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QUESTIONS ARISING FROM 133rd. MEETING – 29/4/22
(the record of earlier meetings can be downloaded from the main Circulus page as can the version of Ciceronis Filius with illustrations added. The illustrated text of Genesis is available on the Genesis page, of Kepler's Somnium on the Somnium page and of Nutting's Ad Alpes on the Ad Alpes page)
Food consumed at our return to the Basmati included melongēna contūsa (baigan bharta, mashed aubergine/eggplant), batātae cum brassicā Pompēiānā, spināchia cum caseō (palak paneer, spinach with cheese), gallinācea cum āliō (garlic chicken), pānis Persicus (nan), orӯza (rice), washed down with vīnum rubrum, cervisia and potiōnēs mollēs (soft drinks). The last phrase is a rather barbaric coinage, using a literal translation of `soft’, so perhaps potiōnēs sine alcohole would be an improvement. Owens-Morgan tentatively suggests mulsa spūmāns but not all soft drinks are fizzy and mulsa, according to Lewis & Short, is `honey’ as a term of endearment, not an alternative to mulsum, -ī n (mead, wine with honey)!
A page from the Basmati menu
Before the food arrived, Eugene demonstrated the latest version of his speech engine for Latin, using Classical pronunciation for an Eutropius extract and Ecclesiastical pronunciation for an introductory section to the Catholic Church’s Canon Law. John had to apologise for having again forgotten to update the web page on this topic. This has now been done and can be accessed at https://linguae.weebly.com/latin--ancient-greek-speech-engines.html
We read chapters 9-16 from Book I of Breviarium and Eugene again demonstrated the speech engine by playing his own section on it. He then opted to answer comprehension questions in Latin rather than translate. Eugene uses the Ecclesiastical or Italianate style while John uses the Classical Restored Pronunciation in which Latin is now taught in most countries but communication is no more difficult than for a Texan speaking with a Londoner.
The Ecclesiastical pronunciation, with features such as the affricate (`soft’) pronunciation of `c’ and `g’ before front vowels, seems to have been established in the 10th century, and Italian itself was recognised as a separate language from Latin itself at around the same time. The early development of Italian was the subject of a lecture John gave for Dante in March and the accompanying PowerPoint can be downloaded from https://linguae.weebly.com/spanish--italian.html.
Before the food arrived, Eugene demonstrated the latest version of his speech engine for Latin, using Classical pronunciation for an Eutropius extract and Ecclesiastical pronunciation for an introductory section to the Catholic Church’s Canon Law. John had to apologise for having again forgotten to update the web page on this topic. This has now been done and can be accessed at https://linguae.weebly.com/latin--ancient-greek-speech-engines.html
We read chapters 9-16 from Book I of Breviarium and Eugene again demonstrated the speech engine by playing his own section on it. He then opted to answer comprehension questions in Latin rather than translate. Eugene uses the Ecclesiastical or Italianate style while John uses the Classical Restored Pronunciation in which Latin is now taught in most countries but communication is no more difficult than for a Texan speaking with a Londoner.
The Ecclesiastical pronunciation, with features such as the affricate (`soft’) pronunciation of `c’ and `g’ before front vowels, seems to have been established in the 10th century, and Italian itself was recognised as a separate language from Latin itself at around the same time. The early development of Italian was the subject of a lecture John gave for Dante in March and the accompanying PowerPoint can be downloaded from https://linguae.weebly.com/spanish--italian.html.
11th century illustrations of the legend of St. Clement in the Basilica San Clemento di Laterano in Rome
The Italian captions in the pictures above, glossed with the Latin phrases from which they derive, read: Fili[filii] de le [illae] pute [putae], traite[trahite]! Falite [fac illi te] dereto [directo] colo [cum illum] palo [palum], Carvoncelle! In English: `Sons of bitches, pull! Get yourself onto-him directly with the pole, Carvoncelle.’
The Latin itself is a late, colloquial variety, ungrammatical by the standards of classical literature.
We also discussed briefly the differences between the pronunciation of Classical Greek as reconstructed for the 5th century B.C. and the modern language, whose main features were largely fixed in the Byzantine period. Greeks themselves normally use the modern pronunciation for ancient Greek but the drawbacks of this are immediately obvious from the syllable βη used by Aristophanes to represent the sound of a sheep bleating. In Restored Pronunciation this comes out as bē but as the highly unsheep-like vī in the modern one!
Hillary explained that, on top of simultaneously preparing for the IGCSE and AP in Latin, she was taking an on-line course on Homer with the Institute for Classics Education (http://classicseducation.com). The course is taught in translations but when pronouncing individual words, the Americanteacher uses the modern Greek pronunciation
We noted the scatological nature of some HK TV programmes, particularly the fixation with toilets displayed recently by the popular, long-running soap opera愛·回家之開心速遞 (`Come Home Love - Lo and Behold'). This led to mention of the Apocolycyntosis divi Claudii (`The Pumpkinification of Claudius’), a satire on the emperor’s deification which is normally ascribed to Seneca the Younger, the tutor of Claudius’ successor. In this, the emperor’s last words are described as follows: Ultima vōx eius haec inter hominēs audīta est, cum maiōrem sonitum ēmīsisset illā parte, quā facilius loquēbātur: "vae mē, putō, concacāvī mē." Quod an fēcerit, nesciō: omnia certē concacāvit (“This was his last utterance heard among men: `Dear me, I think I’ve shat on myself.’ Whether he did this I don’t know: he certainly shat over everything.”).
Still on the scatological front, whilst these notes were being finalised a month after the meeting, the discovery was reported of a piece of graffiti at Vindolanda, the Roman fort just south of Hadrian’s Wall. Aimed presumably at a fellow soldier, the inscription, illustrated by a drawing of a phallus, reads SECUNDINUS CACOR (`Secundinus the shitter’). By Classical standards, the phrases is ungrammatical as well as rude.. The word Cicero would have used three centuries earlier is CACATOR, and for him CACOR would probably only have meant `I am shat upon.' For a full report, see https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10856501/1-700-year-old-phallus-inscription-branding-Roman-solider-s-ter-Hadrians-Wall.html
The Italian captions in the pictures above, glossed with the Latin phrases from which they derive, read: Fili[filii] de le [illae] pute [putae], traite[trahite]! Falite [fac illi te] dereto [directo] colo [cum illum] palo [palum], Carvoncelle! In English: `Sons of bitches, pull! Get yourself onto-him directly with the pole, Carvoncelle.’
The Latin itself is a late, colloquial variety, ungrammatical by the standards of classical literature.
We also discussed briefly the differences between the pronunciation of Classical Greek as reconstructed for the 5th century B.C. and the modern language, whose main features were largely fixed in the Byzantine period. Greeks themselves normally use the modern pronunciation for ancient Greek but the drawbacks of this are immediately obvious from the syllable βη used by Aristophanes to represent the sound of a sheep bleating. In Restored Pronunciation this comes out as bē but as the highly unsheep-like vī in the modern one!
Hillary explained that, on top of simultaneously preparing for the IGCSE and AP in Latin, she was taking an on-line course on Homer with the Institute for Classics Education (http://classicseducation.com). The course is taught in translations but when pronouncing individual words, the Americanteacher uses the modern Greek pronunciation
We noted the scatological nature of some HK TV programmes, particularly the fixation with toilets displayed recently by the popular, long-running soap opera愛·回家之開心速遞 (`Come Home Love - Lo and Behold'). This led to mention of the Apocolycyntosis divi Claudii (`The Pumpkinification of Claudius’), a satire on the emperor’s deification which is normally ascribed to Seneca the Younger, the tutor of Claudius’ successor. In this, the emperor’s last words are described as follows: Ultima vōx eius haec inter hominēs audīta est, cum maiōrem sonitum ēmīsisset illā parte, quā facilius loquēbātur: "vae mē, putō, concacāvī mē." Quod an fēcerit, nesciō: omnia certē concacāvit (“This was his last utterance heard among men: `Dear me, I think I’ve shat on myself.’ Whether he did this I don’t know: he certainly shat over everything.”).
Still on the scatological front, whilst these notes were being finalised a month after the meeting, the discovery was reported of a piece of graffiti at Vindolanda, the Roman fort just south of Hadrian’s Wall. Aimed presumably at a fellow soldier, the inscription, illustrated by a drawing of a phallus, reads SECUNDINUS CACOR (`Secundinus the shitter’). By Classical standards, the phrases is ungrammatical as well as rude.. The word Cicero would have used three centuries earlier is CACATOR, and for him CACOR would probably only have meant `I am shat upon.' For a full report, see https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10856501/1-700-year-old-phallus-inscription-branding-Roman-solider-s-ter-Hadrians-Wall.html
A legionary immortalised but not the way he would have wished!
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-61594029
Eutropius’ reference to Tusculum, the small town 15 miles south-east of Rome, prompted the question of a possible connection with the Etruscans. It was supposedly once the domain of Octavius Mamilius, father-in-law of Rome’s last king, Tarquinius Superbus, who was Etruscan. However, the Oxford Classical Dictionary says: `traditions associating Tusculum with Etruscans may be mere aetiological fictions to explain its name.’
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-61594029
Eutropius’ reference to Tusculum, the small town 15 miles south-east of Rome, prompted the question of a possible connection with the Etruscans. It was supposedly once the domain of Octavius Mamilius, father-in-law of Rome’s last king, Tarquinius Superbus, who was Etruscan. However, the Oxford Classical Dictionary says: `traditions associating Tusculum with Etruscans may be mere aetiological fictions to explain its name.’
The ruins of the theatre at Tusulum
https://www.italiani.it/en/tuscular-Italian-archeology/
Situated on a hill over 2,000 feet above sea-level, which was part of the rim of an extinct volcano, ancient Tusculum’s remains are today an archaeological park. The Roman road that branched off from the Via Latina to reach the hilltop is now a footpath used for access by many visitors. The surrounding countryside was a popular area for wealthy Romans to build retreats within easy reach of Rome along the Via Latina, a road connecting rhe capital with Campania and following a more easterly route than the later and better-known Via Appia. Cicero is the region’s most famous villa owner and the fictional Lucius Iulius Balbus, the paterfamilias in Orberg’s Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, is depicted as living just outside the town. For more information on Tusculum itself see https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusculum and for the via Latina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Latina and https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/csw47n/map_of_ancient_romes_roads_in_italy/
We thought that the emergence of the Roman Republic in 510-09 B.C. fell within the Warring States period of Chinese history but later investigation showed that it was actually towards the end of the preceding Spring and Autumn period. According to the accounts at https://www.worldhistory.org/Warring_States_Period/ and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period the transition between the two eras is placed variously in 481, 475 or 403.
https://www.italiani.it/en/tuscular-Italian-archeology/
Situated on a hill over 2,000 feet above sea-level, which was part of the rim of an extinct volcano, ancient Tusculum’s remains are today an archaeological park. The Roman road that branched off from the Via Latina to reach the hilltop is now a footpath used for access by many visitors. The surrounding countryside was a popular area for wealthy Romans to build retreats within easy reach of Rome along the Via Latina, a road connecting rhe capital with Campania and following a more easterly route than the later and better-known Via Appia. Cicero is the region’s most famous villa owner and the fictional Lucius Iulius Balbus, the paterfamilias in Orberg’s Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata, is depicted as living just outside the town. For more information on Tusculum itself see https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusculum and for the via Latina https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Latina and https://www.reddit.com/r/Maps/comments/csw47n/map_of_ancient_romes_roads_in_italy/
We thought that the emergence of the Roman Republic in 510-09 B.C. fell within the Warring States period of Chinese history but later investigation showed that it was actually towards the end of the preceding Spring and Autumn period. According to the accounts at https://www.worldhistory.org/Warring_States_Period/ and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_and_Autumn_period the transition between the two eras is placed variously in 481, 475 or 403.
EUTROPII BREVARIUM, I:9-16
[9] Hinc cōnsulēs coepēre, prō ūnō rēge duo, hāc causā creātī, ut, sī ūnus malus esse voluisset,
Henceforth consuls began for one king two for-this reason elected that if one bad to-be had-wished
alter eum, habēns potestātem similem, coercēret. Et placuit, nē imperium longius quam
the-other him having power similar might-control and it-was-decided that-not authority longer than
annuum habērent, nē per diuturnitātem potestātis īnsolentiōrēs redderentur, sed cīvīlēs semper
a-yea they-should-have lest through long-duration of-power more-insolent they-be-rendered but like-citizens always
essent, quī sē post annum scīrent futūrōs esse prīvātōs. Fuērunt igitur annō prīmō ab
would-be who selves after a-year knew going-to-be to-be private-individuals were therefore in-year first after
expulsīs rēgibus cōnsulēs L. Iūnius Brūtus, quī maximē ēgerat, ut Tarquinius pellerētur,
expelled kings consuls Lucius Iunius Brutus who the-most had-done so-that Taqquinius should-be-expelled
et Tarquinius Collātīnus, marītus Lucrētiae. Sed Tarquiniō Collātīnō statim sublāta est
and Taquinius Collatinus husband of-Lucretia but from-Tarquinius Collatinus at-once removed was
dignitās. Placuerat enim, nē quisquam in urbe remanēret, quī Tarquinius vocārētur.
his-rank it-had-been-decided that-not that-not anyone in city should-remain who Tarquinius was-called
Ergō acceptō omnī patrimōniō suō ex urbe migrāvit, et locō ipsīus factus est L. Valerius
Therefore having-been-received all ancestral-property own from city he-migrated and in-place of-him made was Lucius
Valerius Pūblicola[1] cōnsul. Commōvit tamen bellum urbī Rōmae rēx Tarquinius, quī fuerat expulsus,
Valerius Publicola consul launched however war on-city Rome king Tarquinius who had-been expelled and
et collēctīs multīs gentibus, ut in rēgnum posset restituī, dīmicāvit.[2]
and having-been-collected many peoples so-that to throne he-could be-restored fought
[10] In prīmā pugnā Brūtus cōnsul et Arrūns, Tarquiniī fīlius, in vicem sē occīdērunt, Rōmānī
In first battle Bruitus consul and Arruns of-Tarquin son in turn each other slew Romans
tamen ex eā pugnā victōrēs recessērunt. Brūtum mātrōnae Rōmānae, dēfēnsōrem pudīcitiae
however from this fight victorious emerged Brutus ladies Romans as-defender of-chastity
suae, quasi commūnem patrem per annum lūxērunt. Valerius Pūblicola Sp. Lucrētium
their as-if common father throughout a-year mourned Valerius Publicola Spurius Lucretius
Tricipitīnum collēgam sibi fēcit, Lucrētiae patrem, quō morbō mortuō iterum Horātium
Tricipitinus colleague for-himself made Lucretia’s father with-whom from-illness dead again Horatius
Pulvillum collēgam sibi sūmpsit. Ita prīmus annus quīnque cōnsulēs habuit, cum Tarquinius
Pulvillus colleague for-himself took thus first year five consuls had since Tarquinius
Collātīnus propter nōmen urbe cessisset, Brūtus in proeliō perīsset, Sp. Lucrētius morbō
Collatinus because-of name from-city had-withdrawn Brurua in battle had-perished Spurius Lucretius from-illness
mortuus esset.
dead was
[11] Secundō quoque annō iterum Tarquinius ut reciperētur in rēgnum bellum Rōmānīs
In-second also year again Tarquinius so-that he-might-be-restored to throne war upon-Romans
intulit, auxilium eī ferente Porsennā, Tusciae rēge,[3] et Rōmam paene cēpit. Vērum tum
brought help to-him bringing Porsenna of-Etruria king and Rome almost he-took in-reality then
quoque victus est. Tertiō annō post rēgēs exāctōs Tarquinius, cum suscipī nōn posset in
also defeated he-was in-third year after kings driven-out Tarquinius since be-restored not he-could to
rēgnum neque eī Porsenna, quī pācem cum Rōmānīs fēcerat, praestāret auxilium, Tusculum sē
throne and-not to-him Porsenna who peace with Romans had-made was-providing help to-Tusculum self
contulit, quae cīvitās nōn longē ab urbe est, atque ibi per quattuordecim annōs prīvātus
took which city not far from city is and there for fourteen years as-private-individual
uxōre cōnsenuit. Quārtō annō post rēgēs exāctōs, cum Sabīnī Rōmānīs bellum intulissent,
with-wife grew-old in-fourth year after kings driven-out when Sabines on-Romans war had-made
vīctī sunt et dē hīs triumphātum est. Quīntō annō L. Valerius ille, Brūtī collēga et
defeated were and over them triumph-celebrated was in-fifth year Lucius Valerius the-famous of-Brutus colleague and
NOTES
[1] The name `Publicola’ (`cultivator of the people’) was given in recognition of his championing the rights of the plebeians
[2] Extracts from Livy’s detailed account of the expulsion of the Tarquins, which is Eutropius’s main source, is included in Wheelock’s Latin Reader and an interlinear translation is available at https://linguae.weebly.com/livy.html
[3] Porsenna was king of the Etruscan city of Clusium.
quater cōnsul, fātāliter mortuus est, adeō pauper, ut, collātīs ā populō nummīs, sūmptum
four-times consul by-fate[1] died so poor that having-been-collected from the-people money cost
habuerit sepultūrae. Quem mātrōnae sīcuti Brūtum annum lūxērunt.
he-had of-burial him the-ladies as Brutus for-year mourned.
12] Nōnō annō post rēgēs exāctōs,[2] cum gener Tarquinī ad iniūriam socerī vindicandam
In-ninth year after kings driven-out when son-in-law of-Tarquin for injury of-father-in-law being-avenged
ingentem collēgisset exercitum, nova Rōmae dignitās est creāta, quae dictātūra appellātur,
huge had-collected army new at-Rome office was created which dictatorship is-called
maior quam cōnsulātus. Eōdem annō etiam magister equitum factus est, quī dictātōrī
more-powerful than consulship in-same year also master of-cavalry appointed was who to-dictator
obsequerētur. Neque quicquam similius potest dīcī quam dictātūra antīqua huic imperiī
would-be-subordinate nor anything more-similar can be-called than dictatorship ancient to-this of-command
potestātī, quam nunc Tranquillitās Vestra[3] habet, maximē cum Augustus quoque Octāviānus,
power which now Tranqulity Your has especially since Augustus also Octavianus
dē quō posteā dīcēmus, et ante eum C. Caesar sub dictātūrae nōmine atque honōre
about whom later we-will-speak and before him Gaius Caesar under of-dictatorship name and dignity
rēgnāverint.[4] Dictātor autem Rōmae prīmus fuit T. Larcius,[5] magister equitum prīmus Sp.
Ruled dictator moreover at-Rome first was Titus Larcius maser of-cavalry first Spurius
Cassius.
Cassius
[13] Sextō decimō annō post rēgēs exāctōs sēditiōnem populus Rōmae fēcit, tamquam ā
In-sixteenth year after kings driven-out revolt people of-Rome made as-though by
senātū atque cōnsulibus premerētur. Tum et ipse sibi tribūnōs plēbis quasi propriōs iūdicēs
senate and consuls it-was-being-oppressed then also itself for-self tribunes of-plebs as their-own judges
et dēfēnsōrēs creāvit, per quōs contrā senātum et cōnsulēs tūtus esse posset.[6]
and defenders elected through whom against senate and consuls safe be it-could
[14] Sequentī annō Volscī contrā Rōmānōs bellum reparāvērunt, et vīctī aciē etiam Coriolōs
In-following year Volsi against Romans war renewed and defeated in-battle also Corioli
cīvitātem, quam habēbant optimam, perdidērunt.
city which they-had best lost
NOTES
[1] i.e. died of natural causes rather than in battle.
[2] 501 B.C., which by inclusive reckoning was nine years after 509. Alternatively. Eutropius was reckoning exclusively but believed the expulsion was in 510. A dictator was originally appointed for sixth months by a consul on the recommendation of the senate if an emergency required a single man to take charge. In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar had himself appointed dictātor perpetuus (dictator for life)
[3] Equivalent to `Your Serene Highness’. The use of the plural form vestra to show respect to a single, high-status individual was not classical but became normal in later Latin and hence in the Romance languages (French vous etc.)
[4] Octavian, though he actually held complete power over the state after the defeat of Anthony and Cleopatra in 31 B.C., was careful to preserve the fiction that he was merely a leading citizen and he never held the formal title of dictator.
[5] The name is more usually spelled `Lartius’ and the dictator’s full name was Titus Lartius Flavus or Rufus. He had started the year as consul but the new arrangement was made in the face of the threat of an alliance between Tarquin’s son-in-law. Octavius Mamilius, ruler of Tusculum, and the Latin states, as well as of renewed war with the Sabines. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Lartius
[6] In 494 B.C. the plebeians (i.e. the whole population excepting the patrician aristocracy) withdrew from the city and camped on a nearby hill, protesting both against their wholly subordinate political status and against debt bondage, A compromise was reached under which the tribūnī plēbis whom they elected would have a right of veto against arbitrary action by other magistrates and the concilium plēbis received official recognition. The `Struggle of the Orders’ continued until it was conceded in 367 that one consul must be a plebeian. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribune_of_the_plebs and, for the relationship between the Concilium Plēbis and other voting assemblies, https://linguae.weebly.com/livy.html
[15] Octāvō decimō annō postquam rēgēs ēiectī erant expulsus ex urbe Q. Marcius, dux
In-eighteenth year after kings thrown-out had-been expelled from city Quintus Marcius leader
Rōmānus, quī Coriolōs cēperat, Volscōrum cīvitātem, ad ipsōs Volscōs contendit īrātus et
Roman who Corioli had-captured of-Volsci city to themselves Volsci hurried angry and
auxilia contrā Rōmānōs accēpit.[1] Rōmānōs saepe vīcit, usque ad quīntum mīliārium urbis
help against Romans received Romans often he-conquered up to fifth milestone of-city
accessit, oppugnātūrus etiam patriam suam, lēgātīs quī pācem petēbant, repudiātīs, nisi ad
he-approached about-to-attack even country his-own with-envoys who peace were-seeking rebuffed if-not
eum māter Veturia et uxor Volumnia ex urbe vēnissent, quārum flētū et dēprecātiōne superātus
him mother Veturia and wife Volumnia from city had whose by-weeping and pleading overcome
remōvit exercitum. Atque hic secundus post Tarquinium fuit, quī dux contrā patriam suam
removed army and he second after Tarquin was who leader against country own
esset.
wsas.
[16] C. Fabiō et L. Virginīō cōnsulibus[2] trecentī nōbilēs hominēs, quī ex Fabiā familiā erant,
With Gaius Fabius and Lucius Virginius consuls three hundred noble men who from Fabian family were
contrā Vēientēs bellum sōlī suscēpērunt, prōmittentēs senātuī et populō per sē omne certāmen
against Veians war alone undertook promising to-senate and people by themselves whole struggle
implendum. Itaque profectī, omnēs nōbilēs et quī singulī magnōrum exercituum ducēs esse
to-be-carried-out and-so having set=out all the-noble-man and who each of-great armies leaders to-be
dēbērent, in proeliō concidērunt. Ūnus omnīnō superfuit ex tantā familiā, quī propter aetātem
ought in battle fell one out-of-all survived from so-great family who because-of age
puerīlem dūcī nōn potuerat ad pugnam. Post haec cēnsus in urbe habitus est et inventa sunt
young to-be- taken not had-been-able to fight after this census in city held was and found were
cīvium capita CXVIĪ mīlia CCCXIX.
of-citizens heads 117 thousand 319
NOTES
[1] Gaius (not Quintus) Marcius is better known by the additional name `Coriolanus’ supposedly earned for his leading role in the capture of Corioli in 493 B.C. According to the traditional account, he was put on trial in 491 B.C. by the tribunes for demanding that famine relief only be granted to the plebeians if the political concessions made to them in 494 B.C. were reversed. He fled to the Volscians and led a successful campaign against Roman territory before mother and daughter persuaded him to stop. For details, see https://www.livius.org/articles/person/coriolanus-gn-marcius/, which questions the story’s historicity, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Marcius_Coriolanus, partly because the practice of naming people after a place they had conquered did not start till the following century. Eutropius appears to put the trial and flight from Rome in 492 B.C., which by the inclusive reckoning he probably used would be 18 rather than 17 years after the Tarquins’ expulsion in 509.
[2] The year corresponding on the traditional chronology to 479 B.C., when Gaius Fabius Vibulanus was consul for the third time. The Fabians were prominent politically in this period.
[9] Hinc cōnsulēs coepēre, prō ūnō rēge duo, hāc causā creātī, ut, sī ūnus malus esse voluisset,
Henceforth consuls began for one king two for-this reason elected that if one bad to-be had-wished
alter eum, habēns potestātem similem, coercēret. Et placuit, nē imperium longius quam
the-other him having power similar might-control and it-was-decided that-not authority longer than
annuum habērent, nē per diuturnitātem potestātis īnsolentiōrēs redderentur, sed cīvīlēs semper
a-yea they-should-have lest through long-duration of-power more-insolent they-be-rendered but like-citizens always
essent, quī sē post annum scīrent futūrōs esse prīvātōs. Fuērunt igitur annō prīmō ab
would-be who selves after a-year knew going-to-be to-be private-individuals were therefore in-year first after
expulsīs rēgibus cōnsulēs L. Iūnius Brūtus, quī maximē ēgerat, ut Tarquinius pellerētur,
expelled kings consuls Lucius Iunius Brutus who the-most had-done so-that Taqquinius should-be-expelled
et Tarquinius Collātīnus, marītus Lucrētiae. Sed Tarquiniō Collātīnō statim sublāta est
and Taquinius Collatinus husband of-Lucretia but from-Tarquinius Collatinus at-once removed was
dignitās. Placuerat enim, nē quisquam in urbe remanēret, quī Tarquinius vocārētur.
his-rank it-had-been-decided that-not that-not anyone in city should-remain who Tarquinius was-called
Ergō acceptō omnī patrimōniō suō ex urbe migrāvit, et locō ipsīus factus est L. Valerius
Therefore having-been-received all ancestral-property own from city he-migrated and in-place of-him made was Lucius
Valerius Pūblicola[1] cōnsul. Commōvit tamen bellum urbī Rōmae rēx Tarquinius, quī fuerat expulsus,
Valerius Publicola consul launched however war on-city Rome king Tarquinius who had-been expelled and
et collēctīs multīs gentibus, ut in rēgnum posset restituī, dīmicāvit.[2]
and having-been-collected many peoples so-that to throne he-could be-restored fought
[10] In prīmā pugnā Brūtus cōnsul et Arrūns, Tarquiniī fīlius, in vicem sē occīdērunt, Rōmānī
In first battle Bruitus consul and Arruns of-Tarquin son in turn each other slew Romans
tamen ex eā pugnā victōrēs recessērunt. Brūtum mātrōnae Rōmānae, dēfēnsōrem pudīcitiae
however from this fight victorious emerged Brutus ladies Romans as-defender of-chastity
suae, quasi commūnem patrem per annum lūxērunt. Valerius Pūblicola Sp. Lucrētium
their as-if common father throughout a-year mourned Valerius Publicola Spurius Lucretius
Tricipitīnum collēgam sibi fēcit, Lucrētiae patrem, quō morbō mortuō iterum Horātium
Tricipitinus colleague for-himself made Lucretia’s father with-whom from-illness dead again Horatius
Pulvillum collēgam sibi sūmpsit. Ita prīmus annus quīnque cōnsulēs habuit, cum Tarquinius
Pulvillus colleague for-himself took thus first year five consuls had since Tarquinius
Collātīnus propter nōmen urbe cessisset, Brūtus in proeliō perīsset, Sp. Lucrētius morbō
Collatinus because-of name from-city had-withdrawn Brurua in battle had-perished Spurius Lucretius from-illness
mortuus esset.
dead was
[11] Secundō quoque annō iterum Tarquinius ut reciperētur in rēgnum bellum Rōmānīs
In-second also year again Tarquinius so-that he-might-be-restored to throne war upon-Romans
intulit, auxilium eī ferente Porsennā, Tusciae rēge,[3] et Rōmam paene cēpit. Vērum tum
brought help to-him bringing Porsenna of-Etruria king and Rome almost he-took in-reality then
quoque victus est. Tertiō annō post rēgēs exāctōs Tarquinius, cum suscipī nōn posset in
also defeated he-was in-third year after kings driven-out Tarquinius since be-restored not he-could to
rēgnum neque eī Porsenna, quī pācem cum Rōmānīs fēcerat, praestāret auxilium, Tusculum sē
throne and-not to-him Porsenna who peace with Romans had-made was-providing help to-Tusculum self
contulit, quae cīvitās nōn longē ab urbe est, atque ibi per quattuordecim annōs prīvātus
took which city not far from city is and there for fourteen years as-private-individual
uxōre cōnsenuit. Quārtō annō post rēgēs exāctōs, cum Sabīnī Rōmānīs bellum intulissent,
with-wife grew-old in-fourth year after kings driven-out when Sabines on-Romans war had-made
vīctī sunt et dē hīs triumphātum est. Quīntō annō L. Valerius ille, Brūtī collēga et
defeated were and over them triumph-celebrated was in-fifth year Lucius Valerius the-famous of-Brutus colleague and
NOTES
[1] The name `Publicola’ (`cultivator of the people’) was given in recognition of his championing the rights of the plebeians
[2] Extracts from Livy’s detailed account of the expulsion of the Tarquins, which is Eutropius’s main source, is included in Wheelock’s Latin Reader and an interlinear translation is available at https://linguae.weebly.com/livy.html
[3] Porsenna was king of the Etruscan city of Clusium.
quater cōnsul, fātāliter mortuus est, adeō pauper, ut, collātīs ā populō nummīs, sūmptum
four-times consul by-fate[1] died so poor that having-been-collected from the-people money cost
habuerit sepultūrae. Quem mātrōnae sīcuti Brūtum annum lūxērunt.
he-had of-burial him the-ladies as Brutus for-year mourned.
12] Nōnō annō post rēgēs exāctōs,[2] cum gener Tarquinī ad iniūriam socerī vindicandam
In-ninth year after kings driven-out when son-in-law of-Tarquin for injury of-father-in-law being-avenged
ingentem collēgisset exercitum, nova Rōmae dignitās est creāta, quae dictātūra appellātur,
huge had-collected army new at-Rome office was created which dictatorship is-called
maior quam cōnsulātus. Eōdem annō etiam magister equitum factus est, quī dictātōrī
more-powerful than consulship in-same year also master of-cavalry appointed was who to-dictator
obsequerētur. Neque quicquam similius potest dīcī quam dictātūra antīqua huic imperiī
would-be-subordinate nor anything more-similar can be-called than dictatorship ancient to-this of-command
potestātī, quam nunc Tranquillitās Vestra[3] habet, maximē cum Augustus quoque Octāviānus,
power which now Tranqulity Your has especially since Augustus also Octavianus
dē quō posteā dīcēmus, et ante eum C. Caesar sub dictātūrae nōmine atque honōre
about whom later we-will-speak and before him Gaius Caesar under of-dictatorship name and dignity
rēgnāverint.[4] Dictātor autem Rōmae prīmus fuit T. Larcius,[5] magister equitum prīmus Sp.
Ruled dictator moreover at-Rome first was Titus Larcius maser of-cavalry first Spurius
Cassius.
Cassius
[13] Sextō decimō annō post rēgēs exāctōs sēditiōnem populus Rōmae fēcit, tamquam ā
In-sixteenth year after kings driven-out revolt people of-Rome made as-though by
senātū atque cōnsulibus premerētur. Tum et ipse sibi tribūnōs plēbis quasi propriōs iūdicēs
senate and consuls it-was-being-oppressed then also itself for-self tribunes of-plebs as their-own judges
et dēfēnsōrēs creāvit, per quōs contrā senātum et cōnsulēs tūtus esse posset.[6]
and defenders elected through whom against senate and consuls safe be it-could
[14] Sequentī annō Volscī contrā Rōmānōs bellum reparāvērunt, et vīctī aciē etiam Coriolōs
In-following year Volsi against Romans war renewed and defeated in-battle also Corioli
cīvitātem, quam habēbant optimam, perdidērunt.
city which they-had best lost
NOTES
[1] i.e. died of natural causes rather than in battle.
[2] 501 B.C., which by inclusive reckoning was nine years after 509. Alternatively. Eutropius was reckoning exclusively but believed the expulsion was in 510. A dictator was originally appointed for sixth months by a consul on the recommendation of the senate if an emergency required a single man to take charge. In 45 B.C., Julius Caesar had himself appointed dictātor perpetuus (dictator for life)
[3] Equivalent to `Your Serene Highness’. The use of the plural form vestra to show respect to a single, high-status individual was not classical but became normal in later Latin and hence in the Romance languages (French vous etc.)
[4] Octavian, though he actually held complete power over the state after the defeat of Anthony and Cleopatra in 31 B.C., was careful to preserve the fiction that he was merely a leading citizen and he never held the formal title of dictator.
[5] The name is more usually spelled `Lartius’ and the dictator’s full name was Titus Lartius Flavus or Rufus. He had started the year as consul but the new arrangement was made in the face of the threat of an alliance between Tarquin’s son-in-law. Octavius Mamilius, ruler of Tusculum, and the Latin states, as well as of renewed war with the Sabines. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Lartius
[6] In 494 B.C. the plebeians (i.e. the whole population excepting the patrician aristocracy) withdrew from the city and camped on a nearby hill, protesting both against their wholly subordinate political status and against debt bondage, A compromise was reached under which the tribūnī plēbis whom they elected would have a right of veto against arbitrary action by other magistrates and the concilium plēbis received official recognition. The `Struggle of the Orders’ continued until it was conceded in 367 that one consul must be a plebeian. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribune_of_the_plebs and, for the relationship between the Concilium Plēbis and other voting assemblies, https://linguae.weebly.com/livy.html
[15] Octāvō decimō annō postquam rēgēs ēiectī erant expulsus ex urbe Q. Marcius, dux
In-eighteenth year after kings thrown-out had-been expelled from city Quintus Marcius leader
Rōmānus, quī Coriolōs cēperat, Volscōrum cīvitātem, ad ipsōs Volscōs contendit īrātus et
Roman who Corioli had-captured of-Volsci city to themselves Volsci hurried angry and
auxilia contrā Rōmānōs accēpit.[1] Rōmānōs saepe vīcit, usque ad quīntum mīliārium urbis
help against Romans received Romans often he-conquered up to fifth milestone of-city
accessit, oppugnātūrus etiam patriam suam, lēgātīs quī pācem petēbant, repudiātīs, nisi ad
he-approached about-to-attack even country his-own with-envoys who peace were-seeking rebuffed if-not
eum māter Veturia et uxor Volumnia ex urbe vēnissent, quārum flētū et dēprecātiōne superātus
him mother Veturia and wife Volumnia from city had whose by-weeping and pleading overcome
remōvit exercitum. Atque hic secundus post Tarquinium fuit, quī dux contrā patriam suam
removed army and he second after Tarquin was who leader against country own
esset.
wsas.
[16] C. Fabiō et L. Virginīō cōnsulibus[2] trecentī nōbilēs hominēs, quī ex Fabiā familiā erant,
With Gaius Fabius and Lucius Virginius consuls three hundred noble men who from Fabian family were
contrā Vēientēs bellum sōlī suscēpērunt, prōmittentēs senātuī et populō per sē omne certāmen
against Veians war alone undertook promising to-senate and people by themselves whole struggle
implendum. Itaque profectī, omnēs nōbilēs et quī singulī magnōrum exercituum ducēs esse
to-be-carried-out and-so having set=out all the-noble-man and who each of-great armies leaders to-be
dēbērent, in proeliō concidērunt. Ūnus omnīnō superfuit ex tantā familiā, quī propter aetātem
ought in battle fell one out-of-all survived from so-great family who because-of age
puerīlem dūcī nōn potuerat ad pugnam. Post haec cēnsus in urbe habitus est et inventa sunt
young to-be- taken not had-been-able to fight after this census in city held was and found were
cīvium capita CXVIĪ mīlia CCCXIX.
of-citizens heads 117 thousand 319
NOTES
[1] Gaius (not Quintus) Marcius is better known by the additional name `Coriolanus’ supposedly earned for his leading role in the capture of Corioli in 493 B.C. According to the traditional account, he was put on trial in 491 B.C. by the tribunes for demanding that famine relief only be granted to the plebeians if the political concessions made to them in 494 B.C. were reversed. He fled to the Volscians and led a successful campaign against Roman territory before mother and daughter persuaded him to stop. For details, see https://www.livius.org/articles/person/coriolanus-gn-marcius/, which questions the story’s historicity, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Marcius_Coriolanus, partly because the practice of naming people after a place they had conquered did not start till the following century. Eutropius appears to put the trial and flight from Rome in 492 B.C., which by the inclusive reckoning he probably used would be 18 rather than 17 years after the Tarquins’ expulsion in 509.
[2] The year corresponding on the traditional chronology to 479 B.C., when Gaius Fabius Vibulanus was consul for the third time. The Fabians were prominent politically in this period.
