[49.5] sc. inquit.
[49.6] Tū . . . estō: ‘God bless you!’ Cf. [p. 32, n. 1].
[49.7] cavē . . . perdās = cavē nē . . . perdās: ‘Take care lest,’ etc. For this form see H 561, 2 (489, 2): M 715: A 269, a, 3: G 271, 2: B 276, c. We really have two commands here side by side, thus: ‘Take care’; ‘Don’t waste,’ etc.
[49.8] imperative of patior.
[49.9] in . . . suae: ‘to prove his victory.’
[49.10] The custom of wearing rings was universal among the Romans, having arisen out of their use as signets. Originally they were of iron. When gold rings were first used they served to distinguish the higher classes.
[50.1] minimē . . . ratus: ‘thinking that there ought to be no delay.’ With cessandum sc. esse, and see [p. 16, n. 8].
[50.2] victor . . . epulātūrus: ‘for he would surely dine as victor on the Capitol.’ The fut. part. is often thus used to denote the certain occurrence of a future event. Further, the clause expresses the reason why Maharbal urged H. to proceed to Rome. What were Maharbal’s exact words?
[50.3] dat. sing.
[50.4] Cf. [p. 25, n. 6]. Contrast the words of a modern historian: “Hannibal knew Rome better than the simpletons who, in ancient and modern times, have fancied that he might have terminated the struggle by a march on the enemy’s capital.”