IX.
Tunc distractis Orientis viribus et quonam inclinarent incertis, (tunc distractis Orientis viribus et quonam inclinarent incertis: abl. abs.: ‘at that moment (tunc) the forces of the Orient having been pulled in different directions and still uncertain to which side they would incline, ….’; the interrogative quonam brings in an indirect question with subjunctive.) casus Mithridati datus est occupandi Armeniam, (casus Mithridati datus est occupandi Armeniam: ‘the opportunity was given to Mithridates of occupying Armenia.’ Objective genitive gerund after a noun with Armeniam as direct object. The genitive is one of only two cases of the gerund allowing a direct object, the other being abl. without preposition.) vi militis Romani ad excindenda castellorum ardua, simul Hibero exercitu campos persultante. (vi militis Romani ad excindenda castellorum ardua, simul Hibero exercitu campos persultante: lit. ‘with a force of Roman soldiery to subdue the difficult to reach places of the fortresses, the Iberian army at the same time ranging about the plains’; Hibero exercitu … persultante is abl. abs. ad excidenda castellorum ardua: lit. ‘the mountainous redoubts to be suppressed’; use of ad + gerundive where the gerund with a direct object (here ad excidendum ardua) is not acceptable; cf. previous note.) nec enim restitere Armenii, fuso qui proelium ausus erat Demonacte praefecto. (fuso qui proelium ausus erat Demonacte praefecto: abl. abs.: ‘the commander Demonax, who had risked a battle, having been routed, … ‘) paululum cunctationis attulit rex minoris Armeniae Cotys, versis illuc quibusdam procerum; (paululum cunctationis attulit rex minoris Armeniae Cotys, versis illuc quibusdam procerum: ‘the king of Lesser Armenia Cotys created a little delay, certain of the nobles having betaken themselves to him (illuc, adv.) for aid’; versis is passive in form, but with reflexive force; cunctationis is partitive gen. after the neuter paululum. minoris Armeiae: Lesser Armenia or Armenia minor was west of Greater Amenia; today it would be between Turkey and Armenia proper.) dein litteris Caesaris coercitus, et cuncta in Mithridaten fluxere, atrociorem quam novo regno conduceret. (cuncta in Mithridaten fluxere, atrociorem quam novo regno conduceret: ‘everything passed smoothly into the hands of Mithridates, a more despotic [ruler] than would be advisable for a new king.’ conduceret is both impersonal and potential, ’than would be advantageous to … .‘ novo regno is dat. with conduco.) at Parthi imperatores cum pugnam pararent, foedus repente iaciunt cognitis popularium insidiis (at Parthi imperatores cum pugnam pararent, foedus repente iaciunt cognitis popularium insidiis: ‘meanwhile, the Parthian {Gotarzes] and [Vardanes], when they were about to engage, suddenly struck a bargain, having had news of a popular conspiracy.’ cum … pararent: historical or narrative cum + subjunctive. See G. 585. cognitis … insidiis: fifth and last abl. abs. in the chapter: lit. ‘revolts of the populace having been heard of’; the particle at marks a switch in the narrative. Compare with at in at Gotarzes below.) quas Gotarzes fratri patefecit; congressique primo cunctanter, dein complexi dextras apud altaria deum pepigere fraudem inimicorum ulcisci atque ipsi inter se concedere. (congressique primo cunctanter, dein complexi dextras apud altaria deum pepigere … ipsi inter se concedere: ‘first approaching one another hesitantly, then shaking hands, they pledged to make concessions between them.’ congressi and complexi being deponent ( from congredior and complector), the meaning of the perfect participles is active as in English, lit. ‘having approached’ and ‘having shaken’.) potiorque Vardanes visus retinendo regno: (potiorque Vardanes visus retinendo regno: ‘Vardanes was judged more suitable for retaining the crown.’ retinendo regno is dative with potior, lit. ‘better entitled for the kingdom to be kept’) at Gotarzes ne quid aemulationis existeret penitus in Hyrcaniam abiit. (at Gotarzes ne quid aemulationis existeret penitus in Hyrcaniam abiit: ‘while Gotarzes retired deeply into Hyrcania, to avoid any rivalry.’ ne quid aemulationis existeret: negative purpose clause, lit. ‘lest any competition should arise’; quid is in place of aliquid after ne and aemulationis is partitive gen. after the neuter quid. at here denotes contrast between Vardanes and Gotarzes, ‘while’, ‘whereas’, ‘on the other hand’.) regressoque Vardani deditur Seleucia septimo post defectionem anno, (regressoque Vardani deditur Seleucia septimo post defectionem anno: ‘Seleucia gave itself up to the returning Vardanes seven years after its revolt.’ deditur is both reflexive and historical present; septimo post defectionem anno: time before and after is expressed either by the abl. with ante and post either following or interposed (as is the case here), or by acc. preceded by ante or post.) non sine dedecore Parthorum quos una civibas tam diu eluserat.