REGAL PERIOD, 753-509 B.C.
The Vision of Anchises.—The Kings that are to be.
Quin et avo comitem sese Mavortius addet
Romulus, Assaraci quem sanguinis Ilia mater
Educet. Viden’ ut geminae stant vertice cristae,
Et pater ipse suo superum iam signat honore?
En huius, nate, auspiciis illa incluta Roma
Imperium terris, animos aequabit Olympo,
Septemque una sibi muro circumdabit arces,
Felix prole virum.
. . .. . ..
Quis procul ille autem ramis insignis olivae
Sacra ferens? Nosco crines incanaque menta
Regis Romani; primam qui legibus urbem
Fundabit, Curibus parvis et paupere terra
Missus in imperium magnum. Cui deinde subibit,
Otia qui rumpet patriae residesque movebit
Tullus in arma viros et iam desueta triumphis
Agmina. Quem iuxta sequitur iactantior Ancus,
Nunc quoque iam nimium gaudens popularibus auris.
Vis et Tarquinios reges animamque superbam
Ultoris Bruti fascesque videre receptos?
Vergil, Aen. vi. 777-784, 808-818.
777 Avo = grandsire, i.e. Numitor, the father of the Vestal Rhea or Ilia.
Mavortius = child of Mavors, old and poetic name for Mars.
778 Assaraci: King of Phrygia and grandfather of Anchises.
779 geminae cristae. The double-crested helm, a distinction of Mars.
780 superum = for the world above, i.e. as a god. Acc. Sing.
808 ille = Numa Pompilius (716-673 B.C.), a native of Cures (12) in Sabine country, whom the Romans regarded as the founder (fundabit, 12) of their religious and legal institutions.
813 qui = Tullus Hostilius (673-640 B.C.), a man of war, destroyed Alba.
resides = sluggish, lazy (re + sedeo).
815 Ancus Martius (640-616 B.C.), conqueror of the Latins.
817 Tarquinios reges = (i.) Tarquinius Priscus (616-578 B.C.) of Tarquinii in Etruria; (ii.) Tarquinius Superbus (534-509 B.C.), expelled by Brutus. Vergil omits Servius Tullius (578-534 B.C.).
817-818 animamque . . . receptos. Brutus, nephew of T. Superbus, roused Rome to expel the Tarquins and found the Republic: and thus the fasces (the sign of power) were recovered (receptos) by the people.—Sidgwick.
ROMULUS, 753-716 B.C.
[A.] The Passing of Romulus.
His immortalibus editis operibus cum ad exercitum recensendum contionem in campo ad Caprae paludem haberet, subito coorta tempestas cum magno fragore tonitribusque tam denso regem operuit nimbo, ut conspectum eius contioni abstulerit; nec 5 deinde in terris Romulus fuit. Romana pubes, sedato tandem pavore, postquam ex tam turbido die serena et tranquilla lux rediit, ubi vacuam sedem regiam vidit, etsi satis credebat patribus, qui proxumi steterant, sublimem raptum procella, tamen velut 10 orbitatis metu icta maestum aliquamdiu silentium obtinuit. Deinde a paucis initio facto deum deo natum, regem parentemque urbis Romanae salvere universi Romulum iubent; pacem precibus exposcunt, uti volens propitius suam semper sospitet progeniem. 15
Livy, i. 16.
2-3 ad Caprae paludem = near the Goat’s pool.
4 operuit = enveloped (ob + pario = get for, put upon, cover), cf. opposite a-per-io = get from, uncover.
5 abstulerit = auferret. The event is regarded simply as past, without reference to other past events.
5-6 nec deinde . . . fuit, cf. ‘Quirinus | Martis equis Acheronta fugit.’ Hor. Od. iii. 3. 15.
7 sēdato = settled, calmed. Sēd-o = cause to sit, cf. sēd-es, and our seat, settle.
11 orbitatis = of orphanhood; cf. orb-us = bereaved, and our orphan.
15 volens propitius, an ellipse of et, cf. optimus maximus.
sospitet = he may keep safe, preserve, cf. sospes = safe.
[B.] The Mystery explained.
Pulcher et humano maior trabeaque decorus
Romulus in media visus adesse via,
Et dixisse simul: ‘Prohibe lugere Quirites,
Nec violent lacrimis numina nostra suis.
Tura ferant placentque novum pia turba Quirinum,
Et patrias artes militiamque colant.’
Ovid, Fasti, ii. 379-384. H.
1-6 Romulus appears as a god to Proculus Julius, an honourable man, bidding him tell his people not to mourn for him, but to worship him as Quirinus, and practise valour and all warlike virtues.
1 trabea = in the (striped) robe of state.
3-5 Quirites (cf. Quirinus = the deified Romulus) = lit. spearmen. Connected with Cures and curis (Sabine word for a spear), used of Roman citizens as opposed to Roman soldiers.
NUMA POMPILIUS, 716-673 B.C.
The Gate of Janus, open in war but shut in peace.
[A.] Qui regno ita potitus urbem novam, conditam vi et armis, iure eam legibusque ac moribus de integro condere parat. Quibus cum inter bella adsuescere videret non posse, quippe efferari militia animos, mitigandum ferocem populum armorum 5 desuetudine ratus Ianum ad infimum Argiletum indicem pacis bellique fecit, apertus ut in armis esse civitatem, clausus pacatos circa omnes populos significaret.
Livy, i. 19.
1 Qui = Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome.
4-5 quippe . . . animos = since (he thought that) men’s tempers were made savage (brutalised) by warfare. efferari = orat. obl. part of Numa’s thoughts.
6 desuetudine = by disuse, i.e. by a cessation from the use of. Cf. de-docēre = unteach.
Ianum . . . Argiletum = (a temple of) Janus at the foot of the Argiletum, a slope to the N.E. of the Forum. (Prob. = the clayey ground, from argilla = white clay.)
8 clausus. It was closed for a short time, circ. 238 B.C., and again by Augustus 29-25 B.C.
Sunt geminae Belli portae, sic nomine dicunt,
Religione sacrae et saevi formidine Martis:
Centum aerei claudunt vectes aeternaque ferri
Robora, nec custos absistit limine Ianus.
Has, ubi certa sedet patribus sententia pugnae,
Ipse Quirinali trabea cinctuque Gabino
Insignis reserat stridentia limina Consul;
Ipse vocat pugnas; sequitur tum cetera pubes,
Aereaque adsensu conspirant cornua rauco.
Vergil, Aen. vii. 607-615.
609 vectes = bolts or bars, prob. from √veh = carry. Cf. vect-īgal.
612 Quir. trabea = in the state robe of Romulus, i.e. the striped robe of state, purple, with white stripes across.
cinctu Gabino = with the Gabine girdle, formed by girding the toga tight round the body by one of its loose ends.
613 reserat = un-bars. For sĕro = join, cf. our series.
Parallel Passages. Ovid, F. i. 115-132. Cf. Hor. Od. iv. 15. 9. Verg. Aen. i. 293-4.
Numa Pompilius. ‘The name of Numa is significant, and denotes an organiser or lawgiver. (For Numa cf. numerus, nummus, νόμος.) As Romulus was the founder of the State and of political and military order, so the legend regards Numa as the founder of the national religion.’—Ihne.
TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS, 534-509 B.C.
The Purchase of the Sibylline Books.
In antiquis annalibus memoria super libris Sibyllinis haec prodita est. Anus hospita atque incognita ad Tarquinium Superbum regem adiit, novem libros ferens, quos esse dicebat divina oracula: eos velle venundare. Tarquinius pretium percontatus 5 est: mulier nimium immensum poposcit. Rex, quasi anus aetate desiperet, derisit. Tum illa foculum coram eo cum igne apposuit, et tres libros ex novem deussit; et, ecquid reliquos sex eodem pretio emere vellet, regem interrogavit. Sed enim 10 Tarquinius id multo risit magis dixitque anum iam procul dubio delirare. Mulier ibidem statim tres libros alios exussit; atque id ipsum denuo placide interrogavit, an tres reliquos eodem pretio emat. Tarquinius ore iam serio, atque attentiore animo fit; eam 15 constantiam confidentiamque non insuper habendam intelligit: libros tres reliquos mercatur nihilo minore pretio, quam quod erat petitum pro omnibus. . . . Libri tres in sacrarium conditi Sibyllini appellati. Ad eos, quasi ad oraculum, quindecimviri 20 adeunt, cum dii immortales publice consulendi sunt.
Aulus Gellius (fl. 143 A.D.), i. 19.
1, 2 libris Sibyllinis, i.e. a collection of prophecies uttered by the legendary prophetess who lived at Cumae, near Naples.
5 venundare = to sell. Cf. ven-eo (= venum + eo), ven-do, and our vendor.
12 delirare = to be out of her mind. Lit. to make a crooked furrow in ploughing; de + lira (a furrow).
19 sacrarium = the place for the keeping of holy things, i.e. the Capitol. The original Sibylline Books were burnt in the fire on the Capitol, 82 B.C., but a fresh collection was made by Augustus, and deposited in the temple of Apollo on the Palatine.
20 quindecimviri (sacris faciundis), i.e. a college of priests who had charge of the Sibylline Books.
Parallel Passages. Verg. Aen. vi., espec. ll. 42-101, for the Cumaean Sibyl.
The Sibylline Books. ‘There existed also Etruscan libri fatales (Books of Fate), and these, together with the Sibylline Books, were kept in the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter. Nothing seemed more natural than to suppose that Tarquin, who built that temple, purchased also the sacred books of the Sibyl.’—Ihne.
TARQUINIUS SUPERBUS, 534-509 B.C.
[A.] Sextus Tarquinius at Gabii.
Inde in consilia publica adhiberi. . . . Ita cum sensim ad rebellandum primores Gabinorum incitaret, ipse cum promptissimis iuvenum praedatum atque in expeditiones iret, et dictis factisque omnibus ad fallendum instructis vana accresceret fides, dux ad 5 ultimum belli legitur. Ibi cum inscia multitudine, quid ageretur, proelia parva inter Romam Gabiosque fierent, quibus plerumque Gabina res superior esset, tum certatim summi infimique Gabinorum Sex. Tarquinium dono deum sibi missum ducem credere. 10 Apud milites vero obeundo pericula ac labores pariter, praedam munifice largiendo tanta caritate esse, ut non pater Tarquinius potentior Bomae quam filius Gabiis esset.
Livy, i. 54.
1 Inde, i.e. after the tale he told of his father’s cruelty had gained credit with the men of Gabii.
adhiberi = he was admitted. Historic Infin.
2 ad rebellandum = to renew the war.
4-5 ad fallendum instructis = were framed to deceive.
8 Gabina res = the cause of Gabii. For res cf. [p. 11 (2)].
11 obeundo pariter = by facing alike . . .
[B.] The Sequel: the Fall of Gabii.
Iamque potens misso genitorem appellat amico,
Perdendi Gabios quod sibi monstret iter.
Hortus odoratis suberat cultissimus herbis,
Sectus humum rivo lene sonantis aquae.
Illic Tarquinius mandata latentia nati
Accipit, et virga lilia summa metit.
Nuntius ut rediit, decussaque lilia dixit,
Filius ‘Agnosco iussa parentis’ ait.
Nec mora: principibus caesis ex urbe Gabina,
Traduntur ducibus moenia nuda suis.
Ovid, Fasti, ii. 543-552. H.
1 genitorem appellat . . . = he calls on his father (to tell him) . . .
6 virga = with a switch.
summa = the tallest.
10 ducibus suis, abl., after nuda = deprived of.
Reference. Hor. Ep. ii. 1. 23-27. Horace refers to the treaty made by Tarquinius with Gabii.
Historic Parallel. Compare the extraordinary self-sacrifice of Zōpy̆rus, which enabled him to betray Babylon to his master Darius. Herod, iii. 153-158.
The Position of Rome, the future Mistress of the World.
Urbi autem locum Romulus incredibili opportunitate delegit. Neque enim ad mare admovit—quod ei fuit illa manu copiisque facillimum, ut in agrum Rutulorum Aboriginumve procederet, aut in ostio Tiberino, quem in locum multis post annis rex 5 Ancus coloniam deduxit, urbem ipse conderet,—sed hoc vir excellenti providentia sensit ac vidit, non esse opportunissimos situs maritimos urbibus eis quae ad spem diuturnitatis conderentur atque imperi. Itaque urbem perennis amnis et aequabilis et 10 in mare late influentis posuit in ripa, quo posset urbs et accipere ex mari, quo egeret, et reddere, quo redundaret: ut mihi iam tum divinasse ille videatur, hanc urbem sedem aliquando et domum summo esse imperio praebituram: nam hanc rerum tantam 15 potentiam non ferme facilius alia in parte Italiae posita urbs tenere potuisset. Urbis autem ipsius is est tractus ductusque muri cum Romuli tum etiam reliquorum regum sapientia definitus ex omni parte arduis praeruptisque montibus. Locumque delegit 20 et fontibus abundantem et in regione pestilenti salubrem.
Cicero, De Rep. ii. 3. 5, 6 (selected).
3-6 quod ei fuit . . . = lit. which he might very easily have done with that band (of men) and those forces, so that . . .
4 Rutulorum. S. of Rome. Turnus their King. Capital, Ardea.
6 coloniam, i.e. Ostia, the harbour of Rome and chief naval station.
7-8 non esse opportunissimos, e.g. as exposed to sudden attacks, and likely to contain a too large foreign element.
12-13 quo redundaret = its own superabundance.
17-18 is tractus ductusque = the plan and direction.
19 definitus = bounded.
20 arduis praeruptisque montibus. ‘The amphitheatre of seven hills which encloses the meadows (afterwards the Campus Martius) in the bend of the Tiber, varying from 120 to 180 feet above the stream, offered heights sufficiently elevated and abrupt for fortification, yet without difficulties for the builder or cultivator.’
N.B.—In this passage be careful to translate Cicero’s long, periodic sentences by two or more separate sentences in English.
The Position of Rome. ‘There was no place better fitted for an emporium of the Tiber and sea traffic, and for a maritime frontier fortress than Rome. It combined the advantages of a strong position and of immediate vicinity to the river.’ Mommsen.
THE PRAISE OF ITALY.
‘Salve, magna parens frugum, Saturnia tellus.’
Sed neque Medorum silvae ditissima terra,
Nec pulcher Ganges atque auro turbidus Hermus
Laudibus Italiae certent, non Bactra, neque Indi
Totaque turiferis Panchaia pinguis harenis.
Haec loca non tauri spirantes naribus ignem
Invertere satis immanis dentibus hydri,
Nec galeis densisque virum seges horruit hastis;
Sed gravidae fruges et Bacchi Massicus umor
Implevere; tenent oleae armentaque laeta.
Hinc bellator equus campo sese arduus infert;
Hinc albi, Clitumne, greges, et maxima taurus
Victima, saepe tuo perfusi flumine sacro,
Romanos ad templa deum duxere triumphos.
Hic ver assiduum atque alienis mensibus aestas;
Bis gravidae pecudes, bis pomis utilis arbor.
At rabidae tigres absunt et saeva leonum
Semina, nec miseros fallunt aconita legentes,
Nec rapit immensos orbis per humum, neque tanto
Squameus in spiram tractu se colligit anguis.
Vergil, Georg. ii, 136-154.
136 silvae ditissima = most rich in forests.—Sidgwick.
137 Hermus, auriferous river of Lydia, cf. the R. Pactolus.
138 Bactra, modern Balk, N. of Afghanistan.
139 Panchaia, i.e. Arabia, the Eldorado of the Old World.
141 satis . . . hydri = where the enormous dragon’s teeth were sown. hydri (ὕδρος), lit. a water-snake.
143 Massicus umor = Massic juice, i.e. of Mt. Massicus in N.W. Campania, famous for its wine, espec. the Falernian.
144 implevere (sc. haec loca) = fill it all.
146 Clitumne. R. of Umbria, famous for its white cattle.*
146-148 White cattle were required for the sacrifices of the Triumphs.
149 alienis mensibus = in months not her own, i.e. in months properly belonging to winter.
150 bis gravidae pecudes = twice the cattle give increase, Conington.
151, 152 saeva leonum semina = the fierce lion-brood.—Mackail.
aconita, a deadly poison—monkshood.
153, 154 neque—anguis = nor with so vast a sweep gather himself into a coil, i.e. the snakes in Italy are not so large as elsewhere.
R. Clitumnus. Compare Pliny’s beautiful letter (viii. 8) describing its source.
* Cf. the Chillingham ‘Wild Cattle.’