IV.
Proxima Cornelii Fusci procuratoris (Cornelii Fusci procuratoris: cf. Book 2, ch. 86; ) auctoritas. is quoque inclementer in Vitellium invehi solitus nihil spei (nihil spei: spei is partitive genitive after the neuter nihil.) sibi inter adversa reliquerat. Tampius Flavianus, natura ac senecta cunctator, suspiciones militum inritabat, tamquam adfinitatis cum Vitellio meminisset; (tamquam adfinitatis cum Vitellio meminisset: ‘because [in their view] he was not forgetful of his family ties with Vitellius’. In Tacitus tamquam + subjunctive is often used to give reasons that are presumed, not factual, i.e. at variance with those offered by the writer. The plup. meminisset has the force of the imperfect.) idemque, quod coeptante legionum motu profugus, dein sponte remeaverat, perfidiae locum quaesisse credebatur. (idemque, quod coeptante legionum motu profugus, dein sponte remeaverat, perfidiae locum quaesisse credebatur: ‘and he was also (idem) believed to have sought the opportunity for treachery, since he had run away in the initial stage of the legions’ revolt and had then returned of his own accord’; coeptante legionum motu is abl. abs.; idem …profugus …perfidiae locum quaesisse credebatur is an example of personal construction with the passive of verbs of saying, hoping, believing, and other verba sentiendi. Compare with the corresponding impersonal construction: eundem …profugum …perfidiae locum quaesisse credebant. Cf. A.G. 582.) nam Flavianum, omissa Pannonia ingressum Italiam et discrimini exemptum, (discrimini exemptum: ‘safe from danger’; exemptus is here with dat., usually with abl.) rerum novarum cupido legati nomen resumere et misceri civilibus armis impulerat, suadente Cornelio Fusco, non quia industria Flaviani egebat, sed ut consulare nomen surgentibus cum maxime partibus honesta specie praetenderetur. (ut consulare nomen surgentibus cum maxime partibus honesta specie praetenderetur: ‘so that a consular name with legitimate prestige should serve as a cloak for the [Flavian] party just as it was rising’; cum maxime: usually in association with a participle, ‘at the very moment when it was rising’.)