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.
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Select Orations of. Cicero. Allen and Greenough's Edition. Revised by J. B. Greenough and G. L. Kittredge, with a special vocabulary by J. B. Greenough.
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