Avidus, sc. laudis==per aviditatem laudis et gloriae. E.: A. never in his eagerness for glory arrogated to himself the honor of the achievements of others.—Seu—seu. Every one, whether centurion or praefect (commander of a legion, cf. note, H. 1, 82.), was sure to have in him an impartial witness to his deeds.
Acerbior, cf. note on durius, 16.—Apud quosdam==a quibusdam.
Secretum et silentium. Reserve and silence. So W. and Ky. But R. and Dr.: private interviews (to be summoned to which by some commanders was alarming), and neglect of the usual salutations in public (which was also often a token of displeasure on the part of a superior officer). The former is the more simple and obvious, though it must be confessed that the latter is favored by the usus loquendi of T., in regard especially to secretum, cf. 39; Ann. 3, 8, where secreto is opposed to palam; and His. 4, 49: incertum, quoniam secreto eorum nemo adfuit.
XXIII. Obtirendis. Securing possession of.—Pateretur, sc. terminum inveniri.—In ipsa Brit. In the very nature or structure of the island, as described in the sequel. See Or. in loc.
Clota et Bodotria. Frith of Clyde and Frith of Forth.
Revectae, i.e. the natural current being driven back by the tide from the sea on either side. Angusto—spatio. It is now cut across by a ship canal.
Propior sinus==peninsula on the south side of the Friths, cf, note on sinus G. 1, and 29. Sinus refers particularly to the curved border on this side the aestuaries. This border (wherever the friths were so narrow as to require it), as well as the narrow isthmus, was occupied and secured (tenebatur) by garrisons.
XXIV. Nave prima. The first Roman ship that ever visited those shores. So Br., Dr., etc. The foremost ship, sc., A. himself, followed by others in a line. So Ritter. Wr., and some others understand it of a voyage from Rome, where they suppose him to have passed the winter, and whence he crossed over to Britain by the earliest vessel in the spring. W. and R. make prima equivalent to an adv. and render: crossing over for the first time by ship. Or. also makes prima==tum primum.
Copiis. Here troops with their equipments==forces, cf. 8: majoribus copiis.—Medio sita lying between, not midway between. E.—In spem— formidinem. More with the hope of invading Ireland, than through fear of invasion by the Irish.—Valentissimam partem, viz. Gaul, Spain and Britain.
Miscuerit. The subj. here denotes the aim or purpose of the projector: it would have done so in his view.