IV.
Interim anni principio Drusus ex Germanici liberis togam virilem sumpsit quaeque fratri eius Ner ‘oni decreverat senatus (quaeque fratri eius Neroni decreverat senatus: for the honors decreed by the senate to Drusus’ brother Nero see Book 3, ch. 29.) repetita. addidit orationem Caesar multa cum laude (multa cum laude: abl. of manner with cum interposed when an adjective is present) filii sui quod patria benevolentia in fratris liberos foret. (quod [ei] patria benevolentia in fratris liberos foret: ‘because he had a fatherly affection towards his brother’s children’; [ei] is the implied dative of possessor with esset; in English it becomes the subject in a clause with ‘have’, according to the formula alicui aliquid esse = ‘someone has something’; esset is subjunctive for causal clause in indirect speech introduced by reor.) nam Drusus, quamquam arduum sit eodem loci potentiam et concordiam esse, aequus adulescentibus aut certe non adversus habebatur. (quamquam arduum sit eodem loci potentiam et concordiam esse, aequus adulescentibus aut certe non adversus habebatur: ‘even though it is difficult that power and harmony exist in the same place, he was favorably disposed to the youngsters, or at least he was not considered [to be] against them.’ Tacitus tends to prefer subjunctive after concessive quamquam. The infinitive clause with acc. subject eodem loci potentiam et concordiam esse is a substantive clause (i.e. used as a noun), subject of arduum sit. It replaces a subjunctive clause wit ut or other constructions. See A.G. 451, 452 and G. 422. eodem loci (‘in the same place’) is idiomatic phrase in the same vein as eo loci, eo temporis, etc.) exim vetus et saepe simulatum proficiscendi in provincias consilium refertur. (exim vetus et saepe simulatum proficiscendi in provincias consilium refertur: ‘now his old and often repeated pretense of travelling to the provinces is brought back again.’ refertur is historical present.) multitudinem veteranorum praetexebat imperator et dilectibus supplendos exercitus: (praetexebat … dilectibus supplendos exercitus [esse]: ‘he alleged as an excuse that the armies must be made full in numbers with [new] levies.’ Previous plans of visiting the provinces were mentioned in Book 1, ch. 47 and Book 3, ch. 47.) nam voluntarium militem deesse, ac si suppeditet, non eadem virtute ac modestia agere, quia plerumque inopes ac vagi sponte militiam sumant. (si suppeditet, non … virtute ac modestia agere, quia … inopes ac vagi sponte militiam sumant: conditional sentence followed by causal clause: ‘even if [the supply of volunteers] was sufficient, they lacked bravery and discipline, since [only] the indigent and the homeless embraced army life.’ The passage is in oratio obliqua after praetexebat, thus both the protasis and the quia clause take subjunctive, the apodosis infinitive, as required. suppeditet and sumant are in place of suppeditaret and sumeret: see note in ch. 2 for si quid subitum ingruat, maiore auxilio pariter subveniri.) percensuitque cursim numerum legionum et quas provincias tutarentur. quod mihi quoque exequendum reor, quae tunc Romana copia in armis, qui socii reges, quanto sit angustius imperitatum. (quod mihi quoque exequendum reor, quae tunc Romana copia in armis, qui socii reges, quanto sit angustius imperitatum: lit. ‘which [assessment] I think should also be done by myself, [to show] what forces Rome had at that time under arms, which allied kings, and by how much our rule was then less extensive.’ The passage allows historians to date rather accurately the time of composition of at least this part of the Annals, between 115 A.D., wen Trajan extended the empire to the Persian Gulf, and 117, when Hadrian abandoned the territorial gains of his predecessor. See also note for claustra …rubrum ad mare patescit in Book 2, ch. 61. mihi …exequendum [esse]: impersonal use of the passive periphrasis to express obligation or necessity. mihi is dat. of agent used mainly with this type of construction. quanto sit: subjunctive in indirect question introduced by quanto)