THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 CHASE AND STUAET'S CLASSICAL SEEIES, 
 
 THE GERMANIA, AGRICOLA, 
 
 AND 
 
 DIALOGTJS DE ORATORIBUS 
 
 OF TACITUS. 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE STUART, A.M., 
 
 PROFESSOB OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE IN THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 
 OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 ELDREDGE & BROTHER, 
 
 No. 17 North Seventh Street. 
 
 187S.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 
 
 ELDREDGE 4 BROTHER, 
 in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 FAOAX * SON, 
 ELECTROTTPER8, PHILAD'A 
 
 CAXTON PRESS OF SHERMAN A CO.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 is no reduction of our indebtedness to the 
 J- scholars of Germany. They make ancient eloquence 
 more eloquent, and ancient poetry more poetical. Halm, 
 Wex, Kritz, Hitter, Haase, and others, have labored suc- 
 cessfully 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 annota- 
 tions of the ancient commentators, long desired improve- 
 ments have been introduced into the text. Wex's search- 
 ing 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 reason- 
 ably be expected to have some special merits. Hence 
 while Halm is made the basis of the text herewith pre- 
 sented, such special merits were not overlooked. When- 
 ever in the text of the Germania Kritz or Haase seemed 
 to have something better, it was selected ; and in the 
 Agricola, which is still inan 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 Halm 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 depart- 
 ures from established usage were avoided, a strictly uni- 
 form 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. 
 
 GEOKGE STUART. 
 
 CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, 
 Philadelphia, July 1st, 1875.
 
 LIFE OF TACITUS. 
 
 T ITTLE is known of the life of Tacitus, except what he tells us 
 J-^ 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. t>. 51. His praenomen 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 pos- 
 sible 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 Agric- 
 ola, for the assumption that he ever visited either Britain or Ger- 
 many 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 Kufus to have his panegyric 
 pronounced by so eloquent a man." Tacitus had attained ora- 
 torical 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 prov- 
 ince of Africa against the prcconsul 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 Taci- 
 tus. In a letter to his friend Maximus, Pliny shows that he con- 
 sidered his friendship with Tacitus a great distinction, and he tells 
 the following anecdote. On one occasion, when Tacitus was a spec- 
 tator at the Ludi Circenses, he 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. Vll 
 
 rubrum mare patcscit," an expression which must refer to the suc- 
 cesses obtained by Trajan in his eastern expedition, A. D. 114- 
 117. 
 
 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 monu- 
 ment 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 Agric- 
 ola's great exploits, who carried the Eoman 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 Germaniae treats of 
 the Germanic nations, or of those whom Tacitus comprehended 
 under that name. It has little value as a geographical descrip- 
 tion. The main matter is the description of the political institu- 
 tions, 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 Eoman 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 Ger- 
 many as a fiction, is one of those absurdities which need only be 
 recorded, not refuted.
 
 Vlll 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 aa 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. C8, 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 tfiey were first published at Rome 
 by Philippus Beroaldus, in 1515. 
 
 The dialogue entitled De Oratoribus, which we have no hesita- 
 tion 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 con- 
 tend 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 mat- 
 ters. 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 prod- 
 uct 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 mbtives 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 dis- 
 simulation. But dissimulation alone is not a sufficient cloak ; it 
 merely seeks to hide and cover, and, as the attempt to conceal ex- 
 cites suspicion, it is necessary to divert the vigilance of this active 
 inquisitor. The dissembler therefore assumes the garb of good- 
 ness ; 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 liia 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 Aureliua 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 constitu- 
 tion of things has an order impressed upon it by the law of its 
 existence, which implies a lawgiver. A belief in existence inde- 
 pendent 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 resem- 
 blance 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. He 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, arid 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 Cice- 
 ronian style. Of this we have evident traces in Tacitus. He 
 seems to have aimed at combining some of Cicero's most con- 
 spicuous 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 simi- 
 larity between his mind and that of Tliucydides 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 gram- 
 matically 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 descrip- 
 tions 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 in- 
 tegrity, 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 cul- 
 ture, 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, how- 
 ever, we are to measure excellence of style by its capacity of ade- 
 quately 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 
 Eoman 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 re- 
 sources, and succeeded in giving to great thoughts a singularly 
 characteristic expression. Compiled from various sources.
 
 CORNELII TACITI 
 DE ORIGINS, SITU, MORIBUS AC POPULIS 
 
 GEEMANIAE 
 
 LIBER. 
 BREVIARIUM. 
 
 CAP. 1. Germaniae situs. 2. Incolae indigenae. Aucto- 
 res gentis. Nominis origo. Hercules. 3. Barditus. Ara 
 Ulixis. 4. Germani, gens sincera. Habitus corporum. 5. 
 Terrae natura. Non aurum, non argentum, nee aestima- 
 tum. 6. Germanorum arnia, equitatus, peditatus, ordo 
 militiae. 7. Reges, duces, sacerdotes. 8. Feminarum 
 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 comites. 
 Eorum virtus et fama. 14. Gentis bellica studia. 15. In 
 pace venatio, otium. Collata principibus munera. 16. 
 Urbes nullae. Vici, domus, specus suffugium hiemi et re- 
 ceptaculum frugibus. 17. Vestitus virorum, feminarum. 
 18. Matrimonia severa. Dos a marito oblata. 19. Pudi- 
 citia, adulterii poena. Monogamia. Liberorum numerus 
 non finitus. 20. Liberorum educatio. Successions leges. 
 21. Patris, propinqui, amicitiae inimicitiaeque susceptae. 
 Homicidii pretium. Hospitalitas. 22. Lotio, victus, ebri- 
 orum rixae. Consultatio in conviviis. 23. Potus, cibus. 
 
 B xiii
 
 14 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 24. Spectacula. Aleae furor. . 25. Servi, libertini. 26. 
 Fenus ignotuie./ : Agjrjcultiira. '. Armi t .tempora. 27. Fu- 
 nera, sepulchra, luctus. 28. Singularum gentium insti- 
 tuta. Galli, olim valida gens, in Germaniam transgress!, 
 Helvetii, Boii. Aravisci, Osi, incertum genus. Ger- 
 manicae originis populi Treveri, Nervii, Vangiones, Tri- 
 boci, Nemetes, Ubii. 29. Batavi, Chattorum proles. Mat- 
 tiaci. Decumates agri. 30, 31. Chattorum regio, habitus, 
 disciplina militaris, vota, virtutis incentiva. 32. Usipi, 
 Tencteri, equitatu praestantes. 33. Bructerorum sedes, a 
 Chamavis et Angrivariis occupatae. 34. Dulgibini. Cha- 
 suari. Frisii. 35. Chauci, pacis studio, justitia et virtute 
 nobiles. 36. Cherusci et Fosi, a Chattis victi. 37. Cim- 
 brorum parva civitas, gloria ingens. Romanorum clades. 
 Germani triumphati magis quam victi. 38. Sueborum 
 numerus, mores. 39. Semnonum religio, victimae hu- 
 manae. 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, 
 inatris deum cultores, succinum legunt. Sitonibus femma 
 imperat. 46. Peucini, Venedi, Fenni, Germani an Sar- 
 matae? Eorum feritas, paupertas. Hominum monstra, 
 Hellu^ii, Oxiones. 
 
 1. Germania omnis a Gallis Kaetisque et Pannoniis 
 Rheno et Danuvio fluminibus, a Sarmatis Dacisque 
 mutuo metu aut montibus separator ; cetera oceanus 
 ambit, latos sinus et insularum inimensa spatia com-
 
 GERMANIA. 15 
 
 plectens, nuper cognitis quibusdam gentibus ac regi- 
 bus, quos bellum aperuit. Rhenus, Raeticarum 
 Alpiura inaccesso ac praecipiti vertice ortus, modico 
 flexu in occidentem versus septentrional! oceano mi- 
 scetur. Danuvius, inolli et clementer edito mentis 5 
 Abnobae jugo efFusus, plures populos adit, donee in 
 Ponticum mare sex meatibus erumpat : septimum os 
 paludibus hauritur. 
 
 2. Ipsos Germanos indigenas crediderim, mmime- 
 que aliarum gentium adventibus et hospitiis mixtos, 10 
 quia nee terra olim sed elassibus advehebantur qui 
 mutare sedes quaerebant, et immensus ultra, utque 
 sic dixerim, adversus oceanus raris ab orbe nostro 
 navibus aditur. Quis porro, praeter periculum hor- 
 ridi et ignoti maris, Asia aut Africa aut Italia relicta, 15 
 Germauiam peteret, informem terris, asperam caelo, 
 tristem cultu aspectuque, nisi si patria sit ? 
 
 Celebrant carminibus antiquis, quod unum apud 
 illos memoriae et anualium 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 uuper additum, quo- 
 mam qui primi Rhenum transgressi Gallos expulerint,
 
 16 COKNELII TACITI 
 
 ut nunc Tungri, tune German! vocati sint : ita natio- 
 nis nomen, non gentis, evaluisse paulatim, ut omues 
 primum a victore ob raetum, mox etiam a se ipsis 
 invento nomine German! vocarentur. 
 5 3. Fuisse apud eos et Herculem memorant, primum- 
 que omnium virorum fortium ituri in proelia canunt. 
 Sunt illis haec quoque carmina, quorum relatu, quern 
 barditum vocaut, accendunt auimos, futuraeque pug- 
 nae fortunam ipso cantu augurantur ; terrent enim 
 
 10 trepidantve, prout sonuit acies; nee tarn vocis ille 
 quam virtutis concentus videtur. Affectatur prae- 
 cipue asperitas soni et fractum murmur, objectis ad 
 os scutis, quo plenior et gravior vox repercussu intu- 
 mescat. Ceterum et Ulixem quidam opinantur longo 
 
 15 illo et fabuloso errore in hunc oceanum delatum adisse 
 Germaniae terras, Asciburgiumque, quod in ripa 
 Rheni situm hodieque incolitur, ab illo constitutum 
 nomiuatumque ; aram quin etiam Ulixi consecratam, 
 adjecto Laertae patris nomine, eodem loco olim re- 
 
 20 pertam, monumentaque et tumulos quosdam Graecis 
 litteris inscriptos in confinio Germaniae Raetiaeque 
 adhuc exstare ; quae neque coufirmare argumentis 
 neque refellere in animo est : ex iugenio suo quisque 
 demat vel addat fidem. 
 
 25 4. Ipse eorum opinionibus accedo, qui Germauiae 
 populos nullis aliis aliarum nationum counubiis in- 
 fectos propriam et sinceram et tautum sui similem 
 gentem exstitisse arbitrantur. Unde habitus quoque
 
 QERMANIA. 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 ; minimeque sitim 
 aestumque tolerare, frigora atque inediam caelo solove 5 
 assuerunt. 
 
 5. Terra, etsi aliquanto specie differt, in universuin 
 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 ; nu- 
 mero gaudent, eaeque solae et gratissimae opes sunt. 
 Argentum et aurum propitiine an irati di negaverint 
 dubito. Nee tamen amrmaverim nullam Germaniae 15 
 venam argentum aurumve gignere ; quis enim scru- 
 tatus est? Possessione et usu baud perinde afficiun- 
 tur. Est videre apud illos argentea vasa, legatis et 
 principibus eorum muneri data, non in alia vilitate 
 quam quae humo finguntur ; quamquam proximi ob 20 
 usum commerciorum aurum et argentum in pretio 
 habent, formasque quasdam nostrae pecuniae agno- 
 scunt atque eligunt ; interiores simplicius et antiquius 
 permutatione mercium utuntur. Pecuniam probant 
 veterem et diu notam, serratos bigatosque. Argentum 25 
 quoque magis quam aurum sequuntur, iiulla affectione 
 animi, sed quia numerus argenteorum facilior usui 
 
 est promiscua ac villa mercantibus. 
 2 Tac. B 2
 
 18 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 6. Ne ferrum quidem superest, sicut ex genere telo- 
 rum 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. Faucis loricae, vix uni alte- 
 rive cassis aut galea. Equi non forma, non velocitate 
 coaspicui ; sed nee 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 locaut. 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 quam formidinis arbitrantur. 
 Corpora suorum etiam in dubiis proeliis referunt. 
 Scutum reliquisse praecipuum flagitium, nee aut 
 
 25 sacris adesse aut concilium mire ignominioso fas : 
 multique superstites bellorum infamiam laqueo finie- 
 runt. 
 
 7. Reges ex nobilitate, duces ex virtute sumunt.
 
 GERMANIA. 19 
 
 Nee regibus infinita aut libera potestas, et duces ex- 
 einplo potius quam imperio, si prompti, si conspicui, 
 si ante aciem^agant, admiratione praesunt. Ceterum 
 neque animadvertere neque viucire, ne verberare qui- 
 dem nisi sacerdotibus permissum, non quasi in poenara 5 
 nee ducis jussu, sed velut deo imperante, quern adesse 
 bellantibus credunt. Effigiesque et signa quaedam 
 detracta lucis in proelium ferunt; quodque prae- 
 cipuura fortitudinis incitamentum est, nou casus neque 
 fortuita conglobatio turmam aut cuneum facit, sed 10 
 familiae et propinquitates ; et in proximo pignora, 
 uiide feminarum ululatus audiri, unde vagitus in- 
 fantium. Hi cuique sanctissimi testes, hi maxinii 
 laudatores: ad matres, ad conjuges vulnera ferunt; 
 nee illae numerare aut exigere plagas pa vent, 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 
 timcnt, adeo ut efficacius obligentur animi civitatum, 
 quibus inter obsides puellae quoque nobiles impe- 
 rantur. Inesse quin etiam sanctum aliquid et pro- 
 vidum putant, nee aut consilia earum aspernantur 
 aut responsa negligunt. Vidimus sub divo Vespa- 25 
 siano Veledam, din apud plerosque numinis loco habi- 
 tam ; sed et olim Albrunam et complures alias venerati 
 suut, non adulatione, neque tamquam facerent deas.
 
 20 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 9. Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt, cui certis 
 diebus huraanis quoque hostiis litare fas habent. 
 Martem concessis auimalibus placaiit [ot Herculem]. 
 Pars Sueborum et Isidi sacrificat : unde causa et origo 
 
 5 peregrine sacro parum comperi, nisi quod signum 
 ipsum in modum liburnae figuratum docet advectam 
 religionem. Ceterum nee cohibere parietibus deos 
 neque in ullain humani oris speciem assimulare ex 
 maguitudine caelestium arbitrantur ; lucos ac neraora 
 10 consecrant, deorumque nominibus appellant secretum 
 illud quod sola reverentia vident. 
 
 10. Auspicia sortesque ut qui maxime observant. 
 Sortium consuetudo simplex. Virgam frugiferae 
 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 suspicions ter singulos tollit, 
 sublatos secundum impressam ante notam interpre- 
 
 20 tatur. Si prohibuerunt, nulla de eadem re in eundem 
 diem consultatio ; sin permissum, auspiciorum adhuc 
 fides exigitur. Et illud quidem etiam hie notum, 
 avium voces volatusque interrogare. Proprium gentis 
 equorum quoque praesagia ac monitus experiri. Pub- 
 
 25 lice aluntur isdem nemoribus ac lucis, candidi et nullo 
 mortali opere contacti ; quos pressos sacro curru sacer- 
 dos ac rex vel princeps civitatis comitantur, hinnitus- 
 que ac fremitus observant. Nee ulli auspicio major
 
 OERMANIA. 21 
 
 fides, non solum apud plebera, sed apud proceres, apud 
 sacerdotes ; se enim ministros deorura, illos conscios 
 putant. Est et alia observatio auspiciorum, qua gra- 
 vium bellorum eveutus 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 prae- 
 judicio accipitur. 
 
 11. De miuoribus rebus principes consultant, de 
 majoribus omnes, ita tamen ut ea quoque, quorum 10 
 penes plebem arbitrium est, apud principes pertrac- 
 tentur. Coeunt, nisi quid fortuitum et subitum inci- 
 dit, certis diebus, cum aut inchoatur luna aut impletur; 
 nam agendis rebus hoc auspicatissimum initium cre- 
 dunt. Nee dierum numerum, ut nos, sed noctium 15 
 computant. Sic constituunt, sic condicunt : nox du- 
 cere diem videtur. Illud ex libertate vitium, quod 
 non simul nee ut jussi conveniunt, sed et alter et ter- 
 tius 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, auctori- 
 tate suadendi magis quam jubendi potestate. Si dis- 
 plicuit 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 de- 
 licto. Proditores et transfugas arboribus suspendunt ; 
 ignavos et imbelles et corpore infames coeno ac palude, 
 iujecta insuper crate, mergunt. Diversitas supplicii 
 5 illuc respicit, tamquam scelera ostendi oporteat, dum 
 puniuntur, flagitia abscond!. Sed et levioribus de- 
 lictis pro raodo poena : equorum pecorumque numero 
 convict! 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 
 comites, consilium simul et auctoritas, adsunt. 
 
 13. Nihil autem neque publicae neque privatae rei 
 nisi armati agunt. Sed arma sumere non ante cui- 
 
 15 quam moris quara. civitas suffecturum probaverit. 
 Turn in ipso concilio vel principum aliquis vel pater 
 vel propinqui scuto frameaque juveuem ornant : haec 
 apud illos toga, hie primus juventae honos; ante hoc 
 domus pars videntur, mox rei publicae. Insignis 
 
 20 nobilitas aut magna patrum merita principis dignatio- 
 nem etiam adolescentulis assignant : ceteris robustiori- 
 bus ac jam pridem probatis aggregantur, nee rubor 
 inter comites aspici. Gradus quin etiam ipse comi- 
 tatus habet, judicio ejus quem sectantur ; magnaque 
 
 25 et comitum aemulatio, quibus primus apud principem 
 suum locus, et principum, cui plurimi et acerrimi 
 comites. Haec dignitas, hae vires, magno semper 
 electorum juvenum globo circumdari, in pace decus,
 
 GEKMANIA. 23 
 
 in bello praesidium. Nee solum in sua gente cuique, 
 sed apud finitimas quoque civitates id nomen, ea gloria 
 est, si numero ac virtu te comitatus emineat ; expetun- 
 tur enim legationibus et muneribus ornantur et ipsa 
 plerumque fama bella profligant. 5 
 
 14. Cum ventum in aciera, turpe principi virtute 
 vinci, turpe comitatui virtutem principis non adae- 
 quare. Jam vero infame in omnem vitam ac pro- 
 brosum superstitem principi suo ex acie recessisse: 
 ilium defendere, tueri, sua quoque fortia facta gloriae 10 
 ejus assignare, praecipuum sacramentum est. Prin- 
 cipes 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 cla- 
 rescunt, magnumque comitatum non nisi vi belloque 
 tueutur ; exigunt enim principis sui liberalitate ilium 
 bellatorem equum, illam cruentam victricemque fra- 
 meam. Nam epulae et, quamquam incompti, largi 20 
 tamen apparatus, pro stipendio cedunt. Materia 
 munificentiae per bella et raptus. Nee arare terrain 
 aut exspectare annum tarn 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, dele- 
 gata 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 civi- 
 tatibus ultro ac viritim conferre principibus vel armen- 
 torum vel frugum, quod pro honore acceptum etiam 
 necessitatibus subvenit. Gaudent praecipue finitima- 
 rum gentium donis, quae non modo a singulis sed et 
 
 10 publice mittuntur, electi equi, magua 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 ad versus casus ignis 
 remedium sive inscitia aedificandi. Ne caementorum 
 quidem apud illos aut tegularum usus; materia ad 
 
 20 omnia utuntur inform! et citra speciem aut deleeta- 
 tionem. Quaedam loca diligentius illinunt terra ita 
 pura ac splendente, ut picturam ac lineamenta colo- 
 rum 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 distinguun- 
 tur, non fluitante, sicut Sarmatae ac Parthi, sed stricta 
 et singulos artus exprimente. Gerunt et ferarum 5 
 pelles, proximi ripae negligenter, ulteriores exquisi- 
 tius, ut quibus nullus per commercia cultus. Eligunt 
 feras et detracta velamina spargunt maculis pellibus- 
 que beluarum, quas exterior oceanus atque ignotum 
 mare gignit. Nee adius 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, nee ullam morum partem magis lau- 15 
 daveris : nam prope soli barbarorum singulis uxori- 
 bus coutenti sunt, exceptis admodum paucis, qui non 
 libidine sed ob nobilitatem pluribus nuptiis ambi- 
 untur. 
 
 18. Dotem non uxor marito, sed uxori maritus 20 
 offert. Intersunt pareutes ac propinqui ac munera 
 probant, munera non ad delicias muliebres quaesita 
 nee quibus nova nupta comatur, sed boves et frena- 
 tum equum et scutum cum framea gladioque. In haec 
 munera uxor accipitur, atque in vicein ipsa armorum 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 ad- 
 monetur venire se laborum periculorumque sociam, 
 idem in pace, idem in proelio passuram ausuramque : 
 hoc juncti boves, hoc paratus equus, hoc data arma 
 
 5 denuntiant : sic vivendum, sic pereundum : accipere 
 se quae liberis inviolata ac digna reddat, quae nurus 
 
 I accipiant, rursusque ad nepptes referantur. 
 
 19. Ergo septa pudicitia agunt, nullis spectaculo- 
 rum illecebris, nullis conviviorum irritationibus cor- 
 
 10 ruptae. Litterarum secreta viri pariter ac feminae 
 ignorant. Paucissima in tarn numerosa gente adul- 
 teria, quorum poena praesens et maritis permissa: 
 abscisis crinibus, nudatam, coram propinquis expellit 
 domo maritus ac per omnem vicuna verbere agit ; publi- 
 
 15 catae enim pudicitiae nulla venia : non forma, non 
 aetate, non opibus maritum invenerit. Nemo enim 
 illic vitia ridet, nee corrumpere et corrumpi saeculum 
 vocatur. Melius quidem adhuc eae civitates, in qui- 
 bus tantum virgines nubunt et cum spe votoque uxoris 
 
 20 semel transigitur. Sic unum accipiunt maritum quo- 
 modo unum corpus unamque vitam, ne ulla cogitatio 
 ultra, ne longior cupiditas, ne tamquam maritum sed 
 tamquam matrimonium ament. Numerum liberorum 
 finire aut quern quam ex agnatis necare flagitium habe- 
 
 25 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 quern-
 
 GERMANIA. 27 
 
 que mater uberibus alit, nee ancillis aut nutricibus 
 delegantur. Dominura ac servum nullis educationis 
 deliciis dignoscas : inter eadem pecora, in eadem humo 
 degunt, donee aetas separet ingenuos, virtus agnoscat. 
 Sera juvenum venus, eoque inexhausta pubertas. Nee 5 
 virgines festinantur; eadem juventa, similis proceri- 
 tas : pares validaeque miscentur, ac robora parentum 
 liberi referunt. Sororum filiis idem apud avunculum 
 qui apud patrem honor. Quidam sanctiorem artio- 
 remque hunc nexum sanguinis arbitrantur, et in acci- 10 
 pieudis obsidibus magis exigunt, tamquam et animum 
 firmius et domum latius teneant. Heredes tamen suc- 
 cessoresque sui cuique liberi, et nullum testamentum. 
 Si liberi non sunt, proximus gradus in possessione fra- 
 tres, patrui, avunculi. Quanto plus propinquorum, 15 
 quo major affinium numerus, tauto gratiosior senectus ; 
 nee ulla orbitatis pretia. 
 
 21. Suscipere tarn iuimicitias seu patris seu propin- 
 qui quam amicitias necesse est; nee implacabiles 
 durant : luitur enim etiam homicidium certo armento- 20 
 rum ac pecorum numero, recipitque satisfactionem 
 universa domus, utiliter in publicum, quia periculosio- 
 res sunt inimicitiae juxta libertatem. 
 
 Convictibus et hospitiis non alia gens effusius in- 
 dulget. Quemcumque mortalium arcere tecto nefas 25 
 habetur ; pro fortuna quisque apparatus epulis excipit. 
 Cum defecere, qui modo hospes fuerat, monstrator 
 hospitii et comes; proximam domum non invitati
 
 28 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 adeunt: nee interest: pari humanitate accipiuntur. 
 Notum ignotumque, quantum ad jus hospitis, nemo 
 discernit. Abeunti, si quid poposcerit, concedere mo- 
 ris ; et poscendi in vicem eadem facilitas. Gaudent 
 5 muneribus, sed nee data imputant nee acceptis obli- 
 gantur. Victus inter hospites comis. 
 
 22. Statim e somno, quern plerumque in diem extra- 
 hunt, lavantur, saepius calida, ut apud quos plurimum 
 hiems occupat. Lauti cibum capiunt : separatae sin- 
 
 10 gulis sedes et sua cuique mensa. Turn ad negotia, nee 
 minus saepe ad convivia, procedunt armati. Diem 
 noctemque continuare potando nulli probrum. Cre- 
 brae, ut inter vinolentos, rixae raro conviciis, saepius 
 caede et vulneribus transiguntur. Sed et de reconci- 
 
 15 liandis in vicem inimicis et jungendis affinitatibus et 
 asciscendis principibus, de pace denique ac bello ple- 
 rumque in conviviis consultant, tamquam nullo magis 
 tempore aut ad simplices cogitationes pateat animus 
 aut ad magnas incalescat. Gens non astuta nee cal- 
 
 20 lida aperit adhuc secreta pectoris licentia joci ; ergo 
 detecta et nuda omnium, mens; postera die retracta- 
 tur, et salva utriusque temporis ratio est : deliberant, 
 dum fingere nesciunt; constituunt, dum errare non 
 possunt. 
 
 25 23. Potui humor ex hordeo aut frumento, in quan- 
 dam similitudiuem vini corruptus : proximi ripae et 
 vinum mercantur. Cibi simplices, agrestia poma, re- 
 cens fera aut lac concretum : sine apparatu, sine blandi-
 
 GERMANIA. 29 
 
 mentis expellunt famem. Adversus sitim non eadem 
 temperantia : si indulseris ebrietati suggerendo quan- 
 tum concupiscunt, baud. minus facile vitiis quam armis 
 vincentur. 
 
 24. Genus spectaculorum unum atque in omni coetu 5 
 idem. Nudi juvenes, quibus id ludicrum est, inter 
 gladios se atque infestas frameas saltu jaciunt. Exer- 
 citatio artern paravit, ars decorem, non in quaestum 
 tamen aut mercedem ; quamvis audacis lasciviae pre- 
 tium est voluptas spectantium. Aleam, quod mirere, 10 
 sobrii inter seria exercent, tanta lucrandi perdendive 
 temeritate ut, cum omnia defecerunt, extreme ac novis- 
 simo jactu de libertate ac de corpore contendant. 
 Victus voluntariam servitutem adit: quamvis juve- 
 nior, 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 domi- 
 nus aut pecoris autvestis 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 suut, 
 raro aliquod momentum in domo, numquam in civi- 
 
 C2
 
 30 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 tate, exceptis dumtaxat iis gentibus quae regnantur ; 
 ibi enim et super ingenues 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 occupan- 
 tur, quos mox inter se secundum dignatiouem parti- 
 untur; facilitatem partieudi camporum spatia prae- 
 
 10 bent. Arva per annos mutant, et superest ager. 
 Nee enim cum ubertate et amplitudine soli labore 
 contendunt, ut pomaria couserant 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 clarorum virorum certis lignis crementur. 
 Struem rogi nee vestibus nee odoribus cumulant : sua 
 
 20 cuique arma, quorundam igni et equus adjicitur; 
 sepulcrum caespes erigit : monumentorum arduum et 
 operosuin honorem ut gravem defunctis aspernantur. 
 Lamenta ac lacrimas cito, dolorem et tristitiam tarde 
 ponunt. Feminis lugere bonestum est, viris memi- 
 
 25 nisse. 
 
 Haec in commune de omnium Germanorum origine 
 ac moribus accepimus : nunc singularum gentium insti- 
 tuta ritusque, quatenus differaut, quae nationes e Ger- 
 mania in Gallias commigraverint, expediam.
 
 GERMANIA. 31 
 
 28. Validiores olin* Gallorum res fuisse summus 
 auctor divus Julius tradit ; eoque credibile est etiam 
 Gallos in Germaniam transgresses : quantulura enim 
 amnis obstabat quo minus, ut quaeque gens evaluerat, 
 occuparet permutaretque sedes promiscuas adhuc et 5 
 nulla regnorum potentia divisas ? Igitur inter Her- 
 cyniam silvam Rhenumque et Moenum amnes Hel- 
 vetii, ulteriora Boii, Gallica utraque gens, tenuere. 
 Manet adhuc Boihaemi nomen signatque loci veterem 
 meraoriam quamvis mutatis cultoribus. Sed utrum 10 
 Aravisci in Pannoniam ab Osis, Germanorum natione, 
 an Osi ab Araviscis in Germaniam commigraverint, 
 cum eodern 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 
 ainbitiosi sunt, tamquam per hanc gloriam sanguinis 
 
 a similitudine et inertia Gallorum separentur. Ipsam 
 Rheni ripam baud 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 custo- 
 direntur. 25 
 
 29. Omnium harum gentium virtute praecipui 
 Batavi non multum ex ripa, sed insulam Rheni amnis 
 coluut, Chattorum quondam populus et seditione do-
 
 32 COENELII TACITI 
 
 mestica in eas sedes transgressu*, in quibus pars Ro- 
 mani imperil fierent. Manet honos et antiquae socie- 
 tatis insigne; nam nee tributis contemnuntur nee 
 publicanus atterit : exernpti oneribus et collationibus 
 5 et tantum in usum proeliorum sepositi, velut tela 
 atque arma, bellis reservantur. Est in eodem obse- 
 quio et Mattiacorum gens ; protulit enim magnitude 
 populi Romani ultra Rhenum ultraque veteres termi- 
 nos 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, quam- 
 quam trans Rhenum Danuviumque consederint, eos 
 
 15 qui decumates agros exercent: levissimus quisque 
 Gallorum et inopia audax dubiae possessionis solum 
 oceupavere; mox limite acto promotisque praesidiis 
 sinus imperil 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 sues 
 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 prae- 
 positos, nosse ordines, intelligere occasiones, differre 
 impetus, disponere diem, vallare noctem, fortunam
 
 GEEMANIA. 33 
 
 inter dubia, virtutem inter certa numerate, quodque 
 rarissimum nee nisi Romanae disciplinae concessum, 
 plus reponere in duce quam in exercitu. Onme robur 
 in pedite, quern super arma ferramentis quoque et 
 copiis onerant : alios ad proelium ire videas, Chattos 5 
 ad bellum ; rari excursus et fortuita pugna ; eque- 
 strium sane virium id proprium, cito parare victoriani, 
 cito cedere : velocitas juxta formidinem, cunctatio pro- 
 pior coustantiae est. 
 
 31. Et aliis Germanorum populis usurpatum raro 10 
 et private, cuj usque audentia apud Chattos in con- 
 sensum vertit, ut primum adoleverint, crinem barbam- 
 que submittere, nee nisi hoste caeso exuere votivum 
 obligatumque virtuti oris habitum. Super sauguinem 
 
 et spolia revelant frontem, seque turn demum pretia 15 
 nascendi retulisse dignosque patria ac parentibus 
 ferunt: ignavis et imbellibus manet squalor. For- 
 tissimus quisque ferreum insuper anulum (ignominio- 
 sum id genti) velut vinculum gestat, donee se caede 
 hostis absolvat. Plurimis Chattorum hie placet habi- 20 
 tus, jamque canent iusignes 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, donee ex- 
 sanguis senectus tain durae virtuti impares faciat. 
 
 32. Proximi Chattis certum jam alveo Rbenum 
 3 Tac.
 
 34 CORNELII TACIT! 
 
 quique terminus esse sufficiat, Usipi ac Tenctcri 
 colunt. Tencteri super solitum bellorum decus eques- 
 tris disciplinae arte praecellunt; nee major apud 
 Chattos peditum laus quam Tencteris equitum. Sic 
 5 instituere majores : posteri imitantur. Hi lusus in- 
 fantium, haec juvenum aemulatio ; perseveraut 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 vicmarum consensu 
 nationum ; sen superbiae odio seu praedae dulcedine 
 seu favore quodam erga nos deorum ; nam ne specta- 
 
 15 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 prae- 
 
 20 stare fortuna majus potest quam hostium discordiam. 
 
 34. Angrivarios et Chamavos a tergo Dulgibini et 
 
 Chasuarii cluduut aliaeque gentes baud perinde memo- 
 
 ratae ; a froute Frisii excipiunt. Majoribus minori- 
 
 busque Frisiis vocabulum est ex modo virium. Utrae- 
 
 25 que nationes usque ad oceanum Rbeno praetexuntur 
 ambiuntque immensos insuper lacus et Romanis clas- 
 sibus navigates. Ipsum quin etiam oceanum ilia 
 temptavimus ; et superesse adhuc Herculis columnas
 
 GERMANIA. 35 
 
 fama vulgavit, sive adiit Hercules, seu quidquid ubi- 
 que magnificum est, in claritatem ejus referre con- 
 seusimus. Nee defuit audentia Druso Germanico : 
 sed obstitit oceanus in se siraul atque in Herculem 
 iuquiri. Mox nemo temptavit, sanctiusque ac reve- 5 
 rentius visum de actis deorum credere quam scire. 
 
 35. Hactenus in occidentem Germaniam no vim us : 
 in septentrionera ingenti flexu redit. Ac primo statim 
 Chaucorum gens, quamquam incipiat a Frisiis ac 
 partem litoris occupet, omnium quas exposui gentium 10 
 lateribus obtenditur, donee in Chattos usque sinuetur. 
 Tarn immensum terrarum spatium non tenent tantum 
 Chauci, sed et implent, populus inter Germanos nobi- 
 lissimus quique magnitudinem suam malit justitia 
 tueri; sine cupiditate, sine impotentia, quieti secre- 15 
 tique nulla provocaut bella, nullis raptibus aut latro- 
 ciniis 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 nutrie- 
 runt; idque jucundius quam tutius fuit, quia inter 
 impotentes et validos falso quiescas : ubi manu agitur, 25 
 modestia ac probitas nomina superioris suut. Ita qui 
 olim boni aequique Cherusci, nuiic inertes ac stulti 
 vocantur: Chattis victoribus fortuna in sapientiam
 
 36 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 cessit. Tract! ruina Cheruscorum et Fosi, conter- 
 mina gens, adversarum rerum ex aequo socii sunt, 
 cum in secundis minores fuissent. 
 
 37. Eundem Germaniae sinum proxirai oceano 
 5 Cimbri tenent, parva nunc civitas, sed gloria ingens ; 
 veterisque famae lata vestigia manent, utraque ripa 
 castra ac spatia, quorum ambitu nunc quoque metiaris 
 molem manusque gentis et tarn 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 colligun- 
 tur: tarn diu Germania vincitur. Medio tarn longi 
 
 15 aevi spatio multa in vicem 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 consu- 
 lares exercitus populo Romano, Varum tresque cum 
 eo legiones etiam Caesari abstulerunt ; nee 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, donee occasioue discordiae nostrae et
 
 GERMANIA. 37 
 
 civilium armorum, expugnatis legionum hibernis, 
 etiam Gallias aflectavere ; ac rursus inde pulsi proxi- 
 mis temporibus triumphati magis quam victi sunt. 
 
 38. Nunc de Suebis dicendum est, quorum non una, 
 
 ut Chattorum Tencterorumve gens; majorem enim 5 
 Gerraaniae partem obtinent, propriis adhuc nationi- 
 bus nominibusque discreti, quamquam in commune 
 Suebi vocentur. Insigne gentis obliquare crinem no- 
 doque substringere : sic Suebi a ceteris Germanis, sic 
 Sueborum ingenui a servis separantur. In aliis genti- 10 
 bus seu coguatione 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 altitu- 
 dinem quandam et terrorem adituri bella, compti ut 
 hostium oculis, ornaiitur. 
 
 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 huinum evolvuntur. Eoque omnis superstitio re- 
 D
 
 38 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 spicit, tamquam inde initia gentis, ibi regnator omnium 
 deus, cetera subjecta atque parentia. Adjicit auctori- 
 tatem fortuna Semnonum : centum pagis habitant, 
 magnoque corpore efficitur ut se Sueborum caput 
 5 credant. 
 
 40. Contra Langobardos paucitas nobilitat: plu- 
 rimis ac valentissimis natiouibus cincti non per obse- 
 quium, sed proeliis et periclitando tuti sunt. Reudigni 
 deinde et Avioues et Anglii et Varini et Eudoses et 
 
 10 Suardones et Nuitoues fluminibus aut silvis muni- 
 uutur. Nee 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 ; attin- 
 gere uni sacerdoti coucessum. 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 fer- 
 rum ; pax et quies tune tantum nota, tune tan turn 
 amata, donee 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 hinc 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 Rhenum, sic nunc Dauuvium sequar), Hermun- 
 dtirorum ci vitas, fida Romanis; eoque solis Germa- 
 norum uon iu ripa commercium, sed penitus atque in 
 splendidissima Raetiae proviuciae colonia. Passim 5 
 sine custode transeunt ; et cum ceteris gentibus arma 
 modo castraque iiostra ostendamus, his domos villas- 
 que patefecimus non concupiscentibus. In Hermun- 
 duris Albis oritur, flumen inclutum et notum olim ; 
 nunc tantum auditur. 10 
 
 42. Juxta Hermunduros Naristi ac deinde Marco 
 mani et Quadi agunt. Praecipua Marcomanorum 
 gloria viresque, atque etiam ipsa sedes pulsis olim 
 Boiis virtute parta. Nee Naristi Quadive degeuerant. 
 Eaque Germaniae velut frons est, quatenus Dauuvio 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, nee 20 
 minus valent. 
 
 43. Retro Marsigni, Cotini, Osi, Buri terga Marco- 
 manorum Quadorumque claudunt. E quibus Mar- 
 signi et Buri sermone cultuque Suebos referunt: 
 Cotinos Gallica, Osos Paunonica lingua coarguit non 25 
 esse Germanos, et quod tributa patiuntur. Partem 
 tributorum Sarmatae, partem Quadi ut alienigenis 
 impouunt : Cotini, quo magis pudeat, et ferrum effo-
 
 40 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 diunt. Omnesque hi populi pauca campestrium, 
 ceterura saltus et vertices montium jugumque insede- 
 runt. Dirimit enim scinditque Suebiara continuum 
 moutium 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 osten- 
 ditur. Praesidet sacerdos muliebri ornatu, sed deos 
 
 10 interpretation Romana Castorera Pollucemque me- 
 morant. Ea vis numini ; nomen Alcis. Nulla simu- 
 lacra, nullum peregrinae superstitiouis vestigium ; ut 
 fratres tamen, ut juvenes venerantur. Ceterum Harii 
 super vires, quibus enumeratos paulo ante populos 
 
 15 anteceduut, truces insitae feritati arte ac tern pore 
 leuocinanttir : nigra scuta, tincta corpora; atras ad 
 proelia noctes legunt, ipsaque formidine atque umbra 
 feralis exercitus terrorem inferunt, nullo hostium susti- 
 nente 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 oceauo 
 Rugii et Lemovii; omniumque harum gentium in- 
 
 25 signe rotunda scuta, breves gladii et erga reges obse- 
 quium. 
 
 Suionum hinc civitates, ipso in oceano, praeter viros 
 armaque classibus valent. Forma navium eo difiert,
 
 GERMANIA. 41 
 
 quod utrimque prora paratam semper appulsui frontem 
 agit; nee velis miuistrantur nee remos in ordinem 
 lateribus adjuugunt; solutum, ut in quibusdam flu- 
 minum, et mutabile, ut res poscit, hinc vel illinc rerai- 
 gium. Est apud illos et opibus honos, eoque unus 5 
 imperitat, nullis jam exceptiouibus, non precario jure 
 pareudi. Nee 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 nobilem neque ingenuum, ne libertinum quidem 
 armis praeponere regia utilitas est. 
 
 45. Trans Suionas aliud mare, pigrum ae prope 
 immotum, quo cingi cludique terrarum orbem hinc 
 fides, quod extremus cadentis jam solis fulgor in ortum 15 
 edurat adeo clarus, ut sidera hebetet ; sonum insuper 
 emergentis 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 Britaunicae propior. Matrem 
 deum venerantur. Insigne superstitionis formas apro- 
 rum 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. Nee quae natura quaeve 
 ratio gignat, ut barbaris, quaesitum compertumve ; 
 diu quin etiara inter cetera ejectamenta maris jacebat, 
 donee luxuria nostra dedit nomen. Ipsis in nullo 
 5usu: rude legitur, informe perfertur, pretiuraque 
 mirantes accipiuut. Sucum tamen arborum esse iu- 
 telligas, quia terrena quaedam atque etiam volucria 
 animalia plerumque interlucent, quae implicata hu- 
 more mox durescente materia cluduntur. Fecundiora 
 
 10 igitur nemora lucosque, sicut orientis secretis, ubi tura 
 balsamaque sudantur, ita occidentis insulis terrisque 
 inesse crediderim ; quae vicini soils radiis expressa 
 atque liquentia in proximum mare labuntur ac vi 
 tempestatum in adversa litora exundant. Si naturam 
 
 15 sucini admoto igni temptes, in modum taedae accen- 
 ditur alitque flammam pinguera et olenteni ; mox ut 
 in picem resinamve lentescit. 
 
 Suionibus Sitonum gentes continuantur. Cetera 
 similes uno differunt quod feinina dominatur : in 
 
 20 tantum non modo a libertate sed etiam a servitute 
 degenerant. Hie Suebiae finis. 
 
 46. Peucinorum Venetorumque et Fennorum na- 
 tiones Germanis an Sarmatis ascribam dubito, quam- 
 quam Peucini, quos quidam Bastarnas vocant, sermon e, 
 
 25 cultu, sede ac domiciliis ut Germani agunt. Sordes 
 omnium ac torpor procerum ; connubiis mixtis non- 
 nihil in Sarmatarum habitum foedantur. Veneti 
 multum ex moribus traxerunt; nam quidquid inter
 
 GERMANIA. 43 
 
 Peucinos Fennosque silvarum ac montium erigitur, 
 latrociniis pererrant. Hi tamen inter Germanos po- 
 tius referuntur, quia et domos figunt et scuta gestant 
 et pedum usu ac pernicitate gaudent: quae omnia 
 di versa Sarmatis suut 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. Nee aliud infantibus ferarum imbriumque suffu- 
 gium quam ut in aliquo ramorum nexu contegantur : 
 hue redeunt juvenes, hoc senum receptaculum. Sed 
 beatius arbitrantur quam ingemere agris, illaborare 
 domibus, suas alienasque fortunas spe metuque versare : 15 
 securi ad versus homines, securi adversus deos, rem diffi- 
 cillimain 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 MOEIBUS 
 
 JULII AGEICOLAE 
 
 LIBEK. 
 BREVIARIUM. 
 
 CAP. 1-3. Scribendi clarorum virorum vitam mos anti- 
 quus, sub malis principibus periculosus, sub Trajano in 
 honorem Agricolae repetitus a Tacito, qui non eloquentiam, 
 sed pietatem pollicetur. 4. Agricolae stirps, educatio, stu- 
 dia. 5, 6. Positis in Britannia priniis castrorum rudimentis, 
 uxorem ducit. Fit quaestor, tribunus, praetor. Recogno- 
 scendis temploruin donis praefectus. 7. Othoniano bello 
 matrem partemque patrimonii amittit. 8. In Vespasiani 
 partes transgressus, legioni vicesimae in Britannia prae- 
 positus, alienae famae cura promovet suam. 9. Redux 
 inter patricios ascitus Aquitaniam regit. Consul factus 
 Tacito filiam despondet. Britanniae praeficitur. 
 
 10. Britanniaedescriptio. Thule cognita. Marepigrum. 
 11, 12. Britannorum origo, habitus, sacra, sermo, mores; 
 militia, regimen, rarus conventus. Caelum, solum, me- 
 talla, margarita. 13. Victae gentis ingenium. 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; hie Silures, ille Brigantes vincit; Agricola 
 
 44
 
 COBXELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 45 
 
 Ordovices et Monam. Totam provinciam pacat et mode- 
 ratione, prudentia, abstinentia, aequitate in obsequio re- 
 tiuet, animosque artibus et voluptatibus mollit 
 
 22-23. Xova expeditio novas gentes aperit, quae prae- 
 sidio firmantur. Agricolae candor in communicanda 
 gloria. 24. Consilium de occupanda Hibernia. 25-27. 
 Civitates trans Bodotriam sitae explorantur. Caledonii, 
 Romanos aggressi, consilio ductuque Agricolae pulsi, sacri- 
 ficiis conspirationem civitatum sanciunt. 28. Usipiorum 
 cohors miro casu Britanniam circumvecta. 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 prae- 
 cipit. 
 
 39. Domitianus, fronte laetus, pectore anzius, nuntium 
 victoriae excipit. 40. Honores tamen Agricolae decerni 
 jubet, condito odio, donee provincia decedat Agricola. Is 
 redux modeste agit. 41. Periculum ab accusatoribus et 
 laudatoribus. 42. Excusat se, ne provinciam sortiatur 
 proconsul. 43. Obit non sine veneni suspicione a Domi- 
 tiano dati. 44. Ejus aetas, habitus, honores, opes. 45. 
 Mortis opportunitas ante Domitiani atrocitates. 46. Que- 
 st us scriptoris et ex virtute solatia. Fama Agricolae ad. 
 posteros transmissa. 
 
 1. Clarorum virorum facta moresque posteris tra- 
 dere, 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, ignc- 5
 
 46 COENELII TACITI 
 
 rantiam recti et invidiam. Sed apud priores ut agere 
 digna memoratu pronum magisque in aperto erat, ita 
 celeberrimus quisque ingenio ad prodendam virtutis 
 memoriam sine gratia aut ambitioue bonae tantum 
 5 conscientiae pretio ducebatur. Ac plerique suam ipsi 
 vitara narrare fiduciam potius morum quam arro- 
 gantiara arbitrati sunt ; nee id Rutilio et Scauro citra 
 fidem aut obtrectationi fuit : adeo virtutes isdem tem- 
 poribus optime aestimantur, quibus facillime gignun- 
 
 10 tur. At nunc narraturo mihi vitara defuncti hominis 
 venia opus fuit, quam non petissem incusaturus tain 
 saeva et infesta virtutibus tempera. 
 
 2. Legimus, cum Aruleuo Rustico Paetus Thrasea, 
 Herennio Senecioni Priscus Helvidius laudati esseut, 
 
 15 capitale fuisse, neque in ipsos modo auctores sed in 
 libros quoque eorum saevitum, delegate triumviris 
 ministerio ut monumeuta clarissimorum ingeniorum 
 in comitio ac foro urerentur. Scilicet illo igne vocem 
 populi Romani et libertatem seiiatus 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 documentum ; et 
 sicut vetus aetas vidit quid ultimum in libertate esset, 
 
 25 ita nos quid in servitute, adempto per inquisitiones 
 etiam loquendi audiendique commercio. Memoriam 
 quoque ipsam cum voce perdidissemus, si tarn in 
 nostra potestate esset oblivisci quam tacere.
 
 AGEICOLA. 47 
 
 3. Nunc demura rediit animus, et quamquam primo 
 statim beatissimi saeculi ortu Nerva Caesar res olim 
 dissociabiles miscuerit, principatum ac libertatem, 
 augeatque quotidie felicitatem temporum Nerva Tra- 
 janus, nee 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 ex- 
 stinguuntur, sic ingenia studiaque oppresseris facilius 
 quam revocaveris. Subit quippe etiam ipsius inertiae 10 
 dulcedo, et invisa primo desidia postremo amatur. 
 Quid, si per quiudecim annos, grande mortalis aevi 
 spatium. multi fortuitis casibus, promptissimus quisque 
 saevitia principis interciderunt? Fauci, ut ita dixe- 
 rim, 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 
 tefminos per silentium venimus. Non tamen pigebit 
 vel incondita ac rudi voce memoriam prioris servitutis 
 
 ac testimonium praesentmm bonorum composuisse. 20 
 Hie interim liber honori Agricolae soceri mei destina- 
 tus, professione pietatis aut laudatus erit aut excu- 
 sutus. 
 
 4. Cnaeus. Julius Agricola, vetere et illustri Foro- 
 juliensiumcoloniaortus, utrumqueavum procuratorem 25 
 Caesarum 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. Silanum accusare jussus, 
 et quia abnuerat, interfectus est. Mater Julia Pro- 
 cilia fuit, rarae castitatis. Iii hujus sinu indulgentia- 
 que educatus, per omnem honestarum artium cultuni 
 5 pueritiam adolescentiamque transegit. Arcebat eum 
 ab illecebris peccantium praeter ipsius bonam inte- 
 gramque naturam, quod statim parvulus sedem ac 
 magistram studiorum Massiliam habuit, locum Graeca 
 comitate et provincial! parsimonia mixtum ac bene 
 
 10 compositum. Memoriai teneo solitum ipsum narrare 
 se prima in juventa studium philosophiae acrius, ultra 
 quam concessum Romano ac senator!, hausisse, ni 
 prudentia matris incensum ac flagrantem 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 rudirnenta in Britannia Sue- 
 
 20 tonio Paulino, diligent! ac moderate due!, approbavit, 
 electus quern contubernio aestimaret. Nee Agricola 
 licenter, more juvenum qui militiam in lasciviam 
 vertunt, neque segniter ad voluptates et commeatus 
 titulum tribunatus et inscitiam rettulit: sed noscere 
 
 25 provinciam, nose! exercitui, discere a peritis, sequi 
 optimos, nihil appetere in jactationem, nihil ob formi- 
 dinem recusare, simulque et anxius et intentus agere. 
 Non sane alias exercitatior magisque in ambiguo
 
 AGRICOLA. 49 
 
 Britannia fuit : trucidati veterani, incensae coloniae, 
 intercept! exercitus ; turn de salute, mox de victoria 
 certavere. Quae cuncta etsi consiliis ductuque alte- 
 rius agebantur, ac summa rerum et recuperatae pro- 
 vinciae gloria in ducem cessit, artem et usum et 5 
 stimulos addidere juveni, intravitque animum militaris 
 gloriae cupido, ingrata temporibus quibus sinistra erga 
 eminentes iuterpretatio, nee minus periculum ex magiia 
 faraa quam ex mala. 
 
 6. Hinc 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 con- 
 cordia, per mutuam caritatem et in vicem se antepo- 
 nendo, nisi quod in bona uxore tanto major laus 15 
 quanto in mala plus culpae est. Sors quaesturae prc- 
 viiiciam Asiam, proconsulem Salvium Titianum dedit, 
 quorum neutro corruptus est, quamquam et provincia 
 dives ae parata peccantibus, et proconsul in omnem 
 aviditatem pronus quantalibet facilitate redempturus 20 
 esset mutuam dissimulationem mali. Auctus est ibi 
 filia, in subsidium simul et solatium ; nam filium ante 
 sublatum brevi amisit. Mox inter quaesturam ac tri- 
 bunatum 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 ; nee enim jurisdictio obvenerat. 
 Ludos et mania honoris medio rationis atque abun- 
 4 Tac. E
 
 60 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 dantiae duxit, uti longe a luxuria, ita famae propior. 
 Turn electus a Galba ad dona templorum recogno- 
 scenda, diligentissima conquisitione efFecit, ne cujus 
 alterius sacrilegium res publica quam Neronis sen- 
 5 sisset. 
 
 ^ 7. Sequens annus gravi vulnere animum domumque 
 ejus afflixit. Nam classis Othoniana licenter vaga 
 dum Intemelios (Liguriae pars est) hostiliter popu- 
 latur, matrem Agricolae in praediis suis interfecit, 
 
 10 praediaque ipsa et magnam patrimonii partem diri- 
 puit, quae causa caedis fuerat. Igitur ad sollemnia 
 pietatis profectus Agricola, nuntio affectati a Vespa- 
 siano imperil depreheusus ac statim in partes trans- 
 gressus 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 sacra- 
 mentum transgressae praeposuit, ubi decessor seditiose 
 
 20 agere narrabatur : quippe legatis quoque consularibus 
 nimia ac formidolosa erat, nee legatus praetorius ad 
 cohibendum potens, incertum suo an militum ingenio. 
 Ita successor simul et ultor electus, rarissima mode- 
 ratione maluit videri invenisse bonos quam fecisse. 
 
 25 8. Praeerat tune Britanniae Vettius Bolanus pla- 
 cidius, quam feroci provincia dignum est. Temperavit 
 Agricola vim suam ardoremque compescuit, ne incre- 
 sceret, peritus obsequi eruditusque utilia honestis
 
 AGRICOLA. 51 
 
 * 
 
 miscere. Brevi deinde Britannia consularem Petilium 
 Cerialem accepit. Habuerunt virtutes spatium exem- x 
 plorum, sed primo Cerialis labores modo et discriniina, 
 mox et gloriam communicabat ; saepe parti exercitus 
 in experimentum, aliquando majoribus copiis ex eventu O 
 praefecit. Nee Agricola umquara in suam famam 
 gestis exsultavit ; ad auctorem ac ducem ut minister 
 fortunam referebat. Ita virtu te in obsequendo, vere- 
 cundia in praedicando, extra invidiam nee extra glo- 
 riam erat. 10 
 
 9. Revertentem ab legatione legionis divus Vespa- 
 sianus inter patricios ascivit ; ac deinde provinciae 
 Aquitaniae praeposuit, spleudidae inprimis dignitatis 
 administratioue ac spe consulatus, cui destinarat. 
 Credunt plerique militaribus ingeniis subtilitatem 15 
 deesse, quia castrensis jurisdictio secura et obtusior ac 
 plura maim agens calliditatem fori non exerceat. 
 Agricola natural! prudentia, quamvis inter togatos, 
 facile justeque agebat. Jam vero tempora curarum 
 remissionumque divisa : ubi conventus ac judicia 20 
 poscerent, gravis, intentus, severus, sed saepius miseri- 
 cors: ubi officio satis factum, nulla ultra potestatis 
 persona : tristitiam et arrogantiam et avaritiam exuerat. 
 Nee illi, quod est rarissimum, aut facilitas auctori- 
 tatem aut severitas amorem deminuit. Integritatem 25 
 atque abstinentiam in tanto viro referre injuria virtu- 
 turn 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 procurators, et vincere iuglo- 
 rium et atteri sordidum arbitrabatur. Minus trien- 
 nium in ea legatione detentus ac statim ad spem 
 5 consulatus revocatus est, comitante opinione Britan- 
 niam ei provinciam dari, uullis in hoc suis sermonibus, 
 sed quia par videbatur. Haud semper errat faraa ; 
 aliquando et elegit. Consul egregiae turn spei filiam 
 juveni mihi despondit ac post consulatum collocavit, 
 
 10 et statim Britanniae praepositus est, adjecto pontifi- 
 catus sacerdotio. 
 
 10. Britanniae situm populosque multis scriptoribus 
 memoratos non in comparationem curae ingeniive 
 referam, sed quia turn primum perdomita est : ita 
 
 15 quae priores nondum comperta eloquentia percoluere, 
 rerum fide tradentur. Britannia, insularum quas 
 Romana notitia complectitur maxima, spatio ac caelo 
 in orientem Germaniae, in occidentem Hispaniae 
 obtenditur, Gallis in meridiem etiam inspicitur; sep- 
 
 20 tentrionalia ejus, nullis contra terris, vasto atque 
 aperto mari pulsantur. Formam totius Britanniae 
 Livius veterum, Fabius Rusticus recentium eloquen- 
 tissimi auctores oblongae scutulae vel bipenni assimu- 
 lavere ; et est ea facies citra Caledoniam, unde et in 
 
 25 universum fama est transgressa: sed immsnsum et 
 enorme spatium procurrentium extreme jam litore 
 terrarum velut in cuneum tenuatur. Hanc oram 
 novissimi maris tune primum Romaua 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 hac- 
 tenus jussum ; et hiems appetebat. Sed mare pigrum 
 et grave reinigantibus perhibent ne ventis quidem 5 
 perinde attolli, credo quod rariores terrae montesque, 
 causa ac materia tempestatum, et profunda moles con- 
 tinui maris tardius impellitur. Naturam oceani atque 
 aestus neque quaerere hujus operis est, ac multi rettu- 
 lere : unum addiderim, nusquam latius dominari mare, 10 
 multum fluminurn hue atque illuc ferre, nee litore 
 tenus accrescere aut resorberi, sed influere penitus 
 atque ambire, et jugis etiani ac montibus inseri velut 
 in suo. 
 
 11. Ceterum Britanniam qui mortales initio colue- 15 
 rint, indigeuae an advecti, ut inter barbaros, parum 
 compertum. Habitus corporum varii atque ex eo 
 argumenta. Namque rutilae Caledoniam habitantium 
 comae, magni artus Germanicam origiuem asseverant. 
 Silurum colorati vultus, torti plerumque crines et 20 
 posita contra Hispania Hiberos veteres trajecisse easque 
 sedes occupasse fidem faciunt. Proximi Gallis et simi- 
 les sunt, seu durante originis vi, sen procurrentibus in 
 diversa terris positio caeli corporibus habitum dedit. 
 In universum tamen aestimanti Gallos vicinam insulam 25 
 occupasse credibile est. Eorum sacra deprehendas, 
 superstitiouum persuasioues ; sermo haud multum 
 diversus, in deposcendis periculis eadem audacia et, 
 E2
 
 54 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 ubi advenere, in detrectandis eadem formido. Plus 
 tamen ferociae Britanui 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 Britan- 
 norum 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 priucipes factionibus 
 et studiis distrahuutur. Nee aliud adversus validissi- 
 mas 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 soils fulgorem, 
 nee occidere et exsurgere sed transire affirmant. 
 Scilicet extrema et plana terrarum humili umbra non 
 erigunt tenebras, infraque caelum et sidera nox cadit. 
 Solum, praeter oleam vitemque et cetera calidioribus 
 
 25 terris oriri sueta, patiens frugum, fecundum : tarde 
 mitescunt, cito proveniunt; eademque utriusque rei 
 causa, multus humor terrarum caelique. Fert Bri- 
 tannia aurum et argentum et alia metalla, pretium
 
 AGBICOLA. 55 
 
 vietoriae. Gignit et oceanus margarita, sed subfusca 
 ac liventia. Quidara artem abesse legentibus arbi- 
 trantur ; 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 Romauorum 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. Agi- 
 tasse Caium Caesarem de intranda Britannia satis con- 
 stat, ni velox ingenio, mobilis poenitentiae, et ingentes 
 adversus Germauiam 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 subihde Ostorius Scapula, uterque bello egregius ; 25 
 redactaque paulatim in formam provinciae proxima 
 pars Britanniae ; addita insuper veteranorum colonia. 
 Quaedam civitatcs Cogidunano regi donatae (is ad
 
 56 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 nostram usque meraoriam fidissimus.mansit), vetere 
 ac jam pridem recepta populi Roman! 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; quorum fiducia 
 
 10 Monam insulam ut vires rebellibus ministrantem 
 aggressus terga occasioui patefecit. 
 
 15. Namque absentia legati remote metu, Britanni 
 agitare inter se mala servitutis, conferre injurias et 
 interpretando accendere: nihil profici patientia nisi 
 
 15 ut graviora tamquam ex facili tolerantibus impe- 
 rentur. Singulos sibi olim reges fuisse, nunc binos 
 imponi, e quibus legatus in sanguinem. procurator in 
 bona saeviret. "VAeque 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 Germanias excussisse 
 jugum : et flumine, nou oceano defendi. Sibi patriam, 
 conjuges, parentes, illis avaritiam et luxunam causas
 
 AGRICOLA. 57 
 
 belli esse. Recessuros, ut divus Julius recessisset, 
 modo virtutem majorura suorum aeraularentur. 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 exer- 
 citum 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 euim sexum in impe- 
 rils discernunt) sumpsere universi bellum ; ac sparsos 
 per castella milites cousectati, expugnatis praesidiis 
 ipsani coloniam invasere, ut sedem servitutis; nee 
 ullum in barbaris saevitiae genus omisit ira et vie- 15 
 toria. Quod nisi Paulinus cognito provinciae motu 
 propere subvenisset, ainissa Britannia foret; quam 
 unius proelii fortuna veteri patientiae restituit, tenenti- 
 bus arma plerisque, quos eonscientia defectionis et 
 proprius ex legato timor agitabat,ne,quamquam egre- 20 
 gius cetera, arroganter in deditos et, ut suae exercitus- 
 que 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 castro- 
 rum experimentis, comitate quadam curandi provin- 
 ciam tenuit. Didicere jam barbari quoque ignoscere,
 
 58 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 vitiis blandientibus, et interventus civilium arraorum 
 praebuit justam 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. Nee Vettius Bolanus, 
 mauentibus adhuc civilibus bellis, agitavit Britanniam 
 disciplina : eadem inertia erga hostes, similis petu- 
 10 lautia castrorum, nisi quod iunocens Bolanus et nullis 
 delictis invisus caritatem paraverat loco auctoritatis. 
 
 17. Sed ubi cum cetero orbe Vespasianus et Britan- 
 niam recuperavit, magni duces, egregii exercitus, 
 minuta hostium spes. Et terrorem statim iutulit 
 
 15 Petilius Cerialis, Brigantum civitatem, quae numero- 
 sissima provinciae totius perhibetur, aggressus. Multa 
 proelia et aliquando non incruenta; magnamque Bri- 
 gantum partem aut victoria amplexus est aut bello. 
 Et Cerialis quidem alterius successoris curam fain a m- 
 
 20 que obruisset sustinuitque molem Julius Frontiuus, 
 vir magnus, quantum licebat ; validamque et pugna- 
 cem Silurum gen tern arm is 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 
 haud multo ante adventum ejus alam in finibus suis
 
 AGRICOLA. 59 
 
 agentem prope universam obtriverat, eoque initio 
 erecta provincia ; et quibus bellum volentibus erat, 
 probare exemplum ac receutis legati animum opperiri, 
 cum Agricola, quamquam transvecta aestas, sparsi per 
 proviuciam numeri, praesumpta apud militem illius 5 
 anni quies, tarda et contraria bellum inchoaturo, et 
 plerisque custodiri suspecta potius videbatur, ire ob- 
 viam discrimini statuit ; contractisque legiouum vexillis 
 et modica auxiliorum manu, quia in aequuni degredi 
 Ordovices non audebant, ipse ante agmen, quo ceteris 10 
 par animus simili periculo esset, erexit aciem ; caesa- 
 que prope universa gente, non ignarus instaudum 
 famae ac, prout prima cessissent, terrorem ceteris fore, 
 Monam insulam, cujus possessione revocatum Pau- 
 linum rebellione totius Britanniae supra memoravi, 15 
 redigere in potestatem ammo inteudit. Sed, ut in 
 dubiis consiliis, naves deerant: ratio et constantia 
 ducis transvexit. Depositis omnibus sarcinis lectissi- 
 mos auxiliarium, quibus nota vada et patrius nandi 
 usus, quo simul seque et arma et equos regunt, ita re- 20 
 pente immisit, ut obstupefacti hostes, qui classem, qui 
 naves, qui mare exspectabaut, nib.il arduum aut in- 
 victum 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. Nee Agric- 
 ola prosperitate rerum in vanitatem usus, expedi-
 
 60 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 tionem aut victoriam vocabat victos continuisse ; ne 
 laureatis quidem gesta prosecutus est, sed ipsa dissimu- 
 latione famae famam auxit, aestimautibus quanta 
 futuri spe tarn magna tacuisset. 
 
 5 19. Ceterum animorum provinciae prudens, simul- 
 que doctus per aliena experimenta parum profici 
 armis, si injuriae sequereutur, causas bellorum statuit 
 excidere. A se suisque orsus primum domum suam 
 coercuit, quod plerisque baud minus arduum est quam 
 
 10 provinciam regere. Nihil per libertos servosque 
 publicae rei, non studiis privatis nee ex commenda- 
 tiorie aut precibus centurionem militesve ascire, sed 
 optimum quemque fidissimum putare. Omnia scire, 
 non onmia exsequi. Parvis peccatis veniam, magnis 
 
 15 severitatem commodare ; nee poena semper, sed sae- 
 pius poenitentia conteiitus esse ; officiis et administra- 
 tiouibus potitis uon peccaturos praeponere, quam 
 damnare cum peccassent. Frumenti et tributorum 
 exactionem aequalitate munerum mollire, circumcisis 
 
 20 quae in quaestum reperta ipso tributo gravius tolera- 
 bautur. Namque per ludibrium assidere clausis hor- 
 reis et emere ultro frumenta ac lucre pretio cogebantur. 
 Devortia itinerum et longinquitas regionum indice- 
 batur, ut civitates proximis hibernis in remota et avia 
 
 25 deferrent, donee quod omnibus in promptu erat, paucis 
 lucrosum fieret. 
 
 20. Haec primo statim anno comprimendo egregiam 
 famam paci circumdedit, quae vel incuria vel iutole-
 
 AGEICOLA. 61 
 
 rantia priorum haud minus quam bellum timebatur. 
 Sed ubi aestas advenit, contracto exercitu multus in 
 agraine, laudare modestiam, disjectos coercere, loca 
 castris ipse capere, aestuaria ac silvas ipse praetemp- 
 tare ; et nihil interim apud hostes quietum ^)ati, quo 5 
 minus subitis excursibus popularetur ; atque ubi satis 
 terruerat, parcendo rursus invitamenta pacis ostentare. 
 Quibus rebus multae civitates, quae in ilium diem ex 
 aequo egerant, datis obsidibus iram posuere, et prae- 
 sidiis castellisque circumdatae tanta ratione curaque, 10 
 ut nulla ante Britanniae nova pars pariter illacessita 
 transient. 
 
 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 concu- 
 piscerent. Inde etiam habitus nostri honor et frequens 
 toga. Paulatimque discessum ad delenimenta vitio- 
 rum, porticus et balnea et conviviorum elegautiam. 
 Idque apud imperitos humanitas vocabatur, cum pars 25 
 servitutis esset. 
 
 ~T 22. Tertius expeditionum annus novas gentes ape- 
 
 ruit, vastatis usque ad Tanaum (aestuario noruen est) 
 
 F
 
 62 COENELII TACITI 
 
 nationibus. Qua formidine territi hostes quamquam 
 conflictatum saevis tern pestati bus exercitum lacessere 
 non ausi ; ponendisque insuper castellis spatium fuit. 
 Annotabant periti non alium ducem opportunitates 
 5 locorum sapientius legisse ; nullum ab Agricola po- 
 situm castellum aut vi hostium expugnatum aut 
 pactione ac fuga desertum ; crebrae eruptiones ; nam 
 adversus moras obsidionis annuis copiis firraabantur. 
 Ita intrepida ibi hiems et sibi quisque praesidio, irritis 
 
 10 hostibus eoque desperantibus, quia solid plerumque 
 damna aestatis hibernis eventibus pensare, turn aestate 
 atque hieme juxta pellebantur. Nee Agricola um- 
 quam 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. 
 Ceterura ex iracundia nihil supererat ; secretum vel 
 silentium ejus non timeres : honestius putabat offen- 
 dere quam odisse. 
 
 20 23. Quarta aestas obtinendis quae percucurrerat 
 insurapta ; ac si virtus exercituum et Romani norainis 
 gloria pateretur, inventus in ipsa Britannia terminus. 
 Namque Clota et Bodotria diversi maris aestibus per 
 immensum revectae, angusto terrarum spatio diri- 
 
 25 muntur: quod turn praesidiis firmabatur, atque omuis 
 propior sinus teuebatur, suramotis velut in aliam 
 insulam hostibus. 
 
 24. Quinto expeditionum anno nave prima trans-
 
 AGRICOLA. 63 
 
 gressus ignotas ad id terapus gentes crebris simul ac 
 prosperis proeliis domuit ; eamque partem Britanniae, 
 quae Hiberniaru aspicit, copiis instruxit, in spem magis 
 quam ob formidinem ; 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 Britan- 
 uiae comparetur, angustius, nostri maris insulas supe- 
 rat. Solum caelumque et ingeuia cultusque hominum 
 baud multum a Britannia differunt. -Melius aditus 10 
 portusque per commercia et negotiatores cogniti. 
 Agricola expulsum seditione doinestica unum ex re- 
 gulis gentis exceperat ac specie amicitiae in occasionem 
 rctinebat. Saepe ex eo audivi legione una et modicis 
 auxiliis debellari obtinerique Hiberniam posse ; idque 15 
 etiara adversus Britanniam profuturum, si Romana 
 ubique arma et velut e conspectu libertas tolleretur. 
 
 25. Ceterum aestate, qua sextum officii annum in- 
 choabat, amplexus civitates trans Bodotriam sitas, 
 quia motus luiiversarum ultra gentium et infesta hosti- 20 
 lis exercituj^tinera timebautur, portus classe explora- 
 vit ; 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~<?victus
 
 64 COENELII TACITI 
 
 oceanus militari jactantia compararentur. Britannos 
 quoque, ut ex captivis audiebatur, visa classis obstu- 
 pefaciebat, tamquam aperto maris sui secreto ultimuni 
 victis perfugium clauderetur. Ad manus et arma 
 5 conversi Caledoniam incolentes populi, paratu magno, 
 majore fama, uti mos est de ignotis, oppugnare ultro 
 castellura adorti, metum ut provocantes addiderant ; 
 regrediendumque citra Bodotriam et excedendum 
 potius quara 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 tres 
 partes exercitu incessit. 
 
 26. Quod ubi cognitum hosti, mutato repente con- 
 
 15 silio, uuiversi nonarn legionem ut maxime invalidam 
 nocte aggressi, inter somnum ac trepidationem caesis 
 vigilibus irrupere. Jamque in ipsis castris pugnaba- 
 tur, cum Agricola iter hostium ab exploratoribus 
 edoctus et vestigiis iusecutus, velocissimos equitum 
 
 20 peditumque assultare tergis pugnantium jubet, mox 
 ab universisadjiciclamorem ; et propinqua luce fulsere 
 sigua. Ita aucipiti malo territi Britanni ; et Romanis 
 rediit animus, ac securi pro salute de gloria certabaut. 
 Ultro quin etiam erupere, et fuit atrox in ipsis por- 
 
 25 tarum angustiis proelium, donee pulsi hostes, utroque 
 exercitu certante, his, ut tulisse opem, illis, ne eguisse 
 auxilio viderentur. Quod nisi paludes et silvae fugi- 
 entes texissent, debellatum ilia victoria foret.
 
 AGEICOLA. 65 
 
 27. Cujus conscientia ac fama ferox exercitus nihil 
 virtuti suae invium et penetrandam Caledoniam inve- 
 niendumque tandem Britanniae terminum continue 
 proeliorum cursu fremebant. Atque illi raodo cauti 
 
 ac sapientes prompt! post eventum ac magniloqui erant. 5 
 Iniquissima haec bellorum condicio est : prospera omnes 
 sibi vindicant, adversa uni imputautur. At Britanni 
 non virtute sed occasione et arte victos rati, nihil ex 
 arrogantia remittere, quo minus juventutem armareiit, 
 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 maui- 
 pulis exemplum et rectores habebantur, tres liburnicas 
 adactis per vim gubernatoribus ascendere ; et uno remi- 
 gante, suspectis duobus eoque interfectis, nondum vul- 
 gato rumore ut miraculum praevehebantur. Mox 20 
 adaquatum atque utilia raptum exeuntes, cum pie- 
 risque Britannorum sua defensantium proelio con- 
 gressi ; ac saepe victores, aliquando pulsi, eo ad extre- 
 mum inopiae venere, ut infirmissimos suorum, mox 
 sorte ductos vescerentur. Atque ita circumvecti Bri- 25 
 tauniam, amissis per inscitiam regendi navibus, pro 
 praedonibus habiti, primum a Suebis, mox a Frisiis 
 intercepti sunt. Ac fuere quos per commercia venum- 
 
 5 Tac. F2
 
 66 CORNELII TAOITI 
 
 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. Quern casum neque 
 
 5 ut plerique fortium virorum ambitiose, neque per 
 lamenta rursus ac maerorem muliebriter tulit : et in 
 luctu bellum inter reraedia erat. Igitur praemissa 
 classe, quae pluribus locis praedata magnum et in- 
 certum terrorem faceret, expedite exercitu, cui ex 
 
 10 Britannia fortissimos et longa pace exploratos addide- 
 rat, ad montem Graupium pervenit, quern jam hostis 
 insederat. Nam Britanni nihil fracti puguae prioris 
 eventu, et ultionem aut servitium exspectantes, tan- 
 demque docti commune periculum concordia propul- 
 
 15 sandum, legationibus et foederibus omnium civitatium 
 vires exciverant. Jamque super triginta milia arma- 
 torum aspiciebantur, et adhuc affluebat omnis juventus 
 et quibus cruda ac viridis senectus, clari bello et sua 
 quisque decora gestantes, cum inter plures duces vir- 
 
 20 tute et genere praestans, nomine Calgacus, apud con- 
 tractam multitudinem proelium poscentem in hunc 
 modum locutus fertur : 
 
 30. " Quotiens causas belli et necessitatem nostram 
 intueor, magnus mihi animus est hodiernum diem con- 
 
 25 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 for- 
 tuna certatum est, spem ac subsidium in uostris mani- 
 bus habebant, quia nobilissimi totius Britanniae eoque 
 in ipsis penetralibus siti nee servientium litora aspi- 5 
 cientes, oculos quoque a contactu domiuationis invio- 
 latos habebamus. Nos terrarum ac libertatis extremes 
 recessus ipse ac sinus faraae 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 effuge- 
 ris. 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 omnium opes atque 
 inopiam pari affectu concupiscunt. Auferre, truci- 
 dare, 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 con- 
 tumelias 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 
 famulatu rovi DOS et viles in excidium petimur ; 
 
 5 neque enira arva nobis aut metalla aut portus sunt, 
 quibus exercendis reservemur. Virtus porro ac fero- 
 cia subjectorum ingrata imperantibus ; et longinquitas 
 ac secretura ipsura quo tutius, eo suspectius. Ita 
 sublata spe veniae tandem sumite animum, tarn qui- 
 
 10 bus salus quam 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, lion 
 in poenitentiam arma 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 dissen- 
 sionibus ac discordiis clari vitia hostium in gloriam 
 exercitus sui vertunt ; quern coutractum ex diversissi- 
 
 20 mis geutibus ut secundae res tenent, ita adversae dis- 
 solvent : nisi si Gallos et Germauos et (pudet dictu) 
 Britannorum plerosque, licet dominationi alienae san- 
 guinem commodent, diutius tamen hostes quam servos, 
 fide et aflfectu teneri putatis. Metus ac terror sunt 
 
 25 iufirma vincla caritatis ; quae ubi removeris, qui 
 timere desierint, odisse incipient. Omnia victoriae 
 incitamenta pro nobis sunt: nullae Romanos coujuges 
 accendunt, uulli pareutes fugam exprobraturi suut;
 
 AGRICOLA. 69 
 
 aut nulla plerisque patria aut alia est. Paucos nu- 
 mero, locorum trepidos ignorantia, caelum ipsum ac 
 mare et silvas, ignota omnia circum spectantes, clauses 
 quodara modo ac vinctos di nobis tradiderunt^ Ne 
 terreat vanus aspectus et auri fulgor atque argenti, 5 
 quod nee tegit nee vulnerat. In ipsa hostium acie 
 inveniemus nostras manus. Agnoscent Britanni suam 
 causam, recordabuntur Galli priorem libertatem ; dese- 
 rent illos ceteri Germani, tarn quam nuper Usipi re- 
 liquerunt. Nee quicquam ultra formidinis ; vacua 10 
 castella, senum coloniae, inter male parentes et injuste 
 imperantes aegra municipia et discordantia. Hie dux, 
 hie exercitus : ibi tribute et metalla et ceterae servi- 
 entium poenae, quas in aeternum perferre aut statim 
 ulcisci in hoc campo est. Proinde ituri in aciem et 15 
 majores yestros et posteros cogitate." 
 
 33. Excepere oration em alacres, ut barbaris moris, 
 cantu fremituque et clamoribus dissonis. Jamque 
 agmina et armorum fulgores audentissimi cuj usque 
 procursu ; simul instruebatur acies, cum. Agricola 20 
 quamquam laetum et vix munimentis coercitum mili- 
 tem accendeudum adhuc ratus, ita disseruit : " Octa- 
 vus annus est, commilitones, ex quo virtute et auspiciis 
 imperii Romani, fide atque opera vestra Britanniam 
 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
 
 7^,, CORNELII TACITI 
 
 veterum legatorura, vos priorum exercituum terminos, 
 fiuem Britanniae non fama nee ruraore sed castris et 
 armis teneraus. Inventa Britannia et subacta. Equi- 
 dem saepe in agmiue, 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 commeatuum eadem abundautia, sed manus et 
 arma et in his omnia. Quod ad me attinet, jam pri- 
 
 15 dem mihi decretum est ueque exercitus neque duels 
 terga tuta esse. Proinde et honesta mors turpi vita 
 potior, et incolumitas ac decus eodem loco sita sunt ; 
 nee inglorium fuerit in ipso terrarum ac naturae fine 
 cecidisse." 
 
 20 34. " Si novae gentes atque ignota acies constitisset, 
 aliorum exercituum exemplis vos hortarer : nuuc 
 vestra decora receusete, vestros oculos interrogate. 
 Hi sunt quos proximo anno unam legionem furto 
 noctis aggressos clamore debellastis; hi ceterorum 
 
 25 Britanuorum fugacissimi, ideoque tam diu superstites. 
 Quo modo silvas saltusque penetrautibus fortissimum 
 quodque animal contra ruere, pavida et inertia ipso 
 agminis sono pelluntur, sic acerrimi Britauuorum jam
 
 AGEICOLA. 71 
 
 pridem ceciderunt; reliquus est numerus ignavorum 
 et metuentium. Quos quod tandem invenistis, non 
 restiterunt, sed deprehensi sunt; novissimae res, et 
 extreme metu corpora defixere aciem in his vestigiis, 
 in quibus pulchram et spectabilem victoriam ederetis. 5 
 Transigite cum expeditiouibus, 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 ruen- 
 tesque ita disposuit, ut peditum auxilia, quae octo 
 milium erant, niediam aciem firmarent, equitum tria 
 milia cornibus affunderentur. Legiones pro vallo 15 
 stetere, ingens victoriae decus, citra Romanum sangui- 
 nem bellanti, et auxilium, si pellerentur. Britauuo- 
 rum acies in speciem simul ac terrorem editioribus 
 locis constiterat ita, ut primum agmeu in aequo, ceteri 
 per acclive jugum connexi velut insurgerent; media 20 
 campi covinnarius eques strepitu ac discursu comple- 
 bat. Turn Agricola superante hostiuin 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 firm us adversis, 
 dimisso equo pedes ante vexilla constitit. 
 
 36. Ac primo congressu emiuus certabatur ; simul-
 
 72 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 que constantia, simul arte Britanni ingentibus gladiis 
 et brevibus cetris missilia nostrorum vitare vel excu- 
 tere, 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 exercita- 
 tum et hostibus inhabile, parva scuta et enormes gla- 
 dios gerentibus. Nam Britannorum gladii sine 
 mucrone complexum armorura et in arto pugnam 
 
 10 non tolerabant. Igitur ut Batavi miscere ictus, ferire 
 umbonibus, ora foedare, et stratis qui in aequo ad- 
 stiterant, erigere in colles aciem coepere, ceterae 
 cohortes aemulatione et impetu connisae proximos 
 quosque caedere ; ac plerique semineces aut integri 
 
 15 festinatione victoriae relinquebantur. Interim equi- 
 tum turmae, ut fugere covinnarii, peditum se proelio 
 miscuere ; et quamquam recentem terrorem intulerant, 
 densis tamen hostium agminibus et inaequalibus locis 
 haerebant ; minimeque aequa nostris jam pugnae facies 
 
 20 erat, cum aegre jam diu ante stantes simul equorum 
 corporibus impel lerentur ; ac saepe vagi currus, ex- 
 territi sine rectoribus equi, ut quemque formido tule- 
 rat, 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 vin- 
 centium coeperant, ni id ipsum veritus Agricola 
 quattuor equitum alas, ad subita belli retentas, veni-
 
 AGRICOLA. 73 
 
 entibus opposuisset, quantoque ferocius accucurre- 
 rant, tanto acrius pulsos in fugam disjecisset. Ita con- 
 silium Britannorura in ipsos versum ; transvectaeque 
 praecepto ducis a fronte pugnantium alae aversam 
 hostium aciem invasere. Turn vero patentibus locis 5 
 grande et atrox spectaculum : sequi, vulnerare, capere, 
 atque eosdem oblatis aliis 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 appropinquave- 
 runt, 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, ac- 
 ceptum aliquod vulnus per nimiam fiduciam foret. 
 Ceterum ubi composites firmis ordinibus sequi rursus 
 videre, in fugam versi, non agminibus ut prius, nee 20. 
 alius alium respectantes, rari et vitabundi in vicem 
 longinqua atque avia petiere. Finis sequendi nox et 
 satietas fuit. Caesa hostium ad decem milia : nostro- 
 rum trecenti sexaginta cecidere ; in quis Aulus Atticus 
 praefectus cohortis, juvenili ardore et ferocia equi hosti- 25 
 bus illatus. 
 
 38. Et nox quideni gaudio praedaque laeta victori- 
 bus ; Britaiini palantes mixtoque virorum mulierum- 
 
 G
 
 74 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 que ploratu trahere vulneratos, vocare integros, dese- 
 rere domos ac per iram ultro incendere, eligere late- 
 bras et statim relinquere ; raiscere in vicern consilia 
 aliqua, deiude separare ; aliquando frangi aspectu 
 5 pignorum suorum, saepius concitari ; satisque consta- 
 bat saevisse quosdam in conjuges ac liberos, tamquam 
 misererentur. Proximus dies faciem victoriae latins 
 aperuit: vastum ubique silentium, deserti colles, 
 fumautia procul tecta, nemo exploratoribus obvius ; 
 
 10 quibus in oninem 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 obsidi- 
 bus, praefecto classis circumvehi Britauniam praecipit. 
 
 15 Datae ad id vires, et praecesserat terror. Ipse peditem 
 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 Britauniae 
 
 20 latere lecto omni redierat. 
 
 39. Hunc rerum cursum, quamquam nulla verbo- 
 rum jactantia epistolis Agricolae auctura, ut Domi- 
 tiano moris erat, fronte laetus, pectore anxius excepit. 
 Inerat conscientia derisui fuisse nuper falsum e Gcr- 
 
 25 mania triumphant, emptis per commercia, quorum 
 habitus et crines in captivorum speciem formarentur ; 
 at nunc veram magnamque victoriam tot mililms 
 hostium caesis iugeuti fama celebrari. Id sibi maxime
 
 AGKICOLA. 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 impe- 
 ratoriam virtutem esse. Talibus curis exercitus, quod- 5 
 que saevae cogitationis indicium erat, secreto suo 
 satiatus, optimum in praesentia statuit reponere odium, 
 donee 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 ver- 
 borum honore cumulata, decerni in senatu jubet addi- 
 que iusuper opiniouem, Syriam provinciarn Agricolae 
 destinari, vacuam turn morte Atilii Rufi consularis et 
 inajoribus reservatam. Credidere plerique libertum 15 
 ex secretioribus ministeriis missum ad Agricolam codi- 
 cillos, quibus ei Syria dabatur, tulisse, cum praecepto 
 ut, si in Britannia foret, traderentur ; eumque libertum 
 in ipso freto oceaui obvium Agricolae, ne appellate 
 quidem eo ad Domitianum remeasse ; sive verum istud, 20 
 sive ex ingeuio principis fictum ac compositum est. 
 Tradiderat interim Agricola successori suo provinciam 
 quietam tutamque. Ac ne notabilis celebritate et fre- 
 quentia occurrentium introitus esset, vitato amicorutn 
 officio noctu in palatium, ita ut praeceptum erat, venit ; 25 
 exceptusque brevi osculo et nullo sermone turbae servi- 
 entium immixtus est. Ceterum uti militare nomeu, 
 grave inter otiosos, aliis virtutibus temperaret, tran-
 
 76 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 quillitatera atque otium penitus hausit, cultu modicus, 
 sermone facilis, uno aut altero amicorum comitatus, 
 adeo uti plerique, quibus magnos viros per ambitio- 
 nem aestimare ruos est, viso aspectoque Agricola quae- 
 5 rerent famam, pauci interpretareutur. 
 
 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 inimi- 
 
 10 corum genus, laudantes. Et ea insecuta sunt rei 
 publicae tempora, quae sileri Agricolam non sinerent : 
 tot exercitus in Moesia Daciaque et Germania et Pan- 
 nonia temeritate aut per ignaviam ducura amissi, tot 
 militares viri cum tot cohortibus expugnati et capti ; 
 
 15 nee jam de limite imperii et ripa, sed de hibernis 
 legionum et possessione dubitatum. Ita cum damna 
 damnis continuarentur atque omnis annus funeribus 
 et cladibus iusigniretur, poscebatur ore vulgi dux 
 Agricola, comparantibus cunctis vigorem et coustan- 
 
 20 tiam et expertum bellis animum cum inertia et formi- 
 dine ceterorum. Quibus sermonibus satis constat 
 Domitiani quoque aures verberatas, dum optimus 
 quisque libertorum amore et fide, pessimi malignitate 
 et livore pronum deterioribus principem exstimula- 
 
 25 bant. Sic Agricola simul suis virtutibus, simul vitiis 
 aliorum in ipsam gloriam praeceps agebatur. 
 
 42. Aderat jam annus, quo proconsulatuin Asiae et 
 Africae sortiretur ; et occiso Civica nuper nee Agric-
 
 AGRICOLA. 77 
 
 olae consilium deerat nee Domitiano exemplum. 
 Accessere quidam cogitationum principis periti, qui, 
 iturusue esset in provinciam, ultro Agricolam interro- 
 garent. 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 arrogantiam compositus, et audiit preces excusantis 
 et, cum annuisset, agi sibi gratias passus est, nee eru- 
 buit beneficii invidia. Salarium tamen procousulari 10 
 solitum offerri et quibusdam a se ipso concessum Agric- 
 olae lion dedit, sive offensus non petitum, sive ex con- 
 scientia, ne quod vetuerat videretur emisse. Proprium 
 humani ingenii est odisse quern laeseris : Domitiani 
 vero natura, praeceps in iram, et quo obscurior, eo 15 
 irrevocabilior, moderatione tamen prudentiaque Agric- 
 olae 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 ex- 
 cedere, quo plerique per abrupta, sed in nullum rei 
 publicae usum, ambitiosa morte inclaruerunt. 
 
 43. Finis vitae ejus nobis luctuosus, amicis tristis, 
 extraneis etiam ignotisque non sine cura fuit. Vulgus 25 
 quoque et hie aliud agens populus et veutitavere ad 
 domum et per fora et circulos locuti sunt ; nee quis- 
 quain 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 valetudinera ejus cre- 
 brius 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 nun- 
 tiata constabat, nullo credente sic accelerari, quae 
 tristis audiret. Speciem tamen doloris animo vultu- 
 
 10 que prae se tulit, securus jam odii, et qui facilius dis- 
 simularet gaudium quam metum. Satis constabat, 
 lecto testamento Agricolae, quo coheredem optimae 
 uxori et piissimae filiae Domitianum scripsit, laetatum 
 eum velut honore judicioque. Tarn caeca et corrupta 
 
 15 mens assiduis adulationibus erat, ut nesciret a bono 
 patre non scribi heredem nisi malurn principem. 
 
 44. Natus erat Agricola Caio Caesare tertium con- 
 sule idibus Juuiis : excessit sexto et quinquagesimo 
 anno, decimo kalendas Septembres Collega Priscoque 
 
 20 consul ibus. Quod si babitum quoque ejus poster! 
 uoscere velint, decentior quam sublimior fuit ; nihil 
 metus in vultu : gratia oris supererat. Bonum virurn 
 facile crederes, magnum libenter. Et ipse quidem, 
 quamquam medio in spatio integrae aetatis ereptus, 
 
 25 quantum ad gloriam, lougissmium aevum peregit. 
 Quippe et vera boua, quae in virtutibus sita sunt, 
 impleverat, et consular! ac triumphalibus ornamentis 
 praedito quid aliud adstruere fortuua poterat ? Opi-
 
 AGRICOLA. 79 
 
 bus nimiis uon gaudebat ; speciosae contigerant. Filia 
 atque uxore superstitibus potest videri etiam beatus 
 incolumi dignitate, florente faraa, salvis affinitatibus et 
 amicitiis futura effugisse. Nam sicut magnae cujus- 
 dam 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 teraporum, sed continuo et velut uno ictu 10 
 rem publicam exhausit. 
 
 45. Noil 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 iutra Alba- 15 
 nam arcem sententia Messalini strepebat, et Massa 
 Baebius jam turn reus erat : mox nostrae duxere Hel- 
 vidium in carcerem manus ; nos Maurici Rusticique 
 visus, nos innocenti sanguine Senesio perfudit. Nero 
 tamen subtraxit oculos suos jussitque scelera, non spec- 20 
 tavit ; praecipua sub Domitiano miseriarum pars erat 
 videre et aspici, cum suspiria nostra subscriberentur, 
 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 
 interfueruut novissimis sermonibus tuis, constans et
 
 80 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 libens fatum excepisti, tamquara pro virili portione 
 innocentiam principi donares. Sed mihi filiaeque 
 ejus praeter acerbitatem parentis erepti auget mae- 
 stitiam, quod assidere valetudini, fovere deficientera, 
 5 satiari vultu complexuque non contigit. Excepisse- 
 mus certe maudata vocesque, quas penitus animo 
 figeremus. Noster hie dolor, nostrum vulnus, nobis 
 tarn loiigae absentiae condicione ante quadrienuium 
 arnissus est. Omnia sine dubio, optime parentum, 
 
 10 assidente amantissima uxore, superfuere honori tuo ; 
 paucioribus tamen lacrimis coraploratus es, et no- 
 vissima in luce desideravere aliquid oculi tui. 
 
 46. Si quis piorum mauibus locus, si, ut sapientibus 
 placet, non cum corpore exstinguuntur magnae ani- 
 
 15 mae, placide quiescas, nosque, domum tuam, ab infirmo 
 desiderio et muliebribus lamentis ad conteniplatiouem 
 virtutum tuarum voces, quas nee lugeri nee plangi 
 fas est. Admiratkme te potius et immortalibus laudi- 
 bus et, si natura suppeditet, imitando colamus : is 
 
 20 verus honos, ea conjunctissimi cuj usque pietas. Id 
 filiae quoque uxorique praeceperim, sic patris, sic 
 mariti memoriam venerari, ut omnia facta dictaque 
 ejus secum revolvant, formamque ac figuram aninii 
 magis quam corporis complectantur, non quia inter- 
 
 25 cedendum putem imaginibus quae marmore aut acre 
 finguntur, sed, ut vultus hominum, ita simulacra 
 vultus imbecilla ac mortalia sunt, forma mentis 
 aeterna, quam teuere et exprimere non per alieuam
 
 AGEICOLA. 81 
 
 materiam et artem, sed tuis ipse moribus possis. 
 Quidquid ex Agricola amavimus, quidquid mirati 
 sumus, manet mausurumque est in animis hoininum, 
 in aeternitate temporum, fama return ; nam multos 
 veterum velut inglorios et ignobiles oblivio obruet: 5 
 Agricola posteritati narratus et traditus superstes 
 erit. 
 
 6 Tac.
 
 CORNELII TACITI 
 DIALOGUS 
 
 DE OKATORIBUS. 
 
 BREVIARITJM. 
 
 CAP. 1. Postquam Justus Fabius saepe ex auctore dialog! 
 requisiverat, cur non amplius vigeat eloquentiae studium, 
 hie non suam proferre sententiani statuit, sed repetere ser- 
 monem hominum disertissimorurn, quos eandem quae- 
 stionem pertractantes admodum juvenis audiyisset. 2, 3. 
 Hi sunt Curiatius Maternus, ex oratore poeta, M. Aper et 
 Julius Secundus, celeberrima turn fori ingenia, qui miran- 
 tur, quod Maternus fastiditis orationum causarumque 
 studiis omne nunc tempus circa tragoedias consumat, qua- 
 rum tamen recitatione offendisse potentium animos dica- 
 tur. 4. Hie poesin a se nunc coli profitetur, quia sanctior 
 haec et augustior sit eloquentia. 
 
 5-8. Hinc oritur disceptatio, utrum praestantior sit ars 
 oratoria an poetica. Aper magnis laudibus praedicat ora- 
 toriae artis utilitatem, voluptatem, dignitatem, ac provocat 
 ad exempla Marcelli Eprii et Crispi Vibii. 9, 10. Poetarum 
 contra nullam esse dignitatem dicit et utilitatem ; volup- 
 tatem vero brevem, laudem inanem, infructuosam mul- 
 tisque recitationum molestiis ac sumptibus partam. lis 
 in solitudinem secedendum, si modo dignum aliquid elabo- 
 rare velint, et mediocres nemini notos, bonos paucis ; 
 studium denique illorum non minus obnoxium oflensae 
 
 82
 
 TACITI DIALOGUS DE ORATORIBUS. 83 
 
 quam oratorum. Itaque Materno, ad altiorem eloquen- 
 tiam et summa nato, non subsistendum esse in levioribus, 
 sed ab auditoriis et theatris in forum et ad causas veraque 
 proelia redeundura. 
 
 11-13. Quae cum Aper dixisset acrius et intento ore, 
 remissus et s'ubridens respondet Maternus ; poeticae studio 
 majorem parari securitatem et gloriam, quam forensi labore 
 et strepitu litigantium aut comitatuum salutationumque 
 frequentia; puriorem vero voluptatem securo et secreto 
 secessu in nemora 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 vitarn et curarum 
 expertem, anxiam vero oratorum, qui semper vel timeant 
 vel timeantur. 
 
 14. Colloquio supervenit Vipstanus Messala, admirator 
 veterum temporum oratorumque, recentiorum contemp- 
 tor. 15-17. Hinc Aper, saeculi sui novorumque rhetorum 
 patronus, accuratius definiendum censet, quinam oratores 
 vocandi sint antiqui: utrum Ulixes tantum et Nestor et 
 Menenius Agrippa, an et jam Demosthenes et Hyperides, 
 inter quorum et hoc aevum non multo plures quam CCCC 
 anni intersint, aut Cicero, Caesar, Caelius, Calvus, Brutus, 
 Asinius et Messala, qui vix unius hominis aetate sint pri- 
 ores. 18. Formas autem et genera dicendi cum tempori- 
 bus ac diversitate aurium mutari monet, et vitio maligni- 
 tatis humanae semper laudari vetera, praesentia fastidiri. 
 19, 20. Cassium Severum a multis velut terminum antiqui- 
 tatis constitui primumque flexisse ab ilia vetere atque 
 directa dicendi via, non infirmitate ingenii nee inscitia 
 litterarum, sed judicio et intellectu. Olim in honore fuisse 
 longa principia et narrationes, divisionum argumentorum- 
 que multorum ostentationem et philosophica orationi in- 
 serta; nunc ab oratore laetitiam et pulchritudinem ora- 
 tionis poeticumque decorem exigi. 21, 22. In orationibus 
 Calvi quoque, Caelii, Caesaris, Asinii, Corvini ipsiusque 
 Ciceronis multa deprehendi antiquitatis vitia, sordes ver-
 
 84 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 borum, hiantem compositionem et sensus inconditos, quae 
 tamensolamirentur perversi imitatores. 23. Iniquos igitur 
 judices esse, qui antiqua tan turn efferant laudibus rbeto- 
 rumque recentiorum commentarios fastidiant. Postremo 
 Messalae et Materni et Secundi virtu tes praedicat eosque 
 ad illustrandum saeculum suum pulcherrimo dicendi 
 genere exhortatur, cum videat eos, quae vera sit eloquen- 
 tiae ars, laetissima quaeque antiquorum imitari ac gravi- 
 tati sensuum nitorem cultumque verborum miscere. 
 
 24. Turn Maternus admonet Messalam ut, missa anti- 
 quorum laudatione, qui ea non indigeant, memor potius 
 promissi causas expromat, cur in tantum ab eloquentia 
 eorum recesserit aetas recentior. 25. Hie primum docet, 
 quinam antiqui sint appellandi ; plures etiam dicendi 
 formas isdem saeculis fuisse et singulares Calvi, Asinii 
 aliorumque virtutes : quod vero se invicem obtrectaverint, 
 non esse oratorum vitium, sed hominum : 26, gravitatem 
 denique et cultum oratorium impetumque veterum longe 
 praeferendum esse verborurn lasciviae, levitati sententia- 
 rum et compositionis licentiae, in quibus sibi placeant 
 recentiores. 
 
 27-29. Materno iterum rogante Messala transit ad expli- 
 candas causas corruptae eloquentiae, primas vero et prae- 
 cipuas 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 animi fabulis, 
 erroribus vitiisque imbuantur. 30-33. Eorundem ingenium 
 non, ut quondam, severa disciplina et infinite) labore et 
 quotidiana meditatione et in omni genere studiorum 
 exercitationibus formari atque subigi, sed in pueritia et 
 juventute nihil disci, quod usum habeat. Hinc antiquam 
 eloquentiam ex omnium rerum scientia pluribusque arti- 
 bus exundasse et oratorem potuisse de omni quaestione 
 pulchre et ornate et varie et ad persuadendum apte dicere ; 
 horum vero temporum disertos, ariclis rhetorum praeceptia
 
 E ORATORIBUS. 85 
 
 artinciisque sordidissimis contentos, grammatices, legum 
 et philosophiae ignaros esse. 
 
 34, 35. Materno deinde hortante Messala progreditur ad 
 aliam corruptae eloquentiae causam, ad eximiam antiquo- 
 rum oratorum et perversam recentiorum exercitationem. 
 Juvenea dicit, imbutos jam domestica disciplina, honestis 
 stucliis refertos ac bene praeparatos, a patre olim vel pro- 
 pinquis fuisse deductos ad principes oratorum, quos sectati 
 in judiciis, foro contionibusque pugnare in ipsa veluti 
 arena et acie didicissent; at nunc educatione depravatos, 
 inscios ac torpentes transire in rhetorum scholas, in quibus 
 duo materiarum genera, suasoriae et controversiae, trac- 
 tentur, nee facile dixeris, utrumne locus ipse an genus 
 studiorum an condiscipuli plus mali ingeniis afferant. 
 
 Hie Messalae sermo mutilus est : eum statim excepisse 
 videtur sermo Materni, internis corruptae eloquentiae 
 causis externas adnectentis has : 
 
 36, 37. (1) Uberiorem ad dicendum materiam fuisse ora- 
 toribus antiquis, splendorem rerum et magnitudinem 
 causarum, leges rogandas et populare nomen, condones 
 magistratuum, accusationes potentiura reorum et assigna- 
 tas etiam domibus inimicitias, procerum factiones et as- 
 sidua senatus ad versus plebem certamina. (2) Majora 
 isdem praemia fuisse proposita, faciliores ad summos 
 honores aditus eloquentia patefaciendos, plus apud prin- 
 cipes et magistratus provinciates gratiae, apud patres 
 auctoritatis, apud plebem notitiae ac nominis, clientelas 
 exterarum nationum, praeturas et consulatus. 38-40. (3) 
 Formam et consuetudinem veterum judiciorum oratoribus 
 favisse, causas in foro, non in auditoriis tabulariisve expli- 
 catas, liberum et dicendi et comperendinandi tempus, cla- 
 morem 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 laudandam censet Maternus valen- 
 tiorem eloquentiam, quod licentiae, quam stulti libertatem 
 vocent, alumna sit et conies seditionum et effrenati populi 
 
 H
 
 86 TACITI DIALOGU8 
 
 incitamentum. Earn quidem vigere dicit in civitatibus, 
 quae discordiis et partibus ee ipsae conficiant, sed in quietis 
 ac bene constitutes 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 citraobtrectationem alterius. 
 42. Dissolvitur colloquium. (Habitum fingitur anno u. 
 828, p. Ch. 75.) 
 
 1. SAEPE ex me requiris, Juste Fabi, cur, cum 
 priora saecula tot eminentium oratorum ingeniis glo- 
 riaque floruerint, nostra potissimum aetas deserta et 
 laude eloquentiae orbata vix nomeu ipsum oratoris 
 5 retineat ; neque enim ita appellamus nisi antiques : 
 horum autem temporum diserti causidici et advocati 
 et patroni et quidvis potius quam oratores vocantur. 
 Cui percontationi tuae respondere et tarn magnae 
 quaestionis pondus excipere, ut aut de ingeniis nostris 
 10 male existimandum sit, si idem adsequi non possumus, 
 aut de judiciis, si nolumus, vix hercule auderom, si 
 mihi mea sententia profereuda ac non disertissimorum, 
 ut nostris temporibus, hominum sermo repotondus 
 esset, quos eandem hanc quaestioncm pertractantes
 
 DE OKATOEIBUS. 87 
 
 juvenis admodum audivi. Ita non ingenio sed me- 
 moria et recordatione opus est, ut quae a praestan- 
 tissimis viris et excogitata subtiliter et dicta graviter 
 accepi, cum singuli diversas, vel easdem, sed proba- 
 biles causas adf'errent, dum formam sui quisque et 5 
 animi et ingenii redderent, isdem nunc numeris isdem- 
 que rationibus persequar, servato ordine disputationis. 
 Neque enim defuit qui diversam quoque partem susci- 
 peret, ac multum vexata et irrisa vetustate nostrorum 
 tempo-rum eloquentiam antiquorum ingeniis anteferret. 10 
 
 2. Nam postero die quam Curiatius Maternus Ca- 
 tonem recitaverat, cum offendisse potentium animos 
 diceretur, tamquam in eo tragoediae argumento sui 
 oblitus tantum Catonem cogitasset, eaque de re per 
 urbem frequens sermo haberetur, venerunt ad eum 15 
 Marcus Aper et Julius Secundus, celeberrima turn 
 ingenia fori nostri, quos ego in judiciis non utrosque 
 modo studiose audiebam, sed domi quoque et in publico 
 adsectabar mira studiorum cupiditate et quodam ar- 
 dore juvenili, ut fabulas quoque eorum et disputationes 20 
 et arcana semotae dictionis penitus exciperem, quam 
 vis maligne plerique opinarentur, nee Secundo promp- 
 tum 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 ingenium ejus nullis 
 alienaruin artium adminiculis inniti videretur. 
 
 3. Igitur ut intravimus cubiculum Materni, seden- 
 tem ipsumque quern pridie recitaverat librum intra 
 
 5 manus habentem deprehendimus. 
 
 Turn Secundus, 'Nihilne te,' inquit, 'Materne, 
 fabulae malignorum terrent, quo minus ofi'ensas Ca- 
 tonis tui ames? An ideo libruin istum apprehendisti, 
 ut diligentius retractares, et sublatis si qua pravae 
 
 10 interpretation! materiam dederuut, emitteres Catonem 
 non quidem meliorera sed tamen securiorem ? ' 
 
 Turn ille, ' Leges,' inquit, ' quid Maternus sibi de- 
 buerit, et agnosces quae audisti. Quod si qua omisit 
 Cato, sequent! recitatione Thyestes dicet ; hanc 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 
 iucumbam.' 
 
 ' Adeo te tragoediae istae non satiant,' inquit Aper, 
 
 20 ' quo minus omissis orationum et causarum studiis 
 omne tempus modo circa Medeam, ecce mine circa 
 Thyestem cousumas, 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 Romaua nomina Grae- 
 corum fabulis aggregares.' 
 
 4. Et Maternus: 'Perturbarer hac tua severitate,
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 89 
 
 nisi frequens et assidua nobis contentio jam prope in 
 consuetudiueiri vertisset. Nam nee tu agitare et in- 
 sequi poetas intermittis, et ego, cui desidiam advoca- 
 tiouum otijicis, quotidianum hoc patrocinium defen- 
 dendae 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 conjunc- 
 tiorem esse et usu amicitiae et assiduitate contubernii 
 quam Saleium Bassum, cum optimum virum turn ab- 
 solutissimum poetam ? Porro si poetica accusatur, non 
 aliuni 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, qua- 
 tenus arbitrum litis hujus inveni, non patiar Maternum 
 societate plurium defendi, sed ipsum solum apud te 25 
 coarguam, quod natus ad eloquentiam virilem et ora- 
 toriam, qua parere simul et tueri amicitias, adsciscere 
 
 necessitudines, complecti provincial possit, omittit stu- 
 
 H2
 
 90 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 dium, quo non aliud in civitate nostra vel ad utili- 
 tatem fructuosius vel ad dignitatem amplius vel ad 
 urbis famam pulchrius vel ad totius imperii atque 
 omnium gentium notitiam illustrius excogitari potest. 
 5 Nam si ad utilitatem vitae omnia consilia factaque 
 nostra dirigenda sunt, quid est utilius quam earn 
 exercere artem, qua semper armatus praesidium 
 amicis, opem alienis, salutem periclitantibus, invidis 
 vero et inimicis metum et terrorem ultro feras, ipse 
 
 10 securus et quadam velut perpetua potentia ac potes- 
 tate 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 telum, 
 quo propugnare pariter et incessere vel in judicio 
 sive in senatu sive apud principem possis. Quid 
 aliud infestis patribus nuper Eprius Marcellus quam 
 eloquentiam suam opposuit? Qua accinctus et miuax 
 
 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 omni- 
 bus prope diebus ac prope omnibus horis contingit. 
 Quid enim dulcius libero et ingenuo animo et ad 
 voluptates honestas uato quam videre plenam semper
 
 DE OBATORIBU*. 91 
 
 et frequentem domum suam concursu splendidissimo- 
 rum hominum ? Idque scire non pecuniae, non orbi- 
 tati, non officii alicujus administration!, sed sibi ipsi 
 dari ? Ipsos quin immo orbos et locupletes et potentes 
 venire plerumque ad juvenem et pauperem, ut aut 5 
 sua aut amicoruin 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 comitatus et egressus ! quae in 
 publico species ! quae in judiciis veneratio ! quod 
 gaudium consurgendi adsistendique inter tacentes et 
 in uiium converses! coire populum et circumfundi 
 coronam et accipere adfectum quemcumque orator 15 
 induerit! vulgata dicentium gaudia et imperitorum 
 quoque oculis exposita percenseo: ilia secretiora et 
 tantum ipsis orantibus nota majora sunt. Sive accu- 
 ratam meditatamque profert orationem, est quoddam 
 sicut ipsius dictionis, ita gaudii pondus et constantia ; 20 
 sive novam et recentem curam non sine aliqua trepi- 
 datione animi attulerit, ipsa sollicitudo commendat 
 eventum et lenocinatur voluptati. Sed extemporalis 
 audaciae atque ipsius temeritatis vel praecipua jucun- 
 ditas est ; nam in ingenio quoque, sicut in agro, quam- 25 
 quam alia diu serantur atque elaboreutur, gratiora 
 tamen quae sua sponte nascuutur. 
 
 7. Equidem, ut de me ipse fatear, non eum diem
 
 92 llkCITI DIALOGUS 
 
 laetiorem egi, quo mihi latus clavus oblatus est, vel 
 quo homo novus et in civitate miuime favorabili 
 natus quaesturam aut tribunatum aut praeturam 
 accepi, quam eos, quibus mihi, pro mediocritate hujus 
 5 quantulaecumque 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 defeudere 
 datur. Turn mihi supra tribunatus et praeturas et 
 
 10 consulatus ascendere videor, turn habere quod, si uon 
 in animo oritur, nee codicillis datur nee cum gratia 
 venit. Quid? fama et laus cujus artis cum oratorum 
 gloria comparanda est? Qui tarn illustres in urbe 
 11011 solum apud negotiosos et rebus intentos, sed etiam 
 
 15 apud vacuos et adolescentes, quibus modo recta in- 
 doles est et bona spes sui? Quorum nomina prius 
 parentes liberis suis ingerunt ? Quos saepius vulgus 
 quoque imperitum et tunicatus hie populus transeuntes 
 nomine vocat et digito dernonstrat ? 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 Crispum Vibium (libentius 
 
 25 enim no vis et receutibus quam remotis et obliteratis 
 exemplis utor) non minus notos csse in extremis parti- 
 bus terrarum quam Capuae aut Vercellis, ubi tali 
 dicuntur. Nee hoc illi alterive ter milies sestertium
 
 DE ORATORIBU3. 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 fortunara 
 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 com- 
 meudatione natalium, sine substantia facultatum, 
 neuter moribus egregius, alter habitu quoque corporis 
 coutemptus, per multos jam annos potentissimi sunt 
 civitatis ac, donee 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 accumulate et in alios 20 
 congerere promptum sit, Marcellum autem et Crispum 
 attulisse ad amicitiam suam quod non a principe ac- 
 ceperint nee accipi possit. Minimum inter tot ac 
 tanta locum obtinent imagines ac tituli et statuae, 
 quae neque ipsa tamen negliguntur, tarn hercule quam 25 
 divitiae et opes, quas facilius invenies qui vituperet 
 quam qui fastidiat. His igitur et honoribus et orna- 
 mentis et facultatibus refertas domos eorum videums,
 
 94 TA.CITI DIALOGU8 
 
 qui se ab ineunte adolescentia causis foreusibus et 
 oratorio studio dederunt. 
 
 9. Nam carmina et versus, quibus totam vitam 
 Maternus insumere optat (inde -enim omiiis fluxit 
 5 oratio), ueque dignitatem ullam auctoribus suis con- 
 ciliant neque utilitates alunt; voluptatem autem 
 brevem, laudem inanem et infructuosam consequun- 
 tur. 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 hono- 
 rificentius est, praeclarissimum vatem, deducit aut 
 salutat aut prosequitur ? Nempe, si amicus ejus, si 
 
 15 propinquus, si denique ipse in aliquod negotium in- 
 ciderit, ad hunc Secundum recurret aut ad te, Ma- 
 terne, non quia poeta es, neque ut pro eo versus facias ; 
 hi enim Basso domi nascuntur, pulchri quidem et 
 jucundi, quorum tamen hie exitus est, ut cum toto 
 
 20 anno, per omnes dies, magna noctium parte unum 
 librum excudit et elucubravit, rogare ultro et ambire 
 cogatur, ut sint qui dignentur audire, et ne id quidem 
 gratis ; nam et domum mutuatur et auditorium ex- 
 struit et subsellia conducit et libellos dispergit ; et ut 
 
 25 beatissimus recitationem ejus eventus prosequatur, 
 omnis ilia laus intra unum aut alterum diem, velut 
 in herba vel flore praecepta, ad nullam certam et 
 solidam pervenit frugem, nee aut amicitiam inde
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 95 
 
 refert aut clientelara aut mansurum in animo eujus- 
 quam beneficium, sed clainorem vagum et voces inanes 
 et gaudium volucre. Laudaviraus nuper ut miram et 
 eximiam Vespasiani liberalitatem, quod quingenta 
 sestertia Basso donasset. Pulchruin id quidem, in- 5 
 dulgeutiam principis ingenio mereri : quanto tamen 
 pulchrius, si ita res familiaris exigat, se ipsum colere, 
 suum geniuui propitiare, suam experiri liberalitatem? 
 Adjice quod poetis, si modo dignuoi aliquid elaborare 
 et efficere velint, relinquenda couversatio amicorum et 10 
 jucuuditas urbis, deserenda cetera officia et, ut ipsi 
 dicunt, in nemora et lucos, id est, in solitudinem sece- 
 dendum est. 
 
 10. Ne opinio quidem et faina, cui soli serviunt et 
 quod uiiurn esse pretium laboris sui fatentur, aeque 15 
 poetas quam ora tores sequitur, quoniam mediocres 
 poetas nemo novit, bonos pauci. Quando enim raris- 
 simarum recitationum fama in totam urbem penetrat? 
 nedum ut per tot provincias innotescat. Quotus quis- 
 que, cum ex Hispania vel Asia, ne quid de Gallis 20 
 nostris loquar, in urbem venit, Saleium Bassum re- 
 quirit ? Atque adeo si quis requirit, ut semel vidit, 
 transit et contentus est, ut si picturam aliquam vel 
 statuam vidisset. Neque hunc meum sermonem sic 
 accipi volo, tamquam eos, quibus uatura sua oratorium 25 
 ingenium denegavit, deterream a carminibus, si modo 
 in hac studiorum parte oblectare otium et nomen inse- 
 rere possunt famae. Ego vero omuem eloquentiam
 
 96 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 omnesque ejus partes sacras et venerabiles puto, nee 
 solum cothurnum vestrum aut heroic! carminis so- 
 num, sed lyricorum quoque jucunditatem et elegorum 
 lascivias et iamborum amaritudiuem 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 eloqueutiae ferat, errare mavis et 
 summa adepturus in levioribus subsistis. Ut si in 
 
 10 Graecia natus esses, ubi ludicras quoque artes exercere 
 houestum est, ac tibi Nicostrati robur ac vires di de- 
 dissent, non paterer immanes illos et ad puguam 
 natos lacertos levitate jaculi aut jactu disci vanescere, 
 sic iiunc 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 patro- 
 cinatur, tamquam minus obnoxium sit offendere poe- 
 tarum quam oratorum studium. Effervescit enim vis 
 pulcherrimae naturae tuae, nee pro amico aliquo, sed, 
 
 20 quod periculosius est, pro Catone offendis. Nee excu- 
 satur offensa necessitudine onicii aut fide advocationis 
 aut fortuitae ac subitae dictionis impetu: meditatus 
 videris etiam elegisse personam notabilem et cum 
 auctoritate dicturam. Sentio quid responderi possit : 
 
 25 hinc ingentes asseusus, haec in ipsis auditoriis prae- 
 cipue laudari etmox omnium sermonibus ferri. Tolle 
 igitur quietis et securitatis excusationem, cum tibi 
 sumas adversarium superiorem. Nobis satis sit pri-
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 97 
 
 vatas et nrostri saeculi controversias tueri, in quibus 
 expressis si quaudo necesse sit pro periclitante amico 
 potentioruin 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 
 deudo iis qui causas agere non possent, ut versus 
 facerent. Ego autem sicut in causls agendis efficere 
 aliquid et eniti fortasse possum, ita recitatione tragoe- 
 diarum 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 dejun- 
 gere a forensi labore constitui, nee comitatus istos et 
 egressus aut frequentiam salutationum concupisco, 20 
 non magis quam aera et imagines, quae etiam me 
 nolente in domum meam irrumpunt. Nam statum 
 hucusque ac securitatem melius innocentia tueor 
 quam eloquentia, nee vereor ne mihi umquam verba 
 in senatu nisi pro alterius discrimine facienda siut. 25 
 
 12. Nemora vero et luci et secretum ipsum, quod 
 Aper increpabat, tantam mihi adferunt voluptatem, 
 ut inter praecipuos carminum fructus uumerem, quod 
 
 7 Tac. I
 
 98 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 nou iu strepitu uec sedeute ante ostium litigatore nee 
 iuter sordes ac lacrimas reorum componuntur, sed 
 secedit animus in loca pura atque iimocentia, fruitur- 
 que sedibus sacris. Haec eloquentiae primordia, haec 
 5 penetralia ; hoc priraum habitu cultuque coinmeu- 
 data mortalibus in ilia casta et nullis contacta vitiis 
 pectora iufluxit; sic oracula loquebantur. Nam 
 lucrosae hujus et sauguiuautis eloquentiae usus receus 
 et malis moribus uatus, atque, ut tu dicebas, Aper, in 
 
 10 locum teli repertus. Ceterum felix illud et, ut more 
 nostro loquar, aureuni saeculum et oratorum et cri- 
 miuum iuops, poetis et vatibus abundabat, qui beue 
 facta cauerent, nou qui male admissa defenderent. 
 Nee ullis aut gloria major aut augustior honor, pri- 
 
 15 mum apud deos, quorum proferre responsa et interesse 
 epulis ferebantur, deinde apud illos dis geuitos sacros- 
 que reges, inter quos neminem causidicorum, sed 
 Orphea et Linum ac, si introspicere altius velis, ipsum 
 Apollinem accepimus. Vel si haec fabulosa nimis et 
 
 20 composita videantur, illud certe mihi concedes, Aper, 
 non minorem honorem Homero quam Demostheui 
 apud posteros, nee angustioribus termiuis famam 
 Euripidis aut Sophoclis quam Lysiae aut Hyperidis 
 includi. Plures hodie reperies qui Ciceronis gloriam 
 
 25 quam qui Virgilii detrectent ; nee ullus Asinii aut 
 Messalae liber tarn illustris est quam Medea Ovidii 
 aut Varii Thyestes. 
 
 13. Ac ne fortunam quidem vatum et illud felix
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 99 
 
 contubernium comparai'e tirauerim cum inquieta et 
 anxia oratorura vita. Licet illos certamina et pericuia 
 sua ad consulatus evexerint ; malo securum et quie- 
 tum Virgilii secessum, in quo tamen neque apud 
 divum Augustum gratia caruit neque apud populum 5 
 Romanuni notitia. Testes August! epistolae, testis 
 ipse populus, qui auditis in theatre Virgilii versibus 
 surrexit universus et forte praesentem spectantemque 
 Virgilium veueratus est sic quasi Augustum. Ne 
 nostris quidem temporibus Secundus Pomponius Afro 10 
 Domitio vel dignitate vitae vel perpetuitate famae 
 cesserit. Nam Crispus iste et Marcellus, ad quorum 
 exempla me vocas, quid habeut in hac sua fortuna 
 concupiscendum ? Quod timent, an quod timentur ? 
 Quod, cum quotidie aliquid rogentur, ii quibus prae- 15 
 stant indignantur? Quod alligati adulatione nee 
 imperantibus umquam satis servi videntur nee nobis 
 satis liberi ? Quae haec summa eorum potentia est ? 
 Tantum posse liberti solent. Me vero dulces, ut Vir- 
 gilius ait, Musae, remotum a sollicitudinibus et curis 20 
 et necessitate quotidie aliquid contra animum faciendi, 
 in ilia sacra illosque fontes ferant ; nee insauum ultra 
 et lubricum forum famamque pallentem trepidus ex- 
 periar ; non me fremitus salutantium nee auhelans 
 libertus excitet, nee incertus futuri testamentum pro 25 
 pigiiore scribam, nee plus habeam quam quod possim 
 cui velim relinquere, quandoque fatalis et meus dies 
 veniet, statuarque tumulo non maestus et atrox, sed
 
 100 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 hilaris et coronatus, et pro memoria mei nee consulat 
 quisquam uec roget.' 
 
 14. Vi.alum finierat Maternus, concitatus et velut 
 instinctus, cum Vipstanus Messala cubiculum ejus 
 5 iugressus est, suspicatusque ex ipsa intentioiie siugu- 
 lorum altiorem inter eos esse sermonem, ' Num parum 
 tempestivus,' iuquit, ' iuterveni secretum consilium et 
 causae alicujus meditationem tractantibus ? ' 
 
 'Minime, raiuime,' inquit Secundus, 'atque adeo 
 
 10 vellem maturius interveuisses ; delectasset enim te et 
 Apri nostri accuratissimus sermo, cum Materuum 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 quam oratorum similior oratio.' 
 
 ' Me vero,' inquit, ' et sermo ipse infinita voluptate 
 adfecisset, atque id ipsum delectat, quod vos, viri 
 optimi et temporura nostrorum oratores, non forensi- 
 bus tantum negotiis et declamatorio studio ingenia 
 
 20 vestra exercetis, sed ejus modi etiam disputationes 
 adsumitis, quae et ingenium alunt et eruditionis ac 
 litterarum jucundissimum oblectamentum cum vobis, 
 qui ista disputatis, adferunt, turn etiam iis, ad quorum 
 aures pervenerint. Itaque hercle non minus probari 
 
 25 video in te, Secunde, quod Julii Asiatici vitam com- 
 ponendo spem hominibus fecisti plurium ejus modi 
 librorum, quam in Apro, quod nondum ab scholas- 
 ticis controverts recessit et otium suum mavult novo-
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 101 
 
 
 
 rum rhetorum more quam,veterum oratorum consu- 
 mere.' 
 
 15. Turn Aper: *N6n;, c$esi#^' .Messajla.; ;vetera 
 tantum et antiqua miraYi," noStiforunVaUtem' tempo- 
 rum studia irridere atque contemnere? Nam hunc 5 
 tuum sermonem saepe excepi, cum oblitus et tuae et 
 fratris tui eloquentiae neminem hoc tempore oratoreni 
 esse contenderes prae antiquis, eo, credo, audacius, 
 quod malignitatis opinionem non verebaris, cum earn 
 gloriam, quara 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 iufinitae differen- 
 tiae scrutetur ac reddat, quas mecum ipse plerumque 
 inquiro. Et quod quibusdam solatio est, mihi auget 
 quaestionem, quia video etiam Graiis accidisse, ut 
 longius absit Aeschiue et Demosthene Sacerdos ille 20 
 Nicetes, et si quis alius Ephesum vel Mytilenas con- 
 centu 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 earn justius ex- 
 plicabit quam tu, ad cujus summam eruditionem et 
 
 12
 
 102 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 praestanjtissimun^ ingenium cura quoque et meditatio 
 accessit?' 1 . . v 
 
 Et MeseHla', / A'p^riam,' ..inquit, ' cogitationes meas, 
 si illud a vo'bfs ante irapetravero, ut vos quoque ser- 
 5 monem hunc nostrum adjuvetis.'. 
 
 ' Pro duobus,' inquit Maternus, ' promitto ; nam 
 et ego et Secundus exsequeraur eas partes, quas in- 
 tellexerimus te non tarn oraisisse quam nobis reli- 
 quisse. Aprum enim solere dissentire et tu paulo 
 
 10 ante dixisti, et ipse satis manifestos est jam dudum 
 in contrarium acciiigi nee aequo animo perfeire hanc 
 uostram pro antiquorum laude coucordiam.' 
 
 ' Non enim/ inquit Aper, ' iuauditum et indefensum 
 saeculum nostrum patiar hac vestra conspiratione 
 
 15 damnari : sed hoc primum interrogabo, quos vocetis 
 antiques, quam oratorum aetatem significatione ista 
 determinetis. Ego enim cum audio antiques, quos- 
 dam veteres et olim natos iutelligo ; ac mihi versantur 
 ante oculos Ulixes ac Nestor, quorum aetas mille fere 
 
 20 et trecentis annis saeculura nostrum antecedit : vos 
 autem Demosthenem et Hyperidem profertis, quos 
 satis constat Philippi et Alexandri tempo ribus floru- 
 isse, ita tamen ut utrique superstites essent ; ex quo 
 apparet non multo plures quam trecentos annos inte- 
 
 23 resse inter nostram et Demosthenis aetatem. Quod 
 spatium temporis si ad infirmitatem corporum rostro- 
 rum referas, fortasse longum videatur ; si ad naturam 
 saeculorum ac respectum immensi hujus aevi, per-
 
 DE ORATOKIBUS. 103 
 
 # 
 
 quam breve et in proximo est. Nam si, ut Cicero in 
 Hortensio scribit, is est maguus et verus annus, quo 
 eadem positio caeli siderumque, quae cum maxinie 
 est, rursuui exsistet, isque annus horum, quos nos 
 vocamus, annorum duodecim milia nongentos quin- 5 
 quaginta quattuor complectitur, incipit Demosthenes 
 vester, quern vos veterem et antiquum fingitis, nou 
 sol urn eodem anno quo nos, sed fere eodem mense ex- 
 stitisse. 
 
 17. Sed transeo ad Latinos ora tores, in quibus non 10 
 Menenium, ut puto, Agrippam, qui potest videri anti- 
 quus, nostrorum temporum disertis anteponere soletis, 
 sed Cicerouem et Caesarem et Caelium et Calvum et 
 Brutum et Asinium et Messalam : quos quid autiquis 
 temporibus potius adscribatis quam nostris, nou video. 15 
 Nam ut de Cicerone ipso loquar, Hirtio nempe et 
 Pausa cousulibus, ut Tiro libertus ejus scripsit, septimo 
 idus Decembres occisus est, quo anno divus Augustus 
 in locum Pausae et Hirtii se et Q. Pediurn consules 
 sufiecit. Statue sex et quiuquaginta annos, quibus 20 
 mox divus Augustus rein publicam rexit; adjice 
 Tiberii tres et vigiuti, et prope quadriennium Gai, ac 
 bis quaternos denos Claudii et Nerouis annos, atque 
 ilium Galbae et Othonis et Vitellii lougum et unum 
 annum, ac sextam jam felicis hujus principatus sta- 25 
 tionem, qua Vespasianus rem publicam fovet : centum 
 et viginti anui ab interitu Cicerouis in hunc diem 
 colliguntur, unius hominis aetas. Nam ipse ego in
 
 104 TACIT! DIALOGUS 
 
 Britannia vidi senem, qui se fateretur ei pugnae inter- 
 fuisse, qua Caesarem inferentem arma Britanniae 
 arcere litoribus et pellere aggressi suut. 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 
 uostris quoque actiouibus interesse. Proximo quidem 
 congiario ipsi vidistis plerosque senes, qui se a divo 
 quoque Augusto semel atque iterum accepisse con- 
 
 10 giarium uarrabant. Ex quo colligi potest et Cor- 
 vinum ab illis et Asiuium audiri potuisse ; nam Cor- 
 vinus in medium usque Augusti principatum, Asinius 
 paene ad extremum duravit: ne dividatis saeculum, 
 et antiques ac veteres vocetis oratores, quos eorundem 
 
 15 hominum aures agnoscere ac velut conjungere et copu- 
 lare potuerunt. 
 
 18. Haec ideo praedixi, ut si qua ex honim ora- 
 torum 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 enim 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 Grrac- 
 cho politior et ornatior Crassus, sic utroque distiuctior
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 105 
 
 et urbanior et altior Cicero, Cicerone mitior Corvinus 
 et dulcior et in verbis magis elaboratus. Nee quaero 
 quis disertissimus : hoc interim probasse contentus 
 sura, non esse unum eloquentiae vultum, sed in illis 
 quoque quos vocatis antiquos plures species depre- 5 
 hendi, nee 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 nee satis pressus, sed supra 
 modum exsultans et superfluous etparumAtticusvide- 
 retur. Legistis utique et Calvi et Bruti ad Ciceronem 
 missas epistolas, ex quibus facile est deprehendere 
 Calvum quidem Ciceroni visum exsauguem et aridum ; 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 inter- 
 rogas, omnes mihi videntur verum dixisse : sed mox 20 
 ad singulos veniam ; nunc mihi cum universis nego- 
 tium est. 
 
 19. Nam quatenus antiquorum admiratores hunc 
 velut terminum antiquitatis constituere solent, usque 
 ad Cassium Severum, quern primum adfirmant flexisse 25 
 ab ilia vetere atque directa dicendi via, non infirmi 
 tate ingenii nee inscitia litterarum traustulisse se ad 
 illud dicendi genus contendo, sed judicio et intellectu.
 
 106 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 Vidit namque, ut paulo ante dicebara, cum condicione 
 temporum et diversitate aurium ibrmam quoque et 
 speciem orationis esse rautandam. Facile perferebat 
 prior ille populus, ut imperitus et rudis, impeditissi- 
 5 marum orationura spatia, atque id ipsum laudabat, si 
 dicendo quis diem eximeret. Jam vero longa priu- 
 cipiorum praeparatio et narrationis alte repetita series 
 et multarum divisionum ostentatio et mille argunien- 
 torum gradus, et quidquid aliud aridissimis Hernui- 
 
 10 gorae et Apollodori libris praecipitur, in honore erat ; 
 quod si quis odoratus philosophiam videretur et ex 
 ea locum aliquem oratioui suae insereret, in caelum 
 laudibus ferebatur. Nee mirum ; erant enim haec 
 nova et incognita, et ipsorum quoque oratorum pau- 
 
 15 cissimi praecepta rhetorum aut philosophorum placita 
 cognoverant. At hercule pervulgatis jam omnibus, 
 cum vix in cortina quisquam adsistat quin elementis 
 studiorum, etsi non instructus, at certe imbutus sit, 
 novis et exquisitis eloquentiae itineribus opus est, per 
 
 20 quae orator fastidium aurium effugiat, utique apud 
 eos judices, qui vi et potestete, non jure aut legibus 
 cognoscunt, nee accipiunt tempora, sed constituunt, 
 nee 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 valotu- 
 dinis suae praefantem? Qualia suut fere principia
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 107 
 
 Corvini. Quis quinque in Verrem libros exspectabit ? 
 Quis de exceptione et formula perpetietur ilia immensa 
 volumina quae pro M. Tullio et Aulo Caecina legi- ^ 
 raus ? Praecurrit hoc tempore judex dieentem, et nisi 
 aut cursu argumentorum aut colore sententiarum aut 5 
 nitore et cultu descriptionum invitatus et corruptus 
 est, aversatur dieentem. Vulgus quoque adsistentium 
 et adflueus et vagus auditor adsuevit jam exigere 
 laetitiam et pnlchritudinem orationis ; nee 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 ora- 
 tores 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 sen- 
 tentia effulsit, sive locus exquisite 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 nostro- 
 rum oratorum aetas pulchrior et ornatior exstitit. 
 Neque ideo jninus efficaces sunt orationes nostrae, 
 quia ad aures judicantium cum voluptate perveniunt. 25 
 Quid enim, si infirmiora horum temporum templa 
 credas, quia non rudi caemento et informibus tegulis 
 exstruuntur, sed niarmore nitent et auro radiautur?
 
 108 TACIT! DIALOGUS 
 
 21. Equidera fateor vobis simpliciter me in qui- 
 busdam antiquorura vix risum, in quibusdam autem 
 vix soranum tenere. Nee unum de populo, non 
 Canutii aid Arii deformitatem memorabo, quique alii 
 5 in eodem valetudinario haec ossa et hauc raaciem 
 probant : ipse mihi Calvus, cum unum et viginti, ut 
 puto, libros reliquerit, vix in una et altera oratiun- 
 cula satis facit. Nee dissentire ceteros ab hoc meo 
 judicio video : quotus enim quisque Calvi in Asitium 
 
 10 aut in Drusum legit? At hercule in omnium studio- 
 sorum manibus versantur accusationes quae in Va- 
 tinium 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, nee voluntatem ei, quo 
 sublimius et cultius diceret, sed iugenium 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 ; nee quem- 
 quam adeo antiquarium puto, ut Caelium ex ea parte 
 laudet qua antiquus est. Concedamus sane C. Cae- 
 sari, ut propter magnitudinem cogitationum et occu- 
 
 25 pationes rerum minus in eloquentia effecerit quam 
 divinum ejus ingenium postulabat, tarn hercule quam 
 Brutum philosophiae suae relinquamus : nam in ora- 
 tionibus minorem esse fama sua etiam admiratores
 
 DE OKATORIBUS. 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 eorundem miratur. Fecerunt enim et car- 
 mina et in bibliothecas rettulerunt, non rnelius quam 5 
 Cicero, sed felicius, quia illos fecisse pauciores sciunt. 
 Asinius quoque, quamquam propioribus temporibus 
 natus sit, videtur raihi inter Menenios et Appios stu- 
 duisse. Pacuvium certe et Accium non solum tra- 
 goediis sed etiam qjationibus suis expressit: adeo durus 10 
 et siccus est. Oratio autem, sicut corpus hominis, ea 
 denium pulchra est, in qua non eminent venae nee 
 ossa numerantur, sed temperatus ac bonus sanguis 
 implet membra et exsurgit toris ipsosque nervos rubor 
 tegit et decor commendat. Nolo Corviuum insequi, 15 
 quia nee per ipsum stetit quo minus laetitiam nitorem- 
 que nostrorum temporum exprimeret : viderimus, in 
 quantum judicio ejus vis aut animi aut ingenii suffe- 
 cerit. 
 
 22. Ad Ciceronem venio, cui eadem pugna cum 20 
 aequalibus suis fuit quae mihi vobiscum est. Illi 
 enim antiques mirabantur, ipse suorum temporum 
 eloquentiam anteponebat ; nee ulla re magis oratores 
 aetatis ejusdem praecurrit quam judicio. Primus 
 enim excoluit orationem, primus et verbis delectum 25 
 adhibuit et composition! artem, locos quoque laetiores 
 attentavit et quasdam sententias invenit, utique in iis 
 orationibus quas jam senior et juxta finem vitae com-
 
 110 TACITI D'IALOGUS 
 
 posuit, id est, postquam magis profecerat usuque et 
 experi mentis didicerat quod optimum diceudi genus 
 esset. Nam priores ejus orationes nou carent vitiis 
 antiquitatis : leutus est in principiis, longus in narra- 
 5 tiouibus, otiosus circa excessus : tarde commovetur, 
 raro incalescit; pauci seusus apte et cum quodam 
 lumine terminantur. Nihil excerpere, nihil referre 
 possis, et velut in rudi aedificio, firmus sane paries et 
 duraturus, sed uon satis expolitus et splendens. Ego 
 
 10 autem oratorem, sicut locupletem ac lautuin patrem 
 familiae, non tantum eo volo tecto tegi quod imbrem 
 ac ventum arceat, sed etiam quod visuni et oculos 
 delectet; non ea solum instrui supellectile quae neces- 
 sariis 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 iusulsam scurrilitatem, variet compositionem, nee 
 omnes clausulas uno et eodem modo determinet. 
 
 23. Nolo irridere " rotam Fortunae," et "jus Verri- 
 num," et illud tertio quoque sensu in omnibus ora- 
 tionibus pro sententia positum, " esse videatur." Nam 
 
 25 et haec invitus rettuli et plura omisi, quae tamen sola 
 mirantur atque exprimunt ii qui se antiques oratores 
 vocant. Nerninem nominabo, genus homiiiiuu signifi- 
 casse conteutus : sed vobis utique versautur ante oculos
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. Ill 
 
 illi, qui Lucilium pro Horatio et Lucretium pro Vir- 
 gilio legunt, quibus eloquentia Aufidi Bassi aut Ser- 
 vilii Nouiani ex comparatione Sisennae aut Varronis 
 sordet, qui rhetorum nostrorura commentaries fastidi- 
 unt, oderuut, Calvi mirantur. Quos more prisco apud 5 
 judicem fabulantes non auditores sequuntur, non popu- 
 lus audit, vix denique litigator perpetitur : adeo maesti 
 et inculti illam ipsam, quam jactant, sanitatem non 
 firmitate sed jejunio consequuntur. Porro ne in cor- 
 pore quidem valetudinem medici probant quae nimia 10 
 anxietate contingit ; parum est aegrum non esse : for- 
 tem et laetum et alacrem volo. Prope abest ab infir- 
 mitate, in quo sola sanitas laudatur. Vos vero, diser- 
 tissimi, ut potestis, ut facitis, illustrate saeculum 
 nostrum pulcherrimo geuere dicendi. Nam et te, 15 
 Messala, video laetissima quaeque antiquorum imitan- 
 tem, et vos, Materne ac Secuude, ita gravitati sensuum 
 nitorem et cultum verborum miscetis, ea electio in- 
 ventionis, is ordo rerum, ea, quotiens causa poscit, 
 ubertas, ea, quotiens permittit, brevitas, is composi- 20 
 tionis decor, ea sententiarum planitas est, sic expri- 
 mitis adfectus, sic libertatem temperatis, ut etiam si 
 nostra judicia malignitas et invidia tardavert, verum 
 de vobis dicturi sint posteri nostri.* 
 
 24. Quae cum Aper dixisset, ' Agnoscitisne,' inquit 25 
 Maternus, 'vim et ardorera Apri nostri? Quo tor- 
 rente, quo impetu saeculum nostrum defendit ! Quam 
 copiose ac varie vexavit antiques ! Quauto nou solum
 
 112 TACITI DfALOGUS 
 
 ingenio ac spiritu, sed etiara eruditione et arte ab ipsis 
 mutuatus est per quae raox ipsos iucesseret ! Tuum 
 tamen, Messala, promissum immutasse non debet. 
 Neque euim defeusorem antiquorum exigimus, nee 
 5 quemquam nostrum, quaniquaui modo laudati surnus, 
 iis quos insectatus est Aper comparamus. Ac ne 
 ipse quidem ita sen tit, sed more veteri et a vestris 
 philosophis saepe celebrate sumpsit sibi coutradicendi 
 partes. Igitur exprome nobis non laudationem auti- 
 
 10 quorum (satis enim illos fama sua laudat), sed causas 
 
 cur tautum ab eloqueutia eorum recesserimus, cuui 
 
 praesertim centum et viginti annos ab interitu Cice- 
 
 rouis in hunc diem effici ratio temporum collegerit.' 
 
 25. Turn Messala : ' Sequar praescriptam a te, Ma- 
 
 15 terne, f'ormam ; neque enim diu contradicendum est 
 Apro, qui primum, ut opinor, nominis coutroversiam 
 movit, tamquam parum proprie antiqui vocarentur 
 quos satis constat ante centum annos fuisse. Mihi 
 autem de vocabulo pugua non est ; sive illos antiques 
 
 20 sive majores sive quo alio mavult nomine appellet, 
 dum modo in confesso sit emiuentiorem illorum tem- 
 porum eloquentiam fuisse. Ne illi quidem parti ser- 
 monis ejus repugno, quo minus fatear plures formas 
 dicendi etiam isdem saeculis, uedum diversis exstitisse. 
 
 25 Sed quo modo inter Atticos oratores primae Demos- 
 theni tribuuntur, proximum autem locum Aeschines 
 et Hyperides et Lysias et Lycurgus obtinent, omnium 
 autem concessu haec oratorum aetas maxime pro-
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 113 
 
 batur, sic apud nos Cicero quidein ceteros eorimdem 
 tetnporum disertos autecessit, Calvus autem et Asinius 
 et Caesar et Caelius et Brutus suo jure et prioribus et 
 sequentibus anteponuntur. Nee refert quod inter se 
 specie differunt, cum genere consentiant. Adstrictior 5 
 Calvug, numerosior Asinius, splendidior Caesar, ama- 
 rior 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 iugeniis, 10 
 esse quandam judicii ac voluntatis similitudiuem et 
 cognationem. Nam quod in vicem se obtrectaverunt 
 et sunt aliqua epistolis eorum inserta ex quibus mutua 
 malignitas detegitur, lion est oratorum vitium sed ho- 
 minum. 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 nee 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 quae- 
 dam eloquentiae eorum ut nascenti adhuc nee satis 
 adultae defuisse. 25 
 
 26. Ceterurn si omisao optimo illo et perfectissimo 
 genere eloquentiae eligenda sit forma dicendi, malim 
 
 hercule C. Gracchi impetum aut L. Crassi maturitatem 
 8 Tac. K2
 
 114 TACITI DIALOOUS 
 
 quam calamistros Maecenatis aut tinnitus Gallionis : 
 adeo melius est oratoreiu vel hirta toga induere quam 
 fucatis et meretriciis vestibus insignire. Neque enim 
 oratorius iste, iramo 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 expri- 
 mant. Quodque vix auditu fas esse debeat, laudis et 
 gloriae et ingenii loco plerique jactaut cantari saltari- 
 
 10 que commentaries suos. Unde oritur ilia foeda et 
 praepostera, sed tamen frequens quibusdam excla- 
 matio, 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 contempto ordine rerum, omissa modestia ac 
 pudore verborum, ipsis etiam quibus utitur armis in- 
 
 20 compositus et studio feriendi plerumque dejectus, non 
 pugnat sed rixatur. Ceterum, ut dixi, sequentibus 
 compara,tus et varietate eruditionis et lepore urbaui- 
 tatis et ipsarum virium robore multum ceteros superat, 
 quorum neminem Aper nominare et velut in aciern 
 
 25 educere sustinuit. Ego autem exspectabam, ut incu. 
 sato Asinio et Caelio et Calvo aliud nobis agmen pro- 
 duceret, pluresque vel certe totidem nominaret, ex 
 quibus alium Ciceroni, alium Caesari, singulis deinde
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 115 
 
 singulos opponeremus. Nunc detrectasse nominatim 
 antiques oratores contentus nemiuem sequentium lau- 
 dare ausus est nisi in publicum et in commune, veritus 
 credo, ue multos offenderet, si paucos excerpsisset. 
 Quotus enim quisque scholasticorum non hac sua 5 
 persuasione f'ruitur, ut se ante Ciceronem numeret, 
 sed plane post Gabiuianum? At ego nou verebor 
 uomiuare singulos, quo facilius propositis exemplis 
 appareat, quibus gradibus fracta sit et deminuta elo- 
 quentia.' 10 
 
 - 27. ' Appara te/ inquit Maternus, ' et potius exsolve 
 promissum. Neque enim hoc colligi desideramus, 
 disertiores esse antiques, quod apud me quidem in 
 confesso est, sed causas exquirimus, 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, ' offeusus Apri ilia disputatione ; 
 nam et vos offendi dedecebit, si quid forte aures vestras 
 perstringat, cum sciatis hanc esse ejus modi sermonum 20 
 legem, judicium animi citra damnum adfectus pro- 
 ferre.' 
 
 'Perge,' iuquit Maternus, 'et cum de autiquis 
 loquaris, utere antiqua libertate, a qua vel magis 
 degeneravimus quam ab eloquentia.' 25 
 
 28. Cui Messala, ' Non reconditas, Materne, causas 
 requiris, nee aut tibi ipsi aut huic Secundo vel huic 
 Apro ignotas, etiam si mini partes adsignatis pro-
 
 116 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 ferendi in medium quae omnes sentimus. Quis enim 
 ignorat et eloquentiam et ceteras artes descivisse ab 
 ilia vetere gloria non inopia homiuum, sed desidia 
 juventutis et uegligeutia parentum et iuscientia prae- 
 5 cipientium et oblivioiie moris antiqui ? Quae mala 
 primum 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 majorurn circa educandos formandosque 
 liberos pauca praedixero. Nam pridem suus cuique 
 filius, ex casta pareute natus, uou in cella emptae 
 nutricis sed gremio ac siuu matris educabatur, cujus 
 
 15 praecipua laus erat tueri dornum et inservire liberis. 
 Eligebatur autem 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 
 remissiones etiam lususque puerorum sanctitate qua- 
 darn ac verecundia temperabat. Sic Corneliam Grac- 
 chorum, sic Aureliam Caesaris, sic Atiam Augusti 
 matrem praefuisse educationibus ac produxisse priu- 
 
 25 cipes liberos accepimus. Quae disciplina ac severitas 
 eo pertinebat, ut sincera et integra et nullis pravitati- 
 bus detorta unius cujusque natura toto statirn pectore 
 arriperet artes honestas, et sive ad rem militarein sive
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 117 
 
 ad juris scientiam sive ad eloquentiae studium incli- 
 nasset, id solum ageret, id uiiiversum hauriret. 
 
 29. At uuuc natus iufans delegatur Graeculae alicui 
 ancillae, cui adjuugitur unus aut alter ex omnibus 
 servis, plerumque vilissimus nee cuiquam serio mini- 5 
 sterio accommodatus. Horum fabulis et erroribus 
 teneri statim et rudes auimi imbuuntur ; nee quisquam 
 
 in tola domo pensi habet quid coram infante domino 
 aut dicat aut faciat. Quin etiam ipsi parentes nee 
 probitati neque modestiae parvulos adsuefaciunt, sed 10 
 lasciviae et dicacitati, per quae paulatim impudentia 
 irrepit et sui alienique coutemptus. Jam vero propria 
 et peculiaria hujus urbis vitia paene in utero matris 
 concipi mini videntur, histrionalis favor et gladiatorum 
 equorumque studia : quibus occupatus et obsessus ani- 15 
 mus quantulum loci bonis artibus relinquit? Quotum 
 quemque invenies qui domi quicquam aliud loquatur ? 
 Quos alios adolescentulorum sermones excipimus, si 
 quando auditoria intravimus ? Ne praeceptores qui- 
 dem ullas crebriores cum auditoribus suis fabulas 20 
 habent ; colliguut enim discipulos non severitate disci- 
 plinae nee ingenii experimento, sed ambitione saluta- 
 tionum et illecebris adulationis. 
 
 30. Transeo prima discentium elementa, in quibus 
 
 et ipsis parum laboratur, nee in auctoribus cognoscen- 25 
 dis nee in evolvenda antiquitate nee in notitia vel 
 rerum vel homiuum vel temporum satis operae insu- 
 mitur. Sed expetuntur quos rhetoras vocant ; quorum.
 
 118 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 professio quando primum in hanc urbera introducta 
 sit quaraque nullam apud majores uostros auctoritatem 
 habuerit, statim dicturus, referam necesse est auimum 
 ad earn disciplinam, qua usos esse eos oratores acce- 
 5 pimus, quorum infiuitus labor et quotidiaua 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 commeraorationem veterum 
 
 10 oratorum habet) sua initia, suos gradus, suae eloquen- 
 tiae velut quandam educationem refert : se apud Q. 
 Mucium jus civile didicisse, apud Philonem Acade- 
 micum, apud Diodotum Stoicum omnes philosophiae 
 partes penitus hausisse ; neque iis doctoribus conteu- 
 
 15 turn, 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 ilia 
 
 25 admirabilis eloquentia : neque oratoris vis et facultas, 
 sicut ceterarum rerum, angustis et brevibus termiuis 
 cluditur, sed is est orator, qui de omni quaestione 
 pulchre et ornate et ad persuadendum apte dicere
 
 DE (7RATORIBUS. 119 
 
 pro dignitate return, ad utilitatem temporum, cum 
 voluptate audientium possit. 
 
 31. Hoc sibi illi veteres persuaserant, ad hoc efficien- 
 dum intelligebaut opus esse, non ut iu rhetorum scholis 
 declamarent, nee ut fictis nee ullo modo ad veritatem 5 
 accedentibus controversiis linguam modo et vocem 
 exercerent, sed ut iis artibus pectus implerent, in qui- 
 bus de bonis ac mails, de honesto et turpi, de justo et 
 injusto disputatur; haec enim est oratori subjecta ad 
 dicendum materia. Nam in judiciis fere de aequitate, 10 
 in deliberationibus de houestate disserimus, ita ut ple- 
 rumque haec in vicem misceautur : de quibus copiose 
 et varie et ornate nemo dicere potest, nisi qui cognovit 
 naturam humanam et vim virtutum pravitatemque 
 vitiorum et intellectum eorum quae nee in virtutibus 15 
 nee in vitiis numerantur. Ex his fontibus etiam ilia 
 profluunt, 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 manum 
 et temperabit orationem, parato omni instrumento et 25 
 ad omnem usum reposito. Sunt apud quos adstrictum 
 et collectum et singula statim argumenta concludens 
 dicendi genus plus fidei meretur: apud hos dedisse
 
 120 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 operam dialecticae proficict. Alios fusa et aequalis 
 et ex communibus ducta sensibus oratio magis de- 
 lectat : ad hos permovendos mutuabimur a Peripateti- 
 cis aptos et in omnem disputationem paratos jam 
 5 locos. Dabunt Aeademici pugnacitatem, Plato altitu- 
 diuera, Xenophon jucuuditatem : ne Epicuri quidem 
 et Metrodori honestas quasdam exclamationes adsu- 
 mere iisque prout res poscit uti alienum erit oratori. 
 Neque enim sapientem informarnus neque Stoicorum 
 
 10 artera, sed eum qui quasdam artes haurire, omnes 
 libare debet. Ideoque et juris scientiara veteres ora- 
 tores coinprehendebant, et grammaticae, musicae et 
 geometriae imbuebantur. Incidunt enira causae, 
 plurimae quidem ac paeue omnes, quibus juris notitia 
 
 15 desideratur, pleraeque autem in quibus haec quoque' 
 scientia requiritur. 
 
 32. Nee quisquam respondeat sufficere ut ad tempus 
 simplex quiddam et uniforme doceamur. Primum 
 enim aliter utimur propriis, aliter comniodatis, longe- 
 
 20 que interesse manifestum est, possideat quis quae pro- 
 fert an mutuetur. Deinde ipsa multarum artium 
 scientia etiam aliud agentes nos ornat, atque ubi 
 minime credas, eminet et excellit. Idque non doctus 
 inodo 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 ; quern non posse aliter exsistere 
 nee exstitisse umquam confirmo, nisi eum, qui tarn-
 
 DE OEATORIBUS. 121 
 
 quam in aciem omnibus armis instructus, sic in forum 
 omnibus artibus armatus exierit. Quod adeo negli- 
 gitur ab borum temporum disertis, ut in actionibus 
 eorum hujus quoque quotidiani sermonis foeda ac 
 pudenda vitia deprebendautur ; ut iguorent leges, non 5 
 teueant senatus consulta, jus civitatis ultro derideant, 
 sapientiae vero studium et praecepta prudeutium 
 penitus reformident, in paucissiraos seusus et augustas 
 seutentias detrudant eloqueutiam velut expulsain 
 regno suo, ut quae olim omnium artium domina 10 
 pulcherrimo comitatu pectora implebat, nunc circum- 
 cisa et amputala, sine apparatu, sine honore, paeue 
 dixerim sine ingenuitate, quasi una ex sordidissimis 
 artiticiis discatur. Ergo bane primain et praecipuam 
 causam arbitror, cur in tantum ab eloquentia antique- 15 
 rum oratorurn recesserimus. Si testes desiderantur, 
 quos potiores uomiuabo quam apud Graecos Demos- 
 tbenem, quern studiosissimum Platouis auditorem 
 fuisse memoriae proditum est? Et Cicero bis, 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 in consuetu- 
 dine est, satis multos offendi, quos, si forte haec audi- 25 
 verint, certum babeo dicturos me, dum juris et pbilo- 
 sopbiae scientiam tamquam oratori necessariam laudo, 
 
 ineptiis meis plausisse.' 
 
 L
 
 122 TA.CITI DIALOGUS 
 
 33. Et Maternus, ' Mihi quidem,' iuquit ' susceptum 
 a te munus adeo peregisse nondum videris, ut iii- 
 choasse tantum et velut vestigia ac lineameuta quae- 
 dam ostendisse videaris. Nam quibus artibus instrui 
 5 veteres oratores soliti sint dixisti, diflerentiarnque 
 nostrae desidiae et iuscientiae adversus acerrima et 
 fecuudissima eorum studia demonstrasti : cetera ex- 
 specto, ut quern ad modum ex te didici, quid aut illi 
 scirint aut iios nesciamus, ita hoc quoque cognoscam, 
 
 10 quibus exercitationibus juvenes jam et forum ingres- 
 suri coufirmare et alere iugeuia sua soliti sint. Neque 
 enim tantum arte et scientia sed longe magis facultate 
 et usu eloqueutiam contineri, nee tu puto abnues et hi 
 significare vultu videntur.' 
 
 15 Deiude cum Aper quoque et Secundus idem adnu- 
 'issent, Messala quasi rursus iucipiens : ' Quoniam 
 iuitia et semina veteris eloquentiae satis demonstrasse 
 videor, docendo quibus artibus antiqui oratores iu- 
 stitui erudirique soliti sint, persequar mine exerci- 
 
 20 tationes eorum. Quamquam ipsis artibus inest exer- 
 citatio, nee quisquam percipere tot tarn reconditas 
 tamque varias res potest, nisi ut scientiae meditatio 
 meditationi facultas, facultati usus eloquentiae acce- 
 dat. Per quae colligitur eandem esse rationem et 
 
 25 percipiendi quae proferas et proferendi quae perce- 
 peris. Sed si cui obscuriora haec videntur isque 
 scientiam ab exercitatione separat, illud certe concedet, 
 instructum et plenum his artibus aniinum longe para-
 
 DE jORATORIBUS. 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 disci- 
 plina, refertus honestis studiis deducebatur a patre vel 5 
 a propinquis ad eum oratorem, qui principem in civi- 
 tate locura obtinebat. Huiic sectari, hunc prosequi, 
 hujus omnibus dictiouibus interesse give 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 coustantiae, plurimum judicii juvenibus 
 statim 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 aspernen- 
 tur. Igitur vera statim et incorrupta eloquentia im- 
 buebantur; 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 depre- 
 henderent quid in quoque vel probaretur vel displice- 
 ret. Ita nee praeceptor deerat, optimus quidem et 
 electissimus, qui faciem eloquentiae, non imaginem 
 praestaret, nee adversarii et aemuli ferro, non rudibus 25 
 dimicantes, sed auditorium semper plenum, semper 
 novum ex invidis et faventibus, ut nee bene nee male 
 dicta dissimulareutur. Scitis enim maguam illam et
 
 124 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 duraturam eloquentiae faraam non minus in diversis 
 subselliis parari quam suis ; inde quin immo constan- 
 tius surgere, ibi fidelius corroborari. Atque hercule 
 sub ejus modi praeceptoribus juvenis ille de quo 
 5 loquimur, oratorum discipulus, fori auditor, sectator 
 judieiorum, eruditus et adsuefactus alienis experi- 
 mentis, cui quotidie audienti notae leges, non novi 
 judicum vultus, frequens in oculis consuetude cou- 
 tionum, saepe cognitae populi aures, sive accusatio- 
 
 10 nem 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 ct vicesimo Asinius Pollio C. Ca- 
 tonem, non multum aetate antecedens Calvus Va- 
 
 15 tinium iis orationibus insecuti sunt, quas hodie quoque 
 cum admiratione legimus. 
 
 35. At nunc adolescentuli nostri deducuntur in 
 scenam scholasticorum, qui rhetores vocantur, quos 
 paulo ante Cicerouis tempora exstitisse nee placuisse 
 
 20 majoribus nostris ex eo manifestum est, quod Crasso 
 et Domitio 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 studio- 
 
 25 rum plus mali ingeniis adferaut. Nam in loco nihil 
 reverentiae est, in quern nemo nisi aeque imperitus 
 intrat; in condiscipulis nihil profectus, cum pueri 
 inter pueros et adolescentuli inter adolescentulos pari
 
 DB. ORATORIBUS. 125 
 
 securitate et dicant et audiantur ; ipsae veto exercita- 
 tiones magna ex parte contrariae. Nempe enim duo 
 genera materiarum apud rhetoras tractantur, suasoriae 
 et controversiae. Ex his suasoriae quidem, tamquain 
 plane leviores et minus prudentiae exigentes, pueris 5 
 delegantur ; controversiae robustioribus adsignantur, 
 quales, per fidem, et quam incredibiliter compositae ! 
 Sequitur autein ut materiae abhorrent! a veritate de- 
 claraatio quoque adhibeatur. Sic fit ut tyrannicida- 
 rum praemia aut vitiatarum electiones aut pestileutiae 10 
 remedia aut innesta matrum aut quidquid in schola 
 quotidie agitur, in foro vel raro vel nuinquam, ingenti- 
 bus verbis persequautur ; cum ad veros judices veutum 
 est, juvenes, puerilibus institutis sine ulla privati pub/ici- 
 que juris experientia per plures annos innutriti, nihil 15 
 adferunt quod fori dignitatem deceat, aut clientium alat 
 utilitates ; at vitia, quae umbratici doctores iis infudere, 
 irreverenter et temere explicant. 
 
 36. Unus Demosthenes solaque sua eloquentia arma- 
 tus, adversus domestieos externosque hostes stat interritus; 20 
 patriam a veterno revocat et novo libertatis amore sue- 
 cendit ; Philippum eludit, artes ejus retegit, ei conflat 
 odia. Quantis opus fuit eloquentiae fulgoribus, ut ani- 
 mos perstringeret ! Quanta orationis m, ut parata tot 
 machinamenta subverteret ! Quot illi subewida peri- 25 
 cula J At iis valescebat discriminibus ; patriae caritate, 
 servitii odio, libertatis aestu instinctw, certaque immor- 
 talitati# spe, quam jam praesenti^cebat, animatus, nihil 
 
 L2
 
 126 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 valebat nisi excelsum, nisi sublime, sine ullo privatae 
 utilitatis studio, ob patriam tantum et publicam rem 
 cogitare; iiihil humile vel abjectum eloqui poterat. 
 Magua eloquentia, sicut flamma, materia alitur et 
 5 motibus excitatur et urendo clarescit. Eadem ratio 
 in nostra quoque civitate antiquorura eloqueutiam 
 provexit. Nam etsi horum quoque temporum ora- 
 tores ea consecuti sunt, quae composita et quieta et 
 beata re publica tribui fas erat, tamen ilia perturba- 
 
 10 tione ac liceutia plura sibi adsequi videbafitur, cum 
 mixtis omnibus et moderatore uno carentibus tautum 
 quisque orator saperet quantum errauti populo per- 
 suaderi poterat. Hinc leges assiduae et populare 
 nomen, hinc contiones magistratuum paene pernoc- 
 
 15 tautium in rostris, hiuc accusationes potentium reorum 
 et adsignatae etiam domibus inimicitiae, hinc pro- 
 cerum factiones et assidua senatus adversus plebem 
 certamina. Quae singula etsi distrahebant rem 
 publicam, exercebant tamen illorum temporum elo- 
 
 20 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 clien- 
 telis etiam exterarum nationum redundabant, hos 
 ituri in provincias magistratus reverebautur, hos 
 reversi colebant, hos et praeturae et consulates vocare
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 127 
 
 ultro videbantur, hi ne privati quidem sine potestate 
 erant, cum et populum et senatum consilio et auctori- 
 tate regerent. Quin immo sibi persuaseraut neminem 
 sine eloqu^ntia aut adsequi posse in civitate aut tueri 
 conspicuura et emiuentem locum. Nee mirum, cum 5 
 ctiam inviti ad populum producerentur, cum parum 
 esset in senatu breviter censere, nisi qui ingenio et 
 eloquentia senteutiam suam tuerentur, cum in aliquam 
 invidiam aut crimen vocati sua voce respondendum 
 htiberent, cum testimonia quoque in judiciis publicis 10 
 non absentee nee per tabellam dare, sed coram et prae- 
 sentes dicere cogerentur. Ita ad summa eloquentiae 
 praemia magna etiam necessitas accedebat, et quo 
 modo disertum haberi pulchrum et gloriosum, sic 
 contra muturn et elinguem videri deforme habebatur. 15 
 
 37. Ergo non minus rubore quam praemiis stimula- 
 bantur, ne clieutulorum loco potius quam patronorum 
 numerareutur, ne traditae a majoribus necessitudines 
 ad alios trausirent, ne tamquam inertes et non suffec- 
 turi honoribus aut non impetrarent aut impetratos 20 
 male tuerentur. Nescio an veneriut in marius vestras 
 haec vetera, quae et in antiquariorum bibliothecis 
 adhuc maneut et cum maxime a Muciano contrahun- 
 tur, 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 iugenio quoque et oratione 
 valuisse ; Lentulos et Metellos et Lucullos et Curiones
 
 128 TACITI DIAI.OGUS 
 
 et ceteram procerum raanum multuin in his studiis 
 operae curaeque posuisse, nee queraquam illis tempori- 
 bus magnam potentiam sine aliqua eloquentia conse- 
 cutum. His accedebat splendor reorum et magnitude 
 5 causarum, quae et ipsa pluriraum eloquentiae prae- 
 stant. Nam multum interest, utrumne de furto aut 
 formula et interdicto dicendum habeas, an de arabitu 
 comitiorum, expilatis sociis et* civibus trucidatis. 
 Quae mala sicut non accidere melius est isque opti- 
 
 10 mus civitatis status habendus est, in quo nihil tale 
 patimur, ita cum acciderent, ingentem eloquentiae 
 materiam subministrabaut. Crescit enim cum ampli- 
 tudine rerum vis ingenii, nee quisquam claram et 
 illustrem orationem efficere potest nisi qui causam 
 
 15 parem invenit. Non, opinor, Demosthenem orationes 
 illustrant quas adversus tutores suos composuit, nee 
 Ciceronem magnum oratorem P. Quinctius defensus 
 aut Licinius Archias faciunt : Catilina et Milo et 
 Verres et Antonius hanc 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 QRATORIBUS. 129 
 
 ictus et exceperit quoque majores adversaries acrio- 
 resque pugnas sibi ipsa desumpserit, tanto altior et 
 excelsior et illis nobilitata discriminibus in ore homi- 
 num agit, quorum ea natura est, ut secura velint. 
 
 38. Transeo ad formarn et consuetudinem veterum 5 
 judiciorum, quae etsi nunc aptior existimatur, elo- 
 quentiam 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 legi- 
 bus, omnia apud praetores gererentur; apud quos 
 quanto majora negotia olim exerceri solita sint, quod 15 
 majus argumeutum est quam quod causae eentumvi- 
 rales, quae nunc primum obtinent locum, adeo splen- 
 dore aliorum judiciorum obruebantur, ut neque Ciee- 
 ronis 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 mediis divi Augusti temporibus babi- 
 tae, postquam longa temporum quies et continuum 
 populi otium et Sssidua senatus tranquillitas et 25 
 maxime principis disciplina ipsam quoque eloquen- 
 tiam sicut omnia pacaverat? 
 
 39. Parvum et ridiculum fortasse videbitur quod 
 9 Tac.
 
 130 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 dicturus sum, dicam tamen, vel ideo ut ridear. Quan- 
 tum humilitatis putamus eloquentiae attulisse paenulas 
 istas, quibus adstricti et velut inclusi cum judicibus 
 fabulamur ? Quantum virium detraxisse oratioui 
 5 auditoria et tabularia credimus, in quibus jam fere 
 plurimae causae explicantur? Nam quo modo no- 
 biles equos cursus et spatia probant, sic est aliquis 
 oratorum campus, per quern nisi liberi et soluti feraii- 
 tur, debilitatur ac frangitur eloquentia. Ipsam quin 
 
 10 immo curam et diligeutis stili anxietatem contrariam 
 experimur, quia saepe interrogat judex, quando in- 
 cipias, et ex interrogatione ejus incipiendum est. 
 Frequenter probationibus et testibus silentium patro- 
 nus indicit. Unus inter haec dicenti aut alter adsistit, 
 
 15 et res velut in solitudine agitur. Oratori autem cla- 
 more plausuque opus est et velut quodam theatro ; 
 qualia quotidie antiquis oratoribus contingebant, cum 
 tot pariter ac tarn nobiles forum coartarent, cum clien- 
 telae quoque ac tribus ac municipiorum etiam lega- 
 
 20 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 de- 
 
 25 fensos, ut frigidissimos quoque ofatores ipsa certantis 
 populi studia excitare et incendere potuerint. Itaque 
 hercule ejus modi libri exstant, ut ipsi quoque qui 
 egerunt uon aliis magis oratiouibus censeautur.
 
 DE ORATORIBUS. 131 
 
 40. Jam vero contiones assiduae et datum jus 
 potentissimum quemque vexandi atque ipsa inimicitia- 
 rum gloria, cum se plurimi disertorum ne a Public 
 quidem Scipione aut Sulla aut Cn. Pompeio abstine- 
 rent, et ad incessendos principes viros, ut est natura 5 
 iuvidiae, populi quoque ut histrioues plausibus ute- 
 rentur, quantum ardorem ingeniis, quas oratoribus 
 faces admovebant ! Non de otiosa et quieta re loqui- 
 mur et quae probitate et modestia gaudeat, sed est 
 magna ilia et notabilis eloquentia alumna licentiae, 10 
 quam stulti libertatem vocabant, comes seditionum, 
 effrenati populi iucitamentum, sine obsequio, sine 
 servitute, contumax, temeraria, arrogans, quae in 
 bene constitutis civitatibus non oritur. Quern enim 
 oratorem Lacedaemonium, quern Cretensem accepi- 15 
 mus? Quarum civitatum severissima disciplina et 
 severissimae leges traduntur. Ne Macedonum qui- 
 dem ac Persarum aut ullius gentis, quae certo im- 
 perio conteuta 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 indo- 
 mitus ager habet quasdam herbas laetiores. Sed nee
 
 132 TACITI DIALOGUS 
 
 tanti rei publicae Gracchorum eloquentia fuit, ut 
 pateretur et leges, nee bene famam eloquentiae Cicero 
 tali exitu pensavit. 
 
 41. Sic quoque quod superest antiqui oratoribus 
 5 fori non emendatae nee usque ad votum compositae 
 civitatis argumentmn est. Quis enim nos advocat 
 nisi aut nocens aut miser? Quod municipium in 
 clientelam nostram venit nisi quod aut vicinus popu- 
 lus aut domestica discordia agitat? Quam provin- 
 
 10 ciam tuemur nisi spoliatara vexatamque? Atqui 
 melius fuisset non queri quara vindicari. Quod si 
 inveniretur aliqua civitas in qua nemo peccaret, 
 supervacuus esset inter innoceutes orator sicut inter 
 sanos medicus. Quo modo enim minimum usus mini- 
 
 15 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 volun- 
 tariis accusationibus, cum tarn raro et tarn parce 
 peccetur? Quid invidiosis et excedentibus modum 
 
 25 defensionibus, cum dementia 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, nee vobis 
 summa ilia laus et gloria in eloquentia neque illis 
 modus et temperameutum defuisset : nunc, quoniam 
 nemo eodem tempore adsequi potest maguam fauiam 
 et magnam quietera, bono saeculi sui quisque citra 5 
 obtrectationem alterius utatur.' 
 
 42. Finierat Maternus, cum Messala : ' Erant qui- 
 bus 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 
 
 M
 
 NOTES 
 
 TO THE 
 
 GERMANIA, AGRICOLA, AND DIALOGUS DE ORATORIBUS. 
 
 135
 
 BEPEBENOES AND ABBEEVIATIONS, 
 
 A. U. C., t the year of the city. 
 
 B. C., before Christ. 
 
 Cf. (confer) = compare. 
 e. g. (exempli gratia) =for ex- 
 ample. 
 
 etc. (et cetera) = and to forth. 
 i. e. (id est) = that it. 
 in fin. (in fine) = at the end. 
 lit. = literally. 
 MS. = manuscript. 
 MSS. = manuscript*. 
 p. (pagina) =page. 
 pp. (paginae) page. 
 so. (scilicet) = understand, supply. 
 
 Editors and Commentators. 
 
 C Church and Brodribb. 
 
 D Draeger. 
 
 He Haase. 
 
 Hm Halm. 
 
 K Kritz. 
 
 M Miillenho/. 
 
 P Pabat. 
 
 Ri Bitter. 
 
 R Ruperti. 
 
 S Smith. 
 
 T 7>fer. 
 
 V.. Valpy. 
 
 W Wex. 
 
 Grammars. 
 
 A Allen *ad Greenottgh'f. 
 
 A. & S ^4rfrc* and StoddartP*. 
 
 B Bullion* and Morrit't. 
 
 G Gildersleeve'*. 
 
 H Ilrirknem's. 
 
 M Jl/advia't. 
 
 Z Zum>('. 
 
 Crombie, Crombie's Gymnasium sive Symbola Critica. 
 
 Diet. Antiqq., Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. 
 
 Diet. Biog., Smith's Dictionary of Greek amd Roman Biography and 
 
 Mythology. 
 
 Diet. Geog., Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. 
 Hill, Hill's Synonyms of the Latin Language. 
 Lex., Attdrem'* Freuud't Latin Lexicon. 
 
 136
 
 NOTES 
 
 GERMANIA. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE information contained in the treatise on the geography, man- 
 ners, 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 col- 
 lected 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 narra- 
 tives 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 
 noblo birth, and his power limited ; and all matters of importance were 
 debated by the estate of the people. In the solemn permission ac- 
 corded 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 hos- 
 
 M 2 137
 
 138 NOTES. 
 
 pitable and constant to their hereditary friendships, but stern in per- 
 petuating 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 with- 
 out 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 in- 
 stead 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 Sleswick- 
 Holstein, 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. y 
 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 Classical 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 be- 
 tween the Vistula and the Don, and thus embracing a large portion 
 of the present European Russia. 3. Montibus, the Carpathian 
 range. Cetera (c. loca), the other parts, the rest. Oceanus. 
 The German ocean (North sea) and the Baltic. Tacitus elsewhere 
 (cap. 45) calls the Baltic Sitevicnm mare. 4. Sinus, peninsulas,
 
 GERMANIA. 139 
 
 P 
 
 lands bending or curving out into the sea. For similar uses of the 
 word (which generally means gulf or bay), cf. cap. 29, 35, and 37; 
 and Agric. cap. 23 ; and note its connection with insularum 
 spatia. By latos sinns is more particularly meant the Cimbric 
 Chersonesus, t. 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- 
 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. Septentrional! 
 OCeano, with the northern ocean, the ocean on the north of Ger- 
 many. Oceano is the instrumental ablat., miscetur ( = mixes 
 itself) being taken in a middle sense. 5. Danuvius or Danu- 
 bius, as some MSS. have it. Molli jugo, from the gently sloping 
 summit. So the commentators generally. Kritz takes molli in 
 the sense of won saxoso, httmumque 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. Jngiim is that part of a mountain or hill, where, 
 like a yoke, it slopes in both directions. Abnobae, 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. Flares, 
 several ; a sense which the word often has. 7. Meatibus, mouths ; 
 lit. channels, passages. Erumpat, it empties; the subjunct. is 
 here used after donee because the result of the action is conceived 
 as held in suspense. A. A S. g 263, 4; H. 522, I.; B. 1240; A. 62, 
 2, d. ; Z. 575 ; G. g 573 and 574. 
 
 9-13. IpSOS, the Germans themselves, not their country, which 
 he presently describes. Indigenas is compounded of indu, an old 
 form of in, and gen, root of giyno. S. Crediderim, / am inclined 
 to believe; subjunctive of modest, cautious statement, to soften an 
 assertion. A. A S. 260, Rem. 4; H. 486, III. 3; B. 1179; A. 60,
 
 140 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 15 2, 6 / Q. 252, Kern. 1 ; Z. 527. Minime, by no means ; not at all. 
 10. AdventibUS et hospitiis, with the arrivals and guest-friend- 
 ships = with 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. Nee 
 et ^line 12)=eo et, but is stronger. M. 458, Obs. c. 
 Nee 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, adceniebaitt or aduentabant would be more 
 proper. Qui, sc. ii. 12. Imniensus 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. A S. $ 262, 
 Kera. 8. 13. Earis aditur. An argument to prove that the 
 Germans were indigenae, and not mixti. Ab orbe nostro, from 
 oar (quarter of the) world ; the Roman empire. The argument of 
 Tacitus to prove the Germans indigenue (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. A S. 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, t'n 
 it* 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. g 343 ; G. 592, Rem. 2. Sit, it it. The present sub- 15 
 junctive implies the real or possible occurrence of the action sup- 
 posed : one may (Tacitus would say), under the circumstances, go 
 to Germany, if oae 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. T7num, the only. 19. Memoriae, of record. 
 Tuistonem is the form given in the best MSS. Others Tuisconem, 
 Tristouem, etc. From Tuisto, the Mars of our German ancestors, 
 the name Tuesday is derived. 20. Terra editum, answering to 
 the Greek aira^iav (autochthonous). Terra is governed by e in 
 editum. Mannum, i'roui which some derive the word man. 22. 
 Proximi oceano, c. vocentur. Medii, the midland inhabitant!. 
 Vocentur. The subjunctive here (in orutio obliqna) shows that 
 Tacitus makes the statement not on his own authority, but on that 
 of others. 
 
 23-28. Ut, c. fit, as is natural; wie natiirlieh. K. 24. 
 Plures, more, i. e. than the three just referred to. Deo, i. . 
 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, *c. esse; 
 and also with vocabulum. 27. Additum, *c. esse ; still depending 
 on affirmant. 28. Qui, sc. 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. TJt nunc, i. e. in the time of Tacitus; supply vocentur /> 
 (not vocantur, because the indirect discourse is still continued). 
 Tune German!, 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 gnirm, to shout; and gairmmon, a 
 shouter, warrior ; with which compare the Homeric 0oi)v <Jya5oj- 
 Ita nationis nomen, etc., thnt in this manner 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), were soon 
 afterwards culled German! by themselves also, the name having b>-en 
 invented (when once the name had been invented). By victors 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 Ger- 
 manic race felt flattered and adopted the name. This is evidently 
 the meaning of Tacitus. 
 
 5-11. Apud COS. 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. Herculem, 
 the ubiquitous hero ; or rather that German demigod whose ex- 
 ploits ranked him with the Greek Hercules. Primumque, *e. 
 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 barbarus apud gentes." 7. 
 Sunt illis = they have. Kelatu, 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 
 "ex solo soiio" (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, Hem. Acies, the army in 
 order of battle. Nee videtur, nor does that (battle-song) seem 
 so much a unixon of voice as of valor. Ille refers to barditus. 
 This is the reading of Hm. and He. ; K. and others read, nee tarn 
 voces illae quam virtutis concentus videntnr. 
 
 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, Hem. 
 9; H. 497; B. 1214; A. 64, a; G. 545, 2 ; Z. 536. Eepercussu, 
 by its re/lection. 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. \Q 
 Hunc oceanum, i. e. the ocean washing the northern shores of 
 Germany and adjacent coasts (not the Arctic ocean). Adisse 
 adivisse, came to.- 16. Asciburgium, now Asburg, on the Rhine ; 
 as is commonly believed. 17. Situm, sc. est. Ab illo, by him. 
 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. TJlixi, 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, AatprtaSy. 
 Eodem loco. The preposition in is frequently omitted with loco, 
 when an adjective is used. A. & S. 254, Rein. 2 (b) ; H. 
 422, 1 ; B. 937, 2 ; A. 55, 3, f; G. 385, Rem. Repertam, sc. 
 esse. 20. Tumulos, sepulchral 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 state- 
 ment 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, c. mihi, it is my purpose. Ex SUO, according to 
 his turn of mind. Quisque demat, let each withdraw ; imperative 
 subjunctive. A. & S. \ 260, Rem. 6; H. 488, II.; B. 1193; A. 
 68, 2 ; G. 256, 3. 
 
 26-28. Nullis connubiis, by no intermarriages with other 
 nations. The use of aliis, while really superfluous, serves the 
 purpose of emphnsis. "Aliis is not, however, wholly redundant; 
 but brings out more fully the idea : no intermarriages, one with one 
 nation, and another with another." T. InfectOS, mixed, implying 
 generally, and probably here, deterioration. 27. Sinceram, >- 
 mixed. 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. g 411, in fin. The genitive is more likely with 
 similif when the reference is to internal resemblance or resemblance 
 in character. 28. Habitus, characteristics; in the singular. 
 Supply est. 
 
 2-6. Idem omnibus (est), nil have the same; omnibus being Yf 
 dat. of the possessor. Truces oculi. Compare Caes. B. G.I. 
 39; Juv. XIII. 164; Hor. Epod. XVI. 7. 3. Ad impetum, for 
 a sudden effort, for a brief onset. Cf. Ann. II. 14, where we have 
 corpus ad brevem impetum vuliduiii. 4. Non, sc. est iis, they have
 
 144 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 17 "'- Minimeque, and least of all. 5. Tolerare depends on 
 assuerunt. (Sed) frigora atque inediam (tolerate), etc.; (but) 
 cold and hunger they are accustomed (to endure) 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 Taci- 
 tus : prout vel caeli vel soli natura eat. 6. Assuerunt assueve- 
 runt. 
 
 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, c. est. 
 9. Gallias, Gaul. When Gaul became Roman and was divided 
 into several parts, they were called Galliae. Ventosior, like the 
 Homeric fivcuotts, implies elevation exposed to winds, and hence 
 lofty. 10. Aspicit, it faces. Satis, in crops ; nblat. 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. Fecora are the smaller (horned) 
 cattle; armenta, the larger. Ne quidem, c. est, not even 
 the larger cattle have; armentis being dat. of the possessor. 
 12. Suns ffontis, their proper size and beauty or splendor of 
 forehead. An expression almost too poetical for the occasion. 
 Gloria frontis is used poetically for " mngna et camura cornua." 
 K. Numero, rather than quality. 13. Eae, and not ea, agree- 
 ing with opes rather than with armenta. 
 
 14-28. Propitii irati, ichether in kindness or in anger ; hence 
 negaverint is subjunctive of indirect question. 15. Nee 
 affirmaverim, and yet I shall not assert ; affirmaverim is subjunc- 
 tive of modest or cautious statement (to soften an assertion ; like 
 the Attic use of the optative with &v). A. & S. 260, Rem. 4; H. 
 486, III. 3: B. 1179; A. 61), 2, b; G. 252, Rem. 1 ; Z. g 527. It 
 is now well known that both gold and silver are found in Germany. 
 17. Fossessione afficiuntur, in regard to their possession and 
 use they are not disposed in just the same mariner ; 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 = one may see ; it is possible to see. 
 The expression shows the influence of Greek (eanv &p") on Latin. 
 The Latin idiom is licet videre. 19. Principibus muneri. A. & 
 S. g 227; H. 390; B. 848; A. 51, 5; G. 350. Non in alia = in 
 eadem, in just the same. 20. Quae finguntur, t. e. earthen-
 
 GERMANIA. 145 
 
 ware; humo is ablat. of the material (means). Proximi, t. e. to \^ 
 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 farther inland. 
 25. Serratos, coins with notched ed</es, like the edge of a saw. 
 This word is post- Augustan. Bigatosque, and coins stamped tcith 
 the figure of a two-horse cJtariot. 26. Affectione, predilection, 
 inclination. 27. Numerus, the (great) number, which made them 
 better known, and their use more general in the purchase of ordi- 
 nary commodities. Argenteorum (c. numorum), of the Mver 
 coins. 28. Promiscua ac villa, common and cheap commodities. 
 
 1-13. Ne quidem (with a word between) = not even. Superest, Jg 
 abounds. 2. Colligitur, is inferred. Eari, only a few ; a man 
 here and there. 3. Frameas, 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. 
 Batio = the English word circumstance*; lit. a consideration of 
 the circumstances. 6. Scuto, framea. These ablatives arc suf- 
 ficiently explained as ablatives of cause the cause of contentus 
 est. 7. Spargunt poeticum liabet colorem. K. An instance of 
 the tendency of Tacitus to use poetical expressions. Of. Virg. 
 Aen. XII. 50. Pluraque singuli (e. pedites missilia spargunt), 
 andeachfootnoldiera good many. 8. In immensum (xe. spatiuin), 
 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. LfiVeS = lightly covered; being nudi 
 and leves they have inore complete command of their bodily 
 powers. Cultus, of ornaments, of military equipments. Lectissi- 
 mis, with very choice, striking. 10. Coloribus. "Hence coats 
 of arms and the origin of heraldry." T. from Murphy. Loricae, 
 . sunt. 11. The cassis was of metal ; the galea of leather. 
 Forma, for their beauty; ablat. of cause. 12. Sed nee sed et 
 non, but not even. Variare gyros, t<> vary their curves or courses ; 
 "to describe a movement of which the figure 8 gives one the best 
 idea." 13. In rectum Sit, ihey drive them in a straight line 
 ( -=r straight forward) or by a single bending to the right, in a cir- 
 cular 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. Aes- 
 tirnanti, to one considering the matter; equivalent here to a pro- 
 tasis, si quia aestimat ; dative of reference after some such expres- 
 ' sion as venit in mentem, understood. Eo, therefore ; ablat. of cause. 
 Mixti, i. e. equites cum peditibus mixti. Of. Caes. B. G. I. 48, 
 where the same thing is more fully described. 18. Centeni. 
 Notice the forcoof the distributive; a hundred from each canton. 
 19. Id ipsum, lit. that itself ^by just that name, i. e. centeni; 
 hundert, with, of course, the proper name annexed; id ipsum is 
 predicate nominative after vocantur. 20. Quod, t. e. id quod = 
 what. Frimo generally is at first; while primum is first, in the 
 first place. Numerus, a (mere) number. 21. Cuneos. The 
 plural indicates that each body formed a ennens, and that many 
 cunei formed the acies. Loco, ablat. governed by ex understood. 
 Cf. Liv. III. 63. 22. Instes, subjunct. of condition. A. & S. g 
 263, 2; H. 60.3; B. 1259; A. 61, 3; G. 575. Consilii formi- 
 <i\ni& = api-oofofprudejtce 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 quam." Madvig, g 308, Obs. 2. Consilii, predi- 
 cate genitive. A. A S. 211, Rem. 8 (3); H. 401; B. 780; A. 50, 
 I. c; G. 365. 23. Corpora, *c. caesa. Referunt, t. e. back to 
 the rear. 24. Nee fas (est) ignominioso, etc. 26. Multi, se. 
 ignominiosi. Superstates bellorum, surviving the wars. The 
 genitive after snperstes 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 regions, c. est and kings hare not; regions being 
 dat. of the possessor. Infinita, libera, unlimited, unrestrained. 
 Exemplo and imperio, instrumental ablat. 8. Agant, subjunc- 
 tive by the principle of oratio obliqua, to reflect the sentiment of 
 the admirers and not that of Tacitus. Admiratione, with admira- 
 tion, so as to excite admiration. 4. Animadvertere = to punish, 
 here with death. " Animadvertere in aliquem, by an ellipsis of 
 supplicio, signifies to punish any one" Crombie. 5. Permissuni,
 
 GERMANIA. 147 
 
 Page 
 
 c. est. Non poenam. not as though for punishment, but to ap- J9 
 pease the anger of the deity. 7. Effigies et signa, images and 
 standard*, standards with certain images on them ; these images, 
 as appears from Hist. IV. 22, were those of wild boar*, bears, 
 wolves, and bulls: "depromptae silvis lucisve ferarum imagines." 
 And this explains (8) detracta lucis, taken from the yroves. 9. 
 Quodque = et quod, and ichat. 10. Conglobatio, mast of men, 
 assemblage ; a post-Augustan word. Turmam, of cavalry. 
 Cuneum, of infantry. 11. In proximo (c. loco) =: near by, in 
 proximity. Pignora, i. e. their wives and children. 12. Audiri, 
 i* heard ; the historical infinitive. This is the reading of the 
 MSS., which Kritz corrects and reads auditur. 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 demand, as proof of valor. Some editors trans- 
 late to examine and care for, which seems not to accord with the 
 general spirit of the context. 
 
 17-28. Quasdam labantes, that some armiet already giving 
 way and uuvering. 18. Bestitutas (esse). Notice the two 
 ablatives feminis and constantia; the former, being a voluntary 
 agent, is governed by the preposition a; the latter, expressing 
 means, 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 at, to such a degree that. 22. 
 Nobiles. So all the MSS. Some editors, however, read nnbiles ; a 
 reading at variance with the ancient German reverence for women. 
 23. Inesse, c. feminis, that there is in them. Quin. etiam, more- 
 over. 25. Responsa, their answer*; 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 sup- 
 posed 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, c. Germanoruin, 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 jluttei-y ; 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 indi- 
 rect but evident censure of the servile spirit and depraved man- 
 ners of the later Romans. Neque deas, nor 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 eat. 
 
 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, <. 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. Religio- 
 nem, that her worship. Cohibere, to confine (icithin). 8. Ex, in 
 accordance with. 10. Consecrant, i. e. to particular deities. Se- 
 cretum 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 dis- 
 cern 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. Tit qui 
 maxime = quam maxime, very diligently ; lit., a those (observe 
 them) who observe them most.. 14. Arbori. The dative depends 
 on de in composition (decisam). 15. Discretes, distinguished, 
 marked; from discerno. Temere, at random. 16. Si consul- 
 tetur = if the consultation is on behalf of the state. Editors 
 generally read consnletur. 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. Probibuerunt, sc. sortes.
 
 GERMANIA. 149 
 
 Page 
 
 21. Permissum, c. est, the matter is allowed ; impersonally. 22. 20 
 Fides, confirmation. Exigitar, it required. Et illud quidem, 
 and in fact the following. Hie, i. c. in Germany. Notum (est). 
 23. Proprium gentis (Qermanicae eet), it is a peculiarity of the 
 (German) race. For the case of gentis. A. A S. 213; H. 399, 3, 
 3) ; B. 766 ; A. 50, 3 ; G. 356, Hem. 1. 24. Publice, by the state; 
 or, at the expense of the state. 25. Lucia. What preposition is 
 understood ? 26. Mortal! = of man. Contact!, defiled, blemished. 
 Presses poeticum habet colorem, K. ; and is another instance of 
 the proneness of Tacitus to the language of poetry. Sacro cnrru, 
 used in the performance of public sacred rites. 27. Hinnitus 
 observant. How is Darius Hystaspes said to have been chosen 
 king ? Cf. Herod. III. 85. 
 
 1-14. Fides, credit. 2. Illos, c. equos. Conscios, *c. ease, are O1 
 their confidant*. 4. Explorantur is the reading of one MS. cor- 
 rected, and is adopted by Hal in ; some have exploratur others 
 explornnt. 5. Quoquo modo, in whatever manner, " vel vi, vel dolo, 
 vel casu." K. 6. ElectO suorum, one chosen from their own 
 countrymen. Patriis, of his country or nation. 7. Armis, ablat. 
 of accompaniment, with cnm 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 prejudg- 
 meiit, a virtual judgment of the result of the future contest. 10. 
 Ita tamen at, tn ench a way however that with this provision 
 however that. 11. Pertractentur, 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. Eebus, 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. Constituent, condicunt (determine^ 
 appoint). Vocabula sunt forensia. K. Ducere. to lead = to go 
 before ; a day was reckoned from sunset to sunset. 17. Iliad is 
 subject. Ex libertate, c. ortuin, arising from. 18. Ut, tchen. 
 Et alter, even a second ; from which it is evident that alter is 
 equivalent to secundns. 19. Ut, when, as soon as. 21. Quibus 
 6Bt = who have. Turn, then, when they have taken their seats in 
 convention. 22. Cuique, translate of each; it is however dative 
 
 X2
 
 150 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 21 of the possessor, c. est. 23. Decus, his renown (in). Auctori- 
 tate, from their influence (in); ablat. of cause. 24. Displicuit, 
 c. iis. 28. Discrimen intendere = to arraiyn on a capital 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, cowards, who show fear in battle; imbelles, the nmcar- 
 like, who seek to avoid warfare. Corpora infames, the disre- 
 putable in body ; " nefandis et naturae repugnantibus libidinibus 
 dediti." K. Coeno ac palude = coenosa pnlude ; such a hendiadys 
 we should expect to find only in poetry. Yet many occur in Taci- 
 tus. 4. Diversitas. A post-Augustan word, and a proof of the 
 growth and development of language, not necessarily of its decay. 
 6. Illuc respicit = Aa regard to this, has this object in view. 
 Scelera oporteat = crimes ought; crimes against society, while 
 flagitia are vices which degrade the individual. 6. Delictis, dat. 
 of the possessor. 7. Pro modo, c. delicti, according to the measure 
 of the offense. Poena, c. est. All the MSS. have, strangely 
 enough, poenamm, which nearly all editors, ancient and modern, 
 have corrected. " Poena and tupplicium agree in denoting a pun- 
 ishment 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. Supplicium 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. A S. 
 $ 217, Rem. 3; H. 410, 5, 3); 13. 795; Ai 50. 4, b; G. 377, Rem. 1. 
 Multare, to mulct, is always followed by the ablative. 9. Vindi- 
 catur, is avenged. Propinquis ejus, e. g. in cases of homicide. 
 10. Isdem = iisdem. Jura reddunt, administer justice, in circuit 
 (per) courts. 11. Pagos, canton*, districts, the territory of a dis- 
 tinct people, e. g. the hundred cantons of the Suevi, Caes. B. G. I. 
 37. There might be many vici in a pagus. 12. Consilium 
 auctoritas, at once his council (or advisers) and (the supporters of) 
 his authority. 
 
 13-18. Rei is partitive genitive limiting nihil. Neque neque, 
 either or; because nihil is a general negative which tirque 
 neque simply distribute. A. A S. g 277, Rem. 5; II. 585, 2; B. 
 999 ; G. 444. 14. Non cuiquam moris, c. est= it i tiot customary 
 for ay one. Cuiquam is dative of the possessor. Moris is predi-
 
 GERMANIA. 151 
 
 Page 
 
 cate genitive of quality. A. A S. $ 211, Rem. 8 (3), (a); H. 401 22 
 and 402, I.; B. 780; A. 50, 1, c; G. 365. Ante quam=ante- 
 quam, before; followed by probaverit, subjunctive of ideal limit. 
 A. A S. 263, 3 ; H. 523, II. j B. 1241 ; A. 62, II. ; G. 579. 15. 
 Suffecturum, sc. eum esse, thnt 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. Haec, 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. Prin- 
 cipis dignatiortem, the rank of prince. 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. Ceteris, dative after aggregantur. 22. Jam pridem=jam- 
 pridem, long, already long. Aggregantur, sc. hi adolescentuli ; 
 tlf-y attach themselves. Nee rubor, sc. est iis = nor are they 
 ashamed. 23. Comites, the attendants, retinue, of the king or 
 prince; the same as comitatus in the same line. Gradns, degrees 
 of rank. Quin etiam, moreover; but even. 25. Quibus locus, 
 sc. sit, tcho shall have the first, etc. 27. Comites, sc. sint ; subjunc- 
 tive of indirect question. Haec, sc. est; also agreeing with the 
 predicate dignitas. 28. Decus answers to dignitas, and prae- 
 sidium to vires : decus is in apposition with the preceding clause. 
 
 1-5. Cuiqne, *c. principis. 2. Nomen, renown. 3. Comitatus, 03 
 genitive. Emineat, he in distinguished; 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 almont terminate. For other instances 
 of this meaning of profligo, cf. Ann. XIV. 36 ; Hist. II. 4. Taci- 
 tus applies to bella a word which is more strictly applicable to 
 hasten. 
 
 6-18. Ventum, sc. est ab iis = tohen they come. 8. Jam vero, c. 
 est, then indeed it is ; introducing climax or important considera- 
 tion. 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, II. 1 ; 15. 251 ; G. 105, 1. 
 16. Ancipitia, damjei-s, the perils of war. 18. Exigunt, they de- 
 mand, i. e. strive to win. Ilium illam point to the well recog- 
 nized rewards of valor. When emphatic, ills is often placed after 
 the noun, unless accompanied by an adjective. 
 
 20-28, Quamquara apparatus, entertainments though inele- 
 gant yet plentiful. 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 in- 
 finitive with persuadeo is more usual in poetry, and in the prose 
 of the silver age. 23. Annum = the produce of the year. Persua- 
 seris, will you persuade them ; 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 
 win, by valor; "to win honorable scars." Quill immo, nay more. 
 Immo gives emphasis, and puts something stronger in place of 
 what has been said. A. A S. 191, Rem. 3; Z. g 277, in fin. 
 Pigrum et iners, tame and spiritless. 25. Possis, potential sub- 
 junctive. 27. Multum venatibus. All the MSS. have won multum, 
 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, 
 Rem. 35 (6); 11.458,1; B. 1052; A. 17, 5, c; G. 305. So in 
 line 3. infirmissimo cuique. 2. Domus, genitive. Penatium, 
 i. e. of the household, domestic arrangements. Agrorum. In some 
 parts of Germany the severest agricultural labors are still per- 
 formed by women. 3. Ipsi, ?'. e. viri. 4. Hebent, lounge about. 
 Diversitate, contrariety, contradiction. 5. Oderint. Why the per- 
 fect, while ament is 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 ex- 
 pressed. We may supply aliquid. 9. Singulis, individuals, 
 whether officials or private citizens. 10. Publice, )'n the name of 
 the ntnte. 11. Jam goes with docuimus. Accipere, c. 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. 163 
 
 12-18. Germanorum populis, by the tribes of the Germans; 24 
 populis being dative of the agent, instead of the usual prose con- 
 struction of a or ab with the ablative. 13. Satis, quite. Tacitus 
 uses the word urbes in its larger sense, as distinguished from vicus 
 and oppidum. Pati, sc, eos. Inter se together, to one another. 
 14. Colunt = incolunt. Discreti ac diversi, separate and scattered 
 about, without regard to order or regularity. TJt tons. " Hence to 
 this day, the names of German towns often end in bach (brook), 
 feld (field), holz (grove), wald (wood), born (spring)." T. 16. Con- 
 nexis cohaerentibus, with connected (as by fences, hedges, etc.) 
 and contiguous (by close contact). 18. Remedium, accusative in 
 apposition with the preceding sentence. "Sometimes an accu- 
 sative stands in apposition with a whole preceding sentence." G. 
 323. Inscitia, from ignorance; ablative of cause. 
 
 19-28. Materia, timber, wood for building. 20. Citra, lit. on 
 this side of ; short of ; hence = sine, without. Speciem aut delec- 
 tationem, elegance or attractiveness. 21. Loca, the walls. Terra 
 ita pura, of which nothing is certainly known. Some have sup- 
 posed that it wag a kind of red earth or chalk. 22. Tit imi- 
 tetur, that it resembles painting and 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 civil- 
 ized tribes. Aperire = fodere. 24. Insuper, above. Kritz 
 thinks it may mean moreover. Suffugium, See note on reme- 
 dium, line 18, above. Hiemi, from winter; the dative here de- 
 pends 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, c. hostis. Abdita defossa (sc. loca), but 
 
 their hidden retreats and their caves. 28. Eo fallunt, they escape 
 notice from the eery fact. Eo is ablat. of cnuse. 
 
 1-13. Omnibus sagum, sc. est. The sagnm covered the back 5 
 and shoulders ; it was worn by the Roman soldiers and peasants. 
 2. Cetera intecti, lit., uncovered as to the other parts 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, flowing loosely. Sicut Sarmatae, sc. distin- 
 guuntur. Stricta exprimente, tight and exhibiting each limb. 
 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, sc. sit, inatutuek fig 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, refinement, 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 hcndiadys. 9. Exterior ooeanus, the German ocean ; ignotum 
 mare, " the unknown sea " is the Baltic. 10. Habitus, drexs, 
 attire. 12. Variant, they diversify. 13. Brachia. accusative of 
 specification. Bracbium extended from the hand to the elbow ; 
 lacertus, from the elbow to the shoulder. 
 
 14-18. Quamquam, althonyh, i. e. notwithstanding the style of 
 dress. 15. Laudaveris, will you praise,- perfect subjunctive. A. 
 & S. g 260, II., Hem. 4;-H. 486, I.; B. 1177-9; A. 60, 2, o/ G. 
 602. 16. Barbarorum, among barbarians; partitive genitive. 
 Singulis. Notice the force of the distributive; " one wife each." 
 17. Qui non ambiuntur, who (have several wives) not from lust, 
 but on account of their nobility are invited to several marriages. 
 Nuptiis is dative of the end or object. All the MSS. have pluri- 
 mis nnptiis. But, with Halm and Kritz, we prefer pliiribnv, which 
 forms a better contrast with singnlis, Ariovistus had but two 
 wives. Ambiuntur, sc. a virginum parentibus aut propin- 
 quis. K. 
 
 22-28. Delicias muliebres, the mere delight of the women; "the 
 fastidious tastes of women." 23. Nee quibus nee taliautiis; 
 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, on condition of 
 these gifts. To us they seem rather to mean, to the symbolism (or 
 purport) of these gifts ; or simply into these gifts, i. e. their signifi- 
 cance; maintenance and protection. 26. Haeo sacra, these are 
 their mystic rites, 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 Roman marriage, called confarreatio. 
 27. Conjugales deos. The Romans had quite a number of gods of 
 marriage; e. g. Jupiter, Juno, Diana, Hymenacus, Venus, and 
 others of less note. 28. Extra COgitationeS, beyond aspirations 
 after mnnli/ qualities. 
 
 2Q 1-13. Bellorum casus incipientis forms a hexameter verse. S. 
 3. Idem, c. quod vir suus vel patitur vel audet. Passuram. The
 
 GERM AN I A. 155 
 
 Page 
 
 future participle here denotes purpose or destiny. 5. Denuntiant, 26 
 declare, proclaim. Sic vivendum, sc. esse sibi, that thus she mutt 
 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. <t S. g 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. Beferantur, sc. quae, which are to be transmitted. 8. 
 Septa. One MS. has septae. With chastity guarded, by the sacred- 
 ness of marriage and the moral obligations implied in the bridal 
 gifts. Spectaculorum refers to the corrupt influences of the Ro- 
 man shows and exhibitions. 9. Conviviorum. Cf. Nepos Pref. : 
 Quern enim Komanorum pudet uxorem ducere in convivium? 10. 
 Litterarum secreta. By " the secrets of letters " Tacitus must 
 mean secret correspondence, clandestine love letters ; "quibus illicit! 
 amores juvabantur." K. This view, indeed, is made necessary by 
 the context. 12. Fraesens, immediate. 13. Abscisis, from abscido. 
 Some MSS. have ace its is. 
 
 14-28. Publicatae = vulgatae, prostituted. 15. Pudicitiae is 
 dative of the possessor, sc. est. Non forma, neither by her beauty. 
 16. Invenerit, teill she find ; perf. subjunctive of cautious state- 
 ment. A. & S. I 260, II., Hem. 4; H. 486, I.; B. 1177-9; A. 60, 
 2, a; G. 602. Nemo vocatur. Tacitus seems here, like an un- 
 compromising 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, c. 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 transi- 
 gitur, the bnsiuem is once for all concluded ; with no hope or wish 
 fur its repetition. 21. Ne ultra, <. sit. 22. Longior, a more 
 distant, outreaching the first union. 23. Numenim flnire (to 
 limit), in an unnatural way either before or after birth. 24. 
 Agnatis, additional children, born after the father had made his 
 will. Agiiati are kinsmen by the father's side, and include the 
 regular line of his descendants. 27. Nodi, iliylitly clad; as the 
 word often means. Sordid! must also refer to clothing = meanly 
 dd ; since in chap. 22 the Germans are said to bathe every day. 
 28. Quae miramur, on account of their great size. Sua, his 
 own.
 
 156 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 27 1-17. ITberibus = at the breast. Nee delegantur. Cf. Dial, 
 de Orat. c. 29. 2. Educationis, in the physical sense of being 
 reared. 3. Deliciis, amenities. Dignoscas, potential subjunctive. 
 A. & S. f 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. Subjunc- 
 tive after donee, because the attainment of the result is viewed as 
 held in suspense. A. A S. 263, 4-; H. 522, I. ; B. 1240 ; A. 62, 3, 
 d; G. 573 and 574; Z. g 575. Virtus, valor; agnoscat, recog- 
 nizes them ; until the achievement of some deed of valor classes 
 them among the brave. 5. Venus concubitus ; the sexual con- 
 gress. Cf. Caes. B. G. VI. 21. Eoque, and for this reason ; eo 
 being ablative of cause. 6. Festinantur = are hurried into mar- 
 riayc. Eadem juventa, c. est virginibus atque juvenibus; youth 
 is not wedded to age. 7. Miscentur =are wedded, sc. "cum 
 juvenibus maritis." K. 8. Beferunt, reproduce; and hence re- 
 semble. 9. Honor, regard, consideration. 10. Hunc nexum, >. e. 
 of sisters' sons. 11. Exigunt, s<\ sororum filios. Tamquam = on 
 the ground that. 12. Teneant, subjunctive in oritlio obliqua, be- 
 cause 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, maternal uncles ; propinqui, blood 
 relations; affines, relations by marriage. 16. Gratiosior senec- 
 tus. 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 childlessness. Fretia, advantages, sc. 
 sunt. 
 
 18-28. Suscipere, to take tip and make them one's own. Tarn 
 quam, as veil as. 20. Durant, sc. Gertuani. Armentorum, 
 of large cattle. 21. Recipit domUS, the whole house receives satis- 
 faction ; i. e. on the payment of the fine, all the relatives of the 
 murdered man lay aside their enmity, and that feud ceases. 22. 
 Publicum, the general public. 23. Juxta libertatem, in con- 
 nection 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, accord- 
 ing to his means. Apparatis, with well furnished. Excipit, enter- 
 tains. 27. Cum defecere, sc. epulae. Modo, but just now. 
 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, f. e. without being invited. 
 
 1-6. Nee interest, i. e. whether they are invited or not. Pari 28 
 humanitate, with the same kindness, as if they had been specially 
 invited. 2. Quantum hospitis, as far as concerns the right of 
 the guest to hospitality. Cf. Agric. 44. 3. Moris, sc. est, it is cus- 
 tomary ; predicate genitive of quality. A. & S. g 211, Hem. 8 (3), 
 (a); H. 401 and 402, I.; B. 780; A. 50, 1, c; G. 365. 4. Facili- 
 tas, freedom. 5. Nee imputant, lit., they neither charge to one's 
 account; they neither regard as an obligation. 6. VictUS comis, 
 the wanner of life between hosts and guests is courteous ; though in 
 the absence of strangers, and among themselves, they may be 
 quarrelsome, 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 dayliijht. 8. Lavantur, they wash themselves, bathe : clearly 
 with the force of a Greek middle verb. Calida, sc. aqua. Tit apud 
 qviOB since among them; a relative clause assigning a reason, in 
 which the verb is generally in the subjunctive, especially when the 
 relative is strengthened by ut, quippe, etc. Plurimum = most of 
 the year. 9. Singulis sedes, sc. sunt, each one has, etc. 12. Nulli 
 probrum, sc. est. 13. Tit inter vinolentos, sc. fieri solet, as hap- 
 pens, etc. 15. In vicem, mutually. Jungendis, contracting. 16. 
 Asciscendis, admitting, i. e. electing. 17. Nullo, fit no other. 18. 
 Simplices, undisguised. Magis pateat, is more open. 
 
 19-28. Astuta callida. Men are astuti (cunning) by nature; 
 callidi (shrewd) by experience. See Hill, pp. 119-122. 20. 
 Adhuc, still, to this day. Licentia, I'M the freedom. 21. Detecta 
 mens, sc. est. Retractatur = tlie matter is again discussed ; the 
 negotiation is renewed; impersonally. 22. Salva est, the ac- 
 count of both occasions is safe; a business phrase: " sa/va 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 enter- 
 tainment; and sober second thought guides to the proper use of it. 
 25. Fotui humor, sc. est iis, they have as a drink, etc. The refer- 
 ence is to ale and beer, for which the Romans had no nnme. Fru- 
 mento, here wheat. 26. CorruptUS only implies thnt 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. Eipae, <. Rheni. 
 27. Cibi simplices, sc. sunt. Poma, fruits. Receus fera, we 
 
 O
 
 158 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 28 may translate fresh venison; properly, fresh game of any kind. 
 Cf. Caes. B. G. IV. 1 ; VI. 22. 28. Lac concretum, curdled milk, 
 curds. Cf. Virg. Georg. III. 463. ApparatU, elegance of prepara- 
 tion. Blandimentis, in genenil, incentives to appetite; which may 
 be either dainties, delicacies (K., T.), or condiments, season- 
 ing (S.). 
 
 on 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 CSt, for whom it is a sport ; " 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, KC. paravit. Non in quaestum, as was the case with 
 Koman jugglers and mountebanks. 9. ftuamvis audacis, however 
 daring ; as daring as you please. 10. Mirere, you may wonder atj 
 potential subjunctive. 11. Inter seria, among their serious occupa- 
 tions. Gambling, except at the Saturnalia, was forbidden by 
 Roman laws. 12. Extreme ao 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 veneo. 16. Ea = cA; agreeing with 
 pervicacia. Prava, ablative. Fidem, honor. 17. Per com- 
 mercia tradunt, they dispose of in commerce, i. e. to foreigners, for 
 the reason mentioned in the next clause. 18. Pudore, from the 
 disgrace, i. e. of holding their countrymen as slaves on their native 
 soil. Exsolvant = libcrent. 19. Ceteris servis, captured in war, 
 etc. Descriptis ministeriis, in services distributed among all 
 the slaves. Famlliam is here the whole body of slaves belonging 
 to one master. In Seeker's Gallua we have an account of the mani- 
 fold subdivision of slave duties in a large Roman household. 20. 
 Quisque, each slave. 21. Sedem, house and home; 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. Im- 
 pune est, i. e. to kill a slave. 27. Liberti, freedmen. A manu- 
 mitted slave was liber tus (that is, liberatus) with reference to his 
 master; with reference to the class to which he belonged after
 
 GERMANIA. 159 
 
 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) freedmen, 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 freedom ; 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 = <o exact interest for money lent. 
 Et extendere (*c. fenus), and to put it (the interest) on interest, 
 i. e. to exact compound interest. This sentence is a difficult one. 
 Commentators, however, agree in giving the explanation just 
 given. " When usnra and fenus 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 more observed. We may supply non fene- 
 rri as subject. Usury was forbidden at Rome by severe laws, but 
 Tacitus has already said of the Germans, "plus ibi boni mores 
 fulfill qunni alibi bonne leges." 7. Pro, in proportion to. TTni- 
 versis, 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 ecery year, 
 annually. Arva, agri, camporum, terrae, soli, all occur in this 
 chapter. Terra is opposed to mure and cuelum ; solum is the solid 
 ground, the soil; campus is a plain or field; ager is properly the 
 territory round a city ; arvum is ploughed land (from aro, to 
 plough). 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 imposed, is required. 14. In 
 totidem, i. e. as the Romans. Species, kinds, i. e. seasons. 16. 
 Autumni. "Accordingly in English, spring, summer, and winter, 
 are Saxon words, while autumn is of Latin origin." T. Boiia, the 
 blessings, the advantages. 
 
 17-29. Ambitio, ostentations display. At Rome funerals were 
 often conducted with great magnificence. 19. Struem rogi = t&e 
 funeral pile. 20. Quorundam, i. e. of the chiefs. Rude nations
 
 160 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 30 generally believe that their needs and occupations after death wilt 
 be the same as in this life. 21. Sepulcrum erigit, a turf trects 
 a tomb, instead of " sepulcrum caespite erigitur." K. Arduum, 
 lofty. 22. Gravem, pressing heavily on; " pondere suo ac mole 
 defunctos prementem." K. Compare with this the expression 
 found in epitaphs, " sit tibi terra levis." 24. Feminis memi- 
 nisse. Compare Seneca, Ep. 100, Vir prudens meminisse perse- 
 veret, lugere desinat. 26. In commune, in general, generally. 
 27. Instituta, the usages, 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 suf- 
 ficed 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 auotor, 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, '. e.. 
 llhctius. Quo minus OCCUparet = its taking possession off lit. 
 that it should the less occupy. 5. Permutaret, i. e. take in ex- 
 change for their previous abodes. Proiniscuas = unclaimed, open 
 to the first coiner. 6. Nulla divisas (apportioned), i. e. not ap- 
 portioned 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 Ger- 
 many had become better known to the Romans, the name Hercynia 
 Silva was applied to the more limited range of mountains extend- 
 ing around Bohemia, and through Moravia and Hungary. Diet. 
 Geog. 7. Moenum, the Main. 8. Ulteriora, sc. loca, the district 
 beyond.
 
 GERMANIA. 161 
 
 Page 
 
 9-28. Boihaemi (Boihemi, Boiohemi, etc.), of Boihaemum; 31 
 genitive probably, from Boihaemum ; 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. Me- 
 moriam, tradition. 11. Germanorum natione, '. . their present 
 situation is among the Germans. In chapter 43, Tacitus concludes 
 from their use of the Pannonian language that they were not Ger- 
 man. 13. Eodem, as the Aravisei. 14. Pari erant, the ad- 
 vantages and disadvantages of either bank were formerly in equal 
 freedom and in equal poverty. Both banks had the same ad- 
 vantages 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 Aravisei, and on the left the Osi. 
 16. Circa, in respect to, in. This meaning and use of the word are 
 post-Augustan. Ultro, actually, really. 19. Hand dubie = un- 
 doubtedly ; 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, L, 2; B. 1235; 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. Experi- 
 xnento, on proof, in consequence of the proof; ablat. of cause. 
 Super, on. 24. Arcerent, sc. foes, transrhenanos. 26. Gentium, 
 partitive genitive limiting praecipui, distinguished (among). 27. 
 Non ripa, not much of the bank, i. e. a small portion of the 
 bank. 28. Seditione, ablative of cause, on account of, etc. 
 
 2-12. Fierent, subjunct. in a relative clause expressing a result, qo 
 in quibus=i in Us. A. 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 ta.r 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) im- 
 poverish them. The word forcibly reminds us of that grinding 
 extortion for which the Roman tax-gatherer was too often notori- 
 ous. Oneribus, the ordinary taxes ; collationibus, extraordinary 
 contributions and gratuities. 6. Obsequio, allegiance, obedience. 
 11 Tac. O 2
 
 162 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 32 9- ^ n sna r ip a i * c - * n patria terra. K. 10. Cetera, fn other re- 
 spects ; accus. of specification. 11. Adhuc, yet, still ; to be taken 
 with ipso solo and caelo. 12. Acrius animantur, they are roused 
 to a fiercer courage. 
 
 13-28. Non numeraverim, I shall, not number, may not number; 
 subjunctive of doubtful affirmation, or of cautious statement (poten- 
 tial subjunctive). 14. Quamquam consederint. See note and 
 references, line 21, page 31. 15. Decimates agios, tithe-lands. 
 The Romans very commonly exacted a tithe from those who occu- 
 pied the public lands. Such lands are usually called decitmani ; 
 but Tacitus employs a new 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 and daring poverty. 17. Limite acto, the 
 boundary line having been drawn (established). 18. Sinus im- 
 peril, the projecting frontier of the empire. 20. Effusis, extensive, 
 spread out into a broad surface. 21. Durant rarescunt, if the 
 hills do indeed continue (i. e. a considerable distance), they gradu- 
 ally 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 direc- 
 tion of the Chatti ; and finally et Chatti deponit, and the Her- 
 cynian forest at once accompanies and leaves behind (lit. sets down) 
 its Ohatti. 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, compact, close-knit. 25. 
 Ut inter Germanos =for Germans, considering they are Germans. 
 26. Rationis, of system, method. Praeponere. This and the other 
 infinitives are in apposition with multum sollertiae ; to place 
 over themselves chosen men. Audire, to obey. 27. Ordiaes, ranks, 
 military ranks and discipline in battle. 28. Disponere, to dis- 
 tribute the labors or duties of; to portion off. Vallare noctem, to 
 fortify the night, i. e. against attack at night. The expression is 
 figurative and poetical. 
 
 33 1-9- Quodque = et quod, and what ; so. est. 2. Neo niii con- 
 Cessum, lit. and not granted except = and granted only. For Ro- 
 manae, which has good MS. authority, some editors read ratione>
 
 GERMANIA. 163 
 
 4. Super, besides. Ferramentis, with iron tools, axes, spades, pick- 33 
 axes, etc. 5. Copiis, with provisions. Proelium, a battle, a single 
 engagement; ad bollum, to war, a series of battles. Videas, you 
 may see ; potential subjunctive, with the imaginary second person 
 (called by others, subjunctive of implied condition, sc. if you will). 
 A. & S. g 261, 2, Rem. 2, and Rem. 4; H. 485; B. 1177; A. 60, 2, 
 ay G. 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 i certainly characteristic 
 of cavalry forces, etc. 8. Velocitas applies to cavalry, cunctatio 
 to infantry. Juxta formidinem, (it) akin to fear ; because it may 
 avoid danger by running away. 9. Constantiae, to firmness, steady 
 courage. 
 
 10-16. Et aliis raro, and what 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 au- 
 dentia, by the individual boldness of each. In consensum, into a 
 custom. 12. Ut primum, a* soon as. The subjunctive adoleverint 
 refers the thought to the Chatti (oratio obliqua). 13. Submitters, 
 to let grow, = promittere. Votivum habitum, the habit of the 
 face vowed and pledged to valor, i. e. the bearded face, which was 
 an evidence that they had devoted themselves to valor. 14. San- 
 guinem et spolia, i. e. of a slain enemy. 15. Revelant frontem, 
 they uncover the face 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. Hie habitus, this appearance, wearing the 
 iron ring. Placet and insignes imply that such warriors preferred 
 to continue wearing the ring evon after they had been released 
 from it by killing an enemy. 21. Calient. 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. 
 Visa nova, strange to behold ; visu is the supine, not the noun 
 visHs ; since Tacitus is speaking of the effect to be produced, and 
 is not simply describing. How is the supine in u used ? A. & S. 
 276, III. ; H. 570, 1 ; B. 1365 ; A. 74, 2 ; G. 437, Rem. 1. 24. 
 Mansuesount, do they soften. Nulli, t. e. of this class of warriors. 
 Domus, sc. est. 25. Aliqua cura, i. e. in regard to the means of 
 living. 26. Alieni = o/tc/ict< belongs to another ; genitive limiting 
 prodigi. Sui, from suus ; of what is their own. Exsanguis,
 
 164 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 33 bloodless, t. e. pale, wan, and so enfeebled. 28. Order : Usipi ac 
 Tenoteri, proximi Chattis, colunt Rhenum jam certum alveo. 
 Certum Bhenum, the Rhine now fixed (well defined) in its chan- 
 nel; 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 liheni ripam, 
 
 34 1~9. Quique sufficiat, and tuck that it suffices to be a boundary ; 
 i. e. the river is too wide and deep to admit of its being easily 
 crossed by invaders. Notice qui = talia ut, thus making sufficiat 
 subjunctive of result. A. & S. g 264, 1 (a), and (6); H. 500 and 
 501, I.; B. 1218; A. 65, 1 ; G. 554 and 633 ; Z. 558. 4. Tencteris 
 = aptid 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 : cquuleis ex ligno 
 factis (infantium) insidentiuui eosque exercentium. 7. Inter 
 familiam, among the slaves. The idea is, among several things to 
 be inherited, horses are specially included. Fenates, the home- 
 stead. T. Jura successionum, rights of succession, rights acquired 
 by succession; "heirlooms." T. This seems to be the sense re- 
 quired here by the context, though Kritz explains the expression 
 to mean regulations pertaining to inheritances; " constitutiones de 
 adeunda hereditate." 8. Excipit melior, the eldest son inherits 
 (the horses), not as (he inherits) the other property, but according 
 as lie is high-spirited and superior in war ; i. e. though the other 
 property is inherited by the eldest son, the horses become the in- 
 heritance 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 (c. 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 suf- 
 ficiently explained as an ablat. of specification. 15. Super, more 
 than, above. 17. Oblectationi oculisque, a hendiadys for oblec- 
 tationi oculorum : 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 reciprocal sense. Quando, since. Urgen- 
 tibns fatis (sc. eos, i. e. hostes), the fates of our empire urging 
 them 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 dudunt, inclose in their rear, towards the east. 
 22. Haud memoratae, not equally well- known with the Dulgi-
 
 GERMANIA. 165 
 
 Page 
 
 bini and Chasuarii. 23. A fronte excipiunt, succeed (are next to) 34 
 them in front, towards the west. 24. Ex virium, from the 
 measure of their prucer, according to their power. 25. TJsqne ad, 
 all the way to. Praetexuntnr, are bordered, bounded. The meta- 
 phor is probably drawn from the toga, which was inclosed by 
 a purple border. 26. Ambiunt, = they occupy the border* of. 
 Lacus, which, being overflowed by the ocean, are now united in 
 the Zuyder Zee. Et, even. 27. Quin etiam (nay even) = more- 
 over. Ilia, I'M that quarter; 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 invextigations being mode. In 86, f. e. 
 in oceanum. Sim.nl atqne = bnth and. In Hercnlem, i. e. in 
 connection with his "Pillars." 5. Temptavit, c. oceanum. 
 Sanctins, more pious. 6. Visnm (est). De actis scire, i. e. to 
 exercise faith rather than have real knowledge; a pious after- 
 thought, making a virtue of a necessity. 
 
 7-11. Hactenns, 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. Prime statim = at 
 the very outset, at the beginning of the bend. 9. Chaucomm. 
 Their name is still preserved in that of their harbor, Cuxhaven. S. 
 Incipiat. In the best authors qnamqnam generally takes the 
 indicative; in Tacitus it regularly takes the subjunctive. 11. La- 
 teribus obtenditnr, is stretched along the flanks; L e. the Chauci 
 occupy the country east of those nations as far as the Elbe (Albis). 
 In ChattOS sinnetur = it extends in a curve as far as the Chatti ; 
 curving in a general south-east direction to the Ckatti on the south. 
 
 13-21. Et implent, they even fill it, and thus prove their vast 
 numbers. 14. Notice qniqne = et talis ut is (and one that), with 
 subjunctive of result, malit. A. A S. 264, 1 (a) and (6) ; H. 500,
 
 166 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 35 and 501, L; B. 1218; A. 65, 2; G. 554, and 633; Z. 558. 15. 
 Tueri, to uphold. 15. Sine impotentia, without weakness, i. e. 
 with a consciousness of subdued power and dignity. Secretique, 
 and retired, keeping aloof from others. 18. TJt superiores agant 
 (that they hold the rank of superiors] is the object of assequuntur, 
 they attain. 19. Omnibus, so. sunt; they all have. 20. Exercitus, 
 BC. iis est. Plurimuni = a very great number. 21. Et (iis) quies- 
 ceutibas (est), and when at peace they have. Eadem fama, sc. 
 quae in bello. 
 
 23-28. Marcentem, an enervating, enfeebling. Dill, from its 
 position, seems to modify marcentem ; it may, however, be ap- 
 plied with equal force to illacessiti ( -from having been tin- 
 attacked), or to nutrierunt. 24. Quam tutius, than aafe. When 
 two adjectives or adverbs are compared with each other, both are 
 put in the comparative. A. & S. $ 256, Rem. 12 ; H. 444, 2 ; B. 
 903; A. 47, 7; G. 314; Z. 690. Tacitus sometimes uses the posi- 
 tive in one part of the proposition. 25. Impotentes, the ungovern- 
 able, the violent, who exercise no self-control. Falso quiescas 
 (potential subjunctive), you may repose mistakenly ; 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, f. e. moderation and mildness belong only to those who, 
 having the power to injure, refrain from injury. Ita Cherusci qui 
 oliin (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 victorious 
 Chatti ; dative of advantage. Fortuna cessit, their good luck 
 pasted 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 
 equal degree, on equal terms. 3. Cum, although ; 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 Becundis, 
 sc. rebus, in prosperity. Minores, their inferiors, less powerful. 
 
 4-14. Eundem sinum, the same projecting frontier ; Jutland, to 
 which Tacitus refers in ingenti flexu, chapter 35. 5. Gloria, 
 ablative of specification ; or, with Kritz, sc. ejus, and make it 
 nominative. 6. Utraque ripa, sc. 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 
 cantrorum spafia =~apacious encampments. 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 summed up, 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 during. 15. In vicem, in turn = reciprocal, 
 mutual. Samnis, the Samnite, i. e. the Satnnites, the most stub- 
 born of the Italian enemies of B.ome. 16. Hispaniae, the (two) 
 Spains, the two divisions of Spain, separated by the Iberus (Ebro). 
 Galliae, the Gauls, Transalpine and Cisalpine. 17. Saepius ad- 
 monuere, have more frequently reminded ns of the inconstancy of 
 fortune, which has not always been on our side. Arsacis, of 
 Arsaces, the founder of the Parthian monarchy. Acrior, more 
 vigorous. 19. Amisso dejectus, itself even (i. e. the East), in a 
 Pacorus lost, humbled beneath a Ventidius. PacSrus 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 up to us ; or, to taunt us with. 
 Subjunctive in a question of appeal (deliberative or dubitative 
 subjunctive). A. <fc S. 260, Rem. 5; H. 486, II.; B. 1180; A. 
 57, 6; G. 251. 23. Populo, dative of disadvantage; translate, 
 from. 24. Caesari, t. e. Augustus. 26. Nero, Claudius Tiberius 
 Nero, afterwards the emperor Tiberius. Germanicus was the son 
 of Drusus. 27. C. Caesaris, Caligula. Ludibrium, ridicule, de- 
 rision. Versae (sunt). 28. Otium, peace, sc. 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. Trium- 
 phati vioti 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 names. 8. In- 
 signe substringere, it is a distinctive mark of the race to turn 
 the hair back and to tie it up 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, on account of some; 
 cognatione being ablative of cause. 12. Rarum, sc. est, t. 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 inanu. The expression is a singular one, and is prob- 
 ably here intended to be equivalent to obliquare. Vertice, crown, 
 top of the head. 15. Ornatiorem, sc. 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 not 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 enemy. 
 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 : " Nam primi in omnibus proeliis oculi vincuntur." 
 20-28. Fides, the credibility. Religione, by a reliyious rite. 
 
 21. Stato, from sisto. Auguriis sacram, a hexameter verse. 
 
 22. Prisca formidine, by ancient awe. 23. Legationibus = by 
 
 their representatives. Publico, by public authority. 24. Pfi- 
 mordia, beginning. The remainder of the rite Tacitus does not 
 state. 25. Luco, the silvam of line 21. 26. Tit minor, as an in- 
 ferior being. Prae 86 ferens = openly acknowledging. 28. Evol- 
 vuntur = se evolvunt, in a middle sense; they roll themselves 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 
 
 1-6. Tufa, from thence, i. e. ex ea silva, referring to the indige- 38 
 nous origin of the race. Initia, c. sint. 2. Dens, i.e. Tuisto. Cf. 
 c. 2. Adjicit auctoritatem, add weight, sc. superstition! illi. 4. 
 Corporis, sc. civitatis. 
 
 6-16. Langohardos, 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 sin.gu.lis, among them individually. 
 12. Nerthum is the form given in most of the MSS. Some give 
 Herthum. The word is evidently the same as the German Erde, 
 and the English Earth. Matrem, at their mother. 13. Inter- 
 Venire = takes part in. Invehl populis, that she visits the nations 
 in a chariot. Observe that inveho in the passive means to ride, 
 tail, 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 mas or 
 femina 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. Templum does not imply any building; it merely 
 means a space marked out. So, in Greek, riptvos, from T//IVU, to 
 cut. 24. SecretO, in a sequestered, secluded. 25. Abluitur, to 
 wash away the pollution arising from intercourse with mortals. 
 Ministrant 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,^i'os ignorance, which 
 thinks it better " de actis deorum credere quam scire." 27. Tantum 
 perituri, only those doomed to perish. 28. Secretiora, the more 
 remote parts, towards the north. 
 
 1-10. Propior, i. e. to the Romans. Quo modo (quomodo) = as. 39 
 2. Shenum, sc. secutus sum. 3. Eoque, and on that account, be- 
 cause faithful to the Romans. Solis Germanorum, c. est, they 
 
 P
 
 170 NOTES. 
 
 Page 
 
 39 alone of the Germans have. 4. Non, '. e. not only, not merely. 
 Penitus,/ar inland. 5. Colonia, generally supposed to be Augusta 
 Vindelicorum, now Augsburg. 6. Cum, although, with subjunctive 
 of concession, ostendanms. 9. Albis, the Elbe. Olim, through 
 the expeditions of Drusus, Domitius, and Tiberius. 
 
 14-21. Farta (est). 15. Eaque peragitur, and this is, as it 
 were, the front of Germany, as far as it is formed by the Danube. 
 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, so. reges. 19. 
 Vis regibus, c. est, the king* hate, etc. 20. Pecunia juvantur, 
 to attach them to the interests of Rome, or to purchase their neu- 
 trality or their aid. JTec 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, >id in their 
 manner of living. Refenint, resemble; lit. reproduce. 26. Quod 
 patiuntur. This, from a Roman, is paying 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 = wine. 
 
 40 1-20. Pauca campestrium, but little of the level country. 2. 
 Saltus, the woodlands ; " saltus sunt silvae in locis editioribus." K. 
 Montiuin limits jugum (the ridge) also. 6. Diffusum, spread out, 
 divided. 9. Muliebri ornatu, in rich female attire. The loose 
 robe of the priest may have been mistaken for female apparel. 
 10. Interpretatione Bomana, according to Roman interpretuti<,n, 
 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 Alois, sc. iis 
 est, their name is Aid. 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 an brothers. Venerantur 
 is transitive. 14. Super vires, besides their (military) strength. 
 15. Truces, grimly, as an adverb. Arte ac tempore, by art and 
 time, as is immediately explained. 16. Lenociuantur, they pander 
 to = they increase. 17. Ipsaque inferunt, and by the natural 
 dread and spectral aspect of their ghostly army 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, Guinevere : 
 
 "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. Novnm, their 
 strange. 
 
 21-28. Regnantur, !. e. have a king. Jam, now, in this part 
 of our survey of the German tribes, implying that as we go north- 
 ward 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, 
 further on, straight on towards the north. Ah, along, by. Oceano, 
 i. e. mari Baltico. 24. Rugii, from whom the island of Rugcn 
 derives its name. 25. Obsequium, a willing allegiance. 27. 
 Suionam 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. TJtrimque, at both ends of the ship. Frontem agit, acts *j 
 as a forepart. 2. Ministrantur, they are worked. In ordinem, 
 in a (regular) row, in a fixed order. 3. Adjungunt, e. naves, by 
 a sort of personification. Solutum et mutahile remigium, c. 
 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, now, here, among these tribes. Non 
 parendi, with no precarious right of obedience, i. e. with an absolute 
 claim upon their obedience, from which no entreaty could discharge 
 them. 7. In promiscuo, indiscriminately, at the disposal of all. 
 8. Et quidem, and that, too. 9. Otiosae, idle. Some editors 
 read (with MSS.) otiosa. 10. Lasciviunt, become 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, 
 sc. est, the belief is. 15. Extremus fulgOT, the last radiance; in 
 ortum, till its rising. The meaning is, that though the sun sets 
 (as it must in latitudes south of 66), 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 (sc. 
 solis) audiri, of his rising is heard. This is the meaning accord- 
 ing 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 Hercnleo stridentem gurgite soltm." Juv. XIV. 
 280. This is common with the poets when they describe the setting 
 of the sun. Formas aspici, and that the forms of the gods and 
 the halo* (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, popular belief. 
 
 18-28. Illuc usque tantum, thus fur only; natura, sc. est = 
 does nature 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 now turn towards the east. Suebici ( = Suevici) maris, i. e. 
 the Baltic sea. 20. Habitus, the dress. 21. Matrem deum 
 ( deorum), i. e. interpretatione Bomana, referring to Nerthus 
 mentioned in chap. 40. 22. Insigne superstitionis, as the symbol 
 of their religions belief; or, of their superstition, from a Roman 
 standpoint. Formas aprorum, as amulets, probably. 25. Fus- 
 tium usus, in their personal quarrels. Frumenta laborant. 
 An instance of the tendency of Tacitus to condensation in expres- 
 sion, 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 Gla*, 
 English glass ; from the brightness of the amber. 
 
 42 1-9- Quae natura, *o. sit ejus. 2. Ratio, process. Ut barbaris 
 a* they are barbarians; dative, in apposition with Us under- 
 stood, which is dative of the agent with quaesitum (est). 3. 
 Quin etiam, moreover, besides. Ejectamenta, things thrown up
 
 GERMANIA. 173 
 
 Page 
 
 (by). The English language has no corresponding word. 4. 42 
 Nomen, i. e. honorem, nobilitatem. K. 5. Rude, crude. Perfer- 
 tur. 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 vege- 
 table origin seems now to be established, and it is believed or known 
 to be a fossil resin. 7. Terrena, land ; living on land, like rep- 
 tiles. 8. Implicata humore, (by) becoming entangled in it in its 
 moist condition. 9. Cluduntur = includuntur, are inclosed in it. 
 
 9-17. Fecundiora, etc. Order: crediderim igitur (/ am inclined, 
 there/ore, to believe) sicut orientis secretis (that as in the remote 
 lands of the East) ubi tura balsamaque sudantur (are exuded), ita 
 inesse insulis terrisque occidentis fecundiora nemora lucosque. 
 10. Secretis, sc. terris. 11. Insulis, dative, governed by inesse. 
 12. Quae. Here the brevity of Tacitus leads him into faulty con- 
 struction. The relative refers, grammatically, to nemora lucos- 
 que, while the sense requires it to refer to their productions. 
 Vicini soils, of the sun when near them, i. e. by the more 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 seaward direction of the 
 exudations. 15. Admoto, applied to it. Igni, ablative. 16. 
 Pinguem, aftty; i. e. thick and smoky. Tit, as if. 
 
 18-28. Continuantur = border on, are contiguous to; lit. are 
 joined to. Cetera, in other respects; accusative of specification. 
 19. Similes, so. Suionibus. Uno, in one thing; ablative of specifi- 
 cation. In tantum, to such an 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, in 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, sc. est, 
 filth is characteristic of them all; omnium is predicate genitive. 
 26. Torpor, sc. est, laziness. A Tacitean sense of the word. Con- 
 nubiis mixtis (sc. cum Sarmatis) = by intermarriages; mixti, 
 being equivalent to the inter-. 27. In habitum foedantur, they 
 are becoming debased into the character. 28. Ex moribus, c. 
 Sarmatarnm. 
 
 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 roughly point with bones. 9. Idem venatus, i. e. the women 
 accompany the men in hunting. 11. Ferarum, from wild beasts. 
 14. Arbitrantur. The truth is they did not think at all : they no 
 more missed the luxuries of Roman civilization than the con- 
 venience of the electric telegraph. Ingemere agris, to groan over 
 fields, i. e. tilling them. 15. Domibus, /. e. in building them. 
 Suas Versare, to disturb their own and others' fortunes with 
 (alternate) hope and fear ; the hope of riches and the fear of losses 
 in business. 16. Securi, careless. 18. Cetera, the rest, what re- 
 mains 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 
 
 A G K I C L A. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE Life of Agricola 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 un- 
 known 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 
 defeat of the confederate Caledonian tribes, by which the subjugation 
 ot 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 ill- 
 will 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 Douiitian'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 from C. 
 
 The composition of this work may be fixed, from internal and ex- 
 ternal 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 dowii 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 in- 
 dulgence, 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 sup- 
 pressed 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 clnrus vir is one who by merit has 
 risen to distinction. Facta moresque, the achievements and char- 
 acters. 2. Usitatum, customary, 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 some- 
 times rise to a recognition of virtue. 3. Suorum, of -its own, sc. 
 eminent men. Aetas, the age. Quotiens = quoties. 4. Super-
 
 NOTES TO THE AGRICOLA. 177 
 
 gressa est, has risen above, superior to, beyond the reach of envy. 45 
 5. Ignorantiam invidiam, ignorance and envy of rectitude ; not 
 an intellectual but a moral ignorance, which refuses or neglects to 
 recognize the claims of merit. Becti limits both nouns; t. e. envy 
 must be envy of something. 
 
 1-5. Friores, 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. ProBum, easy; because it did not attract the 
 envy of inferiors or the malice of power. Magifi aperto, lit. 
 and more in an open course = and more unobstructed. 3. Cele- 
 berrimus quisque, all the most renowned. A. A S. g 207", Hem. 35, 
 (b); H. 458, 1; B.-1052; A. 17, 5, c; G. 305. Ingenio,/or thf.ir 
 talent; ablat. of cause. 4, Sine ambitione, without favor or 
 flattery, without partiality or ingratiating flattery. Tantum 
 pretio, solely for the reward. Pretio is ablat. of cause. 
 
 5-12. Plerique, a great many, i. e. of those who wrote biography. 
 Ipsi, nominative ; narrare suam vitam ipsi. 6. Fiduciam moruai, 
 as a confidence in their characters. 7. Citra fidem, lit. on this side 
 of belief = without trustworthiness. This sense of citra belongs to 
 the silver age. 8. Obtrectationi, a disparagement ; dative of the 
 end. Adeo, to such a degree, so true is it that. Isdem = iisdem. 
 10. NUUC.S note, in these times, less auspicious than former times. 
 Mihi opus fuit^ I had need. 11. Veaia, of indulgence ; ablative. 
 Incusaturus == had I intended to find fault with = si incusaturus 
 essem, 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 incursatums. 
 
 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 Dittrna (" 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 
 Eustico, dative of the agent after laudati essent, which is sub- 
 junctive after cum, causal. 15. Capitals, 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. Triumvir is. The triumviri capi- 
 tales were superintendents of jyrisons, 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 EC 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 cotnitia tributa. The Comitium was the place of public exe- 
 cution. Diet. Anliqq. 
 
 18-28. Scilicet, 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 = 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 
 informers; 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. . free speech. Tam 
 quam, 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 Koman emperors down to 
 the time of Hadrian bore the name Caesar, with the title Augustus. 
 8. Dissociabiles, irreconcilable, incompatible. Miscuerit. In 
 Tacitus the subjunctive is more frequent after quamquam than 
 the indicative. Principatum, sovereign power, lodged in the 
 hands of tprineept at the head of the state. 4. Augeat quotidie. 
 This passage seems to fix the date of the composition of the Agri- 
 cola; 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 divna (given to deceased emperors), it is conjectured 
 that the work was composed while Nerva was still alive. Nerva
 
 AGRICOLA. 179 
 
 Page 
 
 Trajanns, so called from his adoption by Nerva. 5. Nee modo= 47 
 et non modo. Votum = wishes for better and happier times. 
 Securitas publita 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 
 (robuttam fiduciam). 8. Mala, the evils themselves. 9. Ingenia 
 Studiaque, genius and its pursuits. Oppresseris, you may crush. 
 A. A S. g 261, 2, Rem. 2, and Rem. 4; H. 485; B. 1177; A. 60, 2, 
 a; G. 250. 
 
 10-18. Subit, steal* upon us; a poetical use of the word. 12. 
 Quid, sc. ais or eentei. A. A S. g 229, Rem. 3, 2 ; Z. 769. Qnin- 
 decim annos, the length of Domitian's reign, from A. D. 81 to 96. 
 13. Promptissimus quisque, all the most active men. 14. Fauci, 
 a few of us. TJt 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 nt here depends is 
 omitted. A. A S. g 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. TUhonus. 
 
 For the case see A. A S. g 222, Rem. 2 (a) ; H. 391, 2, 4) ; B. 863; 
 G. 356, Rem. 1. Superstites, turvivors. 16. Quibus, during 
 which; ablat. of duration of time. Juvenes (with not, in the 
 verb), those of us who were young men. 18. Per silentium. The 
 silence of intellectual inactivity. 
 
 18-22. Non pigebit, it will not prove irksome = it will afford me 
 pleasure. 19. Vel VOC6, even in inartistic and unpolished language. 
 The expression has a vein of poetry in it. Memoriam compo- 
 suisse Tacitus here refers to his Annals and Histories. 20. 
 Bonorum, bletsings, advantages. 21. Interim, i. e. the Agricola 
 is first to be published, and the Histories will soon follow. 22. 
 Professione pietatis, from its profession of filial regard. Ant 
 ant, denoting absolute exclusion or substitution. A. & S. g 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, ab- 
 breviated Cn.) 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-relation- 
 ship; and Agricola, the name of one of such families: the prae-
 
 180 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 47 nomen, nomen, and cogn5men. A. & S. g 279, 9, (6) ; B. 1538, 1- 
 4; Z. 797. Forojuliensium, lit. of the Forojulians = of Forum 
 Julii, a town in Gaul, founded by C. Julius Caesar, 44 B. C. 25. 
 Colonia, ablat. of source. A. & S. g 246 ; H. 425, 3 ; B. 918; A. 
 54 2 G. 395. Procuratorem. These procurators 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 freedinen ; as freed- 
 men were appointed procurators by some of the emperors. 27. 
 Senator!! ordinis. Ordo is applied to any body of men, who 
 form a distinct class in the community, either by possessing dis- 
 tinct privileges, pursuing certain trades or professions, or in any 
 other way. It was never applied to the plebes. Diet. Antiqq. 28. 
 Sapientiae =philosophiae. Notus, so. erat. Can Caesaris. 
 Caligula is meant. MeritUS, sc. est, he earned. 
 
 48 1-13. M. Silanum, a consular, and father-in-law of Caligula. 
 Jussus, so. 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 from 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 
 locum in quo mixtae sunt. D. A literal translation is harsh 
 and inexact. Render thus : a place with a mixture and a happy 
 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. Conces- 
 sum (sc. erat) senator!, because statesmanship and politics, not 
 philosophy, were more becoming to a Roman. Hausisse, had 
 drunk in, had imbibed ; for hausturum fttiste, because the writer 
 wishes to represent the result with greater vividness and certainty. 
 14-18. Scilicet, naturally, you may well suppose. Erectum, 
 lofty, 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. 
 690. Mitigavit, sc. eum. 17. Ratio et aetas, (maturer) reason
 
 AGRICOLA. 181 
 
 and age. Quod est difficillimum, i. e. self-government, because 48 
 it requires the consistent exercise of all the virtues. Ex modum, 
 moderation from (the study of) philosophy. 
 
 19-28. Prima rudimenta, the first rudimentary duties of mili- 
 tary service ; as we would say, his first campaigns. 20. Approba- 
 Vit, lie performed in a manner satisfactory. The sense is, he served 
 his military novitiate in a manner satisfactory to Suetonius Pau- 
 linus. 21. ElectUS aestimaret; having been selected (by Pau- 
 linus) that he might form an estimate of him by means of tent-com- 
 panionship (or, by attendance on him as an aide-de-camp). Notice 
 quern = ?i< eum, and hence aestimaret, subjunctive of purpose. 
 Nee neque, neither nor. 22. Licenter, wantonly. More 
 juvenum, V. c. the young Romans who attended the commanding 
 general and had a contubernium with him, for the purpose of 
 learning the art of war. 23. Commeatus, fin-loughs. 24. Titu- 
 lum, 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 know; the historical infinitive, 
 which may here be translated as an infinitive without prejudice to 
 the sense. 25. Exercitui, to the army, as a man of ability. 26. 
 In jactatiouem, for display ; as material for boasting. 28. Non 
 alias, assuredly at no other time. Exercitatior, more agitated/ 
 for the reasons which immediately follow. In amhiguo, in regard 
 to the possession of it. 
 
 1-9. Trucidati (erant) veteran!, in the colony of Camulodunum, AQ 
 the only Roman colony in Britain. 2. Intercept! (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. Jnveni, Agricola. 7. Temporibus, dative 
 limiting ingrata ; a delicate way of saying, " the emperors of the 
 times." Sinistra, an unfavorable. 
 
 10-21. Ad magistratUS = with a view to entering upon the 
 jtnblic offices; commencing with the quaestorship and ending 
 with the consulship. 11, Natalibus, lineage. This sense belongs 
 to the silver age. 13. Nitenti, sc. ei, to him striving. Decus, a 
 distinction. 14. In antoponendo, by mutually preferring one 
 another. Cf. " in honor preferring one another." Rom. 12 : 10. 
 15. Nisi quod, except that, is intended to modify what is really 
 only implied in the preceding words: they lived in wonderful 
 
 Q
 
 182 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 49 harmony (and that wan praiseworthy in them both), except that, etc. 
 Tanto quantO = a much as ; ablatives of degree of differ- 
 ence. 16. Sors quaesturae. The quaestors drew lots for their 
 provinces. 17. Proconsulem. A proconsul was generally ft con- 
 sular or ex-consul. Dedit, sc. Agricolae. 18. Neutro, !>y neither ; 
 dative of the agent. 19. Peocantibu8,/w offenders,- the participle 
 as a noun. 20. Quantalibet facilitate, with ny facility however 
 great, i. e. by allowing Agricola every facility to plunder. Re- 
 dempturus esset, teas ready to purchase ; the subjunctive repre- 
 sents 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, a a 
 support for the loss of his son. Ante sublatum = previously 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, beticeen. 28. Fuit = <o<. "27. Nee obvenerat, for no 
 jurisdiction (administering of justice) had fallen to his lot. The 
 functions of the praetors were properly judicial. After the first 
 Punic war there were two: the praetor nrbanus, 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 superintend- 
 ence of the public games. 28. Inania honoris = empty honors; 
 or perhaps, the pageantry of his office. Medio abundantiae 
 midway between reasonableness unit superfluity, i. e. yielding a little 
 to the extravagance of such occasions, and abstaining from the 
 pomp and sum^tuousness 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, extravagant 
 profusion, yet nearer to his reputation or character. On this pass- 
 age Wex remarks : Mireris interpretes a vera horum verbvnnn 
 sententia prorsus aberrasse. Dicit igitur Tacitus: quo magis a 
 luxuria remotus erat, eo propior erat famae sttae. Nihil alind 
 enim ab Agricola exspectatum erat. Fecisse igitur vidcbatur Agri- 
 cola, quod Graeci diciint oftuia iavrw miiiv. A. & S. (5 277, Rem. 12, 
 (6); G. 484, 2 ; Z. 726. 2. Rocognoscenda, inspecting, examin- 
 ing. 3. Ne 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 collec- 
 tion, 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, her 
 own. 11. Sollemnia pietatis, the solemn duties of filial affection. 
 12. Affectati, aspired to, aimed at. 13. Deprehensus (est), he was 
 overtaken. Partes (ejus), kin party, side. 15. Mucianus, Ves- 
 pasian'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 conscrip- 
 tion of soldiers. 18. Vicesimae legioni, one of the legions 
 stationed in Britain. Sacramentum, the military oath of allegiance. 
 20. Legatis consularibus, to the consular 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 consnlares, 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 much 
 for, too strong. 22. Incertum (est utrum) suo (ingenio). Suo 
 ingenio, from his own temper or that of the soldiers; "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 oicn spirit or energy. 
 Ne incresceret, that he miyht not yrow 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,/, 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) examples. 3. Modo, only. 4. Communicabat, e. 
 cum Agricola. 5. Ex eventu, in consequence of the result, i. e. his 
 success. 6. In, with a view to. 7. Gestis, ablat. of cause. Auc- 
 toreni cannot be translated here by any single word ; kin superior
 
 184 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 51 officer gives the sense very nearly. Ut minister, as a subordinate 
 officer. 8. Fortunam, hit good fortune, his success. Virtute in 
 obsequendo, by his manliness in showing deference. 9. Nee extra, 
 but not beyond the reach of. 
 
 11-19. Legatione, the lieutenancy. Divus, t. e. he was dims at 
 the time when Tacitus wrote this. 13. Praeposuit. In A. n. 74. 
 Splendidae dignitatis, a genitive of description or quality. In- 
 primis = imprimis, t. n. in primis, especially, particularly. 14. 
 Administratione, in its administration, from the importance of the 
 command. Spe consulatus, ;'. e. the government of Aquitania 
 served as a stepping-stone. Destinarat, c. Vespasianus. 15. 
 Ingeniis, geniuses; or, minds. Subtilitatem, acuteness, 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 tuore icith force, and not with 
 persuasion and legal subtleties. Exerceat, subjunctive (in oratio 
 obliqua) to reflect the sentiments of plerique. 18 Quamvis 
 tOgatOS (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. Couventus, the judicial assemblies 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 abgclegt." D. 
 Tristitiam, sternness, of the magistrate. Arrogantiam, his lordly 
 bearing, demanding a rigid exaction of respect to dignity. Ava- 
 ritiam, t. e. what might seem to be avarice in one who exacted, to 
 the last farthing, payment of tribute or revenues. 24. Illi A*. 
 Facilitas, affability. 25. Amorem, i. e. of others for him. 26. 
 Referre, to mention, to call to mind. Injuria fuerit, may pnn-e 
 a wrong to his virtues. Fuerit is subjunctive of modest or cautious 
 statement. A. A S. g 260, Kern. 4; H. 486, III. 3; B. 1179; A. 
 60, 2, 6 ; G. 252, Hem. 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. Pro- 
 curatores. The procuratores looked after the taxes, paid tho 
 troops, and generally were intrusted with the interests of the 
 Fiscus. Diet. Antiyq. Vincere, to win a victory in disputes with
 
 AGRICOLA. 185 
 
 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? A. & S. 256, Rem. 6, (a); H. 417, 3; B. 
 900; A. 54, 5, c; G. 311, Kern. 4; Z. 485. 5. Opinione, t. e. 
 public opinion. 6. Dari, teas being given ; instead of datum iri, 
 in order to represent more vividly the certainty that it would be 
 given. Nullis sermonibus = without any remarks 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 re- 
 ligion. The pontifex maximus was the president of the college, 
 and was generally chosen from among the most distinguished per- 
 sons. Diet. Antiqq. 
 
 12-28. Scriptoribus, dative of the agent. 13. In, for, with a 
 view to. Curae ingeniive, of my diligence or talent, with that of 
 others. 14. Perdomita est. Notice the intensive force of per, 
 thoroughly. 15. Priores, former writers. Pei'COluere, have em- 
 bellished. 16. Berum fide, on the evidence of facts. 17. Spatio 
 ao 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 ajpd 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 
 whole island. Fama is nominative. 26. Procurrentium ter- 
 rarum, of land jutting out from what is almost 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, /am) comes to an end. 27. Hano oram, the wedge-like pro- 
 jection, on the north. 28. Novissimi, of the farthest. Tune pri- 
 mum, i. e. in the time of Agricola. 
 
 co 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. Dispecta est, teas descried ; or, was seen at a distance. Thule. 
 Iceland has the best claim to be identified with Thule. Hactenus 
 jussum (erat), t. e. the orders were limited to circumnavigation. 
 
 4. Mare pigrum. Cf. Germania, 45. 6. Perinde, in the same 
 manner as other seas. Credo, / suppose, is thrown in parentheti- 
 cally. 9. Hujus est, belongs to this work; operis is predicate 
 genitive. Kettulere, have related it. 10. Unum addiderim, one 
 thing I may add; the verb is subjunctive of modest statement, to 
 soften the assertion. Dominari mare, does the sea exercise its 
 dominion. 11. Multum fluminum = many currents. Litore 
 tenus, (only) as far as the shore. 12. Accrescere refers to the 
 flow, and resorberi (is drawn back), to the ebb. Penitus, fur 
 inland. 13. Atque ambire, and winds 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 regno), in its own 
 dominions. " Es schaltet und wallet wie in Beinern lleiche." W. 
 " In seinem eigenen Gebiet." D. 
 
 16-28. (Utrum) indigenae an. A. & S. 265, Hem. 2; H. 346, 
 II., 2, 2); B. HOT; A. 71, 2, a; G. 460. Advecti = strangers. 
 Ut = 08 might be expected. 17. HabitUS, the characteristics. Ex 
 CO, from that fact. 18. Argumenta (sunt), there are arguments for 
 their definite origin. 20. Silurum. The Silures inhabited Wales. 
 Colorati, the dark, sun-browned. Torti, curly. 21. Contra, 
 opposite to them ; since Tacitus supposed Spain to run a consider- 
 able distance in a north-west direction. 22. Fidem faciunt, create 
 the belief. Ej;, 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 direc- 
 tions (so as to be nearly parallel to each other), the location of their 
 climate has given (this) character to their bodies. Positio, '. e. 
 with reference to latitude and longitude. 25. In aestimanti. 
 Compare Germania, 6. 26. Eorum, i. e. Gallorum. Sacra, sacred 
 rites. 27. Superstitionum pcrsuasiones, their belief in super- 
 stitions, their superstitious beliefs. Tacitus means that the same 
 rites and beliefs prevailed in Britain as in Gaul. Sermo. their 
 language. 28. In periculis. Cf. Cues. B. G. III., 19.
 
 AGRICOLA. 187 
 
 Page 
 
 2-7. Feroeiae, of dauntless spirit. Praefemnt, display. Ut 54 
 quos = cum eos ; introducing a relative clause expressing a reason, 
 the relative being at the same time strengthened by ut; hence 
 eniollierit, subjunctive of cause. A. & S. 264, 8, (2) ; H. 519, 
 3: B. 1253: A. 65, 2, e; G. 636. 4. Otio, peace. 5. Pariter ac, 
 equally with. 6. Olim, formerly, 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 honor- 
 able, i. e. greater honor attaches to his position than to that of the 
 combatants. Clientes propugnant, the vassals fight for him; 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 Com- 
 mune, for the common welfare, advantage. 13. Civitatibus, dative 
 of the possessor : two or three states rarely have, etc. 16. Foedum 
 (est), t* murky. 
 
 17-28. Spatia, the lengths, sc. sunt. Nostri orbis (for dierum 
 nostri orbis), of our 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 Si, and if. 20. Soils fulgOrem, the brightness of the sun, 
 not the sun himself. 21. Sed transire, but passes across 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 extremities 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 stars, which are illumined by the 
 sun. Umbra is ablative of description. 25. Patiens (est), is 
 capable of bearing. 26. Mitescunt, sc. fruges. 27. Caelique, and
 
 188 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 54 of &* atmosphere. 28. Pretium victoriae, (lie price of victory. 
 Hence we see that Britain paid tribute in money, not tithe in 
 produce. 
 
 55 1-6- Margarita. The form margarittim is rarer than margarita. 
 2, Artem, skitt. Legentibus, sc. iis, to those that gather them. 3. 
 Kubro mari, in general, the Indian ocean; but the Persian yulf is 
 here specially meant. Nam SdXaaaa epv^pd 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 ; sub- 
 junctive of cautious, hypothetical statement, to soften the asser- 
 tion. Naturam, t. e. natural excellence. 6. Nobis avaritiam, 
 t. 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 de- 
 scription of the country and its products, the author now passes 
 to the Britons themselves. Delectum, recruiting; the furnishing 
 of troops. Injuncta munera, the imposed services of the state; 
 the duties imposed by the home government on its subjects, in- 
 cluding, especially, extraordinary contributions. 8. Obeunt, per- 
 form. Has, i. e. injurias. 9. Aegre, impatiently. Ut, so that, in 
 so far that. 10. Igitur, then ; 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 quam- 
 quam change parts. 13. Potest videri, can (only) appear. 14. 
 Bella civilia, c. fuerunt ; the civil wars between Caesar and 
 Pompey, and Augustus and Antony. 15. Consilium, policy, 
 political prudence. 16. Praeceptum, an injunction, laid upon him 
 by his predecessor ; " namlich im Testamente des Augustus, gegen 
 den Tiberius eine grosse Piet'at zeigte." D. 
 
 17-23. Agitasse Caesarem, that Cains 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, sc. 
 fuisset, had he not been hasty in the turn of his mind. Ingeaio is
 
 AGRICOLA. 189 
 
 Page 
 
 ablative of specification. Mobilis poenitentiae, easily moved to 55 
 repentance = fickle in changing his mind. The passage is read 
 differently by different editors. Wex, from one MS., reads, velox 
 ingenio mobili poenitentia (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. Ad- 
 versus conatus, in 39 B. c. Of. Germ. 37 : Mox ingentes C. 
 Caesaris miuae in ludibrium versae. 20. Claudius auctor, namely, 
 through his generals Plautius and Vespasian. Auctor operis. 
 The MSS. generally read anctoritate operis, which is devoid of 
 sense. Tandem is the conjecture of Halm. Kritz and Wex read 
 iterati operis. Operis, of the work of subduing Britain. 21. In 
 rerum, to a share in the undertakings. 22. Domitae (sunt). 23. 
 Monstratus (est) fatis, was pointed out by the fates as a m:m 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 Here- 
 ford, the site of a Roman camp, received its name from him. S. 
 26. Proxima, t. 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 received (or CO 
 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. Pa,Tt& = tJie acquisitions; 
 the participle used substantively. Prioribus, hit predecessors. 5. 
 Ulteriora, the remoter parts. Per quae = ut per ea, and hence the 
 following subjunctive of purpose, quaereretur. 6. Fama quae- 
 reretur, the reputation of enlarged duty might be acquired, namely, 
 by enlarging the limits of his government. Veranius had com- 
 mand 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 confidence in 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 moment for the enemy. How the 
 enemy seized upon the opportunity is explained in the nezt 
 chapter. 
 
 12-19. Absentia, ablative of cause the cause of remote metu. 
 13. Agitare, discussed; the historical infinitive. Conferre, com- 
 pared, i. e. heard individual rehearsals of them. 14. Interpre- 
 tando, by explaining their meaning, showing the evident purpose 
 of them. Accendere = aggravated them. Nihil profici (that 
 nothing teas gained), commences a series of reflections and decla- 
 rations 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 insperato, 
 ex 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 obliqua. 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, 
 c. iis, to them in their subject condition. 
 
 19-28. Alterius centuriones, the band (or attendants) of the 
 one, the centurions ; referring to the legatus and his officers. Per- 
 haps the literal rendering, the hand of the one, 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) minr/le violence and insults. 21. Cupiditati, 
 dative of advantage. Exceptum (esse), was except ed from. 22. 
 Fortiorem esse, it is the bntver. 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, a* if ignorant only how to die for their country ; or, 
 as if the only thing they did not know, was to die for their country. 
 Nescientibus agrees with ii'g understood, which is dative governed 
 by injungi. 25. Quantulum, how small 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. <fc 
 S. g 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 Germanics, i. e. tho 
 various divisions of Germany, the nations of Germany. 27. De- 
 fendi, so. eas = Germanias. 28. Illis, i. e. Romanis. Causas, 
 the motives. 
 
 1-9. Recessuros, so. 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 dis- 
 couraged. A. & S. 262, Note 4; H. 538, 1 ; B. 1113; G. 450. 
 3. Alterius, of a second. 4. Impetus, impetuosity; partitive 
 genitive. 5. Britannorum. A. & S. 215; 11.406, L; 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 clause expressing the reason of what goes before; the 
 subjunctive (in oratio. obliqua) is indecisive. A. & S. g 264, 8; II. 
 519 ; B. 1251 ; A. 65, 2, e ; G. 636. 7. Fuerit, hurl been; in oratio 
 recta it was fuit, has (all along) been, down to the present moment. 
 8. Ejus modi = such ; it is a genitive of quality or description. 
 
 10-28. The events narrated in this chapter occurred A. n. 61. 
 In vicem instincti, mutually fired. Boudicea. The name is 
 variously spelled, Boudicea, Boodicea, Boadicea. 11. Generis, 
 lineage; genitive of description or quality. Duce = une?er the 
 commando/. Imperils, positions of authority ; 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 sub- 
 ject. 16. Quod nisi, and (hud) not. 17. Amissa foret = amissa 
 esset. See Z. $ 156, Note, in Jin. 18. Restituit, he brought back. 
 Tenentibus plerisque, the ablative absolute to express conces- 
 sion; though a great many still remained in arms. 20. Proprius, 
 a peculiar ; arising from the character of the man. Ex, of; lit. 
 from, ?'. e. emanating from, as a source. Agitabat, kept uneasy. 
 Ne, lest; introducing the ground of the fear as it existed in tho 
 minds of the Britons. 21. Cetera, in other respects; accusative of 
 specification. Arroganter cousuleret, he should adopt haughty
 
 192 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 f\7 measures. 22. Igitnr, f. e. because he could not crush Out the 
 spirit of rebellion. 23. Petronius Tnrpilianns had command 
 from A. D. 62-64. Delictis, dative. 24. Eoque, and therefore, CO 
 being ablative of cause. Poenitentiae, towards their repentance f 
 dative = M poenitentlbits. Compositis prioribus former troubles 
 having been allayed. 25. Ultra, more. 26. Trebellius governed 
 from A. D. 64-69. Nullis, with no; experiments S ( = experientia) 
 being ablative of quality. 27. Curandi, in governing. On this 
 sense of the word cf. Sail. Jug. 60. 28. Ignoscere, to show in- 
 dulgence. If we retain the comma after ignoscere, the vitiis fol- 
 lowing becomes ablative; if not, dative. On its retention or 
 rejection, the opinions of editors are nearly evenly divided. 
 
 Kg 1-11. Blandientibus, displaying their attraction* ; 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 Tre- 
 bellius and Caelius. See Hist. I. 60. 3. Cum, since, because. 
 Otio lasciviret, became demoralized from idleness, 4. Order: 
 Trebellius indecorus atque humilis ira (on account of the anger) 
 exercitus vitata fuga ac latebris. 5. Praefuit, sc. exercitui. 6. 
 Ac velut paoti (sunt) : and they stipulated, as it were, the army for 
 unbridled freedom, the general for safety. 7. Stetit, subsisted, 
 maintained itself. Vettius Bolanus was governor from A. D. 69- 
 71. Under him Agrioola commanded the twentieth legion. 9. 
 Disciplina, by his discipline; i. e. it was too weak to disturb 
 Britain. 10. Nullis invisis, hated for 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. Eecuperavit, i. e. from the confusion and strife of 
 the civil wars. Duces, sc. erant. 14. Intulit, spread. 15. Pe- 
 tilius Cerialis commanded from A. D. 71-75. 18. Aut victoria 
 aut 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 alhis. 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 burden, 
 the weight of responsibility. 21. Quantum licebat, a* much a* it
 
 AGRICOLA. 193 
 
 Page 
 
 tea* permitted ; modifying sustinuit molem. The limitation has 5g 
 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, vicis- 
 situdes. 25. Media jam, now in mid, in the middle of. 26. Expe- 
 ditione, the campaign. Securitatem, freedom from care. 27. 
 VerterentUT, in a deponent sense, were turning, were betaking 
 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. Erecta (est), was aroused. Pro- 
 vincia, the whole province, not simply the state of the Ordovices. 
 Quibus erat = those who wished for war. The construction is 
 imitated from the Greek. A. & S. g 226, Rem. 3 ; H. 387, 3 ; B. 
 823; G. 354, Rem.; Z. 420, Note. 3. Probare, approved; his- 
 torical infinitive. 4. Agricola is the subject of statuit. Quam- 
 quam. 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, (though) 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 (loca), 
 that the suspected parts should be watched. Ire obviam to face. 
 8. Vexillis, the detachments ; 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 hit 
 army up the hill. Militaris dictio, admodum frequens apud 
 Livium. W. 
 
 12-18. Instandum (esse sibi) famae = that he must vigorously 
 follow up the reputation thus far acquired. 13. Prout cessis- 
 sent, jiut as his first attempts had succeeded. The subjunctive re- 
 flects the thoughts of Agricola himself. 14. Possessione, from 
 the possession ; ablative of separation. The omission of a is quite 
 noticeable, though it is a well established fact that verbs of sepa- 
 ration compounded with re may govern the ablative without a 
 preposition. 16. TTt = as happens. 17. Dubiis consiliis, doubtful 
 plans, i. e. whose success is subject to uncertainty. The succes- 
 13 Agr. R
 
 194 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 59 s ' lve stages of a campaign cannot be predicted from the beginning. 
 Ratio, the judgment, understanding. A word often difficult to 
 translate. 18. Transvexit, c. copias. 
 
 19-28. Auxiliarium, who were probably Britons, as the next 
 clause seems to prove. Patrius, peculiar to their country, as ex- 
 plained in the next line. 20. Quo, by which ; ablative of manner. 
 
 22. Mare, the aea, 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 (6); H. 482, 2 j B. 1168; A. 58, 10, c; G. 
 513. The perfect in such cases is used to imply final result. 24. 
 Haberi, was regarded; historical infinitive. 25. Quippe cui, 
 because him. In such relative clauses, expressing a reason, 
 Tacitus generally has nt 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, ingredient! provinciam. 26. Officiorum 
 ambitum, a round of official courtesies ; such ceremonies as would 
 naturally attend the advent of a new governor. 28. TTsus, making 
 use of. Ezpeditionem, (it) a campaign. 
 
 CQ 1-4. VietOS OOntinuisse, to have curbed the conquered. 2. 
 Laureatis, c. litteris (which is rarely omitted), with laureled dis- 
 patches. 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, hi achieve- 
 ment^ i. e. a report of them. 3. Aestimantibus = in the eyes of 
 those who considered; probably a dative of interest or reference, 
 though some editors make it ablative absolute, men considering. 
 
 5-17. Animorum prudens, knotting well the feelings, temper or 
 disposition. 6- Aliena, of others. Parum profioi, that but little 
 wns gained. 8. Domum suam, his own household, i. e. his own 
 immediate attendants and subordinates. 10, Nib.il, c. agere, he 
 transacted; historical infinitive. 11. Rei publicae, (no) public 
 business; partitive genitive. Studiis privatis, according to his 
 own private inclinations. Ex commendatione, of others. 12. 
 Milites. The reference is to such attendant soldiers as clerks, 
 lictors, purveyors, etc. Ascire, he did (not) employ, select. 13. 
 Optimum putare, he thought all the bent the most trustworthy. 
 Omnia, everything. 14. Non exsequi, he did not punish. 15. 
 Poena, ablative of cause. 17. Non pecoaturos == eos qui non
 
 AGRICOLA. 195 
 
 Page 
 
 peccarent, those who would not offend. His rule was, prevention is 60 
 better than cure. " 
 
 19-28. Munerum, of burdens, in the shape of contributions of 
 corn, taxes, and tribute. Circumcisis, c. iis. 20. Eeperta, 
 dmised. 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 
 
 fr amenta) ; and, as they bought it from the Romans to give to 
 the Romans, the corn remained in the granaries, the Britons merely 
 parting with their money (lucre 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 gjven is that of Wex, whose 
 conjecture of luere for ludere we have adopted. 22. Ultro, betides. 
 Luere pretio, to pay with the price ; or, to make atonement with 
 the price, and not with the corn. 23. Devortia indiccbatur, 
 by-way off the roads and a distant part of the country were ap- 
 pointed. 24. Proximis Mbemis, the winter 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. Omni- 
 bus erat, everybody had at hand, i. e. corn. Paucis, the governor 
 and his officials. 27. Statim, at once. Comprimendo, by snppreiis- 
 ing. 28. Intolerantia, from the insolence, harshness. 
 
 2-12. In agmine, on the march. 3. Disjectos, lit. the scattered gj 
 --=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 them; the full force of quo minus ap- 
 pears only in connection with nihil : nothing whereby he should 
 ravage them less. 8. In, until, up to. Ex aequo, on an equality, 
 as independent states. 10. Circumdatae (sunt). Batione, judg-
 
 196 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 61 ment; method. 11. TJt transient. The reading of this passage 
 is doubtful. Some editors place the period after pars, and make 
 illacessita transiit (changed from transient) begin the next 
 chapter. We follow Halm, Draeger, and Wex, except that the 
 latter omits pariter, with the remark, Alii vtl sic vel ita vel pariter 
 ante illacessita excidisse conjiciunt. Illacessita. A word used 
 only by Tacitus, and only twice. 12. Transient, came over, i. e. 
 to the Romans. 
 
 13-25. Sequens biems, A. D. 79-80. 14. Eoqne, and therefore; 
 60 being ablative of cause. In faciles, ready for war, prone to 
 war. 16. Publioe, in At' public capacity, probably "with grants 
 from the treasury." TJt 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 = vitupe- 
 rando. D. 18. Honoris aemulatio, a rivalry for honor, for a 
 higher social status. Jam vero = o> at length. 19. Ingenia 
 anteferre, he preferred the natural talents of the Britons to the dili- 
 gence of the Gauls, implying that the latter had little or no talent, 
 though they might be industrious. 20. TJt qni, 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. Disceasum (est), sc. 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. Humani- 
 tas, refinement. Cum, although; hence esset is subjunctive of 
 concession. Pars servitutis. Because they were thereby de- 
 nationalized and assimilated to their conquerors. 
 
 27-28. Tertius annus, A. D. 80. 28. Tanaum, the Tanaus, 
 whose identity is uncertain. Some editors read Taum (from the 
 margin of one of the MSS.), which is the firth 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 re- 
 spects. 7. Pactione, i. e. with the enemy, capitulation. Erup-
 
 AGEICOLA. 197 
 
 Page 
 
 tiones, sallies from these fortresses. 8. Annuis copiis, with sup- (J2 
 plies for a year, or, perhaps, for the year, 9. Quisque, each com- 
 mander of a fortress. Irritis, beiny baffled. 12. Pellebantur. 
 The imperfect marks the continuance of the enemy's defeats. 13. 
 Intercepit, did appropriate to himself. 14. Facti, of his action. 
 15. Apud quosdam indicates those who related, not those who were 
 reproached. Conviciis, his reproaches, reprimands. 16. Adversus 
 malos is much stronger than the simple dative, mails, would be. 
 Besides, Tacitus is fond of varying his constructions. 17. Secre- 
 tum, his reserve. One had not to fear it because he did not cherish 
 anger or ill-will. 18. Honestius, (it) more honorable. Offendere, 
 t. e. openly and once for all. 
 
 20-28. Quarta aestas, A. D. 81. Obtinendis (securing), sc. 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, hud allowed; the 
 imperfect is used, because the glory of Rome still refused to allow. 
 Inventus (esset). 23. Clota, the firth of Clyde; Bodotria, the 
 firth of Forth. Divers! 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, t. e. 
 south of a line joining the firths of Clyde and Forth. Sinus 
 probably means indented coast, as in Germ. 1 and 37. 28. Quinto 
 anno, A. D. 82. Nave prima, in the first ship; which probably 
 means the first Roman ship that crossed the Clota. Transgressus, 
 having crossed over the firth of Clyde. 
 
 3-17. In spem, f. e. with a view to the conquest of Ireland. g|J 
 What is said here and farther on is an illustration of the far-reach- 
 ing policy of Rome. 4. Si quidem, if indeed = since. Hibernia 
 miscuerit, Ireland might -unite ; the perfect subjunctive in apodosis 
 representing the attainment of the result as possible. Wex says 
 miscuerit =iti$tisv av, sc. si expugnata fuerit. Medio, sc. in. 6. 
 Opportuna, convenient, favorably situated. Tacitus suggests that 
 Ireland was favorably situated for uniting in commercial inter- 
 course Britain, Gaul, and Spain. Magnis usibus, by great 
 mntnnl advantages. TJsibus 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 civil- 
 ization. 10. Aditus, it* approaches. Melius cogniti (sunt), i. e. 
 than the interior. 14. Ex CO. It is highly probable that Agricola 
 is meant, though some editors maintain that regulus is referred 
 
 K2
 
 198 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 g3 to ) an d hence draw the conclusion that Tacitus was at this time in 
 Britain. 15. Idque, and that that force. 16. Romana arma, c. 
 essent, which had better been expressed. 17. Ubique, i. e. every- 
 where in the neighborhood, 'Within supporting distance. 
 
 18-28. Sextum annum, A. D. 83. 19. Amplexus, having embraced 
 in his plans. 20. Motus, a movement. Ultra, beyond the firth of 
 Forth. Infesta itinera, the molested marches; i. e. rendered 
 dangerous by the sudden attacks of an enemy who were well ac- 
 quainted with the country. Hostilis exorcitus, i. e. of the Roman 
 army. 22. In virium = as a part of his forces. 23. Egregia 
 specie, u:ith imposing display. Cum simul simul, since at the 
 same time both and. The fleet and the army kept within easy 
 supporting distance. 24. Impelleretur, was being urged on. 
 Isdem = iisdem. 25. Mixti laetitia, mingled together with their 
 provisions and their merriment. The soldiers and sailors mingled 
 in merry gatherings over their meals. 27. Profunda, the depths, 
 i. e. the great extent. 28. Adversa, the hardships. Hinc bine, 
 on this side on that side ; here there. 
 
 64 2-13. Visa classis, the fleet seen = the sight of the fleet. 3. 
 Secreto, 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 
 attempted. UltfO, actually, on their part ; ut ptOVOCantes, as the 
 challengers. 9. Pellerentur, sc. ut. Specie prudentium, with the 
 air of prudent men. Pluribus, t'n 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 edootns. A. & S. g 231 ; H. 374, 1 ; B. 
 734-5; A. 52, 2, c. and Rem. ; G. 333, Rem. 1. 19. Vestigiis in- 
 secutus, having followed in their tracks ; vestigiis is instrumental 
 ablative. 20. Assultare, to dash upon. 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. TTltro, 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). TJtroque exercitu, the ninth
 
 AGRICOLA. 199 
 
 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, and (had) not. 28. Debellatum foret, 
 impersonally : the war would have been ended. 
 
 1-12. Conscientia and fama are ablatives of cause after ferox, g5 
 elated. Nihil, sc. esse. 4. Illi sapientes are those who previ- 
 ously, specie prudentium, advised a retreat. Modo, but a short time 
 before. 7. Vindicant, sc. milites. Uni, i. e. duci. 8. Occasions, 
 by a fortunate occurrence. Yictos, c. se esse. But the reading of 
 this passage is uncertain, and the MSS. afford no means of correct- 
 ing the text. VictOS (instead of duds in the MSS.) is the con- 
 jecture of Lipsius. 9. Quo minus, the use of which in Tacitus is 
 somewhat peculiar, is best rendered by but. 11. Coaspirationem, 
 a confederacy. 12. DisceSSUm, sc. 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 pattern 
 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 directing the rowers. Other read- 
 ings are moriyerante, remiyrante, renaviganti. 20. Humore, of 
 their mutinous conduct. Tit praevehebantur, they nailed along 
 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 atqtie ut ilia raptis secum plerisque in the MSS., 
 which being destitute of sense, editors have variously supplied con- 
 jectural readings. The passage is now doubtless incurable. 23. 
 Ad extremum, at last; eo inopiae, to that degree of want. A. & S. 
 g 212, Rem. 4, Note 3; H. 396, III. ; B. 771 ; A. 50, 2, df G. 371, 
 Rem. 4. 25. DuctOS, those drawn. Tacitus adopts the old con- 
 struction 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 (jg 
 captured slaves. Nostram ripam (Rheni), the left or western 
 bank. Mutatione ementium, by a change of buyers, 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, vague, and leaving the enemy in doubt as to ultimate 
 purpose. 9. Expedite, being unencumbered 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, 
 confidence. Hodiernum diem = that this day. 26. Servitutis 
 expertes (suums), A. A S. 213; H. 399, (3); B. 777, c; A. 50, 
 
 3, b; G. 373. 27. Terrae, c. sunt. Ultra, beyond us, to which 
 we can fly. 
 
 67 1-10. Honesta, honorable. Eadem = also. A. & S. g 207, Rem. 
 27; H. 451, 3; B. 1034. Etiam, even. 3. Certatum est = *A 
 contest was waged. 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 it* innermost 
 parts, as it were, in the sanctuary of the island. " Penetralia 
 unit penatium deorum sacraria." Tacitus seems then to make 
 Galgacus say, that the Caledonians were the guardians of the wel- 
 fare of Britain. Servientium litora, the shores of slaves to the 
 Romans, i. e. the opposite shores of Gaul. 7. Nos extremes, 
 i. e. us, who are the ends of the world, and the last people to main- 
 tain their liberty. Extremes 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 our 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 re- 
 moteness) is answered by nunc patet, and sinus famae byomne 
 magnifico est; the idea in the latter clause is, as our country 
 is unknown, so the Romans attach great importance to its con- 
 quest. Some editors make famae a dative depending on de- 
 fendit.
 
 AGRICOLA. 201 
 
 Page 
 
 11-19. Infestiores, i. e. than the waves and rocks. 15. Avari, 67 
 sc. sunt. Ambitiosi, ambitious, eager for power and the fame of 
 conquest. Quos = cum eos, since them; the relative clause ex- 
 pressing reason. 17. Affectu, fondness, desire. 18. Falsis im- 
 perium, sc. appellant. 
 
 20-28. Liberos SUOS, one's children. 21. Servituri, doomed to 
 serve ; the future participle denoting purpose. 24. In trihutum, 
 tn tribute or taxes. 25. Annus the produce of the year. In 
 frumentum, m (contributions of) corn. 26. Emunieudis, in 
 clearing, in making passable by constructing roads and causeways. 
 28. TJltro, besides; actually; whereas we feed our masters. 
 
 1-15. Emit, by paying tribute. Pascit, by supplying the enemy eg 
 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. Gal- 
 gacus 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, seclusion, 
 secluded situation. Quo eo = the the; ablatives of degree of 
 difference. 9. Tarn quam, as well (those of you) or* (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, 
 t. 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 you suppose? A. & S. \ 198, II., Hem. 
 (d), and g 265, Rem. 2; H. 346, II., 2; B. 1107-8; A. 71, 2, Hem. 
 b; Or. 459. 18. Vitia, the faults. 21. Nisi si = nisi, except that 
 nisi si rarely introduces an ironical limitation. Pudet, sc. me, / 
 am ashamed. 22. Licet, although. Alienae, a foreign, of foreign- 
 ers. 23. Hostes and servos are in apposition with Gallos, etc. 
 
 1-16. Aut nulla aut alia. In the first ease he may refer to gQ 
 those Britons who had betrayed their country ; in the second, to 
 such allies as the Gauls, Batavians, etc. 7- Nostras manus, our
 
 202 NOTES TO THE 
 
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 69 own 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 aa. TJsipi, 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 unjustly. Parentes are British 
 subjects, and imperantes their Roman rulers. 12. Hie, here, on 
 our side. 15. Est, it remains. 
 
 17-28. Alacres = with enthusiasm or lively demonstrations. Tit 
 moris = a is the custom with barbarians. Moris is predicate 
 genitive. A. & S. g 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 tallying 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, fn so viany campaigns. The construction may be 
 taken as a concessive ablative absolute : though the campaigns 
 have been so many. Seu sen, whethei or. 27. Adversus 
 naturam, i. e. beyond the limits of human endurance and toil. 
 Neque me poenituit, neither have I been dissatisfied with. Me 
 militum. A. 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, '. 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). it glorious. In frontem = when 
 advancing, while facing the enemy. 11. Quae, sc. ea. 14. Quod = 
 in so far as. Jam pridem, long 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. Clamor e, with a (mere) shout. Cete- 
 rorum fugacissimi, an idiom imitated from the Greek, and 
 though used by the best Greek writers, its imitation is not per- 
 mitted in English. 26. Quo modo (in what manner) =jut as. 
 Penetrantibus, sc. iis, probably dative of disadvantage, though it
 
 AGEICOLA. 203 
 
 Page 
 
 may be taken s_ ablative absolute. 27. Contra mere, rush against, 70 
 rush on to meet. Some editors make mere depend on solet under- 
 stood. It may, however, be regarded as the historical infinitive. 
 Pavida, sc. animalia. 28. Agminis, of the 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 ex- 
 treme terror have rooted their battle line in these places. Or we may 
 omit the comma after res and translate, their desperate circum- 
 stances and their bodies, etc. Halm calls the passage a locut in- 
 sanabilis. 5. In quibus = ut in iis, that in them, with subjunctive 
 of purpose, ederetis, you might display. 6. Transigite cum, put 
 an end to. Imponite diem, lit. put a great day to fifty years = 
 crown fifty years with a great day. He is speaking in round num- 
 bers; from the expedition of A. Plautius it was only forty-two 
 years. S. 8. Imputari potuisse, could have been imputed. 
 
 11-17. Eminebat, broke forth. Alacritas, enthusiasm. 14. 
 Mediam firmarent = formed a strong centre. Nicht als ob sie 
 andere, die dort etanden, verstarkten, 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 intrenchment or palisaded rampart of their camp ; 
 behind the auxiliaries. 16. Ingens bellanti, an immense (/lory 
 to the victory for him fighting ( = if he fought) without (shedding) 
 Roman 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 without ; in this sense only in later Latin. 17. Bellanti, 
 sc. ei = Agricolae ; dative of advantage. Pellerentur, sc. 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 position. Primum agmen, c. consisteret, implied in 
 constiterat. The use of agmen for acies is noticeable. 20. Per 
 jugum, along the ascending ridge. Connexi velut, as if linked 
 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 = a tho
 
 204 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 71 tame time both and. 24. Diductis ordinibus, the ranks bring 
 widened by being extended at the wings. Porrectior, too extended, 
 and therefore more easily broken. 25. Futura erat = tens likely 
 to be; neither erat, was, nor esset, would be; but a mean between 
 the two. 26. Ptomptior 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 ap- 
 pear more hopeful than usual, and more confident of success, and 
 to inspire his soldiers with the same feelings. To this end he dis- 
 mounted and took his stand on foot. Adversis, which some editors 
 consider in the dative, seems rather to be an ablative of specifi- 
 cation, firm in respect to reverses. 28. Vexilla, the ensigns 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 = mall. 
 The cetra was a small round shield covered with hide. Diet. 
 Antiqq. Excutere, from their shields. 5. Mucrones ac manus, 
 to sword-points and hand to hand fight. 6. Quod, which mode of 
 fighting; sc. erat. 7. Inhabile, impracticable. 9. Complexum 
 ar morum, lit. the embrace of arms = the cros/iing of swords. In 
 arto pugnam fighting at close quarters. 10. Miscere ictus, 
 
 dealt out their blows. Ferire = parried. 12. Erigere, to lead up. 
 15. Festinatione victoriae, f the haste for victory. Equitum, sc. 
 Romanorum. 
 
 16-23. Ut haerebant. The reading, punctuation, and inter- 
 pretation 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. Intolerant, sc. equites Romani. 18. Inaequalibus, 
 uneven. The rapid advance of the Roman cavalry was checked by 
 the dense lines of the enemy and the rough ground. 19. Haere- 
 bant = 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. Impelle- 
 rentur, they were impelled, i. e. by the slipping and generally un- 
 steady footing of the horses. 23. Transversos aut obvios (Ro- 
 manes), across or full against them.
 
 AGRICOLA. 205 
 
 Page 
 
 24-28. ExpertCS, without a share in. 25. Vacui, unconcerned, 72 
 without apprehensioa. 27. Ni. Before this word we must mentally 
 supply et circumissent. Id ipsum, that very thing. 28. Alas, 
 squadrons. Subita, the sudden emergencies. 
 
 1-17. QuantO tantO = f/te 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 com- 
 l(i touts. Aversam, lit. turned about, hence the rear of, the 
 routed. 6. Grande trucidare. Compare with this Sail. Jug. 
 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. Armato- 
 rum, though armed, agrees with hostium. 9. TJltro, actually. 
 12. Victis virtusque. Compare Virg. Aen. II. 367. 13. Pri- 
 mes, the foremost. 14. Quod ni, und (hail) 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, so. loca ; i. e. thickets. 17. 
 Rariores, the more open. Persultare = to scour. 
 
 19-28. Composites ordinibus, them 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, unfrequented parts. 23. Ad, about; in this sense with 
 numerals. 24. Quis = quibus. 27. Laeta, gladsome, agrees with 
 noz. 
 
 1-13. Trahere, carried away. Nine historical infinitives follow. 74 
 2. TJltro, actually. 3. Miscere in vicem, concerted together ; mis- 
 oere, from the notion of mingling together, implying an inter- 
 change of views. 4. Deinde separare (c. 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 tfncerttn'n, 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 circumvehatur) is an 
 
 s
 
 206 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 74 unusual construction, occurring only in some of the later writers. 
 15. Vires = force. 18. Secunda fama, with favorable weather 
 and our renown. 19. Trutulensem portum, of which nothing is 
 known. Undo 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 re- 
 turned to the same harbor. 22. Epistolis, i. e. in his reports and 
 dispatches. Auctum, amplified, embellished. Domitiano erat. 
 See chap. 33, and Germ. 13, and 21. 23. Fronte, t hit counte- 
 nance. 24. Inerat, there was in him. Falsum triumphum, over 
 the Chatti, whom he had not even seen. Cf. Dio Cass. LXVII. 4. 
 25. Emptis, c. iis = servis. Quorum =ut eorum; hence the 
 following subjunctive. 28. Id sibi, etc., that it was, etc.; the 
 construction may depend on in.er.at conscientia, or we may supply 
 putabat, or something equivalent. 
 
 75 2-9. Stadia fori, the pursuits of the forum : especially eloquence. 
 Civilian! artium, referring especially to politics, law, and govern- 
 ment. 3. Acta (esse), hail been driven. 4. Cetera, than great 
 military renown. Utcumque = in some manner. Some editors 
 join it with facilius. Imperatoriam, imperial, befitting an 
 emperor. 5. Quodque = et quod. 6. Secreto suo, with his secret, 
 his dark and secret intentions. This seems to accord better with 
 the context than with his seclusion, us the words are rendered by 
 some. 8. Impetus, the outburst. 
 
 10-28. Triumphalia ornamenta. After the year 14 B. c. the 
 honor of a triumphal entry was rarely granted; instead of it 
 triumphal decorations were decreed. These were the corona laurea, 
 toga praetexta, tunica palmata, and sella curulis. 12. Honors, 
 compliment. 13. Opinionem, an impression ; probably in the 
 decree itself; perhaps otherwise. 15. Majoribus=/or men of 
 more than ordinary distinction ; i. e. this rich province was, as a 
 rule, given to men of peculiar distinction. 16. Ex implies of the 
 number of those employed in. Codicillos, dispatches, orders. 19. 
 Freto, of Dover. 22. Tradtderat 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 kind!;/ attentions. 26. Brevi, with a 
 sli;/ht; cold and ceremonious. Turbae servientium, tciVA the 
 crowd of servile courtiers. 28. Grave, odious. OtioSOS, men 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. (too. 3. Adeo, so, to such a degree. Am- 
 bitionem, their display. 4. Aspecto implies a more attentive 
 observation than vise. 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, injured. 10. Laudantes, his praisers, 
 eulogizers. Ea = talia; hence quae = ut ea, with the subjunctive. 
 11. Sileri, to be passed over in silence. 15. Limits 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. Eipa, the right bank of 
 the Danube, as far as the Quadi and Marcomanni. S. 
 
 17-28. Omnis, the whole. 21. Ceterorum. The MSS. have 
 eorum. 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 freed- 
 men in those times frequently possessed great power, and held 
 influential positions, is well known from various passages in Taci- 
 tus, Pliny, and Seneca. 23. Amore et fide, from affection and 
 fidelity towards Domitian. Pessimi, sc. liberti. 24. Deterioribus 
 = to the baser sort of men. 26. Ipsam praeceps. His very 
 glory was hurrying him on to ruin. 27. Annas, generally sup- 
 posed to be A. D. 89 or 90. Asiae Africae. Each of these prov- 
 inces formed a proconsulate. 28. Sortiretur, he teas 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. "Jfjp 
 Exemplum, a precedent. 2. Cogitationum, teith 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. Pertraiere, they dragged him, 
 i. e. caused him to go unwillingly. 8. In compositus, equipped 
 with a lordly bearing ; assuming a haughty demeanor. Excu- 
 santis, sc. ejus= Agricolae. 10. Benencii invidia, at the hate- 
 fulness of the favor. Salarium. It is not known what this uual 
 salary was, but it seems probable that in later times it amounted 
 to as much as $40,000. 12. (Id) mm petitum (essel. Conscientia, 
 a contciourness j implying fear and hence ue = lest .
 
 208 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 77 15-28. QUO irreVOCabilior, the darker, the more implacable; 
 the more that of a fiend, the less that of a man. 18. Libertatis, 
 of freedom 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 custom it is to 
 admire unlawful things ; Tacitus is alluding to those who, in de- 
 fiance or disregard of tyranny, dare to do what is forbidden by its 
 authority ; " as, for example, when Helvidius Priscus openly cele- 
 brated the birthday of Erutua and Cassius." 8. 21. Eo exci- 
 dere, rise to that degree of distinction. '22. Per abrupta, by pre- 
 cipitous paths ; by an uneven course of conduct ; by opposition to 
 theemperor. 25. Vulgus, the general public. 26. Hie populus, 
 the people in this ease acting differently, 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 circulos, in public 
 places and in knots. 
 
 78 2-16. Nobis ausim, / cannot venture to affirm that we have any- 
 thing 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 confidential 
 of the prince's physicians. 7. Momenta deficientis (ejus), that 
 the successive moments of his sinking. Dispositos, stationed at in- 
 tervals. 8. Credente, supposing. Accelerari, c. ea = <Aaf those 
 tidings. 10. Prae se tulit=fte showed, let be seen. Et qui = et 
 cum is, and because lie ; 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) in compliment and from choice. 16. Nisi principeni, that 
 a prince, unless bad, 
 
 17-28. Caio Juniis, Juno 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, sc. die ante. 20. Habitum 
 CJTIS, hie personal appearance. 21. Decentior sublimior, rather 
 well made than tall. 22. Gratia supererat, grace of expression 
 (a gracious expression) predominated. 24. Medio aetatis, i/ 
 the mid career of unimpaired age = " in the prime of life." C. 
 25. Quantum ad gloriam = a regards glory. 27. Impleverat = 
 
 he had attained. 
 '" 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 Trajan. 
 8. Solatium tulit, that negative consolation (or compensation) 
 which consisted in not having lived to suffer. 10. Spir amenta, 
 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 strong- 
 hold, was one of Domitian's villas, at the foot of the Alban mount. 
 16. Sententia, the counsel. Messalinus wag another notorious 
 informer. 17. Baebius reus. After he had been procurator of 
 Africa. Nostrae mauus, the hands of senators, of whom Tacitus 
 was one. 18. Nos visas (c. perculit), the sight of Afauricus, 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 matter of accusation. 
 23. Sufficeret, was enough, sumced. 24. Fudorem, shame. 28. 
 
 Constans libens = with courage and cheerfulness. 
 
 1-28. Pro portione = to the best of thy ability. In the Au- gQ 
 gustan age the phrase was pro virili parte. 2. Filiae ejus, who 
 was the wife of Tacitus. 7. Dolor, c. fuit. 8. Condicione, by 
 the circumstance. 12. Desideravere aliquid, missed something, 
 felt that something was wanting. 13. Sapientibus, i. e. the phil- 
 osophers. 15. Infirmo desiderio, weak regret. 18. Admiratione 
 colamus. The text of this passage is uncertain. We follow 
 that of Halm. 19. Si suppeditat, if nature suffice*, i. e. if our 
 natural powers are equal to the task. 20. Id praeceperim, / would 
 give this precept. 24. Non imaginibuS, not because I think a 
 veto should be put on images (of ancestors). 28. Tenere et expri- 
 mere, to retain and to represent, or, to possess and to express. 
 Alienam, of others, i. e. of artists, of sculptors. 
 
 1-7. Sed moribus, but yourself in your own character. 3. gj 
 Mansurum est, i* destined to remain. 4. Fama rerum, i. e. in 
 the record of achievements, in history. Fama rerum scheint ein 
 neuer Ansdruck fur " Geschichte." Dr. 
 14 Agr. S 2
 
 NOTES 
 
 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 happi- 
 ness, fame, and dignity, contends that the oratorical profession is 
 preferable to the poetical. 8. He cites the example of Eprius Marcel- 
 lus 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 de- 
 fends 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 con- 
 cerning 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 heauties of the modern style. 24. Maternus observes that 
 there can bo 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 Se- 
 verus. 27-33. Maternus reminds Messala of the true point in ques- 
 tion ; Messala proceeds to assign the causes which occasioned the decay 
 of eloquence, such as the dissipation of the young men, the inatten- 
 tion 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 Se- 
 cundus, and the beginning of the remarks of Maternus. 36. Eloquence 
 flourishes most in times of public tumult; the crimes of turbulent citi- 
 zens 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 govern- 
 ment. 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 Falri. L. Fabius Justus, consul A. D. 111. In the im- g6 
 perial times the women (Fabius) is often either omitted or follows 
 as something subordinate. 
 
 6. Causidici, pleaders; from causa and dieo ; 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 
 
 36 ezoipere: ut ant male existimandum Bit = since ice must either 
 
 think 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, c. quod antiqtti adsecuti stint. 
 
 11. Judiciis, e. nostris. 12. Proferenda, <. esset. 
 
 13. Ut nostris temporibus = at our times go, or as our times 
 consider them. The expression i elliptical : ut disertissimi eristi- 
 mantur nostris temporibus. The words are intended to be dis- 
 paraging. 
 87 2. Ut persequar, that F may pursue or follow closely. 
 
 3. Subtiliter, finely, exquisitely. Graviter, forcibly. 
 
 5. Dam redderent, while each expressed the mould (or natural 
 bent) both of his mind and of hit character. 
 
 6. Isdem numeris, with the tame elegance and melody of style ; 
 or with the same rhythmical flow of the sentences. Ernest! thinks 
 the words mean, in the same order ; but Tacitus adds, servato ordine 
 disputationis. 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 has 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 
 (Ixvii. 12), was put to death by Domitian, on account of his too 
 great freedom of speech. Catonem, f. 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 genius, men of talent. Fori nostri, nearly 
 equivalent to of our bar. Quos utrosque, both of whom. 
 
 19. Studiorum, for their pursuits, for their studies. 
 
 20. Fabulas, conversations, with other learned men. 
 
 21. Arcana semotae dictionis, the privacy of their familiar dis- 
 course. Semotae means here withdrawn from public view, beyond 
 the reach of others' ears. Penitus exciperem, / might thoroughly 
 learn, lit. catch up. Promptum, an easy, ready.
 
 DIALOGUE. 213 
 
 Page 
 
 24. Institutione, ly education. 7 
 
 25. Purus, pure, without admixture of foreign or provincial 
 words or style. Pressus, terse. In erat = a/ar 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 =from loving. 
 
 9. He trac tares, you might retouch or revise it. Sublatis, c. iis. 
 
 11. Securiorem, more secure against the attacks of malignant 
 critics and the common talk of the envious. 
 
 12. Leges, you shall read. Sibi, to himself, 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 eat 
 (si). 
 
 26. Ifostras and Bomana are equivalent here. Notice that his- 
 torias (histories or narratives of facts) is opposed to fabulis, which 
 refers especially to fictitious narratives. 
 
 3. Desidiam advocationum, ray discontinuance of the duties of 89 
 the advocate. 
 
 7. Quod optO = ^n< I have long wished for. "The present 
 tense i? often used of that which has endured for some time, and 
 still continues." See H. 467, III. 2; B. 1083 ; M. g 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. Saleinm Bassum, a Roman epic poet, contemporary with 
 Statius. We have not even a fragment acknowledged as his pro- 
 duction. He is commended by Quiutilian.
 
 214 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 gg 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. Qua- 
 tenus, since. 
 
 25. Plurium, t. e. of those qui poetae nascuntur ; whereas Ma- 
 ternus, being rather an orator than a poet, ought not to be defended 
 on the merits of poets. 
 
 27. ParSre, from pario. 
 
 28. Complecti provincias, t. e. so as to become their patronus, 
 their patron and protector. Studium, the pursuit, which has just 
 been mentioned. 
 
 Q0 4. Notitiam, celebrity (throughout). 
 
 8. Alienis, to strangers. 
 
 9. Ultro, actually. Ipse, t. e. tu ipse. 
 
 10. Potentia ao potestate, with efficacy and power. The first 
 term implies a general command of means, which are infallibly 
 effective in fulfilling every purpose which the agent forms. Po- 
 testas 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. 6045. 
 
 12. Perfugio et tutela, t'n the shelter and protection. 
 
 13. Proprium, your own. Increpuit, has sounded the alarm. 
 
 15. Praesidium, a defence; hence, quo propugnare possis. Te- 
 lum, an offensive weapon ; hence, quo incettere possis, Simul ao = 
 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 niagistratus. 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 de- 
 bated, is sketched by Tacitus, Hist. IV. 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 administration!, to the administration of tome 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_/br the performance of some service. Cf. Agric. 19. 
 
 4. Ipsos orbos, nay rather, but that even the childless. Immo gen- 
 erally 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. Subnixos, lit. supported ; it may be rendered, enjoying. 
 
 11. Togatornm, 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 tantrum nota. 
 
 19. Profert, c. orator. Est constantia, there is, as of hit 
 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 a favor 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 novas, 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 ^ ec Veniti 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, ex- 
 cept that we omit et before in urbe, to make the sentence readable. 
 Modo, 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, / would even venture. An old form of the perfect 
 subjunctive. See the grammars. 
 
 24. Crispum Vibium, a Human orator of great wealth and in- 
 fluence. Some fragments of his orations are preserved in Quin- 
 tilian. Diet. Biog. Obliteratis, forgotten. 
 
 26. Notes is the addition of Ursinus. 
 
 28. Nee praestat. The passage is differently read by different 
 editors. We follow Brotier. Hoc, t. e. their world-wide reputation. 
 Illi alterive, to the one or to the other. Ter sestertium, i. e. 
 ter milies centena milia sestertium ( =sestertiorum), three hundred 
 million sesterces, about $12,000,000. See A. A S. g 327, Rem. 6; 
 H. 713, IV. and 1 ; B. 1658 ; A. 85, 3; Z. g 873. 
 
 93 2. Sed is added by Lipsius. 
 
 4. Ad quam usque fortunam, to ichat a pitch of fortune. 
 
 5. Haec, ut supra dizi, in chapter 6. 
 
 6. Proxima, so. exempla sunt. 
 
 8. Nati sunt, e. 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 fortune, material wealth. 
 
 13. Moribus, in point of character. Alter, one of them, but which 
 is not known. Habitu, in the general appearance, in the physical 
 conformation. 
 
 16. Caesaris, i. e. Vespasian, as we learn farther on. Agunt 
 feruntque cuncta, they drive and carry off everything. The ex- 
 pression 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 lit- 
 erary men, to whom Vespasian devoted much time. Plin. Ep. III., 5. 
 
 20. Ipsi promptum sit, it is easy for him. 
 22. Quod acceperint, . e. eloquence. 
 
 24. Tanta, c. bona, so great advantage*, 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. militates alnnt, foster advantages. 
 
 9. Cui bono 66t = who is benefited; 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 = tn your toorks or writings. 
 
 12. Poetam vatem. The vates or prophet was directly in- 
 spired ; and as the poeta was also moved by a sort of inspiration, 
 he loved to hear himself called by the more august name rates. 
 
 13. Deducit, conducts, especially to the forum and thence home, 
 as a mark of respect. So prosequitur, accompanies, especially to 
 the gates of the city. 
 
 14. Nempe, why (exclamatory, not interrogative) ; in fact. 
 17. Ut facias, that yon may compose verses for him. 
 
 21. Excudit et elucubravit. These words are intended to ex- 
 press 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 produc- 
 tions into notice. 
 
 24. Libellos, programmes, or notices or notes of invitation. Et 
 Ut, and although. 
 
 26. Aut alterum diem, or two days. 
 
 27. In praecepta, anticipated in the green blade or blossom f 
 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, sc. cum, i. e. Eassuin. 
 
 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, per- 
 mitted. 
 
 14. Opinio, reputation. Serviunt, they are devoted. 
 19. Quotas quisque, how few. Adeo, even. 
 
 96 2. Cothnrnum 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 pur- 
 suits 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 occupations 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 de- 
 fender 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 commended in 
 the recitation halls themselves, and are soon noised abroad by the 
 common talk of all. Tolle igitur, away, then, with. 
 
 27. Quietis excusationem, referring to what is said in lines 
 17 and IS : 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 to.
 
 DIALOGUE. 219 
 
 Page 
 
 6. Intento Ore, with an earnest manner of expression. IntentO 97 
 is just the opposite of remissus, mildly. Farantem is Halm's 
 reading. The MSS. vary. 
 
 7. Non minus din, t. 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. Diet. Biog. 
 
 21. Aera, bronze statues. 
 
 23. Hucusque (hue + usque), thus far, hitherto. 
 
 26. Secretum ipsnm, the retirement itself. 
 
 2. Inter sordes, amid the soiled garments. 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, f. e. more free from crime than the city. An 
 adjective. 
 
 4. Sacris, t. e. consecrated to the muses, or to some deity. Haeo 
 primordia, f. 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, c. eloquentia. Sic 
 loquebantnr. It is well known that the most ancient oracles were 
 delivered in verse. 
 
 8. Sanguinantis eloqnentiae, of the informers in the imperial 
 times, who caused the death of many innocent victims. 
 
 10. More nostro, t. e. more poetarum. 
 
 13. Male admlssa, deeds wickedly perpetrated. 
 
 14. Nee nllis, c. quam poetis. 
 
 17. Neminem, so. 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. Corvinua Messala, an orator contemporary with 
 Cicero. 
 
 27. Varii. L. Varius Rufus, a distinguished poet of the Au- 
 gustan age, the friend of Virgil and Horace. Both the tragedies 
 mentioned are lost. 
 
 99 ! Felix contubernium, the happy communion of poets in private 
 life. Timuerim, 1 shall (not) fear. Subjunctive of modesty. 
 
 5. Gratia, ablative. Caruit, . 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. Diet. Biog. 
 
 12. Crispus Vibius and Marcellus Eprius, previously mentioned. 
 
 15. Quibus praestant, f. e. whose superiors they are. Indig- 
 nantur, 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 f Tantum 
 posse, to be as powerful. 
 
 19. Dulces Musae. See Virgil. Georg. II. 475. 
 
 22. Nee 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 =ioith cease- 
 less 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. Seoretum, a private. Tractantibus, sc. vobis. 
 
 9. Minime, ot at all. Adeo, even.
 
 DIALOGUE. 221 
 
 Page 
 
 11. Accuratissimus, the very elaborate. 1QQ 
 
 14. Ut decebat, i. e. in language both bold and poetical, 
 audentior oratio. Poetarum (c. orationi), that of poet*. 
 
 18. Oratores, the orators. Dedamatorio Studio, in the practice 
 of declamation on selected subjects ; as was usual in the schools of 
 the rhetoricians. Ejus modi = cucA. 
 
 25. Non te, that no lest satisfaction is felt in you. Julii 
 Asiatic!. Julius Asiaticus, who joiued Vindex in his revolt 
 against Nero. 
 
 27. Scholasticis controversiis, i. e. the discussions and decla- 
 mations 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 1Q1 
 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, '. e. that there is the same difference be- 
 tween 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 Afri- 
 canus ; whom Quintilian considered the best orators he had heard. 
 
 26. Movisti, you nave started. 
 
 6. Pro duobus. for both, Secundus and Aper. 
 
 7. Ego et Secundus. Notice the order, which accords with 102 
 Rom.in custom. 
 
 10. Manifestus est. The personal construction, in imitation of 
 the Greek, instead of the impersonal (manifestnm eat), which is 
 more usual in Latin. 
 
 11. In contrarium, for the opposite side, for the negative. 
 16. Significatione, expression. 
 
 18. Versantur -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 ccc, a manifest error for cccc. 
 
 T2
 
 222 NOTES TO THE 
 
 .Page 
 
 102 Demosthenes died 322 B. c. Hence some editors read quadrin- 
 gentot. 
 
 27. Beferas =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, Eel. iv. 12. 
 
 3. Quae est, which exists at any particular time. Notice the 
 somewhat rare expression cum maxima (cummaxime, quum- 
 maxime), particularly, pre-eminently. 
 
 8. The addition of fere was quite unnecessary; in the case sup- 
 posed 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 friend- 
 ship 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 doicn, 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. Sextain stationem = the sixth year. " Imperator tamquam 
 custos civitatis in excubiis positus cogitatur. Sic siugulos imperil 
 annos stationes appellare licet." Hi.
 
 DIALOGUE. 223 
 
 Page 
 
 26. Centum et viginti, the round number. The sum is 118 JQ3 
 years. The sixth year of Vespasian's reign corresponds to A. D. 75. 
 4. Armatus, i. e. then old enough to be a soldier. 1QA 
 
 8. Congiario, distribution of money ; originally, of food, congiui 
 denoting a certain measure. 
 
 13. Saeculum, a generation, usually of 33J years ; but here its 
 measure is centum et viginti anni. 
 
 15. Aures, the hearers, auditors. 
 
 18. Temporibus, for their times. In medio = before *. 
 
 21. A block of marble may be horridus, rough with jagged 
 points; impolitus, unpolished ; rudis, unhewn, un wrought; in- 
 formis, not reduced to form or symmetry : and so were the orations 
 of these men. 
 
 25. Ante praedixero, I shall have first premised. 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, more 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. IQK 
 
 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, t. e. unconcerned, careless. 
 Dijunctum, disjointed. 
 
 17. Male audisse, was ill spoken of. 
 
 18. Solutum, diffuse. Fractum atque elumbem has the general 
 sense of weak 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, eto. The true reading of a portion of the 
 passage is, however, quite uncertain. We follow Halm.
 
 224 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 106 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 Temuos, 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. Eiog. 
 
 10. Apollodori. Apollodorus, of Pergamus, a Greek rhetorician. 
 Augustus was one of his pupils. Quod si, and if. 
 
 11. Odoratus = to have a smattering of. 
 
 12. Locum aliquem, some topic. . 
 
 15. Flacita, the dogmas, tenets, or opinions. 
 
 17. Cortina, here the circle of hearers. Certe, at least. 
 
 19. Exquisitis, carefully chosen. Est, has. 
 
 22. Nee tempora, i. e. for hearing causes; but they them- 
 selves appoint (constituunt) the times. 
 
 24. TJltro, actually. Alio = to other matters, or to another part 
 of the subject. 
 
 107 ! * n 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 plain- 
 tiff'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, spriyhtliness. 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 j senteutia is the expression of it in 
 language. 
 
 20. Accius and Facuvius were writers of tragedy and comedy 
 in the ante-classical period. Some fragments of their writings 
 still remain.
 
 DIALOGUE. 225 
 
 Page 
 
 3. TTnum do populo. Cf. Cic. pro Archia, 10 : malu poeta de JQ8 
 populo. Non memorabo. The words in italics are supplied by 
 Hitter, 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. Haec maciem, i. e. discourse without 
 elegance and embellishment. 
 
 9. Calvi, *c. oratiunculas. 
 
 11. Accusationes, sc. Calvi. " In Vatininm " is their title. 
 
 17. Caelianis orationibns, of M. Caelius (Coelius) Rufus, con- 
 temporary with Cicero. 
 
 22. Ex ea parte, in that respect. Sane, certainly, indeed. 
 
 26. Tarn (C. Caesarem occupationibus suis relinquamue) hercule 
 quam, etc. 
 
 1. Caesaris, c. orationem. Both the orations named are lost. JQQ 
 
 5. Bibli.oth.ecas, both public and private. Rettulerunt, i. e. 
 caused them to be placed. 
 
 7. Propioribus, i. e. in times nearer to us, later. 
 
 14. Exsurgit toris. The subject is sanguis, and though the 
 expression is perfectly intelligible, the figure is faulty. Corvinum. 
 M. Corvinus Mcssala, before mentioned. His eloquence is com- 
 mended by Quintilian. Cf. chap. 17. 
 
 16. Nee Stetit, it teas not owing to himself. 
 
 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, how far. 
 
 18. Sufiecerit, f. e. answered the calls of his judgment. 
 
 26. Composition!, in their arrangement or collocation. Locos, 
 passages. 
 
 27. Sententias, expressions. See note, line 17, page 107. 
 
 5. Otiosus, indifferent, easily allowing them. |JQ 
 
 7. Lumine, like the light in a picture, which, being rendered 
 more intense by the shade, gives force and expression to the de- 
 lineation. Nihil excerpere, i. e. there are no gems of thought 
 which you can carry away with you. Beferre. Cf. re/erre domum : 
 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 
 HO 17. Olentia, musty. Sensus, sentences or periods. 
 
 19. In annalium. He has in mind the dry ness and dulness 
 of the earlier Roman annalists. 
 
 20. Composi.ti.onem, 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 expres- 
 sion 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. " Con- 
 Buetudo jam tenuit, ut mente concepta sensus vocaremus, lumiua 
 autem praecipueque in clausulis posita sententias." Quintil. 8, 5, 2. 
 Esse videatur ; e. y. in the oration pro lege Manilia it occurs ten 
 times at the close of a period. 
 
 28. Versantur, present themselves. 
 
 HI 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. r>. 35, was one 
 of the most celebrated orators and historians of his time. 
 
 3. Sisennae. L. Cornelius Sisenna, a Roman annalist, born 
 about 118 B. e., 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 books. 
 
 4. Rhetorum commentaries, ?. q. oratorum nostrorum libros. 
 Ri. 
 
 5. Calvi, who was thought by some to rival even Cicero. 
 
 10. Nimia is Halm's reading. Editors generally have animi. 
 12. Fortem, laetum, alacrem, strong, sprightly, enthusiastic. 
 Prope ab, he is near to. 
 18. Cultum, grace, embellishment, in the disposition of them. 
 
 21. Sic eiprimitis, you so ylve expression to. 
 
 H2 7. A vestris philosophis. Sic loquitur qui non in urbe sed ex 
 Gallia ortus est; dicit Academioos. Ri. 
 8. CelebratO, practised. 
 12. Annos is the subject of effici.
 
 DIALOGUE. 227 
 
 Page 
 13. Ratio, a computation, reckoning. See chap. 17. 112 
 
 16. Nominis, t. e. in regard to the term aiitiquw. 
 
 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, more condensed. Numerosior, more rhythmical, JJ3 
 hence, more harmonious. 
 
 9. Ferunt, exhibit. 
 
 18. Brutum. Adolescentulus Tacitus libertatis vindicem magno- 
 pere 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 B. c. In 
 his own age he was the model, and in history he is the representa- 
 tive 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 call for. 
 
 1. Calamistros, the affected elegance. Tinnitus, the jingling |J 
 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 ex- 
 travagant 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, immethodical. Dejectus, beaten back, or dis- 
 lodged from his position ; a military term. 
 
 25. Sustinuit, ventured. The word occurs in this sense chiefly 
 in negative object-clauses. 
 
 2. Sequentium, of their followers or successors, sc. oratornm. ^ 
 
 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, with- 
 out marring friendly feelings. 
 
 116 1. In medium = before you; or, to view. 
 
 4. Praecipientium, of instructors ; among whom was the Grae- 
 cula ancilla (chap. 29) ; hence the use of the participle instead of 
 praeceptorum (masculine). 
 
 7. Vestra (mala), f. e. of you, who are Roman provincials, and 
 better acquainted with those evils than I. 
 
 11. Form.an.dos, 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. Caique. 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, superintended. Principes, noble. 
 
 117 ! luclinasset, c. 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 contempt for what concerns themselves 
 and others. 
 
 14. Histrionalis favor, a fondness for stage-players. 
 
 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. 
 Hg 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 outset. He states 
 both facts, however, no earlier than in chap. 35. Referam, 
 tc. 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 jears 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 litera- 
 ture, criticism, and philology. 
 
 21. Moralis partis (c. philosophiae) = of moral philosophy. 
 Cicero first uses the word moralis : Nos earn partem philosophiae, 
 de moribus appellare solemus : sed decet augentein linguam La- 
 tinam nominare moralem. De Fata, 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 dignity 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 submitted. 
 
 12. In misceantur, are mingled together. 
 
 16 Ilia = t he following advantages. 
 
 20. Motibus, impulses or emotions. Concitetur, c. miseri- 
 cordia. 
 
 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, g 422, Obs. 2. 
 
 24. Adhibebit manum, will apply hit hand, 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 argument, 
 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 discourse. 
 
 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 (irtpiiraroi) which 
 surrounded the Lyceum. 
 
 5. Locos, topics, or the bases of arguments, romi, of which Aris- 
 totle has left eight books. Academic!, or the Platonic school of 
 philosophers. Fugnacitatem : hie enim nios erat patrius Acade- 
 miae, adversari semper omnibus in disputando. (7tc. de Orat., 
 I. 18. 
 
 6. Epicuri, 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 avaxpavydapaTa, 
 applied to the sententious dicta of Epicurus, no doubt somewhat 
 contemptuously, by his opponents : " Da dem Epicur und seinen 
 Sehiilern 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 = philosopbum. Stoi- 
 corum. 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 cioem, civitatem. 
 
 12. Orammaticae, sc. scientia. Grammatica is another reading. 
 
 17. Nec 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 our own, our own acquisitions. 
 
 22. Aliud agentes, lit. doing another thing, i. e. when not occu- 
 pied 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 numeris absolutux. Plin. Ep. Quid omnibus 
 nwneris praestantius ? Quint. Isse = ivisse. 
 
 121 ^' Quotidian! sermonis vitia. From this we learn that Latin 
 formed no exception to the general truth, that in languages pos- 
 sessing a literature, there is a marked difference between spoken 
 and written language. 
 
 10. Ut quae, so that what.
 
 DIALOGUE. 231 
 
 Page 
 
 19. His verbis, in Orator, cap. 3. 121 
 
 21. Officials 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 (contracted workshops) and spatiis (the spacious fields). 
 8. Quern ad modum = quemadinodum, as. Scirint = sciverint. J22 
 13. Usu is the addition of Tyrwhitt, and is approved by Hm. 
 and He. 
 
 21. Tot tam res, so many things to. 
 
 22. Nisi Ut, unless as, i. e. unless in proportion as. Scientiae 
 USU8. The essentials, he says, are knowledge, the habit of think- 
 ing, capability, practice. 
 
 24. Eationem, 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. Aut 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 th.e 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. Nee male, which is necessary to complete the sense, is the 
 addition of Rudolphus Agricola, and is adopted by Hm., He., P., 
 and commended by others. 
 
 1. In diversis snbselliis, on the opposite benches, or the benches 104 
 occupied by the attorneys, witnesses, and partisans of the opposite 
 party in trials. 
 
 2. Quin immo=ny more; the expression is strongly corrobo- 
 rative of the preceding remark. Constantius corroborari. 
 Because a reputation that is acknowledged even by our antagonists 
 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 schola*. 
 
 21. Ut ait Cicero, de Oratore. III. 24. 
 
 23. In (not found in the MSS.) is added by Schurzfleisch.
 
 232 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 124 24. TTtrumne. 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 tay, 
 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. Festi- 
 lentiae remedia. " Responsa iu pestilentia data ut virgines tres 
 aut plure* immolentur." Petron., c. 1. Similar evidences of this 
 refinement of inanities are furnished by Quintilian. 
 
 13. Ventura, est. After these words the MSS. notice a gap. One 
 has, hie multum deficit. Another, multum deficit in exen^laribus 
 quae reperinntur. One Vatican has, hie multum deficit; another, 
 tie destmt 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, 
 secluded, the opposite of tn media luce. See note, line 13, page 
 123. 
 
 12fi ^' -P^licani rem i s tne reverse of the established order of the 
 words. 
 
 3. Cogitate. Rent cogitant habet codex Leidensis, ceteri rem 
 cogitare. Sed temptare aliquid in loco truncate lubricum est. 
 Hi. 
 
 6. 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. Ilia perturbatione, from that disturbed condition which often 
 characterized the republic, and was often fomented by the rival 
 orators. 
 
 10. Videbantur, so. 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, wandering, \. e. like sheep without a shepherd, J26 
 sine moderators. Persuaderi, c. eum sapere. 
 
 13. Leges assiduae ad populum latae et vel suasae vel dissuasae. 
 Ri. Populate nomen, the name of friend of the people. 
 
 16. Adsignatae inimicitiae, hereditary feuds. 
 
 25. Clientelis, w their relation of patrons. 
 
 3. Quin immo, nay more. 12- 
 
 6. Inviti- producerentar, by the partisans or opponents of 
 legislative measures. 
 
 7. Censere, to give an opinion, implying also to vote as a senator. 
 Nisi qui. Nisi quit 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 Rudolphns Agricola. Publicis, 
 that is, trials in which the populus were judices or jurors. 
 
 11. Per tabellam = in tenting. 
 
 14. Quo modo, lit. in what manner = a. Haberi is the subject 
 of erat understood. 
 
 16. Eubore, by a feeling of self-respect. Vox Tacito familiaris 
 pro pudore. Ri. 
 
 18. Neoessitudines, the relationships, more especially that of 
 patronus and cliens, just referred to. 
 
 22. Haeo vetera, *c. 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 po 
 might say a technicality. Interdicto = an injunction, as we would 
 say ; a provisional prohibition by the praetor. 
 
 11. Cum aociderent. 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 to. 
 
 22. Quaestionis, i. e. the question discussed in the dialogue. 
 
 23. Ea re, f. e. eloquentia. 
 
 U2
 
 234 NOTES TO THE 
 
 Page 
 
 128 28. Steterit, c. eloquentia. Quoque plures = et quo plures, 
 and the more. 
 
 129 4. Agit, it lives. 
 
 6. Quae, in agreement with consuetudinem, the nearer noun. 
 9. Comperendinationes, adjournments of the time of trial to the 
 
 third following day (con -j- perendinus). Vertagungen ; dilationea 
 rerum in diem perendinum sive tertium. Ri. That is, more Ro- 
 mano, with only one entire day intervening ; on " the day after to- 
 morrow." 
 
 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 follow- 
 ing quod is a direct interrogative. 
 
 16. Causae centu.in.vir ales, those pleaded before the centumviri. 
 See note, line 16, page 90. 
 
 18. Obruebantur, were eclipsed. 
 
 20. Liber = oratio ; cf. "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 timeu, times barren of 
 stirring events and exciting circumstances. 
 
 26. Frincipis, i. e. August!. Disciplina, the habit, the manner ; 
 which easily passes into policy. 
 
 27. Pacaverat, ab accusando avocnverat. Ernesti. 
 
 ion 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 wear- 
 ing it when pleading causes. Diet. Antiqq. 
 
 5. Auditoria et tabularia, instead of the free, open space of the 
 forum. Tabularia were archive offices, in which were kept public 
 records and documents. 
 
 7. Est aliquis, is something, and not absolutely a matter of in- 
 difference : 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 com- 
 mence 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 atiht* or stylus 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 stilum vertas. Diet. Antiqq. 
 
 13. Patronus, t. 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 Unas adsistit. Only one or two persons care to listen to 
 the speaker. 
 
 16. Quodam theatro, i. e. a numerous and interested audience, 
 ready to applaud the orator. 
 
 18. Pariter = a well; 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. TJt, to that ; introducing an inference from the preceding 
 remark. 
 
 28. Egerant censeantur, delivered them are not valued more 
 for their other orations. 
 
 1. Jam, changing the scene, not the time, and still referring to ] 
 the republican period. 
 
 2. Ipsa gloria, the very renown arising from personal 
 enmities. 
 
 6. Popnli uterentur. The true reading of this .passage is 
 quite uncertain. We follow Halm. Histriones, as actors. 
 
 8. Faces, incentives. 
 
 18. CertO imperio, with a settled government, in which every 
 subject knew his place and duties, and had little to say about his 
 rights. 
 
 21. Omnia omnes poterant, everybody could do everything. 
 
 2. Et leges, their (famous Agrarian) laws also. jgo 
 
 3. Tali exitu, referring to his murder by the soldiers of Antony. 
 
 4. Quod fori, what still remains of the ancient forum to orators. 
 
 5. Usque = entirely.
 
 236 NOTES TO THE DIALOGUE. 
 
 Page 
 
 132 6. Advooat, 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. TTsus, 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, tome things that. 
 
 13. Te poetis = te apud poetas. 
 
 14. Ego (t. e. Ajierj vos (criminabor) rhetoribus. 
 
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