STACK 
 
 ANr.'ZX 
 
 PA 
 
 5 A.. 5 
 
 A3 
 
 1891
 
 THE AGEICOLA OF TACITUS.
 
 THE AGBICOLA OF TACITUS 
 
 WITH 
 
 A REVISED TEXT, ENGLISH NOTES, 
 AND MAP. 
 
 BY 
 
 ALFRED J. CHURCH, M.A. 
 
 LIXCOL2T COLLEGE, OXFORD, 
 ONE OF THE ASSISTANT MASTERS IN MERCHANT TAYLORS' SCHOOL, LONDON 
 
 AND 
 
 W. J. BRODRIBB, M.A. 
 
 LATE FELLOW OF ST JOUtfS COLLEGE. CAtlBBIDGX. 
 
 Honfcon : 
 MACMILLAN AND CO. 
 
 AND NEW YOEK 
 1894 
 
 [The Eight of Translation is reserved.]
 
 Printed by C. J. CLAY, 1869. 
 
 Reprinted 1870, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 
 
 1881, 1882, 1885, 1887, 
 
 1891, 1894.
 
 STACK 
 ANNEX 
 
 PA- 
 
 REFA 
 
 ACE 
 
 THE Treatise on Germany and the Life of Agri- 
 cola have, perhaps, been edited as frequently 
 as any of the Latin Classics. They exhibit in 
 a singularly convenient form the manner and 
 genius of one of the greatest of ancient histo- 
 rians; and thus at once possess a great Literary 
 value, and are peculiarly useful as text-books 
 in our Schools and Universities. About works 
 which have been so diligently studied we can 
 hardly expect to say much that is original We 
 have endeavoured, with the aid of recent edi- 
 tions, thoroughly to elucidate the text, explaining 
 the various difficulties, critical and grammatical, 
 which occur to the student. Information which 
 is now amply supplied by the dictionaries of 
 biography and geography we have thought it 
 unnecessary to furnish. "We have consulted
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 throughout, besides the older commentators, the 
 editions of Hitter and Orelli, but we are under 
 special obligations to the labours of the recent 
 German editors, Wex and Kritz, an obligation 
 which must not be measured by the extent of 
 our references to them. 
 
 We have followed, but with some important 
 variations, the text .of Orelli. A table is given of 
 the passages in which we have adopted a different 
 reading. 
 
 We frequently quote from our translation 
 (published in 1868). It may be as well to ex- 
 plain that in some instances we have seen reason 
 to modify the renderings there given, 
 
 A. J. C. 
 W. J. B. 
 
 LONDOH, 
 
 January, 1869.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAG* 
 
 PBEFACE v 
 
 List of Editions and Translations consulted . . viii 
 
 NOTES ON THE LIFE AND WBITINGS OF TACITUS . . ix 
 
 INTBODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF AGEICOLA . . . xvii 
 
 TABLE OP PASSAGES, in which the text of this edition of 
 
 the Agricola differs from that of Orclli . . . xxiii 
 
 MAP TO THE AGBICOLA, to face p. 1. 
 
 AGBICOLA . . 1 
 
 NOTES 35 
 
 INDEX OF PBOPEB NAMES 97 
 
 INDEX OF WOBDS AND FHBASES 99
 
 List of Editions and Translations of the Agricola and 
 Germania of Tacitus which have been consulted 
 by the present Editors. [This list is confined 
 to works of the present century.] 
 
 J. Aikin, 1813. Translation of the Agricola and Germania 
 with notes. 4th Edition. This is a work designed rather for 
 general readers than for scholars and students. 
 
 C. Both, 1833. Edition of the Agricola, with learned and 
 copious German notes, which are however hardly adapted to ordi- 
 nary students. 
 
 P. Frost, 1847. Edition of the Agricola and Germania, with 
 English notes. It is suitable for the use of schools, but is now 
 rather out of date. 
 
 Dr Latham, 1851. Edition of the Germania, for students of 
 philology and ethnology. Critical and grammatical difficulties 
 are not discussed. 
 
 F. C. Wex, 1852. Edition of the Agricola, with a tho- 
 roughly revised text, Prolegomena, in which every difficult and 
 corrupt passage is fully discussed, and Latin notes. This is the 
 most valuable of all recent editions of the Agricola, and is the 
 result of most laborious research. 
 
 F. C. Wex, 1852. Edition of the Agricola for the use of 
 Schools, without the Prolegomena and with the notes of the 
 larger edition translated into German. 
 
 M. Haupt, 1855. Edition of the Germania, with a new and 
 carefully revised text, for the use of Schools. 
 
 W. Smith, 1855. Edition of the Agricola and Germania, 
 with English notes, which are chiefly taken from Ruperti and 
 Passow, and with Boetticher's essay on the style of Tacitus. 
 
 A. J. Henrichsen, 1855. German translation of the Agricola 
 only partially complete. 
 
 W. S. Tyler, 1857. Edition of the Agricola and Germania, 
 with English notes, drawn from the best commentators, and 
 with a life of Tacitus. Published at New York. This is a use- 
 ful edition, but the notes are rather too diil'use. 
 
 Kritz, 1859. Edition of the Agricola, mainly based upon 
 Wex, with Latin notes. 
 
 Kritz, 1860. Edition of the Germania, mainly based upon 
 Haupt, with Latin notes. 
 
 [Both these editions we have found very useful.] 
 
 K. A. Low, 1861. German translation of the Germania, with 
 the Latin text, and notes. 
 
 N. Hosier, 1863. German translation of the Germania, with 
 the Latin text, and notes. 
 
 G. and F. Thudichum, 1862. German translation of the Ger- 
 mania, with the Latin text, and notes.
 
 NOTES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 OF TACITUS. 
 
 LITTLE or nothing is known of the life of Tacitus 
 except what he tells us himself, or what we may 
 gather from the Epistles of his friend, the younger 
 Pliny. His praenomen is a matter of doubt. It is 
 commonly written Gains (on the authority of Sidonius 
 Apollinaris), but it is given as Publius in the best 
 MS. of the Annals. The name Cornelius suggests a 
 possible connection with the great patrician Gens 
 which was thus designated. But there was also a 
 plebeian house of the same name, and it must be 
 remembered that in the time of the Empire the 
 nomina gentilia had become widely diffused. With 
 regard to his parentage we have at least a probable 
 conjecture to guide us. The elder Pliny was, he tells 
 us (Nat. Hist. vn. 17), acquainted with one Cornelius 
 Tacitus, who was then a Procurator in Belgic Gaul, 
 and who had a son. It has been supposed that this 
 Tacitus was the historian's father. The similarity of 
 name, the coincidence of dates, and the probability 
 that at some time of his life our author was familiar 
 with the neighbourhood of North-Eastern Gaul, in- 
 cline us to accept the conjecture, which is further 
 supported by the fact that the circumstances of his 
 career seem to imply an origin which was respectable 
 rather than dignified. A Procurator was generally 
 a person of Equesti-ian rank. About the date of his 
 birth nothing can be certainly affirmed. It is indeed 
 approximately fixed by several expressions used by 
 the younger Pliny. That writer says (Epist. vn. 20) 
 that Tacitus and himself were "nearly equal in age 
 
 b
 
 x NOTES OX THE LIFE AND 
 
 and rank (aetate et dignitate propemodum aequales). n 
 The question is how far aequales must be considered 
 to be modified by propemodum. We think the word 
 should be taken to imply a considerable difference. 
 Pliny himself says, " When I was a very young man 
 (adolescentidus) and you were at the height of your 
 fame and reputation, I earnestly desired to imitate 
 you." Adolescentulus is a very vague term, but Pliny 
 may be taken to define this application of it to himself 
 when he tells us (Epist. v. 8) that he was in his nine- 
 teenth year when he began to speak in the Forum. 
 He was, as he tells us himself (Epist. vi. 20), in his 
 eighteenth year when the famous eruption of Vesuvius 
 took place (A.D. 79), and he must therefore have been 
 born A.D. 61 or 62. We are inclined to put the 
 date of the birth of Tacitus at least ten years earlier. 
 In this conclusion we are supported by the passage 
 which we find in the third chapter of the Life of 
 Agricola. There he speaks of those who had survived 
 the evil days of Domitian as coming under two 
 classes, the young men who had become old, the old 
 'who had advanced to the very verge and end of 
 existence.' He must have included himself in the 
 former class. The Agricola was published before the 
 death of Nerva but after the adoption of Trajan, i. e. 
 in the latter part of the year 97. It may surprise us 
 that Tacitus could have spoken of himself as being 
 then an old man. But the term senior was technically 
 applied at Rome (Aul. Gellius, x. 28, quoting Tubero) 
 to those who had passed their forty-fifth year. And 
 C. Gotta (in a speech to the people preserved to us in 
 one of the fragments of Sallust) speaks of himself, he 
 being then forty-eight, as an old man. If Tacitus 
 was fifty in A.D. 97, he must have been born A.D. 47;
 
 WRITINGS OF TACITUS. xi 
 
 if an interval of fifteen years is thought too much 
 to be borne out by Pliny's propemodum (occurring, 
 it must be remembered, in a complimentary letter, 
 and from its very employment implying no incon- 
 siderable difference), we must not anyhow fix a later 
 date than A. D. 51 or 52. 
 
 The town of Interamna (now Terni) in Umbria 
 has been named as the birthplace of Tacitus. There 
 is no direct proof of the assertion, but it is known 
 that this town was in the third century the seat of 
 the family of the Emperor Tacitus. This prince, who 
 occupied the throne for a few months after the death 
 of Aurelian A.D. 275, was accustomed to claim descent 
 from the historian, and honoured his memory by di- 
 recting that ten copies of his works should be annually 
 transcribed and placed in the public libraries. 
 
 If our conjecture as to the date of his birth be 
 correct, Tacitus must have attained the period of 
 youth in the great year (69) which witnessed the fall 
 of three Emperors. His descriptions of some of the 
 scenes of that time, among which we may specify the 
 entry of the Flavianist troops into Rome (Hist. in. 83), 
 look like the work of an eye-witness. 
 
 It has been suggested that Tacitus made the 
 acquaintance of Agricola at some time in the three 
 years (A.D. 74 77) during which that officer held the 
 government of Aquitania. There is, it has been 
 thought, a particularity about his description of 
 Agricola's administration which indicates the intimate 
 acquaintance of one who either held some official 
 position, or was otherwise closely connected with it. 
 This position may possibly have included something 
 of the intimate relation in which Agricola himself 
 at the opening of his career had stood to Suetonius 
 
 b'2
 
 xii NOTES ON THE LIFE AND 
 
 Paulinus (Agr. 5). However this may be, it is cer- 
 tain that at or before this time an intimate acquaint- 
 ance had been formed between the two men. In 
 A.D. 77 Agricola returned to Rome to fulfil the duties 
 of the Consulship. During his year of office he 
 betrothed his daughter (born A.D. 65) to his young 
 friend. Juveni mihi, says Tacitus, jttiam despondit. 
 Juvenis, like other Latin terms denoting age, ia 
 elastic in its signification, but it is particularly appli- 
 cable to one who was between his twenty-fifth and 
 thirtieth year. The marriage was celebrated in the 
 following year, the same in which Agricola assumed 
 his command in Britain. 
 
 The illustrious alliance thus formed was probably 
 the means of introducing Tacitus to a career of public 
 distinction. His elevation, he says (Hist. I. 1) -was 
 " begun by Vespasian, augmented by Titus, and still 
 further advanced by Domitian." What offices he maj 
 have held under the first and second of these princes, 
 it is impossible to determine. Agricola himself was 
 Quaestor and Tribune of the People before he reached 
 the Praetorship. But the Quaestors were employed in 
 the Provinces. If we suppose Tacitus to have re- 
 mained at Rome we may conjecture that he filled 
 the office of Aedile, and as Vespasian, his first patron 
 died June 23, A.D. 79, that he was appointed to i1 
 early in that year. His next office was probably thai 
 of Tribune of the People, which, as Titus died Sept. 13, 
 A.D. 81, he must have held either A. D. 80 or in th< 
 following year. We know from, his own testimony 
 (Ann. XI. 11) that he was Praetor A.D. 88, in whicl 
 year Domitian celebrated the Ludi Saeculares. In 8 
 or 90 he left Rome with his wife, and did not returr 
 till after the death of Agricola, which took plac<
 
 WRITINGS OF TACITUS. . xiii 
 
 August 23, A.D. 93. (See Agr. ch. 45). It is certain, 
 however, that he was in Rome during the last period of 
 Domitian's reign. The language in which at the close 
 of the Agricola he describes the horrors of that time is 
 full of the bitterness, and even of the self-reproach of 
 one who had been compelled to witness and to sanction 
 by his presence the cruelties of the tyrant. 
 
 Domitian was assassinated Sept. 18, A. D. 95. Two 
 years afterwards Tacitus was advanced to the dignity 
 of the Consulship. Yerginius Rufus had died in his 
 year of office, arid Tacitus was appointed to succeed 
 him. He also delivered a funeral oration on his pre- 
 decessor. " Hie supremus," says Pliny of Rufus 
 (Epist. ii. 1), " felicitati ejus cumulus accessit, laudator 
 eloquentissimus." 
 
 In A.D. 100 he was appointed together with Pliny, 
 who was then Consul elect, to conduct the impeach- 
 ment preferred by the Province of Africa against their 
 late Proconsul, Marcus Priscus. Pliny, who relates 
 the trial at length (Epist. II. 11), describes his oratory 
 by the epithet cre^vtSs. Here the public life of Tacitus 
 terminated. "We hear indeed in one of Pliny's letters 
 (vi. 9) of his interesting himself in the candidature of 
 one Julius Naso for some public office. We may ga- 
 ther from the letter that he was not then living at 
 Rome, and, perhaps, as he was not aware that Naso 
 had started xinder the auspices of Pliny, that he knew 
 but little of what was going on in the capital. 
 
 The date of his death is not known, but that he at 
 least lived down to the end of Trajan's reign, we may 
 infer from Ann. n. 61, where he says that the Roman 
 Empire " Nunc ad rubrum mare patescit," an expres- 
 sion which must refer to the successes obtained by 
 Trajan in his Eastern expedition (A. D. 114 117).
 
 xiv . NOTES ON THE LIFE AND 
 
 The Dialogus de Oratore, which we have no hesita- 
 tion in ascribing to the pen of Tacitus, was probably 
 an early work. The expression which we find in ch. 1-7, 
 "sextam jam felicis hujus principatus stationem qua 
 Vespasianus rem publicam fovet," may not be intended 
 to do more than fix the date of the imaginary conver- 
 sation; but the passage indicates a more favourable 
 opinion of the Emperor than he seems to have enter- 
 tained in after years. (See Hist. IL 84, m. 34, &c.) 
 
 The Agricola was published towards the close of 
 A. D. 97; the Germany in the following year. The 
 History may with probability be ascribed to some year 
 between A.D. 103 and 106. A very interesting letter of 
 Pliny's (Epist. IX. 27) very probably refers to it. It 
 was still, we know, in course of preparation when his 
 Epistles vi. 16, 20 and vn. 33 were written. The first 
 and second of these describe the famous eruption of 
 Vesuvius, and were written at the historian's request. 
 The third relates some particulars as to the prosecution 
 of Baebius Massa in which Pliny had taken a part 
 which he was anxious to have recorded. " Auguror," 
 he writes, " histories tuas immortales futuras ; quo 
 magis illis (ingenue fatebor) inseri cupio." The publi- 
 cation of the Annals must be referred, as has before 
 been said, to the close of Trajan's reign. Reference is 
 made in Ann. XL 11 to the History as an earlier work, 
 "libris quibus res Doniitiaui imperatoris composui." 
 The two contained together thirty books, as we learn 
 from S. Jerome on Zachariah, ch. xui., and related the 
 events of about 70 years from the death of Augustus 
 to the accession of Nerva. It is probable that Tacitus 
 found it expedient to abandon the intention, an- 
 nounced in Hist. I. 1, of writing the history of the 
 reigns of Nerva and Trajan. The records of an extinct
 
 WHITINGS OF TACITUS. xv 
 
 dynasty furnished a subject ' less anxious' if not ' more 
 fertile.' Accordingly we find him (Ann. in. 24) resolved, 
 if his life should be prolonged, to choose another theme 
 in a still eitrlier period, the reign of Augustus. 
 
 The letters addressed by the younger Pliny to 
 Tacitus are the following : I. 6, 20 ; rv. 13 ; vi. 9, 16, 
 20 ; vn. 20, 33 ; vin. 7 ; ix. 10, 14. Of these the 
 one numbered ix. 10 has been ascribed, and not with- 
 out probability, to Tacitus himself. In ix. 23, Pliny 
 tells an interesting anecdote illustrative of the literary 
 reputation which Tacitus had attained. 
 
 The style of the Ciceronian age aimed at richness 
 of expression, and smoothly flowing and gracefully 
 finished periods. It had been brought by Cicero to 
 perhaps as high a degree of perfection as the Latin 
 language permitted. The succeeding age proposed to 
 itself a somewhat different aim. It wanted something 
 piquant and stimulating. 
 
 Hence quite a different set of literary character- 
 istics. A style sententious and concise, sometimes un- 
 pleasantly abrupt, with far-fetched, poetical and even 
 archaic terms and expressions became fashionable. 
 Scope was thus given to some of the worst extrava- 
 gances of bad taste, and we find nearly all the writers 
 cf what is called the silver age indulging in pedantries 
 and affectations which frequently render them harsh 
 tnd obscure. A re-action followed in favour of the 
 earlier or Ciceronian style. Of this we have evident 
 -.races in Tacitus. He seems to have aimed at combin- 
 ing some of Cicero's most conspicuous graces with the 
 pointed and sententious character of the new style. 
 Though he occasionally wants clearness and perhaps
 
 xvi NOTES ON THE LIFE OF TACITUS. 
 
 strains too much after effect, he is on the whole a far 
 more natural and straightforward writer than most 
 of his contemporaries. 
 
 It has been usual to regard Cicero as the repre- 
 sentative of the most perfect Latinity, and Tacitus as 
 a man of genius belonging to a declining age and in- 
 fected by many of its chief literary vices. This view 
 ignores several important considerations and requires 
 some correction. It is true that the style of Gicerot 
 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 first is. much more 
 suitable for imitation, but it is, we think, a great mis- 
 take to claim on this ground for Cicero a distinct supe- 
 riority over Tacitus. Cicero indeed was enabled by his 
 great abilities and wide culture to give a richness and 
 flexibility to the Latin language which it had not 
 known before his time, and we may venture to iffirm 
 that without him there could not have been a Tacitus. 
 If, however, we are to measure excellence of styh by 
 its capacity of adequately representing the profound and 
 subtle ideas of a really great thinker, we shall see good 
 reason for placing Tacitus in at least as high a rank as 
 Cicero. In vividness of imagination, in insight into 
 the intricacies of human character, in the breadth ani 
 comprehensiveness of his historical faculty, he stands 
 first among Roman writers. These qualities are con- 
 tinually reflected in his style. In the language of tha 
 time, permeated as it was with Greek ideas and 
 phrases, he found an instrument ready to his hand . 
 he used it with a consummate mastery of its various 
 resources, and succeeded in giving to great thoughts a 
 singularly characteristic expression.
 
 INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE OF 
 AGEICOLA. 
 
 THE Life of Agricola is 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 Eoman 
 of the highest type found a place in Agricola. An 
 able officer, a just and at the same time a popular 
 governor, a vigorous reformer of abuses, a conqueror 
 of hitherto unknown regions, he was also a man of 
 mental culture, and of singular gentleness and amia- 
 bility. He had every quality which could attract the 
 sympathy and admiration of his son-in-law. The 
 present work was no doubt intended to be something 
 more than the customary ' laudatio ' which was pro- 
 nounced in memory of an eminent man, though its 
 style, resembling occasionally that of the orator rather 
 than the historian, shows it to have been of a kindred
 
 xviii INTRODUCTION 
 
 character. It was designed as a icrijfjM es ad, in. which 
 it might be felt that a record of the achievements of 
 Roman arms was happily blended with an. affectionate 
 testimony to individual worth and distinction. For 
 English readers, its purpose has been thoroughly ful- 
 filled. Its bearing on one of the earliest passages of 
 our history must always make it of interest to us. 
 
 Besides a description of the geography of Britain 
 and of the general character of its inhabitants, in ac- 
 cordance 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. The actual subjugation of Britain and its 
 formation into a province cannot be said to have been 
 even attempted earlier than the reign of Claudius. It 
 had indeed been twice invaded by Caesar in B.C. 55 and 
 54, but Caesar, as Tacitus observes, was rather the 
 discoverer than the conqueror of the island. During 
 the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula Britain 
 was left to itself. In A.D. 43 an expedition was under- 
 taken by the direction of the emperor Claudius under 
 the command of Aulus Plautius who seems to have 
 advanced as far as the northern bank of the Thames 
 and with Vespasian as his legatus to have gained a 
 firm footing for the Romans. In the following year 
 Claudius invaded Britain in person and defeated one 
 of its most powerful tribes, the Trinobantes, who oc- 
 cupied Hertford and Essex. This success was fol- 
 lowed by the submission of the Regni in Sussex and 
 of the Iceni in Norfolk and Suffolk. Plautius was
 
 TO THE LIFE OF AG RICO LA. xix 
 
 succeeded by Ostorius Scapula in A. D. 47, by whom 
 the military colony of Camulodunum (Colchester) was 
 established in A.D. 50. From this time the southern 
 part of Britain (proxima pars Britanniae) may be con- 
 sidered to have been reduced to the form of a province. 
 Caimilodunum was practically the capital. Succeeding 
 governors did little to extend the Roman dominion. 
 In A.D. 61 the province was all but lost. The Iceni 
 under Boudicea suddenly rose in rebellion, stormed 
 Camulodunum and massacred its garrison. They were 
 however completely beaten by Suetonius Paulinus, 
 the governor, and the southern Britons were effectu- 
 ally reconquered while the northern were overawed. 
 During the following years the country was gradually 
 Romanised, and the colonies of Camulodunum, Veru- 
 lamium and Londinium which had been destroyed in 
 the insurrection of Boudicea recovered their position. 
 Vespasian's reign from A.D. 69 to 79, saw the work of 
 conquest still further advanced under Cerialis and his 
 successor Frontinus. The Silures in South Wales and 
 the Brigantes in Yorkshire yielded to the Roman 
 arms. Agricola, who had served with credit under 
 Cerialis and who became proconsul of Britain A.D. 78, 
 in succession to Frontinus, found on his arrival 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 con-
 
 xx INTRODUCTION 
 
 federate Caledonian tribes by which the subjugation 
 of Britain to its furthest 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 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 
 civilisation. 
 
 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 Domitian's reign and hints, though he 
 forbears explicitly to assert, as Dion Cassius does, that 
 Agricola was one of the Emperor's numerous victims. 
 
 The text of the Agricola presents many difficulties. 
 In three or four passages it is probably hopelessly
 
 TO THE LIFE OF AGRICOLA. xxi 
 
 corrupt. Great critical acumen ha.s been brought to 
 bear on it by Wex, who in the Prolegomena to his 
 edition, published 1852, has discussed the entire sub- 
 ject of the MSS. as well as every controverted passage 
 at great length. He thinks meanly of the recension 
 of Puteolanus in the 15th century, on which the 
 common reading of the text has from that time been, 
 based. He relies chiefly on one of the Vatican MSS. 
 of the 15th century, the work of Pomponius Laetus 
 and containing on the margin the various readings of 
 another MS. which are written in the same hand. 
 Wex's examination of this MS. is subsequent to 
 that of Orelli and Baiter. Of recent editors he has 
 done the most for the Agricola. The more recent 
 edition of Kritz mainly owes its value to Wex.
 
 Table of Passages in which the Text of this Edition of 
 the Agricola differs from tJtat of Orelli. 
 
 ORELLI. C. AND B. 
 
 Caesarum Caesaris 
 
 pater [Julii] pater fuit 
 
 V. exercitatior excitatior 
 
 X. unde et universis fama unde et in universum fama 
 
 est transgressa est transgressa 
 
 quam-f- hactenus jussum quiahactenusjussumethiems 
 et hiems abdebat appetebat 
 
 XI. habitasse occupasse 
 persuasione persuasiones 
 
 XIII. -f auctoritate opens auctor iterati open's 
 XV. manus raanum 
 
 XVIII. ad occasionem uterentur ad occasionem verterentur 
 XIX. nescire ascire 
 
 XX. tanta et tanta 
 
 XXI. inbella bello 
 
 XXII. ad Taum ad Tanaum 
 
 nihil superest ; secretum nihil superest secretum, ut 
 et silentium ejus non silentium ejus non timeres 
 timeres 
 
 XXV. oppugnasse oppugnare 
 
 XXVII. Britanni -j- non virtute Britanni non virtute sed oc- 
 sed occasione et arte casione et arte ducis elusos 
 ducis rati rati 
 
 XXVIII. mox ad aquam atque ut mox ad aquam atque utilia 
 ilia raptis secura pie- rapientes cuni plerisque 
 risque
 
 xxiv TABLE OF PASSAGES, &c. 
 
 ORELLL C. AND B. 
 
 XXX. totius Britanniae toti Britanuiae 
 
 XXXI. bona fortunasque in tri- bona fortunaeque in tribu- 
 
 butum aggerant, an- turn, ager atque annus in 
 num in frumentum, frumentum, corpora ipsa 
 corpora ipsa ac manus ac manus silvis ac paludi- 
 silvis ao paludibus bus emuniendis inter ver- 
 emuniendis inter ver- bera et contumelias conte- 
 bera ac contumelias ruiitur 
 conterunt 
 XXXn. nisi si nisi 
 
 infinna vincla caritatis infirma vincla loco caritatis 
 
 XXXV. bellanti bellandi 
 in aequo aequo 
 convexi connexi 
 covinnarius et equcs covinnarius eques 
 
 XXXVI. tres Batavorum cohortes Batavorum cohortes 
 commixtae connisae 
 
 miniraeque t equestres. minimeque equestris ea jam 
 
 Eaenimpugnaefacies pugnae facies erat, quum 
 
 erat, cum aegradiuaut aegre clivo instantes simul 
 
 stante simul equorum equorum 
 
 XLI. cum formidine eorum cum formidine ceterorum 
 XLII. iturusne esset iturusne esset in provinciam 
 
 XL1II. statim oblitus est statim oblitus. Et... 
 
 XLIV. excessit sexto et quin- excessit quarto et quinqua- 
 
 quagesimo anno gesimo anno 
 
 in hac beatissimi seculi in hanc beatissimi seculi lu- 
 
 luce cem 
 
 XLV. Massa Boebius jam turn Massa Boebius turn reu? 
 
 reus erat erat 
 
 nobis tarn longae absen- nobis turn longae absentiae 
 
 tiae 
 XLVI. oblivio obruet oblivio obruit
 
 xxiv TABLE OF PASSAGES, &c. 
 
 C. AND B.
 
 VITA 
 GNAEI JULII AGKICOLAE. 
 
 I. in. Tacitus apologises for offering biography to 
 an age which, though better and more hopeful than 
 the terrible period of Domitian, was still so far 
 demoralised as to prefer satires on vice to the praises 
 of virtue. 
 
 I. Clarorum virorum facta moresque posteris 
 tradere, antiquitus usitatum, ne nostris quidem tem- 
 poribus quamquam incuriosa suorum aetas omisit, 
 quotiens magna aliqua ac nobilis virtus vicit ac super- 
 gressa est vitium parvis magnisque civitatibus com- 
 mune, ignorantiam 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 ambi- 
 tione bonae tantum conscientiae pretio ducebatur. Ac 
 plerique suam ipsi vitam narrare fiduciam potius 
 morum qiiam arrogantiam arbitrati sunt, nee id Ru- 
 tilio et Scauro citra fidem aut obtrectationi fait; adeo 
 virtutes iisdem temporibus optime aestimantur, quibus 
 facillime gignuntur. At nunc narraturo milii vitam 
 defuncti hominis venia opus fait; quam non petissem 
 incusaturus tarn saeva et infesta virtutibus tempora 
 
 T.A. 1
 
 2 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 II. Legimus, quum Aruleno Rustico Paetua 
 Thrasea, Herennio Senecioni Priscus Helvidius lau- 
 dati essent, capitale fuisse, neque in ipsos modo auc- 
 tores, sed in libros quoque eorum saevitum, delegate 
 triumviris ministerio, ut monumenta clarissimorum 
 ingeniorum in comitio ac foro urerentur. Scilicet illo 
 igne vocem populi Eomani et libertatem senatus et 
 conscientiam generis humani aboleri arbitrabantur, 
 expulsis insuper sapieutiae professoribus atque oiuni 
 bona arte in exilium acta, ne quid usquam honesturu 
 occurreret. Dedimus profecto grande patientiae docu- 
 mentum; et sicut vetus aetas vidit, quid ultimum in 
 libertate esset, ita nos, quid in servitute, adempto per 
 inquisitiones etiam loquendi audiendique commercio. 
 Memoriam quoque ipsam cum voce perdidissemus, si 
 tarn in nostra po testate esset oblivisci quam tacere. 
 
 III. Nunc denmm redit animus; et quamquam 
 primo statiiii beatissimi seculi ortu Nerva Caesar res 
 olim dissociabiles miscuerit, principatum ac liberta- 
 tem, augeatque quotidie felicitatem temporum Nerva 
 Traianus, nee spem modo ac votum Securitas publica, 
 sed ipsius voti nduciam ac robur assumpserit, natura 
 tamen infirmitatis humanae tardiora sunt reniedia 
 quam mala ; et ut corpora nostra lente augescunt, cito 
 extinguuntur, sic iugenia studiaque oppresseris facilius 
 quam revocaveris. Subit quippe etiam ipsius inertiae 
 dulcedo, et invisa primo desidia postremo amatur. 
 Quid? si per quindecim annos, grande mortalis aevi 
 spatium, multi fortuitis casibus, promptissimus quis- 
 que saevitia principis interciderunt, pauci, et, uti 
 dixerim, non modo aliorum, sed etiam nostri super- 
 stites sumus, exemptis e media vita tot annis, quibus 
 iuvenes ad senectutem, senes prope ad ipsos exactae
 
 AGRICOLA L III. 3 
 
 aetatis terminos per silentium venimus. Non tamen 
 pigebit vel incondita ac rudi voce memoriam prioris 
 servitutis ac testiraonium praesentium bonorum com- 
 posuisse. Hie interim liber, honori Agricolae soceri 
 mei destinatus, professione pietatis aut laudatus erit 
 aut excusatus. 
 
 iv. vii. A. D. 40. A. D. 70. AgricolcSa birth, parent- 
 age and education. He serves his military appren- 
 ticeship in Britain under Suetonius Paullinus at 
 a peculiarly critical time. His marriage. He be- 
 comes Quaestor and Praetor. Death of his mother. 
 He joins the cause of Vespasian, is appointed to 
 the command of the 20th legion in Britain, and ac- 
 quits himself with credit. 
 
 IV. Gnaeus lulius Agricola, vetere et illustri 
 JForoiuliensium colonia ortus, utrumque avum pro- 
 curatorem Caesaris habuit, quae equestris nobilitas est. 
 Pater fuit lulius Graecinus senatorii ordinis, studio 
 eloquentiae sapientiaeque notus, iisque ipsis virtutibua 
 iram Gaii Caesaris meritus ; namque M. Silanum ac- 
 cusare iussus, et, quia abnuerat, interfectus est. Mater 
 lulia Procilla fuit, rarae castitatis. In huius siiiu 
 indulgentiaque educatus per omnem honestarum ar- 
 tium cultum pueritiam adolescentiamque transegit, 
 Arcebat eum ab illecebris peccantiuni, praeter ipsius 
 bonam integramque naturam, quod statim parvulus 
 sedem ac magistram studiorum Massiliam habuit, 
 locum Graeca comitate et provinciali parsimonia mis- 
 turn ac bene compositum. Memoi'ia teneo solitum 
 ipsum narrare se prima in iuventa studium philo- 
 sophiae acrius, ultra quam concessiim Roman o ac 
 senator!, hausisse, ni prudentia matris incensum ac 
 flagrantem animum coercuisset. Scilicet sublime et 
 
 12
 
 4 CORNELI1 TACIT1 
 
 erectum ingenium pulchritudinem ac speciem magiiae 
 excelsaeque gloriae vehementius quam caute appete 
 bat. Mox mitigavit ratio et aetas, retinuitque, quod 
 est difficilliniura, ex sapientia modum. 
 
 V. Prima castrorum rudimenta in Britannia 
 Suetonio Pauliuo, diligenti ac moderate duci, ap- 
 probavit electus, quern contubernio aestimaret. Nee 
 Agricola licenter, more iuvenum, qui militiam in 
 lasciviam vertunt, neque segniter ad voluptates et 
 commeatus titulum tribunatus et inscitiam rettulit ; 
 Bed noscere provinciam, nosci exercitui, discere a 
 peritis, sequi optimos, nihil appetere in iactationem, 
 nihil ob formidinem recusare, simulque et anxius et 
 intentus age re. Non sane alias excitatior magisque 
 ia ambiguo Britannia fuit. Trucidati veterani, in- 
 censae colon iae, intersepti exercitus ; turn de salute, 
 mox de victoria certavere. Quae cuncta etsi consiliis 
 ductuque alterius agebantur, ac summa rerum et re- 
 cuperatae provinciae gloria in ducem cessit, artem et 
 usum et stimulos addidere iuveni, intravitque animum 
 militaris gloriae cupido, ingrata temporibus, quibus 
 sinistra erga eminentes interpretatio, nee minus peri- 
 culum ex magna fama quam ex mala. 
 
 VL Hinc ad capessendos magistratus in urbem 
 digressus Domitiam Decidianam, splendidis natalibus 
 ortam, sibi iunxit, idque matrimouium ad maiora 
 nitenti decus ac robur fuit. Vixeruntque mira con- 
 cordia per mutuam caritatem et invicem se ante- 
 ponendo, nisi quod in bona uxore tanto maior laus, 
 quanto in mala plus culpae est. Sors quaesturae pro- 
 vinciam Asiam, proconsulem Salvium Titianum dedit. 
 Quorum neutro corruptus est, quamquam et provincia 
 dives ac parata peccantibus, et proconsul in omnem
 
 AGRICOLA IV. VII. 5 
 
 aviditatem pronus quantalibet facilitate redempturus 
 esset mutuam dissimulationem mali. Auctus est ibi 
 filia, in subsidium siniul et solatium ; nam h'lium ante 
 sublatum brevi amisit. Mox inter quaesturam ac 
 tribunatum plebis atque ipsum etiam tribunatus an- 
 num quiete et otio transiit, gnarus sub Nerone tem- 
 porum, quibus inertia pro sapientia fuit. Idem prae- 
 turae tenor et silentium ; nee enim iurisdictio ob- 
 venerat. Ludos et inania honoris medio rationis atque 
 abundantiae duxit, uti longe a luxuria, ita famae 
 propior. Turn electus a Galba ad dona templorum 
 recognoscenda, diligentissima conquisitione fecit, ne 
 cuius alterius sacrilegium res publica quam Neronis 
 sensisset. 
 
 VII. Sequens annus gravi vulnere animum do- 
 mumque eius afflixit. Nam classis Othoniana licenter 
 vaga, dum Intemelios (Liguriae pars est) hostiliter 
 populatur, matrem Agricolae in praediis suis interfecit, 
 praediaque ipsa et magnam patrimonii partem diripuit, 
 quae caussa caedis fuerat. Igitur ad sollemnia pietatis 
 profectus Agricola nuntio affectati a Vespasiano im- 
 perii deprehensus, ac statim in partes transgressus est. 
 Initia principatus ac statum urbis Mucianus regebat, 
 iuvene admodum Domitiano, et ex paterna fortuna 
 tantum licentiam usurpante. Is missum ad delectus 
 agendos Agricolam integreque ac strenue versatum 
 vicetimae legioni, tarde ad sacramentum transgressae, 
 praeposuit, ubi decessor seditiose agere narrabatur ; 
 quippe legatis quoque consularibus nimia ac for- 
 midolosa erat^ nee legatus praetorius ad cohibendum 
 potens, iucertum, suo an militum ingenio. Ita suc- 
 cessor simul et ultor electus rarissima moderatione 
 maluit videri invenisse bonos quam fecisse.
 
 6 CORNELII TACIT I 
 
 Yin. ix. A.D. 70. A.D. 78. Singular tact of Agri- 
 cola. He is appointed by Vespasian governor of 
 Aquitania, is recalled to Rome to be made consul, 
 and on the expiration of his consulate, becomes 
 governor of Britain. 
 
 VIII. Praeerat tune Britanuiae Vettius Bolanus, 
 placidius quam feroci provincia dignum est. Tempera- 
 vit Agricola vim suam, ardoreiuque compescuit, ne 
 incresceret, peritus obsequi eruditusque utilia honestis 
 miscere. Brevi deinde Britannia consularem Petilium 
 Cerialem accepit. Habuerunt virtutes spatium ex- 
 em plorum. Sed primo Cerialis labores modo et dis- 
 crimina, mox et gloriam communicabat ; saepe parti 
 exercitus in experimentum, aliquando raaioribus copiis 
 ex eventu praefecit. Nee Agricola umquam in suam 
 famam gestis exsultavit ; ad auctorem ac ducem ut 
 minister fortunam referebat. Ita virtute in obse- 
 quendo, verecundia in praedicando extra invidiani nee 
 extra gloriam erat. 
 
 IX. Revertentem ab legatione legionis divus 
 "Vespasianus inter patricios ascivit, ac deinde pi'o- 
 vinciae Aquitaniae praeposuit, splendidae imprimis 
 diguitatis administratione ac spe consulatus, cui des- 
 tinarat. Credunt plerique militaribus ingeniis sub- 
 tilitatem deesse, quia castrensis iurisdictio secura et 
 obtusior ac plura manu agens calliditatem fori non 
 exerceat. Agricola naturali prudentia, quamvis inter 
 togatos, facile iusteque agebat. lam vero tempora 
 curarum remissionumque divisa ; ubi conventus ac 
 iudicia poscerent, gravis, intentus, severus, et saepius 
 misericors ; ubi officio satisfactum, nulla ultra potes- 
 tatis persona. Tristitiam et arrogantiam et avaritiam 
 exuerat ; nee illi, quod est rarissimum, aut facilitas
 
 AGHICOLA VIIL IX. 7 
 
 auctoritatem aut severitas amorem deminuit. In- 
 tegritatem atque abstinentiam in tanto viro referre 
 iniuria virtutum fuerit. N"e famam quidem, cui saepe 
 etiam boni indulgent, ostentanda virtute aut per artem 
 quaesivit ; procul ab aemulatione adversus collegas, 
 procul a contentious adversus procuratores, et vincere 
 inglorium et atteri sordidum arbitrabatur. Minus 
 triennium in ea legatione detentus ac statim ad spem 
 consulatus revocatus est, comitante opinione Britan- 
 niam ei provinciam dari, nullis in hoc suis sermonibus, 
 sed quia par videbatur. Haud semper errat fama; 
 aliquando et elegit. Consul egregiae turn spei filiam 
 iuveni mihi despondit, ac post consulatum collocavit ; 
 et statim Britanniae praepositus est, adiecto pontifi- 
 catus aacerdotio. 
 
 x. xii. Britain; its boundaries, shape, surrounding 
 seas, origin, character, customs of its inhabitants ; 
 climate, products of the soil. 
 
 X. Britanniae situm populosque multis scriptori- 
 bus memoratos non in comparationem curae ingeniive 
 referam, sed quia turn primum perdomita est ; ita, 
 quae priores nondum comperta eloquentia percoluere, 
 rerum fide tradentur. Britannia, insularum, quas 
 Romana notitia complectitur, maxima, spatio ac coelo 
 in orientem Germaniae, in occidentem Hispaniae ob- 
 tenditur ; Gallis in meridiem etiam inspicitur. Sep- 
 tentrionalia eius, nullis contra terris, vasto atque 
 aperto mari pulsantur. For-mam totius Britanniae 
 Livius veterum Fabius Rusticus recentium eloquen- 
 tissimi auctores oblongae scutulae vel bipenni assi- 
 tuilavere. Et est ea facies citra Caledoniam, unde et
 
 8 CORNELI1 TACIT1 
 
 in universum fama est transgressa. Sed immensum 
 et eiionne spatium procurrentium extremo iam litore 
 terrarum velut in cuneum tenuatur. Hanc oram 
 novissimi maris tune primum Romana classis circum- 
 vecta iusnlam esse Britanniam affirmavit, ac simul 
 incognitas ad id tempos insulas, quas Orcadas vocant, 
 invenit domuitque. Dispecta est et Thule, quia hac- 
 teuua iussum, et hiems appetebat. Sed mare pigrum 
 et grave remigantibus ; perhibent ne ventis quidem 
 proinde attolli ; credo, quod rariores terrae montesque, 
 caussa ac materia tempestatum, et profunda moles 
 continui maris tardius impellitur. Naturam Oceani 
 atque aestus neque quaerere huius opens est, ac multi 
 rettulere. Unum addiderim, nusquam latius dominari 
 mare, multum fluminum hue atque illuc ferre, nee 
 litore tenus accrescere aut resorberi, sed influere 
 penitus atque ambire, et iugis etiam ac montibus inseri 
 velut in suo. 
 
 XL Ceterum Britanniam qui mortales initio 
 coluerint, indigenae an advecti, ut inter barbaros, 
 parum compertum. Habitus corporum varii, atque 
 ex eo argumenta. Namque rutilae Caledoniam habi- 
 tantium comae, magni artus Germanicam originem 
 asseverant. Silurum colorati vultus, torti plerumque 
 crines, et posita contra Hispania Iberos veteros traie- 
 cisse casque sedes occupasse fidem faciunt Proximi 
 Gallis et similes sunt, seu durante originis Ti, seu 
 procnrrentibus in diversa terris positio coeli corporibus 
 habitum dedit. In universum tamen aestimanti Gallos 
 vicinam insulam occupasse credibile est. Eorum sacra 
 deprehendas, superstitionum persuasiones ; sermo baud 
 multum diversus ; in deposcendis periculis eadem 
 andacia, et. ubi advenere, in detrectandis eadem for-
 
 AGRICOLA X. XII. 9 
 
 mido. Plus tamen ferociae Britanui praeferunt, ut 
 quos nondum longa pax emollierit. Nam Gallos quo- 
 que in bellis floruisse accepimus ; mox segnitia cum 
 otio intravit, amissa virtute paiiter ac libertate. 
 Quod Britannorum olim victis evenit ; ceteri manent. 
 quales Galli fuerunt. 
 
 XII. In pedite robur ; quaedam nationes et curru 
 proeliantur ; honestior auriga, clientes propugnant. 
 Olim regibus parebant, nunc per principes factionibus 
 et studiis trahuntur, nee aliud adversus validissimas 
 gentes pro nobis utilius quam quod in commune non 
 consulunt. Ranis duabus tribusque civitatibus ad 
 propulsandum commune periculum conventus ; ita 
 singuli pugnant, universi vincuntur. Coelum crebris 
 imbribus ac nebulis foedum ; asperitas frigorum abest. 
 Dierum spatia ultra nostri ox-bis mensuramj nox clara 
 et extrema Britanniae parte brevia, ut fiuem atque 
 initium lucis exiguo discrimine internoscas. Quod si 
 nubes non officiant, aspici per noctem solis fulgorem, 
 nee occidere et exsurgere sed transire affirmaiit. Sci- 
 licet extrema et plana terrarurfl humili umbra non 
 erigiint tenebras, infraque coelum et sidera nox cadit. 
 Solum, praeter oleam vitemque et cetera calidioribus 
 terris oriri sueta, patiens frugum, fecundum ; tarde 
 mitescunt, cito proveniunt, eademque utriusque rei 
 caussa, multus humor terrarum coelique. Fert Bri- 
 tannia aurum et argentum et alia metalla, pretium 
 victoriae. Gignib et oceanus margarita, sed subfusca 
 ac liventia. Quidam 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 
 nobis avaritiam.
 
 10 CORNELII TAG IT I 
 
 xill. xvn. Sketch of the Roman conquest of Britain 
 from the invasion of Julius Caesar to its more 
 complete subjugation by Claudius. Roman gover- 
 nors -of Britain. Insurrection of the Britons under 
 Boadicea; they storm Camalodunum, but are com- 
 pletely defeated by Suetonius Paullinua. Governors 
 who succeeded Paullinus. Little done by them to 
 advance the Roman dominion in Britain. Vigorous 
 policy of Vespasian. 
 
 XIII. Ipsi Rrit.fl.rmi delectum ac tributa et in- 
 iuncta imperil munera impigre obeunt, si iniuriae 
 absint; has aegre tolerant, iam doiniti ut pareant, 
 nondum ut serviant. Igitiir primus omnium Roma- 
 norum divus lulius cum exercitu Britanniam in- 
 gressus, 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 id divus Augustus vocabat, 
 Tiberius praeceptum. Agitasse Gaium Caesarem de 
 intranda Britannia satis constat. ni velox ingenio 
 mobilis poenitentiae, et ingentes adversus Germaniam 
 couatus frustra fuissent. Divus Claudius auctor iterati 
 operis, transvectis legionibus auxiliisque et assumpto 
 in partem rerum Vespasiano; quod initium venturae 
 mox fortunae fuit. Domitae gentes, capti reges, et 
 monstratus fatis Yespasianus. 
 
 XIV. Consularium primus Aulus Plautius prae- 
 positus, ac subinde Ostorius Scapula, uterque bello 
 egregius; redactaque paulatim in formam provinciae 
 proxima pars Britanniae. Addita insuper vetera- 
 norum colonia. Quaedam civitates Cogidumno regi 
 donatae (is ad nostram usque memoriam fidissimus
 
 AG RICO LA XIII X VII. 11 
 
 mansit), ut, vetere ac iam pridem recepta populi Ro- 
 mani consuetudine, haberet instrumenta servitutis et 
 reges. Mox Didius Gallus parta a prioribus continuit, 
 paucis admodum castellis in ulteriora promotis, per 
 quae fama aucti officii quaereretur. Didiuni Veranius 
 excepit, isque intra annum extinctus est. Suetonius 
 hinc Paulinus biennio prosperas res habuit subactis 
 nationibus firmatisque praesidiis; quorum fiducia 
 Monam insulam, ut vires rebellibus ministrantem, 
 aggressus terga occasion! patefecit. 
 
 XV. Namque absentia legati remote metu, 
 Britanni agitare inter se mala servitutis, conferre 
 iniurias et interpretando accendere. Nihil profici 
 patientia, nisi ut graviora tamquam ex facili toleran- 
 tibus imperentur. Singulos sibi olim reges fuisse, 
 mine binos imponi, e quibus legatus in sanguinem, 
 procurator in bona saeviret. Aeque discordiam prae- 
 positorum, aeque concordiam subiectis exitiosam; 
 alterius manum, centuriones, alterius servos vim et 
 contumelias miscere. Kib.il iam cupiditati, nihil 
 libidini exceptum. In proelio fortiorem esse, qui 
 spoliet; nunc ab ignavis plerumque et imbellibus 
 eripi domos, abstrahi liberos, iniungi delectus, tam- 
 quam mori tantum pro patria nescientibus. Quantu- 
 lum enim transisse mill turn, si sese Britanni numerent 1 
 Sic Germanias excussisse iugum, et flumine, non oceano 
 defendi; sibi patriam, coniuges, parentes, illis avari- 
 tiam et luxuriam caussas belli esse. Recessuros, ut 
 divus lulius recessisset, modo virtutem maiorum 
 suorum aemularentur. Neve proelii unius aut alterius 
 eventu pavescerent; plus impetus, maiorem con- 
 stantiam penes miseros esse. Iam Britannorum etiam 
 deos rnisereri, qui Romanum ducem absentem, qui
 
 12 CORNELII TACIT 1 
 
 relegatum in alia insula exercitum detinerent : iam 
 ipsos, quod difficiUimum fuerit, deliberate. Porro 
 in eiusmodi consiliis periculosius esse deprehendi 
 quam audere. 
 
 XVI. His atque talibus invicem instincti, Bou- 
 dicea, generis regii femina, duce (neque enim sexum 
 in imperils discernunt) surnpsere universi bellum; 
 ac sparsos per castella milites consectati, expugnatis 
 praesidiis ipsam coloniam invasere ut sedem servitutis. 
 Nee ullum in barbaris saevitiae genus omisit ira et 
 victoria. Quod nisi Paulinus cognito provinciae motu 
 propere subvenisset, amissa Britannia foret; quam 
 unius proelii fortuna veteri patientiae restituit, (tenen- 
 tibus anna plerisque, quos conscientia defectionis et 
 propius ex legato timor agitabat), ni quamquam 
 egregiua cetera arroganter in deditos, et, ut suae 
 cuiusque iniuriae ultor, durius consuleret. Missus 
 igitur Petronius Turpilianus tamquam exorabilior 
 et delictis hostium novus eoque [>oenitentiae mitior, 
 compositis prioribus nihil ultra ausus Trebellio 
 Maximo provinciam tradidit. Trebellius seguior et 
 nullis castrorum experimentis comitate quadam curandi 
 provinciam tenuit. Didicere iam barbari quoque 
 ignoscere vitiis blandientibus, et interventus civilium 
 armorum praebuit iustam segnitiae excusationem. Sed 
 discordia laboratum, quum assuetus expeditionibus 
 miles otio lasciviret. Trebellius, fuga ac latebris 
 vitata exercitus ira indecorus atque humilis, precario 
 mox praefuit, ac velut pacti exercitus licentiam, dux 
 salutem ; et seditio sine sanguine stetit. Nee Vettius 
 Bolanus, manentibus adhuc civilibus bellis, agitavit 
 Britanniam disciplina. Eadem inertia erga hostes, 
 similis petulantia castrorum, nisi quod innocens
 
 AGRICOLA XIII. XYI1. 13 
 
 Bolanus et nullis delictis invisus caritatem paraverat 
 loco auctoritatis. 
 
 XYII. Sed ubi cum cetero orbe Vespasianus et 
 Britanniam recuperavit, magni duces, egregii exercitus, 
 minuta hostium spes. Et terrorem statim intulit 
 Petilius Cerialis, Brigantum civitatem, quae nuinero- 
 sissima provinciae totius perbibetur, aggressus. Multa 
 proelia, et aliquando non incruenta; magnamque 
 Brigantum partem aut victoria amplexua est aut 
 bello. Et Cerialis quidem alterius successoris cu- 
 ram famamque obruisset sed sustinuit molem lulius 
 Frontinus, vir magnus, quantum licebat, validamque et 
 pugnacem Silururn gentem armis subegit, super virtu- 
 tem hostium locorum quoque difficultates eluctatus. 
 
 xviii. xxi. A.D. 78. A.D. 79. Successes of Agricola in 
 Britain. Defeat of the Ordovices. Attack on the 
 island of Mona. Terror and submission of the 
 Britons. Moderation and equity of Agricola's go- 
 vernment. His reform of abuses. B e establishes forts 
 and garrisons, and introduces Roman civilization. 
 
 XVIII. Hunc Britanniae statum, has bellorum 
 vices media iam aestate transgressus Agricola invenit, 
 quum et milites velut omissa expeditione ad securi- 
 tatem, et hostes ad occasionem verterentur. Ordo- 
 vicum civitas baud multo ante adventum eius alam in 
 finibus suis agentem prope universam obtriverat, 
 eoque initio erecta provincia; et quibus bellum volen- 
 tibus erat, probare exemplum, ac recentis legati 
 animum opperiri, quum Agricola, quamquam trans- 
 vecta aestas, sparsi per provinciam numeri, praesumpta 
 apud militem illius anni quies, tarda et contraria 
 bellum inchoaturo, et plerisque custodiri suspecta 
 potius videbatur, ire obyiam discrimmi statuit; con-
 
 14 CORN ELI I TAG IT I 
 
 tractisque legionum vexillis et modica auxiliorum 
 manu, quia in aequum degredi Ordo vices non aude- 
 bant, ipse ante agmen, quo ceteris par animus simili 
 periculo esset, erexit aciem. Caesaque prope universa 
 gente, non ignarus instandum famae, ac, prout prima 
 cessissent, terrorem ceteris fore, Monam insulam, 
 cuius possessione revocatum Paulinum rebellione totius 
 Britanniae supra memoravi, redigere in potestatem 
 animo intendit. Sed, ut in dubiis consiliis, naves 
 deerant; ratio et constantia ducis transvexit. De- 
 positis omnibus sarcinis lectissimos auxiliarium, quibus 
 nota vada et patrius nandi usus, quo simul seque et 
 arma et equos regunt, ita repente immisit, ut obstupe- 
 facti hostes, qui classem, qui naves, qui mare exspecta- 
 bant, nihil arduum aut invictum crediderint sic ad 
 bellum venientibus. Ita petita pace ac dedita insula 
 clarus ac magnus haberi Agricola, quippe cui in- 
 gredienti provinciam, quod tempus alii per ostenta- 
 tionem et officiorum ambitum transigunt, labor et 
 periculum placuisset. Nee Agricola prosperitate 
 rerum in vanitatem usus expeditionem aut victoriam 
 vocabat victos continuisse; ne laureatis quidem gesta 
 prosecutus est. Sed ipsa dissimulatione famae famam 
 auxit aestimantibus, quanta futuri spe tam magna 
 tacuisset. 
 
 XIX. Ceterum animorum provinciae prudens, 
 simulque doctus per aliena experimenta parum profici 
 armis, si injuriae sequerentur, causas bellorum statuit 
 excidere. A se suisque orsus primum domum suam 
 coercuit, quod plerisque haud minus arduum est quam 
 provinciam regere. Nihil per libertos servosque pub- 
 licae rei, non studiis privatis nee ex commendatione 
 aut precibus centurionem, milites ascire, sed optimum
 
 AGKICOLA XVIII. XXI. 15 
 
 quemque fidissimum putare; omnia scire, non omnia 
 exsequi ; parvis peccatis veniam, magnis severitatem 
 commodare, nee poena semper, sed saepius poeuitentia 
 contentus esse ; officiis et administrationibus potius 
 non peccaturos praeponere, quam damnare, quum 
 peccassent. Frumenti et tributorum exactionem 
 aequalitate munerum mollire, circumcisis, quae in 
 quaestum reperta ipso tribute gravius tolerabantur. 
 Namque per ludibrium assidere clausis horreis et 
 emere ultro frumenta ac ludere pretio cogebantur ; 
 devortia itinerum et longinquitas regionum indicebatur, 
 ut civitates, proximis hibernis, in remota et avia 
 deferrent, donee, quod omnibus in promptu erat, paucis 
 lucrosum fieret. 
 
 XX. Haec primo statim anno comprimendo egre- 
 giam famam paci circumdedit, quae vel incuria vel 
 intolerantia priorum baud minus quam bellum time- 
 batur. Sed ubi aestas advenit, contracto exercitu 
 multus in agmine, laudare modestiam, disiectos coer- 
 cere ; loca castris ipse capere, aestuaria ac silvas ipse 
 praetentare ; et nihil interim apud hostes quietum 
 pati, quominus subitis excursibus popularetur ; atque 
 ubi satis terruerat, parcendo rursus irritamenta pacis 
 ostentare. Quibus rebus multae civitates, quae in 
 ilium diem ex aequo egerant, datis obsidibus iram 
 posuere, et praesidiis castellisque circumdatae, et tanta 
 ratione curaque ut nulla ante Britanniae nova pars. 
 
 XXI. Illacessita transiit sequens hiems, salu- 
 berrimis consiliis absiimpta. Namque ut homines dis- 
 persi ac rudes eoque bello faciles quieti et otio per 
 voluptates assuescerent, hortari privatim, adiuvare 
 publice, ut templa, fora, domos exstruerent, laudando 
 promptos et castigando segnes. Ita honoris aemulatio
 
 16 CORNELII TAG1TI 
 
 pro necessitate erat. lam vero principum filios libera- 
 libus artibus erudire, et ingenia Britannorum studiis 
 Gallorum anteferre, ufc, qui modo linguam Romanam 
 abnuebant, eloquentiam concupiscerent. Inde etiam 
 habitus nostri honor, et frequens toga, paulatimque 
 discessum ad delenimenta vitiorum, porticus et balnea 
 et conviviorum elegantiam ; idque apud imperitos 
 humanitas vocabatur, quum pars servitutis esset. 
 
 xxil. xxiv. A.D. 80. A.D. 82. Agricola pushes his 
 conquests as far north as the Tanaus and draws a 
 line of forts from the Clota to the Bodotria. He 
 crosses the Clota and posts some troops on the western 
 coast opposite Ireland. Description of Ireland. 
 
 XXII. Tertius expeditionum annus novas gentes 
 aperuit, vastatis usque ad Tanaum (aestuario nomen 
 est) nationibus. Qua formidine territi hostes quam- 
 quam conflictatum saevis tempestatibus exercitum 
 lacessere non ausi ; ponendisque insuper castellis spa- 
 tium fuit. Annotabant periti non alium ducem oppor- 
 t imitates locorum sapientius legisse. Nullum ab Agri- 
 cola positum castellum aut vi hostium expugnatum 
 aut pactione ac fuga desertum ; crebrae eruptiones ; 
 nam adversus moras obsidionis annuis copiis firma- 
 bantur. Ita intrepida ibi hiems, et sibi quisque 
 praesidio, irritis hostibus eoque desperantibus, quia 
 soliti plerumque damna aestatis hibernis eventibus 
 pensare tum aestate atque hieme iuxta pellebantur. 
 Nee Agricola umquam per alios gesta avidus intercepit ; 
 seu centurio seu praefectus, incorruptum facti testeno 
 habebat. Apud quosdam acerbior in conviciis narra- 
 batur; ut erat comis bonis, ita adversus malos iniu- 
 cundus. Ceterum ex iracundia nihil supererat secretum,
 
 AGRICOLA XXII. XXIV. 17 
 
 ut silentium eius non timeres ; honestius putabat offen- 
 dere quam odisse. 
 
 XXIII. Quarta aestas obtinendis, quae percu- 
 cuiTerat, insumpta, ac, si virtus exercituum et Romani 
 nominis gloria pateretur, inventus in ipsa Britannia 
 terminus. Namque Clota et Bodotria, diversi maris 
 aestibus per immensum revectae, angusto terraruni 
 spatio dirimuntur, quod tum praesidiis firmabatur ; 
 atque omnis propior sinus tenebatur, summotis velut 
 in aliam insulam hostibus. 
 
 XXIV. Quinto expeditionum anno nave prima 
 transgressus ignotas ad id tempus gentes crebris simu] 
 ac prosperis proeliis domuit, eamque partem Britanniae, 
 quae Hiberniam aspicit, copiis instruxit, in spem magis 
 quam ob formidinem, si quidem Hibernia medio inter 
 Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita et Gallico quoque 
 mari opportuna valentissimam imperil partem magnis 
 invicem usibus miscuerit. Spatium eius, si Britanniae 
 cornparetur, angustius, nostii maris insulas superat. 
 Solum coelumque et ingenia cultusque hominum baud 
 multum a Britannia differ unt; melius aditus portusque 
 per commercia et negotiatores cogniti. Agricola ex- 
 pulsum seditione domestica unum ex regulis gentis 
 exceperat, ac specie amicitiae in occasionem retinebat. 
 Saepe ex eo audivi legione una et modicis auxiliis 
 debellari obtinerique Hiberuiam posse, idque etiam 
 ad versus Britanniam profuturum, si Romana ubique 
 arma, et velut e conspectu libertas tolleretur. 
 
 xxv. xxix. A.D. 83. A.D. 84. Agricola undertakes 
 an expedition by sea and land to the north of the 
 Bodotria, and is met by a confederation of the Cale- 
 donian tribes who make a sudden and furious attack 
 on the 9th legion, but are ultimately defeated. They 
 T. A. 2
 
 18 VORNELIT TAC1TI 
 
 prepare however to renew the conflict. Strange adven- 
 tures of a Usipian cohort. Agricola advances as far 
 as the Grampian mountains, where he is met by the 
 assembled forces of the Caledonians under Galgacus. 
 
 XXV. Ceterum aestate, qua sextum officii annum 
 inchoabat, am plexus civitates trans Bodotriam sitas, 
 quia motus universarum ultra gentium et infesta 
 hostilis exercitus itinera timebantur, portus classe 
 exploravit. Quae ab Agricola primum assumpta in 
 partem virium sequebatur egregia specie, quum simul 
 terra simul mari bellum impelleretur, ac saepe iisdeiu 
 castris pedes equesque et nauticus miles misti copiis et 
 laetitia sua quisque facta, suos casus attollerent, ac 
 modo silvarum ac montium profunda, modo tempes- 
 tatum ac fluctuum ad versa, hinc terra et hostis, hinc 
 victus oceanus inilitari iactantia compararentur. Bri- 
 tannos quoque, ut ex captivis audiebatur, visa classis 
 obstupefaeiebat, tamquam aperto mavis sui s>ecreto 
 ultimum victis perfugium clauderetur. Ad manus et 
 arma conversi Caledoniam incolentes populi paratu 
 magno, maiore farna, uti mos est de ignotis, oppugnare 
 ultro castellum adorti, metum ut provocantes addide- 
 rant ; regrediendumque citra Bodotriam, et excedendum 
 potius quam pellerentur, ignavi specie prudentium 
 admonebant, quum interim cognoscit hostes pluribus 
 agminibus irrupturos. Ac ne superante numero et 
 peritia locorum circumiretur, diviso et ipse in tres 
 partes exercitu incessit. 
 
 XXVI. Quod ubi cognitum hosti, mutato repente 
 consilio universi nonam legionem, ut maxime invali- 
 dam, nocte aggressi, inter somnum ac trepidationeni, 
 caesis vigilibus, irrupere. lamque in ipsis castris 
 pugnabatur, quum Agricola, iter hostium ab ex-
 
 AGRICOLA XXV. XXIX. 19 
 
 ploratoribus edoctus et vestigiis insecutus, velocissi- 
 mos equitum peditumque assultare tergis pugnantium 
 iubet, mox ab universis adiici clamorem ; et propinqua 
 luce fulsere signa. Ita ancipiti malo territi Britanni ; 
 et Romanis rediit animus, ac securi pro salute de 
 gloria certabant. Ultro quin etiam erupere, et fuit 
 atrox in ipsis portarum angustiis proelium, donee pulsi 
 hostes, utroque exercitu certante, his, ut tulisse opein, 
 illis, ne eguisse auxilio viderentur. Quod nisi paludes 
 et silvae fugientes texissent, debellatum ilia victoria 
 foret. 
 
 XXVII. Cuius conscientia ac fama ferox exer- 
 citus nihil virtuti suae invium, et penetrandam Cale- 
 doniam inveniendumque tandem Britanniae terminum 
 continuo proeliorum cursu fremebant ; atque illi modo 
 cauti ac sapientes prompti post eventum ac magniloqui 
 erant. Iniquissima haec bellorum condicio est ; pros- 
 pera omnes sibi vindicant, adversa uni imputantur. 
 At Britanni, non virtute, sed occasione et arte ducis 
 elusos rati, nihil ex arrogantia remittere, quominus 
 iuventutem armarent, coniuges ac liberos in loca tuta 
 transferrent, coetibus ac sacrificiis conspirationem civi- 
 tatum sancirent. Atque ita irritatis utrimque animis 
 tliscessum. 
 
 XXVIII. Eadem aestate cohors Usipiorum per 
 Germanias conscripta et in Britanniam transmissa 
 magnum ac memorabile facinus ausa est. Occiso cen- 
 turione ac militibus, qui ad tradendam disciplinam 
 immisti manipulis exemplum et rectores habebantur, 
 tres liburnicas adactis per vim gubernatoribus as- 
 cendere ; et uno remigante, suspectis duobus eoque 
 interfectis. nondum vulgato rumore ut miraculum 
 praevehebantur. Mox ad aquam atque utilia rapientes 
 
 22
 
 20 CORN ELI I TACIT I 
 
 cum plerisque Britannorum sua defensantiura proelio 
 congress!, ac saepe victores, aliquando pulsi, eo ad 
 extremum inopiae venere, ut infirmissinios suorum, 
 mox sorte ductos vescerentur. Atque ita circumvecti 
 Britanniam, amissis per inscitiam regendi navibus, 
 pro praedonibus habiti, primum a Suevis, mox a Fri- 
 siis intercept! sunt. Ac fuere, quos per commercia 
 venundatos et in nostram usque ripam mutation e 
 ementium adductos indicium tanti casus illustravit. 
 
 XXIX. Initio aestatis Agricola domestico vulnere 
 ictus. Anno ante natum filium amisit ; quern casum 
 neque, ut plerique fortium virorum, ambitiose, neque 
 per lamenta rursus ac maerorem muliebriter tulit. Et 
 in luctu bellum inter remedia erat. Igitur praemissa 
 classe, quae pluribus locis praedata magnum et incer- 
 tum terrorem faceret, expedite exercitu, cui ex Bri- 
 tannis fortissimos et longa pace exploratos addiderat, 
 ad montem Grampium pervenit, quern iam hostis in- 
 sederat. Nam Britanni, nihil fracti pugnae prioris 
 eventu, et ultionem aut servitium exspectantes, tan- 
 demque docti commune periculum coucordia propul- 
 sandum, legationibus et foederibus omnium civitatum 
 vires exciverant. lamque super triginta milia anna- 
 torum aspiciebantur, et adhuc affluebat omnis iuventus 
 et quibus cruda ac viridis senectus, clari bello et sua 
 quisque decora gestantes, quum inter plures duces 
 virtute et genore praestans, nomine Calgacus, apud 
 contractam multitudinem proelium poscentem in hunc 
 modum locutus fertur : 
 
 xxx. xxxn. Speech of Galgacus to his army. He 
 dwells on the urgency of the crisis, on the Jiopeless- 
 ness of escape from the Roman lust of dominion, 
 on the almost certain success which will attend the
 
 AGRICOLA XXX. XXXII. 21 
 
 united efforts of a hitherto unconquered people, whose 
 freedom is threatened by a miscellaneous host of 
 invaders which is held together by fear and terror 
 rather than by fidelity and affection. 
 
 XXX. Quotiens caussas belli et necessitatem 
 nostram intueor, magnus mihi animus est hodiernum 
 diem consensumque 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 fortibus honesta, eadem etiam ignavis 
 tutissima sunt. Priores pugnae, quibus adversus 
 Romanes varia fortuna certatum est, spem ac subsidium 
 in nostris manibus habebant, quia nobilissimi totius 
 Britanniae, iique in ipsis penetralibus siti, nee servi- 
 entium litora aspicientes, oculos quoque a contactu 
 dominationis inviolatos habebamus. Nos terrarum ac 
 libertatis extremes recessus ipse ac sinus farnae in 
 hunc diem defendit, atque omne ignotum pro tnagni- 
 fico est. Sed nunc tenninus Britanniae patet. Nulla 
 iam ultra gens, nihil nisi fl-uctus et saxa, et infestiores 
 Romani, quorum superbiam frustra per obsequium ac 
 modestiam effugeris. Raptores orbis, postquam cuncta 
 vastantibus defuere terrae, iam et mare scrutantur ; 
 si locuples hostis est, avari, si pauper, ambitiosi, quos 
 uon Oriens, non Occidens satiaverit. Soli omnium 
 opes atque inopiam pari affectu concupiscunt. Auferre, 
 trucidare, rapere falsis nominibus imperium, atque ubi 
 solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant. 
 
 XXXI. Liberos cuique ac propinquos suos natura 
 carissimos esse voluit. Hi per delectus alibi servituri 
 auferunturj coniugea sororesque, etiamsi hostilem 
 libidinem effugiant, nomine amicorum atque hospitum
 
 22 GORNELII TACIT1 
 
 polluuntur. Bona fortunaeque in tributum, ager atque 
 aunus in frumentum, corpora ipsa ac manus silvis 
 ac paludibus emuniendis inter verbera ac contumelias 
 conteruntur. Nata servituti mancipia semel veneunt, 
 atque ultro a dominis aluntur ; Britannia servitutem 
 suain quotidie emit, quotidie pascit. Ac sicut in 
 familia recentissimus quisque servorum etiam conservis 
 ludibrio est, sic in hoc orbis terrarum vetere faraulatn 
 novi nos et vfles in excidium petimur. Neque enim 
 arva nobis aut metalla aut portus sunt, quibus exer- 
 cendis reservemur. Virtus porro ac ferocia subiect- 
 orum ingrata imperantibus ; et longinquitas ac se- 
 cretum ipsum quo tutius, eo suspectius. Ita sublata 
 spe veniae tandem sumite animum, tam quibus salus 
 quam quibus gloria carissima est. Brigantes femina 
 duce exurere coloniam, expugnare castra, ac, nisi 
 felicitas in socordiam vertisset, exuere iugum potuere ; 
 nos integri et indomiti et libertatem non in poeniten- 
 tiam laturi, primo station congressu ostendamus, quos 
 sibi Caledonia viros seposuerit. 
 
 XXXII. An eandem Romanis in bello virtutem 
 quam in pace lasciviam adesse creditis ? Nostris 
 illi dissensionibus ac discordiis clari vitia hostium in 
 gloriam exercitus sui vertunt ; quern contractum ex 
 diversissimis gentibus ut secundae res tenent, ita ad- 
 versae dissolvent, nisi Gallos et Germanos et (pudet 
 dictu) Britannorum plerosque, licet dominationi alienae 
 sanguinem commodent, diutius tamen hostes quam 
 servos, fide et affectu teneri putatis. Metus ac terror 
 est, infirma vincla loco caritatis ; quae ubi removeris, 
 qui timere desierint, odisse incipient. Omnia victoriae 
 incitamenta pro nobis sunt ; nullae Romanes con- 
 iuges accendunt, nulli parentes fugam exprobraturi
 
 AGRICOLA XXX. XXXII. 23 
 
 eunt ; aut nulla plerisque patria aut alia est. Paucos 
 numero, trepidos ignorantia, coelum ipsum ac mare 
 et silvas, ignota omnia, circumspectantes, clauses quo- 
 dammodo ac vinctos dii nobis tradiderunt. ~Ne terreat 
 vanus aspectus et auri fulgor atque argenti, quod 
 aeque tegit neque vulnerat. In ipsa hostium acie 
 inveniemus nostras manus ; agrxoscent Britanni suam 
 caussam, recordabuntur Galli priorem libertatem, 
 deserent illos ceteri German!, tamquam nuper Usipii 
 relinquerunt. Nee quicquam ultra formidinis ; vacua 
 castella, senum coloniae, inter male parentes et iniuste 
 imperantes aegra municipia et discordantia. Hie dux, 
 hie exercitus ; illic tributa et metalla et ceterae servi- 
 entium poenae, quas in aeternum perferre aut statim 
 ulcisci in hoc campo est. Proinde ituri in aciem et 
 maiores vestros et posteros cogitate. 
 
 xxxin. xxxiv. Agricola's address to his troops. He 
 reminds them of the courage and endurance which 
 seven years' military service has tested, of the unique 
 character of their achievements, of their despe- 
 rate position, of their glorious end, should they 
 be overpowered, in these remote and unexplored 
 regions. The enemy, he suggests, has stood his 
 ground rather under the influence of panic than of 
 steady deliberate bravery. 
 
 XXXIII. Excepere orationem alacres, ut barbaris 
 tnoris, cantu fremituque et clamoribus dissonis. lam- 
 que agmina, et armorum fulgores audentissimi cuius- 
 que procursix; simul instruebatur acies, quum Agricola, 
 quamquam laetum et vix munimentis coercitum 
 militem accendendum adhuc ratus, ita disseruit : 
 
 Octavus annus est, commilitones, ex quo virtute et 
 auspiciis imperii Romani, fide atque opera vestra
 
 24 CORNS LI I TACIT I 
 
 Britaimiam vicistis. Tot expeditionibus, tot proeliig, 
 seu fortitudine adversiis hostes seu patientia ac labore 
 paene adversus ipsam rerum naturam opus fuit, neque 
 me militum neque vos duels poenituit Ergo egressi, 
 ego veterum legatorum, vos priorum exercituum tei-- 
 minos, finem Britanniae non fama nee rumore, sed 
 castris et artnis tenemus. Inventa Britannia et sub- 
 acta. Equidem saepe in agmine, quum vos paludes 
 montesve et flumina fatigarent, fortissimi cuiusque 
 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, transisse aestuaria pulchrum ac decorum in 
 frontem, ita fugientibus periculosissima, quae hodie 
 prospenima sunt. Neque enim nobis aut locorum 
 eadem notitia aut conimeatuum eadem abundantia, 
 sed manus et arma, et in his omuia. Quod ad me 
 attinet, iam pridem mihi decretum est neque exercitus 
 neque ducis 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. 
 
 XXXIV. Si novae gentes atque ignota acies con- 
 stitisset, aliorum exercituum exemplis vos hortarer; 
 nunc vestra decora recensete, vestros oculos interrogate. 
 Hi sunt, quos proximo anno unam legionem furto 
 noctis aggressos clamore debellastis; hi ceteroruin 
 Britannorum fugacissimi, ideoque tarn diu superstites. 
 Quomodo silvas saltusque penetrantibus fortissimum 
 quodque animal contra mere, pavida et inertia ipso 
 agminis sono pelluntur, sic acerrimi Britannorum 
 iam pridem ceciderunt, reliquus est numerus ignavorum
 
 AGRICOLA XXXIII. XXXIV. 25 
 
 et metuentium. Quos quod tandem invenistis, non 
 restiterunt, sed deprehensi sunt; novissimae res efc 
 extreme metu corpora defixere aciein in his vestigiis, 
 in quibus pulchram et spectabilem victoriam ederetis. 
 Transigite cum expeditionibus, imponite quinquaginta 
 annis magnum diem, approbate rei publicae nunquam 
 exercitui imputari potuisse aut moras belli aut caussas 
 rebellancli. 
 
 xxxv. xxxix. The order of battle. Desperate courage 
 oftJie Britons. Their complete defeat. Loss on both 
 sides. Terrible scenes on the battle-field. Expedition 
 of the Roman fleet. Agricola returns southwards. 
 Effect on Domitian of the news of Agricola' 's successes. 
 
 XXXV. Et alloquente adhuc Agricola militum 
 ardor eminebat, et finem orationis ingens alacritas 
 consecuta est, statimque ad anna dLscursum. In- 
 stinctos ruentesque ita disposuit, ut peditum auxilia, 
 qtiae octo milium erant, mediam aciem firmarent, 
 equitum tria milia cornibus affunderentur. Legiones 
 pro vallo stetere, ingens victoriae decus citra Roma- 
 num sanguinem bellandi, et auxilium, si pellerentur. 
 Britannorum acies in speciem simul ac terrorem 
 editioribus locis constiterat ita, ut primum agmen 
 aequo, ceteri per acclive iugum connexi velut insur- 
 gerent; media campi covinnarius eques strepitu ac 
 discursu complebat. Turn Agricola superantc hostium 
 multitudine veritus, ne in frontem simul et latera 
 suomm pugnaretur. diductis ordinibus, quamquam 
 poiTectior acies futura erat, et arcessendas plerique 
 legiones admonebant, promptior in spem et firmus 
 adversis dimisso equo pedes ante vexilla constitit. 
 
 XXXVI. Ac primo congressu eminus certabatur, 
 simulque constantia simul arte Britanni ingentibus
 
 26 CORNELII TACIT1 
 
 gladiis et brevibus cetris missilia nostrorum vitare vel 
 excutere, atque ipsi magnam vim telorum super- 
 fnndere, donee Agricola Batavorum cohortes ac Tun- 
 grorum duas cohortatus est, ut rem ad mucrones ac 
 inanus adducerent; quod et ipsis vetustate militiae 
 exercitatum et hostibus inliabile, parva scuta et enor- 
 mes gladios gerentibus. Nam Britannorum gladii 
 sine mucroue complexum armorum et in aperto pugnam 
 non tolerabant Igitur ut Batavi miscere ictus, feiire 
 umbonibus, ora foedare, et stratis, qui in aequo astite- 
 rant, erigere in colles aciem coepere, ceterae cohortes 
 aeruulatione et impetu connisae proximos quosque cae- 
 dere; ac plerique semineces aut integri festinatioue 
 victoriae relinquebantur. Interim equitum turmae 
 fugere, covinnarii peditum se proelio miscuere, et 
 quamquam recentem terrorem intulerant, densis ta- 
 men hostium agminibus et inaequalibus locis hae- 
 rebant; minimeque equestris ea iam pugnae facies 
 erat, quum aegre clivo instantes simul equorum 
 corporibus impellerentur; ac saepe vagi currus, ex- 
 territi sine rectoribus equi, ut quemque formido 
 tulerat, transversos aut obvios incursabant. 
 
 XXXVII. Et Britanni, qui adhuc pugnae ex- 
 pertes summa collium insederant et paucitatem nos- 
 trorum vacui spernebant, degredi paulatim et circum- 
 ire terga vincentium coeperant, ni id ipsum veritus 
 Agricola quattuor equitum alas, ad subita belli 
 retentas, venientibus opposuisset, quantoque ferocius 
 accucurrerant, tanto acrius pulsos in fugam disiecisset. 
 Ita consilium Britannorum in ipsos versum, trans- 
 vectaeque praecepto duels a fronte pugnantium alae 
 aversam hostium aciem invasere. Turn vero paten- 
 tibus locis grande et atrox spectaculum ; sequi, vulne-
 
 AGRIGOLA XXXV. XXXIX. 27 
 
 rare, capere, atque eosdem, oblatis aliis, trucidare. 
 lam hostium, prout cuique ingeuium erat, catervae 
 armatorum paucioribus terga praestare, quidam in- 
 erraes ultro mere ac se morti offerre; passim arma 
 et corpora et laceri artus et cruenta humus, et ali- 
 quandu etiain victis ira virtusque. Postquam silvis 
 appropinquaverunt, collect! primos sequentium, incau- 
 tos et locorum ignaros, circumveniebant. Quod ni 
 frequens ubique Agricola validas et expeditas cohortes 
 indaginis modo, et, sicubi artiora erant, partem equi- 
 tum dimissis equis, simul rariores silvas equitem per- 
 sultare iussisset, acceptum aliquod vulnus per nimiarn 
 fiduciam foret. Cetemni ubi composites firmis ordi- 
 nibus sequi rursus videre, in fugam versi non agmi- 
 nibus, ut prius, nee alius aliurn respectantes ; rari et 
 vitabundi invicem longinqua atque avia petiere. Finis 
 sequendi nox et satietas fait. Caesa hostium ad decem 
 milia; nostrorum trecenti sexaginta cecidere, in quis 
 Aulus Atticus praefectus cohortis, iuvenili ardore et 
 ferocia equi hostibus illatus. 
 
 XXXVIII. Et nox quidem gaudio praedaque 
 laeta victoribus. Britanni palantes mixtoque virorum 
 mulierumque ploratu trahere vulneratos, vocare in- 
 tegros, deserere domos ac per iram ultro incendere; 
 eligere latebras et statim relinquere, miscere invicem 
 coiisilia aliqua, deinde separare, aliquando frangi 
 aspectu pignorum suorum, saepius concitari; satisque 
 constabat saevisse quosdam in coniuges ac liberos, 
 tamquam inisererentur. Proximus dies faciem victoriae 
 latins aperuit; vastum ubique silentium, secreti colles, 
 fumantia procul tecta, nemo exploratoribus obvius. 
 Quibus in omnem partem dimissis, ubi incerta fugae 
 vestigia neque usquam conglobari hostes compertum,
 
 28 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 et exacta iam aestate spargi bellum nequibat, in finem 
 Borestorum exercitum deducit. Ibi acceptis obsidi- 
 bus, praefecto classis circa mvehi Britanniam prae- 
 cipit, Datae ad id vires, et praecesserat terror. Ipse 
 peditem atque equites lento itinere, quo novarum 
 gentium animi ipsa transitus mora terrerentur, in 
 bibernis locavit; et simul classis secunda tempestate 
 ac fama Trutulensem portum tenuit, unde proximo 
 Britanniae latere lecto omni redierat. 
 
 XXXIX. Hunc rerum cursum, quamquam nulla 
 verborum iactantia epistolia Agricolae auctum, ut 
 Domitiano moris erat, fronte laetus, pectore anxius 
 excepit. Inerat conscientia derisui fuisse nuper falsum 
 e Germania triumphum, emptis per commercia, quorum 
 habitus et crines in captivorum speciem formarentur ; 
 at nunc veram magnamque victoriam tot milibus 
 Lostiuni caesis ingenti fama celebrari. Id sibi maxime 
 formidolosum, privati hominis nomen supra principis 
 attolli; frustra studia fori et civilium artium decus 
 in silentium acta, si militarem gloriam alius occuparet ; 
 et cetera utcumque facilius dissimulari, ducis boui 
 imperatoriam virtutem esse. Talibus curis exercitus, 
 quodque saevae cogitationis indicium erat, secreto suo 
 satiatus, optimum in praesentia statuit reponere odium, 
 donee impetus famae et favor exercitus languesceret. 
 Nam etiamtum Agricola Britanniam obtinebat. 
 
 XL. XLVI. A.D. 84. A.D. 93. Recall of Agricola. 
 His cold reception by the Emperor. His grow- 
 ing popularity and consequent danger from the 
 Emperor's jealousy. He declines a Proconsulate. 
 His death; its suspicious circumstances; why oppor- 
 tune and to be desired. Concluding reflexions on 
 Agricola.
 
 AGRICOLA XL. XLV1. 29 
 
 XL. Igitur triumphalia ornamenta et illustris 
 statuae honorem, et quicquid pro ti'iumpho datur, 
 multo verborum honore cumulata, decerni in senatu 
 iubet, addique insuper opinionem Syriam provinciam 
 Agricolae destinari, vacuam tum morte Atilii Rufi 
 consularis et maioribus reservatam. Credidere pleri- 
 que libertum ex secretioribus ministeriis inissum ad 
 Agricolam codicillos, quibus ei Syria dabatur, tulisse, 
 cum praecepto, ut, si in Britannia foret, traderentur; 
 eumque libertum in ipso freto oceani obvium Agri- 
 colae, ne appellate quidem eo ad Domitianum re- 
 measse, sive verum istud, sive ex ingenio principis 
 fictum ac compositum est. Tradiderat interim Agri- 
 cola successor! suo provinciam quietam tutamque. 
 Ac ne notabilis celebritate et frequentia occurrentium 
 introitus esset, vitato amicorum officio noctu in urbem, 
 noctu in palatium, ita ut praeceptum erat, venit, ex- 
 ceptusque brevi osculo et nullo sermone turbae ser- 
 vientium immistus est. Ceterum, ut militare nomen, 
 grave inter otiosos, aliis virtutibus temperaret, tran- 
 quillitatem atque otium penitus auxit, cultu modicus, 
 sermone facilis, uno aut altero amicorum comitatus, 
 adeo uti plerique, quibus magnos viros per ambitionem 
 aestimare mos est, viso aspectoque Agricola quae- 
 rerent famam, pauci interpretarentur. 
 
 XLI. Crebro per eos dies apud Domitianum ab- 
 sens accusatus, absens absolutus est. Causa periculi 
 non crimen ullum aut querela laesi cuiusquam, sed 
 infensus virtutibus princeps et gloria viri ac pessi- 
 mum inimicorum genus, laudantes. Et ea insecuta 
 sunt rei publicae tempora, quae sileri Agricolam non 
 sinerent ; tot exercitus in Moesia Daciaque et Ger- 
 mania et Pannonia temeritate aut per ignaviam du-
 
 30 CORNELII TAGITI 
 
 cum amissi, tot militares viri cum tot cohortibus ex- 
 pugnati et capti ; nee iam de limite imperil et ripa, 
 sed de hibemis legionum et possessione dubitatum. 
 Ita cum damna damnis continuarentur, atque omnis 
 annus funeribus et cladibus insigniretur, poscebatur. 
 ore vulgi dux Agricola, comparantibus cunctis vi- 
 gorem et constantiam et expertum bellis animum 
 cum inertia et formidine ceterorum. Quibus ser- 
 monibus satis constat Doniitiani quoque aures ver- 
 beratas, dum optimus quisque libertorum amore et 
 fide, pessimi malignitate et livore pronum deteriori- 
 bus principem exstimulabant. Sic Agricola simul suis 
 virtutibus, simul vitiis aliorum in ipsam gloriam 
 praeceps agebatur. 
 
 XLII. Aderat iam annus, quo proconsulatum 
 Asiae et Africae sortiretur, et occiso Civica nuper 
 nee Agricolae consilium deerat nee Domitiano exem- 
 plum. Accessere quidam cogitationum principis pe- 
 riti, qui iturusne esset in provinciam ultro Agricolam 
 interrogarent. Ac primo occultius quietem et otium 
 laudare, mox operam suam in approbanda excusa- 
 tione oflerre ; postremo non iam obscuri suadentes 
 simul terrentesque pertraxere ad Domitianum. Qui 
 paratus simulatione, in arrogantiam compositus et 
 audiit preces excusantis, et quum annuisset, agi 
 sibi gratias passus est, nee erubuit beneficii invidia. 
 Salarium tamen, proconsulari solitum offerri et qui- 
 busdam a se ipso concessum, Agricolae non dedit, 
 sive offensus non petitum, sive ex conscientia, ne, 
 quod vetuerat, videretur emisse. Proprium humani 
 ingenii est odisse, quern laeseris ; Domitiani vero 
 natura, praeceps in iram, et quo obscurior eo irrevo- 
 cabilior, moderatione tamen prudentiaque Agricolae
 
 AGRICOLA XL. XLVI. 31 
 
 leniebatur, quia non contumacia neque inani iacta- 
 tione libertatfe famam fatumque provocabat. Sciant, 
 quibus moris est illicita mirari, posse etiam sub mails 
 principibus magnos riros esse, obsequiumque ac mo- 
 destiam, si industria ac vigor assint, eo laudis ex- 
 cedere, quo plerique per abmpta, sed in nullum rei 
 publicae usum, ambitiosa morte inclaruerunt. 
 
 XLIII. Finis vitae eius nobis luctuosus, amicis 
 tristis, extraneis etiam ignotisque non sine cura fuit. 
 Vulgus quoque et hie aliud agens populus et ventita- 
 vere ad domum et per fora et circulos locuti sunt, 
 nee quisquam audita morte Agricolae aut laetatus est, 
 aut statim oblitus. Et augebat miserationem con- 
 stans rumor veneno interceptum. Nobis nihil com- 
 perti affirmare ausim. Ceterum per omnem valetu- 
 dinem eius, crebrius quam ex more principatus per 
 nuntios visentis, et libertorum primi et medicorum 
 intimi renere, sive cura illud sive inquisitio erat. 
 Supremo quidem die momenta ipsa deficientis per 
 dispositos cursores nuntiata constabat, nullo credente 
 sic accelei-ari, quae tristis audiret. Speciem tamen 
 doloris animo vultuque prae se tulit, securus iam odii, 
 et qui facilius dissimularet gaudium quam metum. 
 Satis constabat lecto testamento Agricolae, quo cohe- 
 redem optimae uxori et piissimae filiae Domitianum 
 scripsit, laetatum eum velut honore iudicioque. Tarn 
 caeca et corrupta mens assiduis adulationibus erat, ut 
 nesciret a bono patre non scribi heredem nisi malum 
 principem. 
 
 XLIV. Natus erat Agricola Gaio Caesare ter- 
 tium consule Idibus luniis ; excessit quarto et quin- 
 quagesimo anno, decimo Kalendas Septembres Collega 
 Priscoque consulibus. Quod si habitum quoque eius
 
 32 CORNELII TACITI 
 
 poster! noscere velint, decentior quam subliniior 
 fuit j nihil metus in vultu ; gratia oris supererat. 
 Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter. Et 
 ipse quidem, quamquam medio in spatio integrae 
 aetatis ereptus, quantum ad gloriam, longissimum 
 aevum peregit ; quippe et vera bona, quae in virtuti- 
 bus sita sunt, impleverat, et consulari ac triumphali- 
 bus ornamentis praedito quid aliud astruere fortuna 
 potei-at ? Opibus nimiis non gaudebat, speciosae con 
 tigerant. Filia atque uxore superstitibua ]Ktest vi- 
 deri etiam beatus incolumi diguitate, florente farua, 
 salvis affiuitatibus et amicitiis futura effugisse. Xam 
 sicuti durare in lianc beatissimi seculi lucem ac prin- 
 cipem Traianum videre quondam augurio votisque 
 apud nostras aures ominabatur, ita festinatae UK>i-tis 
 grande solatium tulit evasisse postremum illud tem- 
 pus, quo Domitianus non iam per intervalla ac spira- 
 menta temporum, sed continue et velut uno ictu rem 
 publicam exhausit. 
 
 XLV. Non vidit Agricola obsessam curiani et 
 clausnm armis senatum, et eadem sti-age tot cousu- 
 larium caedes, tot nobilissimarum feminai-um exiiia et 
 fugas. Una adhuc \4ctoria Cams Metius ceusebatur, 
 et intra Albanam arcem seuteutia Messalini strepebat, 
 et Massa Baebius turn reus erat. Mox nostrae duxerc 
 Hel^dium in carcerem maims, nos Maurici Rusticique 
 visus, nos innocenti sanguine Senecio ]>eiiudit. Nt K> 
 tamen subtraxit oculos suos, iussitque scelera, non 
 spectavit ; praecipua sub Domitiano miseiiarum pars 
 erat videre et aspici, quum suspiria nosti-a subscri- 
 berentur, quum denotandis tot hominum palloribus 
 sufficeret saevus ille vultus et rubor, quo se contra 
 pudorem muniebat.
 
 AGRICOLA XL. XLVI. 33 
 
 Tu vero felix, Agricola, non yltae tantum clritate, 
 sed etiam opportuniCate mortis. Ut perhibent, qui 
 interfaerunt noyissimis sermonibus tuis, constans et 
 libens fatum excepisti, taraquam pro virili portione 
 innocentiam principi donares, Sed milii filiaeque eius 
 praeter acerbitatem parentis erepti auget maestitiam, 
 quod assidere valetudini, fovere deficientem, satiari 
 vultu complexuque non contigit. Excepissemus certe 
 uiandata vocesque, quas penitus animo figeremus. 
 Noster hie dolor, nostrum vulnus ; nobis turn longae 
 absentiae condicione ante quadriennium amissus est. 
 Omnia sine dubio, optime parentum, assidente aman- 
 tissima ux.ore superfuere honor! tuo ; paucioribus ta- 
 men lacrimis compositus es, et novissima in luce 
 d.esideravei-e aliquid oculi tui. 
 
 XLVI. Si quis piorum manibus locus, si, ut sa- 
 pientibus placet, uon cum corpore extinguuntur mag- 
 nae animae, placide quiescas, nosque, domum tuam, 
 ab infirmo desiderio et muliebribus l.amentis ad con- 
 templationem virtutum tuarum vqces, quas neque 
 lugeri neque plangi fas est. Admiratione te potius 
 quam temporalibus laudibus, et, si natura suppeditet, 
 aemulatione decoremus. Is vems honos, ea coniunc- 
 tissimi cuiusque pietas. Id filiae quoque uxorique 
 praeceperim, sic patris, sic maiiti memoriam ^-enelari, 
 ut omnia facta dictaque eius secum revolvant, formam- 
 que ac figuram aniuii magis quam corporis complec- 
 tantur ; non quia intercedendum putem imaginibus, 
 quae marmore aut aere finguntur; sed ut vultus 
 hominum, ita simulacra vultus imbecilla ac mortalia 
 sunt, forma mentis aeterna, quam tenere et exprimere 
 non per alienam materiam et artem, sed tuis ipse 
 moribus possis. Quicquid ex Agricola amavimus, 
 T. A. 3
 
 34 CORNELII TACITI, &c. 
 
 quicquid mirati sumus, manet mansurumque est in 
 animis hominum, in aeternitate temporum, fama re- 
 rum. Nam multos veterum velut inglorios et igno- 
 biles oblivio obruit ; Agricola posteritati narratus et 
 traditus superstes erit.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 I- AntiquitUS USitatum.] Usitatum is in attribution to 
 the noun-infinitive tradere, tradere being the object of the verb 
 omisit. 
 
 2. Ouamquam.] The word is commonly used to introduce 
 a distinct clause; 'quamvis' is generally employed to qualify a 
 single word. 
 
 3- InCUliosa SUOrUHl.] ' Neglectful of its own sons,' not 
 'glories.' Comp. Ann. n. 88, vetera extollimus, recentium in- 
 curiosi; also Hor. O. III. 24, 31 2, virtutem incolumern, odimus, 
 sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. 
 
 4- SupergreSSa est.] ' Has risen superior to ;' has past 
 into a region which invidia cannot reach. Comp. Ann. Xiv. 54, 
 invidia infra tuam magnitudinem jacet. 
 
 5- Ignorantiam recti et invidiam.l ' Blindness and 
 
 hostility to goodness ' (O and ). It is very doubtful, however, 
 whether invidiam is to be connected with recti. The expression 
 ' invidia recti ' would scarcely be allowable. The rectum (right) 
 which the multitude are incapable of discerning is not exactly 
 the aspect of virtue against which iuvidia is felt. And yet the 
 presence of the singular vitium in the preceding clause compels 
 us to join the two phrases. Kectum is equivalent here to virtus. 
 Comp. Hist. in. 51, exempla recti, and iv. 5, recti pervicax. 
 
 6. Pronum magisque in aperto.] 'Pronum' expresses 
 
 the inclination of the will; 'in aperto' the favouring circum- 
 stances. Or we may take both phrases as referring to the cir- 
 cumstances ; the path to virtue was pronus, sc. not arduus, and 
 in aperto, sc. not impeditus. 
 
 7- Sine gratia aut ambitione.] 'Without partiality or 
 
 self-seeking.' ' Gratia' expresses the bias felt by a writer possibly 
 towards unworthy persons; 'ambitio' the unprincipled desire for 
 advancement which would betray him into flattery. 
 
 32
 
 36 CORNS LI I TAC1TI AGRICOLA. 
 
 8. Conscientiae.] Comp. the use of the word in ch. a, 
 cnnscientiam generis humani, and 42, sive ex conscientia, ne quod 
 vetuerat videretur emisse. ' Bonae contcientiae pretium ' Is the 
 feeling that they had acted rightly. 
 
 Q. Ipsi.] ' Ipsorum ' would b more strictly grammatical, 
 but would clash unpleasantly with ' morum ' later on in the sen- 
 tence. The nominative 'ipsi' is borrowed from what would be 
 the equivalent conditional clause, 'Si suam ipsi vitam narrarent.' 
 Comp. Sallust, Jug. 18, exercitus, amisso duce, ac passim multit 
 tibi quitque imperium petentibus, brevi dilabitur. 
 
 10. Citra fidem.] That which falls short of (citra) or goes 
 beyond (ultra) belief (fides) does not meet with credit. Comp. 
 Germ. 16, citra speciem = falling short of beauty. For the sub- 
 ject of autobiography generally comp. Cic. Epist. ad Fam. v. 11, 
 where the writer says that if his friend Lucceius cannot write 
 about him, he must write about himself, and would have good 
 precedents in doing so, and continues thus: Sed quod te non 
 fugit, haec sunt in hoc genere vitia ; et verecundius ipsi de 
 sese scribant necesse est si quid est laudandum, et praetereant si 
 quid reprehendendum est. Accedit etiam ut minor sit fides, 
 minor auctoritas, etc. 
 
 11. At nunc narraturo-.-temppra.] Comp. Hist. i. i, 
 
 Ambitionem scriptoris facile averseris, livor et detrectatio prouis 
 auribus accipiuntur. Tacitus feels that he might rely on the ac- 
 ceptance which satire and invective always meet with, and need 
 not, had these, and not praise, been his theme, have asked for 
 indulgence. The use of the perfect ' fuit' may be best expressed 
 by such a paraphrase as ' Before I begin to relate I have found it 
 necessary, etc.' The 'tempera' are the times of Pomitian. For 
 ' incusaturus ' Hitter reads 'incursaturus.' He refers the 'nunc' 
 to Domitian's days, makes 'venia' equivalent to 'leave,' and 
 supposes 'incursaturus' to mean 'likely to offend.' Tacitus thus 
 is made to say that he would not have asked for a permission 
 which would have been likely to offend a regime (tempora) that 
 was hostile to virtue. ' Fuit ' would then be equivalent to 
 'fuisset.' For the expression 'infesta virtutibus' comp. Cic. 
 Orat. ad Brut. 10. Hoc sum aggressus, statim Catone absolute, 
 quern nunquam attigissem, tempora timens inimica virtuti ; a 
 curious parallel to the sentiment of this chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 I. LegimUS.] Most probably this means ' we read,' or 'it 
 is recorded in history.' But it may be opposed to 'vidimus,' 
 and imply that Tacitus was himself absent and heard only of 
 these occurrences. Kritz refers it to the Acta Diurna, and would 
 understand by it, 'it was positively recorded (so evil were th
 
 NOTES. 3V 
 
 times) in official documents' (as we might say in the Gazette). 
 This seems a far-fetched explanation, and the passage which he 
 quotes from Dion Cassius (LXVII. 1 1) tells against it, as it states 
 that in his later years Domitian forbad the names of his victims to 
 be inscribed in the acta. 
 
 1. Triumviris.] These were the 'triumviri capitales,' who 
 combined some of the duties of our police magistrates and our 
 sheriffs. 
 
 3- ComitiO ac fbro.l The comitium was part of the 
 forum. A certain solemnity is given to the sentence by the 
 use of the two words. Comp. the use of Romani Quirites. 
 
 4- Scilicet.] The word is used ironically. 'They fancied, 
 forsooth.' 
 
 5- Conscientiam.] 'The approving knowledge.' It was 
 hoped that, all records of these actions being destroyed, mankind 
 could never express its approval of them. This is a step towards 
 the meaning which our word ' conscience ' has now reached. 
 
 6. Arbitrabantur.] Sc. Domitian and his satellites. 
 
 7. Expulsis insuper, &c.] Comp. Plin. Epp. m. n, 
 
 quum essent philosopki ab urbe summoti. 
 
 8. Omni bona arte, &C.] Comp. Plin. Paneyyr. 47, quum 
 sibi vitiorum omnium conscius princeps inimicas vitiis artes non 
 odio magis quam reverentia relegaret. 
 
 9- Ultimum.] Sc. the last point that could be reached, 
 ' the extreme.' 
 
 10. Adempto per inquisitiones, &c.l By 'inquisitiones' 
 
 is meant the espionage of the informer, which made men afraid 
 either to speak their own thoughts or to listen to the thoughts of 
 others. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ! Nerva Caesar.] This passage marks the date of this 
 work, or, at least, of these prefatory chapters, as being between 
 the adoption ri f Trajan by Nerva (whence the name Nerva Tra- 
 janus) and Kerva's death. In Hist. 1. I, we read of Divus 
 Nerva. Nerva adopted Trajan towards the end ol A. D. 97, and 
 died Jan. 27 in the following year. 
 
 i. Principatum.] ' Principatus ' is the form of govern- 
 ment which puts a ' Princeps' (in the case of Rome it was a 
 ' Princeps Senatus') at the head of the state. Comp. Hist. I. i, 
 principatum Divi Nervae, where, as here, there may be some 
 allusion to the specially civil character of Nerva's rule.
 
 38 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 3- Temporum.] This is the reading of the MSS., which 
 Hitter alters into imperil, in order to complete the parallel 
 between this and the passage quoted above, in which we have 
 imperium TrajanL Comp. however, Hist. I. i, rara temporum 
 felicitate. 
 
 4. SecniitaS publlca.] The personified Fortune of the 
 state. The figure of a goddess bearing this name is found on 
 cuins of the Antonine period. 
 
 5- NeC spem modo ac VOtum, etC.J 'Has not only our 
 hopes and good wishes * 'C and B). This rendering has the ad- 
 vantage of giving a meaning to ' assumpserit,' which comprehends 
 both of its objects 'spem ac votum,' and 'ipsius voti fiduciam et 
 robur.' But the hopes and good wishes may be those of the 
 'Securitas publica' for herself. We must then supply out of 
 'assumpserit' some such notion as ' conceperit," and render 'has 
 only conceived hopes, &c. but secured' ('assumpserit') &c. 
 
 6. IpSlUS VOti.] ' Of the wish itself,' . e. of the thing 
 wished for, fiduciam et robur, possibly an hendiadys for ' strong 
 assurance;' or it may be rendered ' the certainty and substance.' 
 
 ? Robur.] ' Substance.' It is used somewhat Bimilarly for 
 'the heart' or 'the best part,' as in 'robur militum.' Cic. Epist. 
 ad Pam. x. 33. 
 
 8. Ingenia Studiaque.] ' Genius and its pursuits ' 
 ( (7and.fi). 
 
 9. Quindecim aHHOS.] The fifteen years of Domitian's 
 reign, A.D. 81 96. 
 
 10. Quid, si- -non tamen.] The connection is ' in spite of 
 these losses, the removal of our best men, and the injury suffered 
 by ourselves, yet we shall not regret to have told, &c. ' 
 
 n. PromptissimUS quisque.] 'The most energetic,' 
 'the most ready (promptus) for what had to be done.' Com p. 
 Sail. Cat. 7, ingenium in promptu, habet. 
 
 11. Nostri superstates.] So. surviving our own powers. 
 The meaning is, ' only a few of us are left, and we are not what 
 we were.' 
 
 13- JuveneS ad senectutem.l Tacitus includes himself 
 in this class. See on this subject his Life prefixed to this edition. 
 
 1 4- Servitutis.] An obvious correction of the reading of the 
 MSS. which is 'senectutis.' 
 
 15- Non tamen pigebit, etc.] This must be taken to 
 refer to the ilit&jriat, on which Tacitus was already engaged.
 
 NOTES. 39 
 
 16. Interim.] 'Meanwhile,' i.e. till the more important 
 work is executed. 
 
 !? Honor! Agricolae, &C.] The writer's is not now, so 
 to speak, a political object, but it is to do honour to a good man. 
 lie thus returns to the subject announced in the first chapter. 
 
 18. Professions pietatis.] Sc. on the strength of its 
 shewing filial regard. ' 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 1. Forojuliensium colonia.] Now Frejus, about 25 
 
 miles S.W. of Nice. It was named after its founder C. Julius 
 Caesar. 
 
 2. Caesaiis.] This reading seems preferable to 'Caesarum.' 
 Both grandfathers were probably Procurators under Augustus, 
 the father having been made a Senator by Tiberius. 
 
 3- Quae equestris nobilitas est.] There is some 
 
 difficulty about these words. Wex considers them to be spurious 
 on the ground that really distinguished equites, such as are 
 called primores equitum (Hist. 1. 4) and equites dignitate senatoria 
 (Ann. xvi. 17), looked down upon the office of Procurator. In 
 support of this view he quotes the latter passage which seems 
 to imply that Mela, who was an eques dignitate Senatoria, was 
 thought to have acted strangely when he accepted a Procurator- 
 ship for the sake of making a speedy fortune. Kritz, on the other 
 hand, affirms that the office was bestowed only on the more dis- 
 tinguished members of the equestrian order. If the words are 
 genuine they must mean that the circumstance of having one or 
 both grandfathers a Procurator constituted equestrian nobility. 
 The term 'nobilis' was opposed to 'novus homo,' and meant 
 strictly a man whose father or ancestor had risen to a curule 
 magistracy. The dignity of a Procuratorship would constitute a 
 corresponding 'nobilitas' among the equites. 
 
 4. Fuit.] This is the conjecture for ' Julii,' the reading of 
 the MSS. 
 
 5- Meritus.] 'Earned.' There is an irony in the ex- 
 pression very characteristic of Tacitus. 
 
 6. In hujUS SinU...edUCatur.] 'Brought up by her side 
 with fond affection ' (C and B) ; 'in sinu' means that his mother's 
 personal care was bestowed upon him. Comp. Dial, de Oral. 28, 
 filius, ex casta parente natus, non in cella emptae nutricis sed 
 yremio ac sinu matrix educabatur. The strictly classical usage of 
 ' indulgentia* is in its favourable sense, but Quintilian I. 2 em- 
 ploys it in the other, 'mollis ilia educatio quam indulgentiam 
 vocamus.'
 
 40 COENELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 7- PeCCantium.] ' Peccare* denotes here ' sins of licen- 
 tiousness,' as commonly in the Roman poets ; comp. Hor. C. lit. 
 xix. 20, ptccare docentes historias. 
 
 8. Sedem ac magistram.] 'The scene and guide' (C and B). 
 The place is said, as, bj a common metaphor, Oxford or Cam- 
 bridge might be said, to have guided his studies. 
 
 9. Locum.. .COmpOSitum.] The ' comitas' (courtesy or 
 refinement) prevented the rudeness which might have attached 
 otherwise to the 'parsimonia.' For 'parsimonia' comp. Ann. in. 
 55, -novi homines, e municipiis et coloniis atque etiam provinciis 
 in senatum adsumpti, domesticam parsimoniam intulerunt. For 
 the character of Massilia comp. Cic. pro Flacco, 16, neque te, 
 
 Massilia, praetereo Cujus ego civitatis disciplinam non solum 
 
 Graeciae sed baud scio an cunctis gentibus anteponendam jure 
 dicara, etc., and Ann. iv. 44, where we are told that Augustus 
 banished Lucius Antonius to Massilia, ubi specie studiorum 
 nomen exilii tegeretur. 
 
 10. Acrius hausisse.] The meaning seems to be that 
 Agricola had conceived and would have continued to indulge 
 this passion, had not his mother checked it. Comp. for the 
 elliptical construction, ch. 37, Britanni degredi...coepera7tf. ni 
 Agricola quatuor equitum alas venientibus opposuisset ; t. e. the 
 Britons had begun to descend and would have continued to do so 
 had not Agricola so acted. Orelli takes ' acrius ' as an adjective 
 agreeing with ' studium.' Perhaps it is better to consider it an 
 adverb qualifying 'hausisse.' 
 
 11. Prudentia matris.] Comp. Suet Nero, 53, a philo- 
 sophia eum mater avertit monens imperaturo contrariam ease. 
 
 l. Scilicet.] ' It was the case of.' 
 
 !3. Speciem.] Species may have its common meaning of 
 ' beauty ;' or it may have its philosophical sense of ' ideal ' (Idea), 
 as in Cic. Orat. ad Brut. 5, insidebat in ejus mente species elo- 
 quentiae, quam cernebat animo, re ipsa non videbat. 
 
 14. Vehementius quam caute.l The classical usage 
 
 would be ' rehementius quam cautius. ' Tacitus generally follows 
 this, but sometimes has that of the text, as Hist. i. 83, Tumultus 
 proximi initium pietas vestra acrius quam considerate excitavit. 
 
 IS- MOX mitigavit aetas.] '(Matnrer) reason and 
 
 (advancing) age mellowed his temper.' 
 
 16. Modum.] Aristotle's rb uttrov. Comp. Hor. Sat. I. 
 i. 106, Est modus in rebus, and Ep. i. vi. 15, Insani sapiens 
 nomen ferat, aequus iniqui, Ultra quam sataa est virtutem si 
 petal ipsam.
 
 NOTES. 41 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 i. Prima Castrornm rndimenta.] ' His military appren- 
 ticeship' (C and B). 'Castra' is used for 'military service,' as 
 in ch. 1 6, nullis castrorum experimentis. 
 
 2. Approbavit.] Sc. so served as to satisfy. 
 
 3- Suetonio Paullino.] For Tacitus' opinion of this 
 general comp. Hist. II. 25, cunctator natura, &c., and II. 31, 
 nemo ilia tempestate rei militaris callidior habebatur. 
 
 4- Contubernio aestimaret.] 'Contubernio aestimare' 
 is to form a judgment of character by the opportunities of close 
 companionship. The practice may be compared to the relation 
 in which in our service an aide-de-camp stands to his general 
 officer. Comp. Sail. Jug. 64, in Contubernio patris militabat, 
 Hist. T. 23, contubernales appellando, where Otho wishes to make 
 his military audience feel that there is a tie of intimacy between 
 himself and them. 
 
 5- Neque Agricola rettulit.] The general meaning 
 
 is, that Agricola did not use the faculties afforded by his rank 
 either to procure enjoyment or escape from duty. His rank 
 (titulus) with one disposed to indulgence (expressed by licenter) 
 would have given opportunities for pleasure (voluptates). On the 
 other hand, had he been idly disposed (expressed by segniter), 
 his inexperience (inscitia), i. e. the fact that he was of little use, 
 would have made it easy to get leave of absence (commeatus). 
 ' Rettulit' may be rendered by 'employed with a view to,' &c. : 
 'referre ad aliquid' being equivalent to our expression 'to 
 refer to an end;' comp. Plin. Epp. I. 11, nihil ad ostentationem, 
 omnia ad conscientiam refert. For 'commeatus' comp. Ann. 
 XV. 10, reliquas legiones promiscuis commeatibua infirmaverat. 
 
 6. Nib.il appetere in jactationem.] ' To attempt nothing 
 
 for display ' ( C and B) ; or more exactly, perhaps, ' to seek for no 
 service with a view to display;' 'appetere' being opposed to 
 ' recusare.' 
 
 7- AnxillS et intentuS.] ' Careful and vigilant' (C and B} 
 or ' careful and energetic.' He was full of thought before the 
 time of action, and when the time was come wholly occupied 
 with what he was doing. ' Intentus ' gives the idea of the full 
 tension of energy. 
 
 8. Excitatior.] This is the conjecture of Buchner, which 
 we have followed Kritz in adopting instead of ' exercitatior.' It 
 means 'more excited,' and would seem the natural expression of 
 Tacitus in speaking of the native tribes ; exercitatior would apply 
 rather to the Roman province.
 
 42 CORNELII TACIT! AGRICOLA. 
 
 9- Trucidati Veteran!.] Comp. ch. 16, where Boadicea's 
 attack on Camalodunum is described. Some veterans appear to 
 have been settled in this colony. It was, in fact, the only real 
 colonia in Britain, but the word ia used loosely of important 
 towns ; comp. note on acgra municipia, ch. 32. 
 
 10. Intersepti.] Armies would be said to be ' intersepti ' 
 when they were prevented from joining the main body ; comp. 
 Hist, m. 53, Intersepta, Germanorum Khaetorumque auxilia. 
 We have followed the reading of the MSS. though perhaps 
 intercepts, ' cut off' or 'surprised,' gives a sense agreeing better 
 with the description of the revolt. 
 
 J i. Cessit in dlicem.] ' Fell to the share of the general.' 
 
 J2. Tempoiibus.] It is best to take this as a dative de- 
 pending on ingrata. Kritz considers it to be an ablative, though 
 he quotes ch. 31, 'virtus subjectorum ingrata imperantibus.' 
 
 13- Quibus sinistra-.-interpretatio.] Kritz would sup- 
 ply 'ejus, * 'militaris gloriae,' and render in which there is, 
 in the case of eminent men, a sinister interpretation put on 
 military glory. This seems far-fetched and disproved by the 
 position of ' sinistra.' It is better to join the word to ' erga 
 eminentes.' 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 word. 
 
 Hinc.] Sc. 'from or after these services.* 
 Natalibus.] 'Lineage,' a post- Augustan use of the 
 
 3- DecUS.] 'Distinction.' The word here means the re- 
 flected lustre that comes to a man from great connections. 
 
 4- Per mutliam caritatem.] Orelli takes 'per' to signify 
 time, as if ' in continuous mutual affection ' was meant. It seems 
 better to take it as causaL Their affection was the cause of their 
 singular harmony. 
 
 5- Nisi quod ...... lailS.l 'However, the good wife de- 
 
 serves the greater praise' (C and B). 'Nisi quod' is Tacitus' 
 comment on the praise which he has been bestowing on Agricola 
 in the previous sentence. He guards himself from being supposed 
 to say that the husband and wife deserve equal commendation. In 
 his view the good wife deserves more. 
 
 6- SorS Quaesturae.] The Quaestors were appointed, and 
 then drew lots for their destinations. 
 
 7- SalvlUS TitianUS.] He was the elder brother of M. 
 Otho, afterwards Emperor. Corap. Hist. I. 75, 77.
 
 NOTES. 43 
 
 8. Mutuam dissimulationem.] ' A mutual concealment 
 of guilt' (C and B). Comp. Hist. i. 72, vices impunitatis, and 
 Plin. Epp. IX. 13, Senatus severus in ceteros senatoribus soils 
 dissimulatione quasi mutua parceret. 
 
 9- Subsidium.] This possibly refers to the advantage 
 which a candidate derived from having children. Comp. Ann. II, 
 51, plerique nitebantur ut numerus libervnim in candidatis prae- 
 polleret. This would be to carry out the provisions of the lex 
 Papia Poppaea. We prefer to give it a more general signification. 
 
 10. Sllblatum.] 'Born,' a phrase derived from the custom 
 by which a Roman father took up (sustulit) the child whom he 
 acknowledged, and wished to rear. 
 
 11. Brevi amisit.] This does not necessarily mean what 
 Hitter understands by it, that the son died before the daughter 
 was born. In that cose we should rather have expected ' ami- 
 serat.' The daughter was a 'subsidium,' as increasing his family, 
 and when he lost his son became a 'solatium.' 
 
 12. Quibus inertia fllit.] Comp. Tacitus' account of 
 
 Galba, Hist. I. 49, metus temporum obtentui fuit, ut quod 
 segnitia erat sapientiavoc&retnr. In Agricola's case the 'gegnitia' 
 was of course assumed. 
 
 13- Tenor etsilentium.] 'Consistent quietude' (C and B]; 
 ' tenor' is the correction of the MS. reading ' certior.' 
 
 14- Neque enim jurisdictio obvenerat.] There were 
 
 twelve or more praetors, two of whom only, the praetor urbanus 
 and the praetor peregrinus, had judicial functions. Agricola did 
 not happen to hold either office. 
 
 15- Ludos et inania honoris . . duxit.] 'The games 
 
 and the pageantry of his office he ordered according to the mean ' 
 (<7and B). It is possible that 'ducere' may be equivalent to 
 'edere,' with special reference to the procession, the notion of 
 which would be included in the word 'ludi,' and which would be 
 expressed by the phrase 'ducere pompam.' It seems better, how- 
 ever, to connect 'duxit' closely with ' medio,' as if Tacitus meant 
 to say ' he conducted them along the middle course.' Hitter con- 
 siders it to be equivalent to 'arbitrates est,' but to make out 
 this view he has to adopt the violent course of substituting for 
 'medio rationis' Lipsius' conjecture of moderationis. 
 
 16. Famae propior.] Sc. rather gaining distinction from 
 them than otherwise. Though the exhibition was not prodigally 
 ostentatious, there was enough splendour about it to attract admi- 
 ration. Tacitus, it will be remembered, was himself praetor, and 
 in that capacity presided over the Ludi Saeculares exhibited by 
 Domitian, A.D. 88. See Ann. XL n, where he mentions this of 
 himself.
 
 44 GORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 17. ElectllS a Galba.] For an account of a similar mea- 
 sure of Galba's comp. Hixt. I. 10, where we hear of the appoint- 
 ment of commissioners charged with the duty of recovering some 
 of the prodigal bounties of Nero. 
 
 18. Sensisset.] The force of the pluperfect may be thus 
 explained. He so ordered things that when his office was dis- 
 charged it might be said that the State had received DO injury 
 (or, it may mean, had contracted no guilt), except from the irre- 
 mediable wrongs which Nero had inflicted. Comp. Plin. Paneg. 
 40, 'Idem etfecisti ne malos principes habuitnemus.' Under 
 Trajan's rule the evils of former misrule had ceased to exist. 
 By a bold figure Rome so entirely had she recovered might 
 be. said, not even to have had bad Emperors. 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 i. Nam classis Othoniana, etc.] For the account of 
 
 these events see Hist. n. 11, 13. Tacitus would probably have 
 beard the details which he there gives from his father-in-law. 
 
 * Licenter.] ' For purposes of plunder.' 
 
 3. IntemellOS.] NowVintimiglia, about twelve miles E. 
 of Monaco. 
 
 4- Quae causa caedlS fuerat.] We should rather expect 
 ' quod.' But the meaning is that whatever of her moveable inhe- 
 rited property she had on the spot was plundered, and that it 
 was this that had invited the crime. 
 
 5. Solenmia pietatis.] ' The solemn duties of filial affec- 
 tion.' The funeral would have been performed hastily, but some 
 of the ceremonies could be repeated with more solemnity. Comp. 
 Cic. pro Cluent. 9, where we are told of a mother, who finding 
 that her son was dead, and his corpse already burnt, repeated the 
 funeral rites (de integro funus jam sepulto filio fecit). 
 
 6. Affectati a Vespasiano imperil.] This event took 
 
 place in the beginning of July, A.D. 69 ; see Hist. IL 79. 
 
 7- DeprehensUS.] ' Overtaken.' 
 
 MucianUS.] Comp. Hist. rv. n, 'Mueiamus urbem in- 
 gressus cuncta simnl in se traxit.' For the character of Vespa- 
 sian's chief lieutenant see Hist. n. 5. 
 
 8. Ex paterna fortuna, etc.] ' From his father's eleva- 
 tion seeking merely to practise (usurpare) licentiousness.' Comp. 
 Hiet. IT. , ' stupris et adulteriis filium Principis agebat.' 
 
 9. Juvene admodum Demitiano.] Comp. Hist. m. 70. 
 
 where Flavius Sabinus speaks of him as filium Vespasiani vix 
 puberem. He was in his eighteenth year.
 
 NOTES. 45 
 
 10. Vicesimae legion!.] This was one of the legions sta- 
 tioned in Britain. Conip. Hist. i. 60. For the feeling of the 
 troops about Vespasian, comp. Hist. in. 44. 
 
 11. DeceSSOr.] Sc. Eoscius Coelius. 
 
 12. Legatis COnSlllaribllS.] These were the chief officers 
 of the province. Each legion had its own legatus praetoriua. 
 
 '3- Nimia.] 'Too strong.' Comp. Veil. Paterc. n. 32, 
 ' esse Cn. Pompeium nimium jam liberae reipublicae.' 
 
 14- Successor Simul et Ultor.] For a similar conjunc- 
 tion of words comp. Hist. I. 40, scelus, cujus utior est quisquis 
 successit. 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 1. VettlUS BolanUS.] Compare his character as described 
 in ch. id. 
 
 2. Feroci provincia dignum est.] The present 'est' 
 
 is used either because the statement is meant to apply to any 
 province, or because Britain still at the time of writing merited 
 the same epithet. 'Esset' and 'erat' have been conjectured. 
 For the epithet 'ferox' (high-spirited) comp. ch. n, plus ferociae 
 Britanni praeferunt. 
 
 3- Viffl.] 'Energy,' rather than 'military strength,' as 
 Kritz makes it to be. 
 
 4- Ne incresceret.] ' That he might not grow too great.' 
 
 5- Consularem.] Sc. 'legatum.' 
 
 6. Ex eventu.] On the strength of the result. 
 
 7- In SUam famam.] 'With a view to his own fame.' 
 Comp. ch. 5, 'nihil appetere in jactationemS 
 
 8. Ad auctorem et ducem.] The meaning of 'auctor' is 
 illustrated in Germ. 14, where a chieftain's comrades are said sua 
 fortia facta gloriae ejus assignare. 
 
 9- Extra invidiam.] Like the Greek expression e/crds 
 7ro5 <?x eu/ ' Comp. Hist. I. 49, ' Galbae medium ingenium, magis 
 extra vitia quam cum virtutibus.' 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 t. Revertentem.] ' As he was returning.' It is possible 
 that he did not return to Eome, but stopped on the way at hia 
 command in Aquitanw.
 
 46 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 2- Inter patricioS ascivit.] Comp. for the phrase Ann. 
 XI. 25, ' lisdem diebus in numerum palricioi-um ascivit Caesar 
 vetustissimum quemque e senatu, etc.* The passage is worthy of 
 note as showing the exhaustion, indicated by the new names 
 w hich we meet with in Tacitus, of the old and even of the more 
 recent Roman aristocracy. 
 
 3- Splendidae dignitatis.] A genitive of quality. For 
 a similar construction comp. in this chapter, eyregiae spei filiam. 
 
 4- Administratione.] ' From the importance of its duties.' 
 
 5* Spe COnsulatuS.] Galba had passed in like manner 
 from the government of Aquitauia to the consulship. Comp. 
 Suet. Galba, 6. 
 
 6. Subtilitatem.] Sc. the faculty of drawing nice distinc- 
 tions. 
 
 7. Secura.] ' Summary,' sc. that has not the fear of appeals 
 before it. 'Obtusior,' 'somewhat blunt,' sc. careless of refiue- 
 ments, aiming at practical rather than theoretical justice. 
 
 8. Calliditatem.] The word is here used in a bad sense, 
 as Cic. be. Off. I. 19, 'Scientia quae est remota a justitia calli- 
 ditas potius quam sapient ia est appellanda.' 
 
 9- Quamvis inter tOgatoS.] That is, though acting as 
 a judge among civilians, who would be keen to detect faults and 
 possibly prejudiced. For this use of togatos comp. Hist. II. 10, 
 
 toyatos adloqueretur. 
 
 10. Jam Vero.] ' And besides ;' comp. ch. 2 1, Jam vero 
 principum filios erudire. 
 
 1 1 Divisa.] ' Were kept distinct.' Comp. for the use of 
 the words 'curse,' ' remissiones,' in contrast Ltial. de Vrat. 28, 
 ac non studia modo curasque, sed remissiones etiain. 
 
 12 ConventUS.] 'Days of session, 1 when the more im- 
 portant trials would be taken. 
 
 1 3- Persona.] An affectation ; a character artificially kept 
 up as on the stage. 
 
 14. Tristitiam-.-exnerat.] 'He was altogether without.' 
 Comp. Ann. vi. 25, Agrippina feminarum \\tiaexuerat. ' Avaritia 
 must mean something that might coexist with the integritas and 
 abstinentia spoken of below ; as, e.g. an excess in strictness 
 about the revenue, the fault of Galba, who is said to have been 
 publicae pecuniae avanu. 
 
 15. Refeire.] 'To mention ;' comp. Hist. I. 30, neque enim 
 rclatu virtutum in comparatione Othonis opus est.
 
 NOTES. 47 
 
 16. Cui saepe etiam boni indulgent.] Comp. Hist. 
 
 IV. 16, quando etiam tapientibus cupido glonae novissima exuitur, 
 and Milton, Lycidas. 
 
 Fame 
 
 The last infirmity of noble mind. 
 
 The sentiment seems to have been a current one among the Stoics 
 and due originally to Plato. 
 
 I?. Collegas.] Sc. those in command of neighbouring 
 provinces. 
 
 1 8. PrOCUratoribllS.] Either in other provinces or in his 
 own. With these officem, as having special charge of the revenue, 
 the legate might easily come into collision. 
 
 19- Atteri.] 'To get the worst of it,' 'to suffer some 
 damage.' 
 
 20. Minus triennium.j From three to five years was the 
 ordinary auration of a governor's term of office. Comp. Dio 
 Cass. LIT, /cat dp-xfruaav /xijre Z\a.TTOv frdv rpi&v (el /M; TIS aSi/cij- 
 o-ei^ TI) fj.r) TrXtlov ir^vre. 
 
 21. Statim ad spem.] Statim conveys the idea that the 
 expectation was immediate j grammatically it is joined to 'revo- 
 catus.' 
 
 22. Daii.] 'Wag being offered to him;' sc. that it was 
 understood that he was to have it after his consulship. 
 
 23. Elegit.] The meaning is that sometimes common 
 report causes a man to be chosen, secures his selection. 
 
 24. Tum.] Eitter alters the word to jam, quite unneces- 
 sarily. ' Turn, 1 he thinks, would imply that the apes was not 
 fulfilled. But it may well mean ' even then.' 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 1. Multis SCriptoribus.] A Dative ; as in ch. 2, quum 
 Aruleno Rustico, etc. Of these writers Caesar, Livy, and the 
 elder Pliny would be the chief. 
 
 2. In COmparationem, etc.] 'To challenge a comparison.' 
 
 3- Perdomita est.] Comp. Hist. 1. 1, Britannia perdomita 
 
 et ftatim missa. 
 
 4- Ita quae, etc.] 'So it follows that what those who 
 wrote before this time (priorea) embellished, &c.' 
 
 5- Berum fide.] On the evidence of facts.
 
 48 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 6. Rom ana notitia.] ' Roman geography.' 
 
 7- Spatio ac COelo, etc.] 'Spatium' means 'extent,' 
 ' coelum, geographical position,' as astronomically and scienti- 
 fically determined. There is a reference to the division of the 
 earth into zones. It seems that Tacitus (in common with other 
 writers) believed both Spain and Germany to extend much fur- 
 ther to the north than they actually do. On this supposition his 
 meaning in this sentence would be that Britain lies opposite to 
 Spain on the west, to Germany on the east, and to Gaul on the 
 south ; but that in the two former cases the distance is so con- 
 siderable that the fact has to be inferred from certain considera- 
 tions (expressed by the words spatio ac coelo), whereas in the case 
 of Gaul it was a matter of ocular demonstration, Gallis etiam 
 inspicitur. It will be remembered that Tacitus included Scandi- 
 navia in what he called Germany. 
 
 8. Nullis COntra terris.] Comp. Caesar, B. G. ii. 14, 
 Tertium latus est contra septemtrionem, cui parti nulla est 
 objecta terra, 
 
 9- Dblongae SCUtulae, etc.] It is not easy to see what 
 conceptron Tacitus had formed of the shape of Britain. He 
 seems to have shared the passion for discovering resemblances 
 common to the ancient geographers. It has been doubted whe- 
 ther tcutula means a ' dish,' or a mathematical figure ; and, 
 taking the later supposition, whether it signifies a rhombus, a 
 rhomboid, or a trapezium. We incline to the latter opinion, 
 and may imagine the southern shore to be the longest side of 
 the trapezium. The opposite or northern boundary would be 
 the shortest. This figure would bear some resemblance to the 
 bipennis, if we suppose the iron head only of that weapon to be 
 intended. But from this northern boundary, which one might 
 have supposed to be the extreme limit of the country (extreme jam 
 littore) there extended a vast projection, narrowing in a wedge- 
 like shape (in cuneum). Excluding Caledonia (citra Caledoniam) 
 the country was like a tcutula or bipennis. 
 
 10. In universum fama est transgressa.] The MSS. 
 
 favour the reading ' in universum,' which the sense seems to 
 demand. Because this resemblance is real as to part of the 
 island, it has been supposed to be so about the whole. ' Uni- 
 versis,' which Orelli reads, and which he interprets in this way, 
 can hardly bear such a meaning. Kritz reads ' transgressis, ' 
 which he takes to mean ' among those who have crossed over 
 [from the continent into Britain].' This strikes us as a very 
 questionable rendering. 
 
 i r. HanC Oram.] i-e- the wedge-like projection of northern 
 Britain. 
 
 i a. Novissimi maiiS.j The furthest sea. Comp. Hitt. V.
 
 NOTES. 49 
 
 I, novissima Libyae, sc. the farthest part of Africa towards the 
 
 -East. 
 
 13. Dispecta.] ' Seen from a distance.' 
 
 14. Thule.] ProbabJy not Iceland, but Mainland, the chief 
 of the Shetlands. 
 
 15. Hactenus JUSSUm.] ' Their orders were to go so far 
 : [and no further].' 
 
 16. MinUS appetebat.] 'Was approaching,' a frequent 
 use of the word. We have followed the reading of Kritz who 
 i corrects the statement of Orelli about the MSS. 
 
 17- Ne ventis quidem perinde attolli.] 'Not even 
 
 raised by the winds as much as other seas.' 
 
 1 8. Conthiui maris.] 'Sea unbroken by land.' 
 
 19. Fluminum.] These 'flumina' are currents of the sea, 
 locally called 'races.' 
 
 20. Ferre.] The word is here used absolutely; comp. 
 Caesar, B. G. in. 15, quo ventus ferebat. 
 
 21. Accrescere ac resorberi.] ' Flow and ebb.' 
 
 22. Littore tenilS.] 'Up to the shore and no further.' 
 
 23. Penitus.] 'Farmland.' 
 
 24. Inseii.] Used in a middle sense, ' makes its way.' 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 ! Ut inter barbaroS.] 'As might be expected among 
 barbarians.' 
 
 2. Pamm COmpertum.] Comp. ch. 10, nondum comperla. 
 
 3- HabitUS Corporum.] Comp. Germ. 4, habitus corporum 
 ...idem, and ch. 5, corporibus habitum dedit. It may be ren- 
 dered 'physical characteristics.' 
 
 4. Ex CO.] Sc. from the fact that they are various. 
 
 5- Rutilae Caledoniam, etc.] Comp. Germ. 4, [Germa- 
 norum] rutilae comae, magna corpora. 
 
 6. ColoratL] 'Dark-coloured,' 'sun-burnt.' 
 7- Torti.] 'Curly.' 
 
 8. PoSlta COntra Hispania.] Comp. preceding chapter, 
 on the supposed extent of Spain in a northerly direction. Tha 
 Silures inhabited Wales. 
 
 9- PrOXimi Gallis, etc.] ' Those who are nearest to the 
 Gauls also resemble them.' 
 
 T. A. ^
 
 50 CORN ELI I TACITI AG RIG OLA. 
 
 10. ProcUirentibuS in diversa.] Neighbouring countries 
 jotting out in different directions (in diversa) would approximate 
 very closely, would cccupy nearly the same positio coeli, and so 
 would be subject to nearly the same climatic influences. 
 
 n. In universum aestimanti.] Comp. Germ. 6, in - 
 
 versum aestimanti plus apud peditem robur. 
 
 " Superstitiouum persuasiones.] Sc. 'superstitious 
 
 beliefs.' The meaning is that both the same rites (sacra) and the 
 same beliefs prevailed in Britain as in Gaul. Comp. Caes. B. G. 
 vi. 13. 'Superstitio' denoted to a Roman ' any foreign religious 
 belief.' The reading of the MSS. ' persuasione ' (retained by 
 Oielli) hardly admits of explanation. 
 
 13. In deposcendis---fonnido.] Comp. Caesar B. G. m. 
 
 16, Ut ad beIJa suscipienda Gallorum alacer ac promptus eat 
 animus, sic mollis ac miuime resistens ad calamitates perferendas 
 mens eorum est. 
 
 14- Praeferunt.] 'Display.' 
 
 15- Gallos quoqne in bellis floraisse, etc.] Comp. Caesar, 
 
 B. G. passim, and Cic. De Prw. Consul. 13, Nemo de Republic* 
 nostra sapienter cogitavit jam inde ac principio hujus imperil, 
 quin Galliara maxiine timendarn huic imperio putaret. 
 
 16. Quales Galli fuerunt.] Kritz takes Galli to be the 
 complement not the subject of the sentence, and would translate 
 1 such as they were when Gauls.' This seems unnecessary. The 
 meaning is plain enough, if we suppose Taciius to say the Gauls 
 before they were conquered were great warriors; but military 
 spirit is incompatible with servitude. Servitude has destroyed it 
 in the Gauls, has not yet done so with all the Britons ; many of 
 them still remain what the Gauls were. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 i. Et CUlTn prpeliantur.] Tacitus' meaning is that their 
 troops generally consisted of infantry and cavalry, the former 
 being the stronger force (in pedite robur) ; and that some tribes 
 used chariots as well Comp. Caesar, B. G. IT. 24, praemisso 
 eqiiilatu et essedariii. Comp. however, ch. 36, coit'n>iar'zw eques, 
 where the common reading is covinnarius et eques. 
 
 ' Honestlor auriga, etc.] This is the reverse of the 
 well-known Homeric usage, and that described by Caesar as 
 practised by the Gauls (loc. cit.). 
 
 3. ClienteS propugnant.] The meaning is not that the 
 cliens (dfpdvwv) fights in advance of the chariot, but that he fights 
 from it; sc. performs the part of the combatant, while the chief 
 drives.
 
 NOTES. 51 
 
 4- Olim regibus parebant.] In this Tacitus is in agree- 
 ment with Caesar. See Caesar, B, G. V. 22. 
 
 5. Per principes.] 'Under the action of chiefs.' 
 
 6. Factionibus et Studiis.] 'Factiones' signify the com- 
 binations on the part of the chiefs, 'studia' the partialities in the 
 people to which they appealed. The words are to be taken as 
 
 ablatives. 
 
 7. Trahlintur.] Either for 'distrahuntur,' the simple word 
 for the compound according to a common Tacitean usage ; 01 
 simply meaning 'are drawn,' as having no stability of purpose. 
 
 8. NeC aliud-.-COnSulunt.] Comp. Ch. 29, tandem docti 
 commune periculuin concordia propulsandum. 
 
 9- Singuli pugnant-.-vincuntur.] 'They fight singly, 
 
 [and therefore] are all conquered.' 
 
 10. Foedum.] So Hist. I. 18, foedum imbribus diem. 
 
 11. Asperitas frigoruin abest.] Comp. Caesar, B. G. 
 
 V. 12, Loca sunt temperatiora quam in Gallia remissioribus 
 frigoribus. 
 
 12. Dierum spatia-.mensuram.] Pliny, H. N.n. 75, 
 
 says that the longest day in Britain is seventeen hours in length. 
 
 13. Scilicet extrema-.-nox cadit.] The notion on which 
 
 this explanation is founded was that night was the shadow cast 
 by the earth. Comp. Plin. H. N. II. 7, Neque aliud esse noctem 
 quam terrae umbram. This shadow as cast by the ' extrema et 
 plana terrarum,' 'the flat extremities of the earth' (which, of 
 course, is conceived of as a plane surface), would reach but to a 
 small altitude (humilis) ; the darkness therefore would not extend 
 very high, and while it more or less affected the earth would 
 wholly fail to touch the higher regions (infra coelum et sidera 
 nox cadit). 
 
 14. Praeter oleam, &C.] ' If we except the olive, &c.' 
 
 15- Patiens frugum, fecundum.] 'Admits of their 
 
 growth and bears them in abundance.' Comp. Germ. 5, terra 
 frugiferarum arborum impatient. 
 
 16. PrOVeniunt.] 'Shoot forth,' 'grow.' 
 
 17. Aurum et argentum.] Caesar mentions only iron 
 and lead among the metals of Britain. Strabo however (IV. 5. 2) 
 enumerates gold and silver among them. 
 
 18. Pretium Victonae.] Comp. Hist, t u, Inermespro- 
 vinciae in prelium belli cessurae erant. 
 
 19. Liventia.] ' Of a blueish or leaden hue.' Pliny, H. N. 
 IX. 35, says that the pearls of Britain are small and discoloured
 
 52 CORN ELI I TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 (decolores). Pearls are still found in considerable numbers 
 ID the aestuaries of some of the Scotch rivers. 
 20. Expulsa.] ' Thrown up from the sea.' 
 
 CHAPTER XTII. 
 
 I. Ip Si Blitanni.] Sc. the inhabitants as opposed to the 
 natural products of the island. 
 
 '* Injuncta imperil munera.] "The services which the 
 
 ruling power enjoins on its subjects.' To such would belong the 
 furnishing of troops with provisions ; all contributions not in- 
 cluded in the regular tribute, forced labour, &c. Comp. Ch. 32, 
 where some of these ' munera imperil ' are specified. 
 
 3- Si injuriae absint.] Comp. Ch. 19, [Agricola] doctus 
 
 parum profici armis si injuriae sequerentur. 
 
 4. Jam domiti---Serviant.] Comp. what Galba is made to 
 say in adopting Piso of the Romans themselves, Hist. I. 16, 
 imperaturus es hominibus qui nee totam servitutem pati possunt 
 nee totam libertatem. 
 
 5- Igitlir.] The last sentence, describing the degree to 
 which Britain had been brought into subjection to the Roman 
 power, suggests a transition to the writer's more immediate sub- 
 ject, a sketch of the military operations of Rome in the island 
 previous to the arrival of Agricola. 
 
 6. Britanniam ingressus, &c.l Comp. Caesar, B. G. 
 iv. 23 36, v. 823. 
 
 7 Potest Vlderi.] ' Must be regarded.' 
 
 8. MOX bella Civilia.] So. the civil wars which ended in 
 the establishment of the first and second Triumvirates. 
 
 9- Longa obliviO-.-in pace.] Comp. Ann. rv. 5. where, 
 in the list oflegions, no mention is made of a force in Britain. 
 During the civil war that followed on the death of Galba, no less 
 than three legions were stationed in the island. 
 
 10. Consilium.] Comp. Ann. I. u. addiderat [Augustus] 
 consilium coercendi intra terminus imperil. The word may be 
 rendered ' policy.' 
 
 11. Praeceptlim.] Comp. Ann. I. 77, neque fas Tiberio 
 infringere dicta ejus; Ann. IV. 37, where Tiberius is repre- 
 sented as saying of himself, qui omnia facta dictaque ejus 
 vice legis observem. 
 
 12. Ni Velox ... fuissent.] The sentence is, of course 
 highly elliptical. He conceived designs and (would have carried 
 them out) had he not been, &c. We prefer to read 'mobilis 
 poenitentiae ' with Orelli to the reading 'mobili' which Kritz 
 adopts. With the latter reading the meaning is (fuisset being
 
 NOTES. 53 
 
 supplied out of fuissent in either case), 'had he not been swift 
 to repent or change his purpose (velox poenitentiae) from the 
 fickleness of his disposition (mobili ingenio).' Otherwise 'velox' 
 is joined with 'ingenio,' and 'mobilis' with 'poenitentiae.' He 
 was at once hasty in his impulses and easily moved to change. 
 ' Mobilis ' may agree either with Caesar, the nominative of the 
 sentence, or with 'poenitentiae.' The phrase 'comrootus ingenio' 
 (Ann. VI. 45) is cited as parallel to ' ingenio mobili,' but it is at 
 least as near akin to 'velox ingenio.' 
 
 13- Ingentes.-.fuissent.] Comp. Germ. 37, ingentes G. 
 Caesaris minae in ludibrium versae ; Hist. IV. 1 5, Gaianarum ex- 
 peditionum ludibrium. 
 
 14. Auctqr iterati operis.] The MSS. read 'auctoritate 
 operis.' As this gives no meaning, we have followed Kritz in 
 adopting the conjecture of Wex. 'Iteratum opus' is the work 
 of subduing Britain anew. 
 
 IS- VespasianO.] Comp. Hist. ni. 44, Illic (in Britain) 
 secundae legioni a Claudio praepositus et bello clarus egerat. 
 
 1 6. Fortlinae.] This must be the greatness of Vespasian, 
 not the success of Claudius, as Kritz appears to think. 
 
 !? Monstratus fatis.] We prefer with Orelli to take 
 ' fatia ' as a dative than with Kritz as an ablative. The half 
 paradox of the future ruler being pointed out to the destinies 
 which decreed his fortune is very characteristic of Tacitus. Ves- 
 pasian's successful career in Britain commended him, so to speak, 
 to destiny, as one worthy of higher distinction. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 i- Proxima.] Nearest (to the coast). 
 
 2. Colonia.] i- e. Camulodunum. 
 
 3- Cogidumno.] Nothing is known of this king. 
 
 4. Ut.] We have followed the reading of the MSS. putting 
 ut before vetere, as we do not see any absolute necessity for 
 altering it. 
 
 5- RegeS.] Kings of this kind were the Tigranes mention- 
 ed, Ann. xiv. 26, Sohaemus, Antiochus andAgrippa, Hist. II. 81, 
 Sido and Italicus, in. 11. 
 
 6. Aucti officii.] ' Of having enlarged the range of his 
 duties' of his government. A governor's ' officium ' was simply 
 to administer his province as lie received it; Gallus did something 
 more by advancing military positions (castella) beyond the limit 
 of former conquests.
 
 54 CORN ELI I TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 7- PrOSperaS praesidiis.] 'Achieved the success of 
 subduing tribes, 1 &c. Understand the ablatives 'subactis natio- 
 nibus' &c. as the epexegesis of 'prosperas res.' Comp. for a pre- 
 cisely similar construction Ch. 22, Tertius expeditionuin aiinus 
 novas gentes aperuit vaatatia usque ad Tanaum nationibus. 
 
 8. Firmatis praesidiis.] 'Firmare praesidia' is to place 
 them in secure positions. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 i- Britanni... aCCendere.] A distinction is to be noted 
 between 'agitare'and 'conferred The first denotas discussions 
 in which all took part, the second, discussions and interviews of 
 a more private nature. For the expression ' interpretando ac- 
 cendere," comp. Livy, IV. 58, haec sua sponte ayitata in super 
 tribuni plebis accendunt. 'Interpretando' means 'by discovering 
 a common meaning or purpose iii them.' 
 
 2. Ex facili.] AGraecism. Comp. ex insperato, ex aperto, 
 ex affluent! &c. &c. Graecisuis were characteristic of the silver 
 age. 
 
 3- SinguloS-..regeS.] Sc. the 'legatns,' before the organi- 
 zation of the province was completed, and before the procurators 
 were introduced. 
 
 4-.E quibus legatus ... saeviret.l The 'legatus' had 
 
 the military 'imperium' which involved the 'jus gladii' and the 
 power of inflicting capital punishment. The procurator could 
 not take judicial cognisance of illegal acts and pass sentence on 
 them, but it was his business to assess fines and see that they 
 were paid into the 'fiscus.' The subjunctive (saeviret) is used 
 to imply the purpose with which the legatus and procurator 
 were set over the Britons ; this, at least, was the inttrpretatio 
 which the Britons themselves put on the matter. The rapacity 
 of a procurator (Catus Decianus) is mentioned, Ann. xiv. 32, as 
 the occasion of an outbreak in Britain. 
 
 5- Altering manum ..-miscere.] The first 'alterius' 
 
 refers to the legatus, the second, to the procurator. The 
 'manus' of the legatus were officers and military attendants 
 selected by him for the performance of special and confidential 
 services. It nearly answers to our 'staff,' and it would chiefly 
 consist of soldiers of a centurion's rank. It is alluded to Ch. 19, 
 nee ex commendations aut precibus centurionem, milltts ascire, 
 sed optimum quemque fidelissimum putare, in which passage the 
 militea are what is here termed 'manus.' The 'servi' of the 
 procurator, would be persons employed in collecting fines and 
 dabts, and were probably not soldiers. The passage may be thus
 
 NOTES. 55 
 
 rendered : ' 'ills attendants and centurions of the one, the slaves 
 of the other mingle violence and insult." Comp. Ann. XIV. 31, 
 where we are told that the kingdom of Prasatagus, king of the 
 Iceni, was plundered by centurions, his house, by slaves. Orelli 
 reads 'man us.' The centurions were, as it were, the 'hands' 
 of the ' legatus.' So Cic. In Verr. II. 10, comites illi tui delecti 
 manus erant tuae. 
 
 6. In praelio &C. &C.] The meaning is, in war it is the 
 weak who suffer, whereas now matters are reversed, and we, the 
 stronger, and braver, suffer at the hands of the coward, &c. &c. 
 
 7- Ab ignavis imbellibuS.] Referring especially to 
 the 'veteran! ' quartered in Camulodunum. Comp. the expression 
 ' senum coloniae ' in the speech of Calgacus, Ch. 32. These ' vete- 
 rani' as we learn from Ann. XIV. 31, had thrust the people out 
 of their houses and driven them from their estates. 
 
 8. Quantulum.] ' What a mere fraction.' 
 
 9' Sic.] Sc. by reckoning up and uniting their strength. 
 
 10. GermaniaS.] The plural is used for rhetorical effect, 
 though the truth of the assertion was strictly limited to a portion 
 of Lower Germany. The allusion is to the defeat and destruc- 
 tion of the army of Varus. 
 
 11. lUis.] Sc. the Romans. 
 
 12. Plus impetus.] 'More fury' (C and B). 
 
 13. In ejUSmodi CC-nsiliis.] 'In such deliberations,' or 
 we may perhaps translate ' in such designs,' i. e. where such 
 designs are in question. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The events related in this Chapter occurred A. D. 6r. They 
 are related at greater length, Ann. XIV. 31 38. 
 
 i- Instincti.] The word has a middle sense. 'Rousing 
 themselves, &c.' 
 
 2. Consectati.] The notion of the word is that of a search- 
 ing and vindictive pursuit. 
 
 3- Coloniam.] Camulodunum. 
 
 4- In barbaris.] Sc- usual among barbarians. 
 
 5- Ira et Victoria.] 'The rage of victory.' 
 
 6. Veteri patientiae restituit.] 'Brought back to its 
 
 old obedience.' 'Restituit,' in our reading of the passage must 
 be taken for ' restituisset.'
 
 56 CORNELII TAC1TI AGRICOLA. 
 
 7. Tenentibus anna plerisque, &c.] 'Though many 
 
 held arms,' &c. This clause is parenthetical. 
 
 8. PrOPiuS timor.] 'Propius' (the reading of the MSS. 
 for which Wex. and Kritz read proprius) seems defensible, though 
 no doubt 'propior' is what we should have expected. It must 
 bo construed with 'agitabat.' 'Fear from the legatus (sc. fear 
 of which he was the source) was more urgently harassing 
 them,' &c. &c. Punishment to those who were conscious of the 
 guilt of rebellion seemed more imminent than to others. 
 
 9- Ni quamquam, &C.] This is the reading of Orelli and 
 Wex. The passage is difficult and confused. The objection to 
 the reading ne quamquam, &c. is that it obliges us either to take 
 the words egregius cetera as expressing the Britons' opinion about 
 Paulinus, which Tacitus would hardly have cared to mention, 
 or else, as very obscurely and clumsily interposed. We have, 
 in fact, but a choice of difficulties, and the reading adopted 
 appears to present the least. Heading ' ni ' we should give the 
 meaning thus ; ' He would have brought the province back, &c. 
 had he not been disposed thus to act.' 
 
 10. Ut suae cujusque injuriae ultor.] 'As one who 
 
 avenged every wrong as if it was his own.' 
 
 11. Dallas.] 'Too harshly.' 
 
 12. Petronius Tnrpilianus.] He was legatus from A.D. 
 
 62 64. See Ann. xiv. 39, Hist. I. 6, where his murder at the 
 beginning of Galba's reign is recorded. 
 
 13- Compositis prioribus.] Comp. Ann. I. 45, compo- 
 sitis praesentibus. Pnora refers to the late outbreak of the 
 Britons and its suppression by Paulinus. There would still be 
 much lingering irritation and discontent in Britain ; this, Petro- 
 nius allayed, and thus effectually restored peace and tranquil- 
 lity. 
 
 14- Trebellio Maximo.] Comp. Hist. I. 60. Trebellius 
 was governor of Britain from A. D. 64 to 69. 
 
 15. Nullis castrorum experimentis.] 'A man with no 
 
 actual experience of campaigns.' 
 
 16. Curandi.] 'Curare' is used both of military commands 
 and of civil administration. Comp. Ann. XI. 22, duo additi 
 (quaestores) qui Romae curarent. 
 
 17- Ignoscere vitiis blandientibus.] ' To shew indul- 
 gence to vices as they became attractive.' It is best, we think, 
 to take 'vitiis' as a dative. Comp. Ch. 21, paullatim discessum ad 
 dclenimenta vitiorum.
 
 NOTES. 57 
 
 1 8. Civilium annorum.] The civil wars which followed 
 the death of Nero, A. D. 69, (i) between Galba and Otho, (2) be- 
 tween Otho and Vitellius, (3) between Vitellius and Vespasian. 
 
 19. Discordja laboratum.] 'Troubles arose from mutiny.' 
 See Ch. 7, and Hist. I. 60, which passages shew that the allusion is 
 to the quarrels between Trebellius, and Coelius who commanded 
 the 2oth legion. Tacitus, however, says Hist. I. 9, non sane 
 aliae legiones per omnes civilium bellorum motus innocentiua 
 egerunt. 
 
 20. Quum aSSUetUS laSCiviret.] 'When a soldiery 
 accustomed to campaigns were demoralised by indolence. ' 
 
 21. PraecariO praefllit.] 'Governed on sufferance.' 
 
 22. VettiuS BolanUS.] See Hist. II. 65, 97. Bolanus was 
 sent A. D. 70 to Britain by Vitellius, and under him Agricola 
 commanded the 2oth legion. Comp. Ch. 8. 
 
 23- Agitavit Britanniam disciplina.] Sc. he undertook 
 
 no campaigns, which would have required the enforcement of 
 strict discipline among the troops. 
 
 24. Petulantia.] ' Insubordination,' such as would lead to 
 wanton outrages. 
 
 25. InnOCenS.] The word especially denotes, 'free from 
 the guilt of rapacity." In this respect Bolanus was a contrast to 
 Trebellius who is said (Hist. I. 60) to have been per avaritiam ac 
 sorde contemptus exercitui invisusque. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 1. Recuperavit.] ' Restored to unity.' There is a re- 
 ference in the word to the civil wars which had distracted the 
 world, and also, it would seem, to Vespasian's superiority over 
 his predecessors, which almost gave him a right to empire. He 
 seemed, as it were, to recover what was his own. 
 
 2. Aut victoria ... bello.] Sc. either conquered or rav- 
 aged. If he was not successful everywhere he fought everywhere; 
 nothing escaped his reach (amplexus). 
 
 3. Et CeriallS licebat.] Orelli'a correction sed sus- 
 tinuit, &c. (which we have adopted) is the simplest, though there 
 is a strong probability that there is a considerable lacuna after 
 obruisset. We incline to think that by alterius successoris Fron- 
 tinus is meant, and not Agricola, as Wex insists, on the ground 
 that 'alter' cannot be used for 'alius.' He says that 'alter 
 successor' can mean only secundus a Ceriali, that is, Agricola. 
 It seems too much to assert that in no case can alter approach
 
 58 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 in meaning to alias, and it certainly is unlikely that Tacitus would 
 even suggest a comparison between Cerialis and Agricola, as by 
 this interpretation he is made to do. For the expression ' curam 
 famamque obruisset' comp. Ch. 46, multos veterum oblivio obruit. 
 'Obruisset' (would have completely extinguished) is a stronger 
 word than obscurasset, by which it has been explained. By 
 'niolem' we are to understand the difficulty of the work imposed 
 on Frontinus, who had to complete what Cerialis had so ably 
 begun. Comp. its use Ann. I. 45, baud minor moles supererat 
 ob ferociam quintae et viceslmae legionis ; Hist. III. 46, ne ex- 
 terna moles utrimque ingrueret. There remains some difficulty 
 about the words ' quantum licebat.' Their collocation seems to 
 require that they should be construed with 'vir magnus,' 
 though Wex and Kritz take them with 'sustinuit molem,' under- 
 standing them to mean that Frontinus, so far as the difficulties 
 of his position permitted, carried out the arduous task which 
 devolved on him. It is possible however that Tacitus, although 
 in this very chapter he has admitted that under Vespasian there 
 were ' magni duces,' may be hinting at that Emperor's well-known 
 parsimony which would have the effect of discouraging costly 
 and difficult enterprises, or that he may wish to imply generally 
 that an imperial regime is sure to set limits on greatness. Julius 
 Frontinus had been praetor urbanus. He was probably at this 
 time a praetorian legatus in Britain, and seems to have com- 
 manded a legion in a different part of the country from that where 
 the operations of Cerialis had been conducted. He was the 
 author of two works which have come down to us, one on mili- 
 tary stratagems, the other, on aqueducts. Pliny (Ep. iv. 8, 3), 
 speaks of him in high terms. 
 
 4- Eluctatus.] Comp. Hist, ni. 59, vix quieto agmine 
 nives ductantil/ug, &c. &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 T. Media aestate.] A.D. 78, the tenth year of Vespasian's 
 reign. 
 
 i- Velut Omissa expeditions.] Sc. 'under the impres- 
 sion that campaigns were over.' 
 
 3- Ad securitatem verterentur.] The MSS. fluc- 
 tuate between verterentur and utercntur, which latter Orelli reads, 
 construing it with the ablative 'omissa expeditione.' But ' verti 
 ad aliquid' is a well known phrase, and suits the present passage. 
 Camp. Hist. V. II, Romani ad oppugnandum rersi, Ann. xrv. 
 38, omni aetate ad bellum versa. So here vtrterentur has a 
 middle sense. There is no zeugma, since verti ad securitatem, verti 
 ad occasionem, are both legitimate expressions. 'Securitatem,' 
 'carelessness :' 'occasionem,' 'an opportunity for attack.'
 
 NOTES. 59 
 
 4- Alam in finibus suis agentem.] ' A detachment of 
 
 auxiliary cavalry quartered in their territory.' Agere often has 
 this meaning in Tacitus. Comp. Hist. I. 74, eas, quae Lugduni 
 agebant, copias. 
 
 5- Obtliverat.] The word implies sudden and complete 
 destruction. 
 
 6. Erecta prOViECia.] ' The province was stirred into a 
 commotion.' 
 
 7. Quibus bellum volentibus erat] ' Those who wished 
 
 for war.' A well-known Graecism. 
 
 8. Qnanquam, &C.] The clause introduced by quanquam 
 ends at videbatur. 
 
 p. Numeri.] Sc. troops not regularly enrolled in the 
 legion or forming part of it. The word, in the time of the Em- 
 perors, had come in fact to designate the various forces of infan- 
 try and cavalry which could not be strictly included among the 
 legionaries, though they were attached to them. See Hist. I. 6, 
 multi ad hoc numeri, i. 87, in numeros legionis. The term occurs 
 from time to time iu Piiny and Suetonius. 
 
 10. PraeSUmpta quies.] 'Though repose for that 
 
 year had been counted on by the soldiers.' 'Praesumere' 'to 
 enjoy by anticipation.' Comp. Ann. XI. 7, quern ilium tanta 
 superbia esse ut aeternitatein famae spe praesumat ? Pliny (Epp. 
 IV. 15) uses in this sense the derived noun 'praesumptio.' Rerum 
 quas assequi cupias praesumptio ipsa jucunda est. 
 
 1 1. Tarda et COntraria.] These words are in apposition 
 
 with transvecta aestas, sparsi numeri, praesumpta quies, 
 
 three sources of delay just mentioned. ' Tarda,' ' causing delay.' 
 
 T2. Custodili SUSpecta.] ' That suspected points should 
 be watched,' sc. tribes imperfectly conquered, or likely to revolt. 
 
 13- VexilllS.] By 'vexilla' are meant what above are 
 termed 'numeri.' They must not be confounded with the ' vex- 
 illarii ' or veterans. Tacitus uses the word elsewhere with this 
 
 meaning. Comp. Ann. II. 78, Piso vexillum tironuni in 
 
 Syriam euntium intercipit, Hist. i. 70, Germanorum vexillis, II. 
 n, equittim vexilla. In this case, they would appear, from the 
 mention of auxilia immediately afterwards, to have been Roman 
 troops, though the term, as it is clear from Hist. I. 70, was not 
 restricted to such troops. 
 
 14- Erexit aciem.] ' Led his troops up the hill.' Comp. 
 Ch. 36, eriyere in colles aciem. 
 
 15- Instandum famae.] 'That he must follow up the 
 prestige of success.' Comp. Hist. III. 52, inslandum coeptis ; 
 v. 15, instare fortunae.
 
 60 CORNELII TACITI AGKICOLA. 
 
 16. PrOUt prima CeSSlSSent.] ' In proportion as his first 
 attempts had succeeded.' Comp. Hilt. II. 20, gnarus, ut initia 
 belli provenissent, famam in cetera fore. 'Prima' here = initia 
 belli. 
 
 17. Ut in dubiis COnsiliis.] ' As happens in imperfectly 
 matured plans.' 
 
 18. Ratio et Const antia, &C.] 'The forethought and de- 
 cision,' &c. 
 
 19- Quibus nota vada.] Agricola's auxiliaries (among 
 whom, as appears from Ch. 36, were Batavians) could hardly 
 have known these particular seas, so that by ' vada ' it seems best 
 to understand ' shallows, fords ' generally. The Batavians were 
 famous swimmers, as we learn hist. iv. 12, Ann. n. 8. We 
 must suppose that the channel separating Anglesea from the 
 main land must have undergone a great change since that period. 
 If we comp. Ann. xiv. 29, we see that the water was shallow. 
 Flat-bottomed boats were provided. The cavalry forded part of 
 the way and had occasion to swim only in the deeper places (alti- 
 orea inter undas). 
 
 20. Quod tempUS-.-transigunt.] ' A time which others 
 pass in idle show and a round of ceremonies.' 'Officia' denote 
 the various compliments and honours paid by the provincials to 
 a new governor on his arrival among them. In the word 'am- 
 bitus ' there is the notion of courting these distinctions. 
 
 21. Expeditionemcontinuisse.] (He did not) 'give 
 
 the name of campaign or conquest to the having kept the con- 
 quered in subjection." 
 
 11. Laiireatis.] Sc. litteris. The noun is rarely omitted. 
 
 23- AestimantibUS...taCUisset.] ' In the eyes of those 
 who reckoned what expectations be must have for the future, to 
 have been silent about such great deeds.' It seems best (with 
 Kritz) to take aestimantibus as a dative. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 1. Animorum provinciae prndens.] 'Well acquainted 
 
 with the temper of the province.' 'Prudens' here = gnarus. 
 Comp, Hist. n. 25, Celsus doli prudent repressit suos. Possibly 
 in animorum there is the notion of high spirit, a meaning often 
 found in the plural of animus. 
 
 2. Injuriae.] This is the correction of Puteolanus for 
 ' incuriae, which the MSS. have, and it is the reading of most 
 recent editors. Incuriae seems hardly defensible. The plural of
 
 NOTES. 61 
 
 incuria is nowhere found, nor does the idea of 'official negli- 
 gence ' suit the context so well as that of oppression and in- 
 justice. 
 
 3- Domum SUam.] Sc. his servants and subordinates 
 generally. 
 
 4- Nihil-.publicae rei.] ' He transacted no public busi- 
 ness through freedmen and slaves.' Understand ' agere.' 
 
 5- Non StudiiS-.-aSCire.] 'He did not select his centu- 
 rions or attendant soldiers according to his own personal inclina- 
 tions or the recommendations or requests (of others).' 'Ascire' 
 (due to Puteolanus for the reading of the MSS. nescire, which 
 Orelli retains and endeavours to explain) seems to be unquestion- 
 ably the right reading and is now generally adopted. By ' cen- 
 turionem, milites ' we are to understand the same as by ' centu- 
 riones, mauum (legati),' Ch. 15, where see note. 'Ascire,' ex- 
 pressing as it does deliberate choice and selection, is the word 
 required in such a connexion. Under the head of ' attendant 
 soldiers ' would be included lictors, apparitors, clerks, secretaries, 
 purveyors of corn, &c. &c. These persons were comprehended 
 under the common designation ' cohors accensorwm,' and being 
 released from all strictly military duties were termed ' benefici- 
 
 case. 
 
 6. Non omnia exsequi.] ' He did not punish in every 
 
 7- Severitatem COmmodare.] This is something like a 
 zeugma, though we find a similar use of ' commodare,' Ovid, 
 Amoves, I. 8, 86, Commodat illusia numina surda Venus. 
 
 8. NeC pOena-.-e3Se.] Construe ' poena ' as an ablative 
 depending on 'contentus.' This, though a sort of zeugma, seems 
 better than joining it, as Kiitz does, with 'comrnodare.' 
 
 9- Aequalitate.-.munerum.] Munera denote the various 
 burdens imposed by the Romans on the Britons. These fell 
 under two heads, (i) contributions of corn, (2) the payment of 
 a money-tribute. The first would necessarily be vexatious in 
 districts where corn was scarce. For this difficulty Agricola 
 found a remedy by requiring in such cases as an equivalent pay- 
 ment the average price which corn fetched in parts where it was 
 more plentiful. This was done by means of an assessment, 
 ' aestimatio frumenti,' as it was termed, a phrase we meet with 
 Cic. Verr. m. 82, where the whole matter is explained. 
 
 10. In quaestum.] ' With a view to gain.' 
 
 11. Namque per ludibrium...cogebantur.] We adhere 
 
 to the reading of the MSS. and of Orelli, which Kritz also 
 retains. We understand the passage as describing one of the
 
 62 CORNELI1 TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 cunning methods of extortion to which Roman governors had 
 been in the habit of resorting in districts scantily furnished with 
 corn. Instead of accepting a money-equivalent for the 'fru- 
 mentum imperatum,' they compelled the Britons to purchase 
 corn from the Roman granaries up to the required amount. Of 
 course they could fix their price, and had the purchasers at their 
 mercy. The corn would thus be often bought at an excessive 
 price, and when bought it still remained in the Roman granaries, 
 so that the whole affair was a ' ludibriutn.' Hence the Britons 
 are said (i) 'emere ultro frumenta,' that is, to buy corn need- 
 lessly and under very provoking circumstances, and (i) ' ludere 
 pretio,' a phrase which has been variously interpreted, but which 
 seems to mean, ' to be going through a farce with the price,' 
 inasmuch as they were paying dear for what after all the seller 
 kept in his possession. Wex's conjecture ' lucre' for 'ludere' 
 which he explains by 'mere imperata' ignores the ordinary 
 usage of ' luere ' which requires to be followed by an accusative 
 of the object. In Livy, xxx. yj, the reading ('pecunia luera') 
 which he quotes is doubtfuL Kritz reads 'recludere,' and ex- 
 plains the passage as meaning that the Britons had to buy their 
 corn out of the granaries and then shut it up (i. e. see it shut up) 
 again in them. But this use of ' recludere ' is very questionable. 
 
 is. Devortia itinerumdeferrent] ' Places lying out 
 
 of the regular roads and distant parts of the country were ap- 
 pointed, in order that states, with winter camps close to them, 
 might have to convey corn into remote and out of the way dis- 
 tricts.' Here we have another method of Roman extortion, 
 applicable to the corn-growing districts. The inhabitants, finding 
 it troublesome and costly to carry their corn to a distance, would 
 be glad to commute the required contribution for a money pay- 
 ment fixed by the governor. This device is specially mentioned 
 in the Verrine Speeches, III. Si, Instituerunt semper ad ultima 
 ac difficillima loca apportandum frumentum imperare ubi vec- 
 turae difficultate ad quam veilent aestimationein pervenirent. 
 
 13- Quod omnibus in promptu erat.] Sc. 'what under 
 
 fair conditions would have been easy for all.' Understand by 
 'quod' the furnishing of the 'frumentum imperatum,' which 
 under an equitable system would have been by no means burden- 
 some where core was plentiful. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 i. Ha.eC.] So. these abuses. 
 
 i. Egregiam ...... Circumdedit.] 'Invested peace with 
 
 great glory.' Comp. Hist. rv. n, qui principatus inanem ei 
 famam circumdarcnt , Dial. 37, hanc illifamam circumdederunt.
 
 NOTES. 63 
 
 3- Intolerantia.] Cicero, Cluent. XL. 112, couples this 
 word with ' superbia.' It may be rendered ' harshness.' 
 
 4- MultUS in agmine.] Sc. he continually marched on 
 foot with his troops. ' Agmen,' 'a column in marching order.' 
 Coinp. Sallust's description of Sulla, Jug. 96, in aymine atque ad 
 vigilias multus adesse. 
 
 i* Modestiam.] 'Obedience,' 'subordination.' The word 
 is often applied to obedience to military discipline. 
 
 6. Disjectos.] 'Stragglers.' Opposed to 'modesti' (the 
 well-disciplined). 
 
 7- Nihil interim. --qUOminUS.] Comp. for the construc- 
 tion Ch. 27, nihil ex arrogantia remittere quominus juventuteia 
 armarent. 
 
 8. Irrit amenta.] A stronger and more expressive word 
 than 'incitamenta' or 'illecebrae.' Comp. the Greek tpeOiap.a.Ta. 
 Irritationes is similarly used Germ. 19, nullis conviviorum irrita- 
 tionibus corruptae. 
 
 9- Ex aeqUO Cgerant.l ' Had been independent.' Comp. 
 Hist. TV. 64, aut ex aequo agetis aut aliis imperabitis. 
 
 10. Ut.] Here equivalent to quanta. 
 
 !! Nova pars,] 'Nova,' sc. recently conquered. Un- 
 derstand after 'nova pars,' praesidiis castellisque circumdata 
 i'uit. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 1. Sequens hiems.] A.D. 7980, the first of which 
 
 was the year of Vespasian's death. 
 
 2. Bello facileS.] The choice seems to lie between the 
 reading 'bello,' which we follow with Kritz (the MSS. have 'in 
 bello'), and 'in bella' which Orelli adopts. ' Faeilis' is joined 
 with the dative, Ann. II. 27, juvenem improvidum et facilem 
 inanibus, and Hist. 11. 1 7, longa pax f regerat faciles occupantibus. 
 In both of these passages, however, it seems to have the passive 
 sense of 'easily acted on' rather than the active meaning of 
 ' promptly and readily turning to a thing.' 
 
 3- Publice.] Sc. by grants from the public treasury. 
 
 4- Ingenia---anteferre.] 'He showed a preference for 
 the natural powers of the Britons over the industry of the Gauls.' 
 (C. and B.) Orelli gives a different, and, we think, very doubt- 
 ful meaning to 'anteferre,' and understands the passage thus,
 
 64 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 'he trained the natural powers of the Britons up to a higher 
 point than had been reached by the industry of the Gauls.' He 
 thus makes 'anteferre' equivalent to ' promovere," a use of the 
 word to which we can find no parallel. 
 
 5- Deleilimenta Vitiorum.] 'Attractive accompaniments 
 of vice.' 
 
 6. Apud imperitos.] 'Imperitt' are here persons who 
 looked at the matter merely from the surface. 
 
 7. Humanitas.] ' Civilisation.' 
 
 8. Pars Servitutis.] Comp. for a like sentiment Hist. 
 IV. 64, Instituta cultumque patrium resumite, abruptis volupta- 
 tibus, quibus Bomani plus adversus subjectos quam armis valent. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 i. Tertius-.-anuus.] A.D. 80. 
 
 Tanaum.] This is the reading of the MSS., for which 
 Orelli and Hitter read Tans, after Puteolanus from a marginal 
 gloss in one of the MSS., and understand by it the frith of Tay. 
 We think it unlikely that Agricola had as yet advanced so far 
 north. His campaign of this year, we have little doubt, was 
 confined to the country south of Bodotria, the frith of Forth, 
 which he does not appear to have crossed till his 6th year (see 
 Oh. 25). Nor again can we think that by the Taus is meant the 
 Tweed, to which the word 'aestuarium' could be hardly applied. 
 Agricola too by this time had probably pushed into Caledonia. 
 Perhaps, as suggested by Wex, we are to understand the mouth 
 of the North Tyne at Dunbar. The fact that ' Tan ' is a Keltic 
 name for running water confirms the reading ' Tanaus.' 
 
 3- Conflictatum saevis tempestatibus.] Comp. Hist. 
 
 III. 59, sed foeda kieine per transituin Apennini conftictatus exer- 
 citus. ' Shattered' is perhaps the best English equivalent to 
 * couflictatus.' 
 
 4. Periti.] ' Men of experience.' 
 5 Factions.] Sc. 'capitulation.' 
 
 6. Annuls COpilS.] 'With provisions for the year.' 
 Comp. Ch. 75, mixti copiis et laetitia. 
 
 7- Sibi quisque praesidio.] Understand by 'quisque' 
 every commander of a ' castellum. ' 
 
 8. Hibemis eventibus.] 'By successes in winter.' Comp. 
 Ch. 8, majoribus copiis ex eventu praefecit, ' eventus ' being used 
 for a prosperous result.
 
 NOTES. 65 
 
 9- NeC-.-aviduS intercepit.] 'He never in a covetous 
 spirit appropriated to himself,' &c. &c. 
 
 10. Seu centurio seu praefectus.l The centurion was 
 
 a legionary officer, the ' praefectus' one connected with the aux- 
 iliaries (cohortes alaeque). 
 
 11. InCOITUptuin.] 'Impartial.' 
 
 12. InjUCUnduS.] Horace (Sat. r. 3,85) uses insuavis in 
 the same sense. 'Injucundus' is not quite so strong a word as 
 durus would have been. 
 
 13- Nihil supererat secretum ut, &c.] This, the read- 
 ing of the MSS. (for which secretum et silentium were commonly 
 substituted) is retained by Kritz, and may, we think, well mean 
 that there was no reserve, nothing hidden, or as it were lurking 
 behind, in the displeasure of Agricola. His anger was at once 
 and fully expressed; none was kept back to burst out on some 
 future occasion. 'Secretum' has here much the same meaning 
 as ' reconditum,' a word which Tacitus uses in a very similar 
 connexion, Ann. I. 69, accendebat haec...Sejanus, peritia morum 
 Tiberii, odia in longum jaciens, quae reconderet, auctaque pro- 
 meret. It may be that a contrast is suggested between Agricola 
 and Domitian who is described, Ch. 41, as quo obscurior, eo im- 
 placabilior. 
 
 14. Offenders quam odisse.] Sc. to give open offence 
 
 rather than to cherish hatred. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 i. Quarta aestas.] A.D. 81. 
 2. Obtinendis quae percucurrerat.] ' in securing the 
 
 places through which he haa rapidly moved.' 
 
 3- Clota et Bodotlla.] Sc. the friths of Clyde and Forth. 
 
 4- Divers! mails.] 'Of an opposite sea.' 'Diversus' 
 here = contrari us. ' 
 
 5- Revectae.] Sc. carried back from the sea into the 
 land. The notion is that the two estuaries are carried by the 
 strength of the tides out of their natural channel and forced to a 
 great distance (per immensum) inland. 
 
 6. Omnis propior Sinus.] Sc. the country to the south 
 of Clota and Bodotiia, nearer (propior) to the Roman province. 
 ' sinus ' may denote a tract of country with a winding and in- 
 dented shore. Comp. Germ, i, latos sinus, and see note 5. 
 T.A. 5
 
 66 CORNELI1 TAG IT I AG RICO LA. 
 
 7- Velut in aliam insulam.] Sc. Caledonia to the north 
 of Olota and Bodotria, which all but divided it from its southern 
 portion. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 i. Quinto expeditionum anno.] A.D. 82. 
 
 ' Nave prims..] This is susceptible of the following 
 meanings; (i) the first Roman vessel which had visited those 
 parts; (2) the first vessel which ventured to sea in the early 
 spring ; (3) the foremost vessel of the fleet ; (4) the first vessel 
 which Agricola had as yet had occasion to employ. The choice 
 seems to us to lie between (i) and (3), and on the whole we pre- 
 fer (i), both grammatically as the simplest, and as best suiting 
 the context. It is far from probable that Agricola quitted Bri- 
 tain for the winter and returned in the spring, as has been sup- 
 posed. By ' transgressus ' we understand that he crossed Clota. 
 Wex, seeing the obscurity of the passage, would read, navi in 
 proxima, and observes that navi, as distinguished from 'nave,' 
 means simply ' by sea," and is in fact used adverbially, as vesperi, 
 luci, dec. 
 
 3- In Spem.] Sc. with the prospect of some advantage. 
 The preposition 'in ' is similarly used, Ch. 8, nee Agricola umquain 
 in suam f amain gestis exsultavit. 
 
 4- Medio inter Britanniam atque Hispaniam.] Comp. 
 
 Ch. 10, Britannia in occidentem Hispaniae obtenditur. 
 
 5- Gallico man Opportuna.] ' Easily accessible from the 
 seas of Gaul.' 
 
 6. Valentissimam imperil partem.] Sc. Britain, Gaul, 
 
 Spain and Upper and Lower Germany. The special reference in 
 ' valentissiraam ' is to the military resources of these countries. 
 We find, Hist. m. 53, Gaul and Spain described as the most 
 powerful (valentissimam) part of the world, and the Britons, Ch. 
 1 2, are spoken of as validissimae gentes. 
 
 7- Magnis invicem usibus miscuerit.] 'Has united 
 
 with great mutual advantages.' The subjunctive seems meant 
 to express the writer's own notion of Agricola's views. 
 
 8. CultUSqUC.] Sc. ' the general mode of life.' 
 
 9- Hand multum-.-COgniti.] We prefer this reading to 
 ' differt in melius, ' which, though adopted by some recent editors, 
 after Muretus, makes Tacitus responsible for a strange and un- 
 accountable statement. We understand him to mean that so far 
 as he could speak on the matter, the climate and population of
 
 NOTES. 67 
 
 Hibernia resembled those of Britain, but that its coasts and har- 
 bours were better known than the island itself. This we take to 
 be the meaning of melius. It would be absurd to suppose that it 
 meant that the coasts of Hibernia were better known than those 
 of Britain. Perhaps ' melius cogniti ' may be rightly rendered, 
 ' are tolerably well known.' 
 
 10. Agricola-.-eXCeperat.] The emperor Claudius, accord- 
 ing to Dio, LX. 19, availed himself of a similar incident for the 
 invasion of Britain, which he undertook at the solicitation of a 
 refugee chief, Bericus. 
 
 11. Ex 60.] Sc. Agricola. Orelli strangely understands 
 the ' regulus ' mentioned above. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 r. Cetenim.] The word has a disjunctive force. This year 
 Agricola's operations were transferred to the east coast. 
 
 2. Sextum offidi annum.] A. D. 83, the third year of 
 Domitian's reign. 
 
 3- AmpleXUS.] The word is to be understood in the same 
 sense as iu Ch. 17, Magnamque Brigantum partem aut victoria 
 amplcxus est aut bello, and denotes actual campaigns, not merely 
 plans and designs. 
 
 4- Infesta hostilis exercitus itinera.] This is the read- 
 ing of the best MSS. and is followed by Orelli and Kritz. By 
 ' hostilis exercitus ' we understand the Roman army, whose 
 marches (itinera) through an enemy's country would be beset 
 with danger (infesta). 'Infestus' often has a passive as well 
 as an active sense. 
 
 5- In partem Virium.] ' To form part of his force.' 
 
 6. Egregia Specie.] ' With a remarkably imposing ap- 
 pearance." Comp. a similar passage Ann. II. 6, naves augebantiu 
 alacritate militum in speciem ac terrorem. 
 
 7- Impelleretlir.] 'Was being hurried on.' 
 
 8. Misti COpiis et laetitia.] 'Copiae' here, as Ch. 22 
 (annuls copiis) and elsewhere, means 'provisions.' It is best to 
 take 'copiis et laetitia' as a hendiadis. The meaning is that the 
 soldiers and sailors mingled in merry gatherings over their meals. 
 
 9- Ad manus.] 'To force,' 'resistance.' 
 
 10. Oppugnare.] Construe this with 'adorti,' 'having 
 attempted to storm,' &c. 
 
 5-2
 
 68 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 11. Ut prOVOCanteS.] 'As being the challengers.' 
 
 12. PlllribUS agmillibus.] ' By several lines of march.' 
 
 13- Superante numero et peritia, &c.] 'By superior 
 
 numbers and superior knowledge of the localities,' &c. 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 1. Nonam legionem ut maxime invalidam.] The ninth 
 
 legion had been all but destroyed in the rising of the Britons 
 under Boadicea (Ann. XIV. 32). Its ranks, however, as we learn 
 from Ann. XIV. 38, were shortly afterwards recruited with soldiers 
 from Germany ; but this may have been done very incompletely. 
 At any rate, the Britons might well suppose the legion to have 
 been comparatively weak. 
 
 2. Vestjgiis inseCUtllS.] Comp. Livy, VI. 32, quum Ro- 
 man us exercitus prope vestigiit sequeretur, and ix. 45, pergunt 
 hostem vestigiis scqui. 
 
 3- AsSllltare.] The word specially denotes the rapid move- 
 ments of cavalry or light-armed troops. Comp. Ann. XII. 35, 
 telis assultantes ; xni. 40, assultare ex diverse Tiridates, non usque 
 ad ictum teli, &c. 
 
 4- Propinqua luce.] "The dawn approaching.' 
 
 5- Signa.] Sc. the eagles of the legions, which were pre- 
 ceded by the cavalry and light troops. 
 
 6. Securi pro Salute.] 'Having no fears for their safety." 
 Comp. Hist. iv. 58, Numquam apud vos verba feci aut pro vobis 
 sollicitior aut pro me securior. 
 
 7- UltrO enipere.] 'They (the soldiers of the 9th legion) 
 actually sallied forth to the attack.' 'Ultro' gives the notion 
 which we express by saying 'the tables were suddenly turned.' 
 
 8. Utroque exercitu.] Sc. the besieged army (the gth 
 legion) and the army which Agricola brought up to the rescue. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIL 
 
 1. CUJUS-'-ferOX.] 'Emboldened by their knowledge of 
 this, and by the fame it excited." 'Cujus' refers to 'victoria,' 
 or rather, perhaps, to the decisive character of their success, of 
 which we are told in the preceding sentence. 
 
 2. 111! modO-.-SapieilteS.] Sc. those who, ch. 75, were 
 described us ' ignavi specie prudentium.'
 
 NOTES. 69 
 
 3- Iniquissima-..imputantur.] We meet with a similar 
 sentiment, Sallust. Jug. 53, in victoria vel ignavis gloriari licet ; 
 adversae res etiam bonoa detractant. 
 
 4- Occasipne et arte, &C.] 'By the general's skilful use 
 of an opportunity.' The word 'elusos' (baffled) is received into 
 the text by Kritz, as on the whole the most plausible conjecture. 
 It suits the passage, and it seems to be at any rate better than 
 the 'superati' of Hitter. This, however, is a passage in which 
 the text cannot be restored with anything like certainty. It has 
 been attempted to emend it as follows, non virtutem, sed 
 occasionem et artem duels rati, which is ingenious, but hardly 
 satisfactory. 
 
 5- Conspirationem.] 'A confederacy.' 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 1. Usipiorum.] See Germ. c. 32. In Ann. f. 51 they are 
 called Usipetes, and are mentioned with the Bructeri and Tu- 
 bantes as attacking the army of Germanicus on its retreat. 
 
 2. Per GermaniaS.] Sc. the provinces of Upper and 
 Lower Germany. 
 
 3- OcciSO Centurfone, &C.] The adventures of this 
 Usipian cohort with these particulars are related by Dio, 
 LXVI. 20. It would appear that the cohort was a part of the 
 force which, as we are told Ch. 24, Agricola posted in that part of 
 Britain which looks towards Ireland. 
 
 4- Ad tradendam disciplinam.] ' To impart discipline.' 
 
 Vegetius, in his work on the Roman army (i. 13), speaks of 
 'annorum doctores' and 'campi doctores,' whose business it was 
 to instruct newly-levied troops in their various military duties. 
 
 5- Habebantlir.] Sc. were kept in the camp. Comp. for 
 this use of 'haberi' Ann. xm. 30, praefectus remigum qni 
 Ravennae haberentur. 
 
 6. Remigante.] Sc. ' directing the rowers.' 
 
 7- Praevehebantlir.] For 'praetervehebantur' as Ann. 
 II. 6, Rhenus... Germanium praevehilur. 
 
 8. MOX ad aquam, &C.] Many attempts have been made 
 on this coiTupt passage, without, as far as we can see, a satis- 
 factory result. The common reading, mox hac atque ilia rapti 
 et cum plerisque, is founded on the very doubtful conjecture of 
 Rhenanus. The word aquam, however, appears in all the MSS. 
 and is accordingly retained by all recent editors. Kritz (whose
 
 70 CORNELII TACITI AGEICOLA. 
 
 reading we have followed, as perhaps closer to the MSS. than 
 any other) has adopted with slight modifications a suggestion of 
 Haase, and interprets 'ad aquam' to mean 'in aquations' and 
 utilia as equivalent to utensilia (provisions), a use of the word 
 which he thinks is confirmed by two passages of Sallast, Hist, 
 Frag. ir. 50, utilia parare, and Jug. 86, annis aliisque utilibus 
 naves onerat. His explanation, however, of ad aquam seems 
 very far-fetched, and, on the whole, we fear the passage remains 
 hopelessly corrupt. Hitter reads *ob aquam atque utensilia 
 separati.' Roth's reading is perhaps as good as any, ad aquam 
 et quae usui rapienda cum plerisque, &c. 
 
 9- Eo ad extremum inoplae.] Construe 'inopiae' with 
 eo. 'Ad extremum,' 'at last.' 
 
 10. Infirmissimos-..vescerentur.] They first fed on the 
 
 weakest ; then were reduced to draw lots for the healthy. 
 
 11. Primum a SueviS-.-SHnt.] Some were taken by the 
 Suevi, some by the Frisii. Tacitus does not mean that there 
 were two successive captures of the same persons. 
 
 12. In nostram ripam.] Sc. the western bank of the 
 Rhine. 
 
 13. Mutation 6 ementiuiU.] Sc. by being resold by those 
 who bought them. 
 
 14. Indicium tanti caSUS.] 'The disclosure of such an 
 adventure.' 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 i. Initio aestatis.] Sc. A.D. 8 4 . 
 
 * AmbitlOSe.] Sc. with the affectation of stoical indif- 
 ference. 'Ambitiosus' denotes that a thing is done for effect. 
 Comp. Ch. 42, ambitiosa morte inclaruerunt. 
 
 3- RursUS.] ' On the other hand.' 
 
 4- Bellum inter remedia erat.] 'War was one of his 
 
 sources of relief.' Comp. what is said, Ann. IV. 8, of Tiberins 
 after the death of his son Drusus, se fortiora solatia e com- 
 plexu reipublicae petivisse. 
 
 5- Incertum terrorem.] 'A vague panic.' The Briton" 
 would be uncertain as to the point whence the attack would 
 come. 
 
 6. Expedite exei'Citu.] 'With an army unencumbered 
 by baggage.'
 
 NOTES. 71 
 
 7- Longa pace exploratOS.] Sc. 'tried by a long period 
 of peace.' 
 
 8. Grampilim.] We have retained with Orelli and Bitter 
 the more familiar form (which has some MS. authority), instead 
 of Graupium, which Wex and Kritz read after one of the Vatican 
 MSS. It seems to be a case in which there is some reason for 
 declining to adhere strictly to MSS. 
 
 9. Legationibus et fpederibus.] These words may of 
 
 course be taken as a hendiadis. They may however be meant to 
 convey two distinct ideas the sending envoys to conclude 
 treaties and get help, and the reminding states with whom trea- 
 ties already existed of their obligations. 
 
 10. Cruda ac viridis senectus.] Comp. Virg. Am. vt. 
 
 304, cruda deo viridisque senectus. 'Crudus,' 'fresh,' 'full of 
 blood. ' 
 
 it. Sua quisque decora gestantes.] The word 'de- 
 cora ' seems to include spoils taken from an enemy and rewards 
 conferred by the chieftains on their followers. 
 
 12. LoCUtllS fertur.] By the word 'fertur' Tacitus im- 
 plies that he is himself the author of the following speech. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 1. NeceSSitatem nOStram.] ' Our desperate position.' 
 
 2. MagnUS mihi animus est.] ' I have great confidence. 
 'Animus ' is here almost equivalent to ' spes ' or ' fiducia.' There 
 seems to be a studied simplicity about the expression. 
 
 3- Nullae Ultra terrae.] ' There are no lands beyond 
 us.' Comp. Ch. 10, septentrionalia ejus, nullis contra terris, vasto 
 atque aperto mari pulsantur. 
 
 4- PrioreS pugnae.] Sc. previous battles of other tribes 
 with the Romans. 
 
 5- Spem ac SUbsidium, &C.] A hendiadis for spem 
 subsidii. The meaning is, that the Britons, though unsuccessful 
 in former battles, still had hopes of being able to fall back upon us 
 in their last extremity. ' Former engagements, &c. continued to 
 leave a hope of succour from our resources,' &c. 
 
 6. Nobilissimi.] Sc. as being a pure and unmixed people. 
 Comp. Caesar, D. G. V. 15, who says that the interior of Britain 
 was occupied by a population which described itself as autochtho- 
 nous (natos in insula).
 
 72 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 1- lique.] This seems a better residing than eoque, as it 
 is not easy to see how the nobility and greatness of a people 
 should be the cause of their occupying the remotest regions 
 (penetralia) of a country. It has been strangely enough sug- 
 gested that there is an implied comparison between such a people 
 and jewels and treasures which are stowed away in secret places. 
 If ' eoque' be read, it must mean that an indigenous population was 
 likely to linger longest in the least accessible parts of a country. 
 
 8. Servientium litora.] Sc. the shores of Gaul. 
 
 9. Oculos quoque habebanms.] 'We kept our very 
 
 eyes unpolluted by the contagious touch of tyranny.' 
 
 10. Sinus famae.] We are inclined to think that this ex- 
 pression means the protection which the fame of their untried 
 valour had hitherto lent them. The remoteness of their situa- 
 tion, and all the exaggeration to which this remoteness naturally 
 gave rise (expressed in the clause, 'omne ignotum pro magnifico'), 
 had hitherto saved them from attack. Now this remoteness had 
 ceased to be (terminus Britanniae patet). Orelli takes ' famae ' 
 as a dative dependent on 'defendit.' Hitherto the remoteness 
 of their abode (sinus) had saved them from fame, and they had 
 . been undisturbed because they had been unknown. 
 
 n. InfestioreS.] Sc. more hostile than waves and rocks. 
 
 12. AmbitlOSi.] Sc. eager for warlike glory. If the enemy 
 has nothing to tempt their cupidity, they covet the glory of con- 
 quest for its own sake. 
 
 13- Opes COnCUpisCUnt.] 'Wealth and poverty they 
 covet with equal vehemence of desire,' sc. they spare neither the 
 rich nor poor. Comp. for a similar sentiment, Sallust, Cat. 1 1, 
 avaritia neque copia neque inopia minuitur. 
 
 14. Ubi SOlitudinem facmnt.] 'Where they make a soli- 
 tude,' &c. &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 ' Alibi Servituri.] Sc. to serve elsewhere in the Roman 
 armies. The degrading word ' servire ' is of course deliberately 
 chosen. It appears however that some at least of the British 
 levies were retained in the island. See Ch. 18, auxiliarium qui- 
 bus nota vada, atid Ch. 32, agnoscent Britanni suam causam. 
 
 i- Ager atque annus.] This reading (due to Seyffert's 
 emendation) is adopted by Ritter and Kritz, as coining closest to 
 the Vatican MSS. which have ' aggerat annus,' and as yielding a 
 yood sense. 'Annus' is used in the Germ. Ch. 14, for the yearly
 
 NOTES. 73 
 
 produce, which is here denoted by the somewhat rhetorical ex- 
 pression ager atque annus, just as bona fortunaeque expressed 
 the simple notion of pecunia. By 'frumentum' is meant the 
 corn exacted by the Romans. Comp. Ch. 19. 
 
 3. Silvis ac paludibus emuniendis.] 'In clearing 
 
 woods and mar.shes.' Comp. the expression ' munitiones via- 
 rum,' Ann. I. 56. The word 'emunire' implies throwing up 
 causeways through morasses. 
 
 4. Nata ServitutL] Comp. Sallust, Jug. 31, vos, Qui- 
 rites, imperio nati. 
 
 5. Semel veneunt.] Boadicea is represented in Dio, 
 LXII. 3 as saying, ' How much better would it be to be sold once 
 for all than to be ransomed with the empty name of liberty from 
 year to year. ' 
 
 6. UltrO---allintur.] Sc. slaves, so far from supplying 
 their masters' maintenance (as we Britons have to do for the 
 Romans) are supplied with what they want by their masters. 
 
 7- Britannia- -.pascit.] ' Britain is every day purchasing, 
 every day supporting her own slavery.' She did the first by 
 paying taxes, the second by supplying her masters with corn. 
 
 8. Novi noS-.-petimur.] ' We, as despicable new comers, 
 are being marked out for destruction.' ' Novi ' signifies ' new to 
 slavery,' 'viles' those who are despicable because nothing is to 
 be got out of them, as the next sentence implies. 
 
 9- Neque enim arva nobis, &c.] 'We have not, as 
 
 the other Britons have, &c.' Calgacus is speaking only of Cale- 
 donia. 
 
 10. Ferocia.] ' High spirit.' 
 
 H- Brigantes.] In the account given, Ann. XIV. 31, of 
 the British rising under Boadicea, the Trinobantes are mentioned, 
 and the name of the Brigantes does not occur. It is possible 
 that Calgacus here names them, as being one of the most power- 
 ful tribes, and closely bordering on Caledonia. All the MSS. 
 have Brigantes. Ritter's substitution of Trinobantes seems 
 purely arbitrary. 
 
 12. Exurere COloniam.] Sc. Camulodunum. Comp. Ch. 
 1 6, ipsam coloniam invasere ut sedem servitutis. 
 
 13- Libertatem non in poenitentiam latnri.] Sc. 'not 
 
 about to bear our freedom so as to repent of it.' The meaning is, 
 We do not intend, if successful, to sink into sloth (socordia) as 
 the Brigantes did, and so to be subsequently conquered and 
 reduced to a worse condition than that to which quiet submission
 
 74 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 would have brought us in which case we should have ultimately 
 cause for regret (poenitentia) that we had successfully resisted 
 for a while. It appears to us that the words as they stand will 
 fairly bear this interpretation, and that there is no need of Wex's 
 emendation, in libertatem non in poenitentiam arma laturi, 
 though, of course, it makes the passage somewhat easier, and 
 introduces the familiar phrase ' ferre arma.' 
 
 14. Seposueiit.] 'Has in reserve.' Comp. Germ. 29, in 
 usum praeliorum sepoziti. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 ! Nisi.1 Orelli after the MSS. nisi si. But (as Wex 
 points out) where, as here, the word has an ironical force and 
 suggests an absurd alternative, it is never followed by si. 'Nisi 
 si ' would imply that the alternative was possible and reasonable. 
 
 2. Commodent.] The MSS. have commendent, for which 
 Puteolanus (whom nearly all modern editors follow) substituted 
 ' commodent,' which precisely suits this passage. Comp. Livy, 
 xxxiv. 12, quamquam vereatur ne suas vires, aliis eas comma- 
 dando, minuat. 
 
 3- Infinna yincla loco caritatis.] Kritz reads 'loco' 
 
 from his own conjecture. The word seems to be wanted, as fear 
 and terror (metus ac terror) cannot well be said to be bonds of 
 affection. The meaning clearly is, that they take the place of it. 
 
 4- Nulla pleiisque patria.] This would necessarily be 
 the case in an army made up of various nations whose separate 
 existence had been destroyed by conquest. 
 
 5- Trepidos ignorantia.] By 'ignorantia' is meant 
 specially ignorance of the country in which they were fighting. 
 
 6. Circumspectantes.] The notion of the word circum- 
 spectare is that of looking round timidly and suspiciously. This 
 is well illustrated in Cic. Two. I. 30, 73, Itaque dubitans, cir- 
 cumspectans, haesitans, multa adversa reverens, tamquam rate 
 in man immense nostra vehitur oratio. 
 
 ?. Vinctos.] Comp. Ann. I. 62, eodem fato innctae legi- 
 ones, and Hist. I. 79, Sarmatae...velut vincti caedebantur. 
 
 8. NostraS manUS.] Sc. troops who in heart are with us 
 
 9. Agnoscent Britanni.J Sc. Britons, compelled to fight 
 
 as levies in the Roman army. 
 
 10. Senum COloniae.] Corap. CK 5, incensae coloniae.
 
 NOTES. 75 
 
 'Scues' in allusion to the 'veterans' by whom the coloniae 
 were usually garrisoned. 
 
 ii- Aegra municipia.] This is in apposition with 'senum 
 coloniae.' The word 'aegra' denotes the feebleness arising from 
 internal discord. Comp. its use Hist. II. 86, movere et quatere 
 quidquid usquam aeyrum foret, adgrediuntur. (The Greek voyeiv 
 is used in precisely the same way. Soph. El. 1070, TOI fikv ex 
 d6fji,wv voael.) Comp. also Claudian, Bell. Get. 437, vivusque color 
 redit urbibus aeyris. Londinium and Verulamium had the cha- 
 racter of 'municipia,' that is, they had their own 'senatus,' and 
 their own officers for the administration of justice. ' Municipia' 
 appears to us on the whole a better reading than that of ' inan- 
 cipia' which Wex and Kritz adopt from the margin of one of the 
 Vatican MSS., interpreting the words to mean 'a feeble and 
 mutinous sot of slaves.' This is hardly an appropriate descrip- 
 tion of the Roman 'veterani.' 
 
 2. In hoc campo CSt.] 'Rests with this battle-field.' 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 I- AlacreS.] With enthusiasm. 
 
 2. Ut barbaris moris.] Comp. 39, ut Domitiano mom 
 
 erut. 
 
 3- Armorum prociirsu.] "There was the gleam of 
 
 arms as every boldest soldier stepped to the front.' 
 
 4- Instriiebatur acies.] So. the Caledonian army. 
 
 5- OctavuS annus.] Agricola was now entering on his 
 8th year in Britain. 
 
 6. Virtute et auspiciis imperil Romani.] The *aus- 
 
 picia ' from the time of Augustus, properly speaking, belonged 
 to the Emperor. Tacitus here affects the old republican form of 
 speech. He may naturally have shrunk from any such allusion 
 to Domitian, as the word imperatoris would have involved. 
 When 'ductus' and 'auspicia' are used in close connexion, the 
 first denotes the general's conduct of a campaign, the second the 
 emperor's supreme direction and authority. So Suet. Oct. 11, 
 domuit partim ductu, partim auspiciis suis Cantabriam, Aquita- 
 niani, &c. 
 
 7- Tot expeditionibus, &C.] ' In the course of so many 
 campaigns,' &c. 
 
 8. Finem-.-tenemUS.] ' We are occupying the extremity 
 of Britain not in mere report or rumour, but with an actual camp 
 and armed force.'
 
 76 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 9. Inventa Britannia.] Sc. Britain has been thoroughly 
 discovered. 
 
 10. Vota virtusque in aperto.] ' Your wishes and 
 
 your bravery have free scope.' Cornp. Ch. i, pronum magisque 
 in aperto. 
 
 n. Omniaque-.-adversa.] Comp. Sail. Cat. 58, si vinci- 
 
 mns, omnia nobis tuta erunt ; sin metu cesserimus, eadcm ilia 
 adversa fient. 
 
 12. In frontein.] Sc. for an advancing army. 'Frons' 
 denotes here the presenting a face to the enemy, and thus implies 
 progress. 
 
 13- Terga.] Sc. 'retreat' 
 
 14. Natnrae fine.] Comp. Germ, c. 45, illnc usque tan- 
 turn natura, and see note on passage. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Vestra decora.] The word 'decus' is here used in a 
 less precise sense than that which it has Ch. 29, sua quisque de- 
 cora gestantes. Here it means 'glorious deeds.' Livy, XXL 43, 
 uses it in just the same sense, Nemo vestrum est cui non idem 
 ego virtutis spectator ac testis notata temporibus locisque rcferre 
 sua possim decora. 
 
 i. Unam legionem.] So. the 9th legion. See Ch. 26. 
 
 3- Furto noctis.] Sc. an attack made under the cover of 
 night. Curtius, IV. 13, uses the same expression, meae gloriae 
 furtum Hoctit obstare non patiar. 
 
 4- Clamore debellastis.] 'You crushed with a mere 
 shout.' 
 
 5- QuomodO-.-pelluntur.] We take this to be a general 
 sentiment, which is the view of Orelli and Hitter. With the 
 latter, we think it best to understand 'mere' as equivalent to 
 'ruere solet,' and the following 'pelluntur' seems to favour this 
 view. Similar instances of a audden change of construction occur 
 elsewhere. Comp. Ann. m. 26, postquam exui aequalitas et pro 
 rnodestia et pudore ambitio et vis incedebat ; and XII. 51, ubi rjuati 
 uterus et viscera vibrantur. Curtius, in. 8, 19, has a very similar 
 comparison : Delituisse inter angustias saltus ritu ignobiliurn f era- 
 ruin quae strepitu praetereuutium audito silvarura latebris se 
 occoluerunt. 
 
 6. NumerQS.] The word is expressive of contempt, ' mere 
 ciphers.' Comp. Hor. Epiit. I. 3, 27, Nos numerus sumus el 
 frages consumere nati.
 
 NOTES. 77 
 
 7- QUOS qUOd-.-restitenmt.] 'That you have at last 
 found them is not because they have stood their ground,' &c. 
 
 8. NoviSSimae res.-.aciem.] This is the reading of both 
 the Vatican MSS. and, though harsh, is intelligible. ' Their 
 desperate fortunes and their bodies in the extremity of panic have 
 rivetted their line to this spot,' &c. Comp. for the use of 'no- 
 vissimae ' Germ. 24, extreme ac novissimo jactu. ' Defixere ' vividly 
 expresses the paralysis of terror. Kritz, in his 2nd edition, adopts 
 the ingenious conjecture of Schoemann, novissimae res et extre- 
 mus uietus torpore defixere, &c. 
 
 9- Victoriam ederetis.] The expression 'edere victoriam' 
 derives its meaning from the epithets attached to victoriam, and 
 it conveys the notion of ' exhibiting on a grand scale.' 
 
 10. Transigite cum expeditionibus.] 'Make an end of 
 
 campaigns.' ' Tran'sigere ' is a legal word, and denotes the settle- 
 ment of a suit. Coinp. Germ. 19, cum spe votoque uxoris semel 
 transigitur. 
 
 11. Imponite-.-diem.] 'Crown fifty years' service with 
 a great day.' Forty-two years, from A.D. 43 (the date of Clau- 
 dius's expedition), was the precise period. 
 
 12. Moras belli.] Sc. carrying on war without energy, or 
 wilfully protracting it. Comp. what is said of Vocula, Hist. IV. 34. 
 
 13- CaUSSaS rebellandi.] This phrase would naturally 
 mean the wrong doings of the dominant race. Comp. Ch. 19, 
 doctus per aliena expeiimenta parum profici armis si injuriae se- 
 querentur, caussas bellorum statuit excidere- But how was the 
 army to shew upon a battle-field that it was guiltless of such 
 practices ? Perhaps we should understand by ' caussae ' the pre- 
 texts or suggestions of possible rebellion which the carelessness of 
 the conquerors might give, or which were the effective causes of 
 rebellion. The soldiers were to do their work so thoroughly that 
 there should be no strength left for rebellion. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 i. Affunderentur.] This word (where we should have ex- 
 pected simply adderentur) seems intended to denote, the rapid 
 movements of cavalry. 
 
 2. IngenS-.-bellandi.] 'Bellandi,' the reading of the best 
 MSS., must be construed with 'decus,' and 'victoriae' seems 
 best taken as the dative. If the legions sustained no loss, this 
 would add to the victory the great glory of fighting without shed- 
 ding the blood of Roman soldiers.
 
 T8 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 3- Si pellerentlir.] Sc. ' if the auxiliaries were repulsed.' 
 
 4- In speciem ac terrorem.] Sc. with a view to an im- 
 posing appearance and to cause panic. ' Species ' is used iu a 
 similar way, Ch. 25, [chassis]... sequebatur egregia specie. 
 
 5- Connexi.] The MSS. fluctuate between connexi and 
 convexi. Connexi (the reading of Ritter and Kritz) implies that 
 the line of the Britons extended without a break up the slope of 
 the hill. Convexi, applied to this sloping formation, might be 
 harsh, but Kritz surely poes too far in pronouncing it absurd. 
 The word, however, does not seem to be much wanted. 
 
 6. Media Campi.] Sc. the space between the two armies. 
 
 7. CovinnaiiUS eques.] So the best MSS. and the most 
 recent editors. The phrase must be simply equivalent to ' covin- 
 narii,' which word occurs in the following chapter. The word 
 ' covinnus,' according to Pomponius Mela (in. 6), denoted a 
 chariot armed with scythes. The Britons, it seemed, borrowed 
 it from the Belgae. Caesar, B. G. IV. 24 (where he describes this 
 mode of fighting), says nothing about the chariots having scythes, 
 nor does he use the words ' covinnus,' ' covinnarii.' He speaks of 
 'essedarii' (by which he meant the same thing), and he draws a 
 distinction between them and regular cavalry (equitatus), which 
 he says the Britons also employed. Tacitus makes no such direct 
 allusion to cavalry; he merely tells us, Ch. 12, that some tribes 
 fought with the chariot, among whom, it appears, were the Cale- 
 donians. 
 
 8. Poirectior.] ' Too extended.' 
 
 9 Promptior in Spem.] Comp. Ann. xv. 25, promptut 
 in pavorem. Ib. 61, promptum in adulationes ingenium. 
 
 10. FimiUS adversiS.] ' Resolute under adverse circum- 
 stances.' 
 
 it- Ante vexilla.] By 'vexilla' is meant the same as in 
 Ch. 18, contractis legionum vexillis, where see note 13. Agricola 
 took his stand in front of the peditutn auxilia, mentioned above, 
 among which would be several bodies of troops, termed vexilla. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVL 
 
 I. Constantia.] Sc. calm, self-possessed courage. 
 
 3. Cetlis.] The 'cetra'was a small leathern shield, like 
 the pelta. It appears from Livy XXXL 36 that 'cetrati' and 
 'peltastae' were convertible terms.
 
 NOTES. 79 
 
 3- BataVOrum COhorteS.] These are continually men- 
 tioned in the Historiae, and it appears that eight cohorts formed 
 the 'auxilia' of the I4th legion. They were brave but turbulent 
 troops. 
 
 4~ Quod.] Sc. which mode of fighting. 
 
 5- In aperto.] The reading of the Vatican MSS. and, as 
 it seems, quite defensible. The idea is that of hand-to-hand 
 fighting in a free open space, where the best and most convenient 
 weapons would be sure to tell. ' In arcto' (the reading adopted 
 by Hitter and Kritz) is a purely arbitrary conjecture. Livy, 
 xxxviii. 41, thus describes a similar engagement: etsi iniquo 
 loco, praelio tamen justo, acie aperta, collatis armis perquandum 
 erat. The ground might be uneven; all that is meant is that 
 it was clear of obstacles. Comp. the Greek military phrase 
 viraiOpos. 
 
 6. MiSCere ictllS.] Sc. to inflict blows at close quarters. 
 
 7- Connisae.] ' Straining every effort.' This is the read- 
 ing of the best MSS. and is adopted by the recent editors. 
 
 8. Interim-.-haerebant.] This is a somewhat confused 
 sentence, about the reading and punctuation of which editors 
 vary. The question is whether the 'equitum turmae' were those 
 of the Romans or the Britons. If the former, we must either 
 read ' ut f ugere ' with Kritz, or take ' f ugere covinnatii ' with 
 Hitter, as parenthetically introduced, which seems exceedingly 
 awkward, and improbable. In this case 'equitum turmae' would 
 no doubt be identical with the 3000 cavalry which, as appears 
 from Ch. 35, were posted on the wings of the Roman army. The 
 word 'turmae' (a technical military term) would certainly seem 
 to point to a Roman rather than to any other force. It is, how- 
 ever, applied Ann. xiv. 34 to the Britons (Britannorum copiae 
 passim per catervas et turmas exsultabant), and it must be remem- 
 bered that Caesar expressly mentions cavalry among the various 
 kinds of military force employed by them. It is thus possible 
 that Orelli's view of the passage (we have followed his punctua- 
 tion), taking ' equitum turmae ' to mean the Caledonian cavalry, 
 may be correct. It is not satisfactory, but other explanations 
 seem to involve an alteration of the text or a very harsh inter- 
 pretation. There can, we think, be no doubt that by ' hostiuin ' 
 in the succeeding clause is meant the Caledonians. The 'covin- 
 narii' (though they produced a sudden panic) soon became 
 entangled in the dense masses of their army's infantry, and were 
 rendered useless by the uuevenness of the ground. 
 
 9- Minimeque-.-impellerentur.] This is a corrupt pas- 
 sage which Orelli gives up. We have retained 'equestris' (as the 
 Vatican MSS. have ' equestres"), and then follow Kritz in reading
 
 80 CORN ELI I TACITI AG RICO LA. 
 
 aegre clivo instantes, which is not a violent departure from the 
 MSS., and which certainly yields a satisfactory meaning. It was 
 not like a regular cavalry engagement, as it was fought on sloping 
 ground, on which they could barely keep their footing. On such 
 ground too, the infantry would be peculiarly liable to be thrown 
 down by the pressure of the cavalry horses which were drawn up 
 among them. Wex's ingenious conjecture 'aequa nostris ea jam 
 jiugnae facies erat,' does not appear to be absolutely required. 
 
 IO- TrailSVerSOS aut obviOS.] These words are, probably, 
 to be referred to the Romans. Lipsius, however, understood 
 them of the Britons. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIL 
 
 i. Vacui.] This means much the same as 'securi.' Here, 
 as frequently, the less usual word is preferred by Tacitus. 
 
 i- Ad SUbita belli.] 'For the sudden emergencies of 
 war.' The same phrase occurs Hist. v. 13. 
 
 3- FeroClUS.] The word implies the notion of ' dash ' and 
 ' impetuosity.' 
 
 4- In ipSOS VerSTim.] 'Recoiled upon themselves.' The 
 Britons who tried to take the Romans in rear, were themselves 
 thus attacked. 
 
 5- Aversam hostium adem.] Sc. 'the enemy's rear.' 
 
 6. Tttm VeiO, &C.] Tacitus, as Lipsius was the first to 
 point out, seems to have had in his mind the following passage 
 from Sallust, Jug. 101 : turn spectaculum horribile catnpis pa- 
 tentibus; sequi, fugere, occidi capi, equi, viri afflicti; ac multi 
 vulneribus acceptis neque fugere posse neque quietem pati, niti 
 modo ac statim concidere; postremo omnia qua visus erat con- 
 strata telis, armis, cadaveribus, et inter ea humus infecta san- 
 guine. With the words 'aliquando etiatn victis ira virtus' may 
 be compared Virg. Aen. n. 367, quondam etiam victis redit in 
 praecordia virtus. 
 
 7- Collect!-. -ignarOS.] This from the time of Puteolan us 
 has been the common reading, and is adhered to by Orelli. It 
 does not appear to have been satisfactorily emended by the efforts 
 of recent editors. Something stands in the MSS. before ' collecti,' 
 which Ritter conjectures to be inde, Halm (whom Kritz follows) 
 more ingeniously, identidem, which conveys the idea of repeated 
 sudden attacks made by the flying army on the pursuers. The 
 general sense of the passage is clear enough, but we can hardly 
 hope to restore the original with precision.
 
 NOTES. 81 
 
 8. Indagillis modo.] 'Indago' denoted the process of 
 enclosing a wood and stopping up all its outlets with nets, dogs, 
 watchers, &c. Comp. Virg. Acn. IV. 121, Duni trepidant alae 
 eilvasque indasjine cingunt. The ' validae et expeditue cohortes' 
 were to surround the woods at all points and cut off the enemy's 
 escape. Comp. Livy Vir. 37, quuni praemissus eques velut 
 indayine dissipates Samnites ageret. In Ann. Xin. 42, the word 
 is used of the cunning arts of the fortune-hunters, Romae testa- 
 menta et orbos velut indayine ejus capL 
 
 9- Rariores Silvas.] 'The less dense parts of the forest.' 
 
 10. Persultare.] 'To scour.' 
 
 it- In fugam Versi.] 'They turned to flight.' 
 12. Vitabundi invicem.] 'Avoiding one another. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 1. UltrO incendere.] 'Actually fired then.' 'Ultro' 
 denotes the doing something altogether unexpected and un- 
 necessary. 
 
 2. Consilia aliqua.] The addition of the word ' aliqua-' 
 is meant to imply that the Britons made only a few weak efforts 
 at united action. 'They occasionally held counsel together.' 
 
 3- Separaie.] Sc. 'consilia.' Instead of consulting toge- 
 ther (miscere consilia), each thought only of his own safety. 
 
 4. Pignorum.] Sc. their wives and children. Comp. Germ. 
 7, in proximo piynora ('close at hand are those dearest to them'). 
 
 5. ConcitarL] 'Were roused to fury.' 
 
 6. Tamquam misererentur.] They were really urged to 
 this act by rage ; they pretended to be moved by pity for the lot 
 of their wives and children. 
 
 7- Vastlim Ubiqiie Silentlum.] 'Everywhere a gloomy 
 silence.' Comp. Ann. ill. 4, dies per silentium vastus. The 
 notion of gloom and solitude is what the word ' vastus ' specially 
 and primarily denotes. 
 
 8. Secret! COlleS.l c Deserted hills.' Comp. Virg. Aen. 
 VI. 443, secrcli cclant callcs. 
 
 9- Spargi bellum.] Comp. Ann. in. 11, Tacfarinas 
 iparyit bellum, sc. wages war at several points. 
 
 T. A. 6
 
 82 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 10. Borestorum.] The name occurs nowhere else. The 
 tribe of the Boresti must have dwelt to the north of Bodotria. 
 possibly in Fife. 
 
 11. Vires.] ' A military force.' 
 
 i. Secunda temp estate ac fama.] ' With favourable 
 
 weather and great renown.' 
 
 13. Unde proximo ...redierat.] 'Unde' is to be con- 
 strued with 'lecto,' not, as might seem at first sight, with 
 'redierat.' The meaning of this somewhat obscurely expressed 
 clause is that the fleet started on its cruise from the ' Trutulensis 
 portus,' to which it returned. By ' proximum Britanniae latus' 
 must be meant the shores adjacent to Bodotri:i, tha', \*, the east 
 coast *of Scotland. It seems clear that the 'Trutulensw portus' 
 must have been some point at no great distance from Bodotria. 
 The voyage here described has been alluded to Ch. 10. Without 
 being a circumnavigation of Britain, it was enough to prove the 
 country to be an island. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 1. Auctlim.] The MSS. have ' actum,' which seems utterly 
 indefensible, though one or two editors retain and endeavour to 
 explain it. Auctum (the correction of Lipsius) is read by nearly 
 all recent editors. 
 
 2. Ut Domitiano moris erat.] Comp. for similar con- 
 struction Germ. 13, anna sumere non cuiquam moris, Gtrm. 21, 
 abeunti si quid poposcerit, concedere moris, and cli. 33, ut 
 barbaris mons. 
 
 3. Fronte laetus, pectore anxius.] ' With joy on his 
 
 countenance, anxiety at his heart.' 
 
 4- Falsum e Germania triumplium.l Comp. Dio, LXVII. 
 
 4, and Suet. Dom. vi. The first tells us that Domitian inarched 
 with an army into Germany and returned without even the sight 
 of an enemy. Suetonius speaks of sundry engagements (varia 
 praelia) on the strength of which he celebrated a twofold triumph 
 (duplicem triuinphum) over the Chatti and DacL Pliny in his 
 Panegyric, Ch. 16, contrasts the genuine triumphs of Trajan'a 
 reign with the inimici currua and falsae simulacr.i victoriae of a 
 former period. Comp. also Germ. Ch. 37, iugentus C. Caesaris 
 minae in ludibriuui versae, and see note 22. 
 
 5- At millC Veram, &C.] The infinitives in this am! the 
 following sentences depend on inerat conscientia. 
 
 6. Stlldia fori.] Sc. the eloquence of the bar. 
 
 7- Civilium artium deCUS.] By 'civiles artes" is meant 
 knowledge of the law and the pursuit of politics. Comp. Ann.
 
 NOTES. 83 
 
 in. 75, Capito Ateius...principem in civibite locum sludiis chili- 
 bus adsecutus, arid Hist. II. 5, where Mucianus is described in 
 comparison with Vespasian as ' aptior sermone, dispositu provisu- 
 que civilium rerum peritus.' 
 
 8. In silentilim acta.] Comp. Ch. 2 and 3. The ex- 
 pression denotes not merely ' driveu into obscurity,' but actually 
 'silenced.' 
 
 9- OccuparGt.] ' Forestall." The word is used in its 
 strictest meaning. 
 
 10. Cet8ra.] Sc. all other distinctions. 
 
 ii- Dissimulari.] 'Disregarded.' As we say. 'he could 
 shut his eyes to them." 
 
 12. DuciS-'-GSSe.] Sc. 'the greatness of a good general 
 was something specially imperial.' 
 
 13- SecretO SUO SatiatuS.] It might be thought that 
 the word 'secretum' points to the emperor's 'Albana arx,' men- 
 tioned Ch. 45. It seems best however to refer it to his dark and 
 secret purposes, which for the present he was satisfied with 
 brooding over. He was as yet in no hurry to execute them. 
 Pliny thus speaks of Domitian, Fancy. 48 : Non adire quisquam 
 non alloqui audebat tenebras semper secretumque captantem, 
 nee umquam ex solitudine sua prodeuntem nisi ut solitudinem 
 faceret. Gump. Ch. 22, Ceterum ex iracundia, etc., where a 
 contrast between the characters of Agricola and Domitian is 
 suggested. 
 
 M- Reponere Odium.] Sc. to treasure up his hatred. 
 Recondfre is used in a similar way, Ann. I. 69, Accendebat haec 
 onerabatque Sejanus, peritia morum Tiberii odia in longum 
 jaciens quae reconderet auctaque promeret. Comp. also Ann. 
 xvi. 5, Ad versus illustres dissimulatum ad praesens odium et 
 mox redditum. 
 
 15- Impetus famae.] Sc. the first burst of his popularity. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 ' Triumphalia ornamenta.] These comprised the 
 
 'corona laurea, 'toga praetexta,' 'tunica palmata,' and ' sella 
 curulis.' The 'statua illustris' (not necessarily included among 
 these ornamenta) is elsewhere termed ' laureata,' and ' trium- 
 phalis.' See Ann. iv. 23, xv. 72, and Hist. I. 79. 
 
 2. Quicquid pro triumpho datur.] Sc. the 'supplicatio' 
 
 (which usually preceded the triumph itself), and the 'sacra' con- 
 
 62
 
 84 CORNS LI I TACIT I AGRICOLA. 
 
 nected with it. As in Agricola's case, the ceremony of the snp- 
 plicatio was not invariably followed by the grand triumphal pro- 
 cession. 
 
 3- Opinion em.] 'A general impression.' The word has 
 been wrongly understood of an impression produced in the mind 
 of Agricokv. 
 
 4- MajoribtlS reservatam.] 'Reserved for men of more 
 than ordinary distinction.' Syria was a particularly ricli pro- 
 vince, and its government was the best post at the emperor's 
 disposal. 
 
 5- Sive ex ingeniO-.-est.] 'Or whether (the story) was 
 invented and made up to suit the emperor's character.' 
 
 6. Tradiderat.] Agricola left Britain A.D. 85. "We do not 
 know who succeeded him. We are told by Suetonius (Dom. X.) 
 of a Sallustius Lucullus, a governor of Britain, who was put to 
 death by Domitian for allowing a new kind of lance to be called 
 a Lucullea. It is just possible that this was Agricola's successor. 
 
 7- Aniicoruni Officio.] Sc. the complimentary attentions 
 of friends. 
 
 8. Brevi OSCUlo.] Comp. Ann. Xlir. 18, where Nero is 
 eaid to have left his mother, ' post breve osculum.' 
 
 9- Turbae servientium.] ' The crowd of servile courtiers.' 
 
 10. Grave inter otlOSOS.] Sc. 'an object of dislike to 
 men of leisure,' such as were the civilians about the emperor's 
 court. 
 
 11. PenitlTS auxit.] Sc. he carried to the furthermost pos- 
 sible limit. This must be the meaning of 'auxit/ if it is the right 
 reading. Wex reads from his own conjecture ' hausit,' which 
 seems a more appropriate word. The MSS. however all have 
 ' auxit,' which may perhaps bear the meaning we have assigned 
 to it 
 
 12- Cultu modiCUS.] 'Cultus' denotes generally a man's 
 external style of life, and would refer to his dress, house, furni- 
 ture, establishment, &c. Comp. Plin. Epp. I. 32, quam parcus 
 [Aristo] in victu, quam modicua in cultu. 
 
 13- QuibuS-.-mOS eSt.] 'Whose habit it is to judge of 
 great men by external show.' 'Ambitio' specially signifies the 
 kind of show and splendour which at Rome took the foim of 
 being waited on by a number of clients. 
 
 14- Quaererent interpretarentur.] 'Asked the 
 
 reason of (Agricola's) fame, only a few could give the right
 
 NOTES. 85 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 ! LaudailteS.] Comp. for a similar use of the participle 
 Ch. 4, peccantium, Ch. 40, servientium. 
 
 2. In Moesia Daciaque. This refers to Domitian's war 
 in Dana, which was begun t>y the Dacian chief Decebalus A. D. 
 86. The Daci entered Moesia and stormed the winter-camp of 
 the legions. 
 
 3. In Germania et Pannonia.] This appears from Dio, 
 
 LXVII. 7, to be an allusion to losses sustained by Roman armies 
 in the territories of the Marcomanni and Quadi. 
 
 4- MilitareS Viri.] Wex, as it seems, without sufficient 
 reason reads vici. The MSS. have viri, and the phrase 'vir 
 militaris' is applied to Corbulo, Ann. XV. -26. Sallust too, Cat. 
 45, uses the similar expression 'homines militares.' 
 
 5- Expugnati.] A word rarely used of persons, but 
 almost always of towns, fortresses, &c. We find however in 
 Livy, xxin. 30, nee ulla magis vis obsessos-quam fames expuy- 
 navit. A similar use of ttcTroXiopKetv (the Greek equivalent to ex- 
 pugnare) occurs in Thucyd. I. 134, rov Havvaviav efiro\t6pKt)<Ta.i> 
 
 6. Limite imperil.] 'Limes' 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. 
 
 7 Ripa.] Sc. the bank of the Danube, which for a consider- 
 able period had been in Roman hands, and was one of the great 
 boundaries of the empire. 
 
 8. FuneribUS et dadibUS.] The first word may be meant 
 to denote family losses, the second, those of the state. It is 
 however quite possible that no such distinction is implied, and 
 that the words are coupled together for the sake of rhetorical 
 effect, as the general character of the passage would seem to 
 suggest. 
 
 9- Constantiam.] ' Steady bravery.' 
 
 10. Ceterorum.] So Kritz after H. Grotius, whose emenda- 
 tion appears to be the best, though it must be admitted that the 
 rhythm of the sentence rather halts. The Vatican MSS. have 
 eorum, after which something appears to have dropped out. 
 
 it. VerberataS.] A strong word, used to imply that a 
 deep impression was made on the emperor.
 
 86 CORNS LI I TACITI AG RICO LA. 
 
 12. Principem eXStimulabant.] 'Were working power- 
 fully on the emperor's feelings.' This is one of the rare instances 
 of the use of dum with the imperfect indicative. 
 
 13. Vitiis aliorum.] ' Vitium' here includes faults of inca- 
 pacity (which have been hinted at in the words inertia et forraidine 
 ceterorum) and the moral faults above named of ' inalignitas* 
 and 'livor.' 
 
 14. In ipsam agebatur.] 'Praeceps agi' expresses 
 
 the notion of being hurtled to ruin. In Agricola's case the 
 glory (which was, as it were, thrust upon him) was his ruin. 
 Two thoughts are combined in the sentence, (i) Agricola's rapid 
 rise to greatness, (i) the fatal dangers of that greatness. ' In 
 ipsam gloriam,' 'to the very height of glory.' 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 I- Aderat jam annUS.] Probably the 5th year after 
 Agricola's return from Britain, or A. D. 90. By this time he 
 would be among the oldest of the consulars, and as such might 
 look for either of the provinces here named. 
 
 2. Asiae et Africae.] Sc. the proconsulate of either Asia 
 or Africa. Both were stnutorian provinces. 
 
 3- Civica.] Comp. Suetonius (Dom. X.) where we are 
 told that among other senators of consular rank put to death by 
 Dornitian was Civica CerialU, who was at the time proconsul of 
 Asia. This gives force to the words ' nee Domitiano exemplum.' 
 
 4- Consilium.] Sc. the means of knowing how to act. 
 
 5- Exemplum.] ' A precedent.' 
 
 6. Cogitationum principis periti.] 'Familiar with the 
 
 empv-Tor's views.' 
 
 7- Ultro AgricoJam interrogarent.] 'Went BO far as 
 
 to ask Agricola.' 
 
 8. Occultius.] ' In somewhat obscure hints.' 
 
 9- Mox offeire.] Soon after they offered their services 
 
 in making good his excuse, sc. in satisfying the emperor's mind 
 as to Agricola's reasons for declining a province. 
 
 10. Nonjam ObSCUri.] 'No longer hiding their purpose;' 
 throwing off the mask. 
 
 11. Pertraxere.] ' Brought him against his will.' 
 
 13. PaiatUS Simulatione.] This has been understood to
 
 NOTES. 87 
 
 mean 'having a stock of hypocrisy always ready ;' 'completely 
 furnished with it.' It is better, we think, to take the words as 
 if they meant ' armed with hypocrisy.' This seems more vigo- 
 rous and Tacitean. 
 
 13- In arrogantiam compositus.] 'Assuming a haughty 
 
 demeanour.' Tlio emperor affected complete indifference to the 
 matter. 
 
 14- Agi siM gratias pasSUS est.] Seneca (de Tranq. 
 14) mentions a yet stronger instance of the encouragement of 
 servility in Caligula, who allowed those whose children he had 
 put to death, and those whose property he had confiscated, form- 
 ally to thank him. 
 
 15- BeneficU invidia.] 'The invidious character of the 
 favour.' The favour granted to Agricola was such as would 
 bring odium (invidia) on the emperor with all right-thinking men. 
 
 16. Salaiium.] According to Dio. LH. 23, it was Mae- 
 cenas who advised Augustus that salaries should be paid to the 
 governors of provinces. The same writer tells us (Lxxvnr. 22), 
 that under the emperor Macrinus (A. D. 218), Aufidius Fronto 
 who was to have been proconsul of Africa or Asia, but who did 
 not go to either province, received the sum of i,oco,ooo sesterces, 
 or about Soco, and he implies that this was the regular scale 
 of payment. 
 
 17- Sive ex COnSCientia.] 'Or from a bad conscience.' 
 This is substantially the meaning of 'conscientia,' though here and 
 elsewhere it differs slightly from its derivative, 'conscience,' and 
 answers more exactly to ' consciousness.' Here it implies ' con- 
 sciousness of hypocrisy or double-dealing. 1 
 
 18. Ne---einisse.] 'Fearing that he might be thought to 
 have gained by a bribe what he had forbidden.' The emperor was 
 afraid people would say that he had not the strength or courage 
 to forbid Agricola from going to his province, but had been 
 obliged to bribe him with the salarium. 
 
 19. Quo obscurior eo irrevocabilior.j 'implacable in 
 
 proportion to its reserve.' 
 
 20. Pnidentia.] 'Good sense.' 
 
 21. Inani jactations libertatis.] 'By a useless parade of 
 freedom." 
 
 22. QuibUS mirari.] 'Those who make a point of ad- 
 miring lawless behaviour.' ' Iilicitus ' denotes not merely what is 
 contrary to good manners, but what is actually forbidden by law. 
 Here therefore it would imply 'conduct in defiance of the emperor's
 
 88 CORNELII TACITI AGR1COLA. 
 
 authority.' Possibly in this sentence and in the words ' inani 
 jactatione' there is an indirect allusion to some of the extreme 
 affectations of Stoicism. 
 
 23. Modestiam.l 'Quiet, orderly demeanour.' Along 
 with this the idea of self-control is implied. 
 
 24- Eo laudis excedere.] 'Rise to that degree of dis- 
 tinction.' 'Exeedere' denotes the transcending ordinary limits. 
 Lipsius needlessly conjectured ' escendere. ' 
 
 25. Per abrupta.] 'By steep (and, consequently, danger- 
 ous) paths.' The meaning of the phrase is explained and illus- 
 trated by a passage in A nn. rv. 20, an liceat inter abruptam con- 
 tumaciam et deforme obsequium pergere iter ambitione ac peri- 
 culis vacuum. The notion of ' abrupta contumacia,' as here of 
 per abrupta, is a defiant disregard of all that custom and public 
 opinion sanction and require. 
 
 26. Ambitiosa morte inclaruerunt] 'Have become 
 
 famous by a death intended for effect." Ambitiosus, ' desirous to 
 win applause;' ainbitiosae preues (ffist. II. 49), 'prayers very 
 anxious to gain their end,' hence ' importunate.' Cump. Ch. 29, 
 quern casum neque ambitiose tulit, and see note 2. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 1. Finis Vitae, &C. &C.] Comp. this and the following 
 chapters with Cicero's remarks on the death of Lucius Crassus 
 (Cic. iJe Oral. in. 2, 3), a passage which Tacitus would seem to 
 have had in his mind. 
 
 2. Extraneis.] Sc. Those who were neither relatives nor 
 intimate friends. The death of Germanicus excited similar grief. 
 See .4)m. in. i, i, where it is said 'idem omnium gemitus ; neque 
 discerneres proximos alieuos.' 
 
 3- Vulgus et hie aliud agens populus.l No marked 
 
 distinction is intended between vutyus and populua. Both words 
 denote the lowest and poorest class, as in Diiloy. 7, vulyus im- 
 peritum et tunicatus hie populus (tunicatus meaning thi>se who 
 were too poor to wear the ' toga,' comp. Hor. Epp. I- ~, 65, tuni- 
 cato popello) and as in Hist. I. 89, vulyus et rnagnitudine nimia 
 commuuium curarum expers populus. Comp. also Hist. II. 90, 
 vulyus vacuum curis. These passages explain and illustrate the 
 meaning of 'aliud agens' which implies inattention and indiffer- 
 ence to public events, and is thus almost equivalent to ' incuri- 
 osus.' The phrase 'alias res agere' means "to be inattentive to 
 the matter in hand." See Ter. Eun. n. 3, 57, alias res agis;
 
 NOTES. 89 
 
 Cic. Brutus, 66, 233, omnia magna voce dicens, verborum sane 
 bonoruin cursu incitato, ita furebat tamen ut mirarere tarn alias 
 res atjcre populum ut esset insane inter disertos locus. Comp. 
 also PJiny, Paney. 5 tibi (sc. Trajano) quanquam non id agentium, 
 civium clamor occurrit. 
 
 4. Fora.] Sc. what the French call lea places publiques. 
 5 Circulos.] Sc. little knots or gatherings for gossip. 
 
 6. LoCUti SUnt.] 'Talked of him.' Understand 'eum.' 
 Comp. Ann. XVI. 22, te, Nero, et Thraseam civitas loquitur. 
 
 7' ConstauS rumor.] Sc. a generally current and un- 
 contradicted report. Dio, LXVI. 20, positively asserts its truth. 
 Suetonius however does not include Agricola in the number of 
 senators and men of consular rank put to death bj Doinitian 
 (Suet. Dom.it. 10). 
 
 8. Nobis nihil comperti affinnare ausim.] 'I would 
 
 venture to affirm that we have no certain knowledge.' We 
 have followed the reading of the MSS. according to which 'esse' 
 must be understood after ' comperti.' If this reading is correct, 
 Tacitus appears to mean that all he can state positively is that 
 to himself the whole affair was wrapped in obscurity. In the 
 two following sentences he insinuates the worst; in this, he 
 leaves it an open question, on which others may make up their 
 minds, if they can. Hitter and Wex emend the passage ; the 
 first inserts ut, the second quodve, after 'comperti.' As it stands, 
 it is certainly somewhat obscure. There is however no real 
 difficulty about the sudden change from the plural to the singular 
 in 'nobis, ausim.' Instances of this are by no means rare. Comp. 
 Ann. xiv. 43, simul quidquid hoc in nobis auctoritatis est, crebris 
 contradictionibus destcuendum non existimdbam. 
 
 9- Principatus.] Sc. the imperial court. 
 
 10. Medicorum intimi.] Comp. Ann. rv. 3, where in 
 the account of Sejanus's plot against the life of Drusus, Livia, 
 the wife of the latter, is said to have made a ' confidant ' of one 
 Eudemus, a physician (suinitur in conscieutiam Eudemus, amicus 
 ac medicus Liviae, specie artis frequens secretis). 
 
 II- Inquisitio.] 'Espionage.' 
 
 12. Momenta ipsa deficientiS.] ' Momentum ' answers 
 to poTrrj arid denotes (i)the turn of the scale, (2) the critical 
 moment at which the turn takes place. Hence here it signifies 
 all the various symptoms of approaching death. 
 
 13. Per dispOSitOS CUrSOreS.] Sc. messengers between 
 Rome and Domitian's ' villa Albana,' on which see ch. 45.
 
 90 CORNS LII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 14. Animo VUltuque.] It is not necessary to explain this 
 as a hendiadis. 'Animus' denotes the frame of mind which 
 inclines a person to the usual manifestations of grief, ' vultus,' 
 its expression in the countenance. Domitian's assumed grief, 
 showed itself not merely in his looks but in his general demean- 
 our. 
 
 15. SeCUrUS jam Odii.] ' Being now careless of his hatred.' 
 Domitian was now free from the anxiety with which his hatred 
 of Agricola had filled him. Consequently, being at ease in his 
 mind, he could, in spite of his natural irascibility, so far control 
 himself as to exhibit a show of sorrow. This he could not do as 
 long as he was afraid. 
 
 16. Coheredem.] This probably implies that Agricola 
 niade the emperor heir to half his estate. 
 
 17. Piissimae.] A form disapproved by writers of the 
 Augustan age. Cicero (Philip, xm. 19) twits M. Antonius with 
 having used it in reference to Lepidus. 
 
 1 8. Velut honore judicioque.] ' (he was greatly pleased) 
 as if it were a compliment and a free choice.' Domitian in 
 this instance followed the example of such emperors as Caligula 
 and Nero, to the latter of whom Prasutagus, king of the Iceni, 
 and husband of Boadicea, paid the same compliment with the 
 same hope as Agricola, See Ann. xrv. 31. Comp. also Ann. xvr. 
 II, where L. Vetus, one of Nero's victims, is advised magna ex 
 parte Caesarem haeredem nuncupare, atquo ita nepotibus de 
 reliquo consulere. Domitian, who at first refused to receive any 
 legacies from those who had children, would afterwards claim 
 a deceased person's estate on the slightest evidence. See Suet. 
 Dom. 9, 12. Pliny (Paney. 43) speaks of the 'security of our 
 wills ' as one of the happy features of Trajan's reign. For 'judicio' 
 comp. Suet. Octav. 66, where it is said of Augustus, that, though 
 he refused to accept any legacy from strangers, amicorum tamen 
 supremo, judicia niorosissime pensitavit. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV, 
 
 I. Decentior.] ' Decens ' denotes grace and symmetry of 
 figure. The French translator Louandre thus renders the pas- 
 sage ; Sa taille e"tait bien proportionne'e sans Stre haute. 
 
 1- NiMl metUS in VUltU.] So Orelli and \Vex. The 
 MSS. vary. One has nihil metus et impetus, which can hardly 
 be the true reading, though Kritz adopts it. ' Metus ' here, as 
 elsewhere, denotes that which causes fear. Comp. Quintil. Instit. 
 vi. 2, 21 metum duplicem intelligi volo, quern patimur, et quern 
 facimus. Possibly a contrast may be intended between Agricola 
 and Domitian whom Pliny (Paney. 48) describes as ' visu terribilis.'
 
 NOTES. 91 
 
 3- Gratia OriS SUpererat.] 'A gracious expression pre- 
 dominated' (C and B). 'Superesse' has a similar meaning ch. 45, 
 
 omnia superfuere honoii tuo. Comp. also Germ. 6, ne ferrum 
 
 quidem supercst, and 26, superest ager. 
 
 4- Illtegrae aetatlS.] A phrase answering to our expression 
 "the prime of lite." 
 
 5- Quantum ad gloriam.] 'As regards glory.' Comp. 
 Germ. cli. 21, quantum ad jus hospitis. 
 
 6. Impleverat.] 'He had fully attained.' Comp. Ann. 
 Xiv. 54, uterque inensuram implevimus, and Plin. Epp. II. i, 2, 
 perfunctus est tertio consulatu ut summum fastigium privati 
 hominis impleret. 
 
 7. Triumphalibus ornamentis.] See ch. 40, note i. 
 
 8. Opibus nimiis non gaudebat.] 'Excessive wealth he 
 
 did not possess.' Kritz' interpretation ; ' he did not set a value 
 on,' &c. 
 
 9- Speciosae.] Sc. sufficient wealth to make a handsome 
 appearance. 
 
 10. Filia-.-SUperstitibuS.] Wex reads filiae, uxori and 
 connects them with the preceding 'speciosae contigerant.' 
 His reason for so doing, that Agricola could not be pronounced 
 happy because his daughter and wife survived him and were thus 
 destined to see the evil days which he escnped, seems far-fetched. 
 It must have been at least a comfort to him, as pointed out in 
 the next chapter, to have had his wife by his side during his last 
 illness. 
 
 11. Nam sicuti-.-Ominabatur.] Hitter's emendation of 
 this passage (which he accomplishes by substituting quondam for 
 quod) appears to be the simplest, and \ve have (with Kritz) adopted 
 it. We think too Kritz is right in reading hanc lucem for hac 
 luce, as this is the regular construction with durare. There is, it 
 must be admitted, considerable difficulty about the expression 
 'durare ominabatur,' which may however be compared \vith a 
 passage in Hist. I. 50, erant qui Vespasianum et arma Orientis 
 augurarcnlur. It may too be justified by the fact that sperare, 
 a similar word, is occasionally construed with the present inBni- 
 tive. According to Dio, LXIX. 12 (and Plin. Pancr,. 5, 94), 
 Trajan's elevation was foretold two years before Agricola's death, 
 and to this Tacitus perhaps refers in 'augurio.' Or we may 
 render 'Trajanum' by our expression 'a Trajan.' 'Augurio 
 votisque ominabatur' ia equivalent to 'augurabatur et vehe- 
 menter optabat.'
 
 92 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLA. 
 
 I*. Grande Solatium tulit.] 'Solatium ferre' may be a 
 similar expression to 'palmam ferre' (where ferre is forreferro), in 
 which case 'solatium' must ba rendered by 'compensation.' Or 
 (as Wex takes it) it may mean, ' he brought us great consolation 
 for bis premature death,' &c. &c. 
 
 13. Spiramenta]. Sc. 'pauses.' 
 
 14. UnO ictU.] So Caligula was said to have wished that 
 the Roman people had one neck, that he might have destroyed 
 them at a blow. Comp. Senec. de Ira, III. 19. 
 
 15. Rem publicam exhausit.] 'Drained the life-blood 
 of the state :' or 'exhausit' may be used as ' hausisse' in Hist. I. 
 41, 'to inflict a deadly wound,' jugulum ejus hausisse. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 1. NOH Vidit etc.! There is a marked resemblance be- 
 tween this passage and Cic. de Oral. III. 1, Non vidit (L. Crassua) 
 flagrantem bello Italiam, non ardentem invidia senatum, non 
 sceleris nefarii principes civitatis reos. 
 
 2. Obsessam---Senatum.] These words point to some one 
 occurrence, of which we know nothing from any other source. 
 It appears from Ann. XVI. 27, that Nero intimidated the senate 
 in a similar fashion. 
 
 3- Consularium CaedeS.] Suetonius (Domit. X.) gives a 
 list of these murders, with the frivolous causes which provoked 
 them. Among them were Civica Cerialis, proconsul of Asia ; 
 Sallustius Lucullus, governor of Britain ; Salvius Cocceianus, 
 nephew of the Emperor Otho; Junius Eusticus ; the younger 
 Helvidius, &c. &c. 
 
 4. Nobilissimarum feminarum.] Among these were 
 
 Gratilla, the wife of Arulenus Rusticus ; Arria, the wife of 
 Thrasea; Faunia, his daughter, who twice accompanied her hus- 
 band into exile, and was a third time banished on his account. 
 See Plin. Epp. III. n, VII. 19. 
 
 5- Una adhuc victoria censebatur.] 'As yet (at the 
 
 time of Agricola's death) by one and only one victory was Garus 
 Metius distinguished.' 'Censeri' is equivalent to ' aestiraari,' and 
 its precise meaning is that Metius's power for mischief was as yet 
 estimated by but one successful information. It is thus used 
 Dial. 39. ejusmodi libri extant ut ipsi quoque qui egerunt non 
 aliis magis orationibus censean'.ur, and Plin. Pancg. is, quisquis 
 paullo vetustior miles, hie te commilitone ccnsctiir. Tlie name of 
 the notorious 'delator' Caius Metius meets us Plin. Epp. vn. 19, 
 5, VII. 27, 1 4, Juv. L 35, Mart. XII. 25. 5. 
 
 6- Albanam arcem.] This was one of Domitian's country 
 seats. It was under the Alban Mount, and was 17 miles In-m
 
 NOTES. 93 
 
 Rome. Tacitus, as also Juvenal, IV. 145, terms it 'arx,' to imply 
 that it was a kind of centre and stronghold of imperial tyranny. 
 Dio, LXVII. i, describes it as the emperor's a/cpo7roX. It was 
 here that he convoked the 'pontifices' to pass sentence of death 
 on the Vestal, Cornelia. See Plin. Epp. \v. n. Not till the 
 emperor's later years were the counsels (seiiteutia) of Messalinus 
 (whom Juvenal, iv. 115, describes as Grande et conspicuum 
 nostro quoque tempore monstrum) heard beyond its walls. 
 
 7- Massa Baebius.] See Hist. iv. 50, and Plin. Ep. m. 
 
 4, VI. 29, vn. 33. He was impeached by the province of Baetica 
 where he had been procurator. 
 
 8. Npstrae.-.manUS.] Sc. the hands of us senators, of 
 whom Tacitus at this time was one. 
 
 9. Nos Maurici Rusticique, &c. &c.l Wex, to avoid 
 
 the somewhat bold zeugma in the passage as it stands, reads 
 from the margin of one of the "Vatican MSS. Noa M.uiricum 
 Rusticumque divisimus. This is a mere conjecture. Under- 
 stand after ' visus* some such word as 'perculit' or 'afflixit* 
 The zeugma seems not too harsh for Tacitus. 
 
 10. Quum suspiria nostra subseriberentur.] 'When 
 
 our sighs were made matter of accusation.' Subscribere (properly 
 'to sign one's name under that of the plaintiff or accuser') is 
 continually used by the best writers as equivalent to 'accusare,' 
 and 'indices' or ' accusatores ' are also termed ' subsci'iptorea.' 
 Quintilian, xn. 8. 8, has the expression subscribere audita (to 
 make what has been heard the subject of a charge). 
 
 11. Denotandis tot hominibus palloribus.] Comp. 
 
 Ann. in. 53, In hac relatione subtrahi oculos meos melius fuit, 
 ne denotantibus vobis ora ac metum singulorum ipse etiam viderem 
 eos ac velut deprehenderem. Denotare pallores is to mark out 
 with a view to destruction the men whose faces are beginning to 
 turn pale ; and the word 'denotare' answers to 'designare,' which 
 is used in a similar way in Cic. Cat. I. i. 2, notat et designat 
 oculis ad caedem unumquemque nostrum. It seems clear that 
 'denotare' may be thus understood, and therefore VVex's conjec- 
 ture, denotandis...>aWore orUius (which, though probably Latin, 
 strikes us as awkward) is needless. With this passage may be 
 aptly compared Juvenal's description of Domitian's senate (iv. 74), 
 proceres, In quorum facie miserae maguaeque sedebat Pallor 
 amicitiae. 
 
 is. Rubor-.-muniebat.] The natural redness of Domi- 
 tian's countenance (of which Pliny, Paney. 48, and Suetonius, 
 Domit. 1 8, both speak) rendered him proof against the ordinary 
 manifestation of the feeling of shame. Comp. also Hist. IV. 40, 
 crebra oris confusio pro modestia accipiebatur.
 
 94 CORNELII TACITI AGRICOLJL 
 
 3- Tu vero^-mortis.] So Cic. de Orat. in. 3. Ego 
 
 vero, te, Crasse, quum vitae flore, turn mortis opportunitate 
 divino consilio et ortum et exstinctum esse arbitror. 
 
 14. Constans et libens.] 'With courage and cheerful- 
 ness. 1 
 
 15- Tamquam.-.donares.] 'As though to the best of 
 
 thy power thou \\ert bestowing freedom from guilt on the em- 
 peror.' The phrase 'pro virili portions ' (' parte' and not 'por- 
 tione' is the word used by writers of the Augustan age) occurs 
 Hist. Ml. 20, and denotes 'all that a man can do singly.' The 
 expression 'innocentiam donares' seems intended to suggest that 
 the emperor was not really innocent of Agiicola's death. 
 
 1 6. Longae absentiae conditions.] ' By the necessity 
 
 of a long abdt-iice.' Tacitus is speaking of his own absence from 
 Vr< /"*- vjlome. 
 
 I?. PaUCiOlibUS laciimis.] Sc. ' with too few tears.' A i 
 "*"'" v4< 18. CompOSitUS.] The reading of the MSS. is 'complo- ,'! 
 f**i y** 4 rote*.' ' Compositus, however, is found in the margin of one of /'< 
 
 fat jjL- * ne Vatican MSS., and is read by all recent editors exct-pt Kiitz. 
 
 /7 \f It seems a far more suiUible word than 'comploratus,' which 
 
 *"savour8 too much of the noisy lamentations which in the next 
 
 chapter Tacitus deprecates. Coin p. Hist. I. 47, Pisonem Verania 
 
 uxor et f rater... composaere, and Hor. Sat. I. 9, 28, cranes com- 
 
 posuL 
 
 19. BesideraVCre aliquid.] 'Longed for something in 
 vaiu.' 
 
 i. Ut Sapientibus placet.] 'As is believed by philo- 
 sophers.' 
 
 Infirmo desidsrio.] 'Feeble regret,' 'infirmus' de- 
 noting what belongs to a morbid state of mind. 
 
 3- Lugeri---plangi.] The first word expresses the senti- 
 ment of grief, the second its outward manifestations. 
 
 4- Quam temporalibus laudibus.] 'Quam' is due to 
 
 Ursinus, and is certainly required if 'temporalibus' (which is the 
 reading of the MSS.) be retained. The notion of lemporales 
 laudes ^transitory praises) is the ' laudatio funebris,' which would 
 be soon forgotten. This, we believe, is what Tacitus had in his 
 mind. He himself, as IMiny (L'pp. II. i. 6) tells us, pronounced 
 a funeral flogc over Verginitw Rufus. Lipsius (whom Ritter 
 follows) substituted from conjecture 'immortalibus' for tempora- 
 libus ; but it would hardly have been in good taste for Tacitus to 
 apply such an epithet to the present work.
 
 NOTES. 95 
 
 5- Si natura SUppeditet.] So. if our natural powers are 
 equal to the task. 
 
 6. DeCOrefflUS.] 'Let us honour.' Comp. Ennius quoted 
 by Cicero (Tuac. I. is, 34), Nemo me lacrimis decoret nee funera 
 fletu Faxit. 
 
 7- Formamque ac figuram.] Formam is the correction 
 of Muretua for famain, the reading of the MSS., and is accepted 
 by nearly all editors. Comp. Cic. Tusc. I. 16, 37, auiniorum 
 formarn aliquam atque fiyuram quaerebant. Tacitus uses the 
 phrase to denote tho whole mind and character of Agricola. 
 Pliny also uses it in connection with a very similar sentiment 
 (Fancy. 55), formain principis jiyuramque non aurum melius 
 vel argentum quam favor hominum exprimat teneatque. 
 
 8. Non qilia-.-pUtem.] 'Not because I think a veto 
 ought to be put on,' &c. ' Intercedere ' is strictly said of the 
 Irifjuni/ian veto. The subjunctive implies, ' I am not one to 
 think,' &c. 
 
 9- Forma mentis.] 'Mens' here = animus, and stands 
 for the entire mental and spiritual being. 
 
 10. Tenere et exprimere.] 'Retain and represent.' 
 
 ir. Alienam materiam et artem.] Sc. marble or 
 
 bronze, and the art of sculpture, which are necessarily foreign 
 (alienus) to the truest and best representation of human cha- 
 racter. 
 
 12. In asteniitate temporum.] ' In the eternal succes- 
 sion of the ages.' (G and B.) 
 
 13- Fama remm.] In the records of history, or more 
 generally, ' the fame that waits on noble deeds. 1 (C and B.) 
 
 14. ObrUlt. This is Haupt's emendation for obruet, the 
 reading of the MSS. It has the meiit of bringing out more 
 forcibly the antithesis between 'oblivio' and the words 'narratus 
 et traditus.' The allusion in 'multos veterum'is to the times of the 
 republic, and the general sentiment may be compared with the 
 well-known passage in Horace, C. iv. 9. 25, V'ixere fortes ante 
 Agamemiiona Multi; sed omnes illacrimabilett Urguentur igno- 
 tique longa Nocte, carent quia vate sacro. Tacitus thus hints 
 more delicately t the effect of his work than he would do by 
 describinEr it as ' laudes immortales.'
 
 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES 
 
 WHICH OCCUR IN THE AGBICOLA 
 
 The Numerals refer to the Chapters. 
 
 Africa, 42 
 
 Aquitania, 9 
 
 Arulenus Rusticus, 2, 45 
 
 Asia, 6 
 
 Atilius Rufus, 40 
 
 Augustus, 13 
 
 Aulus Plautius, 14 
 
 Aulus Atticus, 37 
 
 Domitia Decidiana, 6 
 Domitianus, 7, 39, 40, 4 1, 42, 
 
 Fabius Rusticus, 10 
 Forum Julii, 4 
 Frisii, 28 
 Frontinus, Julius, 1 7 
 
 Baebius, Massa, 45 
 Batavi, 36 
 Bodotria, 23, 25 
 Bolanus, Vettius, 8, 16 
 Boresti, 38 
 Boudicea, 16 
 Brigantes, 31 
 
 Caius Caesar, 4, 13 
 
 Caledonia, 10, u, 25, 27, 31 
 
 Calgacus, 29 
 
 Cerialis, Petilius, 8, 17 
 
 Civica, 42 
 
 Claudius, 13 
 
 Clota, 23 
 
 Cogidumnus, 14 
 
 Collega, 44 
 
 Dacia, 41 
 Didius Gallus, 14 
 
 T. A. 
 
 Galba, 6 
 
 Galli, 10, n, 21, 32 
 Gallus, Didius, 14 
 Germania, 10, 15, 39, 41 
 Graecinus, Julius, 4 
 Grampius, mountain, 29 
 
 Helvidius Priscus, 2, 45 
 Herennius Senecio, 2, 45 
 Hibernia, 24 
 Hispania, 10, II 
 
 Iberi, n 
 
 Julia Procilla, 4 
 Julius, 13 
 
 Julius Frontinus, 1 7 
 Julius Graecinus, 4
 
 98 
 
 INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 
 
 Livius, 10 
 
 Marcus Silanus, 4 
 Massa Baebius, 45 
 Massilia, 4 
 Mauricus,*45 
 Maximus, Trebellius, 16 
 Metius, Cams, 45 
 Moesia, 41 
 Mona, 14, 1 8 
 Mucianus, 7 
 
 Nero, 6, 45 
 Nerva, 3 
 
 Orcades, 10 
 Ordovices, 18 
 Ostorius Scapula, 14 
 
 Paetus Thrasea, i 
 Pannonia, 41 
 Petilius Cerialis, 8, 17 
 Petronius Turpilianus, 16 
 Plautius, Aulus, 14 
 Priscus Jlelvidius, 2, 45 
 Procilli, Julia, 4 
 
 Rufus, Atilius, 40 
 Rusticus, Fabius, 10 
 RutiMus, I 
 
 Salvius Titianus, 6 
 
 Scapula, Ostorius, 14 
 
 Scaurus, I 
 
 Silanus, Marcus, 4 
 
 Silures, n 
 
 Suetonius Paulinus, 5, 14, 16, 18 
 
 Syria, 40 
 
 Tanaus, 11 
 Thule, 10 
 Tiberius, 13 
 Titianus, Salvius, 6 
 Trajanus, 3, 44 
 Trebellius Maximus, 16 
 Trutulensis portus, 38 
 Tungri, 36 
 Turpilianus, Petronius, 16 
 
 Usipii, 28, 32 
 
 Veranius, 14 
 Vespasianus, 7, 9, 13, 17 
 Vettius Bolauus, 8, 16
 
 INDEX OF WORDS AND PHEASES 
 
 EXPLAINED IN THE NOTES TO THE AGRICOLA. 
 
 The first Numeral refers to the Chapter, the second to the Note. 
 
 abrupta, per abrupta, 42, 25 
 aequo, ex aequo, 20, 9 
 aestimatio f rumen ti, 19, 9 
 agere, used of troops quartered 
 
 in a place, 18, 4 
 agitare, distinguished from con- 
 
 ferre, 15, i 
 
 agmen, meaning of, 20, 4 
 ala, military term, 18, 4 
 Albana arx, 45, 6 
 aliud agere, meaning of, 43, 3 
 alter, meanings of, 17, 3 
 ambitiose, 29, 2 
 ambitiosus, 42, 26 
 amplecti, 17, 2 ; 25, 3 
 anteferre, meaning of, 21, 4 
 appetere, meanings of, 5, 6 ; 
 
 10, 16 
 
 ascire, meaning of, 19, 5 
 assultare, used of the movement 
 
 of troops, 26, 3 
 auctor, meaning of, 8, 8 
 auspicia, coupled with ductus, 
 
 33, 6 
 
 calliditas, used in bad sense, 9, 8 
 castra = military service, 5, i ; 
 16, 15 
 
 cedere, peculiar meaning of, 5, 1 1 
 
 censeri = aestimari, 45, 5 
 
 ceterum, disjunctive force of, 25, i 
 
 cetra, 36, 2 
 
 circulus, meaning in plural, 43, 5 
 
 circuindare, use of, 20, 2 
 
 circumspectare, meaning of, 32,6 
 
 citra, meaning of citra fidem, r, 10 
 
 clviles artes, 39, 6 
 
 coelum, geographical meaning of, 
 
 10, 7 
 
 coloratus = sun-burnt, TI, 6 
 comitas = refinement, 4, 9 
 comitium, 2, 3 
 
 commodare, peculiar use of, 19, 7 
 compositus, 45, 18 
 conferre, see agitare. 
 conflictari, 22, 3 
 conscientia, meaning of, r, 8 ; 2, 
 
 5J 42, 17 
 
 consilium = policy, 13, 10 
 contubernium, military term, 5, 4 
 con ventus = our 'sessions,' 9, 12 
 copiae = provisions, 22, 6 
 couinnarius eques, 35, 7 
 crudus, 29, 10 
 cultus, 40, 12 
 curare, used of both civil and 
 
 military government, 16, 16
 
 100 INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES. 
 
 date of the Agricola, 3, i 
 decens, meaning of, 44, I 
 decus = distinction, 6, 3; 29, 1 1 ; 
 in plural = glorious deeds, 34, i 
 delenimentum, 21, 5 
 denotare, meaning of, 45, n 
 clesiderare, 45, 19 
 devortia, 19, 12 
 dispicere, meaning of, 10, 13 
 diversas = contrarius, 23, 4 
 dubius, applied to consihum, 18, 
 
 '7 
 durare, construction of, 44, 1 1 
 
 edere victoriam, 34, 9 
 
 elliptical construction, 4, 10; 13, 
 
 12 
 
 eluctari, 17, 4 
 emunire, meaning of, 31, 3 
 equestria nobilitas, 4, 3 
 erigere, to lead troops uphill, 18, 
 
 4 
 
 eventus = success, 22, 8 
 excitatior, 5, 8 
 exhaurire, 44, 15 
 expugnare, peculiar use of, 41, 5 
 extraneus, meaning of, 43, i 
 exuere, how used by Tacitus, 9, 
 J4 
 
 facilis, construction of, 11, i 
 factiones, distinguished from sta- 
 dia, 12, 6 
 
 ferocia, 31, 10; ferocius, 37, 3 
 ferre, used absolutely, 10, 20 ; 
 meaning of solatium ferre, 44, 
 12 
 
 fides = evidence, 10, 5 
 flumina = currents, 10, 19 
 foedus, applied to climate, it, 10 
 fora, 43, 4 
 forma, used of the mind, 46, 7; 
 
 46, 9 
 
 funera, coupled with chides, 4 1, 8 
 furtum, 34, 3 
 
 graecisms, 15, 2; 18, 7 
 gratia, meaning of, coupled with 
 ambitio, 1,7 
 
 habitus, meaning of, habitus cor- 
 
 porum, n, 3 
 hendiadia, 3, 6 ; 16. 5 ; 30, 5 
 
 illicitus, meaning of, 42, 22 
 imperitus, used to express super- 
 ficial knowledge, 21, 6 
 hnplere, meaning of, 44, 6 
 in, with a view to, &c. 5, 6 ; 8, 7; 
 
 10, ; 19, 10 ; 24, 3; 35, 4 
 in aperto, i, 6 ; 33, 10; 36, 5 
 in universum, 10, 10; n, n 
 inania, meaning of inania hono- 
 ris, 6, 15 
 
 incorruptus= impartial, 22, IT 
 indago, proper meaning of, 37, 8 
 infestus, used with passive mean- 
 ing, 5> 4 
 injucundus, distinguished from 
 
 durus, 22, 12 
 innocens, peculiar meaning of, 16, 
 
 25 
 inquisitio, 43, 1 1 ; inquisitiones, 
 
 2, 10 
 inseri, used in a middle sense, to, 
 
 24 
 instare, common meaning of, 1 8, 
 
 IS 
 
 intentus, coupled with anxius, 5, 7 
 intercedere, meaning of, 46, 8 
 interseptus, distinguished from 
 
 interceptus, 5, 10 
 intolerantia, 20, 3 
 ipse, force of pronoun, 13, I 
 irritainentum, distinguished from 
 
 kindred words, 20, 8 
 
 jactatio, inani jactatione liberta- 
 
 tis, 42, 21 
 jurisdictio, 6, 14 
 
 laureatae, of 'litterae,' 18, 22
 
 INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES. 101 
 
 legion, gth, 26, i ; 2oth, 7, 10 
 lex Papia Poppaea, 6, 9 
 limea, limes imperil, 41, 6 
 livere, used of pearls, 12, 19 
 ludere alea, meaning of, 19, n 
 lugere, distinguished from plan- 
 gere, 46, 3 
 
 manus, military term, 15, 5 
 inetus, used with an active mean- 
 ing, 44, 2 
 
 middle use of verbs, 10, 24; 16, i 
 modestia, peculiar meaning of, 
 
 20, 5 
 
 modus = rb i>.t<TQv, 4, 16 
 moles = a work of difficulty, 17,3 
 momentum =poinq, 43, 12 
 monstrari, mo n stratus fatis, 13, 
 
 17 
 
 munera imperii, 13, 2; 19, 9 
 municipium, 32, II 
 
 natales, post-Augustan use of, 
 
 6, 2 
 
 nimius=too strong, 7, 13 
 nisi, distinguished from nisi si, 
 
 32, i 
 
 nisi quod, use of, 6, 5 
 novissimus = furthest, 10, 12 
 numeri, military term, 18, 9 
 oumerus, used contemptuously, 
 34. 6 
 
 occupare, to forestall, 39, 7 
 officium, meaning of, 14, 6; in 
 plural number, 18, 20 
 
 paratus, meaning of paratus si- 
 
 mulatione, 42, 12 
 parsimonia, 4, 9 
 participle, use of, 41, i 
 peccare, peculiar meaning of, 4, 7 
 persona, 9, 13 
 persultare, 37, 10 
 petulantia, peculiar meaning of, 
 
 1 6, 24 
 
 pignus, use of word in plural, 
 
 38,4 
 
 pluperfect, force of, 6, 18 
 poenitentia, 31, 13 
 praeceps agi, 41, 14 
 praesumere, meaning of, 18, 10 
 praevehi = praetervehi, 28, 7 
 precario, adv., 16, 21 
 prima, used as equivalent to ini- 
 
 tia, 1 8, 1 6 
 
 principatus, princeps, 3, 2; 43, 5 
 promptus, 3, n 
 pronus, meaning of, i, 6 
 propugnare, meaning of, 12, 3 
 provenire, used of trees, fruits, 
 
 &c. 12, 16 
 prudens = gnarus, 19, i 
 
 quanquam, used differently from 
 quamvis, i, 2 
 
 ratio, coupled with constantia, 
 
 18, 18 
 
 rectum = virtus, i, 4 
 recuperare, used in a pregnant 
 
 sense, 17, i 
 
 referre, peculiar meaning of, 5, 5 
 reponere, 39, 13 
 
 robur, various meanings of, 3, 7 
 rubor,ofDomitian's countenance, 
 
 45, i 
 
 salarium, a governor's salary, 42, 
 
 16 
 scilicet, ironical use of, 2, 4 ; used 
 
 in explanation, 4, 12 ; 12, 13 
 scutula, meaning of, 10, 9 
 secretum, 22, 13; 39, 12 
 securitas, personified in securitas 
 
 publica, 3, 4 
 securus = summary, 9, 7; with a 
 
 genitive, 43, 15 
 seponere, 31, 14 
 sinus, geographical meaning of, 
 
 23, 6 ; used figuratively, 30, 10 
 solemnia pietatis, 7, 5
 
 102 INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES. 
 
 solitude, 30, 14 
 
 sors quaesturae, 6, 6 
 
 spatium, geographical meaning 
 
 of, 10, 7 
 
 species, two meanings of, 4, 3 
 spiramenta, 44, 13 
 stoicism, allusion to, 29, i 41, 
 
 11 
 
 su hiatus, applied to a child, 6, 10 
 eubscribere, legal meaning of, 45, 
 
 10 
 
 subtilitas, meaning of, 9, 6 
 superstitio, meaning of, 11, 12 
 Bupplicatio, 40, i 
 
 tardus, used in active sense, 18, 
 
 ii 
 temporalis, temporalibus laudi- 
 
 bus, 46, 4 
 tortus, applied to hair, i r, 7 
 
 trahi=distrahi, 12, 7 
 transigere, peculiar meaning of, 
 
 34. 10 
 
 triumviri (capitales), 2, 2 
 triumphalia ornamenta, 40, i 
 
 ultro, force of, 19, n; 26, 7; 31, 
 
 6; 37. i; 42, 7 
 
 ut, peculiar meaning of, n, i 
 
 vacuus = securus, 37, t 
 
 valens, validus, used of military 
 
 strength, 24, 6 
 vastus, meaning of, 38, 7 
 verti, meaning of verti ad aliquid, 
 
 18, 3 
 
 vexillura, military term, 18, 13 
 vulgus, coupled with populus, 
 
 43. 3 
 
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