XLII.
Plurimum adulationis Seleucenses induere, (plurimum adulationis Seleucenses induere: ‘the people of Seleucia paid [Tiridates] the greatest homage.’ Seleucia was located on the west bank of the Tigris, near modern Baghdad. induo is used here in the sense of ‘to prepare a reception’; adulationis is partitive genitive after the neuter plurimum.) civitas potens, saepta muris neque in barbarum corrupta sed conditoris Seleuci retinens. (civitas potens, saepta muris neque in barbarum corrupta sed conditoris Seleuci retinens: ‘the city [is] strong, surrounded by walls, not sliding into barbarism, but preserving the spirit of its founder Seleucus.’ Seleucus I Nicator, one of the generals and successors of Alexander the Great, established Seleucia in 305 B.C. The city retained its Hellenistic character even though it was inside the Parthian empire.) trecenti opibus aut sapientia delecti ut senatus, sua populo vis. (trecenti opibus aut sapientia delecti ut senatus, sua populo vis: ‘three hundred men [were] chosen for their wealth and culture as the senate; the people had powers (vis) of their own. populo is dat. of possessor with erat understood.) et quoties concordes agunt, spernitur Parthus: ubi dissensere, dum sibi quisque contra aemulos subsidium vocant, accitus in partem adversum omnis valescit. (quoties concordes agunt, spernitur Parthus: ubi dissensere, dum sibi quisque contra aemulos subsidium vocant, accitus in partem adversum omnis valescit: ‘every time they acted in harmony, the Parthians were held of no account, [but] whenever they disagreed, since each side called for help against the rivals, the [stranger], summoned in opposition to the hostile party, dominated all.’ agunt, spernitur, vocant, valescit are historical presents. Another is extollunt below. dum … vocant: dum with present or perfect indicative can denote, as Ernout puts it, the ‘involuntary cause of an action.’ For the causal sense of dum see also G. 570, Note 1, and 2.) id nuper acciderat Artabano regnante, qui plebem primoribus tradidit ex suo usu: (id nuper acciderat Artabano regnante, qui plebem primoribus tradidit ex suo usu: ‘this had happened recently during the reign of Artabanus, who gave the people up to the nobles for his own advantage.’ ex suo usu: cause expresses by ex + abl.) nam populi imperium iuxta libertatem, paucorum dominatio regiae libidini propior est. tum adventantem Tiridaten extollunt veterum regum honoribus et quos recens aetas largius invenit; simul probra in Artabanum fundebant, materna origine Arsaciden, cetera degenerem. (tum adventantem Tiridaten extollunt … probra in Artabanum fundebant, materna origine Arsaciden, cetera degenerem: ‘now (tum) [the people] praised the approaching Tiridates to the skies, and heaped invective on Artabanus, an Arsacid on the mother’s side only, degenerate as to the rest.’ materna origine Arsaciden: Arsaciden is apposition of Artabanum, taking the same case, gender, and number, ‘an Arsacid from maternal descent’; cetera is adverb, in origin an acc. of relation, ‘as to the rest’) Tiridates rem Seleucensem populo permittit. mox consultans quonam die sollemnia regni capesseret, (Tiridates rem Seleucensem populo permittit. mox consultans quonam die sollemnia regni capesseret: ‘Tiridates assigned the government of Seleucia to the people, then pondered on which day he should assume the dignity of royalty.’ quonam die … capesseret: subjunctive in indirect question premised by interrogative quonam) litteras Phraatis et Hieronis qui validissimas praefecturas obtinebant accipit, brevem moram precantium. placitumque opperiri viros praepollentis, (litteras Phraatis et Hieronis qui validissimas praefecturas obtinebant accipit, brevem moram precantium. placitumque opperiri viros praepollentis: ‘he received a message of Phraates and Hiero, who held the strongest districts [of Parthia], requesting a brief delay. It was thought proper to wait for these very powerful men.’ precantium agrees in case and number with the two genitives Phraatis and Hieronis taken together. validissimas praefecturas: probably former Persian satrapies in southwestern Parthia, along the eastern shores of the Persian gulf; placitum [est] is impersonal use of passive.) atque interim Ctesiphon sedes imperii petita: (atque interim Ctesiphon sedes imperii petita: ‘… and meanwhile Ctesiphon, the capital of the empire was reached.’ Ctesiphon, on the east bank of the Tigris, faced Seleucia, for which see note above.) sed ubi diem ex die prolatabant, multis coram et adprobantibus Surena patrio more Tiridaten insigni regio evinxit. (ubi diem ex die prolatabant, multis coram et adprobantibus Surena patrio more Tiridaten insigni regio evinxit: lit. ‘when [Phraates and Hiero] kept deferring day after day, the Surena, in the tradition of the country, bound [the head of] Tiridates with the royal emblem before an applauding multitude.’ multis coram et adprobantibus: abl. abs.: ‘many being in attendance and applauding’; the expression Tiridaten insigni regio evinxit reoccurs in Book 15, ch. 2, the only change being diademate in place of insigni regio. Surena is ‘grand vizier’ or highest official, a title like Caesar in Latin, though originally the name of a family.)