[246] Tib. Gracchus was slain in B.C. 133, and his brother, G. Gracchus, in B.C. 121. Sallust here states that the faction of the optimates threw obstacles in the way of the two brothers, sometimes by means of the socii (in Italy), and sometimes by means of the Roman equites, who had been drawn into the senate by the popular party. This refers, in the first place, to the opposition made, through the instrumentality of the Latins, to the scheme of the Gracchi to settle poor Roman citizens in Latin colonies; and secondly, to the ingratitude of the equites, to whom G. Gracchus had transferred the administration of justice, after having taken it from the senate. Respecting modo — interdum, instead of modo — modo, see Zumpt, § 723.
[247] Sallust admits that the Gracchi went somewhat too far, but blames the violence with which the faction of the optimates took vengeance upon them; ‘for,’ says he, ‘a good man prefers being conquered, to taking revenge for injury done to him in a violent manner’ — intimating that the optimates ought to have borne the injury done to them by the Gracchi, rather than avenge it with murder and assassination.
[248] Acerbius; that is, nimis acerbe, or acerbius quam par est.
[249] Omnis civitatis for totius civitatis, in opposition to the patres. Parem; that is, velim, which is followed in the apodosis by the same subjunctive present, or the future indicative. See Zumpt, § 524, note 1. Res, the same as materia, argumentum, ‘subject.’
[43.]
[250] The consuls here mentioned entered upon their office on the 1st of January, 109 B.C. The preparation for the campaign accordingly belongs to the latter part of the year 110.
[251] ‘An opponent of the popular party;’ adversus being used as a substantive, in the sense of adversarius; as an adjective, it is construed with the dative.
[252] Cum collega, a short expression for conjuncta cum collega, ‘everything else he considered as common between himself and his colleague, but to the Numidian war he alone directed his attention, as though it were his own exclusive business.’
[253] Praesidia is generally ‘resources;’ but here the same as auxilia, ‘auxiliary troops.’
[254] Contusae, from contundere, for imminutae, debilitatae, fractae.
[44.]
[255] Praedator, belonging to exercitus, is the same as praedas agens, ‘carrying off booty.’ See Zumpt, § 102, note 2.
[256] Aestivorum tempus is the time suited for the campaign. To aestivorum supply castrorum, ‘a summer-camp,’ and ‘a campaign made in summer;’ hence, also, ‘a campaign’ in general, inasmuch as warlike operations were but rarely carried on in winter.
[257] Albinus, during a portion of the summer of the year 109 B. C., continued to command as proconsul, while the consul Metellus was detained at Rome by the election of the consuls for the year B. C. 108.
[258] Odos for odor. See Zumpt, § 7.
[259] Cum mercatoribus, ‘in intercourse with merchants.’ The merchandise, in return for which another commodity is given, is expressed by the ablative. See Zumpt, § 456.
[45.]
[260] Ambitio, ‘courting favour;’ hence here in the sense of ‘indulgence,’ ‘connivance,’ these being the ordinary means to obtain the favour of the multitude.
[261] Ceteris arte modum statuisse still depends upon comperior, ‘I learn (that is, we are informed) that for the rest (of the wants) he fixed the measure in a close (niggardly) manner;’ for arte is the adverb of artus, which is frequently, though not correctly, written arcte. It must not be confounded with arte from ars. Sallust might have said, ceteris (rebus) artum modum statuisse.
[46.]
[262] Supplicia here, as elsewhere, are supplices preces, ‘humble prayers,’ or ‘petitions.’ Compare [chap. 66].
[263] ‘He applies to the ambassadors one by one;’ that is, he tries them one by one, temptat singulos.
[264] Maxime, the same as potissimum. Compare [chap. 35].
[265] ‘What would be in accordance with his wish;’ namely, the granting of his request.
[266] The plural equitatus is rare; here it refers to different troops of cavalry, as in Caesar, Bell. Civ. i. 61. To propulsarent supply eos. See Zumpt, § 766.