XII
Ne in Vitellii quidem partibus quietae mentes: exitiosiore discordia non suspicionibus vulgi, sed perfidia (discordia … suspicionibus … perfidia: ablatives of instrument (not of agent) with turbabantur) ducum turbabantur. Lucilius Bassus classis Ravennatis (classis Ravennatis: ) praefectus ambiguos militum animos, quod magna pars Dalmatae Pannoniique erant, quae provinciae Vespasiano tenebantur, (Vespasiano tenebantur: Vespasiano is dat. of agent, in place of abl. with a or ab, as is frequently the case in Tacitus.) partibus eius adgregaverat. nox proditioni electa, ut ceteris ignaris soli in principia defectores coirent. (nox proditioni electa, ut ceteris ignaris soli in principia defectores coirent: ‘night was preferred for their treasonable scheme to allow the defectors to assemble alone in the camp’s command center, all others being unaware [of the plot]’; principia: headquarters, the central square of the camp with the tents of the command staff.) Bassus pudore seu metu, quisnam exitus foret, intra domum opperiebatur. (quisnam exitus foret … opperiebatur: ‘awaited what would be the outcome’, subjunctive in indir. question’. See also note for quisnam mortalium esset in ch. 72 of Book 2.) trierarchi (trierarchi: ‘ship captains’) magno tumultu Vitellii imagines invadunt; et paucis resistentium obtruncatis ceterum vulgus rerum novarum studio in Vespasianum inclinabat. tum progressus Lucilius auctorem se palam praebet. classis Cornelium Fuscum praefectum sibi destinat, (classis Cornelium Fuscum praefectum sibi destinat: note the switch to historical present: ‘the fleet assigns to itself Cornelius Fuscus as commander’; the reflexive sibi is dat. of interest. For Cornelius Fuscus cf. ch. 4 and Book 2 ch. 86.) qui propere adcucurrit. Bassus honorata custodia Liburnicis navibus Atriam pervectus (Bassus honorata custodia Liburnicis navibus Atriam pervectus: ‘placed in honorable custody, Bassus was taken to Atria in Liburnian ships’. Atria, now Adria near the mouth of the Po river, gave the Adriatic sea its name, although even in Roman times Adria was already 12 km. or 8 miles inland. At this point in the narrative, the town was under Vespasian’s control, following Antonius’ penetration into northeastern Italy. Liburnicis navibus: fast, agile vessels, often mentioned before (e.g. Book 2, ch. 16). ) a praefecto alae Vibennio Rufino, praesidium illic agitante, vincitur, sed exoluta statim vincula interventu Hormi Caesaris liberti: is quoque inter duces habebatur. (is quoque inter duces habebatur: ‘he too was considered one of the generals’, a bitter comment on the influence of ex-slaves during imperial times, in Tacitus’ eyes one of the causes of Rome’s political decadence.)