I.
Rubellio et Fufio consulibus, quorum utrique Geminus cognomentum erat, (Rubellio et Fufio consulibus, quorum utrique Geminus cognomentum erat: ‘Rubellius and Fufius being consuls, each of whom had the surname Geminus, …’; utrique is dat. of possessor of uterque with erat; lit. ‘to the one and the other of the two the surname was …’. The year is now 29 A.D.: little appears to be known about Lucius Rubellius Geminus aside from his being consul in the current year; Gaius Fufius was under the protection of the Augusta, but out of favor with Tiberius, whom he often made the butt of his ready wit (see next chapter). Soon after her death he was accused of treason and escaped execution by committing suicide.) Iulia Augusta mortem obiit, aetate extrema, (Iulia Augusta mortem obiit, aetate extrema: lit. ‘Julia Augusta met her death at an extremely advanced age’; aetate extrema: abl. of time when, without in since aetas is accompanied by an attribute. She was Livia Drusilla before her marriage with Augustus; Tacitus calls her Julia after her adoption into the Julian family. The title Augusta was given her as soon as Tiberius assumed power. See Book 1, ch. 8.) nobilitatis per Claudiam familiam et adoptione Liviorum Iuliorumque clarissimae. (nobilitatis per Claudiam familiam et adoptione Liviorum Iuliorumque clarissimae: ‘of the highest nobility through her Claudian family and by the adoption of the Livii and of the Julii’; Her father was from the Claudian family, but was adopted by M. Livius Drusus, so his full name was Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus. With her induction into the Julian house at her marriage with Augustus, three families (the Claudian, the Livian, and the Julian) became represented in her. per …familiam, adoptione: two ways to express instrument, (1) simple abl. if the instrument is a thing (concrete or abstract), (2) per + acc. if the agent, considered as instrument, is personal.) primum ei matrimonium et liberi fuere cum Tiberio Nerone, qui bello Perusino profugus pace inter Sex. Pompeium ac triumviros pacta in urbem rediit. (primum ei matrimonium et liberi fuere cum Tiberio Nerone, qui bello Perusino profugus pace inter Sex. Pompeium ac triumviros pacta in urbem rediit: ‘first she had marriage and children with Tiberius Nero, who, a banished man in the Perugian war, returned to Rome after peace was agreed between Sextus Pompeius and the triumvirs.’ bello Perusino: named after Perusia (modern Perugia in Umbria in central Italy), the war, fought in 41-40 B.C., was part of the civil struggle for supremacy between Octavian (later Augustus) and Marc Antony. The war ended with the defeat at Perugia of Lucius Antonius and Fulvia, respectively brother and wife of Mark Antony, by Octavian’s forces. Tiberius Nero, who was on his way to join them at Perugia, found refuge with Sextus Pompeius, the son of Pompey the Great (Julius Caesar’s archrival), who still fought Caesar’s successors to avenge his father’s defeat and death. Eventually, a peace was concluded between Sextus ant the triumvirate of Octavian, Marc Antony, and Lepidus, the new masters of Rome. ei …fuere: dative of possessor with fuere, becoming subject in English: ‘she had …’ rather than ‘to her was ….) exim Caesar cupidine formae aufert marito, incertum an invitam, (exim Caesar cupidine formae aufert [eam] marito, incertum an invitam: lit. ‘next, Octavian, out of yearning of her beauty, takes her away from her husband, whether against her wishes [is] uncertain.’ cupidine is abl. of cause; incertum an invitam: indirect disjunctive question with the first part understood and the particle an alone asking the question; cf. A.G. 335, b.; invitam agrees with the implied eam. We may not know whether she was willing or not, but her husband was certainly consentient since he gave the bride away at the new wedding, “just like a father would’, Cassius Dio says. aufert is historical present.) adeo properus ut ne spatio quidem ad enitendum dato penatibus suis gravidam induxerit. (adeo properus ut ne spatio quidem ad enitendum dato penatibus suis gravidam induxerit: consecutive sentence with adeo and ut introducing the main and dependent clause: ‘so impatient [was he] that he brought her home (penatis suis induxerit) pregnant, not even time being given for the delivery.’ Consecutive clauses do not conform to the sequence of tenses: here the perfect induxerit merely reflects the perfect indicative that would be used if the clause were independent (Petitmangin). ne spatio quidem …dato: abl. abs. ad enitendum: use of acc. gerund with ad to signify purpose, lit. ‘for bringing forth’) nullam posthac subolem edidit sed sanguini Augusti per coniunctionem Agrippinae et Germanici adnexa communis pronepotes habuit. (sanguini Augusti per coniunctionem Agrippinae et Germanici adnexa communis pronepotes habuit: ‘through the union of Agrippina and Germanicus she held ties (adnexa) to the blood of Augustus, the great-grandchildren [being] shared by both.’ Agrippina was Augustus’ granddaughter, Germanicus Augusta’s grandson. adnexa is neuter plural of the adjective adnexus used as a noun, a recurrent usage in Tacitus.) sanctitate domus priscum ad morem, (sanctitate domus priscum ad morem: ‘in the observance of domestic duties [she conformed] to the ancient model.’ The excerpt can also be read as abl. abs.) comis ultra quam antiquis feminis probatum, mater impotens, uxor facilis et cum artibus mariti, simulatione filii bene composita. funus eius modicum, testamen tum diu inritum fuit. Iaudata est pro rostris a G. Caesare pronepote (a G. Caesare pronepote: ‘by Gaius Caesar, her great-grandson’, the future emperor Caligula.) qui mox rerum potitus est.