Ex. Line. 35. 59. Ita exustis, &c., 'only by burning the doors, because they could not 'force them.' See Note on Ex. XXII. 33 64. Quin apud cives, &c., ' nay, in the case of the citizens, the destruction ' of the armies, the loss of the province, the national calamity claimed a share in 'their sorrow; but it was the generals themselves whom Spain mourned and regretted.' 66. Hispaniæ, cis' and 'trans Iberum.' 36. We have now reached the year B. C. 211. While Hannibal was in Southern Italy, Capua had been strictly blockaded by the Roman armies, and a double line of circumvallation drawn round it. Hannibal, informed of the danger, made a sudden desperate effort to break the Roman lines, and, failing in this, he attempted a diversion, which he thought could hardly fail of its object. He marched straight upon Rome. That he seriously contemplated the idea of entering it as a conqueror, seems hardly probable: his great aim was to draw off the blockading armies from Capua, and he nearly succeeded. Fortunately for Rome, two newly-levied legions were within her walls, and the hasty first impulse to summon aid from Campania was checked by wiser counsels. Fulvius Flaccus and a body of 16,000 men were detached, but the main body of the army remained at their posts. It was a moment of breathless suspense, but the danger was more fancied than real; and after having given time, as he thought, for the relief of Capua, Hannibal retired by the road to Tibur, devastating the country as he went, and followed at a careful distance by his unwearied enemies. 3. Porta Collina, in the N. E. corner of Rome. 4. The temple of Hercules is near the mouth of the Cloaca Maxima, in the Forum Boarium, between the Capitol and the Palatine. It is probably identical with the well-known circular temple commonly called the Temple of Vesta. In order to reach it, Hannibal must have skirted the north side of the city, under the heights of the Quirinal and the Capitol. 11. Transire Esquilias, apparently to cut off Hannibal's retreat. 13. Ex arce, to be taken with quidam, 'some spectators on the citadel.' The 'Clivus Publicius' is the northern slope of the Aventine. 25. Cum imperio esse. This was equivalent to proclaiming martial law. The 'imperium' was essentially of a military character, and was conferred by the old 'Comitia Curiata' on the great officers of state. It was a relic of the monarchy, and as the kings were at once the administrators of justice and the leaders in war, the civil magistrate, the prætor, was also invested with the imperium.' It involved the power of life and death outside the city walls, but not within. 39. Modo mentem, &c., i. e. after Cannæ. 49. The 'argentarii' were a guild, or 'collegium,' and occupied the position of money-changers and bankers, besides being land-agents and at tioneers. Ex. Line. · 37. Failing in a last attempt to communicate with Hannibal, the Capuans in despair prepared to surrender: the leaders of the revolt, however, conscious that they had no hope of mercy, resolved to escape the disgrace of execution by a voluntary death. 2. This speech was made in the senate-house. 6. This was in the year B. C. 343. The Capuans, harassed by the Samnites, placed themselves under the protection of Rome; and the refusal of the aggressors to listen to the remonstrances of the Romans, gave rise to the First Samnite War. 17. Et Hannibal hostis, and that enemy Hannibal.' 29. The 'Calenus ager' was famous for its vintage. XX. 9; XXXI. 9. See Hor. Carm. I. 39. Hinc prope exaudiebantur, a strong instance of hyperbole. 52. The destruction of Alba is described in Roman legend as a penalty for the treacherous conduct of Metius Fufetius, in the war with Fidenæ, in the reign of Tullus Hostilius. 38. The senators of Capua were imprisoned, some at Teanum, some at Cales, and Appius wished to consult the senate as to their fate. But his colleague, fearing milder counsels might be adopted, secretly hastened away at midnight, appeared at Teanum at break of day, and ordered the prisoners to be led forth, and at once beheaded. 12. Taurea, the man mentioned before, in Ex. XX. frequently found in the comedians. 'Sese' is accus.: the phrase is colloquial, and 24. Vindicta, 'freedom.' Compare 'vindicare in libertatem.' The word comes from vim dicere, 'to assert a right or claim.' 39. The man who, at the age of twenty-four, was sent out by the unanimous vote of the people to undertake a critical service, from which older and more experienced officers shrank, presents a character which has impressed historians differently. This is certain, that he possessed in a high degree the faculties which attract veneration and rouse enthusiasm. He had that self-confidence which inspired confidence in others, while he never suffered his enthusiasm to blind him to dangers, or interfere with the dictates of a cool and cautious policy. Livy's description of him is probably truer than that of Polybius, who represents him as a man playing with sacred names and things, in order to impose upon the vulgar. But of such deliberate meanness his lofty spirit was incapable. Rather like Cromwell, he felt the regal impulse within him, and was unable to distinguish what was divine, and what human in his aspirations. Buonaparte Ex. Line. appointed to command the army in Italy in 1796, when nearly the same age as Scipio, is another remarkable instance of the sagacity of a people in fixing on a comparatively untried man to undertake a post of the highest importance. 39. 6. Duo summi imperatores, 'Scipio's father and uncle.' See Ex. XXXV. 10. Proconsuli. This appointment was quite extraordinary, the proconsuls generally being consuls of the preceding year whose 'imperium' was prolonged, (prorogatum.) They were also appointed by the 'comitia tributa.' Scipio was nominated in the 'comitia centuriata' and had held no office before higher than the ædileship. 17. Aliorum alios intuentium, 'who looked one upon another.' 40. Ratio ex fiducia rerum, 'a sound induction from the facts.' 43. Compositus, 'finished.' Cicero opposes 'compositus orator' to 'inconditus.' Translate, he had acquired a certain artistic skill in displaying them 'to the best advantage.' Aut ut. The 'ut' here is inserted by Madvig. It may easily have dropped out after ‘aut.' 52. Seu-temere, whether purposely or accidentally.' 54. Retulit famam, 'reproduced the story.' 61. Admirationis-modum, 'caused an extravagant admiration of the 'young hero.' 40. 1. Hos sermones, expressing discontent at the devastation of lands, the continued conscriptions, and the annual loss of men in battle. Quinquatrus, a festival in honour of Minerva described by Ovid, Fasti III. 810-814, 'Una dies media est, et fiunt sacra Minervæ, 'Nomina quæ junctis quinque diebus habent. 'Altera, tresque super strata celebrantur arena : Varro however says that the festival lasted only one day, March 19th, and that it was named Quinquatrus because it fell on the fifth day after the Ides. The other four days seem to have been added, when gladiatorial exhibitions became popular. 5. Basilica. The first basilica was erected B. C. 184. It was probably an adaptation of Greek architecture, as the name indicates, and it was used partly as a court of justice, and partly as an exchange. It was attached to the forum of a town, and was of an oblong shape surrounded by a portico, often with a double line of columns on each side. Here merchants transacted business, while a space was railed off at the end, where the magistrates sat to administer justice. This space, when the Basilicas were converted into Christian Churches, became the chancel, and the form of the Basilica has practically fixed the ideal of Church architecture. L Ex. Line. 40. 6. Lautumiæ, old stone quarries, used afterwards as a prison. The 'Lautumiæ' at Syracuse were turned to the same purpose, when the wreck of the Athenian army fell into the hands of the Syracusans, B. C. 413. 7. Atrium regium. This was ascribed to Numa, together with the temple of Vesta, which formed with it a continuous building. Horace refers to them, Carm. II. 15, describing an inundation of the Tiber, as " monumenta 'regis Templaque Vestæ.' They lay at the foot of the Palatine. 8. In publicum redempti. The preposition 'in' implies that by purchase they passed into the hands of the people and were then set free. 15. Pacuvius Calavius, see Ex. XVII, had been a principal agent in inducing Capua to join the Carthaginian party. 20. Elevabatur,' an attempt was made to discredit.' 41. 1. The Sicilians and Capuans had in vain complained to the senate of the extreme harshness of their treatment. 6. Sicut antea. We learn from the statement referred to that a man whose income was from 50,000 to 100,000 sesterces had to keep one sailor and pay him for six months; from 100,000 to 300,000, three sailors for a year; from 300,000 up to 1,000,000, five sailors; above that, seven; senators, eight. Nothing is said of the other ordo,' the equites. The pay and provisions for 30 days was only by way of a start. 9. Secundum, 'next to.' 29. Navales socios, here apparently seamen.' But they corresponded generally to our marines, and were in later times called 'classici.' They ranked below the land-troops and were recruited from the freedmen of the colonists and allies. 46. Pondo, here means 'in weight.' Qui curuli sella sederunt, those who had been consuls, prætors, or curule ædiles. 47. Libras, apparently 'singulas' must be supplied from above; perhaps it has dropped out of the text. Salinum. Compare Hor. Carm. II. 16, 13, 'Vivitur parvo bene, cui paternum 'Splendet in mensa tenui salinum.' 51. Triumviros mensarios, public bankers who lent state-money on security to persons in distress. 56. Compare Thucyd. II. 60, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πόλιν πλείω ξύμπασαν ὀρθουμένην ὠφελεῖν τοὺς ἰδιώτας ἢ καθ ̓ ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν εὐπραγοῦσαν, αθρόαν δε σφαλλομένην. 61. Tanto certamine injecto, 'such was the emulation inspired.' Ex. Line. 41. 68. Consules. M. Valerius Lævinus and M. Claudius Marcellus. Provincias. The province of Sicily had fallen to Marcellus, Italy and the war with Hannibal to Lævinus, but they exchanged in consequence of the despair of the Sicilians at the prospect of having so stern a ruler as Marcellus set over them. 70. Pariter immixti, ' entangled alike in a chequered maze of fortune.' 78. Philip who had shewn singular apathy in carrying on the war against Rome was roused to exertion by the conclusion of a treaty with the Etolians, towards the end of B. C. 211, by the prætor M. Lævinus, the consul of the present year. This alliance was also joined by Attalus of Pergamus, but the successor of Lævinus, P. Sulpicius Galba, did not display the same vigour as his predecessor, and Echinus, a strong town in Thessaly, was taken by Philip in spite of the Romans and Ætolians. The Kings of Pergamus remained the steady allies of the Roman people, and retained their regal authority till the death of the last King Attalus III. (B. C. 133) who left his dominions to the Roman people. 86. Ipsa Hispaniæ, the subject of 'præbebant;' with 'venerant' supply 'Carthaginienses.' 89. L. Marcius. This cavalry officer, who succeeded in carrying off the wreck of the Roman armies, is magnified by the Roman annalists into a successful avenger of the rout of the Scipios. But the truth is that the Romans were almost driven out of the peninsula. 6 90. Equante, &c., while fortune trimmed the scales, the fate of each 'nation trembled in the balance.' 42. Scipio had wintered at Tarraco (Tarragona) and early in the spring. B. C. 209 he marched southwards with a body of 25,000 infantry and 2,500 horse, having carefully concealed his preparations, as the blow he meditated depended for its success on secrecy and rapidity. The Carthaginian armies were all at such a distance from New Carthage the great arsenal, where all their stores were kept, with its magnificent harbour, dockyards, and magazines, that it seemed possible to take it by a coup de main. Lælius with the fleet accompanied the army. New Carthage was at once invested by land and sea. The town lay on a tongue of land at the head of a spacious bay, the entrance of which was protected by an island. It was joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, carefully defended, and on the S. and E. was washed by the sea; but on the W. and partly on the N. lay a lagoon communicating with the sea, but easily fordable at low tide. Scipio made a feint of attacking the isthmus, and succeeded in fully occupying the attention of the enemy, who made a stout resistance. The rest of the story is told in the extract. 'ladder.' 2. Suppeditabat, 'were at hand.' 5. Quæque, is plural because 'scale' has no singular, and means 8. Caliginem, &c., ' made them giddy.' a |