[402] Illorum; that is, Romanorum. Respecting the situation of Leptis magna, see [chap. 19].
[403] Nave or naviter (‘actively’) is the correct orthography, for which other editions have gnave. See Zumpt, § 12. Its case is the same as that of natus, which in composition takes the g — as cognatus, agnatus; and also narus, ignarus.
[78.]
[404] Alta; supply in alia tempestate, ‘sometimes deep, and sometimes shallow.’
[405] ‘They have been called Syrtes from this current, which draws other things along with it;’ for the Greek συρειν signifies ‘to draw,’ or ‘drag along.’
[406] It was only the language of the inhabitants of Leptis that had experienced a change, in consequence of their matrimonial connections with the Numidians, otherwise they had for the most part preserved their Sidonian, that is, Phoenician, laws and habits, being separated from the inhabited part of Numidia by extensive deserts, which was also the reason of the Numidian king’s seldom residing at Leptis, although the town belonged to his kingdom.
[79.]
[407] Admonere is here construed in an unusual manner with two accusatives, one of the person, and the other of the thing, the latter being expressed by a substantive; for the neuter of a pronoun in the accusative is not uncommon — as hoc, id, illud te admoneo.
[408] Imperare and imperitare are construed with the dative of that over which one rules, or take the preposition in with the accusative or ablative.
[409] Sponsionem facere here has the general sense, ‘to make a contract,’ otherwise it signifies a contract at which security is given, which is lost by him who is condemned.
[410] ‘They hastened to get through their journey.’ The intransitive pergere (like ire) containing the notion of an uninterrupted continuance, takes a substantive of the same meaning, or of the same derivation, in the accusative, and thus acquires a transitive meaning. See Zumpt, § 384.
[411] Retinere; supply proficiscentes or iter facientes.
[412] ‘Devoid of,’ or ‘without products;’ for gignere is used of those things which, like plants or animals, produce other things like themselves.
[413] ‘Because they had spoiled the affair;’ as by quick travelling they might have traversed a considerable extent of country.
[414] Conturbare, ‘to disturb,’ or ‘to try to throw into confusion;’ namely, the agreement.
[415] ‘The Greeks give the Carthaginians the choice,’ for dant optionem Carthaginiensibus. The genitive Carthaginiensium occurs in most, and in the best manuscripts.
[416] Ibi; that is, in illis finibus.
[80.]
[417] The Nomades of the great desert Sahara, and of the oases in it, in the south of Numidia and Mauretania, as far as the southern countries inhabited by real negroes.
[418] Pronum, that which, when once commenced, proceeds without obstacle or difficulty. This is a figurative sense taken from an inclined plane.
[419] The Roman rulers thus demanded money from Bocchus before they would grant his request to be declared a friend and ally of the Roman people, although Bocchus no doubt considered his offer of friendship as a matter of no small value to the Romans.
[420] ‘But kings so much the more;’ namely, surpass others in the numbers of their wives.
[421] ‘None (no wife) maintains her position as a sharer;’ that is, none is recognised as sharing with her husband all the relations of life and rank.
[81.]
[422] In locum placitum, ‘at a fixed place,’ at a place where it had been agreed to meet. The participle placitus is formed irregularly from the neuter verb placeo, as such verbs generally have no passive voice. But placeo is used also as an impersonal verb, placet, and, as such, its perfect is either placuit or placitum est, ‘it pleased,’ or ‘was decreed.’ The same is the case with other impersonal verbs; and as in this manner the regular passive form gradually ceased to be offensive, placitus, a, um, came to be used in the sense of is qui, ea quae, id quod placuit. Compare Zumpt, §§ 142, 225.
[423] ‘Of an insatiable avarice;’ for profundus is often used figuratively of passions and desires which have no bottom or end.
[424] Quis (quibus) refers to the preceding illos; that is, Romanos.
[425] Tum, sese; supply hostem Romanis esse, which infinitive must be taken from the following fore. The tum must be rendered in English by ‘now,’ as it refers to present time. See Zumpt, § 732; and regarding Persen for Perseum, § 52.
[426] Capta urbe, ‘if the town were taken,’ it would be worth while.
[427] Pacem imminuere, to disturb or spoil the peace with Bocchus intended to conclude with the Romans.