Cum tenues nuper Marius discinxerit Afros.
Since Marius has so lately stripped to their girdles (i.e. thoroughly plundered) the needy Africans.
From this date Tacitus seems to have devoted himself entirely to literary pursuits and to have lived to or beyond the end of Trajan’s reign, 116 A.D.
2. Works.
(1) Dialogus de Oratoribus, an inquiry into the causes of the decay of oratory, his earliest extant work. In the style of this work the influence of Quintilian and Cicero is strongly seen.
(2) De Vita et Moribus Iulii Agricolae liber, an account of the life of his father-in-law, particularly of his career in Britain, published shortly after the accession of Trajan, 98 A.D. ‘The Sallustian epoch of Tacitus finds its expression in the Agricola and Germania.’—Teuffel.
The Agricola is perhaps the most beautiful biography in ancient literature.
(3) The Germania, or Concerning the Geography, the Manners and Customs, and the Tribes of Germany, published in 98 or 99. ‘The motive for its publication was apparently the pressing importance, in Tacitus’ opinion, of the “German question,” and the necessity for vigorous action to secure the safety of the Roman Empire against the dangers with which. it was threatened from German strength.’—Stephenson.
‘The Germania is an inestimable treasury of facts and generalisations, and of the general faithfulness of the outline we have no doubt.’—Stubbs.
(4) Historiae, consisting originally of fourteen Books, is a narrative of the events of the reigns of Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, 69-96 A.D. Only Books I-IV and the first half of Book V are extant, and give the history of 69 and most of 70 A.D.