LXVIII.
Per idem tempus Vonones, quem amotum in Ciliciam memoravi, corruptis custodibus effugere ad Armenios, inde Albanos Heniochosque et consanguineum sibi regem Scytharum (Albanos Heniochosque … Scytharum: the Albani were settled on the west coast of the Caspian sea and on both sides of the Caucasus mountains; the Heniochi were south of the Caucasus along the coast of the Black sea; the Scythians were north of the Caucasus in southern Russia.) conatus est. specie venandi (specie venandi: ‘on pretence of hunting’) omissis maritimis locis avia saltuum petiit, mox pernicitate equi ad amnem Pyramum contendit, (avia saltuum petiit, mox pernicitate equi ad amnem Pyramum contendit: he reached the impervious forests of the interior and soon arrived at the river Pyramus, thanks to the speed of his horse.’ pernicitate: abl. of cause; ad amnem Pyramum: the river Pyramus, which has its source in Taurus mountains of Cappadocia and its mouth on the coast of eastern Cilicia, east of Mersin. Its modern name is Ceyhan.) cuius pontes accolae ruperant audita regis fuga, neque vado penetrari poterat. igitur in ripa fluminis a Vibio Frontone praefecto equitum vincitur, mox Remmius evocatus, priori custodiae regis adpositus, (evocatus, priori custodiae regis adpositus: evocatus is said of a senior soldier, who, having completed his years of service, is invited to continue to serve: ‘a veteran soldier previously assigned to the custody of the king’) quasi per iram gladio cum transigit. (quasi per iram gladio cum transigit: ‘he ran him trough with his sword, as if in a rage.’ In later writer quasi is often found meaning ‘under pretence of …’, pretending that …’ (Ernout); gladio cum = cum gladio, abl. of means or of manner) unde maior fides conscientia sceleris et metu indicii mortem Vononi inlatam. (unde maior fides conscientia sceleris et metu indicii mortem Vononi inlatam [esse] : lit. ‘hence, a greater belief that Vonones’ murder had been carried out because of the complicity of the crime and fear of exposure.’ conscientia sceleris: ‘from collusion in the crime’; metu indicii: ‘ from fear of detection’)