15. Tum primum e campo comitia ad patres translata sunt: nam ad eam diem, etsi potissima arbitrio principis, quaedam tamen studiis tribuum fiebant. Neque populus ademptum ius questus est nisi inani rumore, et senatus largitionibus ac precibus sordidis exsolutus libens tenuit, moderante Tiberio ne plures 5 quam quattuor candidatos commendaret, sine repulsa et ambitu designandos. Inter quae tribuni plebei petivere, ut proprio sumptu ederent ludos, qui de nomine Augusti fastis additi Augustales vocarentur. Sed decreta pecunia ex aerario, utque per circum triumphali veste uterentur: curru vehi haud permis- 10 sum. Mox celebratio annua ad praetorem translata, cui inter cives et peregrinos iurisdictio evenisset. 16. Hic rerum urbanarum status erat, cum Pannonicas legiones seditio incessit, nullis novis causis, nisi quod mutatus princeps licentiam turbarum et ex civili bello spem praemiorum have as many officials as possible, and Tiberius desired to guard himself against their importunity (§ II. 32, N.). 15. I. e campo. Where Julius had built the Septa or voting polls (XIV. 39, N.). comitia. Under Augustus the people retained a nominal right of election, but practically chose the emperor's candidates. He courted popularity by introducing them to the people personally, and cast his own vote in his tribe. As it was easier to manage a small than a large body, Tiberius transferred the elections to the senate. As none but senators were eligible to curule magistracies, the candidates were now elected by their peers, instead of by a popular assembly, and were glad to be relieved from the necessity of bribery (largitionibus), and canvassing among the rabble (precibus sordidis). Praetors only are mentioned here, but all elections were henceforth in the control of the senate, and all nominations practically made by the emperor. 5. tenuit. Sc. jus. 6. quattuor candidatos commendaret. The account is rather confused. Twelve praetors were elected annually (the elections being held a year in advance (II. 36, N.), from candidates selected by the emperor. If he nominated but twelve, they must all be chosen ; but if he nominated more, there was a certain liberty of choice (XIV. 28, N.). In any case, however, four men who were called the emperor's nominees, par excellence (candidati Cae saris), had to be elected without cavil. In this way the emperor became the appointing power for the praetorship, and practically for all offices, and was thus as completely in control of the senate as of the people. In order to increase the power of patronage, the number of consuls was increased from two to twelve, by appointing consules suffecti (§ 81, N.), and the system was introduced of granting ornamenta triumphalia, consularia, praetoria, quaestoria, etc., by which a man gained the rank and dress and statue of a victorious general, or of an ex-consul, praetor, or quaestor, without having attained those honours. Ornamenta quaestoria made him eligible to the senate (XIII. 29, N.). 8. fastis. The calendar of holy days. 9. Augustales. Celebrated October 12th. Games had been previously exhibited in honour of Augustus, but they were now made perpetual in his name, as a deity. The celebration was intrusted to the tribunes on account of the sanctity of their office. ex aerario. XIII. 29, N. 10. per circum. The praetors presided at the Circensian games, riding to their seat in triumphal dress (I. 72, N.), at the head of a procession, and holding the mappa by which they gave the signal for the start. A part of these honours is now granted to the tribunes. II. praetorem. Called the praetor peregrinus. ostendebat. Castris aestivis tres simul legiones habebantur, 5 praesidente Iunio Blaeso, qui fine Augusti et initiis Tiberii auditis ob iustitium aut gaudium intermiserat solita munia. Eo principio lascivire miles, discordare, pessimi cuiusque sermonibus praebere aures, denique luxum et otium cupere, disciplinam et laborem aspernari. Erat in castris Percennius quidam, dux 10 olim theatralium operarum, dein gregarius miles, procax lingua et miscere coetus histrionali studio doctus. Is inperitos animos et quaenam post Augustum militiae condicio ambigentes impellere paulatim nocturnis conloquiis aut flexo in vesperam die et dilapsis melioribus deterrimum quemque congregare. 17. Postremo promptis iam et aliis seditionis ministris velut contionabundus interrogabat, cur paucis centurionibus, paucioribus tribunis in modum servorum oboedirent. Quando ausuros exposcere remedia, nisi novum et nutantem adhuc principem 5 precibus vel armis adirent? Satis per tot annos ignavia peccatum, quod tricena aut quadragena stipendia senes et plerique truncato ex vulneribus corpore tolerent. Ne dimissis quidem finem esse militiae, sed apud vexillum tendentes alio vocabulo 16. 4. castris aestivis. The hiberna of a legion were in the principal towns of a province, where the troops were quartered on the inhabitants or provided with suitable barracks, provisions being supplied beforehand. In summer the camp changed place according to military necessity, or to the supply of forage. Every campingground was, however, regularly laid out (§ 66, N.) and fortified. The tents were made of skin, and accommodated messes of ten men each. Sub pellibus hiemare was considered a hardship. : legiones tres. The eighth (Augusta), ninth (Hispana), and fifteenth (Apollinaris). 5. (Q.) Junio Blaeso. As legatus pro practore or governor of an imperial province (§ 74, N.). 6. justitium. A vacation from duty in time of public mourning, originally applied to judicial business. The word gaudium, expressing the public rejoicing on the accession of Tiberius, is not found in the Medicean MS. 10. theatralium operarum. The claqueurs. Applause was managed in the theatres by hired bodies of men, and riots frequently arose between opposite factions among the 40,000 spectators. The leader of such a faction would be a skilful demagogue ($ 54, N.). 12. quaenam. Supply foret. Tacitus, contrary to the usage of Cicero, frequently omits the subjunctive of esse. "Prenant 17. 2. contionabundus. le ton d'un général qui harangue.”—Burnouf. Verbals in bundus express the appearance of doing anything. paucis centurionibus, etc. Sixty centurions and six tribunes to a legion (§ 18, N.). 3. ausuros. In direct discourse, audebimus. 6. tricena aut quadragena. The legitimate term of service was twenty years for legionaries, and sixteen for praetorians. 8. tendentes, Sc. tentoria. alio vocabulo, i.e. Vexilarii, Veterans who had earned a discharge, but were retained in camp under various pretences. They were a reserve-guard for actual fighting, and were not obliged to do camp work. The government had a strong interest to retain the veteran until his death, as his claim for a retiring bounty was a personal one, and died with him. The vexillarii sometimes amounted to 500 in one legion. Vocabulo is used by Tacitus to express proper names and eosdem labores perferre. Ac si quis tot casus vita superaverit, trahi adhuc diversas in terras, ubi per nomen agrorum uligines 10 paludum vel inculta montium accipiant. Enimvero militiam ipsam gravem, infructuosam: denis in diem assibus animam et corpus aestimari: hinc vestem arma tentoria, hinc saevitiam centurionum et vacationes munerum redimi. At hercule verbera et vulnera, duram hiemem, exercitas aestates, bellum atrox aut 15 sterilem pacem sempiterna. Nec aliud levamentum quam si certis sub legibus militia iniretur, ut singulos denarios mererent, sextus decumus stipendii annus finem adferret, ne ultra sub vexillis tenerentur, sed isdem in castris praemium pecunia solveretur. An praetorias cohortes, quae binos denarios accipiant, 20 quae post sedecim annos penatibus suis reddantur, plus periculorum suscipere ? Non obtrectari a se urbanas excubias : sibi tamen apud horridas gentes e contuberniis hostem aspici. 18. Adstrepebat vulgus, diversis incitamentis, hi verberum notas, illi canitiem, plurimi detrita tegmina et nudum corpus exprobrantes. Postremo eo furoris venere, ut tres legiones miscere in unam agitaverint. Depulsi aemulatione, quia suae quisque legioni eum honorem quaerebant, alio vertunt atque 5 una tres aquilas et signa cohortium locant; simul congerunt technical terms. names. 10. diversas. "Distant." 12. denis-assibus. Since the second Punic war the as was worth of a denarius, or 1 pence; but the value had been reduced in civil matters to 16 to a denarius. In paying the troops, however, 10 of the smaller asses, or 5d., were called a denarius. Percennius, therefore, when setting forth the troubles of the legionaries, reminds them that their pay is but 10 asses a day; but below, when invidiously exaggerating the double pay of the praetorians, he calls it 2 denarii. 14. munerum. Foraging, supplying wood and water, digging trenches, etc. redimi. A zeugma. They had to buy their equipments, and buy off the centurions, who were rough men, risen from the ranks (§ 6, N.), and carried vine switches in token of their right to flog the men (§ 23, N.). The clothes, tents, etc., were furnished by the Government, C 5. honorem. Each legion desired the combined force to accept its peculiar name, eagle, leader, etc. 6. aquilas. I legion of 5280 to 6000 men was equal to to cohorts; I cohort (I. 7, N.) 3 maniples; I maniple = 2 centuries. Each legion had its eagle (a silver bird with outstretched wings, as large as a pigeon, and raised on a pole); each cohort its signum (a metal standard, often consisting of images of the gods or the emperors and their families, which were worshipped, together with the eagles, caespites, exstruunt tribunal, quo magis conspicua sedes foret. Properantibus Blaesus advenit, increpabatque ac retinebat singulos, clamitans "mea potius caede imbuite manus: leviore flagitio 10 legatum interficietis quam ab imperatore desciscitis. Aut incolumis fidem legionum retinebo, aut iugulatus paenitentiam adcelerabo." 19. Aggerabatur nihilo minus caespes iamque pectori usque adcreverat, cum tandem pervicacia victi inceptum omisere. Blaesus multa dicendi arte non per seditionem et turbas desideria militum ad Caesarem ferenda ait, neque veteres ab im5 peratoribus priscis neque ipsos a divo Augusto tam nova petivisse; et parum in tempore incipientes principis curas. onerari. Si tamen tenderent in pace temptare quae ne civilium quidem bellorum victores expostulaverint, cur contra morem obsequii, contra fas disciplinae vim meditentur? decernerent 10 legatos seque coram mandata darent. Adclamavere ut filius Blaesi tribunus legatione ea fungeretur peteretque militibus missionem ab sedecim annis: cetera mandaturos, ubi prima provenissent. Profecto iuvene modicum otium: sed superbire miles, quod filius legati orator publicae causae satis ostenderet 15 necessitate expressa quae per modestiam non obtinuissent. 20. Interea manipuli ante coeptam seditionem Nauportum. missi ob itinera et pontes et alios usus, postquam turbatum in castris accepere, vexilla convellunt direptisque proximis vicis ipsoque Nauporto, quod municipii instar erat, retinentis centu as the gods of the legions, II. 17, N.); each maniple its vexillum. The rallying point for each century was the crest of its centurion. The eagle was borne by the centurio primipilus (§ 29, N.), other standards by signiferi and vexillarii appointed by the centurions. Each legion kept its standards on a spot which served as a sanctuary ($ 39, N.). By transferring them to a tribunal of their own, the soldiers practically claim the right to wage war under their own auspices. 7. tribunal. None but the emperor or his legatus had the right of allocutio, or addressing the troops from a raised platform. Consequently, Blaesus regards this action as rank mutiny. The tribunal (derived from tribus) was originally the place from which the comitia tributa were addressed; then a judgment - seat (§ 75, N.); then the camp platform (§ 22, N.). sedes. For the standards. 19. 3. multa-arte. Ablative of quality (Int. 31). "A very skilful orator. 4. veteres. Sc. legiones. 6. parum. Used ironically for minime. "It was hardly the time." 7. tenderent. After a historical present (ait), which allows both primary and secondary tenses in the oratio obliqua, the construction sometimes wavers.Harkness, 481, iv. Expostulaverint follows in a clause of result. 13. provenissent. Would be future perfect in oratio recta. 20. 3. convellunt. The standard was shod with an iron point, and fixed in the ground. 4. municipii instar. It had a forum, and Roman citizens resided there ($79, N.). riones inrisu et contumeliis, postremo verberibus insectantur, 5 praecipua in Aufidienum Rufum praefectum castrorum ira, quem dereptum vehiculo sarcinis gravant aguntque primo in agmine, per ludibrium rogitantes an tam immensa onera, tam longa itinera libenter ferret. Quippe Rufus diu manipularis, dein centurio, mox castris praefectus, antiquam duramque militiam 10 revocabat, vetus operis ac laboris et eo inmitior, quia toleraverat. 5 21. Horum adventu redintegratur seditio, et vagi circumiecta populabantur. Blaesus paucos, maxime praeda onustos, ad terrorem ceterorum adfici verberibus, claudi carcere iubet; nam etiam tum legato a centurionibus et optimo quoque manipularium parebatur. Illi obniti trahentibus, prensare circumstantium genua, ciere modo nomina singulorum, modo centuriam quisque cuius manipularis erat, cohortem, legionem, eadem omnibus inminere clamitantes. Simul probra in legatum cumulant, caelum ac deos obtestantur, nihil reliqui faciunt quo minus invidiam misericordiam metum et iras permoverent. Adcurritur 10 ab universis, et carcere effracto solvunt vincula desertoresque ac rerum capitalium damnatos sibi iam miscent. 22. Flagrantior inde vis, plures seditioni duces. Et Vibulenus quidam gregarius miles, ante tribunal Blaesi adlevatus circumstantium umeris, apud turbatos et quid pararet intentos "vos quidem " inquit "his innocentibus et miserrimis lucem et spiritum reddidistis: sed quis fratri meo vitam, quis fratrem 5 mihi reddit? Quem missum ad vos a Germanico exercitu de communibus commodis nocte proxima iugulavit per gladiatores 6. praefectum castrorum. One was appointed over each legion, with charge of camp, transports, artillery, and hospitals. Unlike the tribunes (§ 6, N.), he rose from the ranks but he had the precedence of them, and, in the absence of a legatus legionis (§ 44, N.), commanded his legion (XIV. 37). 8. onera. Each soldier carried sixty pounds of baggage, and was expected to march twenty miles a day. 21. 3. carcere. The regular camp prison. When the army moved the prisoners marched in chains. 4. etiam tum. Not that the centurions afterwards joined the mutineers, but they had to fly for their lives. 9. nihil reliqui, etc. "They leave nothing undone to." II. universis. "All with one con sent.' 22. 2. tribunal. In the middle of the camp, and at the crossing of the two principal streets, was an open square, where stood the general's tent (praetorium); on the left hand was the tribunal (§ 18, N.), and on the right the augurale (II. 13, N.). 6. Germanico exercitu. This is a fiction of Vibulenus, to encourage the legions by the expectation of help from Germany; but he accidentally hit the truth-the German troops were already in revolt. 7. communibus. "Theirs and ours." gladiatores. Governors and generals kept private gladiators to amuse their troops. |