12, 13 sententiam . . . recusavit = declined to give his own opinion on the case.
13 iure iurando (sc. dato) = by the oath sworn to his enemies.
17 ‘At stulte’ (sc. fecit) = ‘But, it may he said, he acted like a fool.’
19 etiamne (sc. stulte fecit) = What, how did he act like a fool, if . . .—Holden.
20, 21 potest autem . . . utile esse. Cf. Ὅ τῇ πόλει οὐκ ἔστι βλαβερὸν οὐδὲ τὸν πολίτην βλάπτει = that which is not harmful (βλαβερόν = inutile) to the State is not harmful to the citizen.
Parallel Passages. Polybius, i. 31-36 (he makes no mention of the embassy of Regulus); Pliny, Ep. vii. 2 (interesting letter on the death of Regulus); and espec. Hor. Od. III. v. 13-end.
‘With counsel thus, ne’er else aread [advised],
He nerved the Fathers’ weak intent,
And, girt by friends that mourn’d him, sped
Into illustrious banishment.’—C.