LV.
Druso Caesare C. Norbano consulibus (Druso Caesare C. Norbano consulibus: the assumption of office by the two new consuls marks the end of 14 A.D. and the start of 15 A.D. The two previous consuls were Sextus Pompeius and Sextus Apuleius. See ch. 7.) decernitur Germanico triumphus manente bello; quod quamquam in aestatem summa ope parabat, (quamquam …parabat: an exception to Tacitus’ regular use of subjunctive after quamquam) initio veris et repentino in Chattos excursu (initio veris et repentino in Chattos excursu: ‘at the outset of spring and with a sudden incursion against the Chatti …’: abl. of time when and abl. of instrument respectively; the use of et between the two is peculiarly Tacitean: cf. orto die et vocata contione in ch. 29. The Chatti were settled in the Hessen-Nassau region east of Wiesbaden on the Rhine, as far as, and well into, the Hercynian Forest. Cf. Germania, ch. 30-31.) praecepit. (manente bello, quod … praecepit: abl. abs. with dependent relative clause: ‘the war still lingering, which [Germanicus] hurried forward by …’) nam spes incesserat dissidere hostem in Arminium ac Segestem, insignem utrumque perfidia in nos aut fide. (dissidere hostem in Arminium ac Segestem, insignem utrumque perfidia in nos aut fide: ‘that the enemy was divided in regard to Arminiun and Segestes, each of the two well known for his perfidy or loyalty towards us’) Arminius turbator Germaniae, (Arminius turbator Germaniae: Arminius was the son of Segimerus major, one of four brothers dominating the tribe of the Cherusci (the other three being Segimerus minor, Iguiomerus, and Segestes). He became the hero of German independence, in the way Vercingetorix had been for France. Tacitus pays him a moving tribute in ch. 88 of Book 2 of the Annals.) Segestes parari rebellionem saepe alias et supremo convivio, post quod in arma itum, aperuit (saepe alias et supremo convivio, post quod in arma itum, aperuit: lit. ‘Segestes revealed that a revolt was being prepared, often on different occasions (saepe alias), but particularly (et) at the last banquet, after which it was rushed to arms’; et in Tacitus may have on occasion slightly adversative force, depending on context (Ernout). itum [est] is impersonal use of the passive of an intransitive verb) suasitque Varo ut (suasitque Varo ut …: suadeo is most often with dat. of person; here is followed by complementary purpose clause, but also found with infinitive.) se et Arminium et ceteros proceres vinciret: nihil ausuram plebem principibus amotis; atque ipsi tempus fore quo crimina et innoxios discerneret. (nihil ausuram plebem principibus amotis atque ipsi tempus fore quo crimina et innoxios discerneret: oratio obliqua introduced by an implied verb of saying and reflecting Segestes’ thought and words; ipsi is dat. of possessor with fore: ‘he himself (i.e. Varus) would have the time in which to sort out the criminals and the innocent.’ The relative clause with quo has final sense; crimina et innoxios: Tacitus is fond of pairing neuter abstract nouns in the plural with nouns designating persons. Not for him the predictable noxios et innoxios (Furneaux).) sed Varus fato et vi Armini cecidit; Segestes quamquam consensu gentis in bellum tractus (quamquam … tractus: the adverbial use of quamquam in combination with a participle is post classical; cf. G. 609, Note 1.) discors manebat, auctis privatim odiis, quod Arminius filiam eius (filiam eius: not filiam suam, in that Segestes in not the subject of the clause.) alii pactam rapuerat: gener invisus inimici soceri; quaeque apud concordes vincula caritatis, incitamenta irarum (incitamenta irarum: partitive genitives after neuter plurals are characteristic of Tacitus, as obstantia silvarum, ardua Alpium, cuncta curarum, diversa omnium, and others. The usage is rare in other authors, except the poets.) apud infensos erant.