XCIX.
Tandem inruptione hostium atrocibus undique nuntiis exterritus (tandem inruptione hostium atrocibus undique nuntiis exterritus: ‘finally alarmed by the rapid approach of the enemy and the menacing news from all sides, Vitellius …’) Caecinam ac Valentem expedire ad bellum iubet. (iubet: switch to present tense for heightened urgency) praemissus Caecina, Valentem e gravi corporis morbo tum primum adsurgentem infirmitas tardabat. (Valentem e gravi corporis morbo tum primum adsurgentem infirmitas tardabat: ‘infirmity was delaying Valens, just then recuperating from a serious disease’; e …morbo is abl. of place (or thing) from which.) longe alia proficiscentis ex urbe Germanici exercitus species: (longe alia proficiscentis ex urbe Germanici exercitus species: ‘quite changed [was] the appearance of the army of Gemany departing from the city’; alia …species, i. e. a different look from the one the army presented upon entering Rome in ch. 89.) non vigor corporibus, non ardor animis; lentum et rarum agmen, fluxa arma, segnes equi; impatiens solis pulveris tempestatum, quantumque hebes ad sustinendum laborem miles, tanto ad discordias promptior. (quantumque hebes ad sustinendum laborem miles, tanto ad discordias promptior: the correlatives quantum …tanto introduce the two parts of a comparative sentence, normally followed by comparative; here quantum is found with the positive hebes, in place of hebetior, perhaps for stylistic preference.) accedebat huc Caecinae ambitio vetus, torpor recens, (accedebat huc Caecinae ambitio vetus, torpor recens: ‘an added element to this was Caecina’s old love of popularity and his recent torpor’. By ambitio Tacitus means that Caecina did not want to lose popularity with the troops by enforcing discipline.) nimia fortunae indulgentia soluti in luxum, seu perfidiam meditanti infringere exercitus virtutem inter artis erat. (nimia fortunae indulgentia soluti in luxum, seu perfidiam meditanti infringere exercitus virtutem inter artis erat: lit. ‘[either] because of the excessive indulgence in fortume’s favors of a man softened in luxury, or, to him meditating treason, destroying the morale of the army was among his ploys’. The gen. soluti agrees with Caecinae in the preceding clause. meditandi is dat. of possessor with erat.) credidere plerique Flavii Sabini (Flavii Sabini: Vespasian’s brother, who in ch. 55 had made the city troops swear allegiance to Vitellius.) consiliis concussam Caecinae mentem, ministro sermonum Rubrio Gallo: (ministro sermonum Rubrio Gallo: ‘the mediator of the talks being Rubrius Gallus’; for Rubrius Gallus see ch. 51.) rata apud Vespasianum fore pacta transitionis. (rata apud Vespasianum fore pacta transitionis: infinitve clause in indir. speech after a verb of saying implied in sermonum: ‘[assurances being given that] the terms of [Caecina’s] transition would find validation with Vespasian’. rata is adjective, not perf. participle of reor, ‘regarded as valid’.) simul odiorum invidiaeque erga Fabium Valentem admonebatur ut impar apud Vitellium gratiam virisque apud novum principem pararet. (simul odiorum invidiaeque erga Fabium Valentem admonebatur ut impar apud Vitellium gratiam virisque apud novum principem pararet: ‘at the same time he was reminded of his hatred and jealousy towards (erga) Valens: as unequal [to Valens] in Vitellius’ eyes, he should gain favor and support with a new prince’. pararet: imperative in indir. discourse after admonebatur; corresponds to para of dir. speech.)