2.
decrevit: translate, to preserve the emphasis, there was once a decree, etc. ut . . . videret, subst. clause of purp., obj. of decrevit: § 563 (331); B. 295, 4; G. 546; H. 564, i (498); H-B. 502, 3, a. Opimius: Lucius Opimius was consul B.C. 121, when Caius Gracchus, the younger brother of Tiberius, was attempting to carry through a series of measures far more revolutionary than those of his brother. The Senate took alarm, and entrusted the consul with absolute power. In the tumult that ensued, some 3,000 are said to have lost their lives, including Gracchus and his leading associate, Fulvius. ne . . . caperet, obj. of videret. interfectus est (emphat.), i.e. in that case death was promptly inflicted. patre: Tiberius Gracchus, the elder, one of the most eminent statesmen of his day. avo: Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal. Mario (dat. after permissa): this was in Marius' sixth consulship (B.C. 100). He was secretly in league with the revolutionists, —Saturninus and Servilius Glaucia, corrupt demagogues, unworthy imitators of the noble Gracchi. When it came to the point, however, the courage of Marius failed him: he deserted his accomplices, and joined the Senate in crushing the revolt. rei publicae: poss. gen., the punishment being looked on as something belonging to the party avenged, and exacted from the other party as a payment due. remorata est (governing Saturninum, etc.), keep Saturninus and Servilius waiting, i.e. did they have to wait one day, etc.? vicesimum: strictly speaking, it was now (Nov. 6) the 19th day by Roman reckoning from Oct. 21; cf. § 424, c (259, c); G. 336, R.1 patimur: for tense, see § 466 (276, a); B. 259, 4; G. 230; H. 532, 2 (467, 2); H.-B. 485. horum, i.e. the Senate. hujusce modi, i.e. like those just mentioned; § 146, a, N.1 (101, footnote); B. 87, footnote 2; G. 104, I, N.1; H. 178, 3 (186, I); H.-B. 138, 2, c. tabulis: brazen tablets, on which the laws, etc., were inscribed. The edict is said to be shut up in them (until put in force), like a sword hidden in its scabbard. interfectum esse: § 486, b and N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, 2; H-B. 582, 31 a, footnote 2 convenit, perf.: § 522, a (311, c); B. 304,3, a; G. 254, a.1; H. 583(511, I, N.1); H-B. 582,3, a. ad deponendam, etc.: § 506 (300); B. 338, 3; G. 432; H. 628, 623 (542, iii, 544, I); H.-B. 384, 3, a. cupio (emphat.), I am anxious: a concession, opposed by sed, below. me esse: § 563, b, I (331, b, N.); B. 331, iv, a; G. 532, R.2; H. 614 (535, ii); H.-B. 586, b. dissolutum, arbitrary. ipse: Latin in such cases emphasizes the subject; English, the object; § 298,f(195, 1); B. 249, 2; G. 311, 2; H. 509, I (452, I); H-B. 268. inertiae: § 352 (220); B. 228, 2; G. 378; H. 456 (409, U); H.-B. 342.
castra sunt, etc.: an enumeration of the circumstances which make a mild policy no longer possible. faucibus, narrow pass, leading north from Etruria, through the Apennines. conlocata: § 495 (291, b); B. 337, 2; G. 250, a.2; H. 538, 4 (47 I, 6, N.1); H.-B. 320, iii, 248. jam, at once. erit verendum, etc., I shall have to fear, I suppose (ironical), that all good citizens will fail to say (lit. will not say) that I have acted too late rather than that anybody will say that I have acted too cruelly, i.e. I shall have to fear that I shall be accused of cruelty rather than slackness. ne non . . . dicat: § 564 (331,f); B. 296, 2, a; G. 550, 2; H. 567, 2 (498, iii, N.2); H.-B. 502, 4. boni (sc. dicant): here, as usual, the well-intentioned, i.e. those who held the speaker's views. ego: opposed to omnes boni (1.19, above). factum esse: § 486, b and N. (288, d); B. 270, 2, a; G. 280, a.2; H.-B. 582, 3, a, footnote 2. oportuit: § 522, a (311, c) ; B. 304, 3, a; G. 597, a.3, a; H. 583 (51 I, I, N.') ; H-B. 582, 3, a. denique, i.e. then, and not before. jam, at length. fateatur: for mood, see § 537, 2 (319, 2); B. 284, 2; G. 631, I; H. 589, ii, 591 (509, 1); H.-B. 521, I.
ita ut vivis, just as you are [now] living. ne . . . possis: purpose (not result). etiam, besides the forces on guard. speculabuntur: probably referring to the spies in the interest of the government, who were in the very heart of the conspiracy.
