[157] Fas est, not “sit,” as ‘teneor’ shows. ‘I am free to break my oath of fealty to the Greeks.’ The literal meaning appears to be, ‘the rights of the Greeks sanctioned (by oath),’ “sacratum ius” being equivalent, according to Serv., to “sacramentum” or “iusiurandum,” the military oath. Thus Sinon successively disclaims all former obligations as a soldier, as a friend, as a colleague and confidant, and as a citizen. ‘Resolvere iura’ 4. 27.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of Virgil, with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. Late Corpus Professor of Latin in the University of Oxford. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane. 1876.
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