Matheson Collection > Cornelli Taciti annalium

BOOK XV. CH. 54, § 4 — CH. 58, §§ 1-3
Claudius carried on the practice in spite of an oath at his accession
to abstain from it (Dio) ; it would still be regarded as a tyrannical
innovation, though in later times jurists recognized its legality.
(For ' maiestas ' see xiv 48, 2.)
arguendi peritior, ' more of an adept in accusation.'
infensus: cf. xiv 52, 2.
§ 4. excusarent : to show that their reluctance to disclose was
natural.
Aciliam : according to the anonymous Life of Lucan she was
a na'jve of Corduba and daughter of Aciliui Lucanus, one of the
famous orators of that place.
Galium . . . Pollionem: both exiled, ch. 71,6. The latter married
the daughter of Soranus (xvi 30, 4), who was forced to commit
suicide on a charge of plotting in the interest of Rubellius Plautus.
Ch. 57, § I. attineri, ' was in custody,' so xiii 15,4.
§ 2. eo acrius, &c., ' increasing her pains, so as not to be defied
by a woman.'
pervicere, (Sic, ' broke down her denial of what she was taxed
with.'
contemptus: explained by ' spernerentur ' above = ' was disre-
garded,' ' proved fruitless.' primus dies : pregnant for ' tormenta
primi diei' (Intr. II 61).
§ 3. gestamine sellae : so xiv 4, 6.
dissolutis, 'dislocated,' from the rack.
vinelo fasciae . . . restricto, ' tying the band.' ' Fascia,' a band
worn by women over the breast.
arcum sellae : the arched frame of the chair.
clariore, «S:c., ' showing an example all the more noble, freed-
woman as she was, in shielding strangers and persons almost
unknown to her, in spite of such frightful pressure.' ' Clariore
exemplo ' is an adverbial adjunct to the action of the preceding
verb, and so far maybe regarded as a kind of ablative absolute ; at
the same time, owing to its position, it may also be regarded as
ablative of quality with ' libertina mulier.' protegendo = ' dum
protegit,' cf. ' percursando,' xv 8, 3. (See also Intr. II 22.) ' Cum'
introduces the contrast to ' clariore,' which here has the force of
' eo clariore.' viri has its distinct force, answering to ' mulier,'
as ' ingenui ' to ' libertina.'
§ 4. passim, ' one after another.'
Ch. 58, § I. maii: at Ostfa. amne : the landing-places along
the river.
§ 2. Germanis : horsemen of this nation had been included in
the imperial bodyguard as early as the reign of Augustus. Some
had formed part of Agrippina's retinue, xiii 18, 4.
quasi externis, ' as being foreigners ' ; ' quasi ' = a)y : cf. ch. 33, 2.
§ 3. eontinua, &c., ' afterwards there were incessant groups of
chained prisoners being led along and kept waiting at the gates of
the (Servilian) gardens.'
ubi . . . introisseat : frequentative, cf. Intr. II 41.
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