1 XXIX. For the sake of giving confidence] “Fidei causâ.” “"In order that Jugurtha might have confidence in Bestia, Sextius the quæstor was sent as a sort of hostage into one of Jugurtha's towns."” Cortius.
2 As if by an evident majority of voices] “Quasi per saturam exquisitis sententiis.” "The opinions being taken in a confused manner," or, as we say, in the lump. The sense manifestly is, that there was (or was said to be) such a preponderating majority in Jugurtha's favor, that it was not necessary to ask the opinion of each individual in order. Satura, which some think to be always an adjective, with lanx understood, though lanx, according to Scheller, is never found joined with it in ancient authors, was a plate filled with various kinds of fruit, such as was annually offered to the gods. "Lanx plena diversis frugibus in templum Cereris infertur, quæ satura nomine appellatur," Acron. ad Hor. Sat i. 1, init. "Lanx, referta variis multisque primitiis, sacris Cereris inferebatur," Diomed., iii. p. 483. "Satura, cibi genus ex variis rebus conditum," Festus sub voce. See Casaubon. de Rom. Satirâ, ii. 4; Kritzius ad h. 1., and Scheller's Lex. v., Satur. In the Pref. to Justinian's Pandects, that work is called opus sparsim et quasi per saturam collectum, utile cum inutilibus mixtim.
3 To preside at the election of magistrates] “Ad magistratus rogandos.” The presiding magistrate had to ask the consent of the people, saying Velitis, jubeatis--rogo Quirites.
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