LXI.
Fine anni excessere insignes viri Asinius Agrippa, claris maioribus quam vetustis vitaque non degener, ([insignis] …claris maioribus quam vetustis vitaque non degener: ‘celebrated for his illustrious rather than ancient forefathers and for his life not disgracing [them]’; claris maioribus and vita are ablatives of quality, the first with the adjective insignis, the second with degener; cf. A.G. 415; claris …quam vetustis: the comparison of two positive adjectives through quam (usually reserved for comparatives) is rather unusual (Furneaux).) et Q. Haterius, (Asinius Agrippa … et Q. Haterius: Marcus Asinius Agrippa was the consul for the previous year, 25 A.D. (see ch. 34); his grandparents were Marcus Agrippa, Augustus’ best friend and right hand, and Gaius Asinius Pollio, both famous for their achievements, but of low or undistinguished birth. His father was Gaius Asinius Gallus, the second husband of Vipsania, Tiberius’ first wife. Quintus Haterius was mentioned before in Book 1, ch. 13, Book 2, ch. 33, Book 3, ch. 57. He was almost ninety years old when he died.) familia senatoria, eloquentiae quoad vixit celebratae: ([insignis] … familia senatoria eloquentiae quoad vixit celebratae: ‘distinguished by his senatorial background and, as long as he lived, by his celebrated eloquence’; familia senatoria is abl. of quality with insignis (from insignes at the outset of the chapter) and eloquentiae celebratae is genitive of quality, here used in place of the abl. solely for the sake of variety. Cf. A.G. 345. quoad vixit: Tacitus rarely uses quoad, preferring donec or dum.) monimenta ingeni eius haud perinde retinentur. (monimenta ingeni eius haud perinde retinentur: ‘the written specimens of his talent are not valued as much as one would expect.’ haud perinde is elliptic for something like haud perinde [quam expectares]. The same phrase occurs also in Book 2, ch. 88.) scilicet impetu magis quam cura vigebat; (scilicet impetu magis quam cura vigebat: ‘the fact is (scilicet), that he was effective through his elan more than his attention to style.’) utque aliorum meditatio et labor in posterum valescit, sic Haterii canorum illud et profluens cum ipso simul extinctum est. (utque aliorum meditatio et labor in posterum valescit, sic Haterii canorum illud et profluens cum ipso simul extinctum est: ‘just as the diligence and the hard work of others is more appreciated with time, so Haterius’ sonorous and rhythmic quality (illud) died also with him.’ ut …valescit, sic …extinctum est: comparative sentence with indicative in both dependent and main clause; see G. 638 – 644. meditatio et labor …valescit: singular verb with two nouns forming a single concept; canorum illud et profluens: the two neuter adjectives modified illud: ‘that something melodious and free-flowing ’)