V.
Vespasianus acer militiae (acer militia: ‘rigorous in the performance of military duties’) anteire agmen, locum castris capere, noctu diuque consilio ac, si res posceret, manu hostibus obniti, (anteire …capere …obniti: infinitives of narration; obniti, from obnitor, requires dative , here hostibus.) cibo fortuito, veste habituque vix a gregario milite discrepans; prorsus, (prorsus: adv., ‘indeed’) si avaritia abesset, antiquis ducibus par. Mucianum e contrario magnificentia et opes et cuncta privatum modum supergressa (supergressa: ‘having exceeded’ or ‘exceeding’; the perf. participle of a dep. verb has active meaning and allows a direct object, here privatum modum.) extollebant; aptior sermone, dispositu provisuque civilium rerum peritus: (dispositu provisuque civilium rerum peritus: ‘practiced in the managing and foreseeing the needs of civil affairs’) egregium principatus temperamentum, (egregium principatus temperamentum: ‘excellent blend of qualities for an emperor’) si demptis utriusque vitiis solae virtutes miscerentur. ceterum (ceterum: the adv. has here a slightly adversative sense, like a mild sed.) hic Syriae, ille Iudaeae praepositus, vicinis provinciarum administrationibus invidia discordes, exitu demum Neronis positis odiis in medium consuluere, (in medium consuluere: ‘they agreed to a middle course’.) primum per amicos, dein praecipua concordiae fides Titus prava certamina communi utilitate aboleverat, natura atque arte compositus adliciendis etiam Muciani moribus. (compositus adliciendis etiam Muciani moribus: ‘apt to win over even someone of Mucianus’ stamp’; lit. ‘suitable even for Mucianus’ personality to be seduced’; compositus, which here qualifies Titus, is usually followed by ad + acc. gerundive in place of dative gerundive, as in this case.) tribuni centurionesque et vulgus militum industria licentia, per virtutes per voluptates, ut cuique ingenium, adsciscebantur. (tribuni centurionesque et vulgus militum industria licentia, per virtutes per voluptates, ut cuique ingenium, adsciscebantur: lit. ‘tribunes, centurions, and the rank and file were drawn [to Titus] by his diplomacy and indulgence calling on their virtues and weaknesses, according to the temperament each had’. industria and licentia are abl. of cause; ut cuique ingenium [erat]: cuique is dative of possessor with implied erat. Although the sentence is generally interpreted as relating to Titus’ power of influence, other readings are possible, such as the following: ‘tribunes, centurions and common soldiers were attracted [to the Flavian cause] by a sense of purpose or by selfish opportunism, by their virtues or vices, according to anyone’s disposition’. Or: ‘tribunes, centurions, and common soldiers, each guided by his own temperament, followed [the leaders], attracted by their industry or license, their virtues or vices’. These and other readings have appeared in translations.)