V. 6
. . . . Quattuor et quadraginta orationes super ea re habitae, (. . . . quattuor et quadraginta orationes super ea re habitae: for the numbering of the surviving fragments V. 6 to V. 11, added to Book 5, see note at the end of previous chapter. Some editors believe they rightfully belong to Book 6, but most retain Lipsius’ numbering system to maintain uniformity of reference. The original manuscript offers no help: it merely shows a gap of a few letters between the end of Book 5, ch. 5 and the V. 6 fragment. The subject of the forty-four speeches delivered in the senate is likely the trial of Livia (Livilla), Drusus’ wife, leading to a verdict against her. Tiberius did not have her executed out of regard for her mother Antonia, who starved her to death soon after.) ex quis ob metum paucae, plures adsuetudine . . . . . . ‘mihi pudorem aut Seiano invidiam adlaturum censui. (mihi pudorem aut Seiano invidiam adlaturum censui: the speaker in the rest of this fragment is not known. He, a former friend of the now dead Sejanus, appears to be addressing friends in his own house before committing suicide: ‘I thought that I would attract shame for myself and hatred for Sejanus.’ mihi and Sejano are datives of interest.) versa est fortuna et ille quidem qui collegam et generum adsciverat sibi ignoscit: (ille quidem qui collegam et generum adsciverat sibi ignoscit: ‘even he who had admitted him as his partner and son-in-law exonerates himself from his own error.’ A sobering reflection on despotic power: if it was a crime to befriend Sejanus would not Tiberius be more guilty of the crime than anyone else? ille refers to Tiberius with emphasis, ‘you know whom I mean’; sibi is dat. of the offender with ignosco, ‘pardons himself’. generum: there is no solid record of Sejanus’ being married again and becoming Tiberius’ son-in-law after divorcing Apicata. Some say that in 31 A.D. he finally became betrothed to Claudia Livia (Livilla), wife of Tiberius’ son Drusus, who had died eight years earlier, and that gener is used in this extended sense. Other say that the betrothal was not to Livilla , but to her daughter Julia Livia, in which case the term progener would be more appropriate.) ceteri quem per dedecora fovere cum scelere insectantur. (ceteri quem per dedecora fovere cum scelere insectantur: ‘all others tear to pieces the man whom ([eum] quem) they criminally pampered.’ fovere cum scelere: fovere is perfect indicative (foverunt), rather than historical infinitive; cum scelere is abl. of manner.) miserius sit ob amicitiam accusari an amicum accusare haud discreverim. (miserius sit ob amicitiam accusari an amicum accusare haud discreverim: alternative indirect question with the second part only introduced by the interrogative particle an (cf. A. G. 335, b.): ‘I would not decide whether it is more contemptible to be accused on account of friendship or to accuse a friend.’ haud discreverim: use of potential subjunctive (present or perfect) to express cautious, guarded, or noncommittal views and opinions in the first person sing; cf. A.G. 447, 1; discreverim is from discerno.) non crudelitatem, non clementiam cuiusquam experiar sed liber et mihi ipsi probatus antibo periculum. (non crudelitatem, non clementiam cuiusquam experiar sed liber et mihi ipsi probatus antibo periculum: lit. ‘I shall not put to the test the cruelty or clemency of anyone, but being free and being given approval to myself, I will keep ahead of danger.’ mihi ipsi probatus: the verb probo always takes a dative of reference (dativus commodi), which in the passive forms of the verb appears to be a dative of agent; see A.G. 375, Note. mihi ipsi is emphatic, ‘to my own self’.) vos obtestor ne memoriam nostri per maerorem quam laeti retineatis, adiciendo me quoque iis qui fine egregio publica mala effugerunt.’ (vos obtestor ne memoriam nostri per maerorem [potius] quam laeti retineatis, adiciendo me quoque iis qui fine egregio publica mala effugerunt: ‘I implore you not to preserve the memory of me on account of your grief [rather] than [being] joyous, numbering me also among those who by an honorable end have escaped the afflictions of our state.’ ne … retineatis: hortatory present subjunctive with ne to express prohibition; cf. A.G. 439. per maerorem: cause is often expressed by per + acc. adiciendo me: abl. of instrument; the only two cases of the gerund that may take an object are genitive and abl. without a preposition.)