[54.8] We have here side by side the gen. and the abl. of characteristic. For the difference between them, see H 473, 2, N. 1 (419, 2): M 558: A 215, N.: G 400, R. 1.
[54.9] id aetātis: ‘at that age,’ i.e. though he was so young. The accus. id is variously explained: see H 416, 2 (378, 2): M 507: A 240, b: G 336, N. 2; B 185. aetātis is partitive gen. ([p. 30, n. 2]) with id.
[55.1] Why is vellet subjunctive?
[55.2] effūsīs (effundō) . . . lacrimīs: ‘with tears of joy.’ How literally?
[55.3] quī . . . dēdūcerent: ‘to escort him.’
[55.4] quō . . . appellārunt: Roman soldiers, after a victory, hailed their general as Imperator. It was a way of saying that the leader had won his spurs and had really earned his title, which he had assumed on beginning the campaign.
[55.5] ‘in my eyes,’ ‘to my mind’; a dative of reference.
[55.6] rēgium nōmen = rēgis nōmen, ‘the title of king.’ Cf. nōmen imperātōris, [l. 80], and rēgis appellātiōne, [l. 84].
[55.7] Sc. esse.
[55.8] quem . . . spērāret: causal rel. clause ([p. 31, n. 1]).