LXVIII.
Nec quisquam adeo rerum humanarum immemor quem non commoveret illa facies, (nec quisquam adeo rerum humanarum immemor quem non commoveret illa facies, …: ‘no one so insensitive to human trials whom that spectacle did not move’; the sense is consecutive, hence the use of subjunctive: ‘no one so callous as not to be moved by that sight’; facies is followed by an appositive infinitive clause with subject accusative explaining the noun and giving details of the scene. Cf. G. 324.) Romanum principem et generis humani paulo ante dominum relicta fortunae suae sede per populum, per urbem exire de imperio. nihil tale viderant, nihil audierant. repentina vis dictatorem Caesarem oppresserat, occultae Gaium (Gaium: i.e. Caligula) insidiae, nox et ignotum rus fugam Neronis absconderant, Piso et Galba tamquam in acie cecidere: (tamquam in acie cecidere: tamquam is here comparative adverb., not conditional conj.: it modifies in acie, ‘they died just as in war.’) in sua contione Vitellius, inter suos milites, prospectantibus etiam feminis, pauca et praesenti maestitiae congruentia locutus–cedere se pacis et rei publicae causa, (pauca et praesenti maestitiae congruentia locutus–cedere se pacis et rei publicae causa: ‘few words he spoke and corresponding to the sad occasion – he was, [he said], relinquishing power for the sake of peace and country.’) retinerent tantum memoriam sui (retinerent tantum memoriam sui: ‘would only that they remember him, [he said].’ retinerent is optative subjunctive in indir. speech, as is miserarentur next. ) fratremque et coniugem et innoxiam liberorum aetatem miserarentur–, simul filium protendens, modo singulis modo universis commendans, postremo fletu praepediente (fletu praepediente: abl. abs., ‘tears hindering him [from speaking]’) adsistenti consuli (Caecilius Simplex (Caecilius Simplex: cf. Book 2, ch. 60.) erat) exolutum a latere pugionem, velut ius necis vitaeque civium, (velut ius necis vitaeque civium: ‘as though it were his power of life and death of the people’) reddebat. aspernante consule, reclamantibus qui (aspernante consule, reclamantibus qui …: abl. abs. with subordinate rel. clause.) in contione adstiterant, ut in aede Concordiae positurus insignia imperii domumque fratris petiturus (ut in aede Concordiae positurus insignia imperii domumque fratris petiturus: ut is for ut si: ‘as if going to deposit the imperial insignia in the temple of Concord, then moving on to his brother’s house’; the temple of Concord was at the western end of the Forum.) discessit. maior hic clamor obsistentium penatibus privatis, (clamor obsistentium penatibus privatis: ‘the shouts of those obstructing the way to a private dwelling’; penatibus privatis is dative with the verb obsisto. Entering a private house would have signified his official retirement from public life, as his return to the palace continuance in office. penates are the spirits protective of the home, hence the home itself.) in Palatium vocantium. interclusum aliud iter, idque solum quo in sacram viam pergeret patebat: ([iter] solum quo in sacram viam pergeret patebat: quo …pergeret: quo (‘whereby’) + subjunctive expresses purpose: ‘only the route by which he might proceed to the Sacred Way lay open.’ sacram viam: Via Sacra was the main street of ancient Rome from the top of the Capitoline hill, through the Forum to the Arc of Costantine and the Flavian amphitheater (the Colosseum). Indirectly, as one came from the Forum , it led on the right to the imperial palace on the Palatine hill.) tum consilii inops in Palatium redit.