1 XCIV. Those who commanded the centuries] “Illi qui centuriis prœerant.” This is the reading of several manuscripts; and of almost all the editions before that of Kritzius, and may be tolerated if we suppose that the centurions were attended by their men, and that Sallust, in speaking of the change of dress, meant to include the men, although he specifies only the officers. Yet it is difficult to conceive why Sallust should have used such a periphrase for centuriones. Seven of the manuscripts, however, have qui adscensuri crant, which Kritzius and Dietsch have adopted. Two have qui ex centuriis prœerant. Allen, not unhappily, conjectures, qui prœsidio erant. Cortius suspected the phrase, qui centuriis prœerant, and thought it a transformation of the words qui adscensuris prœerat, which somebody had written in the margin as an explanation of the following word duce, and which were afterward altered and thrust into the text.
2 Progress--might be less impeded] “Nisus--faciliùs foret.” The adverb for the adjective. So in the speech of Adherbal, c. 14, ut tutiùs essem.
3 Unsafe] “Dubia nisu.” " Not to be depended upon for support." Nisu is the old dative for nisui.
4 Causing a testudo to be formed] “Testudine actâ.” The soldiers placed their shields over their heads, and joined them close together, forming a defense like the shell of a tortoise.
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