III.
Isdem diebus Lucilius Bassus (Lucilius Bassus: the man who, like Caecina, betrayed Vitellius; cf. Book 3, ch.12. ) cum expedito equite ad componendam Campaniam (ad componendam Campaniam: ‘for Campania to be restored to order’: ad + acc. gerundive to express purpose, a change from dative gerundive often used by Tacitus. ) mittitur, discordibus municipiorum animis magis inter semet quam contumacia adversus principem. (discordibus municipiorum animis magis inter semet quam contumacia adversus principem: abl. abs.: lit. ‘the tempers of the municipal towns being at odds among themselves more than from defiance towards the emperor’; semet is emphatic.) viso milite quies et minoribus coloniis impunitas: (viso milite quies et minoribus coloniis impunitas: viso milite is abl. abs.: ‘the soldiers being seen’; freely: ‘the presence of the soldiers brought calm and pardon was granted to the smaller communities.’) Capuae legio tertia hiemandi causa locatur et domus inlustres adflictae, (Capuae legio tertia hiemandi causa locatur et domus inlustres adflictae: Capua is 25 km. or 15 miles north of Naples; it had sided with Vitellius (cf. Book 3, ch. 57.) and is now punished by having the toughest Flavian legion take up winter quarters in its midst. The leading families, held responsible for choosing the wrong side in the war, suffered the most. hiemandi causa: gerund and gerundive genitive with causa: one of the many ways to express purpose in Latin.) cum contra Tarracinenses nulla ope iuvarentur. tanto proclivius est iniuriae quam beneficio vicem exolvere, quia gratia oneri, ultio in quaestu habetur. (tanto proclivius est iniuriae quam beneficio vicem exsolvere, quia gratia oneri, ultio in quaestu habetur: tanto proclivius is adverbial phrase modifying est: lit. ‘it is so much easier to discharge the repayment to an injury than to an obligation, since a favor is for a burden, revenge is considered profitable. in quaestu: ‘at interest’) solacio fuit servus Vergilii Capitonis, quem proditorem Tarracinensium diximus, patibulo adfixus in isdem anulis quos acceptos a Vitellio gestabat. at Romae senatus cuncta principibus solita Vespasiano decernit, (senatus cuncta … solita Vespasiano decernit: i.e. the same honors and titles that the Senate had in precedence so eagerly piled on Otho (Book 1, ch. 47) and on Vitellius (Book 2, ch. 55). The senatus consultus conferring on Vespasian ‘the usual things’ has survived on a bronze tablet, though not complete. decernit, like decernuntur at the end of the chapter, and locatur above, is historical infinitive.) laetus et spei certus, quippe sumpta per Gallias Hispaniasque civilia arma, motis ad bellum Germaniis, mox Illyrico, postquam Aegyptum Iudaeam Syriamque et omnis provincias exercitusque lustraverant, velut expiato terrarum orbe cepisse finem videbantur: (quippe … civilia arma … postquam …omnis provincias … lustraverant, velut expiato terrarum orbe cepisse finem videbantur: quippe is causal conjunction: ‘for the civil wars, after they had roamed through all the provinces –the whole world having been, as it were, thoroughly cleansed of its guilt -– seemed to have reached an end.’ The civil war, an epidemic that must run its course before it ends, is compared to a lustratio, the ritual wherein a sacrificial animal is conducted, prior to immolation, around the places and people to be purified, as if the blood soon to be spilled had the power to absorb all evil before being offered up to the gods. Similar concepts are inherent to Christianity also.) addidere alacritatem Vespasiani litterae tamquam manente bello (tamquam manente bello: abl. abs, lit. ‘as if war persisting’; the use of tamquam in association with a participle, rare in classical writers, is found fairly frequently in Tacitus.) scriptae. ea prima specie forma; ceterum ut princeps loquebatur, civilia de se, et rei publicae egregia. (ceterum ut princeps loquebatur, civilia de se, et rei publicae egregia: ‘for the rest , he spoke like an emperor, modest words about himself, noble ones of the state.’) nec senatus obsequium deerat: ipsi consulatus cum Tito filio, praetura Domitiano et consulare imperium (consulare imperium: neither Vespasian nor Titus had so far set foot in Italy since before the civil war, being engaged in the east; thus their consular authority had to be exercised in Rome by a substitute.) decernuntur.