XXXIX.
At (at: marks a new turn in the narrative.) Seianus nimia fortuna socors et muliebri insuper cupidine incensus, promissum matrimonium flagitante Livia, (promissum matrimonium flagitante Livia: abl. abs.: ‘Livia pressingly demanding the promised marriage’) componit ad Caesarem codicillos: moris quippe tum erat quamquam praesentem scripto adire. (moris quippe tum erat quamquam praesentem scripto adire: quippe is here causal conjunction, like cum, quod, quia, quando, followed by indicative: ‘since it was then the custom to approach him in writing, though present in Rome.’ the use of quamquam and other subordinating conjunctions in a semi-adverbial capacity in participial phrases began at the end of the classical period.) eius talis forma fuit: benevolentia patris Augusti et mox plurimis Tiberii iudiciis ita insuevisse ut spes votaque sua non prius ad deos quam ad principum auris conferret. (ita insuevisse ut spes votaque sua non prius ad deos quam ad principum auris conferret: consecutive sentence with ita…ut and subjunctive in dependent clause; the sentence (as well as the rest of the chapter) is in oratio obliqua after [codicillus] eius talis forma fuit: lit. ‘that he had to such an extent formed a habit, as to confide his hopes and wishes to the ears of the emperor sooner than to the gods’; prius …quam: temporal priusquam, with subjunctive even in direct discourse when signifying intention) neque fulgorem honorum umquam precatum: (neque fulgorem honorum umquam precatum: ‘that he had never asked for the showy sparkle of high office’) excubias ac labores ut unum e militibus pro incolumitate imperatoris malle. ac tamen quod pulcherrimum adeptum, ut coniunctione Caesaris dignus crederetur: (excubias ac labores … malle. ac tamen quod pulcherrimum adeptum, ut coniunctione Caesaris dignus crederetur: lit. ‘that he preferred hard work and long watches, and yet that he had attained the fairest honor of all, to be considered worthy of the family alliance of Caesar’; for the marriage planned between the son of the future emperor Claudius and Sejanus’ daughter see Book 3, Ch. 29. adipiscor is often found followed by ut or ne clause; quod pulcherrimum: supply honorum; coniunctione …dignus: abl. with dignuus or indignus) hinc initium spei. et quoniam audiverit Augustum in conlocanda filia non nihil etiam de equitibus Romanis consultavisse, (quoniam audiverit Augustum in conlocanda filia non nihil etiam de equitibus Romanis consultavisse: subjunctive after quoniam in oratio obliqua: ‘because he had heard that Augustus had also considered some Roman knights in finding a husband for his daughter’; in conlocanda filia: example of use of genitive gerundive to denote intention or purpose; cf. L 2263. non nihil or non nemo: = ‘some’; de equitibus …consultavisset: the verb consulto is often with de, supra or in.) ita, si maritus Liviae quaereretur, haberet in animo amicum sola necessitudinis gloria usurum. (ita, si maritus Liviae quaereretur, haberet in animo amicum sola necessitudinis gloria usurum: ‘in the same way, if a husband was sought for Livia, he [Tiberius] might perhaps keep in mind a friend who would derive (usurum) but the honor of the connection.’ ita: ‘even so’, ‘on that example’; si …quaereretur …haberet: conditional sentence in indirect discourse, with subjunctive in both apodosis (haberet = optative subjunctive) and protasis; the condition is potential (type II); all tenses according to consecution temporum (see G. 509ff.). usurum: for use of future participle as adjective see note for mansurae in previous chapter.) non enim exuere imposita munia: (non enim exuere imposita munia: ‘that he was not going to lay aside the duties demanded [of him]’) satis aestimare firmari domum adversum iniquas Agrippinae offensiones, idque liberorum causa; (satis aestimare firmari domum adversum iniquas Agrippinae offensiones, idque liberorum causa: lit. ‘that he considered sufficient that his house was protected against the unjust ill will of Agrippina, and this for the sake of his children’; aestimare is historical present; liberorum causa: for the abl. causa + genitive see note for auspicandi gratia in ch. 36.) nam sibi multum superque vitae fore, quod tali cum principe explevisset. (nam sibi multum superque vitae fore, quod tali cum principe explevisset: lit. ‘since for himself it would be more than enough of life if that much would end (lit. ‘would have ended’) in the company of such a prince. fore …explevirsset: time relationship: the action of the plup. explevisset comes and ends before the state of fore begins. sibi is dative of possessor with fore.)