Proelium—arma. T. has a passion for pairs of words, especially nouns, of kindred signification. See examples in Index to Histories; and in this chapter, spem ac subsidium; recessus ac sinus; obsequiam ac modestiam.
Priores pugnae, sc. in which the Caledonians took no part.—Pugnae is here, by a figure put for the combatants themselves, who are represented as looking to the Caledonians, as a kind of corps de reserve, or last resource.
Eo. For that reason. The best things are always kept guarded and concealed in the penetralia. There may also be a reference to a fact stated by Caesar (B.G. 5, 12), that the inhabitants of the interior were aborigines, while those on the coast were immigrants.
Terrarum—extremos. The remotest of men and last of freemen. —Recessus—famae. Our very remoteness and obscurity. This is the most common and perhaps the most simple translation, making sinus famae==seclusion in respect to fame. Perhaps, however, it accords as well with the usual signification of the words, and better with the connexion and spirit of the speech, to take sinus famae in the sense, retreat of glory, or glorious retreat. So Wr. His interpretation of the passage and its connexion is as follows: our very remoteness and our glorious retreat have guarded us till this day. But now the furthest extremity of Brit. is laid open (i.e. our retreat is no longer a safeguard); _and every thing unknown is esteemed great (i.e. this safeguard also is removed—the Romans in our midst no longer magnify our strength). Rit. encloses the clause in brackets, as a gloss. He renders sinus famae, bosom of fame, fame being personified as a goddess. R., Dr., Or. make famae dative after defendit==has kept back from fame.
Sed nulla jam, etc. But now all the above grounds of confidence—our remoteness, our glory, our greatness magnified by the imagination of our enemies, from the very fact that we were unknown to them—all these are removed; we have none behind us to fall back upon, as our countrymen in former battles have leaned upon us—and we are reduced to the necessity of self-defence and self-reliance. The sed seems to be antithetic to the whole as far back as priores pugnae; whereas nunc is opposed only to the clause which immediately precedes it, and constitutes an antithesis within an antithesis.
Infestiores, sc. quam fluctus et saxa.
Effugeris. Cf. note G. 19: non invenerit; also satiaverit just below.
Et mare. Et==also. Cf. note, G. 11.
Opes atque inopiam. Abs. for conc.==rich and poor nations.
Falsis nominibus is by some connected with rapere. But better with appellant. They call things by false names, viz. plunder, empire; and desolation, peace.