XXIV.
Haec audita quamquam abstrusum (quamquam abstrusum: ‘however reserved’: unlike classical writers, Tacitus show no hesitation in using quamquam adverbially to modify adjectives or participles.) et tristissima quaeque maxime occultantem Tiberium perpulere, ut Drusum filium cum primoribus civitatis duabusque praetoriis cohortibus mitteret, nullis satis certis mandatis, ex re consulturum. (nullis satis certis mandatis, ex re consulturum: ‘the instructions not being sufficiently clear: he was to decide on measures from what he saw’; consulturum, which refers to Drusus, is acc. in indirect speech introduced by a verb of saying to be inferred from mandatis: ‘[he was told] he was to act in accordance with …’. ex re: ‘according to circumstances’; note the homoeoteleuton, the four-time repetition of the same word ending in the abl. abs. nullis satis certis mandatis.) et cohortes delecto milite supra solitum firmatae. additur magna pars praetoriani equitis et robora Germanorum, (robora Germanorum: ‘the muscle of the German troops’, mainly Batavi auxiliaries.) qui tum custodes imperatori aderant; simul praetorii praefectus Aelius Seianus, (Aelius Seianus: first mention in the Annales of a man who was to play a major role in the reign of Tiberius) collega Straboni patri suo datus, magna apud Tiberium auctoritate, rector iuveni et ceteris periculorum praemiorumque ostentator. (rector iuveni et ceteris periculorum praemiorumque ostentator: iuveni and ceteris are dat. of interest, as is imperatori further back.; the genitive iuvenis is more the norm with rector. It is uncertain whether ceteris refers to the seditious legions or to Drusus’ escort. Most commentators favor the latter alternative.) Druso propinquanti quasi per officium obviae fuere legiones, (Druso propinquanti quasi per officium obviae fuere legiones: Druso propinquante is dat. with obviae: ‘the legions went to meet the approaching Drusus as if to discharge an obligation’. per + acc. is found in set phrases of adverbial force, e.g. per iocum, per speciem, per vim; cf. G. 399, Note 1.) non laetae, ut adsolet, neque insignibus fulgentes, sed inluvie deformi et vultu, (inluvie deformi: ‘repulsive from filth’) quamquam maestitiam imitarentur (quamquam … imitarentur: Tacitus regularly uses subjunctive after quamquam.) contumaciae propiores.