XXXVI.
Et certamen Gallo adversus Caesarem exortum est. (et certamen Gallo adversus Caesarem exortum est: ‘a dispute against Tiberius presented itself to Gallus.’) nam censuit in quinquennium magistratuum comitia habenda, utque legionum legati, qui ante praeturam ea militia fungebantur, iam tum praetores destinarentur, princeps duodecim candidatos in annos singulos nominaret. (censuit in quinquennium magistratuum comitia habenda, utque legionum legati, qui ante praeturam ea militia fungebantur, iam tum praetores destinarentur, princeps duodecim candidatos in annos singulos nominaret: ‘[Gallus] proposed that the election of magistrates should be had every five years and that (ut) the legates of legions who were serving in that capacity before being praetors should even then (iam tum) be designated praetors, and the prince nominate twelve candidates each year.’ The proposal was an attempt to restrict Tiberius’ power to do as he pleased, and also a test to see if he really was as liberal as he wanted to appear. in annos singulos: ‘annually’, ‘each year’ ) haud dubium erat eam sententiam altius penetrare (haud dubium erat eam sententiam altius penetrare: ‘there was no doubt that [Gallus’] proposal probed deeper’; haud dubium erat: negative expressions of doubt, such as non dubium est or haud dubium est, followed by acc. + infinitive, in place of quin + subjunctive, began to appear with Livy and later writers (Allen).) et arcana imperii (arcana imperii: ‘the secret workings of imperial power’) temptari. Tiberius tamen, quasi augeretur potestas eius, disseruit: grave moderationi suae tot eligere, tot differre. (grave moderationi suae [esse] tot eligere, tot differre: in oratio obliqua after disseruit: ‘that to elect so many, to disappoint so many was a disagreeable trial to his sense of fairness’; the neutral grave may be use of adjective as a noun: ‘a grievous burden’.) vix per singulos annos offensiones vitari, quamvis repulsam propinqua spes soletur: (quamvis repulsam propinqua spes soletur: ‘even though the near hope [of future office] might alleviate the defeat’; soletur is repraesentatio for solaretur after the historical disseruit. Cf. G. 654 and N., 656 N. 1, A.G. 469. N. and 585. b. and N. The same is true for proiciantur below and for agitent father down.) quantum odii fore ab iis qui ultra quinquennium proiciantur? unde prospici posse quae cuique tam longo temporis spatio mens, domus, fortuna? (quantum odii fore ab iis qui ultra quinquennium proiciantur? unde prospici posse quae cuique tam longo temporis spatio mens, domus, fortuna?: the two indirect questions introduced by quantum and unde are rhetorical, hence equivalent to statements, thus infinitive in oratio obliqua: ‘how much resentment would there be from those who are put off for more than a luster? Whence could the mental attitude, the domestic situation, the financial status, that each of them has, be foreseen over such a long interval of time?’ quantum odii: partitive genitive after the neuter quantum; ultra quinquennium is acc. of time duration; quae cuique: cuique is dat. of possessor with implied esset or foret: ‘which each candidate might have ’.) superbire homines etiam annua designatione: quid si honorem per quinquennium agitent? (quid si honorem per quinquennium agitent?: indirect question introduced by quid si: ‘what if they had five years in which to strut about?’ For agitent see note for quamvis repulsam propinqua spes soletur above.) quinquiplicari prorsus magistratus, subverti leges, quae sua spatia exercendae candidatorum industriae quaerendisque aut potiundis honoribus statuerint. (quinquiplicari prorsus magistratus, subverti leges, quae sua spatia exercendae candidatorum industriae quaerendisque aut potiundis honoribus statuerint: exercendae candidatorum industriae quaerendisque aut potiundis honoribus: use of dative gerundive to express, purpose, intention, obligation: ‘more than that (prorsus), the number of magistrates would be multiplied five times and the laws that had prescribed a time frame for the candidates’ merits to be proven, for honors to be pursued or won would be set at naught.’ The perfect subjunctive statuerint, in place of statuissent, reflects the perfect indicative that would be used if the clause were independent.) favorabili in speciem oratione vim imperii tenuit. (favorabili in speciem oratione vim imperii tenuit: ‘with this oration, in appearance conciliatory, he retained hold of his power.’)