XXXV.
Et proximo senatus die Tiberius per litteras, (per litteras: per + acc. can be used as an alternative to the abl. of instrument.) castigatis oblique patribus quod cuncta curarum ad principem reicerent, (castigatis oblique patribus quod cuncta curarum ad principem reicerent: abl. abs. with dependent causal clause: ‘the senators being taken to task because they handed over to him all the cares of the empire’; quod is here with subjunctive in that the reason given reflects the thought of Tiberius (virtual oratio obliqua).) M’. Lepidum et Iunium Blaesum (M’. Lepidum et Iunium Blaesum: M. Lepidus is generally identified as Manius Lepidus, the defender of Lepida in ch. 22, and also mentioned in ch. 32. Junius Blaesus was the commander of the Pannonian army in Book 1, ch. 16 ff. The two candidates were Tiberius’ answer to the senators’ decision (in ch. 32) to have him choose the next governor of Africa.) nominavit ex quis pro consule Africae legeretur. (ex quis pro consule Africae legeretur: subjunctive in relative clause expressing purpose (cf. A.G. 531, 2., 533); quis is an old form of quibus.) tum audita amborum verba, intentius excusante se Lepido, (intentius excusante se Lepido: abl. abs.: ‘Lepidus quite firmly excusing himself’; intentius: is comparative absolute: cf. note for saepius in principibus adeunda saepius longinqua imperii in previous chapter.) cum valetudinem corporis, aetatem liberum, nubilem filiam obtenderet, intellegereturque etiam quod silebat, (cum … obtenderet, intellegereturque etiam quod silebat: lit. ‘since he alleged …, and even what he did not say was understood …’; cum is here probably causal, rather than temporal (narrative cum), both requiring subjunctive. quod silebat is explanatory (see G. 626 and A.G. 572) avunculum esse Seiani Blaesum atque eo praevalidum. respondit Blaesus specie recusantis sed neque eadem adseveratione et consensu adulantium adiutus est. (respondit Blaesus specie recusantis sed neque eadem adseveratione et consensu adulantium adiutus est: ‘Blaesus replied under pretense of refusing, but not with the same forcefulness [as Lepidus] and the concerted approval of his flatterers helped him [to accept].’ adiutus est: some editions have haud adiutus est or even haud iutus est, in which case the meaning is ‘he was not supported by the approval of his flatterers, [who did not believe that his refusal was sincere].’)