Helps to Latin Translation at Sight Part 38

[Linenotes: 2. i.e. the Spring of Pirene near Corinth, where Pegasus was caught by Bellerophon. Its waters possessed inspiring properties.

4. +nervis ... meis+ = _that I had strength to gasp forth_.

--Ramsay.

7. +Curios+ = _Curiatios_.

+Horatia pila+: see pp. 67-68. [[Selections D8, D9]]

8. +Aemilia+, i.e. of L. Aemilius Paullus (son of the hero of Cannae), victor at Pydna 168 B.C. over Perseus of Macedon.

10. +versos ... deos+, i.e. the solemn ordinances decreed by Fabius, Dictator after Trasimene, to which the G.o.ds _turned a ready ear_ (+versos+).

12. +fuisse+, dependent on +cecini+ l. 19.

+Iovem+, i.e. _Iovis Capitolini templum_. See p. 84.]

[[Selection D25]]

C26

SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_The Revolt of Capua, 216-211 B.C._ (1)

A. _Capua aspires to rival Rome._

Altera iam teritur bellis civilibus aetas, Suis et ipsa Roma viribus ruit.

Quam neque finitimi valuerunt perdere Marsi, Minacis aut Etrusca Porsenae ma.n.u.s, 4 Aemula nec virtus Capuae nec Spartacus acer Novisque rebus infidelis Allobrox, Nec fera caerulea domuit Germania p.u.b.e Parentibusque abominatus Hannibal: 8 Impia perdemus devoti sanguinis aetas, Ferisque rursus occupabitur solum.

HORACE, _Epod._ xvi. 1-10.

[Linenotes: 5. +Aemula virtus Capuae.+ In 216 B.C. Capua was, after Rome, the richest and most powerful city in Italy. As the result of Cannae she aspired to dominion over Italy.

+Spartacus acer+, leader of the Servile War, 73-71 B.C.

6. +novis rebus infidelis+ = _faithless to revolution_, because they a.s.sisted in betraying Catiline's plot 63 B.C.--Wickham.

9. +impia ... aetas+ = _we an impious generation whose blood is foredoomed_ (i.e. there is a curse on us) _shall destroy_ (Rome).]

B. _Decius Magius defies Hannibal._

Egressus curia Hannibal in templo magistratuum consedit, comprehendique Decium Magium atque ante pedes dest.i.tutum causam dicere iussit. Qui c.u.m manente ferocia animi negaret lege foederis id cogi posse, tum iniectae catenae, ducique ante lictorem {15} in castra est iussus. Quoad capite aperto est ductus, contionabundus incessit ad circ.u.mfusam undique mult.i.tudinem vociferans: 'Habetis libertatem, Campani, quam petistis: foro medio, luce clara, videntibus vobis nulli Campanorum secundus vinctus ad mortem {20} rapior. Quid violentius capta Capua fieret? Ite obviam Hannibali, exornate urbem diemque adventus eius consecrate, ut hunc triumphum de cive vestro spectetis.'

LIVY, xxiii. 10.

+Context.+ After the Revolt of Capua, when Hannibal made a public entry into the city, the whole population, with the exception of Decius Magius and his son, poured out to meet him.

[Linenotes: 11. +in templo magistratuum+ = _on the magistrates' bench_, (or _tribunal_).

12. +Decium Magium+, one of the few Capuan n.o.bles faithful to Rome.

14-15. +negaret ... posse+ = _urged that by the terms of the treaty_ (i.e. between the Capuans and H.) _this could not be insisted on_.

--Church and Brodribb.]

C27

SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_The Revolt of Capua, 216-211 B.C._ (2)

A. _'Capua,' it is said, 'became Hannibal's Cannae.'_

c.u.m victoria Hannibal posset uti, frui maluit relictaque Roma Campaniam Tarentumque peragrare, ubi mox et ipse et exercitus ardor elanguit adeo ut vere dictum sit Capuam Hannibali Cannas fuisse. Si quidem invictum Alpibus, indomitum armis Campani--quis {5} crederet?--soles et tepentes fontibus Baiae subegerunt.

FLORUS, II. vi. 21-22.

[Linenotes: 2. +Campaniam Tarentumque+, once the two most fertile districts in Italy.

4. +Capuam ... fuisse.+ Ihne says: 'Whatever may have been the pleasures and indulgences of Hannibal's troops in Capua, their military qualities cannot have suffered by them, as the subsequent history of the war sufficiently demonstrates.'

7-8. +tepentes fontibus Baiae+, on a small bay west of Naples and opposite Puteoli, abounded in warm mineral springs.]

B. _The Punishment of Rebel Capua, 211 B.C._

Ad septuaginta principes senatus interfecti, trecenti ferme n.o.biles Campani in carcerem conditi; alii per sociorum Latini nominis urbes in custodias {10} dati variis casibus interierunt; mult.i.tudo alia civium Campanorum venum data. De urbe agroque reliqua consultatio fuit, quibusdam delendam censentibus urbem praevalidam, propinquam, inimicam.

Ceterum praesens utilitas vicit; nam propter agrum, quem {15} omni fertilitate terrae satis constabat primum in Italia esse, urbs servata est, ut esset aliqua aratorum sedes. Urbi frequentandae mult.i.tudo incolarum libertinorumque et inst.i.torum opific.u.mque retenta; ager omnis et tecta publica populi Romani facta. {20}

LIVY, xxvi. 16.

[Linenotes: 10. +sociorum Latini nominis+ = _sociorum_ +ac+ _Latini nominis_, which includes all the Italian allies. 'The _Nomen Latinum_ were the members of the old Latin league whose rights were reduced in 338 B.C. after the Latin War.' --Rawlins.

13. +delendam.+ Cf. Cato's _Delenda est Carthago_.

15-17. +agrum ... in Italia esse.+ Cf. Verg. _Georg._ ii. 224-5: 'Such is the tilth of wealthy Capua and the coast that borders the Vesuvian ridge.' --Mackail.

18. +frequentandae+ = _for the purpose of peopling_.

19. +inst.i.torum+ = _pedlars or dealers_. Cf. our 'commercial travellers'.

20. +publica ... facta+ = _confiscated_. 'This _ager publicus_ was leased by the censors to farmers (_aratores_) who paid rent (_vectigal_) for it.' --R.]

C28

SECOND PUNIC WAR, 218-202 B.C.

_Marcellus at Nola, 216 B.C._

Ad tres portas in hostes versas Marcellus tripert.i.to exercitum instruxit. . . . Ita instructi intra portas stabant. Hannibali sub signis, id quod per aliquot dies fecerat, ad multum diei in acie stanti primo miraculo esse, quod nec exercitus Roma.n.u.s {5} porta egrederetur nec armatus quisquam in muris essent. Ratus deinde, prodita colloquia esse, metuque resides factos, partem militum in castra remitt.i.t iussos propere apparatum omnem oppugnandae urbis in primam aciem afferre, satis fidens, si cunctantibus {10} instaret, tumultum aliquem in urbe plebem moturam. Dum in sua quisque ministeria discursu trepidat ad prima signa succeditque ad muros acies, patefacta repente porta Marcellus signa canere clamoremque tolli ac pedites primum, deinde equites, quanto {15} maximo possent impetu, in hostem erumpere iubet. Satis terroris tumultusque in aciem mediam intulerant, c.u.m duabus circa portis P.

Valerius Flaccus et C. Aurelius in cornua hostium erupere. . . . Ingens victoria eo die res ac nescio an maxima illo bello gesta {20} est; non vinci enim ab Hannibale tunc diffcilius fuit quam postea vincere.

LIVY, xxiii. 16.

+Context.+ The plebs in Nola (as in Capua) was in favour of joining Hannibal, and it was with difficulty that the n.o.bles (who here, as elsewhere, favoured Rome) delayed the decision, thus gaining time to inform Marcellus, who was then stationed at Casilinum, of the danger of a revolt. Marcellus immediately hastened to Nola, and occupied the town with a strong garrison.

[Linenotes: 3-5. +Hannibali ... primo miraculo esse+ = _Hannibal, who ... had his troops under arms till a late hour, was first of all astonished that_. --Church and Brodribb.

7. +colloquia esse+, i.e. his _communications_ (+colloquia+) with the Carthaginian party in Nola.

8. +resides+ = _inactive_, lit. _that remains sitting_ (+re + sedeo+).

10. +si cunctantibus instaret+ = _if he met hesitation with prompt action_. --Church and Brodribb. Lit. _if he pressed upon those hesitating_.

12. +in sua ... ministeria+ = _to their several posts_.

19-21. +Ingens ... gesta est+ = _a great victory, the greatest, perhaps throughout the war, was achieved that day_.]

+Nola+, an important town in Campania, S.E. of Capua. It remained faithful to the Romans, even after Cannae, when the other Campanian towns revolted to Hannibal.