XXXII.
Neque multo post missis ad senatum litteris Tiberius motam rursum Africam incursu Tacfarinatis docuit, iudicioque patrum deligendum pro consule gnarum militiae, corpore validum et bello suffecturum. (iudicioque patrum deligendum pro consule gnarum militiae, corpore validum et bello suffecturum: ‘that at the discretion of the fathers a proconsul was to be chosen knowledgeable of military service, strong in body, and able to meet the future needs of war’; pro consule is an alternate form of proconsul; iudicio is abl. of manner or means; corpore is abl, of specification, ’strong as to the body’; bello is dat. with sufficio.) quod initium Sex. Pompeius agitandi adversus Marcum Lepidum odii nanctus, (quod initium Sex. Pompeius agitandi adversus Marcum Lepidum odii nanctus: ‘Sextus Pompeius, grasping this moment (quod initium) for venting his hate against Marcus Lepidus, …’; Sextus Pompeius, mentioned earlier in Book 1, ch. 7 and Book 2, ch. 11, was consul for the year 14 A.D. He may have been a distant relative of Augustus. As for Marcus Lepidus. he is often confused with his second cousin Manius Lepidus (cf. Book 1, ch. 13 and ch. 35 ahead), especially when the praenomen is not given in full. Both Marcus and Manius were descendants of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, consul in 78 B.C. agitandi odii: use of genitive gerundive to denote purpose: see note for praebuit iuveni materiem apiscendi favoris in previous chapter.) ut socordem, inopem et maioribus suis dedecorum eoque etiam Asiae sorte depellendum incusavit, (eoque etiam Asiae sorte depellendum incusavit: ‘for that reason, [Sextus] even complained that Lepidus should be disqualified from the drawing of lots for Asia.’ Lepidus, foremost in seniority among the ex-consuls (having held the consulate in 6 A.D.), had the choice of the senatorial provinces of Africa and Asia, to be determined by lot between him and the man next in seniority. The ex-consul for Africa, however, was now to be chosen by selection (iudicio patrum), in keeping with Tiberius’ mandate, so Asia should have fallen to Lepidus, unless Sextus had his way.) adverso senatu qui (adverso senatu qui …: abl. abs. with dependent rel. cause: ‘the senate being opposed, who …’) Lepidum mitem magis quam ignavum, paternas ei angustias et nobilitatem sine probro actam honori quam ignominiae habendam ducebat. (paternas ei angustias [esse] et nobilitatem sine probro actam honori [potius] quam ignominiae habendam ducebat: lit. ‘[the senate] directed that penury was to Lepidus (ei) inherited, and that his noble name, carried without a blot, should be held rather to his credit than to his shame.’ ei is dat. of possessor with implied esse; honori and ignominiae are datives of purpose.) igitur missus in Asiam et de Africa decretum ut Caesar legeret cui mandanda foret. (ut Caesar legeret cui mandanda foret: foret is subjunctive by modal attraction in relative clause dependent on purpose clause with ut (cf. G. 663 and A.G. 593.): lit. ‘to the end that Caesar might choose the man who should have the task to be carried out’; cui is dat. of possessor with foret. See note for Caesaribus …privignis …avo in ch. 29.)