Tacitus 4.8-4.11

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igitur Seianus maturandum ratus, deligit venenum quo paulatim inrepente fortitus morbus adsimularetur
Therefore Sejanus thinking that he must hurry, he chose a poison which creeping in little-by-little might be represented as an accidental disease
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id Druso datum per Lygdum spadonem, ut octo post annos cognitum est.
It was given to Drusus by Lygdus, a ******, as was ascertained eight years later.
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ceterum Tiberius per omnis valetudinis eius dies, nullo metu an ut firmitudinem animi ostentaret
But Tiberius, through all his (Drusus') days of illness, either because he had no fear or to show his strength of mind
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etiam defuncto necdum sepulto, curiam ingressus est.
even when he (Drusus) was dead and not yet buried, he went to the Senate house.
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consulesque sede vulgari per speciem maestitiae sedenteis honoris locique admonuit,
And he reminded the consuls, sitting on the ordinary benches for a false show of their sadness, of their office and station;
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et effusum in lacrimas senatum, victo gemitu simul oratione continua erexit:
and when the Senate burst into tears, overcoming a groan he at the same time raised (their spirits) with a fluid speech
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non quidem sibi ignarum posse argui quod tam recenti dolore subierit oculos senatus:
"it was not indeed unknown to him that he could be criticized on the grounds that he had come under the eyes of the senate following so recent a grief:
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vix propinquorum adloquia tolerari, vix diem aspici a plerisque lugentium
words of relatives could scarcely be tolerated, the day could scarcely be looked at by the majority of mourners.
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neque illos imbecillitatis damnados: se tamen fortiora solacia e complexu rei publicae petivisse.
Nor should those (sort of people) be condemned of weakness: but he had sought a stronger solace in the embrace of the republic."
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miseratusque Augustae extremam senectam, rudem adhuc nepotum et vergentem aetatem suam,
And pitying the extreme age of Augusta, the tender (years) of his grandsons and his own declining years,
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ut Germanici liberai, unica praesentium malorum levamenta, inducerentur petivit.
he begged that Germanicus's children, the only reliefs of the present evils, be led in.
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egressi consules firmatos adloquio adulescentulos deductosque ante Caesarem statuunt.
The consuls went out and the young persons encourage by an address and led back in, they stand them before Caesar.
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quibus adprenisis 'patres conscripti, hos' inquit 'orbatos parente tradidi patruo ipsorum precatusque sum,
Taking them (by the hand) he said "Conscripted fathers, I hand over these (boys) deprived of their father to their own uncle and I prayed him,
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quamquam esset illi propia suboles, ne secus quam suum sanguinem foveret, attolleret, sibique et posteris conformaret.
although he had his own children, to cherish, raise and strengthen (them) for himself and for posterity not other than his own blood.
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erepto Druso, preces ad vos converto disque et patria coram obtestor:
With Drusus snatched away, I turn my prayers to you, and beseech (you) in the presence of the gods and your country:
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Augusti pronepotes, clarissimis maioribus genitos, suscipite, regite, vestram meamque vicem explete.
the great-grandsons of Augustus, born from most famous ancestors, take (them) up, guide (them), play your part and mine.
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hi vobis, Nero et Druse, parentum loco. ita nati estis bona malaque vestra ad rem publicam petineant.'//
To you, Nero and Drusus, these (senators) (Are) in place of your father(s). You were born in such a way that your good and bad pertain to the state."
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magno ea fletu et mox precationibus faustis audita; ac si modum orationi posuisset,
These things were heard with great weeping, and then with suitable prayers; and if he could have put a limit to his speech,
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misericordia sui gloriaque animos audientium impleverat: ad vana et totiens inrisa revolutus
he would have filled the hearts of his hearers with compassion and glory/pride: (but) falling back to (those) empty and so often ridiculed (remarks),
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de reddenda re publica utque consules seu quid alius regimen susciperent,
about restoring the republic and (the wish) that the consuls or someone else might undertake the management (of government),
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vero quoque et honesto fidem dempsit. memoriae Drusi eadem quae in Germanicum deceruntur,
took away the belief even in what was genuine and honourable. The same things (honours) were decreed to the memory of Drusus as to that unto Germanicus,
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plerisque additis, ut ferme amat posterior adulatio, funus imaginum pompa maxime inlustre fuit,
and many more were added, as flattery usually loves a repeat performance, the funeral with its procession of death-masks was especially distinguished.
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cum origo Iuliae gentis Aeneas omnesque Albanorum reges et conditor urbis Romulus,
when the origin of the Julian family, Aeneas and all the kings of the Albans and Rome's founder Romulus,
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post Sabina nobilitas, Attus Clausus ceteraeque Claudiorum effigies longo ordine spectarentur.//
behind (them) the Sabine nobility, Attus Clausus, and the other statues of the Claudii were watched in a long procession.//
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in tradenda morte Drusi, quae plurimis maximaeque fidei auctoribus memorata sunt rettuli:
in reporting the death of Drusus, I have recorded the things which are mentioned by most of the most trust-worthy authors.
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set non omiserim eorundem temporum rumorem validum adeo ut nondum exolescat.
But I would not omit a rumour of the same time, strong to such an extent that it has not yet died away.
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corrupta ad scelus Livia Seianum Lydgi quoque spadonis animum stupro vinxisse,
(It is said that) Sejanus, with Livia corrupted into crime also won the heart of Lydgus, the ******, by (some act of) perverted sexual intercourse,
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quod is Lydgus aetate atque forma carus domino interque primores ministros erat;
because he Lydgus owing to his youth and beauty was dear to his master (Drusus), and was among his foremost attendants;
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deinde inter conscios ubi locus veneficii tempusque composita sint,
next when the place and time of poisoning had been settled on among those in the secret,
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eo audaciae provectum ut verteret
he (Sejanus), carried away to such a point of boldness that he reversed (his plan)
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et occulto indicio (in) Drusum veneni in patrem arguens moneret Tiberium vitandum potionem quae prima ei apud filium epulanti offerretur.
and accusing Drusus with secret information of (an act of) poison against his father warned Tiberius that he should avoid the draught which would be offered first to him as he was dining at his son's house.
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ea fraude captum senem, postquam convivium inierat
Taken-in by this trick, the old man, after he had gone to the banquet
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exceptum poculum Druso tradidisse; atque illo ignaro et iuveniliter hauriente auctam suspicionem,
took the cup and handed it to Drusus; and the fact that he (Drusus) drained it all unknowing and in the manner of youth increased his (Tib) suspicion
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tamquam metu et pudore sibimet inrogaret mortem quam patri struxerat.//
as if out of fear and shame soliciting for himself the death which he had plotted for his father.//
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haec vulgo iactata super id quod nullo auctore certo firmantur prompte refutaveris
These things tossed around by the mob, (over and) above the fact that they are confirmed by no good writer, you can promptly refute (them).
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quis enim mediocri prudentia, nedum Tiberius tanti rebus exercitus,
For who, with moderate prudence, much less Tiberius trained in such great matters,
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inaudito filio exitium offerret, idque sua manu et nullo ad paenitendum regressu?
would offer destructuon to an unheard son, and that with his own hand, and with no going-back to repentance?
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quin ptius ministrum veneni excruciaret, auctorem exquireret,
Why nor rather torture the minister of poison, seek out the author,
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insita denique etiam in extraneos cunctatione et more adversum unicum et nullius ante flagitii compertum uteretur?
finally with his innate hesitation and delay even unto strangers (why not) adopt (the same mode of beahviour) against an only (son) discovered/caught out in no disgrace before?
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sed quia Seianus facinorum omnium repertor habebatur,
But because Sejanus was considered as the devisor of every kind of crime,
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ex niia caritate in eum Caesaris et ceterorum in utrumque odio quamvis fabulosa et immania credebantur,
out of (the fact that) there was too much love unto him on the part of Caesar and (too much) hatred against both on the part of everyone else (such things) although incredible and monstrous were believed,
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atrociore semper fama erga dominantium exitus.
and rumour always goes with a more atrocious (spin) in regard to the deaths of men in power.
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ordo alioqui sceleris per Apicatam Seiani proditus tormentis Eudemi ac Lydgi patefactus est.
Besides, the process of the crime was betrayed by Apicata, Sejanus's wife, and revealed by the torture of Eudemus and Lydgus.
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neque quisquam scriptor tam infensus extitit ut Tiberio obiectaret,
Nor has any writer at all appeared so hostile as to accuse Tiberius,
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cum omnia alia conquirerent intenderentque.
although they sought out and maintained every other (circumstance).
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mihi tradendi arguendique rumoris causa fuit ut
The reason for me reporting and impeaching (this) rumour is that
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claro sub exemplo flasa auditiones depellerem peteremque ab iis quorum in manus cura nostra venerit
by (under) this clear example I should write down false hearsay and seek from those into whose hands my painstaking (research) shall come,
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ne divulgata atque incredibilia avide accepta (sint) veris
not to greedibly prefer the vulgar gossip and incredible things accepted (in preference) to true (things)
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neque in miraculum corruptis antehabeant.
nor prefer (such true things) corrupted into a miracle.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

It was given to Drusus by Lygdus, a ******, as was ascertained eight years later.

Back

id Druso datum per Lygdum spadonem, ut octo post annos cognitum est.

Card 3

Front

But Tiberius, through all his (Drusus') days of illness, either because he had no fear or to show his strength of mind

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

even when he (Drusus) was dead and not yet buried, he went to the Senate house.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

And he reminded the consuls, sitting on the ordinary benches for a false show of their sadness, of their office and station;

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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