XIV.
Fine anni Geminius, Celsus, Pompeius, equites Romani, cecidere coniurationis crimine; ex quis Geminius prodigentia opum ac mollitia vitae amicus Seiano, nihil ad serium. (nihil ad serium: lit. ‘nothing towards (or for) a serious object’) et Iulius Celsus (Geminius, Celsus, Pompeius, … Iulius Celsus: nothing else is known about these four men, three of whom are knights and the last one a senator; two of them have the same name, Celsus. Tacitus rarely gives the full name of knights as if undeserving of the honor, which has led more than one commentator to accuse him of aristocratic snobbishness.) tribunus in vinclis laxatam catenam et circumdatam in diversum tendens suam ipse cervicem perfregit. (in vinclis laxatam catenam et circumdatam in diversum tendens suam ipse cervicem perfregit: lit. ‘in prison, stretching out in the opposite direction his slackened chain passed around [his neck], himself broke his collarbone.’ Celsus was probably tribune of the plebs.) at Rubrio Fabato, tamquam desperatis rebus Romanis Parthorum ad misericordiam fugeret, custodes additi. (Rubrio Fabato, tamquam desperatis rebus Romanis Parthorum ad misericordiam fugeret, custodes additi [sunt]: ‘guardians were assigned to Rubrius Fabatus presumably trying to flee to the mercy of the Parthians, having despaired of the Roman state.’ A Rubrius is mentioned in Book 1, ch. 73, but he was a knight. This Rubrius is a senator, since only members of the senatorial order were prevented from leaving Italy without permission. tamquam …fugeret: Tacitus often uses tamquam to give a presumed reason, ‘because apparently he was fleeing to …’; cf. G. 602, N. 4. desperatis rebus Romanis: abl. abs., lit. ‘the political situation in Rome having been given up as hopeless’) sane is repertus apud fretum Siciliae retractusque per centurionem (sane is repertus apud fretum Siciliae retractusque per centurionem: ‘in fact, Rubrius (is) was located near the strait of Messina and brought back by a centurion.’ per centurionem: see note for per magistros in ch. 12.) nullas probabilis causas longinquae peregrinationis adferebat: mansit tamen incolumis oblivione magis quam clementia.