27. In deterius. Cf. in majus, 1, 18.

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32. Tutior agrees with quisque implied in nemo, which = quisque non. In like manner quisque is implied in quisquam in 1, 1: neque amore quisquam et sine odio dicendus est.

33. Ordo Mutinensis. Senatus sive decuriones Mutinensium. Ernesti. The senators of the municipia were called decuriones. Man. P. 3, 268, 2. (2.); and the senate ordo decurionum, afterwards simply ordo. Smith's Dic. under Colonia.

34. Patres Conscriptos. See the origin of this double title explained, Liv. 2, 1.—Intempestivo honore. Ill-timed enough always under the emperors, but especially ill-timed now, when the senators were assembled only in part, out of the city and without their princeps.

CH. LIII.-36. Ambigua. tellius.

37. Invisum .... nomen.

Vacillating between Otho and Vi

Marcellus had been a notorious in

former under Nero (cf. 4, 7. 43); and the inveterate enemy of the virtuous Paetus Thrasea. Ann. 16, 22. 28.

99

1. Novus adhuc, sc. homo, i. e. without distinction by birth. Cf.100 Cic. passim.

2. Magnis inimicitiis. Cf. note on magna adulteria, 1, 2.

3. Bononiam.

Now Bologna. It was a colony. Ann. 12, 58.

5. Recentissimum. Last from the scene of action.

8. Sola.... cura, i. e. caring only for his reputation with posterity.

CH. LIV.-11. Consiliis, sc. senatus.

13. Superventu.... legionis. This legion was in fact hemmed in by superior numbers (cf. 43), though it is alleged by the soldiers (cf. 66), that their main body was not present. Superventus is a post-Augustan word.-15. Causa. The design, motive.

16. Diplomata. Well explained in Leverett; more fully in Smith's Dic. sub voce. Cf. Plin. Ep. 10, 14. 54. The diploma consisted of two leaves, or tablets folded together; hence the name (from Gr. dixλów). These writs, being given by the emperor, and sealed with his seal, were of course disregarded (negligebantur) after his death, as null and void; but would recover their force (revalescerent), if Otho were again believed to be alive.

18. Paucos post dies. Cf. note on magna ex parte, 37.-Poenas luit. Literally, he paid the penalty. Cf. note, 1, 37: poena. 21. Publici.... discessum. Cf. 53: rediere. . consiliaturi. -Partes, sc. Othonis.

22. In commune. Cf. note on it, G. 27.

CH. LV.-26. Ex more. In the usual manner and at the usual time, viz. the 19th of April. Ann. 15, 53.

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100

27. Cessisse. Cedo is followed by the dat. of the person and acc. or abl. of the thing. Cf. Z. 413. Tacitus uses it here without either, vita being understood. So concedo, Ann. 4, 38. 13, 30.

29. Certi auctores.

certis auctoribus, 73.

Credible witnesses. The opposite of in

30. Vitellio plausere, sc. the multitude. Compare a similar scene of servility, 1, 32.-32. Lacum Curtii. Cf note, 1, 41. 33. Cuncta. All the honors and prerogatives.

34. Composita. Contrived, invented. A satire on the age fertile in new methods of obsequiousness.

35. Missa legatio, sc. to Vitellius. Cf. 69: senatus legatione, euc. 36. Quae.... fungeretur. To offer their congratulations. The expression implies a mere official and heartless congratulation Cf. Or. ad loe. See also Essay, p. 16.

37. Gratior. . . scripsisset. It had already become a prevailing custom, that none but the emperors should write to the consuls or senate, but all others should write to the emperor. Cf. Lipsius ad loc.

101 CH. LVI.-2. Municipia et colonias. Cf. note on municipia, 1, 70.

3. Vi et stupris = stupris violentis by hendiadys. Roth.-Fas nefasque, i. c. right and wrong, without distinction. Cf. note on fas, 1, 44.

4. Avidi aut venales. Either eager under the impulse of their own passions, or influenced by bribes from others.

5. Inimicos. Private enemies; hostes, public do.-Specie militum, quasi milites Othonis essent et hostes. Rup.

6. Refertos, sc. frugibus.

8. Obnoxiis.... ausis. The generals being liable to be called to account for their own crimes (ob noxam), and therefore not daring to forbid the crimes of others.

9. Plus ambitionis. Sub. sed: but more desire of popularity; for which reason he was as ready to connive at the faults of the soldiers, as Valens was in order to gratify his avarice.

11. Tantum . . . . injuriae = tantum peditum equitunque cumi vi, damnisque et injuriis, quibus per illos afficiebantur. Wr.

CH. LVII.-15. Pauci.. relicti, sc. to bear up the names of their respective legions (which had been withdrawn by Vitellius), and to serve as a nucleus about which the full number was to be gathered by hasty levies from the Gauls. This explains remanentium . nomina: the empty names of legions which remained behind. Ct 4, 14: inania legionum nomina.

17. Cura.... permissa, sc. ne Germani transirent. Lipsius.— E Britannico . . . . . millia. Called vexillis.... Britannicarum le. grinum, 3, 22.

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CH. LVIII.—27. Utramque Mauretaniam. Cf. duae Maure-101 laniae, 1, 11. Uterque is plural in its meaning, but seldom used in a plural form, when only two persons or things are spoken of.

31. Decem novem. For decem et novem. Al. undeviginti (Wr.), and novendecim (Oberlin and the common editions). But neither of these is found in the MSS. Zumpt says (115, N. 2), that such forms as octodecim and novendecim are not supported by any authority.

34. Hispaniae. Spain had espoused the cause of Vitellius. 2. Jubae nomen. Quod erat illustre inter Maurorum reges. Brot. 102 CH. LIX.-7. Appulsu littoris. Immediately on his approach to the shore. Al. appulsus.

9. Quae fierent.

ever they might be.

Which might (chance) to be done, i. e. what

12. Arare. Now the Saone. Cf. Ann. 13, 53.-Paratu = apparatu. Död.-Vetere egestate. For the extreme poverty of Vitellius at his setting out for the province, from which he returned an emperor, cf. Suet. Vitel. 7.

14. Par opibus. With resources equal to his liberality.

16. Ingratus, sc. because he outshone Vitellius-a crime which he finally expiated with his blood. Cf. 3, 39.-Quamvis. Although, followed by the subj. Cf. H. 516, II.; Z. 574; and note below, 79: quamvis .... jurasset.

19. Curuli, sc. sellae. Chair of state, occupied originally only by the kings (Liv. 1, 20: curuli regia sella); under the republic by all the principal magistrates; under the emperors again more restricted, viz. to themselves, the Augustales and the prætor in the administration of justice. Cf. Smith's Dict. of Antiq., Sella.

20. Infanti filio. Qui titubantia oris prope mutus fuit. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 6. Brotier.-Perlatum. Brought to him.

23. Rebus. cessit. It was some solace that the child had once worn princely robes. So when Vitellius was insulted by a tribune and expected every moment to be put to death, he said: "but yet I have been your sovereign" (3, 85). The passage has been made the subject of much needless censure by the commentators.-Rebus adversis. The son, as well as the father, was ere long put to death. Cf. 4, 80.

CH. LX.-26. Contactu. Under their influence, spreading from one to another like a contagious disease.

30. Ultro imputabant. Cf. note on ultro imputavit, 1, 71.

33. Fidem absolvit. Pardoned their fidelity to Otho, as if a crime. Cf. 1, 59: fidei crimine, gravissimo inter desciscentes. Observe the satire on Vitellius, who is represented as pardoning virtue and rewarding crime.

36. Creditum fama. It was believed on the ground of mere

rumor

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102 38. Restitit. Resisted the offer of Simplex. Others understana. denied the report.-Dedit.... consulatum. Cf. 3, 68.

103 1. Trachalum. The writer of Otho's speeches, 1, 90.

2. Galeria was of the same gens as Galerius Trachalus. Women at Rome had no prænomen or cognomen; but only the nomen or gentile name (cf. note on the name of Agricola, A. 4). They were further distinguished only by the name of the father or husband, as here: uxor. Vitellii.

CH. LXI.-4. Inserere.. fortunae. To thrust himself in as an aspirant to fortune, sc. inter magnorum virorum discrimina.

5. Simulatione numinum. Simulans se deum esse, vel a diis missum ad patriam liberandam. Rup. The latter is preferable.

6. Assertor. Liberator.-Nam id, etc Al. nomen id, but without MS. authority. Of course nomen is understood by a not unfrequent ellipsis.

7. Proximos Aeduorum. In quorum finibus Caesar post bellum Helveticum Boios collocavit. Cf. Caes. B. G. 1, 28. Ryckius.

8. Trahebat, sc. in suas partes. Wr. Others make it = vastabat.-Gravissima. Most dignified, most prudent. Opposed to fanaticam multitudinem. So Or., Död. and Wr. According to Ernesti = potens, valida.

10. Feris objectus. Quae erat seditiosorum poena. Brotier.

CH. LXII.-13. Defectores. The partisans of Otho, viewed as rebels against Galba. Wr. refers it to the followers of Mariccus. But that is quite too pudendum dictu!

14. Rata is the pred. of lex as well as of testamenta.

15. Si temperaret. . . . timeres.

If he had refrained from, etc., you would not have feared, etc. Imp. subj., where we use the plup. both in the protasis and the apodosis. This is not unfrequent. Cf. Z. 525. It has the effect of transferring completed past actions to the present.-Luxuriae. Al. luxuriam. But then temperaret would have a different meaning. Cf. note, 1, 69. As to the luxury of Vitel. cf. 95. 3, 36. 63; Suet. 10, 13.

18. Utroque mari. The Upper or Adriatic and Lower or Tyrrhenian.

22. Differret. non reciperet. These honors were voted him in the decree of the senate (57), to which this edict must be a response. The subj. denotes the object or design of the edict.

23. Cum = although. Cf. H. 518, I.—Pulsi.... mathematici. Cf. 1, 22; Xiphil. (65, 1) differs from T. and Suet. (Vitel. 14) as to the time when this act was issued.

24. Ludo et arena.

The stage and the gladiatorial arena. Did. makes it = gladiatoriis ludis by hendiadys.

25. Priores.... perpulerant, e. g. J. Caes. (Suet. 39), Aug. (do. 43), et in primis Nero (do. 11. 12; His. 2, 71; 3, 62, et Ann

Pa ge

passim). Perpulerant is structura prægnans for perpellendo impetra-103

verant. Död.

CH. LXIII.-28. Fratris.

Cf. 54.-Dominationis magistris

Masters in the art of tyranny. So the courtiers of that age might well be called.-31. Retulimus. 1, 88.

32. Praetura functus. Ex-prætor; hence a man of prætorian rank. Cf. consulatu functus, Ann. 1, 39, et al.

....

35. Quae ageret. Subj. in a dependent clause of the oratio obliqua. Cf. H. 531; Z. 603, c.

36. Nec.... probationibus. When he could furnish no proof to substantiate such weighty charges, he repented, etc., but it was too late-Dolabella was ruined.-Veniam, sc. for Dolabella. 38. Super. .....re. Super with abl. chiefly to the silver age. Z. 320.

=

concerning, belongs

4. Impulit ruentem. Precipitated his fall. Allevasse is ex-] x-104 actly antith. to ruentem, meaning, lit. to lift up.

CH. LXIV.-5. Quod .... accepisset. The subj. here assigns the alleged reason for Vitellius' hatred. The ind. would give the true reason in the view of the author. Cf. Z. 549. See an example of the ind. after quod in 72: quod .. manebat.-Petroniam. wife of Vitellius, whom he divorced. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 6.

....

The first

8. Interamnium. Al. Interamnam, which is the more commou form. Cf. 3, 61. A town of Umbria, not far from the river Liris— the supposed birthplace of Tacitus (cf. Life, p. 1), now Terni. taberna. At an inn on the road, by hendiadys. 12. Onerabat. Rendered more odious, aggravated (ad and gravis).

9. In....

13. Non immixta. Taking no part in. Witness her protection of Trachalus, 60.-Probitate, moris. Cf. H. 428 and 396, IV.

14. Sextilia. Cf. Suet. Vitel. 3.—Quin etiam. Nay, she was even said, etc. Observe the position of these particles after the verb. T. is fond of anastrophe. Cf. note, G. 14: quin immo.

16. Nec.... evicta. Nor by any subsequent (postea = an adj.) allurements of fortune, or flattering solicitations of the public, was she prevailed upon to join in the general rejoicings. A fine example of moderation (modestum exemplum) indeed! And how touching is the historian's intimation of the concluding scene in the drama: domus suae tantum adversa sensit. Evincere is a favorite word with Tacitus and with the poets Virgil and Ovid. Cf. Or. in loco.

CH. LXV.-21. Ferens = praeferens. Cf. Essay, pp. 10. 11. 24. Diplomatibus. Cf. note, 54.-Nullum principem, sed suum ipsius nomen.

25. Praescripsisset. The name of the author of a diploma or decree, as also of a letter, was prefixed by the ancients, by us it is subscribed.