Ex facili==facile. A frequent form of expression in T., ad Graecorum consuetudinem. Dr. See R. Exc. 24.
Singulos—binos. Distributives==one for each tribe—two for each tribe.
Aeque—aeque. Like Greek correlatives; alike fatal to their subjects in either case. So [Greek: homoios men] and [Greek: homoios de], Xen. Mem. 1, 6, 13; Plat. Symp. 181. C.
Alterius manus centuriones, alterius servos. This is the reading of the latest editions (Dr. Wr. Or. and R.), and the best MSS., though the MSS. differ somewhat: Centurions, the hands (instruments) of the one, and servants, the hands of the other, added insult to injury. For the use of manus in the above sense, reference is made to Cic. in Ver. 2, 10, 27: Comites illi tui delecti manus erant tuae. So the centurions of the legate and the servants of the procurator are said by our author to have robbed the Briton King Prasutagus of his kingdom and his palace, Ann. 14, 31, which is the best commentary on the passage before us.
Ab ignavis. By the feeble and cowardly. Antithetic to fortiorem. In battle, it is the braver that plunders us; but now (it is a special aggravation of our sufferings, that) by the feeble and cowardly, &c. So in contempt, they call the veterans, cf. 14: veteranorum colonia; 32: senum colonia.
Tantum limits pro patria; as if it was for their country only they knew not how to die.
Si sese, etc., i.e. in comparison with their own numbers.
Patriam—parentes, sc. causas belli esse.
Recessisset. Observe the subj. in the subordinate clauses of the oratio obliqua throughout this chapter. H. 531; Z. 603.
Neve—pavescerant. This verb would have been an imperative in the oratio recta, Z. 603, c. Neve is appropriate either to the imp. or the subj.