Ch. 11.
17. Tarentīnīs: the people of Tarentum, a rich and luxurious city in southern Italy. It played an important part in the war with Pyrrhus. The whole of southern Italy was known as Magna Graecia, on account of the number of cities founded there by the Greeks.
in ultimā Ītaliā: ‘in the most remote part of Italy’; H. 497, 3 (440, N. 1); M. 423; A. & G. 193; G. 291, R. 2; B. 241.
19. Pyrrhum … auxilium poposcērunt: ‘asked aid of Pyrrhus.’ Pyrrhus was regarded as one of the greatest generals that had ever lived. With his daring courage, his military skill, and his kingly bearing, he might have become the most powerful monarch of his day. But he never rested satisfied with any acquisition, and was ever grasping at some fresh object. For an account of the war see The Story of the Romans, pp. 115-121; Creighton, p. 31.
20. orīginem trahēbat: ‘was claiming descent’; it was the custom of royal families to claim descent from heroes or gods.
21. prīmum: ‘for the first time.’
24. cēpisset: cf. latrōcinārētur, Bk. I, 1.
dūcī: cf. the construction with praecēpit, Ch. 8.