
3. Inaccesso -inaccessibili.  Vertice, ablat. of source, without
a preposition. Ortus, rising. Perfect participles from deponent
verbs are generally best rendered by the English present participle
in ing. 4. Versus, turning. See preceding note. The participle
is here used in a middle or deponent sense.  Septentrionali
oceano, with the northernt ocean, the ocean on the north of Germany. Oceano is the instrumental ablat., miscetur (= —mixes
itself) being taken in a middle sense. 5. Danuvius or Danubius, as some MSS. have it. Molli-jugo, from the gently sloping
-8summit. So the commentators generally. Kritz takes molli in
the sense of non saxoso, humumque fertilem  habente. Cf. Virg.
Eel. ix. 8. Clementer, moderately. "A moribus hominum ad res
et loca translatum." K. 6. Jugo, ablat. of separation, governed
by ex in effusus. Julgum is that part of a mountain or hill, where,
like a yoke, it slopes in both directions. Abn6bae, the Black
Forest, der Schwarzwald (the Abenau mountain range). The MSS.,
all of which have Arnobae or Arbonae, have been corrected by
means of inscriptions on stones dug up in the Black Forest.
Effusus - issuing; in a middle sense, pouring itself out. Plures,
several; a sense which the word often has. 7. Meatibus, mouths;
lit. channels, passages.  Erumpat, it empties; the subjunct. is
here used after donec because the result of the action is conceived
as held in suspense. A. & S. ~ 263, 4; H. 522, I.; B. 1240; A. 62,
2, d.; Z. ~ 575; G. ~ 573 and 574.
9-1D. Ipsos, the Germans themselves, not their country, which
he presently describes. Indiggnas is compounded of indu, an old
form of il, and gen, root of giglo. S. Crediderim, I am inclined
to believe; subjunctive of modest, cautious statement, to soften an
assertion. A. & S. 260, Rem. 4; H. 486, III. 3; B. 1179; A. 60,




140                         NOTES.
Page
15 2, b; G. 252, Rem. 1; Z. 527.  Minime, by no means; tot at all.
10. Adventibus et hospitiis, with the arrivals and guest-friendships=w —-ith the immigrants and visitors (T.). Notice the use of
the abstract for the concrete, a manner of expression to which
Tacitus, and, indeed, all sententious writers are prone. 11. Neo
— et (line 12) =-et non - et, but is stronger. M. ~ 458, Obs. c.
Nec terra sed classibus. Modern philology has shown that just
the reverse of this statement is true. The earliest migrations
were by land. The progenitors of the Germans, and of all the
nations of Europe, emigrated by land from their primitive home
in central western Asia. The statement of Tacitus is based on his
knowledge of the fact that many of the colonizations of the shores
of the Mediterranean were made by sea.  In advehebantur
( those sailed), which strictly applies only to classibus, there is
a zeugma; with terra, adveniebaut or adventabant would be more
proper.  Qui, sc. ii.  12. Immensus ultra oceanus, the vast
ocean beyond the north shore of Germany. Utque sic dixerim,
and, so to speak, is a mild apology for the bold use of the word
adversus, hostile, unfriendly to navigation.  So the commentators
generally translate it; some, however, translate it, lying opposite,
in a different quarter of the globe. Dixerim instead of dicam
occurs only in later writers. Z.. 528. The proposition on which
the subjunctive with ut here depends, is omitted. A. & S. ~ 262,
Rem. 8.  13. Raris - aditur.  An argument to prove that the
Germans were i7ldigenae, and not mixti. Ab orbe nostro, from
our (quarter of the) world; the Roman empire. The argument of
Tacitus to prove the Germans indigenae (sprung from the soil), is
this: 1. The earliest migrations were made by sea, not by land.
2. But even Roman mariners shrunk from navigating the northern
ocean. 3. Therefore (as the Germans did not come by land, and
dared not come by sea), the Germans sprung from the soil of their
country.
14-17. Praeter, besides, to say nothing of. Horridi, rough,
boisterous; ventis valde agitati.  K.  16. Peteret, subjunctive
in a question of appeal (dubitative or deliberative subjunctive).
A. & S. p 260, Rem. 5; H. 486, II.; B. 1180; A. 60, 1; G. 468;
Z. ~ 530. Informem alludes to the vast forests and uncultivated
tracts of Germany. Terris is ablat. of specification. Caelo, in
its climate.  17. Tristem  cultu, wretched in its civilization, of
course from a Roman standpoint. Nisi si (= nisi) is often used
after negative sentences or equivalents, in the signification except,




GERMANIA.                           141
Page
but, etc. Z. ~ 343; G. 592, Rem. 2. Sit, it is. The present sub- 15
junctive implies the real or possible occurrence of the action supposed: one may (Tacitus would say), under the circumstances, go
to Germany, if one is a German.
18-23. Carminibus antiquis. The history of literature shows
that among all nations poetry precedes prose. Men express their
feelings and emotions before they subject them to philosophical
diagnosis. Of this the Iliad, the Edda, the Niebelungen Lied, and
Ossian are proofs. Unum, the only. 19. Memoriae, of record.
Tuistonem is the form given in the best MSS. Others Tuisconem,
Tristonem, etc. From Tuisto, the Mars of our German ancestors,
the name Tuesday is derived. 20. Terra editum, answering to
the Greek atrmXSwv (autochthonous). Terra is governed by e in
editum. Mannum, from which some derive the word man. 22.
Proximi oceano, sc. vocentur. Medii, the midland inhabitants.
Vocentur. The subjunctive here (in oratio obliqua) shows that
Tacitus makes the statement not on his own authority, but on that
of others.
23-28. Ut, sc. fit, as is natural; wie natiirlich. K.  24.
Plures, more, i. e. than the three just referred to. Deo, i. e.
Manno. Ortos (esse). Gentis, of the race, the Germanic race.
25. Suebos, from whom the modern Suabia derives its name.
The MSS. vary between Suebos and Suevos. 26. Eaque, se. esse;
and also with vocabulum. 27. Additum, se. esse; still depending
on affirmant. 28. Qui, se. ii. See how the statement here made
is confirmed by Caesar, B. G. II. 4. Expulerint, subjunctive in
oratio obliqua, because quidam affirmant and not Tacitus.
1-4. Ut nune, i. e. in the time of Tacitus; supply vocentur 16
(not vocantur, because the indirect discourse is still continued).
Tune Germani, i. e. at the time of their expelling the Gauls.
The researches of modern scholars render it probable that the
word Germani is of Celtic origin. "It had come into general use
among the Celts in Gaul before the time of Caesar, who there
heard it applied to the whole nation dwelling on the east of the
Rhine." S. It is derived from gairmn, to shout; and gairmmo), a
shouter, warrior; with which compare the Homeric 3Bo'r ayasg.
Ita nationis nomen, etc., that in this mannler the name of a tribe,
not of a race, gradually prevailed, so that all, first (called Germans)
by the conqueror for the fear (which the name inspired), toere soo8n
afterwards called Germans by themselves also, the name having been
invented (when once the name had been invented). By victore is




142                         NOTES.
Page
16 to be understood the conquering tribe (the Tungri) which expelled
the Gauls, and applied to itself and the whole race the epithet
Germani — warriors, thereby to excite terror; and as the name
spread with the renown of the conquering tribe, the whole Germanic race felt flattered and adopted the name. This is evidently
the meaning of Tacitus.
5-11. Apud eos. Notice that the use of eos here shows that
Germani is not the subject of memorant (=they, i. e. people,
authors, relate); if it were, we should have apud se.  A. & S.. 208; H. 449, I.; B. 1020; A. 19, 3; G. 294; 521. Heroulem,
the ubiquitous hero; or rather that German demigod whose exploits ranked him  with the Greek Hercules. Primumque, sc.
eum, him first of all, him in particular.  6. Virorum  fortium,
i. e. their great warriors and heroes. In Ann. II. 88, Tacitus says
of Arminius, "Caniturque adhuc barbaras apud  gentes."  7.
Sunt illis =they have. Relatu, recital; the chanting. A word
found only in Tacitus. 8. Barditum, the battle-song.  This is
the reading of the best, and by far the larger number of MSS. A
few have baritum. The etymological connections of the word are
so obscure that nothing can be said with certainty in regard to it.
Futurae —fortunam, the chance of the impending battle.  9.
Ipso cantu. The use of ipso gives the expression the force of
"aex solo sono" (K.); from  the mere sound of the song. 10.
Trepidantve, or take alarm, are frightened. Ve, a weaker form
of vel, gives a choice, but with the probability in favor of the first
alternative. A. &  S.. 198, II. 2, Rem. Acies, the army in
order of battle. Nec -videtur, nor does that (battle-song) seem
so much a unison of voice as of valor. Ille refers to barditus.
This is the reading of Hm. and He.; K. and others read, nec tanm
voces illae quam virtutis concentus videntur.
12-24. Fractum murmur, a broken sound, issuing not straight
out from the mouth, but in the manner explained in the next
clause. 13. Quo, that (in order that), takes the place of tit,
especially with a comparative (plenior). A. & S.. 262, Rem.
9; H. 497; B. 1214; A. 64, a; G. 545, 2; Z. ~ 536. Repercussu,
by its reflection.  14. Ulixem —opinantur.  It is plain  from
what Tacitus says at the close of this chapter, that he classes this
among the romantic tales with which the lively fancy of Greek
writers and their Roman imitators loved to adorn and amplify the
old legends. Longo illo errore. Observe the emphatic position
of illo, which, in the sense of well known, follows its noun, if not




GERMANIA.                             143
Page
accompanied by an adjective. 15. Fabuloso, storied; romantic. 16
Hunc oceanum, i. e. the ocean washing the northern shores of
Germany and adjacent coasts (not the Arctic ocean). Adisse
adivisse, came to. 16. Asoiburgium, now Asburg, on the Rhine;
as is commonly believed. 17. Situm, sc. est. Ab illo, by hit.
Why not illo, without ab. A. & S. ~ 248, I.; II. 388, II., 2;
B. 878; A. 56, 4; G. ~ 403. Constitutum, sc. esse; also after
nominatum. 18. Quin etiam, moreover; nay even. Ulixi, to
Ulysses, in honor of Ulysses; dat. of advantage. So most of the
commentators; a few, however, take Ulixi here = ab Ulixe. 19.
Patris nomine, i. e. as a patronymic, Laertiadae, Aasprtasp.
Eodem loco. The preposition in is frequently omitted with loco,
when an adjective is used. A. & S. ~ 254, Rem. 2 (b); H.
422, 1; B. 937, 2; A. 55, 3, f; G. 385, Rem. Repertam, sc.
esse. 20. Tumulos, seputlchral mounds. Graecis —inscriptos.
Whether the inscriptions were in Greek characters or not, it is
certain that the use of Greek characters was widely diffused over
Europe several centuries before the Christian era. For the statement in the text Tacitus is supposed to be indebted to the elder
Pliny.  22. Adhuc exstare, still exist, are still extant.  23.
In animo est, sc. mihi, it is mypurpose. Ex - suo, according to
his tl'ur of mind.  Quisque demat, let each withdrawt; imperative
subjunctive. A. & S. ~ 260, Rem. 6; H. 488, II.; B. 1193; A.
68, 2; G. 256, 3.
26-28. Nullis —connubiis, by no intersmarriages with other
nations. The use of aliis, while really superfluous, serves the
purpose of emphasis. " Aliis is not, however, wholly redundant;
but brings out more fully the idea: no intermarriages, onle with one
nlation, and another with another." T. Infectos, mixed, implying
generally, and probably here, deterioration. 27. Sinceram, anmsixed. Tantum - similem, only like itself. Sui.  A. & S. 
222, Rem. 2 (b); H. 391, 2, 4); B. 863; A. 51, 6, c. Rem.; G.
356, Rem. 1; Z. ~ 411, i) fin. The genitive is more likely with
simnilis when the reference is to internal resemblance or resemblance
in  character.  28. Habitus, characteristics; in the singular.
Supply est.
2-6. Idem  omnibus (est), all have the same; omnibus being 17
dat. of the possessor. Truces - oculi. Compare Caes. B. G. I.
39; Juv. XIII. 164; Hor. Epod. XVI. 7. 3. Ad impetum, for
a sadden effort, for a brief onset.  Cf. Ann. II. 14, where we have
corpus ad brevema impetum vwalidrn,. 4. Non, sc. est iis, they have




144                         NOTES.
Page
17 not.  Minimeque, and least of all.  5. Tolerare depends on
assuerunt.  (Sed) frigora atque inediam  (tolerare), etc.; (belt)
cold and hunger they are accustomed (to endutre) by reason of their
climate and soil. Caelo and solo, ablat. of cause, refer to frigora
and inediam respectively; hence ve, though disjunctive, is better
rendered and. K. thus expands and explains the brevity of Tacitus: prout vel caeli vel soli natura est. 6. Assuerunt -- assueverunt.
7-13. Aliquanto, considerably; strictly an ablat. of degree of
difference, though usually accounted an adverb. In universum,
on the whole, in general. 8. Horrida, bristling. Foeda, sc. est.
9. Gallias, Gaul. When Gaul became Roman and was divided
into several parts, they were called Galliae. Ventosior, like the
Homeric  vglosutg, implies elevation - exposed to winds, and hence
lofty. 10. Aspicit, it faces.  Satis, in crops; ablat. from sata.
Cf. Virg. Georg. II. 222. Impatiens, unproductive.  Tacitus
alludes to the finer fruits of a Southern clime. 11. Improcera,
undersized, sc. pecora sunt. Pecora are the smaller (horned)
cattle; armenta, the larger.  Ne —quidem, se. est, not event,the larger cattle have; armentis being dat. of the possessor.
12. Suus —frontis, their proper size and beauty or splenldor of
forehead. An expression almost too poetical for the occasion.
Gloria frontis is used poetically for "magna et camura cornua."
K. Numero, rather than quality. 13. Eae, and not ea, agreeing with opes rather than with arlsenlta.
14-28. Propitii - irati, wohether in kilndness or in anger; hence
negaverint is subjunctive of indirect question.  15. Neeaffirmaverim, and yet I shall sot assert; affirmaverim is subjunctive of modest or cautious statement (to soften an assertion; like
the Attic use of the optative with ai). A. & S. ~ 260, Rem. 4; H.
486, III. 3; B. 1179; A. 60, 2, b; G. 252, Rem. 1; Z. ~ 527. It
is now well known that both gold and silver are found in Germany.
17. Possessione - afficiuntur, in regard to their possession and
ruse they are not disposed injlust the saene manner; while they desire
to possess gold and silver utensils, they yet subject them to base
uses. The comparison is evidently between possessione and usu.
So Kritz. 18. Est videre =o-   e nay see; it is possible to see.
The expression shows the influence of Greek (artv bpoiv) on Latin.
The Latin-idiom is licet videre. 19. Principibus muneri. A. &
S. ~ 227; H. 390; B. 848; A. 51, 5; G. 350. Non in alia=in
eadem, in just the same. 20. Quae —finguntur, i. e. earthen



GERMANIA.                             145
Page
ware; humo is ablat. of the material (means). Proximi, i. e. to 17
the Rhine or to the Romans. 22., Formas =pieces; a word
frequently applied to stamped coins. 23. Eligunt, because they
know  these well, agnoscunt.  Interiores, those far~ther inland.
25. Serratos, coins with notched edges, like the edge of a saw.
This word is post-Augustan.  Bigatosque, and coinls stamped wUith
the figure of a twvo-horse chariot.  26. Affectione, predilectiol,
inclination. 27. Namerus, the (great) number, which made them
better known, and their use more general in the purchase of ordinary commodities. Argenteorum  (sc. numorum), of the silver
coins. 28. Proaiseua ac vilia, conmmon and cheatp commodities.
1-13. Ne quidem (with a word between) =not even. Superest, 18
abounds.  2. Colligitur, is inferred. Rari, only a fewl; a man
here and there. 3. Framias, frameae, which is therefore an old
German word; occurring also in Spanish. 4. Ferro, point, head;
ablat. of description or quality.  Habili, handy, suitable.  5.
Ratio — the English word circumnstances; lit. a consideration of
the circumstances.  6. Scuto, framea.  These ablatives are sufficiently explained as ablatives of cause - the cause of contentus
est. 7. Spargunt poeticumr habet colorem. K. An instance of
the tendency of Tacitus to use poetical expressions. Cf Virg.
Aen. XII. 50. Pluraque singuli (sc. pedites missilia spargunt),
aid eachfootsoldiel a good mainy. 8. In immensum (se. spatium),
to a great distance. Vibrant, they hurl them; properly, they sway
them backward and forward, and then hurl them. Nudi, here, as
often, is almost nude. 9. Loves=-lightly covered; being nudi
and leves they have more complete command of their bodily
powers. Cultus, of ornlaments, of military equipments. Lectissimis, with svery choice, striking. 10. Coloribus.  "Hence coats
of arms and the origin of heraldry."  T. from Murphy. Loricae,
sc. sunt.  11. The eassis was of metal; the galea of leather.
Forma, for their beaudty; ablat. of cause. 12. Sed nec — sed et
non, butl- not eveli. Variare gyros, to vary their curevee or courses;
"to describe a movement of which the figure 8 gives one the best
idea."  13. In rectum -sit, they drive them iab a straight line
( = straight forward) or by a single beniding to the right, ina a circular course so connected that no one is behind.  The movement
may be thus explained: the horsemen rode abreast on the radius
of a circle; the rider on the extreme right of the line, being nearer
the centre of the circle, moved more slowly, while the rider on the
extreme left, being on the circumference, moved more rapidly; a
10- Tac.                  N




146                         NOTES.
Page
18 principal object was that the whole line should present an even
front. The circular arcs which the several riders were at any
moment describing were so conjoined by the common radius in
which they moved, that no rider lagged behind. So Kritz and
other commentators. Some explain the passage differently.
14-28. In universum, on the whole, in general.  15. Aestimanti, to onle considering the matter; equivalent here to a protasis, si quis aestimat; dative of reference after some such expression as venit in mnlelten, understood. Eo, therefore; ablat. of cause.
Mixti, i. e. equites cum peditibus mixti.  Cf. Caes. B. G. I. 48,
where the same thing is more fully described.  18. Centeni.
Notice the force of the distributive; a hundred froan each canton.
19. Id ipsum, lit. that itself = by just that nams, i. e. centeni;
hunldert, with, of course, the proper name annexed; id ipsum  is
predicate nominative after vocantur.  20. Quod, i. e. id quod
what. Primo generally is at first; while primum  is first, in the
first place.  Numerus, X (mere) nulnber.  21. Cuneos.  The
plural indicates that each body formed a cnlleea, and that many
cunei formed the acies. Loco, ablat. governed by ex understood.
Cf. Liv. III. 63. 22. Instes, subjunct. of condition. A. & S..
263, 2; H. 503; B. 1259; A. 61, 3; G. 575. Consilii-formidinis = a proof of prtudence rather than of fear'.  The omission of
potius is noticeable.  "Isolated irregularities in the use of the
comparative form are met with here and there in certain writers
(Sallust, Livy, and especially Tacitus), e. g. the omission of magis
or potius before quart."  Madvig, ~ 308, Obs. 2. Consilii, predicate genitive. A. & S. ~ 211, Rem. 8 (3); H. 401; B. 780; A. 50,
I. c; G. 365. 23. Corpora, se. caesa. Referunt, i. e. back to
the rear.  24. Nec fas (est) ignominioso, etc.  26. Multi, so.
ignominiosi.  Superstites bellorum, surviving the wars.  The
genitive after superstes is mostly post-Augustan. Laqueo, with a
halter.  28. Reges, duces.  Civil rulers and military leaders
respectively. Ex, according to (their).
19    1-15. Nec regibus, se. est = and kiings have not; regibus being
dat. of the possessor. Infinita, libera, unlimited, unrestrained.
Exemplo and imperio, instrumental ablat.  3. Agant, subjunctive by the principle of oratio obliqua, to reflect the sentiment of
the admirers and not that of Tacitus. Admiratione, with admireation, so as to excite admiration. 4. Animadvertere= to punish,
here with death.'"Anlimadvertere in aliquem, by an ellipsis of
se2pplicio, signifies to pussish any one." Crombie. 5. Permissum,




GERMANIA.                            147
Page
so. est. Non —poenam, not as though. for punlishment, but to ap- 19
pease the anger of the deity. 7. Effigies et signa, images and
standards, standards with certain images on them; these images,
as appears from  Hist. IV. 22, were those of wild boars, bears,
wolves, and bulls: "depromlptae silvis lucisve ferarum imagines."
And this explains (8) detracta lucis, taken frosm the yroves. 9.
Quodque= et quod, and what. 10. Conglobatio, nsass of mien,
assemblage;  a post-Augustan  word.  Turmam, of cavalry.
Cuneum, of infantry. 11. In proximo (se. loco)=, ear by, in
proximity. Pignora, i. e. their wives and children. 12. Audiri,
is heard; the historical infinitive. This is the reading of the
MSS., which Kritz corrects and reads auditlr. 13. Sanctissimi,
the most inviolable, whose claims and rights must be defended.
Observe that hi takes the ruling gender of testes and laudatores.
15. Exigere, to demrland, as proof of valor. Some editors translate to examine and care for, which seems not to accord with the
general spirit of the context.
17-28. Quasdam —labantes, that some armies already giving
way and warversing.  18. Restitutas  (esse).  Notice  the  two
ablatives feminis and constantia; the former, being a voluntary
agent, is governed by the preposition a; the latter, expressing
qmeans, is the instrumental ablat. without a preposition.  19.
Objectu pectorum, that is, to their husbands and brothers, and
imploring death at their hands rather than captivity with the
enemy. Comminus, close at hand. 20. Nomine, for the sake
of, in the case of.  21. Adeo ut, to such a degree that.  22.
Nobiles. So all the MSS. Some editors, however, read nubiles; a
reading at variance with the ancient German reverence for women.
23. Inesse, sc. feminis, that there is in them. Quin etiam, moreover.  25. Responsa, their answers; their oracular responses
and prophecies. Vidimus Veledam, namely, at Rome, whither
she was brought captive. The plural indicates Tacitus and his
contemporaries. " From this passage it has been erroneously supposed that Tacitus had himself been in Germany." S. Divo, the
deified. After the Augustan period this was a standing epithet of
deceased Roman emperors. The use of the word here, of course,
implies that Vespasian was dead at the time the passage was
written. 26. Plerosque, se. Germanorum. Loco, in the rank.
27. Albrunam. The name appears in a great variety of forms,
even in the MSS. Aurinia is the commoner form. 28. Adulatione,
from cringing flattery; the servile spirit which induced the Romans




148                         NOTES.
Page
19 under the empire to deify men, and even women, as Drusilla, the
sister of Caligula, and others. There is in this passage an indirect but evident censure of the servile spirit and depraved manners of the later Romans. Neque —deas, Mnor as if they made
them goddesses; but the Germans, believing that these women were
divinely inspired in an unusual degree, ranked them, though
human, with goddesses. After facerent supply eas.
20   1-11. Mercurium. Cf. Caes. B. G. VI. 17. Tacitus, of course,
applies  Roman  names to  the German  deities.  2. Quoque
immediately follows the word which it emphasizes.  On other
days victims of a different kind were offered. 3. Concessis, with
the allowed or allotted; with animals usually devoted to sacrifice
among other nations. The word is used in contrast with humanis.
[Et Herculem.] Words thus inclosed are found in only a few MSS.
or rest upon inferior MS. authority. 4. Sueborum    Suevorum.
Their name still remains in Schwaben, Suabia. Isidi. Amid the
many conjectures respecting this goddess, that of Ritter and Kritz,
who identify her with the Nerthus of chap. 40, seems the most
plausible. Unde causa, sc. sit. Tacitus by this remark indicates
a possible adoption by the Germans of the Egyptian goddess Isis.
5. Sacro, dative.  Signum, her symbol.  6. Liburnae, of a
Liburnian galley; a light, fast sailing vessel of the Liburnians, an
Illyrian people on the Adriatic. Advectam (esse). 7. Religionem, that her worship. Cohibere, to colifine (within). 8. Ex, in
accordance with. 10. Consecrant, i. e. to particular deities. Secretum illud, that mysterious being; which was neither to be
materialized in images nor circumscribed by temples; neither of
which the Germans of this age had. 11. Sola —vident, they discern by reverence alone. Hence, among the Germans religion was
more spiritual, though none the less superstitious; among other
pagans, it was rather a matter of form.
12-28. Sortesque. Cf. Caes. B. G. I. 50, and I. 43. Ut qui
maxime -quam  maxime, very diligently; lit., as those (observe
them) who observe them most. 14. Arbori. The dative depends
on de in composition (decisam).  15. Discretos, distinguished,
marked; from  discerno. Temere, at randoem. 16. Si - consultetur= if the consultation is on behalf of the state.  Editors
generally read consitletur. We give the reading of Halm. 18.
Ter singulos tollit, takes up each one three times; for the sake of
greater certainty. "Three is the charm." Cf. Caes. B. G. I. 53.
19. Sublatos, them while held up. 20. Prohibuerunt, se. sortes.




GERtMANTA.                            149
Page
21. Permissum, se. est, the matter is allo;wed; impersonally.  22. 20
Fides, coifijriation. Exigitur, is required.  Et illud quidem,
and in fact the following.  H'ic, i. e. in Germany. Notum  (est).
23. Proprium  gentis (Germa nicae est), it i8 a peculiarity of the
(German) race. For the case of gentis. A. ~& S. ~ 213; IH. 399, 3,
3); B. 766; A. 50, 3; G. 356, Rem. 1. 24, Publice, by the state;
or, at the expense of the state. 25. Lucia. What preposition is
understood? 26. Mortali - of man. Contacti, defiled, blemished.
Pre'ssos poeticum habet colorern, K.; and is another instance of
the proneness of Tacitus to the language of poetry. Sacro curru,
used in the performance of public sacred rites. 27. Hinnitus -
observant. How is Darius IHystaspes said to have been chosen
king? Cf. HIerod. III. 85.
1-14. Fides, credit. 2. Illos, 8c. equos. Conscios, se. esse, are 21
their coifidant.s. 4. Explorantur is the reading of one MS. corrected, and is adopted by Hahn; some have erploratur; others
explorant. 5. Quoquo mode, in whatever' nzraer, "vel vi, vel dolo,
vel casu." K. 6. Eleoto - suorum, one chosen fromn their own
countrylmen.  Patriis, of hi8 country or nation. 7. Armis, ablat.
of accompaniment, with caum omitted. Committunt, they match,
for single combat.  The technical word for matching gladiators
and combatants.  " Montesquieu finds in this custom the origin of
the duel and of knight-errantry." T. -Praejudicio, a prejudgwent, a virtual judgment of the result of the future contest. - 10.
Ita tamen at, in 8such a way however that- with this provision
however that. 11. Pertraotentur, are thoroughly discussed.  Per
seems to have an intensive force here. Ritter reads praetractentur,
which would be a happy conjecture, if conjecture were needed.
13. Certis, on fixed, appointed. Inchoatur luna. Cf. Caes. I. 50.
Impletur, not is filled or full, but is increasing, is filling; as the
present tense implies. 14. Rebus, dative.
15-28. Noctium. Compare the expressions "sennight" (seven
nights), a week; "fortnight" (fourteen nights), two weeks. See
also, Caes. B. G. VI. 18. 16. Constituunt, condicunt (determine,
appoint). Vocabula sunt forensia. K.  Ducere, to lead=to go
before; a day was reckoned from  sunset to sunset. 17. Illud is
subject. Ex libertate, se. ortuin, arising fronm. 18. Ut, wchen.
Et alter, evens a second; from which it is evident that alter is
equivalent to  ecunduts. 19. Ut, when, as soon as. 21. Quibus
est —who have. Tumrn, the, when they have taken their seats in
convention. 22. Cuique, translate of each; it is however dative
nN2




150                          NOTES.
Page
21  of the possessor, sec. est. 23. Decus, his trenowon (in). Auctori.
tate, from their i,,fl~eince (il,); ablat. of cause. 24. Displicuit,
sc. iis.  28, Discrimen intendere   to arraign on a cc(pital charge;
lit., to hold over (one) the peril of (his) head.
22   1-12. Ex, according to. 2. Arboribus, governed by de, ex, or
ab, understood.  The preposition is frequently expressed.  3.
Ignavos, cowtards, who show fear in battle; imbelles, the unloarlike, who seek to avoid warfare. Corpore infames, the disreputable in body; "nefandis et naturae repugnantibus libidinibus
dediti." K. Coeno ac palude = coeeeosat palude; such a hendiadys
we should expect to find only in poetry. Yet many occur in Tacitus. 4. Diversitas. A post-Augustan word, and a proof of the
growth and development of language, not necessarily of its decay.
6. Illuc respicit=has regard to this, has this object in view.
Scelera oporteat crimes outght; crimes against society, while
flagitia are vices which degrade the individual.  6. Delictis, dat.
of the possessor. 7. Pro modo, sc. delicti, according to the measure
of the offense. Poena, se. est. All the MSS. have, strangely
enough, poenarnnm, which nearly all editors, ancient and modern,
have corrected. " Poena and suppllicihan agree in denoting a punishment inflicted upon some person, held to be a culprit, but differ
in respect to its severity.  Poena denotes a penalty, which may be
either the lightest or the heaviest possible, and comprehends also
all the intermediate degrees.  Supplicieun  differs from poena, in
denoting that the punishment is always severe, and that the rigor
of the means is neglected, provided the end is obtained."  Hill,
pp. 594-5. See Hist. I. 37. Numero, ablat. of the fine. A. & S.
# 217, Rem. 3; H. 410, 5, 3); B. 795; A. 50, 4, b; G. 377, Rem. 1.
Multare, to mulct, is always followed by the ablative. 9. Vindicatur, is avenaged.  Propinquis ejus, e. g. in cases of homicide.
10. Isdem =iisdem.  Jura reddunt, adntinister justice, in circuit
(per) courts. 11. Pagos, cantoens, districts, the territory of a distinct people, e. g. the hundred cantons of the Suevi, Caes. B. G. I.
37. There might be many vici in a pagus. 12. Consiliumauctoritas, at once his council (or advisers) and (the sropporters of)
his authority.
13-18. Rei is partitive genitive limiting nihil. Neque - neque,
either —or; because nihil is a general negative which neque -
neqne simply distribute. A. & S. ~ 277, Rem. 5; IH. 585, 2; B.
999; G. 444. 14. Non cuiquam moris, sc. est= it is lot cnstomary
for any one. Cuiquam is dative of the possessor.  Moris is predi



GERTMANIA.                            151
Page
cate genitive of quality. A. & S. ~ 211, Rem. 8 (3), (a); H. 401 22
and 402, I.; B. 780; A. 50, 1, c; G. 365. Ante quam = -antequam, before; followed by probaverit, subjunctive of ideal limit.
A. & S. ~ 263, 3; H. 523, II.; B. 1241; A. 62, II.; G. 579. 15.
Suffeoturum, sc. eum esse, that he will be able (to bear arms). 16.
Principum, partitive genitive limiting aliquis.  17. Scuto —
ornant. Compare with this ceremonial the investiture of knights
with lance and shield in the days of chivalry. Haeco, sc. est;
agreeing in gender with the predicate, toga. 18. Toga, the toga,
i. e. the symbol of entrance upon manhood, as the assumption of
the toga was with the Romans. Honos, to be taken in its political
sense; an honor bestowed by the state and a stepping-stone to
" office and honor."
20-28. Patrum merita, services on the part of fathers.  Principis dignationem, the rack of prilnce.  So most editors. Kritz,
however, gives these words the sense of, "the favor of the prince."
Tacitus would hardly think it necessary to state so natural a fact.
21. Cateris, dative after aggregantur. 22. Jam pridem=-jampridem, long, already long. Aggregantur, se. hi adolescentuli;
they rattach themselves.  Nee rubor, se. est iis —nor are they
ashamied. 23. Comites, the attendants, retinue, of the king or
prince; the same as comitatus in the same line. Gradus, degrees
of rank. Quin etiam, moreover; but even. 25. Quibus -locus,
sc. sit, who shall have theJfirst, etc. 27. Comites, sc. sint; subjunctive of indirect question. Haec, sc. est; also agreeing with the
predicate dignitas. 28. Decus answers to dignitas, and praesidium to vires; decus is in apposition with the preceding clause.
1-5. Cuique, se. principis.  2. Nomen, renown. 3. Comitatus, 23
genitive.  Emineat, he is distinlguished; subjunctive in oratio
obliqua, to refer the thought to cuique. Expetuntur, sc. tales
principes, they are sought after, are courted. 4. Legationibus is
ablative. Ipsa, ablative, agrees with fama; by their reputation
itself. 5. Profligant, they almost ter1-inate. For other instances
of this meaning of profligo, cf. Ann. XIV. 36; Hist. II. 4. Tacitus applies to bella a word which is more strictly applicable to
hostes.
6-18. Ventum, sc. est ab iis = whoken they come. 8. Jam vero, sc.
est, thetn indeed it is; introducing a climax or important consideration. 9. Superstitem is here followed by the dative; in chapter
6, it was followed by the genitive. 11. Sacramentum, solemn
obligation.  Sacramentum was also the Oath of allegiance taken




152                          NOTES.
Page
23 by the Roman soldiers. 13. Torpeat, becomes inactive.  What
does the use of the present subjunctive imply? A. & S. ~ 261, 2;
H. 504; B. 1265; A. 59, 4, b; G. 598. 15. Aliquod. Why not
aliquid? A. & S. ~ 138, 2., (b); H. 191, IIL 1; B. 251; G. 105, 1.
16. Ancipitia, dangele's, the perils of war. 18. Exigunt, they deilad, i. e. strive to win. Illum —-illam  point to the well recognized rewards of valor. When emphatic, ille is often placed after
the noun, unless accompanied by an adjective.
20-28, Quamnquam - apparatus, entertainments though inelegant yet plen tifil.  Apparatus however refers rather to the general
appointments and style of the banquet, than to the banquet itself.
21. Cedunt, go, i. e. are taken.  22. Arare persuaseris.  The infinitive with persuadeo is more usual in poetry, and in the prose
of the silver age. 23. Annum    the produce of the year. Persuaseris, will you persuade them;n subjunct. of modest or cautious
statement (or, of implied condition; or, potential subjunctive). A.
& S. ~ 260, II., Rem. 4; H. 486, I.; B. 1177-9; A. 60, 2, b; G.
602. 24. Vocare= provocare,- to challenge. Poetice. Mereri, to
wil, by valor; "to win honorable scars."  Quin immo, nay mlore.
Inia[ o gives emphasis, and puts something stronger in place of
what has been said. A. A. & S.    191, Rem. 3; Z. % 277, in fin.
Pigrum et iners, tanie and spiritless.  25. Possis, potential subjunctive. 27. Multum venatibus. All the MSS. have n71 n ultum,
which is. inconsistent with the general description of German life,
as given by Tacitus, and is in direct contradiction of what Caesar
says, B. G. VI. 21. Many editors accordingly reject non.
24   1-11. Fortissimus quisque, all the bravest. See A. & S. ~ 207,
Rein. 35 (b); tI. 458, 1; B. 1052; A. 17, 5, c; G. 305.  So in
line 3, infirmissimo cuique.  2. Domus, genitive.  Penatium,
i. e. of the ho(usehold, domestic arrangements.  Agrorum. In some
parts of Germany the severest agricultural labors are still performed by women. 3. ]psi, i. e. viri. 4. Hebent, lounge about.
Diversitate, contrariety, contradiction. B. Oderint. Why the perfect, while amentis present?  A. & S. ~ 183, Note 3; H. 297, I.,
2; B. 436; A. 38, 1, b, Note; G. 190, 5. 6. Conferre, to bestow.
Armentorum, partitive genitive, without a governing word expressed.  We may supply aliquid.  9. Singulis, individuals,
whether officials or private citizens. 10. Publice, in the lname qf
the state. 11. Jam goes with docuimus. Accipere, se. eos; i. e.
instead of using the sword like our fathers, we have begun to pay
the Germans for leaving us unmolested in our luxury.




GERMANIA.                              153
Page
12-18. Germanorum  populis, by the tribes of the Gerrma ns; 24
populis being dative of the agent, instead  of the usual prose construction of a or ab with the ablative. 13. Satis,. quite. Tacitus
uses the word urbes in its larger sense, as distinguished from vicus
and oppidulm.  Pati, sc. eos. Inter se = toqether, to one another.
14. Colunt z incolunt. Discreti ac diversi, seplarate and scattered
about, without regard to order or regularity.  Ut fons. "Hence to
this day, the names of German towns often end in bach (brook),
feld (field), holz (grove), wald (wood), born (spring)." T. 16. Connexis - cohaerentibus, wvith connected (as by fences, hedges, etc.)
(nd contiguous (by close contact). 18. Remedium, accusative in
apposition with the preceding sentence.  "Sometimes an accusative stands in apposition with a whole preceding sentence." G.
323. Inscitia, froml igniorance; ablative of cause.
19-28. Materia, timlber, wood for building.  20. Citra, lit. on
this side of; short of; hence - sine, woithout.  Speciem aut delectationem, elegance or attractiveness.  21. Loca, the walls. Terra
ita pura, of which nothing is certainly known. Some have supposed that it was a kind of red earth or chalk. 22. Ut - imitetur, that it?resenmbles paintiig ad delineations in colors. Pictura
is simply painting (in one color). Tacitus doubtless had in mind
the ornamentation of the walls of Roman houses customary in his
time. 23. Solent-aperire, i. e. the more remote and less civilized  tribes,  Aperire  fodere.  24.  Insuper, above.  Kritz
thinks it may mean nmoreover.  Suffugium. See note on remedium, line 18, above. Hiemi, from ivinter; the dative here depends on a noun, suffugium, a shelter.  25. Ejus modi, such; lit.
of this kind, modi being a genitive of quality. 26. Aperta, sc.
loca. 27. Populatur, sc. hostis. Abdita - defossa (se. loca), but
their hidden retreats anld their caves.  28. Eo - fallunt, they escape
notice frovm the very fact. Eo is ablat. of cause.
1-13. Omnibus sagum, sc. est.  The sagum  covered the back 25
and shoulders; it was worn by the Roman soldiers and peasants.
2. Cetera intecti, lit., ancovered as to the other prltts of the body;
cetera being: accusative of specification.  A. & S. ~ 234, II.; H.
380; B. 728; A. 52, 3; G. 332. Dies, accusative of duration of
time. 4. Fluitante, floewig loosely.  Sicut Sarmatae, se. distinguuntur.  Stricta- exprimente, tight cnld exhibiting each limnb.
The garment referred to was of course worn beneath the sagum,
extending below it. 6. Ripae, sc. Rheni. Negligenter, because
intercourse with the Romans supplied them with other clothing




154                          NOTES.
Page
25 also. Exquisitius, more elegantly, nicely; because skins were
their only clothing.  7. Ut quibus, se. sit, inasnuch as they have;
a relative clause expressing a reason, the relative at the same time
being strengthened by ut. A. & S. ~ 264, 8, (2); H. 519, 3, 1); B.
1253; A. 65, 2, e; G. 636. Cultus,?refinemlent, the elegancies of
civilized life. 8. Maculis pellibusque, i. e. spots made of the
skins of wild animals, and fastened on for the sake of variety. S.
A hendiadys.  9. Exterior oceanus, the German ocean; ignotum
mare, "the uItnkowen sea" is the Baltic. 10. Habitus, dreess,
attire. 12. Variant, they diversify. 13. Brachia, accusative of
specification. Brachium extended from the hand to the elbow;
lacertus, from the elbow to the shoulder.
14-18. Quamquam, although, i. e. notwithstanding the style of
dress. 15. Laudaveris, oill you praise; perfect subjunctive.  A.
& S. ~ 260, II., Rem. 4; H. 486, I.; B. 1177-9; A. 60, 2, ac; G.
602. 16. Barbarorum, aalong barbarians; partitive  genitive.
Singulis. Notice the force of the distributive; "one vwife each."
17. Qui non - ambiuntur, swho (have several wives) eotfromn leust,
bitt oa accoeet of their  eobility are invited to several vnarricges.
Nuptiis is dative of the end or object. All the MSS. have plurimi8 nulepxtiis. But, with Halm and Kritz, we prefer plluriblls, which
forms a better contrast with sisegulis.  Ariovistus had but two
wives.  Ambiuntur, se. a virginum  parentibus  aut propinquis. K.
22-28. Delicias muliebres; the mnere delicght of the tooscen; "the
fastidious tastes of women."  23. Nec quibus =nec talia ut iis;
hence comatur is subjunctive of purpose.  A. & S. ~ 264, 5; H.
500; B. 1205-7; A. 64, 1; G. 632. Nupta, bride. 24. In haeo
munera.  These words are generally interpreted, a07 coeditioes of
these g[fts. To us they seem rather to mean, to the symebolisnm (or
purport) of these gifts; or simply into these gifts, i. e. their significance; maintenance and protection. 26. Haec - sacra, these are
their mystic cites, which, though the eye may see, the mind must
interpret and the soul feel.  Tacitus doubtless had in mind here
the most solemn kind of Romuan marriage, called conefairreatio.
27. Conjugales deos. The Romnans had quite a number of gods of
macerriage; e. g. Jupiter, Juno, Diana, Hymenaeus, Venus, and
others of less note.  28. Extra - cogitationes, beyolcd acspi)ations
after ea2C11ely quealities.
26   1-13. Bellorum casus - incipientis forms a hexameter verse. S.
3. Idem, sc. quodvir suus vel patitur vel audet.- Passuram. The




GERMANIA.                              155
Page
future participle here,denotes purpose or destiny. 5. Denuntiant, 26
declare, proclaim.  Sic vivendum, sc. esse sibi, that thus she must
live. Accipere se, that she receives, depends on denuntiant. 6.
Quae, sc. ea; referring, as Kritz remarks, not to the gifts, but
rather to the duties and dutiful spirit signified in the gifts. Quae
reddat-== ut ea reddat.  A. & S. ~ 264, 5; H. 500; B. 1205-7; A.
64, 1; G. 632; which she is to hand over. 7. Accipiant, i. e. from
her sons. Referantur, sc. quae, which are to be transmitted.  8.
Septa. One MS. has septae.  WVith chastity guarded, by the sacredness of marriage and the moral obligations implied in the bridal
gifts. Spectaculorum refers to the corrupt influences of the Roman shows and exhibitions. 9. Conviviorum. Cf. Nepos Pret::
Quem enim Romanorum pudet uxorem  ducere in convivium?  10.
Litterarum  secreta.  By "the secrets  of letters" Tacitus must
mean secret corre6spondelce, clandestine love letters; " quibus illiciti'
amores juvabantur." K.  This view, indeed, is made necessary by
the context. 12. Praesens, immlediate. 13. Abscisis, from abscido.
Some MSS. have accisis.
14-28. Publicatae= vulgatae, prostituted.  15. Pudicitiae is
dative of the possessor, se. est. Non forma, neither by her beuzuty.
16. Invenerit, will she find; perf. subjunctive of cautious statement. A. & S. ~ 260, II., Rem. 4; H. 486, I.; B. 1177-9; A. 60,
2, a; G. 602. Nemo - vocatur. Tacitus seems here, like an uncompromising censor, to epitomize the whole depraved life of the
fashionable Rome of his day. 17. Saeculum, the spirit of the age.
18. Melius - adhuc, still better indeed; adhuc here = etiam of
the Augustan period. See Lex. Eae civitates, sc. agunt or sunt.
19. Tantum virgines, and not widows; i. e. where there are no
second or subsequent marriages, or where the wife, on the -death
of her husband, put an end to her own life. 20. Semel transigitur, the business is oncefor all coclluded; with no hope or wish
for its repetition. 21. Ne —ultra, sc. sit. 22. Longior, a more
distant, outreaching the first union.  23. Numerum - finire (to
lisnit), in an unnatural way either before or after birth. 24.
Agnatis, additional children, born after the father had made his
will.  Agati are kinsmen by the father's side, and include the
regular line of his descendants.  27. Nudi, slightly clad; as the
word often means.  Sordidi must also refer to clothing=ls eanly
clad; since in chap. 22 the Germans are said to bathe every day.
28. Quae miramur, on account of their great size, Sua, his
owet.




156                          NOTES.
Page
27   1-17. Uberibus=at the breast.  Nec —delegantur. Cf. Dial.
de Orat. c. 29. 2. Educationis, in the physical sense of being
reared.  3. Deliciis, a,)enlities.  Dignoscas, potential subjunctive.
A. & S. ~ 260, II., Rem. 4; H. 486, L.; B. 1177; A. 60, 2, a; G.
602. 4. Aetas, i. e. until both have grown up. Separet. Subjunctive after donec, because the attainment of the result is viewed as
held in suspense. A. & S. ~ 263, 4; H. 522, I.; B. 1240; A. 62, 3,
d; G. 573 and 574; Z. ~ 575. Virtus, valor; agnoscat, recoynizes thei; until the achievement of some deed of valor classes
them  among  the brave.  5. Venus =concubitus; the sexual congress.  Cf. Caes. B. G. VI. 21. Eoque, and for this reasonl; eo
being ablative of cause.  6. Festinantur =  are hurried i lto smarriage.  Eadem juventa, sc. est virginibus atque juvenibus; youth
is not wedded to age.  7. ]discentur -- are wedded, sc. "cum
juvenibus maritis." K.  8. Referunt, reproduce; and hence re.semble.  9. Honor, regqard, consideration.  10. Hunc nexum, i. e.
of sisters' sons. 11. Exigunt, 8c. sororum filios. Tamquam = on
the ground that.  12. Teneant, subjunctive in oratio obliqua, because representing the view of others than the writer. 13. Cuique
liberi, each man's children.  15. Quanto - quo - tanto =- the -
the-the; ablatives of degree of difference.  Notice that patrui
are paternal uncles; avunculi, mnaternal uncles; propinqui, blood
relations; affines, relations by marrliage.  16. Gratiosior senectus.  While the death of a wealthy parent was often impatiently
waited for by the corrupt Roman; and the childless old man of
wealth was sure to be fawned upon by a crowd of expectant
flatterers. 17. Orbitatis, of childlessn7ess.  Pretia, advantages, sc.
sunt.
18-28. Suscipere, to take up and make them one's own. Tam -
quam, as well — as.  20. Durant, sc. Germani.  Armentorum,
of' large cattle.  21. Recipit - domus, the whole ]house receives satisfaction; i. e. on the payment of the fine, all the relatives of the
murdered man lay aside their enmity, and that feud ceases. 22.
Publioum, the general public.  23. Juxta libertatem, in connection with freedom; i. e. in a free state, where the individual
will is less coerced by law.  24. Convictibus, in the case of friends
and neighbors; hospitiis, in the case of strangers.  Effusius,
more extensively. Cf. Caes. B. G. VI. 23. 26. Pro fortuna, according to his mieans.  Apparatis, with twellfurished.  Excipit, entertaills.  27. Cum  defecere, sc. epulae.  W'odo, but just Low.
Hospes, here the host.  Monstrator hospitii, i. e. he shows him




GERMANIA.                               157
Page
a neighbor's house where he can be entertained, and goes there 27
himself, comes. 28. Non invitati, i. e. without being invited.
1-6. Nec interest, i. e. whether they are invited or not.  Pari 28
humanitate, with the samne 7kindaess, as if they had been specially
invited.  2. Quantum —hospitis, as far as concernls the right of
the guest to hospitality. Cf. Agric. 44.  3. Moris, so. est, it is customary; predicate genitive of quality.  A. & S. % 211, Rem. 8 (3),
(a); H. 401 and 402, I.; B. 780; A. 50, 1, c; G. 365. 4. Facilitas, freedom.  5. Nec imputant, lit., they neither charge to one's
account; they neither regard as all obligation.  6. Victus - comis,
the manner of life between hosts anwd guests is courteotus; though in
the absence of strangers, and among themselves, they may be
quarreisome, as-we learn in the next chapter.
7-18. " Every German usage noticed in this chapter is in pointed
contrast with Roman habits."  E = immediately after.  In diem,
till daylight.  8. Lavantur, they cwash themselves, bathe: clearly
with the force of a Greek middle verb.  Calida, sc. aqua.  Ut apud
quos = since anlong them; a relative clause assigning a reason, in
which the verb is generally in the subjunctive, especially when the
relative is strengthened by aut, quippe, etc.  Plurimum = — ost of
th e year. 9. Singulis sedes, sc. sunt, each onle has, etc. 12. Nulli
probrum, sc. est.  13. Ut inter vinolentos, sc. fieri solet, as happels, etc.  15. In vicem, mnstually.  Jungendis, contracting.  16.
Asciscendis, admitting, i. e. electing.  17. Nullo, at no other. 18.
Simplices, ul1disguised.  Magis pateat, is snore opean.
19-28. Astuta - callida.  Men are astuti (eunfning) by nature;
callidi (shrezwd) by experience.  See Hill, pp. 119-122.  20.
Adhu6, still, to this day.  Licentia, in the freedom.  21. Detecta
- mens, se. est.  Retractatur = the nlatter is againl discussed; the
negotiation is renewed; impersonally. 22. Salva —est, the accountt of both occ(isions is safe; a -business phrase: " salva ratio is
properly used when the debtor and creditor sides of an account
balance one another." S. The thought is still farther expanded
in the words deliberant - possunt.  Truth is elicited at the entertainment; and sober second thought guides to the proper use of it.
25. Potui humor, sc. est iis, they heave as a drink, etc.  The reference is to ale and beer, for which the Romans had no name. Frumento, here wheat. 26. Corruptus only implies that if the humor
in question were regarded as wine, it would be very poor wine; it
might, at the same time, be good ale or beer.  Ripae, csc. Rheni.
27. Cibi simplices, sc. sunt. Poma, fruits. Recens fera, we
0




158                         NOTES.
Page
28 may translate fresh venison; properly, fresh game of any kind.
Cf. Caes. B. G. IV. 1; VI. 22. 28. Lao concretum, curdled nmilk,
curds. Cf. Virg. Georg. III. 463. Apparatu, elegance of preparation. Blandimentis, in general, incentives to appetite; which may
be either dainties, delicacies (K., T.), or condimzents, seasoning (S.).
29   2-14. Ebrietati, dative; suggerendo, instrumental ablative.
3. Vitiis quam armis. Illustrations of this statement are given
in Hist. IV. 79; Ann. I. 50. 6. Nudi, slightly clad; as before,
and frequently.  Quibus - est, for?whom it is a 8port; "not whose
business it is to furnish the amusement: that would be quorum
est." T. 7. Infestas =  menacing; pointed at them. 8. Artem,
skill. Ars, se. paravit. Non in quaestum, as was the case with
Roman jugglers and mountebanks.  9. Quamvis audacis, howoever
daring; as daring as you please. 10. Mirere, you mny  wonder at;
potential subjunctive. 11. Inter seria, among their se rious occupations.  Gambling, except at the Saturnalia, was forbidden by
Roman laws. 12. Extremo ac novissimo, with their last and
final. The two superlatives greatly emphasize the desperate
character of the play.  14. Juvenior for junior is extremely
rare.
15-28. Venire, from  venco.  16. Ea = such; agreeing with
pervicacia.  Prava, ablative.  Fidem, honor.  17. Per comrnmercia tradunt, they dispose of in commerce, i. e. to foreigners, for
the reason mentioned in the next clause. 18. Pudore, frons the
disgrace, i. e. of holding their countrymen as slaves on their native
soil. Exsolvant = liberent. 19. Ceteris servis, captured in war,
etc. Descriptis —ministeriis, in services distribulted anlmo;ng all
the slaves. Familiam is here the whole body of slaves belonging
to one master.  In Becker's Gallus we have an account of the manifold subdivision of slave duties in a large Roman household. 20.
Quisque, each slave. 21. Sedem, house and horme; it implies more
than domus. Penates= —domestic affairs.  22. Colono, a farmer
who rented the land which he cultivated. 23. Hactenus paret,
thus far is in subjection, i. e. to the extent of paying to the owner
a part of the produce. Domus, uxor, liberi, of the master. 24.
Opere, with hard work. The Roman master had absolute power
over his slaves, and often used it with extreme severity. 27. Impune est, i. e. to kill a slave. 27. Liberti, freedmen. A manumitted slave was libertus (that is, liberatus) with reference to his
master; with reference to the class to which he belonged after




G ERMANIA.                             159
Page
manumission, he was libertinus. Diet. Antiqq.  28. Domo, i. e. of 29
their former masters.
1-16. Quae regnantur, which are governed by kings.  3. Im- 30
pares libertini, the inferior (condition of the) freedmeln, i. e. when
compared with the free born and the high born.  Observe that
libertini denotes the same persons as liberti; but a moment ago,
as Tacitus was speaking of freedmen in their relations to their
masters, he used liberti; and speaking of them now as a class or
distinct body, he uses libertini. Libertatis argumentum, a
proof of freedon,.; because freemen valued their rights and their
citizenship too highly to confer them on freedmen. Freedmen at
Rome, especially under the emperors, often acquired great wealth
and influence, and even posts of honor, to the exclusion of the
nobility. 5. Fenus agitare=to exact interest for money lent.
Et - extendere (.sc. fenus), and to put it (the interest) on infterest,
i. e. to exact compound interest.  This sentence is a difficult one.
Commentators, however, agree in giving the explanation just
given.  " When nsura and feius appear in the same sentence, the
former always suggests what is more oppressive to the debtor than
the latter."  Hill, p. 779. 6. Magis servatur, it (the practice of
not exacting interest) is smore observed.  We may supply non fenerari as subject.  Usury swasforbidden at Rome by severe laws, but
Tacitus has already said of the Germans, "plus ibi boli mores
vulent quant alibi bonae leges."  7. Pro, in proportion to. Universis, entire bodies of the people, communities, clans, or tribes.
For in vices (by turns), one MS. has vicis (villages), which Kritz
adopts. Cf. Caes. B. G. VI. 22. 10. Per annos = every year,
annually. Arva, agri, camporum, terrae, soli, all occur in this
chapter. Terra is opposed to marre and ctelunlm; solum is the solid
ground, the soil; campus is a plain or field; ager is properly the
territory round a city; aryum  is ploughed land (from aro, to
plotgh). S., T. 11. Cum —contendunt, i. e. they do not strive
by their labor to call forth all the capabilities of their extensive
and fertile land. 13. Imperatur, is inrposed, is required. 14. In
totidem, i. e. as the Romans. Species, ki:nds, i. e. seasons. 16.
Autumni. "Accordingly in English, spring, summer, and winter,
are Saxon words, while autumn is of Latin origin." T. Bona, the
blessings, the advantages.
17-29. Ambitio, ostentatiolls display.  At Rome funerals were
often conducted with great magnificence.  19. Struem  rogi =the
fiunerealpile.  20. Quorundam, i. e. of the chiefs. Rude nations




160                         NOTES.
Page
30 generally believe that their needs and occupations after death will
be the same as in this life. 21. Sepulcrumn - erigit, a tuif erects
a tomb, instead of " sepulcrun  caenpite erigitur." K. Arduum,
lofty. 22. Gravem,_ pr.essing heavi/y on; "pondere suo ac mIole
defunctos prementem." K. Compare with this the expression
found in epitaphs, "sit tibi terra levis."  24. Feminis — meminisse. Compare Seneca, Ep. 100, Vir prudens nmenminisse perseveret, lugere desinat. 26. In commune, in, generrl, generally.
27. Instituta, the Usaoges, civil and military; ritus, the rites or
ceremonies of religion. 29. Gallias. See note on line 9, page 17.
31   1-8. Though critics, geographers, and  ethnographers, have
endeavored to define the precise locality of the several German
tribes mentioned by Tacitus in the following chapters, their labors
have been attended with unsatisfactory, and even contradictory
results. Indeed, little else was scarcely to be expected from the
roving and unsettled character of these tribes. A few years sufficed to introduce great changes in their relative positions. To
follow them in their movements, and to identify and localize them
at every step, would be as difficult as to trace the ever-shifting
objects of a kaleidoscope.  The accounts of ancient geographers,
both Greek and'Latin, are confused and contradictory, and modern
writers have only partly succeeded in extricating the subject from
the maze in which they found it. 1, Validiores. Cf. Caes. B. G.
VI. 24. Summus auctor, a very high authority; not, a very great
author; as the reference is to Caesar's credibility as a writer. 2.
Divus, the divine, the deified.  As previously remarked, this
epithet was applied to deceased Roman emperors after the death
of Augustus. Eo, therefore; ablative of cause. 4. Amnis, i. e.
Rhenus.  Quo minus occuparet = its takcing possession of; lit.
that it should the less occupy. 5. Permutaret, i. e. take in exchange for their previous abodes. Promiscuas=: cnclaimed, open
to the first comer. 6. Nulla- divisas (apportioned), i. e. not a.pportioned among regularly constituted kingdoms. Hercyniam
silvam, a range of mountains and forests in Germany, the extent
and situation of which are described very differently by the writers
of different ages. At a later period, when the mountains of Germany had become better known to the Romans, the name Hercynia
Silva was applied to the more limited range of mountains extending around Bohemia, and through Moravia and Hungary. Dict.
Geog. 7. Moenum, the Mlain. 8, Ulteriora, sc. loca, the district
beyond.




GERMANIA.                            161
Page
9-28. Boihaemi (Boihemi, Boiohemi, etc.), of Boihaemnum; 31
genitive probably, from  Boihaelmum; though some consider the
word in the plural here, meaning the people; from Boii and heim,
"the home of the Boii;" whence the name Bohemia. 10. Memoriam, tradition. 11. Germanorum  natione, i. e. their present
situation is among the Germans. In chapter 43, Tacitus concludes
from their use of the Pannonian language that they were not German. 13. Eodem, as the Aravisci. 14. Pari —erant, the (cdvantages and disadvantages of either bank were formerly in equal
freedom and in equal poverty.  Both banks had the same advantages in respect to freedom, and the same disadvantages in
respect to poverty. 15. Utriusque ripae, of the Danube; on the
right bank of which were the Aravisci, and on the left the Osi.
16. Circa, it respect to, in. This meaning and use of the word are
post-Augustan.  Ultro, actually, really. 19. Haud dubie = undoubtedly; modifying Germanorum  populi.  21. Meruerint,
deserved, earned by their long services to the Roman people. "In
later Latin quamvis and quamquam change parts. In Tacitus,
for instance, quamquam regularly has the subjunctive." A. & S.
263, 2, (4); H. 516, I., 2; B. 1285; G. 608, Rem. 1; Z. ~ 574.
Note. 22. Agrippinenses, from Agrippina, wife of the emperor
Claudius. Cf. Ann. XII. 27. Sui agrees with conditoris in the
masculine, though the latter refers to Agrippina. 23. Experimento, on proof, in consequence of the proof; ablat. of cause.
Super, on. 24. Arcerent, so. foes, transrhenanos. 26. Gentium,
partitive genitive limiting praecipui, distinguished (amongf). 27.
Non —ripa, not inuech of the bank, i. e. a small portion. of the
bank. 28. Seditione, ablative of cause, on account of, etc.
2-12. Fierent, subjunet. in a relative clause expressing a result, 32
in quibus==ut inL iis. A. & S. ~ 264, 1; H. 500; B. 1218; A. 65,
2; G. 633; Z. ~ 556. 3. Insigne, the badge; that mentioned in
the following sentence. 4. Publicanus, the taxr collector, the farmer
of the revenues. The revenues which Rome derived from conquered
countries were let out, or, as the Romans expressed it, were sold
by the censors in Rome itself to the highest bidder. The farming
of the revenues was almost exclusively in the hands of the equites
or wealthy equestrian order. Diet. Antiqq. Atterit = (does) ilmpoverish them.  The word forcibly reminds us of that grinding
extortion for which the Roman tax-gatherer was too often notorious. Oneribus, the ordinary taxes; collationibus, extraordinary
contributions and gratuities. 6. Obsequio, allegiance, obedience.
11 -Tac.               0 2




162                          NOTES.
Page
32 9. In sua ripa, i. e. in patria terra. K. 10. Cetera, in other respects; accus. of specification.  11. Adhuc, yet, still; to be taken
with ipso solo and caelo. 12. Acrius animantur, they are roused
to a Jiercer couroge.
13-28. Non numeraverim, I shall not number, may not number;
subjunctive of doubtful affirmation, or of cautious statement (potential subjunctive). 14. Quamquam consederint. See note and
references, line 21, page 31. 15. Decumates agros, tithe-lands.
The Romans very commonly exacted a tithe from those who occupied the public lands. Such lands are usually called decurmani;
but Tacitus employs a netw word here, because the lands in question
did not form a distinct province, but were an appendage to Upper
Germany. S. Exercent=colunt. Levissimus - audax, all the
most restless of the Gauls cand daring poverty. 17. Limite acto, the
bolndary line having been dranu,  (established). 18. Sinus imperii, the projecting froitier of the empire.  20. Effusis, exteosive,
spread out into a broad surface.  21. Durant - rarescunt, if the
hills do iideed continue (i. e. a considerable distance), they yradllally become fewer.  Such seems to us to be the meaning of this
vexed passage. Tacitus has just said in effect, that the country of
the Chatti, beginning with the Hercynian forest, is more hilly than
those of other German tribes; and as he is following the direction
of the Chatti (and not of the hills), he adds that though the hills
do indeed, continue, yet they gradually become fewer in the direction of the Chatti; and finally et Chatti - deponit, and the Hercynian forest at once accompansties and leaves behind (lit. sets down)
its Chatti. The hills leave the Chatti behind by changing their
direction. The reading and punctuation of the passage is different
in different editions. The expression et Chattos —deponit is
beautifully bold and poetic. 24. Stricti, cosnpact, close-knit. 25.
Ut inter Germanos =fos German, s, considering they are Germans.
26. Rationis, of systenm, method. Praeponere. This and the other
infinitives are in apposition with multurn —sollertiae; to place
over themselves chosen mel. Audire, to obey. 27. Ordines, ranks,
military ranks and discipline in battle.  28. Disponere, to distribute the labors or duties of; to portion off. Vallare noctem, to
fortify the ssight, i. e. against attack at night,  The expression is
figurative and poetical.
33   1-9. Quodque = et quod, and wohat; so. est.  2. Nec nisi concessum, lit. and not granted except= and granted only.  For Ro.
manae, which has good MS. authority, some editors read ratione.




GERMANIA.                             163
Page
4. Super, besides. Ferramentis, with iron tools, axes, spades, pick- 33
axes, etc. 5. Copiis, withsprovisions.  Proelium, a battle, a single
engagement; ad bellum, to war, a series of battles. Videas, you
nmay see; potential subjunctive, with the imaginary second person
(called by others, subjunctive of implied condition, sc. if you will).
A. & S. ~.261, 2, Rem. 2, and Rem. 4; H. 485; B. 1177; A. 60, 2,
a; G. ~ 250. 6. Fortuita pugna, sc. est rara, which, however, is
implied in the preceding rari. Equestrium - cedere, a general
remark on cavalry engagements, and, therefore, not applicable to
the Chatti, who had no cavalry: (for) this is certainly characteristic
of cavalry forces, etc. 8. Velocitas applies to cavalry, counotatio
to infantry. Juxta formidinem, (is) akin to fear; becaiuse it may
avoid danger by running away. 9. Constantiae, to firmness, steady
courage.
10-16. Et allis-raro, and owhat is rarely practised by other
tribes of Germans. Populis, dat. of the agent after the participle
usurpatum, which is the subject of vertit. 11. Privata- audentia, by the individual boldness of each. In consensum, into a
custon. 12. Ut primum, as soon as. The subjunctive adoleverint
refers the thought to the Chatti (oratio obliqua).  13. Submittere,
to let grow, -promittere. Votivum - habitum, the habit of the
face voioed and pledged to valor, i. e. the bearded face, which was
an evidence that they had devoted themselves to valor. 14. Sanguinem et spolia, i. e. of a slain enemy. 15. Revelant frontem,
they uncover theface by removing beard and hair. 16. Retulisse,
have paid to their parents and country. Dignos, sc. esse.
18-28. Insuper, moreover, besides.  19. Genti, the German
nation generally. 20. Hic habitus, this appearance, wearing the
iron ring. Placet and insignes imply that such warriors preferred
to continue wearing the ring even after they had been released
from it by killing an enemy. 21. Canent. Notice the quantity of
the penult.  Insignes, wearing the badge of the iron ring. 22.
Initia, sc. sunt. 23. Acies, line of battle; they form the first line.
Visu nova, strange to behold; visu is the supine, not the noun
visias; since Tacitus is speaking of the effect to be produced, and
is not simply describing. How is the supine in u used? A. & S.
2 276, III.; H. 570, 1; B. 1365; A. 74, 2; G. 437, Rem. 1. 24.
Mansuescunt, do they sqfteni. Nulli, i. e. of this class of warriors.
Domus, sc. est. 25. Aliqua cura, i. e. in regard to the means of
living. 26. Alieni-= of what belongs to another; genitive limiting
prodigi.  Sui, from  suus; of what i8 their own. Exsanguis,




164                          NOTES.
Page
33 bloodless, i. e. pale, want, and so enfeebled.  28. Order: Usipi ao
Tencteri, proximi Chattis, colunt Rhenum jam certum alveo.
Certum -Rhenum, the Rhine now fixed (well defined) in its channel; i. e. in this part of its course the channel is narrow and deep,
and is not made irregular by islands and tributaries. Rhenum
for Rheni ripals.
34   1-9. Quique - sufficiat, and such that it suffices to be a bololdary;
i. e. the river is too wide and deep to admit of its being easily
crossed by invaders. Notice qui = tali8s t, thus making sufficiat
subjunctive of result. A. & S. ~ 264, 1 (a), and (b); H. 500 and
501, I.; B. 1218; A. 65, 1; G. 554 and 633; Z. 558. 4. Tencteris
=apsd Tencteros, which would be more regular. It may be called
a dative of advantage. 5. Hi lusus (sunt), these are the sports;
i. e. equestrian exercises. Kritz explains thus: equuleis ex ligno
factis (infatltium) insidentium   eosque  exercentium.  7. Inter
familiam, among the slaves.  The idea is, among several things to
be inherited, horses are specially included. Penates, the hosmestead. T. Jura successionum, rights of successio,l rights acquired
by succession; "heirlooms." T.  This seems to be the sense required here by the context, though Kritz explains the expression
to mean regulations pertaining to inheritances; "constitutiones de
ademlda hereditate."  8. Excipit — melior, the eldest son inherits
(the horses), not as (he inherits) the other property, blt according
as he is high-spirited and superior in war; i. e. though the other
property is inherited by the eldest son, the horses become the inheritance of that son who is the best warrior, whether the eldest
or not.
12-20. Consensu, by a coalition. 13. Odio, from hatred;  ablat.
of cause. 14. Nam - invidere (se. nobis), they (the gods) did not
grudge us even in the spectacle of the battle, but wrought the
slaughter of our enemies by their own hands. Spectaculo is sufficiently explained as an ablat. of specification. 15. Super, more
than, above. 17. Oblectationi oculisque, a hendiadys for oblectationi oculorums; dative of the end or purpose. Maneat, may
there remain; subjunct. of wish. 18. At certe, yet at least. 19.
Sui, of each other; in a reciprocalsense.  Quando, since. Urgentibus - fatis (se. eos, i. e. hostes), the fates of our. enpire urgilg
thenm on, to our ruin. We have ventured to supply eos as the object
of urgentibus, though none of the commentators have done so.
21-28. A tergo cludunt, inclose in their rear, towards the east.
22. Haud —memoratae, not eqcally well-known with the Dulgi



GERMANIA.                             165
Page
bini and Chasuarii. 23. A fronte excipiunt, succeed (are next to) 34
them in fronut, towards the west. 24. Ex —virium, from the
measure of their power, according to their power. 25. Usque ad,
all the way to. Praetexuntur, are bordered, bounded. The metaphor is probably drawn from the toga, which was inclosed by
a purple border. 26. Ambiunt, -they occupy the borders of.
Lacus, which, being overflowed by the ocean, are now united in
the Zuyder Zee. Et, even. 27. Quin etiam (nay even) =-moreover. lila, in that quar'ter; an adverb, used chiefly by Plautus
and Tacitus. 28. Herculis columnas. The " Pillars of Hercules "
generally denote the twin rocks which guard the entrance of the
Mediterranean, at the eastern extremity of the straits of Gibraltar,
and which, according to the legend, mark the western limit reached
by the ubiquitous Hercules.  Other " Pillars of Hercules" are,
however, mentioned; and those named in the text stood in the
Sound, between Denmark and Sweden.
3-6. Druso Germanico, brother of Tiberius. The senate con- 35
ferred on Drusus the title Germanicus; it was his son, however,
that was particularly distinguished by this epithet. Hence Kritz,
reading Druso, Germanico, makes Tacitus refer to both father
and son.  The asyndeton is, however, exceedingly harsh. 4.
Obstitit inquiri, prevented investigatioins being mnade. In se, i. e.
in oceanum. Simul atque -  both -- and. In Herculem, i. e. in
connection with his "Pillars."   5. Temptavit, 8c. oceanum.
Sanctius, morepious.  6. Visum (est). De actis —scire, i. e. to
exercise faith rather than have real knowledge; a pious afterthought, making a virtue of a necessity.
7-11. Hactenus, thus far'; this is the extent of my knowledge
of Germany towards the west. 8. Ingenti flexu, by a vast sweep;
referring to Jutland, the Cimbric Chersonese. Primo statim = at
the very outset, at the beginning of the bend. 9. Chaucorum.
Their name is still preserved in that of their harbor, tuxhaven. S.
Incipiat. In the best authors quamquam generally takes the
indicative; in Tacitus it regularly takes the subjunctive. 11. Lateribus obtenditur, is stretched along the flanks; i. e. the Chauci
occupy the country east of those nations as far' as the Elbe (Albis).
In Chattos - sinuetur - it extends in a curve asfar as the Chatti;
curving in a general south-east direction to the Chatti on the south.
13-21. Et implent, they even fill it, and thus prove their vast
numbers. 14. Notice quique=et talis ut is (and one that), with
subjunctive of result, malit. A. & S. % 264, 1 (a) and (b); H. 500,




166                         NOTES.
Page
35 and 501; I.; B. 1218; A. 65, 2; G. 554, and 633; Z. 558. 15.
Tueri, to uphold. 15. Sine impotentia, without weaknese, i. e.
with a consciousness of subdued power and dignity. Secretique,
ansd retired, keeping aloof from others. 18. Ut superiores agant
(that they hold the ranle of superiors) is the object of assequuntur,
they attain. 19. Omnibus, sc. sunt; they all have. 20. Exercitus,
sc. iis est. Plurimum - a very great tunmber. 21. Et (iis) quiescentibus test), and when at peace they have. Eadem  fama, sc.
quae in bello.
23-28. Marcentem, ant enelrvating, enfeebling. Diu, from  its
position, seems to modify marcentem; it may, however, be applied with equal force to illacessiti (f —from having been vnattacked), or to nutrierunt. 24. Quam tutius, than safe. When
two adjectives or adverbs are compared with each other, both are
put in, the comparative. A. & S. ~ 256, Rem. 12; H1. 444, 2; B.
903; A. 47, 7; G. 314; Z. 690. Tacitus sometimes uses the positive in one part of the proposition.  25. Impotentes, the ungovernable, the violent, who exercise no self-control. Falso quiescas
(potential subjunctive), you lmay repose nistakenly; if you repose
in the hope of security, you may be very much mistaken. Ubi
agitur =when the question turns on force (when the contest is
decided by the sword). 26. Modestia (moderation) — superioris
sunt, i. e. moderation and mildness belong only to those who,
having the power to injure, refrain from injury. Ita Cherusci qui
olim (vocati sunt) boni aequique. 27. Boni aequique, brave and
just, when they were as ready for war as for peace. Inertes,
cowardly. 28. Chattis victoribus, in the case of the vtictorious
Chattti; dative of advantage. Fortuna -cessit,their good lick
passed for wisdom.
36   1-3. Tracti ruina, dragged down by the downfall; involved in
the ruin; like a falling body dragging down others in its fall. Et,
also. 2. Adversarum rerum, of their adversity. Ex aequo, in an
eqptal degree, on equal terms. 3. Cum, althosugh; hence, fuissent,
they had been, is subjunctive of concession. A. & S. ~ 263, 5, Rem.
1, (a); H. 515, II.; B. 1282; A. 61, 2, e; G. 588. In secundis,
sc. rebus, in prosperity. Minores, their isnferiolrs, less powerful.
4-14. Eundem sinum, the samte projecting firontier; Jutland, to
which Tacitus refers in ingenti flextl, chapter 35. 5. Gloria,
ablative of specification; or, with Kritz, sc. ejus, and make it
nominative.  6. Utraque ripa, sec. in, on each bank, probably of
the Rhine; according to some commentators, of the Rhine and




GERMANIA.                             167
Page
Danube; according to others, each shore of the Cimbric Chersonese 36
or Jutland.  7. Castra ac spatia seems clearly to be hendiadys for
castrorum spartia = spacious elcamnpmients. Another instance of the
fondness of Tacitus for poetic expressions. 8. Molem manusque
= the vast numbers and forces. Some find a hendiadys here, and
translate, the immense military forces.  The sense is nearly the
same in either case. Exitus, migration, into Gaul. The word is
rare in this sense. But compare Caes. B. G. I. 5. Fidem, the
credibility.  9. Annum, corresponding to 113 B. C. 10. Agebat,
was passing. 11. Ex quo, sc. tempore. 12. Alterum, the second.
Ad —consulatum (A. D. 98), at which time, of course, Tacitus
was engaged in the composition of this work. Hence the passage
is important in this respect. 13. Colliguntur, are summned lap, are
comprised. 14. Vincitur, the present tense, implying that the
conquest was still incomplete.
14-28. Medio spatio, during the interval, in which medio is
nearly equivalent to dai:ing. 15. In vicem, in turn =-reciprocal,
mutual. Samnis, the Samnite, i. e. the Samnites, the most stubborn of the Italian enemies of Rome. 16. Hispaniae, the (two)
Spai7s, the two divisions of Spain, separated by the Iberus (Ebro).
Galliae, the Gauls, Transalpine and Cisalpine. 17. Saepius admonuere, have more frequently reminded is of the inconstancy of
fortune, which has not always been on our side. Arsacis, of
Arsaces, the founder of the Parthian monarchy.  Acrior, vmore
vi:gqorous. 19. Amisso — dejectus, itself even (i. e. the East), in a
Pac(rus lost, humbled beneathl a Ventidius.  Pac6rus was the son
of the Parthian king, and was conquered by Ventidius, a man of
low origin, a dealer in mules. Hence the force of infra. 20.
Objecerit, has (the East) thrown utp to us; or, to taunt us with.
Subjunctive in a question of appeal (deliberative or dubitative
subjunctive).  A. & S.. 260, Rem. 5; H. 486, II.; B. 1180; A.
57, 6; G. 251. 23. Populo, dative of disadvantage; translate,
from. 24. Caesari, i. e. Augustus. 26. Nero, Claudius Tiberius
Nero, afterwards the emperor Tiberius. Germanicus was the son
of Drusus. 27. C. Caesaris, Caligula. Ludibrium, ridicale, derision. Versae (sunt). 28. Otium, peace, so. fuit. Discordiae
nostrae refers to the civil wars between Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and
Vespasian.
2-3. Etiam  affectavere, they even aimed at, strove to gain pos- 37
session of. Proximis temporibus, in latter times. 3. Triumphati - victi sunt. Tacitus alludes particularly to the reign of




168                         NOTES.
Page
37 Domitian, who celebrated a triumph over the Chatti whom he had
not even seen.
4-18. Suebis = Suevis, which form also occurs. 6. Propriis -
discreti, still distinguished by particular tribes and naoes.  8. Insigne - substringere, it is a distinctive mark of the race to turn
the hair back and to tie it tup in a knot, on the crown of the head.
Obliquare means simply to turn out of the natural direction, i. e.
in the present case, instead of combing the hair down, to comb it
up towards the top of the head. 11. Aliqua, oni account of somZe;
cognatione being ablative of cause. 12. Rarum, se. est, i. e. the
custom just mentioned. 13. Horrentem capillum, their bristly
hair; giving them a wild and threatening aspect. Cf. Milton, P.
L. II. 710:
"and from his horrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war."
14. Retro sequuntur =-they turn back; lit. they follow back, sc.
pectine vel manu. The expression is a singular one, and is probably here intended to be equivalent to obliquare. Vertice, crowyn,
top of the head.  15. Ornatiorem, se. capillum.  Ea -talis.
Formae, for their appearance. 16. Innoxia, i. e. it neither leads
to effeminacy, nor is the result of it. Neque - ornantur, for they
are Rot adorned for the purpose of making love or' of being loved,
(but), when,about to go to wars,for a certain loftiness of stature and
for striking terror, being arrayed as it were for the eyes of the enemiy.
The text is various here, and different editors punctuate differently.
In both respects we follow Kritz. In compti - oculis there is an
implied contrast between the Suevi, who deck themselves to terrify
the enemy, and lovers who seek to captivate the eyes of their loves.
Cf. cap. 43: " Nana primi in omnibus proeliis oculi vincuntur."
20-28. Fides, the credibility.  Religione, by a religious rite.
21. Stato, from sisto. Auguriis —sacram, a hexameter verse.
22. Prisca formidine, by ancielnt awe. 23. Legationibus = by
their representatives.  Publice, by public authority.  24. Primordia, beginning.  The remainder of the rite Tacitus does not
state. 25. Luco, the silvam  of line 21. 26. Ut minor, as an inferior being. Prae se ferens = openly acknowledging. 28. Evolvuntur = se evolvunt, in a middle sense; they roll the-mselves out.
Eo respicit= (looks back to this) has this in view, implies this.
Superstitio, any religious observance, rite, or belief, that, to a
Roman, was not orthodox.




GERMANIA.                            169
Page
1-5. Inde, from thence, i. e. ex ea silva, referring to the indige- 38
nous origin of the race. Initia, sc. sint. 2. Deus, i. e. Tuisto. Cf.
c. 2. Adjicit auctoritatem, adds weight, sc. superstitioni illi. 4.
Corporis, se. civitatis.
6-16. Langobardos, the correct form of the name; the MSS.
have Longobardi. 7. Cincti, = though surrounded, the participle
denoting concession. 8. Et periclitando, and by encountering
danger, running risks. 11. Quicquam. In what kind of sentences
is quisquam used? A. & S. ~ 207, Rem. 31; H. 457; B. 1061; A.
21, 2, h; G. 304; Z. 709. In singulis, among them individually.
12. Nerthum is the form given in most of the MSS. Some give
Herthu.m.  The word is evidently the same as the German Erde,
and the English Earth. Matrem, as their mother. 13. Intervenire - takes part in. Invehi populis, that she visits the nations
in a chariot. Observe that inlveho in the passive means to ride,
sail, drive, etc. 14. Insula oceani. Rugen is believed by most
scholars to be the island referred to. 15. Dicatum, a consecrated.
16. Concessum (est).
16-28. Is. Notice the presence of the pronoun, and that it is
therefore emphatic; he knows-to him  it is given to know.
Adesse penetrali, is present in her sanctuary.  By penetrali is
meant the vehiculum veste contectum. 17. Bubus feminis. When
the names of animals are of the common gender, the word mnas or
fensina is added, if the sex of a particular animal is to be stated.
Z. 42. Vectam —feminis, drawn by cows. 18. Festa (sunt) =
have a holiday appearance. 21. Tune tantum, then only. Nota
may be neuter plural, or feminine singular (agreeing with the
nearest noun, quies). 23. Templo, to her temple, the grove before
mentioned.  Temrplnt  does not imply any building; it merely
means a space marked out. So, in Greek, Tipevoc, from Tr/avw, to
cut. 24. Secreto, in a sequestered, secluded. 25. Abluitur, to
wash away the pollution arising from intercourse with mortals.
Iinistrant ==perform the duties. 26. Haurit, swallows up. The
slaves were drowned in order that the imposture of the priests
might not be divulged. Sancta ignorantia,pious igno ranice, which
thinks it better " de actis deoruml credere quam scire."  27. Tantum
perituri, oly those doomed to perish.  28. Secretiora, the nore
remlote parts, towards the north.
1-10. Propior, i. e. to the Romans. Quo modo (quomodo)= as. 39
2. Rhenum, sc. secutus sum. 3. Eoque, and onl that account, because faithful to the Romans. Solis Germanorum, se. est, they
P




170                         NOTES.
Page
39 alone of the Germans have. 4. Non, i. e. not only, not merely.
Penitus, far inland. 5. Colonia, generally supposed to be Augusta
Vindelicorum, now Augsburg. 6. Cum, although, with subjunctive
of concession, ostendamus. 9. Albis, the Elbe. Olim, through
the expeditions of Drusus, Domitius, and Tiberius.
14-21. Parta (est). 15. Eaque-peragitur, asid this is, as it
were, the front of Germaza y, as far as it is formed by the Danilbe.
Notice the force of frons (rendered emphatic by velut), i. e. the
part which faces the Roman possessions. 18. Tudri. Whether
from Tuder or Tudrus is uncertain. Externos, sc. reges. 19.
Vis - regibus, sc. est, the kings hale, etc. 20. Pecunia juvantur,
to attach them to the interests of Rome, or to purchase their neutrality or their aid. Nec —valent, i. e. Roman money enabled
these dependent kings to exert as much influence among their
countrymen as if they were aided by Roman arms.
22-28. Retro, backward, farther back; opposed  to frons.
Terga claudunt, close in the rear.  24. Cultuque, and in their
manner of living. Referunt, resemnble; lit. reproduce. 26. Quod
-patiuntur.  This, from a Roman, is pawying high tribute to the
valor of the liberty-loving Germans.  28. Quo - pudeat= to
shame them the more, for submitting to tribute; since, of their iron,
they should make swords. Et, also. Effodiunt-  nine.
40   1-20. Pauca campestrium, but little of the level country. 2.
Saltus, the woodlands; " saltus sunt silvae in locis editioribus." K.
Miontium limits jugum (the ridge) also. 6. Diffusum, spread out,
divided.  9. Muliebri ornatu, in rich femiale attire.  The loose
robe of the priest may have been mistaken for female apparel.
10. Interpretatione Romana, according to Romanl interpretation,
i. e. comparing the attributes of Roman with those of German
gods. 11. Ea vis numini, such is the force of their divinity; i. e.
it corresponds to that of Castor and Pollux. Nomen Alcis, so. iis
est, their nameis Alci. Alcis is dative plural. 12. Superstitionis,
religious rites. 13. Tamen, yet; i. e. although we cannot suppose
the Germans to have borrowed the worship of the brothers Castor
and Pollux, yet they do worship the Alci as brothers. Venerantur
is transitive. 14. Super vires, besides their (military) strength.
15. Truces, grimlly, as an adverb. Arte ac tempore, by art and
time, as is immediately explained. 16. Lenocinantur, they pander
to  they increase. 17. Ipsaque-inferunt, acd by the natutral
dread and spectral aspect of their ghostly armny they inspire terror.
Ipsa formidine, i. e. the very dread which the time and character




GERMANIA.                           171
Page
of their attack inspire = the natural dread. Umbra exercitus, i. e. 40
a spectral host, dim and shadowy in outline, while feralis conveys
the additional idea that the host has been reanimated from the
tomb or returned from the realm of shades.  The expression is
highly imaginative and poetical. Compare Tennyson, Guzinevere:
"and more and more
The moony vapor rolling round the King,
Who seemed the phantom of a Giant in it,
Enwound him fold by fold, and made him gray
And grayer, till himself became as mist
Before her, moving ghostlike to his doom."
Kritz makes exercitus limit terrorem.  19. Novum, their
stracige.
21-28. Regnantur, i. e. have a king. Jam, now, in this part
of our survey of the German tribes, implying that as we go northward we shall find less liberty and more power in the ruler.
Hence also the force of nondum. 22. Adductius, with a tighter
rein, more strictly. A metaphor taken from adducere habenas, to
tighten the reins.  23. Supra = incompatible with.  Protinus,
fiarther on, straight on towards the north. Ab, along, by. Oceano,
i. e. mari Baltico. 24. Rugii, from whom the island of Rugen
derives its name. 25. Obsequium, a willing allegiance. 27.
Suionum civitates.  Under this title Tacitus designates the tribes
of Scandinavia (Norway and Sweden), which he supposed to be an
island; hence, ipso in oceano, i. e, the Baltic. 28. Differt, i. e.
from others.
1-12. Utrimque, at both ends of the ship. Frontem  agit, acts 41
as a forepart. 2. Ministrantur, they are wvorkced. In ordinem,
in a (regular) row, in a fixed order.  3. Adjungunt, sc. naves, by
a sort of personification. Solutum et mutabile remigium, sc.
est, the oars are loose and capable of being shifted. 4. Res, occasion.
Hinc vel illinc, to this or that side of the vessel. 5. Est opibus
honos, wealth has its honor. Eo, on that account, on account of his
superior wealth. 6. Jam, nowe, here, among these tribes. Non -
parendi, with no precario1us right of obedience, i. e. with an absolute
claim upon their obedience, from which no entreaty could discharge
them. 7. In promiscuo, inldiscrininately, at the disposal of all.
8. Et quidem, and that, too. 9. Otiosae, idle. Some editors
read (with MSS.) otiosa. 10. Lasciviunt, becomle demoralized.
Enimvero, and in fact. 12. Regia -est, it is the interest of a
king. Regia-regis or regum.




172                         NOTES.
Page
41   13-18. Suionas, Greek form of the accusative. Aliud mare, i. e.
the Northern or Arctic ocean. Pigrum, sluggish, from masses of
ice floating in it: hence also the force of immotum. 14. Hinc,
from this fact; referring to what follows as the ground of fides,
se. est, the belief is. 15. Extremus fulgor, the last radiance; in
ortum, till its rising. The meaning is, that though the sun sets
(as it must in latitudes south of 660), the evening and morning
twilight follow each other so closely, that there is no night; at
least no night dark enough to show the stars. 17. Emergentis (se.
solis) audiri, of his'isi8ig is heard.  This is the meaning according to the text. Some editors, however, reject emergentis (though
found in the MSS.), and conjecture that the sound in question was
produced by the Aurora Borealis. It was an ancient fancy that
the sun, like hot iron, enters the water with a hissing noise.
Hence, "audiet lercllleo stridentem  ga rgite solem."  Juv. XIV.
280. This is common with the poets when they describe the setting
of the sun. Formas - aspici, and that the formfis of the gods and
the halos (radiant glory) of their heads are seen. The conjecture
may be true, that the Aurora Borealis was the phenomenon which
gave rise to these fancies. 18. Persuasio, poptlar belief.
18-28. Illuc usque tantum, thus far only; natura, se. est
does natusre extend; beyond, he, would say, is the ocean which
encircles the land. Et fama vera, sc. est, the words of Tacitus,
assenting to the proposition. 19. Ergo jam, now, therefore; i. e.
since we have reached the limit of nature to the north, therefore let
us now2 turn towards the east. Suebici (- Suevici) maris, i. e.
the Baltic sea.  20. Habitus,- the dress.  21. Matrem  deum
(z deorum), i. e. interpretatiole Romana, referring to Nerthus
mentioned in chap. 40. 22. Insigne superstitionis, as the symbol
of their religious belief; or, of their superstition, from a Roman
standpoint. Formas aprorum, as amulets, probably. 25. Fustium usus, in their personal quarrels. Frumenta laborant.
An instance of the tendency of Tacitus to condensation in expression, by his forcing a verb usually intransitive into the activity
and energy of a transitive verb.  28. Glesum  is therefore an old
German word, with a Latin ending; whence the German Glas,
English glass; from the brightness of the amber.
42   1-9. Quae natura, so. sit ejus. 2. Ratio, process. Ut barbaris
as they are barbarians; dative, in apposition with iis understood, which is dative of the agent with quaesitum (est). 3.
Quin etiam, nmoreover, besides. Ejectamenta, things thrown uip




GERMANIA.                             173
Page
(by). The English language has no corresponding word. 4. 42
Women, i. e. honorem, nobilitatem. K. 5. Rude, crude.  Perfertur. By traders through Pannonia to the Adriatic sea, and thence
to Rome. 6. Tamen, yet, i. e. though the Germans know nothing
of its nature. Sucum arborum. The ancient opinion of its vegetable origin seems now to be established, and it is believed or known
to be a fossil, resin. 7. Terrena, lald; living on land, like reptiles. 8. Implicata humore, (by) becoming elntngled in it in its
moist condition. 9. Cluduntur = includuntur, are inclosed in it.
9-17. Fecundiora, etc.  Order: crediderim igitur (I ant inclined,
therefore, to believe) sicut orientis secretis (that as in the retmote
lands of the East) ubi tura balsamaque sudantur (are exuded), ita
inesse insulis terrisque occidentis fecundiora nernora lucosque.
10. Secretis, se. terris. 11. Insulis, dative, governed by inesse.
12. Quae. Here the brevity of Tacitus leads him into faulty construction.  The relative refers, grammratically, to nemora lucosque, while the sense requires it to refer to their productions.
Vicini solis, of the sue whenr near then,, i. e. by the inore direct
rays of a summer sun. 13. Liquentia, from liquor. 14. Adversa
litora, opposite shores, certainly not the shores on the other side,
but the shores opposite to the previous seactoard direction of the
exudations.  15. Admoto, applied to it.  Igni, ablative. 16.
Pinguem, a fatty; i. e. thick and smoky. Ut, as if.
18-28. Continuantur= border on, are contiguous to; lit. are
joined to. Cetera, in other respects; accusative of specification.
19. Similes, se. Suionibus. Uno, in one thing; ablative of specification. In tantum, to such asl extent. 20. A servitute, in being
slaves to a woman instead of a man. 22. Fennorum, whence
doubtless our "Finns." 23. (Utrum) Germanis an, etc. 25.
Cultu, in, their' manner of life. Sede ac domiciliis, inl respect to
abode and dwellings, i. e. in the fact that they have homes and
domiciles, whereas the Sarmatians were nomadic, living and moving
about in wagons. Agunt  vivunt.  Sordes omnium, 8s. est,
filth is characteristic of thent all; omnium is predicate genitive.
26. Torpor, se. est, laziness. A Tacitean sense of the word. Connubiis mixtis (se. cum  Sarmatis) =by intermlarriages; mixti,
being equivalent to the inter-.  27. In habitum  foedantur, they
are becomi ng debated into the character.  28. Ex moribus, sc.
Sarmatatrum.
3-20. Domos figunt = they have fixed habitations.  5. Diversa, 43
the contrary; governing Sarmatis ( — Sarmatarum  moribus) in
P2




174                         NOTES.
Page
43 the dative. 7. Penates, i. e. a home, fireside. Cubile humus.
The change of construction deserves notice. 8. Ossibus asperant,
they rouzghly point with bones. 9. Idem venatus, i. e. the women
accompany the men in hunting. 11. Ferarum, fronsl  ild beasts.
14. Arbitrantur. The truth is they did not think at all: they no
more missed the luxuries of Roman civilization than the convenience of the electric telegraph. Ingemere agris, to groan. over
fields, i. e. tilling them. 15. Domibus, i. e. in building them.
Suas —versare, to dis8tr.b their own and others' fortunes with
(alternate) hope anldfear; the hope of riches and the fear of losses
in business. 16. Securi, careless. 18. Cetera, the rest, what remains to be said. Jam, now, in this part of our examination.
Oxionas, Greek form of the accusative. Ora —gerere. The story
doubtless arose from their wearing the skins of wild beasts. 20.
In medium=  undecided; in the midst, i. e. between those who
may assert and those who may deny.




NOTES
TO THE
A G R I C 0 L A.
I N T R O D U C T I O N.
THE Life of Agricela is certainly the most attractive, and perhaps
the most perfect specimen we possess of ancient biography. It was
written, we are told, in a spirit of filial affection to commemorate the
virtues of a good man and the successes of a great general. All that
was most characteristic of a Roman of the highest type found a place
in Agricola. An able officer, a just and at the same time a popular
governor, a vigorous reformer of abuses, a conqueror of hitherto unknown regions, he was also a man of mental culture, and of singular
gentleness and amiability. He had every quality which could attract
the sympathy and admiration of his son-in-law.
Besides a description of the geography of Britain, and of the general
character of its inhabitants, in accordance with the best information
which Tacitus could procure, we have also a brief outline of the Roman
operations in the country previous to Agricola's arrival. Agricola,
who became proconsul of Britain A. D. 78, found by far the greater
portion of the country already conquered, though much remained to be
done to secure thoroughly the submission of the people.
The chief interest of this biography is evidently intended to centre
in the grand event of the seventh year of Agricola's campaigns, the
decfeat of the confederate Caledonian tribes, by which the subjugation
of' Britain to its farthest limits was finally achieved. The description
of the preparations for the battle, and of the battle itself, would occupy
a space altogether out of proportion to the rest of the work, were it
not meant by the author to claim the first place in the interest of his
readers. Both the scene and the event appear to have deeply impressed
the mind of Tacitus. The critical struggle, as it seemed to him, was
fought out on the last confines of the world, and it added to the glory
175




176                   INTRODUCTION.
of Rome the renown of a triumph which completed the conquest of
her most inaccessible and intractable province. The speeches of the
rival generals which introduce it, are elaborate specimens of Tacitean
eloquence. That of the Caledonian chief is conceived in the true
spirit of the barbarian, and is marked by a fierce impetuosity; that of
Agricola is calm and dignified, and implies the consciousness of
superior strength, which is the fruit of discipline and civilization.
Soon after his decisive success, which excited the jealousy and illwill of Domitian, Agricola returned to Rome. Of the last eight years
of his life, which were passed in retirement., Tacitus tells us but little.
In a few burning words he dwells on the horrors of the closing period
of Domitian's reign, and hints, though he forbears explicitly to assert,
as Dion Cassius does, that Agricola was one of the emperor's numerous
victims.-Abridged firom C.
The composition of this work may be fixed, from internal and external evidence, to A. D. 97, four years after Agricola's death. The
first three chapters comprise the preface, the substance of which is
this: —In ancient times, when there was no reason, as now, to dread
men's ignorance of virtue and their envy of her votaries, it was usual
to hand down to posterity the exploits and characters of famous men;
and a man was not found fault with even if he narrated his own life.
But in times like these, when we have only lately seen that to praise
illustrious men was a capital crime, I must plead for favor and indulgence, which I should not have done, had my intention been to rail
at times inimical to virtue, in which even those remain unpunished
through whose charges Agricola fell, and through whose means many
have been calumniated.  At length, however, spirit and liberty are
returning, though the desire of writing springs up but gradually and
slowly, since talents and zeal may be more quickly smothered and suppressed than roused again to vigor and activity; and sloth, at first the
object of our hatred, ends with ingratiating itself into our favor.
Hence I am led to hope, that I shall meet with excuse for having
formed the design of writing this memoir. S.
Page
45   1-5. Clarorum virorum. A clr,.rs  vir is one who by merit has
risen to distinction. Facta moresque, the achievements and characters. 2. Usitatum, custonmay, not unusual, commonly practised;
a neuter participle in the accusative, agreeing with the preceding
clause. Ne - temporibus, i. e. vicious as they are, they can sometimes rise to a recognition of virtue. 3. Suorum, of its oon, sc.
eminent men. Aetas, the age. Quotiens -- quoties. 4. Super



NOTES TO THE AGRICOLA.    177
Page
gressa est, has risen above, superior to, beyond the reach of envy. 45
5. Ignorantiam - invidiam, ignoranlce and enlvy of rectitude; not
an intellectual but a moral ignorance, which refuses or neglects to
recognize the claims of merit. Recti limits both nouns; i. e. envy
must be envy of something.
1-5. Priores, the men, of former times, under the republic. 2. 46
Memoratu. If the supine in u is ever anything different from a
noun, this may be a supine. It seems more simple, however, to
make it a noun. Pronum, easy; because it did not attract the
envy of inferiors or the malice of power. Nagis - aperto, lit.
and more in an open course- and more Lmobstructed. 3. Celeberrimus quisque, all the most renowned. A. & S. ~ 207, Rem. 35,
(b); H. 458, 1; B. 1052; A. 17, 5, c; G. 305. Ingenio, for their
talent; ablat. of cause. 4. Sine -ambitione, without favor or
fattery, without partiality  or ingratiating flattery.  Tantum
pretio, solely for the reward. Pretio is ablat. of cause.
5-12. Plerique, a great ma(ny, i. e. of those who wrote biography.
Ipsi, nominative; narrtare suatn  vitami ipsi. 6. Fiduciam morum,
t8 a confidence in their characterg. 7. Citra fidem, lit. on this side
of belief — without trustworthinness. This sense of citra belongs to
the silver age. 8. Obtrectationi, a( dispcaragenment; dative of the
end. Adeo, to such a degree, so true is it that. Isdemz - iisdem,
10. Nuno, uiow, in these times, less.auspicious than former times.
Mihi opus fuit = I had need. 11. Venia, of inlldlgence; ablative.
Incusaturus = had I intenlded to find fault with- = si incusaturus
essern, and thus forming the protasis to quam — petissem. The
connection of thought in this sentence seems to be as follows:
The practice of writing the biography of eminent men has grown
into such disuse, that an apology for this eulogy of Agricola was
necessary; but had my intention been to inveigh against the times,
no such apology would have been needed. For incusaturus some
editors read incursaturuzs.
13-18. Legimus - fuisse. Both occurrences took place in Do.
mitian's reign. Rusticus was put to death for studying philosophy,
and calling Thrasea "holy;" and Senecio for writing the life of
Priscus Helvidius. S. In legimus there may be a reference to
the Acta Diurna (" Proceedings of the Day "), a kind of official
gazette, published at Rome, and containing an account of the
public business, and other matters of general interest. Aruleno
Rustico, dative of the agent after laudati essent, which is subjunctive after cum, causal. 15. Capitale, a capital crime; the
12- Agr.




178                  NOTES TO THE
Page
46 adj. as a noun. 16. Saevitum  (esse), that rage was vented; the
verb is here used impersonally. Triumviris.  The triunuviri capitales were superittenldents of prisons, and combined some of the
duties of our police magistrates and sheriffs. 17. Clarissimorum
ingeniorum=of the most distinguished men of genius. 18. In
comitio ac foro, in the comitium  and forum.  The forum in its
widest sense included the comitium, or place of assembly for the
curiae, and the forum in its narrower sense, or place of assembly
for the comitia tributa. The Comitium was the place of public execution. Diet. Antiqq.
18-28. Soilicet, doubtless, of course.  Strongly ironical. 19.
Conscientiam, the conscience, approving the good and condemning
the bad; which being destroyed, tyranny would be secure even
while torturing virtue.  21. Sapientiae professoribus, public
teachers of philosophy, or, the philosophers, who were expelled by
Domitian A. D. 95. The word professor is post-classical. 22. Ne
quid honestum r-that nothing regarded with honor. Occurreret
=inveniretur. 23. Profecto, assuredly, certainly.  24. Vetus
aetas, " the olden time," of the republic. Ultimum, extreme; i. e.
as much liberty as could exist without becoming suicidal. 25.
Quid in servitute, sc. ultimum  esset. Adempto - commercio.
These words portray, though in dim outline, a state of society of
which an American citizen can form an adequate idea only by the
help of the imagination.  Per inquisitiones = by the espionage of
intformers; which made men afraid either to speak their own
thoughts or to listen to the thoughts of others.  26. Commercio,
the interchange, intercourse. 27. Voce, i. e. free speech. Tamquam, as much - as.
47   1-9. Animus, courage. Primo statim  ortu, at once at the very
beginning; statim giving emphasis to primo ortu. 2. Saeculi,
age, period. Nerva Caesar. All the Roman emperors down to
the time of Hadrian bore the name Caesar, with the title Augustus.
3. Dissociabiles, irreconlclable, incompatible.  Miscuerit.  In
Tacitus the subjunctive is more frequent after quamquam than
the indicative.  Principatum, sovereign poswer, lodged in the
hands of a p'riuceps at the head of the state. 4. Augeat quotidie.
This passage seems to fix the date of the composition of the Agricola; Trajan was adopted by Nerva A. D. 97, and the latter died
A. D. 98; and as Tacitus, in speaking of Nerva, does not apply to
him the title divats (given to deceased emperors), it is conjectured
that the work was composed while Nerva was still alive. Nerva




AGRICOLA.                            179
Page
Trajanus, so called from his adoption by Nerva. 5. Nec modo= 47
et non modo.  Votum = wishes for better and happier times.
Securitas publica is here personified. Her name and figure are
found on coins of the Antonine period. 6. Fiduciam ac robur,
confidence and strength (in). D. finds a hendiadys in these words
(robustant fiduciam).  8. Mala, the evils themselves. 9. Ingenia
studiaque, genius and its ptrsuits.  Oppresseris, you may crush.
A. & S. ~ 261, 2, Rem. 2, and Rem. 4; H. 485; B. 1177; A. 60, 2,
a; G. 250.
10-18. Subit, steals upon us; a poetical use of the word. 12.
Quid, sc. ais or censes. A. & S. ~ 229, Rem. 3, 2; Z. ~ 769. Quindecim annos, the length of Domitian's reign, from A. D. 81 to 96.
13. Promptissimus quisque, all the 2most active men. 14. Pauci,
afew of us.  Ut ita dixerim = so to speak.  Dixerim  instead of
dicam occurs only in later or post-classical writers. Z. ~ 528. The
proposition on which the subjunctive with ut here depends is
omitted. A. & S. ~ 262, Rem. 8. 15. Aliorum, of others, in a
physical sense; but nostri (from ego), of ourselves, morally and
intellectually; we are not what we were.
Alas! for this gray shadow, once a man. - Tithonus.
For the case see A. & S. % 222, Rem. 2 (a); H. 391, 2, 4); B. 863;
G. 356, Rem. 1. Superstites, survivors.  16. Quibus, during
which; ablat. of duration of time. Juvenes (with?nos, in the
verb), those of us who were young men. 18. Per silentium. The
silence of intellectual inactivity.
18-22. Non pigebit, it weill not prove irksome = it will afford me
pleasure. 19. Vel - voce, even in inartistic and unpolished language.
The expression has a vein of poetry in it. Memoriam - composuisse.  Tacitus here refers to his Annals and Histories. 20.
Bonorum, blessings, advantages. 21. Interim, i. e. the Agricola
is first to be published, and the Histories will soon follow. 22.
Professione pietatis, fromn its profession of filial regard. Autaut, denoting absolute exclusion or substitution. A. & S. ~ 198, 2,
Rem. (e); H. 587, II., 2; A. 43, c; G. 495; Z. ~ 339.
24-28. Cnaeus Julius Agricola, the name in full, consisting of
three parts; of which Cnaeus (also Cneus, Gnaeus, Gneus, abbreviated Cu.) is the praenomen or name belonging only to the
individual; Julius, the name of the gens, house, or clan, often
embracing many families, and founded originally on blood-relationship; and Agricola, the name of one of such families: the prae



180                   NOTES TO THE
Page
47 n6men, nomen, and cogn6men. A. & S. ~ 279, 9, (b); B. 1538, 14; Z. ~ 797. Forojuliensium, lit. of the.Forojulians8=-of Forum
Julii, a town in Gaul, founded by C. Julius Caesar, 44 B. C. 25.
Colonia, ablat. of source. A. & S. ~ 246; H. 425, 3; B. 918; A.
54, 2; G. 395. Procuratorem. These procuratores exacted the
tribute from the provinces, and acted as stewards where the
emperors had possessions.  They corresponded to the quaestores
in the senatorial provinces. S. 26. Equestris nobilitas.  By
this statement Tacitus desires to inform us that his grandfathers
belonged to the equestrian order, and were not freedmen; as freedmen were appointed procurators by some of the emperors. 27.
Senatorii ordinis.  Ordo is applied to any body of men, who
form a distinct class in the community, either by possessing distinct privileges, pursuing certain trades or professions, or in any
other way. It was never applied to the plebes. Dict. A ntiqq. 28.
Sapientiae =philosophiae.  Notus, sc. erat.  Caii Caesaris.
Caligula is meant. Meritus, sc. est, he earned.
48   1-13. M. Silanum, a consular, and father-in-law  of Caligula.
Jussus, sc. est. 3. In —sinu, i. e. under her own personal care
and supervision. 4. Omnem -cultum, all the culture of liberal
studies. 5. Arcebat eum, etc. The subject of the verb is the
clause quod —habuit; it kept him fromn the allurements of the
vicious, etc. 6. Peccantium is a substantive here. See Lex. 7.
Quod —parvulus = that even when a child; or, from his earliest
boyhood. 8. Massiliam (now Marseilles), a Greek colony, which
early became a seat of learning. Locum - mixtum  instead of
locunm in quo —mixtae sunt. D.  A literal translation is harsh
and inexact. Render thus: a place with a mixture and a htppy
combination of Grecian politeness and provincial thrift. 11. Prima
in, in his earliest. Acrius, too eagerly. 12. Quam, a conjunction
following ultra which has the force of a comparative. Concessum (sc. erat) - senatori, because statesmanship and politics, not
philosophy, were more becoming to a Roman. Hausisse, had
drtomk in, had imbibed; for hausturutm fssisse, because the writer
wishes to represent the result with greater vividness and certainty.
14-18. Scilicet, natsurally, you may well suppose. Erectum,
lefty, pursuing noble themes. 15. Speciem, the ideal. In this
sense "schon bei Cicero." D. 16. Quam caute. Strictly classical
usage (which Tacitus generally follows) would require Cautius.
A. & S. ~ 256, Rem. 12; H. 444, 2; B. 903; A. 47, 7; G. 314; Z. 0
690. Mitigavit, 8s. eum. 17. Ratio et aetas, (maturer) reason




-AGRICOTLA.                               181
Page
and age.  Quod est difficillimum, i. e. self-government, because 48
it requires the consistentexdsecise of all the virtues.  Ex-modum,
moderation from  (the study of) philosophy.
19-28. Prima — rudimenta, the first rudinmentary duties of m71ilitary service; as we would say, his first campaigns.  20. Approbavit, he peyrformed in a maner satisfactory.  The sense is, he served
his military novitiate in a manner satisfactory to Suetonius Paunlinus.  21. Electus - aestimaret; having been selected (by Panulinus) that he might form an estimate of him by means of tenlt-compatnionship (or, by attendance on him as an aide-de-camp).  Notice
quem- =t eum, and hence aestimaret, subjunctive of purpose.
Nec —neque,  neither - nor.  22. Licenter, ewantonly.  More
juvenum, i. e. the young Romans who attended the commanding
general and had a cownttbernliun  with him, for the purpose of
learning the art of war. 23. Commeatus, furlosughs.  24. Titulum, the title. These young men were military tribunes only in
name. Rettulit (retulit), translate, used, or availed himself of;
lit. referred to an end.  Noscere, to kclow; the historical infinitive,
which may here be translated as an infinitive without prejudice to
the sense.  25. Exercitui, to the armey, as a man of ability.  26.
In jactationem, for display; as material for boasting.  28. Non
— alias, assuredly at no other time. Exercitatior, msore agitated;
for the reasons which immediately follow. In ambiguo,. in regard
to the possession of it.
1-9. Trucidati (erant) veterani, in the colony of Camulodunum, 49
the only Roman colony in Britain. 2. Intercepti (erant), had
been cut off, i. e. and destroyed.  "Codicum  scriptura intersepti
non ferenda est." W. 3. Certavere, sc. Britanni. Alterius, i. e.
of Suetonius Paulinus.  4. Summa rerum, the chief direction of
affairs.  5. In ducem  cessit, fell to the share of the general.
Artem, skill.  6. Juveni, Agricola.  7. Temporibus, dative
limiting ingrata; a delicate way of saying; "the emperors of the
times."  Sinistra, an ulfuavorable.
10-21. Ad - magistratus  with a view to entering  ip2on the
public offices; commencing with the quaestorship and ending
with the consulship.  11. Natalibus, linecage.  This sense belongs
to the silver age. 13. Nitenti, sc. ei, to him  st'iving.  Decus, a
distinction.  14. In —anteponendo, by snutually preferring one
another.  Cf. "in honor preferring one another."  Roni. 12:10.
15. Nisi quod, except that, is intended to modify what is really
only implied in the precedlillg words: they lived in wonderful
Q




182                   INOTES TO' TIHE
Page
49 harmony (and that etae praiseworthy in themn both), except that, etc.
Tanto - quanto -as   lch-r   (s; ablatives of degree of difference. 16. Sors quaesturae. The quaestors drew lots for their
provinces. 17. Proconsulem. A proconsul was generally a consular or ex-consul. Dedit, 8c. Agricolae. 18. Neutro, by neither;
dative of the agent. 19. Peocantibus,for offender8s; the participle
as a noun. 20. Quantalibet facilitate, with any facility however
great, i. e. by allowing Agricola every facility to plunder. Redempturus esset, was ready to purchaise; the subjunctive represents the intention as it existed in the mind of Salvius Titianus.
21. Mutuam, i. e. for himself, and on the part of Agricola. Mali,
of wrong, of peculation and plunder.
21-28. Auctus est filia. Cicero uses a similar expression. This
filia was afterwards the wife of Tacitus.  22. In subsidium, as a
support for the loss of his son. Ante sublatum  =pre viously born;
lit. previously taken up, in allusion to the Roman custom by which
new-born infants were placed on the ground, and if the father
chose to acknowledge and rear them, he lifted them up. 23.
Inter, between.  26. Fuit = stood.  27. Nec - obvenerat, for no
jurisdiction (administering of justice) had f.alleii to his lot.  The
functions of the praetors were properly judicial. After the first
Punic war there were two: the praetor usrbnus, for Roman citizens,
and the praetor peregrinus, for foreigners.  Their number was
subsequently increased and varied at different times. Agricola,
it seems, was one of those whose chief duty was the superintendence of the public games.  28. Inania honoris  enmpty hosiors;
or perhaps, the pageantry of his oqfice.  Medio - abundantiae=
midway between reason(bileess8 anrl stpe)fluity, i. e. yielding a little
to the extravagance of such occasions, and abstaining from  the
pomp and sumptuousness aimed at by some for the purpose of
ingratiating themselves with the people.  Medio is ablative of
manner - according to the mean.
50   1-5. Uti longe - ita propior, although far from  extravagat
profu sioin, yet nearer to his reputation or character.  On this passage Wex remarks: Miretris interpretes a vera horutm  verborun
seltentia pro0rsus aberrasse. - Dicit igitur Tacitus: quo magis  a
luxuria renlotus erat, eo propior erat fcsamae sluae.  Nihil alilud
enim ab Agricola exspectatun ecrat. - Fecisse igitur videbatur Agricola, quod Graeci dicunt blo'ia iavrU) rotEiv. A. & S. ~ 277, Rem. 12,
(b); G. 484, 2; Z. ~ 726.  2. Recognoscenda, inspecting, examining.  3. We cujus, etc., that the state had felt the sacrilege of no




AGRICOLA.                             183
Page
one else than Nero; the state had experienced a general spoiling 50
of its temples in the conflagration, and by the immediate robberies
of Nero; but when Agricola had completed his search and collection, the state found that it had felt only the sacrilege of Nero,
everything having been recovered except what he had appropriated.
Hence the unusual use and force-of the pluperfect.
6-24. Sequens annus, A. D. 69. 7. Othoniana, of Otho, at this
time emperor. Licenter, wantonly, i. e. for plunder. 9. Suis, heer
own. 11. Sollemnia pietatis, the solemn duties of filial affection.
12. Affectati, aspired to, aimed at. 13. Deprehensus (est), he swas
overtaken. Partes (ejus), his party, side. 15. Mucianus, Vespasian's lieutenant. Regebat, during the absence of Vespasian,
who was in Judea when he was proclaimed emperor. Domitiano,
son of Vespasian. 16. Paterna fortuna, in becoming emperor.
Is, Mucianus. 17. Ad - agendos, to conduct the levies or conscription of soldiers. 18. Vicesimae legioni, one of the legions
stationed in Britain. Sacramentum, the mcilitary oath of allegiance.
20. Legatis consularibus, to the conszlar lieutenants.  Under the
empire, the provinces were governed by men who had been either
consuls or praetors, and the former were always accompanied by
three legati, the latter by one. These vicegerents of the emperor
were called legati consulares, legati praetorii, etc. In the present
instance these legati were the chief officers of the province, where
each legion had its own legatus praetorius.  21. Nimia, too  lnuch
for, too strong. 22. Incertum (est utrum) suo (ingenio). Suo -
ingenio, frJom his own temr1per or that of the soldiers; 1" Either
because he did not know how to command, or they to obey." S.
24. Maluit - fecisse contains a suggestion useful to all those who
are appointed to govern.
25-28. Tune, A. D. 69. 27. Vim suam, his owas spir'it or energy.
Ne incresceret, that he meight not grow too great, i. e.. become too
conspicuous and eclipse his superiors.  28. Peritus obsequi.
This construction is rare in good prose. A. & S.. 270, Rem. 1,
(a); H. 552, 3; B. 1121 and 1331; A. 57, 8,f, 3; G. 429, Rem. 4;
Z. ~ 598. Honestis, with the honorable; ablative of means.
1-10. Brevi deinde.  In A. D. 71.  Consularem, the consular, 51
now legatus.  2. Spatium exemplorum= a field for (displaying
themselves as) exoamples.  3. Modo, omly. 4. Communicabat, sc.
cum Agricola. 5. Ex eventu, ime con7sequensce of the result, i. e. his
success. 6. In, with, a view to. 7. Gestis, ablat. of cause. Auctorem cannot be translated here by any single word; his superior




184                   NOTES TO THE
Page
51  oficer gives the sense very nearly.  Ut minister, as a subordinate
ogicer.  8. Fortunam, his good fortune, his success. Virtute in
obsequendo, by his manCliness in showing deference. 9. Nec extra,
bat not beyond the reachh of.
11-19. Legatione, the lieltenanlcy.  Divus, i. e. he was divus at
the time when Tacitus wrote this. 13. Praeposuit. In A. D. 74.
Splendidae dignitatis, a genitive of description or quality. Inprimis-=imprimis, i. e. in primis, especially, particularly.  14.
Administratione, in its adlministration,l from the importance of the
command. Spe consulatus, i. e. the government of Aquitania
served as a stepping-stone.  Destinarat, sc. Vespasianus. 15.
Ingeniis, geniuses; or, minds.  Subtilitatem, acutteness, the
faculty of drawing nice distinctions. 16. Secura, careless, in
regard to the subtleties and refinements of law.  Obtusior, rather
blunt. 17. Plura —agens, dealing more with force, and not with
persuasion and legal subtleties. Exerceat, subjunctive (in oratio
obliqua) to reflect the sentiments of plerique. 18 Quamvistogatos (civilians), i. e. not now in the camp, but acting as a judge
amid civilians. "Suits could be carried on only in the toga and
in Latin." S.
20-28. Conventus, the judicial assemnblies = the circuit courts.
21. Poscerent, potential subjunctive; the idea is, whenever they
might demand it, as often as they might demand it. 22. Satis
factum  (esset), enough had been done. Ultra -farther, more.
23. Persona, the character, the official mien; " He no longer played
the magistrate."  S. "Dann war die Amtsmiene abgele,,t." D.
Tristitiam, sternness, of the magistrate.  Arrogantiam, his lordly
bearing, demanding a rigid exaction of respect to dignity. Avaritiam, i. e. what might seem to be avarice in one who exacted, to
the last farthing, payment of tribute or revenues.  24. Illi - his.
Facilitas, cfftability.  25. Amorem, i. e. of others for him. 26.
Referre, to mention, to call to mind.  Injuria-fuerit, niayprove
a iwrong to his virtutes. Fuerit is subjunctive of modest or cautious
statement. A. & S. ~ 260, Rem. 4; HI. 486, III. 3; B. 1179; A.
60, 2, b; G. 252, Rem. 1; Z. ~ 527. 28. Per artem - artfully, by
artifices.
52   1-11. Collegas, i. e. officers of the same grade with himself,
governors of neighboring provinces in Gaul and Spain. 2. Procuratores. The proclratores looked after the taxes, paid the
troops, and generally were intrusted with the interests of the
Fiscus. Dict. Antiqq. Vincere, to sciut a victory in disputes with




AGRICOLA.                             185
Page
his subordinates.  3. Atteri, to be trampled upon, i. e. to suffer 52
injury to his dignity,  Triennium, than three years. Why not
ablative after minus t  A. & S. ~ 256, Rem. 6, (a); II. 417, 3; B.
900; A. 54, 5, c; G. 311, Rem. 4; Z. ~ 485. 5. Opinione, i. e.
public opinion. 6. Dari, was being given; instead of datum iri,
in order to represent more vividly the certainty that it would be
given. Nullis - sermonibus = owithout any remtarks of his own to
that end: sermonibus, ablative absolute, and hoc, accusative. 8.
Et elegit, it has (sometimes) even chosen, i. e. caused a man to be
chosen. Consul. In A. D). 77. Turn, even then, at that age. Spei,
genitive of quality, limiting filiam. 9. Juveni. Tacitus was
about twenty-four years old at the time.  Collocavit, he gave her
in marriage.  10. Pontificatus. The Roman pontiffs formed the
most illustrious among the great colleges of priests. The college
of pontiffs had the supreme superintendence of all matters of religion. The pontifex maximus was the president of the college,
and was generally chosen from among the most distinguished persons. Diet. Antiqq.
12-28. Soriptoribus, dative of the agent. 13. In, for, with a
view to. Curae ingeniive, of nmy diligence or talent, with that of
others. 14. Perdomita est. Notice the intensive force of per,
thoroughly. 15. Priores, former writers. Percoluere, have embellished. 16. Rerum fide, on, the evidence of facts. 17. Spatio
ac caelo, in extent and in climate; Germaniae obtenditur -it
lies opposite to Germany; i. e. it faces Germany on the east, and its
climate is the same. "The old geographers gave the northern
coast of Spain a north-westerly direction; and, unacquainted with
the extent to which Bretagne reached westward, made the coasts
of Gaul and Germany run in an almost uniform  north-easterly
direction." Tacitus seems to have placed Britain in the angle thus
formed. 19. Gallis, dative of the agent. Inspicitur, it is seen.
22. Fabius Rusticus, a contemporary of Claudius and Nero, who
wrote the history of his times.  23. Scutulae, (kind of) dish; the
word also means a mathematical figure, whose sides were not equal,
nor were its angles right angles; probably, then, a trapezium.
24. Citra, on this side of, i. e. excluding. In universum, to the
wohole island. Fama is nominative. 26. Procurrentium - terrarum, of land jtting out fronm ewhat is almnost the end of the coast,
i. e. from what would be the northern terminus of the coast, were
it not for this jutting strip of land. Jam does not refer to time,
but rather to that part of our progress northward, where the coast
Q2




186                    NOTES TO THE
Page
52 (now, jaim) comes to an end. 27. Hanc oram, the wedge-like projection, on the north. 28. Novissimi, of tkefarthest. Tune primum, i. e. in the time of Agricola.
53   1-14. Circumvecta =by sailing round.  The passive of veho
and its compounds is often Used in a deponent sense, to ride, to
sail, etc. 2. Orcadas, the Orkneys.  Greek form of the accusative.
3. Dispeeta est, was descried; or, was seen at a distance. Thule.
Iceland has the best claim to be identified with Thule. Hactenus
jussum (erat), i. e. the orders were limited to circumnavigation.
4. Mare pigrum. Cf. Germania, 45.  6. Perinde, in the same
manner as other seas.  Credo, _Isuppose, is thrown in parenthetically. 9. Hujus -est, belongs to this work; operis is predicate
genitive. Rettulere, have related it. 10. Unum addiderim, one
thing Imay add; the verb is subjunctive of modest statement, to
soften the assertion.  Dominari mare, does the sea exercise its
dominion.  11. Multum  fiuminum = many  ctrrents.  Litore
tenus, (only) as far as the shore. 12. Accreseere refers to the
flow, and resorberi (is drawn, back), to the ebb. Penitus, far
inland.  13. Atque ambire, and winvds about, following the course
of the depressions of the land. Jugis, upon the heights. Inseri==
is forced, is urged. 14. In suo (sc. campo or reg1no), in its own
dominions.  "Es schaltet und waltet wie in seinem Reiche."  W.
"In seinem eigenen Gebiet." D.
16-28. (Utrum) indigenae an. A. & S. ~ 265, Rem. 2; H. 346,
II., 2, 2); B. 1107; A. 71, 2, a; G. 460. Advecti==strangers.
Utt= as might be expected.  17. Habitus, the characteristics. Ex
eo, from thatfact.  18. Argumenta (sunt), there are arguments for
their definite origin.  20. Silurum. The Silares inhabited Wales.
Colorati, the dark, sun-browned.  Torti, curly.  21. Contra,
opposite to them; since Tacitus supposed Spain to run a considerable distance in a north-west direction.  22. Fidem faciunt, create
the belief. Et, also. Similes, sc. iis vel Gallis. 23. Originis, i.
e. of their supposed Gallic origin. Vi, the influence, the native
force. Seu - dedit, or their countries projecting in different directionts (so as to be nearly parallel to each other), the location of their
climate has given (this) character to their bodies.  Positio, i. e.
with reference to latitude and longitude.  25. In - aestimanti.
Compare Germania, 6. 26. Eorum, i. e. Gallorum.  Sacra, sacred
rites. 27. Superstitionum persuasiones, their belief inl sutperstitions, their superstitious beliefs. Tacitus means that the same
rites and beliefs prevailed in Britain as in Gaul.  Sermo, their
language.  28. In-periculis.  Cf. Cacs. B. G. III., 19.




AGRICOLA.                              187
Page
2-7. Ferociae, of dauntless spirit.  Praeferunt, display.  Ut 54
quos = cum eos; introducing a relative clause expressing a reason,
the relative being at the same time strengthened by ut; hence
emollierit, subjunctive of cause. A. & S. ~ 264, 8, (2); H. 519,
3; B. 1253; A. 65, 2, e; G. 636. 4. Otio, peace. 5. Pariter ae,
equally with. 6. Olim, formnerly, implying that they have remained
in subjection. a long time. Quales —fuerunt, such as the Gauls
were, i. e. full of martial spirit.
9-16. Honestior auriga (est), the charioteer is the more honoerable, i. e. greater honor attaches to his position than to that of the
combatants. Clientes propugnant, the vassals fightfor hint; i. e.
while the chief drives, his vassals fight from the chariot. In the
Trojan war, the rank of the charioteer, among both Greeks and
Trojans, was inferior to that of the chief, who did the fighting.
11. Et studiis, and by party spirit. Aliud, sc. est. 12. In commune, for the common welfare, advantage. 13. Civitatibus, dative
of the possessor: twvo or three states rarely have, etc. 16. Foedum
(est), is mlsrky.
17-28. Spatia, the lengths, so. sunt.  Nostri orbis (for dierum
nostri orbis), of osur quarter of the world.  Pliny says that in Italy
the longest day lasts fifteen hours; in Britain, seventeen. S. Nox
-brevis, i. e. of course, in summer; in winter the nights are
correspondingly long. 18. Ut, so that. 19. Discrimine, interval.
Quod sit and if.  20. Solis fulgorem, the brightness of the stlz,
not the sun himself.  21. Sed transire, but pasRes ctcross the
horizon. The lowest latitude at which the sun himself could thus
graze the horizon is sixty-six degrees. The north of Scotland is
a little below the parallel of fifty-nine.  22. Scilicet- cadit,
naturally, the flat extrentities of the earth, with their low shadow, do
not cast the darkness upward (do not permit darkness to rise high),
and night falls beneath the sky and the stars.  On this passage it
may be remarked, that Tacitus here supposes the surface of the
earth to be arched, like a round shield; with greater flatness
towards the rim of the shield, hence extrema et plana terrarum
(the extreme and flat parts of the earth); that these flat parts cast
but a low shadow, and that night is caused by the shadow of the
earth being projected into the heavens; and hence that the region
of night, in this part of the world, falls near the surface of the
earth, below the higher skies and sturs, which are illumined by the
sun. Umbra is ablative of description.  25. Patiens (est), is
capable of bearing.  26. Mitesount, sc. fruges. 27. Caelique, and




188                   NOTES TO THE
Page
54 of the atmosphere.  28. Pretium  victoriae, the price of victory.
Hence we see that Britain paid tribute in money, not tithe in
produce.
55   1-6. 1Margarita. The form margaritum is rarer than zargarita.
2. Artem, skill. Legentibus, sc. iis, to those that gather them. 3.
Rubro mari, in general, the IYndita ocean; but the Persian ygulf is
here specially meant. Nam &S6aaaa puSvpd complectitur sinum et
Abrabicum  et Persicum. W.  Saxis, ablative of separation,
governed by a in composition with avelli. 4. Avelli, sc. ea, i. e.
margarita. Expulsa sint, they have been thrown up on the shore;
subjunctive in oratio obliqua, to represent the sentiment of quidam.
Ego. Notice the use of the pronoun; because the writer contrasts
his view with that of others. 5. Crediderim, should suppose; subjunctive of cautious, hypothetical statement, to soften the assertion. Naturam, i. e. natural excellence. 6. Nobis avaritiam,
i. e. that avarice which would impel us to seek the pearls if they
were worth the search.
7-16. Ipsi Britanni. What is the force of ipsi. From  a description of the country and its products, the author now passes
to the Britons themselves. IDelectum, recruiting; the furnishing
of troops. Injuncta - munera, the imposed services of the state;
the duties imposed by the home government on its subjects, including, especially, extraordinary contributions. 8. Obeunt, perfornz. Has, i. e. injurias. 9. Aegre, impatienltly.  Ut, so that, in
so far that. 10. Igitur, the~i; with a resumptive, not an illative
force; resumptive of the history of the conquest. 11. Julius -
ingressus. Julius Caesar invaded Britain in B. c. 55 and 54. On
the epithet divus, see note, page 19, line 25. 12. Terruerit. As
previously remarked, Tacitus regularly uses the subjunctive after
quamquam; and, generally, in later Latin, quamvis and quamquam change parts. 13. Potest videri, can (only) appear.  14.
Bella civilia, 8c. fuerunt; the civil wars between Caesar and
Pompey, and Augustus and Antony.  15. Consilium, policy,
political prudence. 16. Praeceptum, an injunctiont, laid upon him
by his predecessor; "niimlich im Testamente des Augustus, gegen
den Tiberius eine grosse Pietdt zeigte." D.
17-23. Agitasse - Caesarem, that Caist Caesar had formed the
design. The words ingentes —fuissent show that, by Caius
Caesar, Caligula is meant. 18.Ni — fuisset. To this protasis, we
must mentally supply, as an apodosis, et intrasset. Ni velox, se.
fuisset, had he not been hasty in the tzrn of lhis mind. Ingenio is




AGRICOLA.                            189
Page
ablative of specification. Mlobilis poenitentiae, easily moved to 55
repentanlce -fickle in changing his mind. The passage is read
differently by different editors. Wex, from one MS., reads, velox
ingelnio mobili poe nitentia (swift to repent from the fickle temper
of his mind), in which ingenio mobili stands as the cause of
velox poenitentia. Mobilis may be either nominative, agreeing
with Caesar, or genitive agreeing with poenitentiae.  19. Adversus-conatus, in 39 B. C. Cf. Germ. 37: Mox ingentes C.
Caesaris minae in ludibrium versae. 20. Claudius auctor, namely,
through his generals Plautius and Vespasian. Auctor operis.
The MSS. generally read atcetoritate operis, which is devoid of
sense. Tandem is the conjecture of Halin. Kritz and Wex read
iterati operis. Operis, of the work of subduing Britain. 21. In —
rerum, to a share in the undertaki7gs.  22. Domitae (sunt). 23.
Monstratus (est) fatis, weas pointed out by the fjttes as a man of
mark and a future emperor.  Fatis is probably the instrumental
ablative (not dative of the agent), as fata, to the mind of Tacitus,
was likely nothing more than the current of events, or the force of
circumstances.
24-28. Consularium primus, i. e. first in the list of consulars
who commanded in Britain. 25. Ostorius. Oyster-hill, near Hereford, the site of a Ronnan camp, received its name from him. IS.
26. Proxima, i. e. the part nearest to the Romans, in general, the
southern part. 27. Veteranorum  colonia, the colony of veterans
was planted at Camulodunum, now Colchester; the first Roman
colony in Britain, about 50 A. D. 28. Cogidumno (Cogidunno,
Cogiduno), of whom nothing else is known. Donatae (sunt), to
reward his fidelity and attach him to Roman interests.
1-11. Vetere - recepta, according to the old and long xreceived (or 56
usual). This sense of receptus is post-classical. 3. Ut - reges
is a definition of consuetudine. Et reges, even kings. 4. Didius
Gallus commanded from A. D. 51 to 57. Parta -the acquisitionss;
the participle used substantively. Prioribus, his predecessors. 5.
Ulteriora, the renmoter parts. Per quae = ut per ea, and hence the
following subjunctive of purpose, quaereretur.. Fama - quaereretur, the reputation of enl arged duty migniht be acquired, namely,
by enlarging the limits of his government. Veranius had command from A. D. 57 to 58. 7. Suetonius Paulinus governed from
A. D. 58 to 61. 8. Biennio. An instance of the use of the ablative
to denote duration of time. Res, success. 9. Quorum  fiducia,
through his confidenlce ine which garrisons strongly posted. 10.




190                   NOTES TO THE
Page
56 Monam, in Tacitus, is the isle of Anglesea; in Caesar, it is the
isle of Man. The confusion doubtless arose from the imperfect
acquaintance of the Romans with British geography. Ut, as, on
the ground of. Vires, forces, most likely. 11. Terga- patefecit,
exposed his rear to a favorable mnoment for the enemy. How the
enemy seized upon the opportunity is explained in the next
chapter.
12-19. Absentia, ablative of cause - the cause of remoto metu.
13. Agitare, discussed; the historical infinitive. Conferre, cotmpared, i. e. heard individual rehearsals of them. 14. Interpretando, by explaining their meaning, showing the evident purpose
of them.  Accendere =aggravated them.  Nihil profici (that
nothing owas gained), commences a series of reflections and declarations reported in oratio obliqua, and continuing to the end of
the chapter. 15. Tamquam, so to speak, modifies ex facili, easily.
The latter expression is Tacitean, and is formed, like ex isperato,
e.x aperto, etc., by imitation of a Greek idiom. 16. Singulos.
Notice the force of the distributive; one king for each nation.
Binos, i. e. the legatus and the procurator.  18. Saeviret, cruelly
preyed; subjunctive in oratio obliqun. Aeque - aeque, equally.
The object of the repetition is to show the absolute equivalency,
so far as they were concerned, of the dissension or unanimity of
their rulers. Cf. Hor. Ep. I., 1, 25; but the repetition is very rare.
Praepositorum, of their governors; a substantive. 19. Subjectis,
sc. iis, to thenz in their subject condition.
19-28. Alterius - centuriones, the band (or attendants) of the
one, the centur-ion,s; referring to the legatus and his officers. Perhaps the literal rendering, the hand of the ose, the centurions, is
just what Tacitus meant; for, "kings have long hands." This
passage is very corrupt, and scarcely any two editions have the
same reading of it.  20. Alterius -miscere, the slaves of the
other (the procurator) mingle violence and insults. 21. Cupiditati,
dative of advantage. Exceptum  (esse), was exceptedfronl.  22.
Fortiorem esse, it is the b'raver. A general proposition, in which
the emphasis is on in proelio: i. e. if we come to battle, we, as
the braver, shall spoil our enemies. Hence too the emphasis of
nunc, by contrast: now, i. e. in our subjection.  24. Tamquam —
nescientibus, as if ignorant only how to die for their colnltry; or,
as if the only thing they did not know, was to die for their country.
Nescientibus agrees with iis understood, which is dative governed
by injungi.  25. Quantulum, howe snmall a number. Transisse,




AGRICOLA.                              191
Page
had crossed over. Why is the infinitive used here, and not the 56
subjunctive (in an interrogative clause in oratio obliqua)? A. &
S. ~ 266, 2, Rem. 1, (c); H. 530, II., 2; B. 1296, C; A. 67, 1, d;
G. 654, Rem. 1. Si - numerent, i. e. if we compare our numbers
with those of the enemy. 26. Germanias, the Germnanies, i. e. the
various divisions of Germany, the nations of Germany.  27. Defendi, sc. eas =Germanias.  28. Illis, i. e. Romanis.  Causas,
the mlotives.
1-9. Recessuros, sc. eos esse. We need scarcely suppose that 57
the epithet divus formed part of the original deliberations; the
respect belongs to Tacitus, not to his barbarian enemies.  2. Neve.
The ne, of which neve is continuative, is implied in the general
force of the preceding exhortations, that they should not be discouraged. A. & S. ~ 262, Note 4; EI. 538, 1; B. 1113; G. 450.
3. Alterius, of a second.  4. Impetus, imnpetulosity; partitive
genitive. 5. Britannorum. A. & S. ~ 215; tI. 406, I.; B. 783;
A. 50, 4, c; G. 376. Qui detinerent, since they were detaining.
It is only the connection of the thought here that decides this to
be a relative cla.use expressing the reason of what goes before; the
subjunctive (in oratio obligqa) is indecisive. A. & S. ~ 264, 8; 1H.
519; B. 1251; A. 65, 2, e; G. 636.  7. Fuerit, ha-d been; in oratio
recta it was fuit, has (all along) been, down to the present moment.
8. Ejus modi _. suchl; it is a genitive of quality or description.
10-28. The events narrated in this chapter occurred A. D. 61.
In  vicem  instincti, maltully filed. Boudicea.  The name is
variously spelled, Boudicca, Boodicea, Boadicea. 11. Generis,
lineage; genitive of description  or quality. Duce- under the
conmand of. Imperiis, positions of aolthority; properly, military
offices, but both civil and military functions are here referred to.
14. Coloniam, Camulodunum.  15. In barbaris, i. e. usual among
barbarians. Ira et victoria, the subject of omisit. The Latin
uses greater freedom than English in the concord of verb and subject. 16. Quod nisi, and (head) niot. 17. Amissa foret=amissa
esset.  See Z. ~ 156, Note, in fin.  18. Restituit, he brotght batrc.
Tenentibus - plerisque, the ablative absolute to express concession; though a great v7many still remained in arms.  20. Proprius,
a peculiar; arising from  the character of the man. Ex, of; lit.
from, i. e. emanating from, as a source. Agitabat, kept uneasy.
Ne, lest; introducing the ground of the fear as it existed in the
minds of the Britons.  21. Cetera, iln other respects; accusative of
specification.  Arroganter consuleret, he should adopt haughty




192                     NOTES TO THE
Page
57 measures. 22. Igitur, i. e. because he could not crush out the
spirit of rebellion. 23. Petronius Turpilianus had command
from A. D. 62-64. Delictis, dative. 24. Eoque, aed therefre, eo
being ablative of cause.  Poenitentiae, towards thei, repeentance;
dative = iis poenitesntibus.  Compositis prioribus. f;rj2neer t roulbles
having been allayed.  25. Ultra, slore. 26. Trebellius governed
from A. D. 64-69. Nullis, with no; experimentis (= experientia)
being ablative of quality. 27. Curandi, in governing.  On this
sense of the word cf. Sall. Jug. 60. 28. Ignoscere, to show indulgence. If we retain the comma after ignoscere, the vitiis following becomes ablative; if not, dative. On its retention or
rejection, the opinions of editors are nearly evenly divided.
58   1-11. Blandientibus, displatying their attractions; our vices
charming them into this indulgence. Civilium armorum refers
to the rapid succession of civil wars which followed the death of
Nero, when the empire became a sort of shuttlecock. 2. Discordia
laboratum  (est), trouble was occasioned by discord, between Trebellius and Caelius. See Hist. I. 60. 3. Cum, siince, because.
Otio lasciviret, became demoralized from  idleness.  4. Order:
Trebellius indecorus atque humilis ira (on accomit of the anger)
exercitus vitata fuga ac latebris. 5. Praefuit, sc. exercitui.  6.
Ae velut pacti (sunt): and they stipoulated, as it were, the armny for
unbridled freedonm, the general for safety. 7. Stetit, subsisted,
maintained itself. Vettius Bolanus was governor from A. D. 6971.  Under him  Agricola commanded the twentieth legion.  9.
Disciplina, by his discipline; i. e. it was too weak to disturb
Britain. 10. Nullis invisis, hatedfor no; delictis being ablative
of cause. 11. Caritatem - auctoritatis, had gained (for himself)
affection instead of authority.
12-23. Cetero orbe, i. e. the rest of the Roman world besides
Britain. 13. Recuperavit, i. e. from the confusion and strife of
the civil wars. Duces, se. erant. 14. Intulit, spread. 15. Petilius Cerialis commanded from A. D. 71-75. 18. Aut victoriaaut bello, i. e. he either wholly subdued or harassed by war. 19.
Alterius, of another, i. e. Frontinus; so the editors generally,
though Wex insists that Agricola is meant, on the ground that
alter cannot be used in the sense of alius.  It may be remarked
that this passage is corrupt, and that the MSS. afford no solution
to its difficulties. 20. Sustinuitque. Instead of que we should
rather expect sed, which some editors adopt. Molem, the btrden,
the weight of responsibility. 21. Quantum licebat, as much as it




AGRICOLA.                            193
Page
was perm~,itted; modifying sustinuit molem.  The limitation has 58
reference, doubtless, to the peculiar character of the times, when
to become distinguished was dangerous. 22. Super, besides.
24-28. Agricola now takes command, A. D. 78-85. Vices, vicissitudes. 25. Media jam, low in nmid, in the middle of. 26. Expeditione, the calmpaig)t. Securitatem, freedom from  care. 27.
Verterentur, in a deponent sense, were turning, were betakbig
themselves. Ordovicum, in Wales. 28. Alam, a troop of cavalry;
lit. a wing, because the Roman cavalry was stationed on the wings
of the army. Ala was properly the body of cavalry belonging to
a legion.
1-11. Agentem, operating, but with the additional idea of being 59
stationed or quartered there. 2. Ereeta (est), was aroused. Provincia, the whole province, not simply the state of the Ordovices.
Quibus - erat - those who wished for wcar. The construction is
iniitated from the Greek. A. & S. ~ 226, Rem. 3; H. 387, 3; B.
823; G. 354, Rem.; Z. ~ 420, Note. 3. Probare, approved; historical infinitive. 4. Agricola is the subject of statuit. Quamquam. The clauses beginning at quamquam end at videbatur.
Transvecta (est), was past. A Tacitean sense of the word.
Sparsi (sunt). 5. Numeri, divisions of the army; a post-Augustan
use of the word. Praesumpta (erat) - quies, (thoutgh) repose for
that year had been anticipated (counted on) by the soldier.  6.
Tarda — inchoaturo, circumstances retarding and adverse to one
about to begin a war. These words are in apposition with the
clauses beginning with quamquam. 7. Custodiri suspecta (Ioca),
that the suspected parts should be watched. Ire obviam - to face.
8. Vexillis, the detachmenlts; apparently, detached portions of the
legions each under a vexillum. 9. In aequum, into the plain or
the level ground. 11. Simili, by his equal. Erexit aciem, led his
armny tup the hill.  Militaris dictio, admodum  frequens apud
Livium. W.
12-18. Instandum (esse sibi) famae = that he nlutst vigorously
follow up the repctation thus far acquired. 13. Prout - cessissent, just as his first attempts had succeeded. The subjunctive reflects the thoughts of Agricola himself. 14. Possessione, fronm
thepossession; ablative of separation. The omission of a is quite
noticeable, though it is a well established fact that verbs of separation compounded with re may govern the ablative without a
preposition. 16. Ut - as happens. 17. Dubiis consiliis, doubtful
plans, i. e. whose success is subject to uncertainty. The succes13- Agr.                 R




194                   NOTES TO THE
Page
59 sive stages of a campaign cannot be predicted from the beginning.
Ratio, the judgmenlt, understanding.  A word often difficult to
translate. 18. Transvexit, se. copias.
19-28. Auxiliarium, who were probably Britons, as the next
clause seems to prove. Patrius, peculiar to their country, as explained in the next line. 20. Quo, by which; ablative of manner.
22. Mare, the sea, and not the land as the first objective point of
their enemies; or, that the enemy would approach by sea in ships.
23. Crediderint. After the historical perfect immisit, crederent
would be the regular tense. This violation of the rule of sequence
occurs more frequently in sentences of result, as here. A. & S. #
258, Rem. 3, (a) and (b); HI. 482, 2; B. 1168; A. 58, 10, c; G.
513. The perfect in such cases is used to imply final result. 24.
Haberi, sWas regarded; historical infinitive. 25. Quippe —cui,
because - hinm. In such relative clauses, expressing a reason,
Tacitus generally has utt qui. A. & S. ~ 264, 8, (2); H. 519, 3; B.
1251; G. 636. Quod tempus, the time that; the time just after a
governor's arrival, ingredienti provinciam.  26. Officiorum
ambitum, a round of official courtesies; such ceremonies as would
naturally attend the advent of a new governor. 28. Usus, makig
use of. Expeditionem, (it) a camspaigs.
60   1-4. Victos continuisse, to have curbed the conqltered.  2.
Laureatis, sc. litteris (which is rarely omitted), wzith laureled dispatches. A general gaining an important victory forwarded to
Rome the* announcement of it in letters bound up with laurel
leaves, the laurel being the emblem of victory.  Gesta, his achievemnents, i. e. a report of them. 3, Aestimantibus = in the eyes of
those swho conlsidered; probably a dative of interest or reference,
though some editors make it ablative absolute, men considering.
5-17. Animorum  prudens, ksowting well the feelings, temper or
disposition, 6, Aliena, of others. ParuMn profici, that but little
was gained.  8. Domum  suam, his osetn household, i. e. his own
immediate attendants and subordinates. 10, Nihil, sc. agere, he
transacted; historical infinitive. 11. Rei publicae, (no) public
business; partitive genitive.  Studiis privatis, according to his
owull private inclinations.  Ex commendatione, of others. 12.
Militeo. The reference is to such attendant soldiers as clerks,
lictors, purveyors, etc. Ascire, he did (not) emnploy, select. 13.
Optimum —putare, he thought all the best the most trustworthy.
Omnia, everything. 14. Non exsequi, he did not pulish. 15.
roena, ablative of cause. 17,. Non peccaturos.n cos qui non




AGRICOLA.                            195
Page
peccarent, those who would not offend. His rule was, prevention is 60
better than cure.
19-28. lMunerum, of burdens, in the shape of contributions of
corn, taxes, and tribute. Circumeisis, sc. iis. 20. Reperta,
devised. 21. Per ludibrium, in mockery. Assidere (from assideo)
- horreis, to sit by the closed granaries. Tacitus is now speaking
of enforced contributions of corn to the Roman governor, and is
noticing the cunning methods of extortion devised by the Roman
officials. He mentions two. First, in districts where corn was
either scarce or had been bought up by the Romans and stored in
granaries, the Britons, to make their contributions, must come to
such granaries, where they often had to wait till they were opened
(hence, assidere - horreis), purchase the corn with money (emere
- frumenta); and, as they bought it fronm the Romans to give to
the Romans, the corn remained in the granaries, the Britons merely
parting with their money (luere —pretio). Second, in districts
where corn was plenty, the contributions had to be conveyed to
distant places difficult of access, and it was less troublesome and
cheaper for the Britons to purchase the necessary corn (which was
already in the hands of the Romans) with money. In both cases
the Britons parted with their money. The true reading of the
passage is subject to great uncertainty, and editors vary in their
explanations of it. The explanation given is that of Wex, whose
conjecture of luere for ludere we have adopted. 22. Ultro, besides.
Luere pretio, to pay with the pr'ice; or, to make atonement with
the price, and not with the corn. 23. Devortia - indicebatur,
by-ways off the roads and a distant part of the coulltry were appointed. 24. Proximis hibernis, the woiter quarters being very
near, i. e. though the winter quarters were close to them. Et avia,
and out of the way places. 25. Deferrent, sc. frumentum. Omnibus - erat, everybody had at hand, i. e. corn. Paucis, the governor
and his officials. 27. Statim, at once. Comprimendo, by su(pp2ressing. 28. Intolerantia, from the insolence, harshness.
2-12. In agmine, on the march. 3. Disjectos, lit. the scattered 61
-— the stragglers. 4. Castris, dative. Capere, selected. Many
traces of these camps still remain; two in particular, situated in
Annondale, called Burnswork and Middleby. S. 5. Quo minus
popularetur = but ravaged thenm; the full force of quo minus appears only in connection with nihil: nothing -whereby he should
ravage them less. 8. In, nntil, up to. Ex aequo, on ail equality,
as independent states. 10. Circumdatae (sunt). Ratione, judg



196-                  NOTES TO THE
Page
61 vnent; method. 11. Ut —transierit. The reading of this passage
is doubtful. Some editors place the period after pars, and make
illacessita transiit (changed from transierit) begin the next
chapter. We follow Halm, Draeger, and Wex, except that the
latter omits pariter, with the remark, Alii vel sic vel ita vel pariter
ante illacessita excidisse cowjiciUnt.  Illacessita.  A  word used
only by Tacitus, and only twice. 12. Transierit, came over, i. e.
to the Romans.
13-25. Sequens hiems, A. D. 79-80. 14. Eoque, and therefore;
eo being ablative of cause. In - faciles, readyfor war, prone to
war. 16. Publice, in his public capacity, probably "with grants
from the treasury." Ut- exstruerent. Julius's hof, or house,
the home of Julius Agricola, and Arthur's Oven, in Stirling, near
the mouth of the Carron, are said to have been built under the
direction of Agricola. S. 17. Castigando, with words =vituperando. D. 18. Honoris aemulatio, a rivalry for honor, for a
higher social status. Jam vero-=low at le)ngth. 19. Ingenia —
anteferre, he preferred the natural talents of the Britons to the diligelce of the Gauls, implying that the latter had little or no talent,
though they might be industrious. 20. Ut qui, so that they who.
21. Eloquentiam, its eloquence. 22. Habitus, dress, style of
dress. Honor, because it was the dress of their lordly conquerors.
23. Discessum (est), se. ab iis, they turned aside. 24. Porticus,
arcades; covered walks, or walks covered with roofs supported by
columns, often built in the most magnificent style, and adorned
with pictures and statues by the best masters. Balnea. Public
baths were regarded as necessities by the Romans. 25. Humanitas, refinemet. Cum, although; hence esset is subjunctive of
concession. Pars servitutis. Because they were thereby denationalized and assimilated to their conquerors.
27-28. Tertius annus, A. D. 80; 28. Tanaum, the Tanarts,
whose identity is uncertain. Some editors read Taum (from the
margin of one of the MSS.), which is thefirth of Tay. Aestuario
-est. A. & S. ~ 226, Rem. 1; H. 387, 1; B. 632; A. 51, 3, b;
G. 322.
62    2-18. Conflictatum - tempestatibus, harassed by fierce storms.
3. Ausi (sunt). Castellis, dative. The remains of some of these
are still to be seen between Ardoch and Innerpefferey. S. 4.
Annotabant. Notice the force of the imperfect: used to remark.
Opportunitates. The plural implies suitableness in various respects. 7. Pactione, i. e. with the enemy, capitulation. Erup



A GRICOLA.                            197
Page
tiones, sallies from these fortresses. 8. Annuis copiis, with s81p- 62
pliesfor a year, or, perhaps, for the year. 9. Quisque, each commander of a fortress. Irritis, beinlg baffled. 12. Pellebantur.
The imperfect marks the continuance of the enemy's defeats. 13.
Intercepit, did - appropriate to himself. 14. Facti, of his actioll.
15. Apud quosdam indicates those who related, not those who were
reproached. Conviciis, his reproaches, reprimands. 16. Adversus
malos is much stronger than the siniple dative, maltis, would be.
Besides, Tacitus is fond of varying his constructions. 17. Secretum, his reserve. One had not to fear it because he did not cherish
anger or ill-will. 18. Honestius, (it) more honorable. Offendere,
i. e. openly and once for all.
20-28. Quarta aestas, A. D. 81. Obtinendis (securing), se. iis
locis. 21. Si — pateretur. The inference is that the spirit of the
Romans could acknowledge no limit to their conquests, while there
was anything to conquer.  22. Pateretur, h'ad allowred; the
imperfect is used, because the glory of Rome still refused to allow.
Inventus (esset). 23. Clota, the firlth of Clyde; Bodotria, the
fi)rth of Forth. Diversi - revectae, carried back ( — inland) by
the tides of an opposite sea. On the west, the "opposite sea" is
the Irish sea; on the east, the North sea. 26. Propior sinus, i. e.
south of a line joining the firths of Clyde and Forth. Sinus
probably means indented coast, as in Germ. I and 37. 28. Quinto
anno, A. D. 82. Nave prima, in the wfirst ship; which probably
means the first Roman ship that crossed the Clota. Transgressus,
having crossed over the firth of Clyde.
3-17. In spem, i. e. with a view to the conquest of Ireland. 63
What is said here and farther on is an illustration of the far-reaching policy of Rome. 4. Si quidem, if indeed — since. Hibernia
miscuerit, Ireland might iunite; the perfect subjunctive in apodosis
representing the attainment of the result as possible. Wex says
miscuerit-  pitcv rv, s8. Si expugnata fuerit. Medio, se. in. 6.
Opportuna, convenielt, favorably situated.  Tacitus suggests that
Ireland was favorably situated for uniting in commercial inter -
course Britain, Gaul, and Spain. Magnis —usibus, by great
muztual advantages.  Usibus is the instrumental ablative.  8.
Nostri maris, the Mediterranean.  9. Caelum, climate. Ingenia
- que, the natural abilities, and the mode of life or state of civilization. 10. Aditus, its approaches. Melius cogniti (sunt), i. e.
than the interior. 14. Ex eo. It is highly probable that Agricola
is meant, though some editors maintain that regulus is referred
R 2




198                   NOTES TO TIHE
Page
63 to, and hence draw the conclusion that Tacitus was at this time in
Britain. 15. Idque, and that that force. 16. Romana arma, 8c.
essent, which had better been expressed. 17. Ubique, i. e. everywohere in the neighborhood, within supporting distance.
18-28. Sextum annum, A. D. 83. 19. Amplexus, having enmbraced
in his plans. 20. Motus, a movenlent.  Ultra, beyond the firth of
Forth. Infesta itinera, the snolested smarches; i. e. rendered
dangerous by the sudden attacks of an enemy who were well acquainted with the country. Hostilis exercitus, i. e. of the Roman
army. 22. In - virium = as a part of his forces. 23. Egregia
specie, with imsposilng display. Cum simul - simul, since at the
samle timne both - and.  The fleet and the army kept within easy
supporting  distance.  24. Impelleretur, was being urged on.
Isdem = iisdem. 25. Mixti - laetitia,  isyngled together with their
provisionls and their merrimLent.  The soldiers and sailors mingled
in merry gatherings over their meals.  27. Profunda, the depths,
i. e. the great extent. 28. Adversa, the hardships. Hino - hinc,
on this side - on that -side; here - there.
64 2-13. Visa classis, the fleet seen- =the sight of the fleet. 3.
Secretoe, the secret, the secret existence. 4. Clauderetur. The
subjunctive reflects the thought of the Britons: oratio obliqua.
Ad manus, to force, to action. 5. Conversi, turning; in a deponent
sense. 6. Majore fama, i. e. rumor represented the preparation to
be greater than it was. Oppugnare is governed by adorti, having
attemipted. Ultro, actually, on their part; ut provocantes, as the
challengers. 9. Pellerentur, se. ut. Specie prudentium, with the
air of prudent melt. Pluribus, in several; agminibus, lines or
columns, is ablative of manner. 12. Et ipse, he himself also.
This peculiar position of the subject, in the midst of an ablative
absolute clause, seems designed to draw attention to the fact that
the agent in both actions (diviso exercitu, incessit) is the same.
18-28. Iter, governed by edoctus. A. & S. { 231; H. 374, 1; B.
734-5; A. 52, 2, c. and Rem.; G. 333, Rem. 1. 19. Vestigiis insecutus, having followed in their tracks; vestigiis is instrumental
ablative. 20. Assultare, to dash utpon. Tergis, the rear; dative.
21. Propinqua, approaching: appropinquante. W. 22. Ancipiti,
by a double, i. e. in front and rear. 23. Pro salute =the more
usual de salute. Cf. Hist. IV. 58. 24. Ultro, on their part; or
better, actually. Quin etiam  (=-quinetiam), nay even, besides,
moreover. Erupere, they sallied forth, i. e. the soldiers of the
ninth legion. 25. Pulsi (sunt). Utroque exercitu, the ninth




AGRICOLA.                             190
Page
legion and the troops that Agricola brought to their aid. 27. 64
Eguisse auxilio. A. & S. ~ 250, 2, (2); H. 419, III.; B. 907; A.
54, 1; G. 389. Quod nisi, anld (had) not. 28. Debellatum foret,
impersonally: the war would have been ended.
1-12. Consoientia and fama are ablatives of cause after ferox, 65
elated.  Nihil, se. esse. 4. lli- sapientes are those who previously, specie prudentiunm, advised a retreat. Modo, but a sho2rt time
before.  7. Vindicant, sc. milites. Uni, i. e. duci. 8. Occasione,
by a fortunate occurrence. Victos, sc. se esse. But the reading of
this passage is uncertain, and the MSS. afford no means of correcting the text. Victos (instead of ducis in the MSS.) is the conjecture of Lipsius. 9. Quo minus, the use of which in Tacitus is
somewhat peculiar, is best rendered by bult. 11. Conspirationem,
a colfederacy. 12. Discessum, so. est ab iis, they (Romans and
Britons) separated.
13-28. Germanias, Upper and Lower, or Superior and Inferior.
16. Tradendam, imparting, teaching.  Manipulis, dative. 17.
Exemplum - habebantur, were kept (in the camp) as a pattei-r
and as directors of their military training. 18. The ad in adactis
to them. Uno remigante. This is the reading of the best MSS.,
and is explained as meaning one directi ng the rowers.  Other readings are mnrigeralnte, remigrante, renlaviganti. 20. Rumore, of
their mutinous conduct. Ut - praevehebantur, they sailed alolg
as something wonderful; as a marvellous sight to the inhabitants of
the shores of Britain.  Mox - exeuntes.  This is the conjectural
reading of Halm for atque ut illa iraptis secule plerisqel in the MSS.,
which being destitute of sense, editors have variously supplied conjectural readings. The. passage is now doubtless incurable. 23.
Ad extremum, at last; eo inopiae, to that degree of waoct. A. & S.. 212, Rem. 4, Note 3; II. 396, III.; B. 771; A. 50, 2, d; G. 371,
Rem. 4. 25. Ductos, those drawn.  Tacitus adopts the old construction of vescor with an accusative, on account of sorte being
in the ablative, and the next word. S. 28. Fuere. After such
indefinite expressions Tacitus generally has the subjunctive; here
he has the indicative, illustravit.
1-2. Venumdatos. This verb is mostly used of the sale of 56
captured slaves. Nostram ripam (Rheni), the left or western
bank. - Mutatione ementium, by a change of butyers, by being
sold and resold, etc. 2. Indicium, the disclosure, the narration of
it by themselves. Casus, adventure.
3-20. Aestatis, A. D. 84. 5. Ambitiose, ostentatiously; but the




200                   NOTES TO THE
Page
66 connection shows that stoical indifference is the ostentation meant.
"He did not affect a stoical indifference in order to excite the
admiration of others." S. 6. Rursus, on the other hand. 8. Quae
= ut ea, that it; hence followed by subjunctive of purpose, faceret.
Incertum, vuague, and leaving the enemy in doubt as to ultimate
purpose. 9. Expedito, being 2mleculmbered with baggage. 10.
Exploratos, tried, and found trustworthy. 11. Graupium is the
MSS. form of the name, though Grampium  is the more common
and familiar: now the Grampian hills. 12. Nihil, accusative of
specification. 17. Affluebat, were flocking. 18. Et quibus (erat),
and those who had, Cruda, fresh. Cf. Virg. Aen. VI. 304. 19.
Decora, decorations, honorary distinctions, trophies, and rewards
of valor. 20. Praestans, one distinguished.  Calgacus. So the
name occurs in the MSS. The more familiar form is Galgacus.
23-28. Necessitatem, of fighting or submitting. 24. Animus,
cofidence. Hodiernum diem - that this day. 26. Servitutis
expertes (sumus), A. & S. ~ 213; H. 399, (3); B. 777, e; A. 50,
3, b; G. 373. 27. Terrae, sc. sunt. Ultra, beyond us, to which
we can fly.
67   1-10. Honesta, honorable. Eadem — also. A. & S. ~ 207, Rem.
27; H. 451, 3; B. 1034. Etiam, even. 3. Certatum est=the
contest was Bwaged. Subsidium, a reserve; a body of reserve, like
the Roman triarii, of whom Tacitus seems to have been thinking.
4. Eoque, and therefore. 5. In - penetralibus, in, its innermost
parts, as it were, in the sanctuary of the island.  "' Penetralia
sit penatium  deoraftn  sacraria."  Tacitus seems then to make
Galgacus say, that the Caledonians were the guardians of the welfare of Britain.  Servientium  litora, the shores of slaves to the
Romans, i. e. the opposite shores of Gaul. 7. Nos - extremos,
i. e. us, who are the ends of the world, and the last people to maintain their liberty. Extremos forms an apposition with nos. 8.
Sinus famae. These words are difficult to interpret, and editors
vary in their explanation of them. We are inclined to think that
their true meaning is the concealment of oour fame, i. e. our hitherto
unknown name, which is compared to something concealed in the
bosom, in the folds of a toga. Then recessus ipse (our rery remotenress) is answered by nune - patet, and sinus famae by omne
- magnifico est; the idea in the latter clause is, as our country
is unknown, so the Romans attach great importance to its conquest. Some editors make famae a dative depending on defendit.




AGIRICOLA.                           201
Page
11-19. Infestiores, i. e. than the waves and-rocks. 15. Avari, 67
so. sunt. Ambitiosi, anmbitious, eager for power and the fame of
conquest. Quos =cum eos, since —them; the relative clause expressing reason. 17. Affectu, fondness, desire. 18. Falsis - imperium, so. appellant.
20-28. Liberos suos, onle's children. 21. Servituri, doomed to
serve; the future participle denoting purpose. 24. In tributum,
in tribute or taxes. 25. Annus = the produce of the year. In
frumentum, in (contributions of) corn.  26. Emuniendis, in
clearing, in making passable by constructing roads and causeways.
28. Ultro, besides; actually; whereas we feed our masters.
1-15. Emit, by paying tribute. Pascit, by supplying the enemy 68
with provisions. 3. Conservis ludibrio. A. & S. ~ 227; H. 390;
B. 848; A. 51, 5; G. 350. Vetere famulatu, the servitude to
which the Romans have for a long time reduced the world. 4.
Nos is emphatic; hence its use. Viles, worthless, explains in
excidium; we are only fit for destruction. 5. Neque - sunt; if
we had mines, etc., our masters would make us work them. Galgacus is now speaking of the Caledonians only. 6. Quibus = ut
iis, hence the following subjunctive, reservemur. Exercendis,
for working. Ferocia, the high spirit. 8. Secretum, seclusiou,
secluded situation. Quo - eo -- the- the; ablatives of degree of
difference. 9. Tam - quam, as well (those of you) - as (those of
you). 11. Femina duce. Tacitus probably refers to Boadicea,
who was queen of the Iceni, and in her revolt was aided by the
Trinobantes. Cf. Annal. XIV. 31. 12. Felicitas, their good
fortune. 13. Potuere governs the preceding infinitives. Integri,
i. e. we have not yet met the enemy. 14. In poenitentiam, like
those who suffer the penalties of unsuccessful rebellion. Arma is
wanting in the MSS., and is the conjecture of Wex. Without it
the passage can scarcely be read. Statim -very; at once. 15.
Quos = quales, what kind of.
16-28. An creditis, do?1ut suppose   A. & S. ~ 198, II., Rem.
(d), and. 265, Rem. 2; H. 346, II., 2; B. 1107-8; A. 71, 2, Rein.
b; G. 459. 18. Vitia, the faults. 21. Nisi si = nisi, except that
nisi si rarely introduces an ironical limitation. Pudet, so. me, I
nm ashanied. 22. Licet, although. Alienae, aforeiqn, of foreigners. 23. Hostes and servos are in apposition with Gallos, etc.
1-16. Aut nulla —aut alia. In the first case he may refer to 69
those Britons who had betrayed their country; in the second, to
such allies as the Gauls, Batavians, etc. 7. Nostras manus, otr




202                   NOTES TO THE
Page
69 on, forces, such of the allies of the Romans as waited only for
opportunity to join the Britons. 9. Ceteri, i. e. besides the Usipi.
Tam quam, just as. Usipi, namely, those already mentioned as
having  circumnavigated  Britain.   11. Senum =veteranorum,
previously mentioned. Cf. c. 5. Inter - discordantia, feeble and
discordant free towns in the midst of citizens yielding an unwilling
obedience and those that govern uljustly.  Parentes are British
subjects, and imperantes their Roman rulers. 12. Hic, here, on
our side. 15. Est, it remails.
17-28. Alacres = with enthtlsiasn or lively demonstrations. Ut
- moris   as is the custom with barbarians. Moris is predicate
genitive. A. & S. ~ 211, Rem. 8, (3), (a); H. 403; B. 780; A. 50,
1, c; G. 365. 19. Agmina, sc. videbantur; the lines were seen
moving. 20. Procursu, by the sallying forward to the front.
Acies, Britannorum.  21. Coercitum, restrained.  22. Adhuc,
besides. Octavus annus, i. e. the beginning of it. 23, Auspiciis,
under the auspices. 25. Vicistis, you have been conquering. Tot
expeditionibus, in so many caimpaignis.  The construction may be
taken as a concessive ablative absolute: though the campaigns
have been so many. Seu —seu, vwhether — or.  27. Adversusnaturam, i. e. beyond the limits of human endurance and toil.
Neque me poenituit, neither have I been dissatisfied with. Me
militum. A. & S.. 215; H. 410; B. 805; A. 50, 4, c, 2; G. 376.
28. Egressi, having passed beyond; here transitive and governing
terminos.
70   1-19. Veterum, i. e. priorum. 2. Fama, by report. Qui fama
aliquid cognovit, ipse non oculis vidit; qui rumore, non comperta
audivit. W. 3. Britannia, i. e. the whole of it. 4. In agmine,
on the march. 5. Audiebam, the imperfect denoting repetition.
7. Vota - aperto, lit. your wishes and your valor are in an open
field=your wishes and your valor have free scope.  8. Prona,
favorable. 10. Pulchrum (est): is glorious. In frontem=when
advancing, while facing the enemy. 11. Quae, sc. ea. 14. Quod
in so far as. Jam pridem, lolng ago, long since. 16. Terga, that
retreat. 18. Naturae fine. Cf. Germ. 45.
20-28. Constitisset, had taken their stand against you. 22.
Decora, glorious deeds. 24. Clamore, with a (mere) shout. Ceterorum - fugacissimi, an idiom imitated from the Greek, and
though used by the best Greek writers, its imitation is not permitted in English. 26. Quo modo (in what manner) =just as.
Penetrantibus, sc. iis, probably dative of disadvantage, though it




AGRICOLA.                             203
Page
may be taken as ablative absolute. 27. Contra ruere, sish against, 70
rush on to meet. Some editors make ruere depend on solet understood. It may, however, be regarded as the historical infinitive.
Pavida, sc. animalia. 28. Agminis, of tile band of hunters, etc.
2-9. Quos —restiterunt, not because you have at last found 71
them have they come to a halt, have they stood their ground. 3.
Novissimae - aciem. These are the words of the best MSS., but
Tacitus could not have penned so harsh and crude a sentence.
Editors have attempted various emendations. As the passage
stands, it is, their affairs are desperate, and their bodies from  extresle terror have rooted their battle linle in these places.  Or we may
omit the comma after res and translate, their desperate circusmstances and their bodies, etc. Halm calls the passage a locus insalabilis. 5. In quibus = ut in iis, that in them, with subjunctive
of purpose, ederetis, you mnight display.  6. Transigite cum, put
an end to. Imponite - diem, lit. put a great day to fifty yearscrown fifty years with a great day. He is speaking in round numbers; from  the expedition of A. Plautius it was only forty-two
years. S. 8. Imputari potuisse, could have been imlputed.
11-17. Eminebat, broke forth.  Alacritas, enthusiatsn.  14.
Mediam - firmarent =formed a strong centre. Nicht als ob sie
andere, die dort standen, verstirkten, sondern sie selbst bildeten
ein festes Centrum. D. 15. Affunderentur, were dispatched to.
Tacitus uses the word as a poet would: were poured upon. Pro
vallo, before the intrenchmnent or palisaded rampart of their camp;
behind the auxiliaries.  16. Ingens - bellanti, as imnmense glory
to the victory for him fighting ( = if he fought) without (shedding)
Romnlm blood; i. e. the victory would be all the more glorious if he
could win it without the aid of the legions. Victoriae is genitive.
Citra =-withoutt; in this sense only in later Latin. 17. Bellanti,
sc. ei =  Agricolae; dative of advantage. Pellerentur, se. auxilia,
which should have been expressed, and probably would have been
but for the preceding auxilium.
18-28. In speciem, for display, for effect. 19. Constiterat, had
taken its po8ition. Primum  agmen, sc. consisteret, implied in
constiterat. The use of agmen for acies is noticeable. 20. Per
-jugum, along the ascendding ridge.  Connexi velut, as if tikled
together, without any break in the line. Media campi, the middle
of the field or the space between the two armies. 21. Covinnarius
eques, the chariot warrior; singular for plural.  Covinnus is a
Celtic word with a Latin ending, 23. Simul - simul et - at ther




204                   NOTES TO THE
Page
71 same time both —and.  24. Diductis ordinibus, the ranks being
widened by being extended at the wings. Porrectior, too extended,
and therefore more easily broken. 25. Futura erat = weas likely
to be; neither erat, was, nor esset, would be; but a mean between
the two. 26. Promptior - adversis, more open. to hope and strong
against reverses (with at least an assumed confidence that they
would not occur). Agricola, on this decisive field, wished to appear more hopeful than usual, and more confident of success, and
to inspire his soldiers with the same feelings. To this end he dismounted and took his stand on foot. Adversis, which some editors
consider in the dative, seems rather to be an ablative of specification, firmn in respect to.reverses.  28. Vexilla, the ensiyls of the
auxiliaries; and therefore in the front. It cannot refer to the
legions, because in taking such a position, Agricola would be
acting inconsistently with what he had already done.
72   1-15. Constantia, with steady courage. 2. Brevibus =small.
The cetra was a small round shield covered with hide. Diet.
Antiqq. Excutere, fromn their shields. 5. Mucrones ac manus,
to sword-points and hand to hand.fifght. 6. Quod, which mode of
fighting; sc. erat. 7. Inhabile, imipracticable. 9. Complexum
armorum, lit. the embrace of arms== the crossing of swords. In
arto pugnam =-fghtig at close qltarters. 10. Miscere ictus,
dealt out their blows. Ferire =-parried. 12. Erigere, to lead u2p.
15. Festinatione victoriae, in the haste for victory. Equitum, se.
Ronianorum.
16-23. Ut —haerebant. The reading, punctuation, and interpretation of this passage vary in different editions. Halm, Wex,
Draeger, and Kritz supply ut, which is not found in the MSS.
17. Recentem, afresh terror, besides that caused by the charge of
the infantry. Intulerant, se. equites Romani. 18. Inaequalibus,
tmneven. The rapid advance of the Roman cavalry was checked by
the dense lines of the enemy and the rough ground. 19. Haerebant=were embarrassed, retarded. Minime, by no means. The
passage minime — impellerentur is one of the most corrupt in
Tacitus, and has been made simply readable by different editors.
We follow the text of Wex. 20. Cum, since. Aegre stantes
(Romani), because their position was now on the slopes of the
hills. Equorum (sc. Romanorum), of their horses. 21. Impellerentur, they were impelled, i. e. by the slipping and generally unsteady footing of the horses. 23. Transversos aut obvios (Romanos), across or full agaisst them.




AGRICOLA.                             205
Page
24-28. Expertes, withoutt a share in. 25. Vacui, unconcernied, 72
without apprehension. 27. Ni. Before this word we must mentally
supply et circumissent. Id ipsum, that very thing. 28. Alas,
squadro1ns.  Subita, the sudden emergencies.
1-17. Quanto - tanto = the - the; 2. Consilium, the design of 73
attacking the Romans in the rear. 3. Transvectae alae, the
squadrons riding across the field. 4. Pugnantium, of the combatants. Aversam, lit. turned about, hence= the rear of, the
routed. 6. Grande —trucidare. Compare with this Sall. Jg.
101. Sequi —trucidare, historical infinitives. The description
of the rapid movements is rendered more graphic by the asyndeton.
7. Eosdem, the same, i. e. those who had just been made prisoners.
They were slaughtered on account of oblatis aliis. 8. Armatorum, though armed, agrees with hostium.  9. Ultro, actually.
12. Viotis —virtusque. Compare Virg. Aen. II. 367. 13. Primos, the foremost.  14. Quod ni, alnd (hard) not.  Frequens
ubique =everywhere present.  15. Cohortes, sc. progredi, or
something equivalent, on account of the zeugma in persultare;
so also with partem equitum.  Indaginis modo, after the manner
of a hunting-circle, i. e. as hunters surround a space of ground,
and by gradually contracting the circle drive the game towards
the centre. See Lex. 16. Artiora, sc. loca; i. e. thickets. 17.
Rariores, the more open. Persultare = to scou..
19-28. Compositos - ordinibus, themn arranged in compact order,
in close ranks. 20. Versi (sunt). 21. Rari, in order to escape
the more easily. Vitabundi in vicem, avoiding one another. 22.
Avia, ulfrequented parts. 23. Ad, about; in this sense with
numerals. 24. Quis-=quibus. 27. Laeta, gladsome, agrees with
nox.
1-13. Trahere, carried away.  Nine historical infinitives follow. 74
2. Ultro, actually. 3. Miseere in vicem, concerted together; miscere, from the notion of mingling together, implying an interchange of views. 4. Deinde separare  (sc. consilia), and then
acted separately.  5. Pignorum, i. e. their wives and children.
Concitari, they were violently moved.  8. Vastum, a desolate,
gloomy. 10. Incerta (esse), were uncertrain, is the predicate. 12.
Spargi, be distributed, carried on in different parts at the same
time. Cf. Ann. III; 21. 13. Borestorum, of whom nothing else
is known.
14-28. Circumvehi, to sail around, to circumnavigate.  The
infinitive after praecipere (instead of ut circnumvehatur) is an
S          




206                  NOTES TO THE
Page
74 unusual construction, occurring only in some of the later writers.
15. Vires = a force. 18. Secunda - fama, with favorable weather
and our renoe1. 19. Trutulensem portum, of which nothing is
known. Unde is to be taken with lecto, having been coasted. It
seems clear from what Tacitus' says, that the fleet started from a
harbor on the east coast of Scotland, not far from the firth of
Forth, and, without actually circumnavigating Britain, pursued
the coast far enough to prove that it was an island; and then returned to the same harbor. 22. Epistolis, i. e. in his reports and
dispatches. Auctum, aml2lified, embellished. Domitiano - erat.
See chap. 33, and Germ. 13, and 21. 23. Fronte, in his countevance. 24. Inerat, there was in him. Falsum  triumphum, over
the Chatti, whom he had not even seen. Cf. Dio Cass. LXVII. 4.
25. Emptis, se. iis=servis.  Quorum== ut eorum; hence the
following subjunctive. 28. Id sibi, etc., that it was, etc.; the
construction may depend on inerat conscientia, or we may supply
putabat, or something equivalent.
75   2-9. Studia fori, the pursuits of the forunt; especially eloquence.
Civilium artium, referring especially to politics, law, and government. 3. Acta (esse), hrad been driven. 4. Cetera, than great
military renown. Utcumque =in some manter. Some editors
join it with  facilius.  Imperatoriam, imperial, befitting an
emperor. 5. Quodque = et quod.  6. Secreto suo, twith his secret,
his dark and secret intentions. This seems to accord better with
the context than with his seclusion, as the words are rendered by
some. 8. Impetus, the outburst.
10-28. Triumphalia ornamenta. After the year 14 n. c. the
honor of a triumphal entry was rarely granted; instead of it
triumnphal decorations were decreed. These were the corona laurea,
toga praetexta, tunica palmata, and sella curulis. 12. Honore,
compliment.  13. Opinionem, an impression; probably in the
decree itself; perhaps otherwise. 15. Majoribus=for men of
nmore than ordinary distinction; i. e. this rich province was, as a
rule, given to men of peculiar distinction. 16. Ex implies of the
lumber of those employed in. Codicillos, dispatches, orders. 19.
Freto, of Dover. 22. Tradiderat - provinciam. In A. D. 85.
23. Celebritate; a complimentary reception by friends, seems to
be the meaning, though Ruperti makes the word synonymous with
frequentia.  25. Officio, the kindly attentions. 26. Brevi, witth cc
slight; cold and ceremonious. Turbae servientium, with the
crowd of.ser2ile courtiers. 28. Grave, odious. Otiosos, mnen of
leisure, not engaged in war.




AGRICOLA.                            207
Page
1-15. Hausit is the conjecture of Wex, for auxit in the MSS.; in 76
which he is followed by Halm and Draeger. Cultu, in his style of
living. 2. Altero, i. e. two. 3. Adeo, so, to such a degree. Ambitionem, their display. 4. Aspecto implies a more attentive
observation than viso. Quaererent, sought for, i. e. inquired for
the reason of his fame, and were unable to satisfy themselves in
regard to it. 5. Interpretarentur, explained it, i. e. understood
his motives. 8. Laesi, iljured. 10. Laudantes, his praisers,
eulogizers. Ea = talia; hence quae = ut ea, with the subjunctive.
11. Sileri, to be passed over in silence. 15. Limite here denotes
the actual fortified boundary line which had been drawn for the
defence of the empire against the German and Sarmatian tribes
on the side of Pannonia and Dacia. C. Ripa, the right bank of
the Danube, as far as the Quadi and Marcomanni. S.
17-28. Omnis, the whole. 21. Ceterorum. The MSS. have
eorunm.  The emendation is that of Grotius, and is adopted by
most recent editors. 22. Verberatas (esse). A strong expression,
and suggestive of the painful impression produced on the tyrant.
Optimus - libertorum, all the best of his freedmen. That freedmen in those times frequently possessed great power, and held
influential positions, is well known from various passages in Tacitus, Pliny, and Seneca. 23. Amore et fide, from affectiosn and
fidelity towards Domitian. Pessimi, se. liberti. 24. Deterioribus
= to the baser sort of vmen. 26. Ipsam —praeceps. His very
glory was hurrying him on to ruin. 27. Annus, generally supposed to be A. D. 89 or 90. Asiae —Africae. Each of these provinces formed a proconsulate. 28. Sortiretur, he was to draw lots
for.  The senior consulars drew  lots for these provinces. W.
Civica Cerialis, proconsul of Asia, put to death by Domitian.
1-12. Consilium, a purpose; not to accept the appointment. 77
Exemplum, a precedent.  2. Cogitationum, with the intentions;
limiting periti.  3. Ultro, actually.  4. Occultius, somewhat
obscurely. Laudare, sc. ii, i. e. periti.  5. Approbanda, making
good. 6. Non jam, no longer. 7. Pertraxdre, they dragged hint,
i. e. caused him to go unwillingly.  8. In -compositus, equipped
vwith a lordly bearing; assuming a haughty demeanor. Excusantis, se. ejus = Agricolae. 10. Beneficii invidia, at the hateflness of the favor. Salarium. It is not known what this usual
salary was, but it seems probable that in later times it amounted
to as much as $40,000. 12. (Id) non petitum (esse). Conscientia,
a consciousness; implying fear and hence ne = lest.




208                   NOTES TO THE
Page
77   15-28. Quo - irrevooabilior, the darker, the more implacable;
the more that of a fiend, the less that of a man. 18. Libertatis,
of freedonm in his conduct, such as would show a disregard for the
views and authority of the tyrant.  Provocabat, did he stimulate;
i. e. did he seek to augment his fame or accelerate the approach of
his fate. 19. Sciant - mirari, let those know whose culston it is to
admire unlawful things; Tacitus is alluding to those who, in defiance or disregard of tyranny, dare to do what is forbidden by its
authority; "as, for example, when Helvidius Priscus openly celebrated the birthday of Brutus and Cassius." S. 21. Eo —excedere, rise to that degree of distinction.  22. Per abrupta, by precipitous paths; by an uneven course of conduct; by opposition to
theemperor. 25. Vulgus, thegeneralpublic. 26. Hic —populus,
the people in this case acting digfferently, i. e. from what they were
accustomed to do. The words are differently explained by different
editors. We give what seems to be the natural meaning of the
words, lit. here doing another thing. 27. Per -cirOulos, it public
places and in knots.
78   2-16. Nobis - ausim, I cannot venture to affirn that we have anlything well ascertained; with nihil supply esse; comperti is the
participle used as a noun in the partitive genitive. 4. Visentis,
visiting, agrees with principatus. 5. Intimi, the most confidetial
of the prince's physicians. 7. Momenta -deficientis (ejus), that
the successive momeWts of his sinking. Dispositos, stationled at intervals. 8. Credente, supposing. Accelerari, se. ea-= that those
tidings. 10. Prae se tulit= he showed, let be seen. Et qui —et
cum is, and because he; with causal subjunctive. 12. Coheredem
Domitianum. This was done simply to secure some of his property
to his family. 14. Velut - que, as if (Agricola had made him an
heir) ins compliment and from choice. 16. Nisi - principem, that
a prince, unless bad.
17-28. Caio —Juniis, June 13th, A. D. 40. 18. Sexto. As
Collega and Priscus were consuls A. D. 93, quarto should have been
written instead of sexto. 19. Decimo, se. die ante. 20. Habitum
ejus, his personal appearance. 21. Decentior - sublimior, rather
iwell made than tall. 22. Gratia - supererat, greace of expression
(a gracious expression) predomi1nated.  24. Medio-aetatis, in
the mid career of usnimpaired age= "in the prime of life." C.
25. Quantum ad gloriam = as regards glory. 27. Impleverat=
he had attained.
79   1-28. Speciosae, handsome; "sufficient wealth to make a hand



AGRICOLA.                              209
Page
some appearance."  C. 4. Cujusdam, a certain; felicitatis being 79
a predicate genitive. 6. Trajanum may possibly be a Tr-ajajo.
8. Solatium tulit, that negative consolation (or compensation)
which consisted in not having lived to suffer. 10. Spiramenta,
breathing spells, i. e. pauses. 14. Una victoria censebatur, was
rated at but one victory.  Carus Metius was one of the most
notorious informers under Domitian. He had as yet caused the
death of but one victim. 15. Albanam arcem, the Alban stronlghold, was one of Domitian's villas, at the foot of the Alban mount.
16. Sententia, the counsel. IMessalinus was another notorious
informer. 17. Baebius reus. After he had been procurator of
Africa. Nostrae manus, the hands of senators, of whom Tacitus
was one. 18. Nos - visus (sc. perculit), the sight of atlulricus, etc.
The bold zeugma in perfudit makes it necessary to supply some
such verb as perculit. Mauricus and Rusticus were brothers; the
former was executed, the latter banished.  19. Senecio. See chap.
2. 22. Videre et aspici, to see him  and to be observed by him.
Subscriberentur, were accused, i. e. were made mvatter of acetcsatioin.
23. Sufficeret, was enough, sufficed.  24. Pudorem, shame.  28.
Constans - libens =-  with colerage and cheerfulless.
1-28. Pro - portione = to the best of thy ability.  In the Au- 80
gustan age the phrase was pro virili parte.  2. Filiae ejus, who
was the wife of Tacitus. 7. Dolor, sc. fuit. 8. Condicione, by
the circiumstance.  12. Desideravere aliquid, missed sovlethbig,
felt that something was wanting. 13. Sapientibus, i. e. the philosophers.  15. Infirmo desiderio, sweak regret. 18. Admiratione
- colamus.  The text of this passage is uncertain.  We follow
that of Halm. 19. Si - suppeditat, if nature s!ftices, i. e. sf our
natsural powers are equQc1 to the task.  20. Id praeceperim, I vwousld
give this precept.  24. Non —imaginibus, not because I think a
veto should be put on images (of ancestors).  28. Tenere et exprimere, to retaizn and to represent, or, to possess and to express.
Alienam, of others, i. e. of artists, of sculptors.
1-7. Sed —moribus, but your self in yoeur own character. 3. 81
Mansurum  est, is destined to remain.  4. Fama rerum, i. e. in
the record of achievements, in history. Fama rerum scheint ein
neuer Ansdruck fiir " Geschichte." Dr.
14-  Agr.                  S2




NOTES
TO THE
DIALOGUE ON ORATORS.
ARGUMENT.
1. REASONS for writing the dialogue. 2. The persons engaged in it;
at first Curiatius Maternus, Marcus Aper, and Julius Secundus. 3.
Secundus endeavors to dissuade Maternus from thinking any more of
dramatic composition. 4. Maternus gives his reasons for persisting.
5-7. Aper condemns his resolution; and in point of utility, real happiness, fame, and dignity, contends that the oratorical profession is
preferable to the poetical. 8. He cites the example of Eprius Marcellus and Crispus Vibius, who raised themselves by their eloquence to
the highest honors. 9. Poetical fame brings with it no advantage.
10. He exhorts Maternus to relinquish the Muses, and devote his whole
time to eloquence and the business of the bar.  11-13. Maternus defends his favorite studies; the pleasures arising from poetry are in
their nature innocent and sublime; the fame is extensive and immortal;
the poet enjoys the most delightful intercourse with his friends, whereas
the life of the public orator is a state of warfare and anxiety. 14.
Vipstanus Messala enters the room; he finds his friends engaged in a
controversy, and being an admirer of ancient eloquence, he advises
Aper to adopt the model of the ancients in preference to the plan of
the modern rhetoricians. 15-17. Hence a difference of opinion concerning the merits of the ancients and moderns; he desires to know
who are to be accounted ancients. 18-19. Eloquence has various
modes, all changing with the conjuncture of the times; but it is the
nature of men to praise the past and to censure the present.  The
period when Cassius Severus flourished is stated to be the point of
time at which men ceased to be ancients. Cassius with good reason
deviated from the ancient manner. 20. Defects of ancient eloquence;
210




NOTES TO THE DIALOGUE.    211
the modern style more refined and elegant. 21. The character of
Calvus, Caelius, Caesar, and Brutus; and also of Asinius Pollio and
Messala Corvinus. 22. The praise and censure of Cicero. 23. The
true rhetorical art consists in blending the virtues of ancient oratory
with the beauties of the modern style. 24. Maternus observes that
there can be no dispute about the superior reputation of the ancient
orators; he therefore calls on Messala to take that point for granted,
and proceed to an inquiry into the causes that produced so great an
alteration. 25-26. After some observations on the eloquence of Calvus,
Asinius Pollio, Caesar, Cicero, and others, Messala praises Gracchus
and Lucius Crassus, but censures Mecaenas, Gallio, and Cassius Severus. 27-33. Maternus reminds Messala of the true point in question; Messala proceeds to assign the causes which occasioned the decay
of eloquence, such as the dissipation of the young men, the inattention of their parents, the ignorance of the rhetorical professors, and
the total neglect of discipline.  34. He proceeds to explain the plan of
study, and the institutions, customs, and various arts, by which orators
were formed in the time of the republic. 35. The defects and vices in
the new system of education. In this part of the dialogue the sequel
of Messala's discourse is lost, with the whole of what was said by Secundus, and the beginning of the remarks of Maternus. 36. Eloquence
flourishes most in times of public tumult; the crimes of turbulent citizens supply the orator with his best materials. 37. In the time of the
republic, oratorical talents were necessary qualifications, and without
them no man was deemed worthy of being advanced to the magistracy.
38. The Roman orators were not confined in point of time; they might
extend their speeches to what length they thought proper, and could
even adjourn; Pompey abridged the liberty of speech, and limited the
time. 39. The very dress of the advocates under the emperors was
prejudicial to eloquence. 40. True eloquence springs from the vices of
men, and never was known to exist under a calm and settled government. 41. Eloquence changes with the times; every age has its own
peculiar advantages, and invidious comparisons are unnecessary. 42.
Conclusion of the dialogue. V.
Page
1. Juste Fabi. L. Fabius Justus, consul A. -D. 111. In the im- 86
perial times the nonten (Fabius) is often either omitted or follows
as something subordinate.
6. Causidici, pleaders; from causa and dico; often used in a
contemptuous sense. Diserti (the eloquent) is subject.
9. Ut - sit is added to show one of the alternatives of pondus




212                   NOTES TO THE
Page
86 excipere: ut ant male existimandum sit -since Soe must either
thinkC meanly.
10. Sit. Words in italics are the additions of various editors,
and are intended to supply defects in the MSS. Sit is added by
Lipsius. Idem adsequi, se. quod antiqui adsecuti sunt.
11. Judiciis, sc. nostris. 12. Proferenda, sc. esset.
13. Ut nostris temporibus = as our times go, or as our times
consider them. The expression is elliptical: ut disertissimi existimantsur nostris temporibus.  The words are intended to be disparaging.
87   2. Ut persequar, that I may pursue or follow closely.
3. Subtiliter, finlely, exquisitely.  Graviter, forcibly.
5. Dum - redderent, while each expressed the mould (or natural
bent) both of his mind and of his character.
6. Isdem  numeris, with the same elegance and melody of style;
or with the same rhythmical flow of the sentences. Ernesti thinks
the words mean, in the same order; but Tacitus adds, servato ordine
disputtationis. Isdem = iisdem.
7. Rationibus, arguments.
10. Ingeniis, the genius; the oratorical talents. The word is
used five times in this chapter in various senses.
11. Postero die quam, on the day after. Quam, a conjunction
(= than), follows postero, because the latter word ha;s the force of
a comparative. Curiatius Maternus. Nothing certain is known
of him except what we learn from the dialogue.  Some believe
him to be the Maternus who, we are informed by Dion Cassius
(lxvii. 12), was put to death by Domitian, on account of his too
great freedom of speech. Catonem, i. e. his tragedy entitled
"Cato."
16. Marcus Aper, a native of Gaul, who rose by his eloquence
to the rank of quaestor, tribune, and praetor, successively. Julius
Secundus, a friend of Quintilian, who mentions the elegance of
his oratory.
17. Ingenia, men of geniues, men of talent. Fori nostri, nearly
equivalent to of our bar. Quos utrosque, both of whom.
19. Studiorum, for their purssuits, for their studies.
20. Fabulas, conversations, with other learned men.
21. Arcana semotae dictionis, the privacy of theirfamiliar discourse. Semotae means here withdrawn from public view, beyond
the reach of others' ears. Penitus exciperem, I might thoroughly
learn, lit. catch up. Promptum, an easy, ready.




DIALOGUE.                           213
Page
24. Institutione, by education.                             87
25. Purus, pur'e, without admixture of foreign or provincial
words or style. Pressus, terse. In-erat==as far as sufficed,
i. e. for any given occasion.
2. Alienarum artium may be rendered of other accomplishments; 88
but alienarum  refers to accomplishments not directly concerned
with oratory, e. g. geometry, music, etc.
7. Quo minus ames ==front loving.
9. Retractares, youl might retouch or revise it. Sublatis, se. iis.
11. Securiorem, nmore secure against the attacks of malignant
critics and the common talk of the envious.
12. Leges, you shall read. Sibi, to himse~l and not to his fears
of the powerful.
14. Thyestes. An oft recurring subject of tragedy.
15. Formavi, have mapped out.
19. Adeo, to such a degree.
20. Quo minus consumas = that you spend.
23. Clientelae. Distinguished Romans were sometimes the
patroni of states and cities, which were in a certain relation of
subjection or friendship to Rome. Municipiorum, free towns,
generally in Italy, governed by their own laws, and enjoying the
rights of Roman citizens, including (except in a few cases) the
right of voting.
25. Domitium, the title of another of his tragedies. Id est
(si).
26. Nostras and Romana are equivalent here. Notice that historias (histories or narratives of facts) is opposed to fabulis, which
refers especially to fictitious narratives.
3. Desidiam  advocationum, my discontinuance of the dutties of 89
the advocate.
7. Quod - opto = wihat I have long wished for. "The present
tense is often used of that which has endured for some time, and
still continues." See H. 467, III. 2; B. 1083; M. ~ 334, Obs.
9. Angustiis, the narrow field, the limited range. Superque,
and more than enough.
15. Alteram partem, that one party to the dispute.
17. Contubernii, of our. living together, possibly under the same
roof.
18. Saleium Bassum, a Roman epic poet, contemporary with
Statius. We have not even a fragment acknowledged as his production. He is commended by Quintilian.




214                   NOTES TO THE
Page
89   20. Locupletiorem, i. e. quam Bassum, who, though very poor,
could furnish strong arguments in defence of poets and poetry.
21. Securus, at ease, unconcerned; for I shall not attack him.
23. Causas agere, conduct causes, as counsel or advocate. Quatenus, since.
25. Plurium, i. e. of those qui poetae nascelstur; whereas Maternus, being rather an orator than a poet, ought not to be defended
on the merits of poets.
27. Parere, from pario.
28. Complecti provincias, i. e. so as to become their patronus,
their patron and protector. Studium, the pursuit, which has just
been mentioned.
90   4. Notitiam, celebrity (throulghout).
8. Alienis, to strangers.
9. Ultro, actually. Ipse, i. e. tu ipse.
10. Potentia ac potestate, with eficacy and power. The first
term implies a general command of means, which are infallibly
effective in fulfilling every purpose which the agent forms. Potestas does not denote power in general, but such a degree of it as
enables the agent to produce a given effect. If below what it should
be, it fails in producing the effect; and it is not understood, as in
potentia, that there should ever be any superfluous force, so as to
create terror or admiration. Hill, pp. 604-5.
12. Perfugio et tutela, in the shelter and protection.
13. Proprium, your own. Inorepuit, has sounded the alarm.
15. Praesidium, a defence; hence, quo propugnare possis. Telum, an offensive weapon; hence, quo incessere possis. Simul ac
at once -and.
16. In judicio. He alludes to the court of the centumviri, who
resembled other judices in this respect, that they decided cases
under the authority of a magistratus. From each of the 35 tribes
were chosen three members, and consequently the whole number
would be 105; but they were called, in round numbers, the hundred
men. This collegium seems to have been divided into four parts,
each of which sometimes sat by itself. The jurisdiction of this
court was chiefly limited to civil matters; its functions, however,
are not well ascertained. Diet. Antiqq.
18. Eprius Marcellus rose by his oratorical talents to distinction
at Rome in the reigns of Claudius, Nero, and Vespasian. His
contest with Helvidius Priscus in the senate, A. D. 70, when the
mode of appointing the delegates to Vespasian in Egypt was debated, is sketched by Tacitus, Hist. TV. 6-8. Diet. Biog.




DIALOGUE.                            215
Page
20. Ejus modi = such. A genitive of quality.                  90
2. Orbitati, to one's childlessness. Flatterers courted the child- 91
less rich in the hope of being made their heirs.
3. Officii - administrationi, to the adminiistration of some office,
as a tribute to official dignity. This meaning of officium is limited
chiefly to the times of the emperors. In earlier Latin, the words
might mean for the performance of some service. Cf. Agric. 19.
4. Ipsos-orbos, nay rather, but that even the childless. Immo generally begins a clause or sentence, and rarely follows other words.
6. Ullane. Notice that the a, though short, receives the accent,
on account of the enclitic ne.
8. Veteres et senes, old and venerable, though the words are
nearly synonymous. Vetus means, that has existed a long time;
senex is simply old: i. e. vetus directly expresses what senex
only implies.
9. Subuixos, lit. supported; it may be rendered, enjoying.
11. Togatorum, of civilians. Comitatus et egressus. The
patronus and the popular orator loved to be accompanied on public
occasions by a numerous retinue.
14. Coire populum (to see), the people assemble.
16. Vulgata, the generally known, is opposed to tantum - nota.
19. Profert, sc. orator. Est —constantia, there is, as of his
own delivery, so of his own joy, a certain weight and constancy; i. e.
the pleasurable feelings of the orator are as great and as durable
as the force of his words and the effect produced by them.
21. Curam, effort; that on which care has been bestowed.
22. Commendat, lends afavor to, renders successful.
1. Latus clavus, the purple band. The latus clavus was a broad 92
purple band, extending perpendicularly from the neck down the
centre of the tunica. It was a distinctive badge of the senatorian
order, and hence it is used to signify the senatorial dignity. Diet.
Antiqq.
2. Homo novus, a new man, that is, a plebeian who first attained
a curule office, and was the founder of his family's nobilitas. Diet.
Antiqq. Civitate natus. Whether Secundus was a native of Gaul
or of Britain, or of either, is unknown. That he passed some
time in Britain is certain from chap. 17.
6. Centumviros. See note, line 16, page 90.
8. Libertos, who were not unfrequently advanced to positions
of honor and influence. Procuratores, who had charge of the
imperial revenues in the provinces.




216                  NOTES TO THE
Page
92   11. Nec - venit, is neither conferred by letters patent nor comes
by favor, i. e. which neither imperial authority nor favor can
bestow.
13-16. Qui - sui. Here the MSS. are faulty, and it is probable
that something has dropped from the text. We follow Halm, except that we omit et before in urbe, to make the sentence readable.
]odo, only.
18. Tunicatus, clad with tunics, and not with the toga; and
hence alluding to the poorer classes.
20. Jam auditos, them already heard of.
23. Ausim, I would even venture. An old form of the perfect
subjunctive. See the grammars.
24. Crispum Vibium, a Roman orator of great wealth and influence. Some fragments of his orations are preserved in Quintilian. Diet. Biog. Obliteratis, forgotten.
26. Notos is the addition of Ursinus.
28. Nec - praestat. The passage is differently read by different
editors. We follow Brotier. Hoc, i. e. their world-wide reputation.
Illi alterive, to the one or to the other. Ter - sestertium, i. e.
ter mAies centena milia sestertium ( = sestertiorum), three hundred
million sesterces, about $12,000,000. See A. & S. ~ 327, Rem. 6;
H. 713, IV. and 1; B. 1558; A. 85, 3; Z. ~ 873.
93 2. Sed is added by Lipsius.
4. Ad quam usque fortunam, to swhat a pitch of fortune.
5. Haec, ut supra dixi, in chapter 6.
6. Proxima, sc. exempla sunt.
8. Nati sunt, se. Marcellus et Vibius. Quoque = et quo.
9. Angustiae rerum, the straitened circumstances.  Nascentes,
at their birth.
10. Clariora et illustriora. The use of synonyms in pairs in
this speech of Aper is noteworthy; e. g., numen et caelestis vis;
sordidius et abjectius; paupertas et angustiae rerum; clariora et
illustriora; divitiae et opes, etc.
12. Substantia facultatum W=fortune, material wealth.
13. Moribus, il point of character. Alter, one of thei%, but which
is not known. Habiti, in the general a2pearance, in the physical
conformation.
16. Caesaris, i. e. Vespasian, as we learn farther on. Agunt
feruntque ounota, they drive and carry Qff everything.  The expression is used by other writers only in reference to the violence
of plunderers or robbers, who drive off cattle, and carry away




DIALOGUE.                            217
Page
booty. It is introduced here to describe the great influence of 93
these orators, who, like those of Athens, "wielded at will that
fierce democracy."
18. Patientissimus veri. Such truths as were developed by literary men, to whom Vespasian devoted much time. Plin. Ep. III., 5.
20. Ipsi promptum sit, it is easy for him.
22. Quod —acceperint, i. e. eloquence.
24. Tanta, sc. bona, so great advantages, or natural endowments.
Imagines.  These images were figures with painted masks of
wax, made to resemble the persons whom they represented. They
were kept in the Atrium of the house, accompanied with tituli,
or names of distinction which the deceased had acquired.  Tituli
were also inscribed on the bases of statues, etc.
1. Ineunte adolescentia, the commencement of their youth. The 94
period of adolescentia extended from the fifteenth to the thirtieth
year.
6. Utilitates alunt, foster advanltages.
9. Cui bono est=-who is beelfited; lit. to whom is it for an
advantage. Cui does not agree with bono; the construction is
that of two datives. The expression is often incorrectly quoted,
as if it meant, " for what good? "
10. Agamemnon aut Jason, who were the subjects of tragedy.
Apud te = in your works or writings.
12. Poetam —vatem. The vates or prophet was directly inspired; and as the poeta was also moved by a sort of inspiration,
he loved to hear himself called by the more august name vates.
13. Deducit, conducts, especially to the forum and thence home,
as a mark of respect. So prosequitur, accomipanies, especially to
the gates of the city.
14. Nempe, swhy (exclamatory, not interrogative); in fact.
17. Ut - facias, that you may compose verses for him.
21. Excudit et elucubravit. These words are intended to express severe and long continued toil. Ultro, actually. Ambire, to
solicit. We have here a lively description of the means adopted by
the literati of the time of bringing themselves and their productions into notice.
24. Libellos, programmes, or notices or notes of invitation.  Et
ut, and although.
26. Aut alterum diem, or two dlays.
27. In - praecepta, anticipated inl the green blade or blossom;
and this explains why ad nullam - frugem.
T




218                   NOTES TO THE
Page
95   4. Quingenta sestertia, five hundred thousand sesterces, about
$20,000. Observe that sestertia is the plural of sestertium
1000 sesterces.
6. Mereri, 8C. eum, i. e. Bassum.
7. Si —exigat. These words seem to have little force in their
present position; whereas, if they immediately followed mereri,
they would be full of meaning. Render exigat, allowed, permitted.
14. Opinio, reputation. Serviunt, they are devoted.
19. Quotus quisque, how few. Adeo, even.
96   2. Cothurnum vestrum =your tragedies, because the shoe or
buskin of the tragedian was called cothurnus.
6. Ceteris - studiis. While ceteris is not really redundant, its
omission would have left the sense perfectly clear: the other pursuits of arts (that are) different; or, simply, the pursuits of other
arts.
7. Cum natura tua, although your natural bent. Ferat, leads.
10. Ludioras artes, i. e. those whose sole object is to afford
amusement, as dancing, music, etc.
11. Honestum, respectable. Nicostrati, a native of Cilicia. He
was renowned for his strength and prowess, and at one of the
Olympic festivals gained the prize on the same day in the wrestling
match and the pancratium (which included both wrestling and
boxing). Diet. Biog.
14. Auditoriis, in which poets recited their productions.
16. Illud is defined by the clause tamquam - studium, as if
the occapations of poets were less liable to give offence than that of
orators.
21. Advocationis = of one's duty as counsel.
23. Personam notabilem, i. e. Cato, the uncompromising defender of liberty.
25. Hinc — ferri. The text is corrupt here, and a portion of it
is undoubtedly wanting. The sense is: that from hence (i. e. the
inculcation of liberal sentiments) results unbounded assent (to the
truths taught), that these (sentiments) are especially comnmended isn
the recitation halls themselves, and are soon noised abroad by the
common talk of all. Tolle igitur, awaty, then, tith.
27. Quietis - excusationem, referring to what is said in lines
17 and 18: minus obnoxium- studium.
97   1. In quibus expressis = in the expression of which. The perfect
participle is not unfrequently equivalent to a verbal noun in io.




DIALOGUE.                            219
Page
6. Intento ore, with as earnest manner of expression.  Intento 97
is just the opposite of remissus,'mildly. Parantem is Halm's
reading. The MSS. vary.
7. Non minus diu, i. e. in just as long a speech.
8. Fore - prosterneret. These are the words of the author of
the dialogue, not those of Maternus.
14. Et ingredi, even to attain to.
15. In Nerone. It seems better to take these words in the sense
usual in such constructions, as indicating the title of one of the
tragedies of Maternus. Some take them as equivalent to sub
Nerone, in the time of Nero. Studiorum sacra, the sanctity of our
vocation, as poets.
16. Vatinii, one of the vilest and most hateful creatures of
Nero's court, equally deformed in body and in mind. He obtained
great power and wealth by accusing the most distinguished men in
the state. Dict. Biog.
21. Aera, bronze statues.
23. Hucusque (hue + usque), thus far, hitherto.
26. Secretum ipsum, the retirement itself.
2. Inter sordes, amid  the soiled garmentes. This is said in 98
allusion to the custom of accused persons, when undergoing trial,
wearing old and soiled clothing, with a view to exciting pity in
their behalf.
3. Innocentia, i. e. more free from crime than the city. An
adjective.
4. Sacris, i. e. consecrated to the muses, or to some deity. Haec
- primordia, i. e. the first eloquence was the eloquence of poetry.
5. Penetralia, the sanctuary of eloquence. Habitu cultuque,
garb and attire.
7. Pectora, of the early bards. Influxit, se. eloquentia. Sicloquebantur. It is well known that the most ancient oracles were
delivered in verse.
8. Sanguinantis eloquentiae, of the informers in the imperial
times, who caused the death of many innocent victims.
10. More nostro, i. e. more poetarum.
13. Male admissa, deeds wickedly perpetrated.
14. Nec uIlis, sc. quam poetis.
17. Neminem, se. fuisse, depending on accepimus.
20. Composita, invented. Certe, at least.
23. Lysiae aut Hyperidis. Lysias and Hyperides, Athenian
orators.




220                   NOTES TO THE
Page
98   25. Asinii. Asinius Pollio, contemporary with Virgil.
26. Messalae. Corvinus Messala, an orator contemporary with
Cicero.
27. Varii. L. Varius Rufus, a distinguished poet of the Augustan age, the friend of Virgil and Horace. Both the tragedies
mentioned are lost.
99   1. Felix contubernium, the happy commutnion of poets in private
life. Timuerim, 1 shall (not) fear. Subjunctive of modesty.
5.-Gratia, ablative. Caruit, se. Virgilius.
8. Universus, in a body. Forte goes with praesentem.
10. Secundus Pomponius was a distinguished poet in the reigns
of Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. It was by his tragedies that
he obtained the greatest celebrity. Afro Domitio. Domitius Afer
was one of the most celebrated orators of Rome. He died A. D.
60. Dict. Biog.
12. Crispus Vibius and Marcellus Eprius, previously mentioned.
15. Quibus praestant, i. e. whose superiors they are. Indignantur, probably on account of the excessive fees demanded of
them.
17. Satis servi, quite slaves.
18. Quae - est, what is this power of theirs at the most? Tantum
posse, to be aspowoeifunl.
19. Dulces Musae. See Virgil. Georg. II. 475.
22. Nec ultra experiar, nor may I have any more experience
with.
23. Lubricum, deceitful. Famam pallentem, pale fame, i. e.
fame liable to wane; or, fame acquired only by cares and anxieties;
either sense harmonizes with the context. Trepidus - wvith ceaseless unrest.
24. Fremitus salutantium. This refers to the early morning
calls of clients on their patronus. Excitet, sc. e somno.
25. Pro pignore, as a pledge of security, i. e. by making the
emperor co-heir. See note to line 12, page 78.
27. Quandoque =et quando.
28. Statuar tumulo, may I be placed on my sepulchre, i. e. may
a statue of me be placed, etc.
100   4. Instinctus, inspired, "ardore quodam poetico."  Vipstanus
Messala was legionary tribune in Vespasian's army, A. D. 70.
Intentione, earnestness.
7. Secretum, a private. Tractantibus, sc. vobis.
9. Minime, not at all. Adeo, even.




DIALOGUE.                             221
Page
11. Accuratissimus, the very elaborate.                      100
14. Ut — decebat, i. e. in language both bold and poetical,
audentior - oratio. Poetarum (sc. orationi), that of poets.
18. Oratores, the orators. Declamatorio studio, in the practice
of declamation on selected subjects; as was usual in the schools of
the rhetoricians. Ejus modi =such.
25. Non-te, that no less satisfaction is felt in you. Julii
Asiatici.  Julius Asiaticus, who joined Vindex in his revolt
against Nero.
27. Scholasticis controversiis, i. e. the discussions and declamations of the schools of the rhetoricians. What Messala here
says of Aper must be taken in an ironical sense, as appears from
the beginning of the next chapter.
7. Fratris tui. Aquilius Regulus; who "was more of a raver 101
than an orator." V.
8. Prae, in comparison with. The true reading here is uncertain.
Halm supplies prae. Eo, on this account.
9. Opinionem, the reputation, the opinion which others have of
you.
16. Hujus differentiae, between the ancient orators and those
of his own time.
19. Graiis accidisse, i. e. that there is the same difference between the ancient and the more recent Greek orators.
20. Sacerdos Nicetes, a Greek rhetorician, born at Smyrna.
22. Afer. Domitius Afer, before mentioned, and Julius Africanus; whom Quintilian considered the best orators he had heard.
26. Movisti, you have started.
6. Pro duobus, for both, Secundus and Aper.
7. Ego et Secundus. Notice the order, which accords with 102
Roman custom.
10. Manifestus est. The personal construction, in imitation of
the Greek, instead of the impersonal (manifestutn est), which is
more usual in Latin.
11. In contrarium, for the opposite side, for the negative.
16. Significatione, expression.
18. Versantur z=present themselves.
19. Mille - annis. According to Aper, then, the capture of
Troy must have taken place more than 1200 years B. c.
23. Ita tamen, yet so = but with this limitation.
24. Trecentos. The MSS. have ccco, a manifest error for cccc.
T2




222                   NOTES TO THE
Page
102 Demosthenes died 322 B. C. Hence some editors read quadringentos.
27. Referas =you compare, refer to for comparison.
28. Hujus aevi, the interval from Nestor to Tacitus. Perquam
per quam, extremely.
103   2. Hortensio, the title of one of the lost works of Cicero.
Magnus annus. This great year, which is also called Platonicus,
was, in the view of the ancients, that vast period to be completed
when all the heavenly bodies should occupy the same relative
positions as at the beginning of the world.  Its length was
variously estimated by ancient astronomers. The year in question
has reference to the precession of the equinoxes, which causes the
pole of the equator to revolve around the pole of the ecliptic.
The greater precision of modern astronomy fixes the period at
25,800 years. Compare Virgil, Ecl. iv. 12.
3. Quae — est, which exists at any particular time. Notice the
somewhat rare expression cum  maxime (cummaxime, quummaxime), particularly, pre-eminenltly.
8. The addition of fere was quite unnecessary; in the case supposed Demosthenes lived in about the middle of the month, which
would contain nearly 1080 solar years.
11. Menenium Agrippam, consul in B. C. 502. His intercession
with the plebs on the occasion of their secession, is related by
Livy, II. 32.
17. Tiro libertus. M. Tullius Tiro was the freedman and pupil
of Cicero, to whom he was an object of the most devoted friendship and tender affection. He appears to have been a man of very
amiable disposition and highly cultivated intellect. He was not
only the amanuensis of the orator, and his assistant in literary
labor, but was himself an author of no mean reputation, and
notices of several works from his pen have been preserved by
ancient writers. To him, it is more than probable, is due the
preservation, in their collective form, of the works of his illustrious
patron. Diet. Biog. Septimo (die ante) idus, December 7th.
18. Decembres is the addition of Lipsius.
20. Statue, set down, with the view of adding.
22. Gai or Caii. Caligula.
24. Longum annum. From the accession of Galba to that of
Vespasian was 387 days.
25. Sextam stationem = the sixth year. " Imperator tamquam
custos civitatis in excubiis positus cogitatur. Sic singulos imperil
annos statioles appellare licet." Ri.




DIALOGUE.                            223
Page
26. Centum  et viginti, the round number. The sum is 118 103
years. The sixth year of Vespasian's reign corresponds to A. D. 75.
4. Armatus, i. e. then old enough to be a soldier.          104
8. Congiario, distributiont of money; originally, of food, congius
denoting a certain measure.
13. Saeculum, a generation, usually of 33~ years; but here its
measure is centunm et viginti anni.
15. Aures, the hearers, auditors.
18. Temporibus, for their timnes. In medio - before us.
21. A block of marble may be horridus, rough with jagged
points; impolitus, unpolished; rudis, unhewn, unwrought; informis, not reduced to form or symmetry: and so were the orations
of these men.
25. Ante praedixero, I shall have first premlised. Mutari -
dicendi. A truth which has been considerably expanded by the
researches of modern philology. Language itself is a growth, and
has its periods of bloom and decay; it receives a characteristic
impress according to the development of ideas and the changing
forms of civilization.
28. Distinctior, vmore pointed, with distinctions more clearly
drawn; urbanior, more elegant, more like a town-bred man.
6. Statim, at once, i. e. on the discovery of the difference.  105
9. Appium Caecum, whose eloquence is extolled by Livy. He
is better known as having commenced the Appian Way, and as
having dissuaded the senate from making peace with Pyrrhus.
11. Satis pressus, terse enough. Supra modum — immoderately,
excessively.
12. Parum Atticus, not Attic enough, not like the Athenian
orators. Attici pressi et integri, Asiani inflati et inanes. Quint.
xii. 10, 16.
14. Missas epistolas. The context shows that missas is a
participle, and epistolas the object of legistis.
16. Otiosum, careless; lit. calm, i. e. unconcerned, careless.
Dijunctum, disjofinted.
17. Male audisse, was ill spoken of.
18. Solutum, diffuse. Fractum atque elumbem has the general
sense of wzeak and powerless; but the literal meaning of the words
is more forcible.
23. Quatenus, as, since. The conclusion to this sentence begins
with non infirmitate, etc. The true reading of a portion of the
passage is, however, quite uncertain. We follow Halm.




224                    NOTES TO THE
Page
106;i 2. Diversitate aurium, i. e. a different class of hearers.
4. Impeditissimarum, of the most cumbersome.
7. Alte repetita series, afar-fetched chain.
9. Hermagorae. Hermagoras of Temnos, a.distinguished Greek
rhetorician of the time of Cicero. He devoted particular attention
to what is called the invention, and made a peculiar division of the
parts of an oration. Diet. Biog.
10. Apollodori. Apollodorus, of Pergamus, a Greek rhetorician.
Augustus was one of his pupils. Quod si, and if.
11. Odoratus = to have a snmattering of.
12. Locum aliquem, some topic.
15. Placita, the dogmas, tenets, or opinions.
17. Cortina, here the circle of hearers. Certe, at least.
19. Exquisitis, carefuelly chosen. Est, has.
22. Nec —tempora, i. e. for hearing causes; but they themselves appoint (constituunt) the times.
24. Ultro, acttally. Alio- to other matters, or to another part
of the subject.
107   1. In Verrem libros. Cicero's famous orations against Verres.
Exspectabit, i. e. will have patience to read through.
2. De exceptione. The exception of the defendant to the plaintiff's statements. Formula. In judicial proceedings, technical
phraseology, or a prescribed form of words.
3. M. Tullio. Cicero's oration for M. Tullius is lost. That for
Caecina is extant.
6. Corruptus, bribed, i. e. enticed or allured.
7. Adsistentium, of by-standers. Adfluens - the casual.
9. Laetitiam, sprightliness. Impexam, unpolished, unadorned.
11. Q. Roscius was the most celebrated comic actor at Rome,
contemporary with Cicero. L. Ambivius Turpio was a celebrated
actor in the time of Terence, in most of whose plays he acted.
12. Et, even when. In —positi, to be forged and rounded into
shape. An odd but forcible figure.
16. Tradunt in vicem, they impart to each other what they have
learned. Scribunt, to their friends. This is implied by the use
of in with the following accusatives.
17. Sensus aliquis, some thought. Sensus is the thought as it
is conceived in the mind; sententia is the expression of it in
language.
20. Accius and Pacuvius were writers of tragedy and comedy
in the ante-classical period. Some fragments of their writings
still remain.




DIALOGUE.                            225
Page
3. Unum de populo. Cf. Cic. pro Archia, 10: malus poeta de 108
poputlo. Non - memorabo. The words in italics are supplied by
Ritter, to remedy a defect in the MSS., which exhibit much variety
and confusion here.
5. Valetudinario, infirmary, home for invalids, who are the
admirers of the ancients. Haeo - maciem, i. e. discourse without
elegance and embellishment.
9. Calvi, se. oratiunculas.
11. Accusationes, sc. Calvi. " In Vatinium   is their title.
17. Caelianis orationibus, of M. Caelius (Coelius) Rufus, contemporary with Cicero.
22. Ex ea parte, in that respect. Sane, eertainly, indeed.
26. Tam (C. Caesarem occupationibus suis relinquamus) hercule
quam, etc.
1. Caesaris, se. orationem. Both the orations named are lost.   109
5. Bibliothecas, both public and private. Rettulerunt, i. e.
caused them to be placed.
7. Propioribus, i. e. in times nearer to us, ltaer.
14. Exsurgit toris. The subject is sanguis, and though the
expression is perfectly intelligible, the figure is faulty. Corvinum.
M. Corvinus Messala, before mentioned. His eloquence is commended by Quintilian. Cf. chap. 17.
16. Neo - stetit, it was not owing to himnself.
17. Viderimus. The text is faulty here, and the reading varies
in different editions. It is the opinion of many editors that some
words have dropped from the text. In quantum, howsfar.
18. Suffecerit, i. e. answered the calls of his judgment.
26. Compositioni, inl their asrrangement or collocation. Locos,
passages.
27. Sententias, expressions. See note, line 17, page 107.
5. Otiosus, indifferent, easily allowing them.             110
7. Lumine, like the light in a picture, which, being rendered
more intense by the shade, gives force and expression to the delineation. Nihil excerpere, i. e. there are no gems of thought
which you can carry away with you. Referre. Cf. referre donmurn:
cap. 20.
10. Lautum, whose wealth is seen in the elegance of his home
and its appointments.
15. Aurum et gemmae, in various works of art. So in discourse,
let there be luminous passages, studded with beauty, which shall
bear repeated perusal.
15 - Dia.




226                   NOTES TO THE
Page
110   17. Olentia, musty. Sensus, sentences or periods.
19. In - annalium.  Hle has in mind the dryness and dulness
of the earlier Roman annalists.
20. Compositionem, his arrangement, or the disposition of
words.
22. Rotam Fortunae. This and the other expressions quoted
are from Cicero. The first is found in Cic. in Pison, c. 10. Jus
Verrinum, a play of words: it may mean either the justice of
Verres; or, hog-broth (verres- a boar). Cicero quotes the expression as common among the Sicilians. Cic. in Verr., lib. I. 46.
Hence Aper's criticism is unduly severe.
24. Pro sententia, for or instead of the strong point in an
opinion, at the conclusion of the sentence: for an opinion. I" Consuetudo jam tenuit, ut mente concepta sensus vocaremus, lumina
autem praecipueque in clausulis posita sententias." Quintil. 8, 5, 2.
Esse vileatur; e. g. in the oration pro lege Manilia it occurs ten
times at the close of a period.
28. Versantur, present themselves.
111   2. Aufidius Bassus, an orator and historian, who lived under
Augustus and Tiberius. No fragments of his compositions have
been preserved. M. Servilius Nonianus, consul A. D. 35, was one
of the most celebrated orators and historians of his time.
3. Sisennae. L. Cornelius Sisenna, a Roman annalist, born
about 118 n. c., whom Cicero pronounces superior to any of his
predecessors. Varronis. M. Terentius Varro, whose vast and
varied erudition in almost every department of literature earned
for him the title of the "most learned of the Romans," was born
B. c. 116. He was the most voluminous of Roman authors, having
composed no less than four hundred and ninety ho ks.
4. Rhetorum - commentaries, i.. sratorum nostrorum libros.
Ri.
5. Calvi, who was thought by some to rival even Cicero.
10. Nimia is Halm's reading. Editors generally have animsi.
12. Fortem, laetum, alacrem, strong, sprightly, enthnsiastic.
Prope - ab, he is bnear to.
18. Cultum, grace, embellishment, in the disposition of them.
21. Sic exprimitis, you so give expression to.
112   7. A vestris philosophis..Sic loquitur qui non in urbe sed ex
Gallia ortus est; dicit Academicos. Ri.
8. Celebrato, practised.
12. Annos is the subject of effici.




DIALOGUE.                             227
Page
13. Ratio, a copntputation, reckoning. See chap. 17.          112
16. Nominis, i. e. in regard to the term antiqus.
24. Nedum, much more.
25. Quo modo =-just as. Primae, the first place, sc. partes.
27. Lycurgus, an Attic orator, born at Athens about 396 B. c.
His life is written by Plutarch. Only one of his orations and
some fragments remain.
5. Adstrictior, mnore condensed. Numerosior, more rhythmical, 113
hence, more harmonious.
9. Ferunt, exhibit.
18. Brutum. Adolescentulus Tacitus libertatis vindicem magnopere veneratur. Ri.
21. C. Laelium. C. Laelius, whose intimacy with the younger
Scipio Africanus obtained an imperishable monument in Cicero's
treatise, "Laelius sive de Amicitia," was born about 185 a. c. In
his own age he was the model, and in history he is the representative of the Greek culture which sprang up rapidly at Rome in the
seventh century of the city. Diet. Biog.
22. Non destitit, sc. Aper.
23. Non exigit, it (Aper's attack) does not callfor.
1. Calamistros, the affected elegance. Tinnitus, the jingling  114
sentences.  Gallio was a rhetorician contemporary with Ovid.
4. Cultus, style, the garb of discourse.
7. Histrionales, of stage-players. The word is probably used
only by Tacitus.
9. Cantari, on account of the extravagant modulation of the
voice affected by the declaimers; saltari, on account of their extravagant gestures.
11. Quibusdam, among some; the dative depends on oritur.
The true reading here is uncertain.
17. Plus - sanguinis, i. e. he had more violence than force; he
was rather violent than forcible.
20. Incompositus, imrmethodical. Dejectus, beateu back, ordislodged from his position; a military term.
25. Sustinuit, ventured. The word occurs in this sense chiefly
in negative object-clauses.
2. Sequentium, of theirfollowers or successors, s8. oratorum.    115
3. In publicum, in general; nearly equivalent to in commune.
5. Quotus quisque, how few.
7. Gabinianum, a Roman rhetorician, who taught rhetoric in
Gaul in the time of Vespasian. Little else is known of him.




228                   NOTES TO THE
Page
115   11. Appara te. This is Halm's reading, and that of the MSS.
Puteolanus edited appropera, and editors generally follow him.
21. Citra damnum adfectus, without prejudice to good-will, without marring friendly feelings.
116   1. In medium = before yoru; or, to view.
4. Praecipientium, of instructors; among whom was the Graecula ancilla (chap. 29); hence the use of the participle instead of
praeceptorum (masculine).
7. Vestra (mala), i. e. of you, who are Roman provincials, and
better acquainted with those evils than I.
11. Formandos,. i. e. in giving them such a full and symmetrical
education, as well physical as intellectual, as shall tend to develop
character in them.
12. Cuique. The dative depends on educabatur.
15. Tueri domum, to watch over her home. Inservire, to be
devoted to.
22. Corneliam, the mother of the Gracchi. Aureliam, the
mother of Julius Caesar. Atiam, the mother of Augustus, and
sister of Julius Caesar.
24. Praefuisse, superiutended.  Principes, noble.
117   1. Inclinasset, se. natura unius cujusque.
8. Pensi habet, does (any one) care. Pensi is genitive of value.
Infante domino, i. e. a child that will one day be their master.
12. Sui —contemptus, a conltempt for what concerns themselves
and others.
14. Histrionalis favor, a foindiess for stcage-playe)rs.
16. Studia, a predilection, or passion for.
22. Ingenii experimento, from  any proof of their ability.
Ambitione, by a round.  Illecebris, by the alluring arts.
28. Rhetoras. Greek form of the accusative plural.
118 1. Quando is interrogative; and so is quam (in quamque); both
the indirect questions depend on statim dicturus.
2. Quamque nullam, etc., and what authority it had not, etc.
3. Statim  dicturus, intending to state at the outeet.  He states
both facts, however, no earlier than in chap. 35.  Referam,
sc. ut.
8. Brutus inscribitur, or, " De Claris Oratoribus."
12. Q. Mucium. Q. Mucius Scaevola, the most learned lawyer
of his time. Philonem  Academicum, Philo the Academic, a
native of Larissa. He settled in Rome, where he became a teacher
of philosophy and rhetoric. Diodotum  Stoicum, Diodotus. the




DIALOGUE.                             229
Page
Stoic, who lived for many years at Rome, in the house of Cicero, 118
to whom he left a property of about 100,000 sesterces.
15. Contigerat. The indicative, here in oratio obliqua, marks
the clause as inserted by the writer, or, at least, as endorsed by
him.
19. Grammaticae, which, in its wider sense, included also literature, criticism, and philology.
21. Moralis partis (se. philosophiae) -of moral philosophy.
Cicero first uses the word moralis: Nos eam partem philosophiae,
de moribus appellare solemus: sed decet augentemn linguam Latinam nominare moralem. De Fato, 1.
26. Sicut ceterarum rerum: for all other things, and eloquence
itself, may be the subjects of eloquence; while the range of other
pursuits is comparatively circumscribed.
1. Pro - rerum, befitting the dig,,ity of the subjects.        119
3. Hoc, namely, that an orator should be able to speak in the
manner described at the close of the last chapter.
9. Subjecta materia, the subject-matter sulbmlitted.
12. In - misceantur, are mingled together.
16 Illa = the followig advantages.
20. Motibus, impulses or emotions.  Concitetur, se. misericordia.
21. Cupidos, those well disposed to him.
23. Dicendum habuerit, he shall have to speak. This use of the
gerund indicates an idiom unknown to writers of the golden age.
See Madvig, ~ 422, Obs. 2.
24. Adhibebit manum, will apply his haltd, i. e. to the venas
animorum, as a physician feels the pulse of his patient.
26. Adstrictum  et collectum, a concise and compact. The
words are nearly synonymous.
27. Singula- concludens, at once concluding each argzument,
somewhat in the syllogistic manner, without diffuse and varied
illustrations of the subject.
1. Aequalis, equable, proceeding in a uniform  and equable 120
manner.
2. Sensibus, feelings; the common way of thinking. Oratio,
style of discourdse.
3. Peripateticis, a school of philosophy founded by Aristotle,
whose lectures in the Lyceum, at Athens, were attended by a large
number of distinguished scholars out of all the Hellenic cities of
Europe and Asia. His lectures on philosophy were delivered
U




230                   NOTES TO THE
Page
120 while walking up and down in the shady walks (7rvpir&aro) which
surrounded the Lyceum.
5. Locos, topics, or the bases of arguments, Tr6ot, of which Aristotle has left eight books. Academioi, or the Platonic school of
philosophers.  Pugnacitatem: hic enim  mos erat patrius Academiae, adversari semper omnibus in disputando. Cic. de Orat.,
I. 18.
6. Epiouri, the founder of the philosophical school named after
him the Epicurean. His mode of living, notwithstanding the
aspersions of comic poets and later philosophers, was simple,
temperate, and cheerful. Though one of the most prolific of the
ancient Greek writers, only a few fragments of his works remain.
Metrodorus was his favorite pupil.
7. Exclamationes, a translation of the Greek &a',apavytarara,
applied to the sententious dicta of Epicurus, no doubt somewhat
contemptuously, by his opponents: "Da dem Epicur und seinen
SchiUlern alle Beredsamkeit abgesprochen wird." P.
9. Neque - artem: our object is not to form a philosopher, who
is one-sided, but an orator, who may borrow from philosophy
whatever is worth borrowing.  Sapientem - philosophum. Stoicorum, The school of the Stoics was founded by Zeno, who
taught his doctrines in the porch called Stoa Poicele, whence the
school derived its name. The reading artem is uncertain; other
readings are cively, civitatern.
12. Grammaticae, sc. scientia.  Gracmaltica is another reading.
17. Neo - doceamur, i. e. that varied learning is not essential
to the orator, but that when occasion demands knowledge not
immediately concerned with oratory, he may seek such knowledge
from those skilled in it.
19. Propriis, what is otr owin, our own acquisitions.
22. Aliud agentes, lit. doing another, thing, i. e. when not occupied with them. See the same expression in Agricola, cap. 43, and
note to line 26, page 77.
26. Numeros =partes; in which sense it is frequently used,
e. g. liber omnibus nusmeris absolutus. Plin. Ep.  Qutid osniibus?nuneris praestantius? Quint. Isse — ivisse.
121   4. Quotidiani sermonis vitia.  From this we learn that Latin
formed no exception to the general truth, that in languages possessing a literature, there is a marked difference between spoken
and written laniguage.
10. Ut quae, so that what.




DIALOGUE.                             231
Page
19. His verbis, in Or'ator, cap. 3.                            121
21. Officinis is the word used by Cicero in the passage referred
to, and-was inserted in our text by Haase. Notice the fine contrast
in officinis (conltracted toorkcshops) and spatiis (the spacious fields).
8. Quem ad modum — quemadmodum, as. Scirint  sciverint. 122
13. Usu is the addition of Tyrwhitt, and is approved by Hm.
and He.
21. Tot tam res, so many things so.
22. Nisi ut, unless as, i. e. unless in pro0portion as. Scientiaeusus.  The essentials, he says, are knowledge, the habit of thinking, capability, practice.
24. Rationem, that the method or rational process.
4. Domestica, not domestic, but at home.                      123
7. Sectari, domo exeuntem; prosequi, tendentem  in forum.
Ri.
12. Constantiae, the self-possession that comes from knowledge
and experience.
13. In media luce, and not in the schools of the rhetoricians.
15. Ant contrarie, or absurdly; in opposition to what has been
or ought to be said.
16. Advocati, here nearly equivalent to witnesses; those who
were called by the parties to a suit to aid them. In later Latin
advocatus meant also attorney, advocate. In the strictly classical
period the patronus spoke for his client.
19. Patronos. See preceding note.
25. Rudibus, with foils; lit. wooden swords or rods used in
learning to fence.
27. Nec male, which is necessary to complete the sense, is the
addition of Rudolphus Agricola, and is adopted by Hn., He., P.,
and commended by others.
1. In diversis subselliis, on the opposite benches, or the benches 124
occupied by the attorneys, witnesses, and partisans of the opposite
party in trials.
2. Quin immo — nay snore; the expression is strongly corroborative of the preceding remark.  Constantius - corroborari.
Because a reputation that is acknowledged even by ourantagonists
and rivals is quite certain to be built upon an enduring foundation.
13. Altero et vicesimo, in the twenty-second.
18. Scenam, here used contemptuously for scholas.
21. Ut ait Cicero, de Oratore, III. 24.
23. In (not found in the MSS.) is added by Schurzfieisch.




232                   NOTES TO THE
Page
124   2  Utrumne. The parts of this word were sometimes separated,
but in later writers they are generally written as one word.
125   2. Contrariae, inconsistent, injudicious. Nempe, that is to say,
namely.
3. Suasoriae. There are still extant one book of M. Annaeus
Seneca's Suasoriae, and ten of his Controversiae. V.
7. Per fidem, an exclamation: "by my faith."
10. Vitiatarum electiones. A frequent subject for declamations
in the schools was violated virgins, and the choice they made either
to marry their ravishers or to have them put to death. V. Pesti.
lentiae remedia. "Responsa iln pestilentia data ut viryginee tres
alt plures immolentur."  Petron., c. 1. Similar evidences of this
refinement of inanities are furnished by Quintilian.
13. Ventum est. After these words the MSS. notice a gap. One
has, hice  lultuns deficit. Another, maltimn. deficit in exemplaribcus
quae reperiuintur. One Vatican has, hic multm.n deficit; another,
hic desunt sex pagellae. Scholars do not agree as to the amount
of the missing text. P. In Valpy's Tacitus, "From  the text of
Brotier, with his explanatory notes," a supplement of fourteen
chapters fills the chasm. Of this supplement we have inserted in
the text just enough to preserve a tolerable connection.
17. Umbratici, in the shade or seclusion of their schools,
secltded, the opposite of in media luce. See note, line 13, page
123.
126   2. Publicam  rem is the reverse of the established order of the
words.
3. Cogitare. Rent cogitant habet codex Leidensis, ceteri rem
cogitare. Sed temptare aliquid in loco truncato lubricum  est.
Ri.
5. Eadem ratio, sc. quae Demosthenis eloquentiam provexit.
8. Ea-fas erat. The present orators, he says, have attained
all the results of eloquence attainable in a tranquil and undisturbed
condition of the state.
9. Illa perturbatione, from that disturbed condition which often
characterized the republic, and was often fomented by the rival
orators.
10. Videbantur, sc. oratores antiqui.
11. Mixtis omnibus, lit. all being mingled together, which seems
to mean, all being embroiled or involved in perplexity.  "Wo Alles
in Verwirrung aufging." Ri. Moderatore uno, i. e. without a
controlling head, without an emperor.




DIALOGUE.                             233
Page
12. Erranti, twanderilg, i. e. like sheep without a shepherd, 126
sine moderatore. Persuaderi, sec. eum sapere.
13. Leges assiduae ad populum latae et vel suasae vel dissuasae.
Ri. Populare nomen, the name of friend of the people.
16. Adsignatae - inimicitiae, hereditary feuds.
25. Clientelis, in their relation of patrons.
3. Quin immo, nay nmore.                                      127
6. Inviti — producerentur, by the partisans or opponents of
legislative measures.
7. Censere, to give an opinion, implying also to vote as a senator.
Nisi qui. Nisi quis would have been more correct, according to
Lipsius.
9. Respondendum, to reply. On this use of the gerund see note
and reference, line 23, page 119.
10. Judiciis is the addition of Rudolphus Agricola. Publicis,
that is, trials in which the populus were judices or jurors.
11. Per tabellam —- in wrOiting.
14. Quo modo, lit. in what manner _ as. Haberi is the subject
of erat understood.
16. Rubore, by a feelinlg of self-respect. Vox Tacito familiaris
pro pudore. Ri.
18. Necessitudines, the relationships, more especially. that of
patronus and cliens, just referred to.
22. Haec vetera, sc. scripta vel acta.
23. Cum maxime, particularly. Muciano, a vigorous supporter
of Vespasian. He was not only a general and a statesman, but an
orator and a historian. He made a collection of the speeches of
the republican period, which he arranged and published in eleven
books of Acta and three of Epistolae.
7. Formula, a prescribed form  of words in suits at law; we 128
might say a technicality. Interdicto = an injutnction, as we would
say; a provisional prohibition by the praetor.
11. Cum acciderent. This is an indirect eulogy of the reign of
Vespasian.
16. Adversus tutores. His three orations against Aphobus are
still extant.
17. Defensus = the defence of; the perfect participle equivalent
to a verbal in-io.
22. Quaestionis, i. e. the question discussed in the dialogue.
23. Ea re, i. e. eloquentia.
U2




234                   NOTES TO THE
Page
128   28. Steterit, se. eloquentia. Quoque plures = et quo plures,
ad the m2ore.
129   4. Agit, it lives.
6. Quae, in agreement with consuetudinem, the nearer noun.
9. Comperendinationes, a(djournments of the time of trial to the
third following day (con + perendinus). Vertagungen; dilationes
rerum in diem perendinum  sive tertium. Ri. That is, mlore Romano, with only one entire day intervening; on "the day after tomorrow."
12. Adstrinxit, contracted, by enacting that the accuser- should
be limited to two hours, and the accused to three hours.
15. Quanto, how much; an indirect interrogative. The following quod is a direct interrogative.
16. Causae centumvirales, those pleaded before the centumviri.
See note, line 16, page 90.
18. Obruebantur, woere eclipsed.
20. Liber = oratio; of. " quinque in Verrem libros."
21. Dictus legatur, is read as having been spoken, i. e. we do not
read that any such oration was spoken.
22. Pro - inscribuntur, that is, their title was, " Pro Heredibus
Urbiniae."
24. Temporum  quies, inactivity of the tinzes, times barren of
stirring events and exciting circumstances.
26. Principis, i. e. Augusti. Disciplina, the habit, the manner;
which easily passes into policy.
27. Pacaverat, ab accusando avocaverat. Ernesti.
130 2. Paenulas istas. The paenula was a thick cloak, used chiefly
by the Romans in travelling, as a protection against the cold and
rain. At one time it appears to have been commonly worn in the
city instead of the toga, as we even find mention of orators wearing it when pleading causes. Dict. Antiqq.
5. Auditoria et tabularia, instead of the free, open space of the
forum. Tabularia were archive qoices, in which were kept public
records and documents.
7. Est aliquis, is something, and not absolutely a matter of indifference: it is rather a matter of importance.
9. Ipsam —experimur, nay more, we find the very care and
anxiety of our diligent style opposed; for, though- we may have
carefully prepared or thought out our speech, there are frequent
interruptions and questions put to us, and it is necessary to commence again from the last question; and this destroys the effect




DIALOGUE.                             235
Page
of a well prepared speech. We take still here to be the writing 130
instrument.
10. Stili. The stiles or stylls8 was an iron instrument, resembling
a pencil in size and shape, used for writing upon waxed tablets.
At one end it was sharpened to a point for scratching the characters
upon the wax, while the other end, being flat and circular, served to
render the surface of the tablets smooth again. Thus, vertere
stilum means to erase, and hence to correct, as in the well-known
precept saepe stilu)m vertas. Dict. Antiqq.
13. Patronus, i. e. the patronus of one of the parties to the suit,
who may have had legal assistants; and, if the present reading is
correct, we must understand the patronus as not wishing to delay
the case by useless talking. Some editors have patronis.
14 Unus- adsistit. Only one or two persons care to listen to
the speaker.
16. Quodam theatre, i. e. a numerous and interested audience,
ready to applaud the orator.
18. Pariter -- as  ell; many as well as noble men. Coartarent,
crowded, thronged.
21. Sua interesse, that it concerned them.' Sua is ablative.
22. C. Cornelium -P. Vatinium. All these were defended by
Cicero.
25. Ut, so that; introducing an inference from the preceding
remark.
28. Egerunt - censeantur, delivered themt are not valued lmore
for their other orationls.
1. Jam, changing the scene, not the time, and still referring to 131
the republican period.
2. Ipsa —gloria, the very renown  arising  from  personal
enmities.
6. Populi-uterentur. The true reading of this passage is
quite uncertain. We follow Halm. Histriones, as actors.
8. Faces, incentives.
18. Certo imperio, wvit7 a settled government, in which every
subject knew his place and duties, and had little to say about his
rights.
21. Omnia omngs poterant, everybody conld (do everything.
2. Et leges, their (famous Agrarian) laws also.
3. Tali exitu, referring to his murder by the soldiers of Antony.
4. Quod - fori, what still remains of the ancient foruim to orators.
5. Usque = entirely.




236    NOTES TO THE DIALOGUE.
Page
132   6. Advocat, i. e. calls on us for professional counsel.
7. Nocens aut miser. While such existed, Maternus would
Say, the constitution of the state was far from faultless.
14. Usus, profectus, partitive genitives.
22. Sapientissimus et unus. Perhaps a eulogy of Vespasian;
though Maternus may have had in mind an ideal perfect ruler.
Voluntariis accusationibus. Under the republic young Romans
frequently brought accusations against prominent public men, as
a means of bringing themselves into notice.
25. Cognoscentis, of the inquirer =judicis.
133   5. Citra, without.
7. Quibus, some things that.
13. Te poetis = te apud poetas.
14. Ego (i. e. Aper) vos (criminabor) rhetoribus.
MHE END.




MODEL TEXT-BOOKS
FOR
CHASE & STUART'S CLASSICAL SERIES,
COMPRISING EDITIONS OF
PRICE
Ccesar's Co      entaries....................... 1 25
First Six Books of.zXneid.................  1 25
TVi7ril's   neid.................................. I 50
TVirfil's Eclog'nes and Geortics........1 25
Cicero's Select Orations...................... 1 50
Horace's Odes, Satires arnd Epistles  I 50
Salluzst's Ccatiline et Jzgrtha.......... 1 25
Livy.....................................................  1 50
Cicero De Senect-ute, et De  hmicitia  1 25
Cornelizs JVNepos................................ 1 25
Cicero De Officiis................................   1 50
Cicero's TYsculan Disptations...... 1 25
Terence...................~............................ 1 25 
Ju venal.




The last two volumes are now in preparation. rt
is intended that they shall in every respect equal the
volumes of the series already published. Due notice
will be given of their publication.
LANGUAGE LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS. By Prof.
JOHN S. HART, LL.D. A simple, practical, and
rational introduction to the study of Grammar.
Price, 30 cents.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND ANALYSIS. ByProf.JoHN
S. HART, LL.D. Price, 90 cents.
FIRST LESSONS IN COMPOSITION. For Beginners.
By Prof. JOHN S. HART, LL.D. Price, 90 cents.
COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC. A Text-Book for
Schools, Academies, and Colleges. By Prof. JOHN
S. HART. Price, $1.50.
A SHORT COURSE IN LITERATURE, AMERICAN AND
ENGLISH. A Text-Book for Schools. By Prof.
JOHN S. HART. Price, $1.50.
A  MANUAL OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. A TextBook for High Schools, Academies, and Colleges.
By Prof. JOHN S. HART, LL.D. Price, $2.50.
A MANUAL OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, A TextBook for High Schools, Academies, and Colleges.
By Prof. JOHN S. HART, LL.D. Price, $2.50.
THE CONSTITUTION  OF THE  UNITED  STATES.
For Schools, with Questions under each Clause.
By Prof. JOHN S. HART, LL.D. Should be taught
in every school. Price, 60 cents.
AN ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA. A Text-Book for
Schools and Academies. By JOSEPH W. WILSON,
A.M., Professor of Mathematics in the Philadelphia Central High School. Price, $1.25.
KEY TO WILSON'S ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA. For
the use of Teachers only. Price, $1.25.
2




THE CRITTENDEN COMMERCIAL ARITHMETIC AND
BUSINESS MANUAL. Designed for the use of
Teachers, Business Men, Academies, High Schools,
and Commercial Colleges. By Prof. JOHN GROESBECK. Price, $1.50.
KEY TO CRITTENDEN COMMERCIAL ARITHMETIC,
For the use of Teachers only. Price, $1.00.
A MANUAL OF ELOCUTION. Founded on the Philosoplly of the Human Voice, with Classified Illustrations. By M. S. MITCHELL. Price, $1.50.
THE MODEL DEFINER. A Book for Beginners, containing Definitions, Etymology, and Sentences as
Models, exhibiting the correct rise of Words. By
A. C. WEBB. Price, 25 cents.
THE MODEL ETYMOLOGY, Containing Definitions,
Etymology, Sentences as Models, and Analysis.
With a Key containing the Analysis of every word
which could present any difficulties to the learner.
By A. C. WEBB. Price, 60 cents.
THE MODEL SPEAKER, Consisting of Exercises in
Prose and Poetry, Suitable for Declamation, Public Readings, &c. Compiled for the use of Schools
and Academies, by Prof. PHILIP LAWRENCE.
Price, $1.50.
ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, AND- HYGIENE. A TextBook fobr Schools, Academies, Colleges, and Families. By JOSEPH C. MARTINDALE, M.D. Price,
$1.30.
FIRST LESSONS IN NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, For
Beginners. By JOSEPH C. MARTINDALE, M.D.
Price, 60 cents.
A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. From the
Discovery of America to the present time. By
JOSEPH C. MARTINDALE, M.D. Price, 60 cents.
3




THE YOUNG STUDENT'S COMPANION; or, Elementary Lessons and Exercises in Translating from
English into French. By M. A. LONGSTRETH.
Price, $1.00.
TABLES OF LATIN SUFFIXES. Designed as an Aid
to the Study of the Latin Grammar. By AMos N.
CURRIER, A.M., Professor of Latin in the University of Iowa. Price, 50 cents.
THREE THOUSAND PRACTICE WORDS. By Prof. J.
WILLIS WESTLAKE, A.M., State Normal School,
Millersville, Pa. Contains lists of Familiarl Words
often Misspelled, Difficult Words, Homophonous
Words, Words often Confounded, Rules for Spelling, &c. It is a book that every teacher wants.
Handsomely bound in flexible cloth, crimson edges.
Price, 50 cents.
IN THE SCHOOL-ROOM; or, CHAPTERS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION.  Gives the experience
of nearly forty years spent in school-room work.
By JOHN S. HART, LL.D. Price, $1.25.
BOOK-KEEPING BLANKS. Consisting of six blank
books as follows: Day Book, Cash Book, Ledger,
Journal, Bill Book, and Book for Miscellaneous
Exercises. Price, 15 cents each.
THE MODEL POCKET REGISTER AND GRADE-BOOK.
A Roll-Book, Record, and- Grade-Book combined.
Adapted to all grades of Classes, whether in College, Academy, Seminary, High or Primary School.
Handsomely bound in fine English cloth, bevelled
sides, crimson edges. Price, 65 cents.
THE MODEL SCHOOL DIARY. Designed as an aid in
securing the co-operation of parents. It consists
of a Record of the Attendance, Deportment, Recitations, &c., of the Scholar for every day. At the
close of the week it is to be sent to the parent or
guardian for his examination and signature. Price,
per dozen, $1.05.
4