[223] Continuare magistratum, ‘to continue for another year in a magistracy which has been given for only one year.’ In the case of some magistracies this was forbidden by law; in that of tribunes of the people, it occurs rather frequently in the early times, that they were re-elected twice or oftener in successive years. The last in stance of a tribuneship lasting for two years is that of G. Gracchus, in B.C. 123 and 122; and even then this re-election was the cause of violent commotions, and it was impossible to carry it for the third year.
[224] Around the wall, which had been built on the extreme edge of a precipitous rock, the clayey soil had formed a marsh. Respecting extremum used substantively, see Zumpt, § 435.
[38.]
[225] Respecting the frequentatives ductare and missitare, which last is a secondary derivative from mittere (as currere, cursare, cursitare), see Zumpt, § 231; and about vitabundus, § 248.
[226] The usual arrangement of the words would be: corrumpere, ut alii (partim) transfugerent, alii — desererent. The ut is here repeated in the second clause, which is rather unusual.
[227] Trepidare, in its proper sense, is, ‘to run about with fear and trembling.’
[228] Anceps, ‘twofold,’ on the part of the enemy and of that of nature.
[229] The author here distinguishes the infantry (cohors) and cavalry (turma) of the auxiliaries, and the common soldiers from the Roman legions.
[230] The primus pilus in a Roman legion is the first company (manipulus) of the third class of legionaries, who were called pilani or triarii, and were employed in battle as a reserve, while the two other classes of legionaries, the hastati and principes, began the engagement. A legion thus contained ten maniples of every class; that is, altogether thirty maniples, each of which consisted of two centuriae, and each centuria was commanded by a centurio. Out of these sixty centurions of a legion, the two commanding the primus pilus (they themselves also were called, like their companies, primi pili) were the first in rank, and again the ductor prioris centuriae primi pili was the principal centurion in a legion. The treachery of such an officer, therefore, is the more surprising. To the pronoun ea supply via; ea, with this ellipsis, is used as an adverb in the sense of ‘there.’ See Zumpt, § 207, 288.
[231] In accordance with the rules on the oratio obliqua, Sallust ought to have written teneat.
[232] A jugum was formed by two lances fixed in the ground, and a third fastened across them so as to form a gate. When an army confessed itself to be conquered, and after capitulating, was allowed to depart, the troops had to march under a yoke of this description.
[233] Literally: ‘because the disgrace was exchanged for the fear of death;’ that is, by enduring it, they became free from the fear of death.
[39.]
[234] Dolere pro gloria, ‘to be grieved for reputation;’ that is, as they were interested in the glory of their country, they were grieved at the disgrace (dedecore or propter dedecus) they had suffered. Timere libertati, ‘to be afraid of losing one’s freedom,’ it appearing to be in danger. See Zumpt, § 414.
[235] Nomen Latinum is the same as socii Latini, or Latini alone. The expression properly signifies those who are called Latins; for this class of people comprised not only those who really belonged to the nation of the Latins — such as the inhabitants of the ancient Latin towns of Tibur and Praeneste — but those also whose towns subsequently received the same privileges. The latter were termed coloniae Latinae — such as Alba in the country of the Marsians, Beneventum in Samnium, Cremona and Placentia on the Po.
[236] Ex copia rerum, ‘according to his present resources,’ ‘according to the state of affairs.’
[40.]
[237] In a few manuscripts we read neglegisset, respecting which see Zumpt, § 195.
[238] Quin faterentur, ‘without confessing.’ See Zumpt, § 539.
[239] M. Scaurus, who, as Sallust stated before, was himself bribed by Jugurtha, had availed himself of the time when the people were rejoicing at his victory, when the city was still under apprehensions respecting the war, and when many other nobles, from a consciousness of guilt, kept back; and there can be no doubt that, through the influence of his friends, he contrived to be himself elected one of the commissioners who had to institute inquiries about these briberies, and thus escaped being tried himself.
[240] Ex here signifies ‘with respect to.’ The people after this victory were insolent, so that the commissioners yielded to the wishes of the multitude.
[41.]
[241] ‘The custom of (forming) parties among the people, and of factions in the senate;’ the people are divided into partes, the senate into factiones; the latter evidently implies intriguing combinations.
[242] ‘From the abundance of those things which mortals deem of the first importance.’ Prima is used substantively, and with it the relative pronoun (quae) agrees. Sallust might have said quas — primas.
[243] Scilicet, ‘naturally,’ is used here as an adverb. See Zumpt, § 271.
[244] The annexation of small free farms to the adjoining large estates, is described by all the ancient authors as the cause of the great misery of the Roman state, and, as Sallust remarks, it was facilitated by the absence of many of the free citizens who were serving in the armies; for their fathers or children, who were left behind, were easily induced to sell their small farm to a wealthy and powerful neighbour. For force was certainly not always applied, and pellere here signifies ‘to displace,’ rather than ‘to expel.’ The large estates thus formed were called latifundia.
[245] Permixtio terrae is said figuratively, as is indicated by quasi, ‘a chaos — a mixture of elements.’