231. Be Warned in Time
Quid? tū ignōrās, arborēs magnās diū crēscere, ūnā hōrā extirpārī? Stultus est quī frūctūs eārum spectat, altitūdinem nōn mētītur. Vidē, nē, dum ad cacūmen pervenīre contendis, cum ipsīs rāmīs, quōs comprehenderīs, dēcidās. Leō quoque aliquandō minimārum avium pābulum fuit, et ferrum rūbīgō cōnsūmit. Nihil tam firmum est, cui perīculum nōn sit etiam ab invalidō. Quod nōbīs tēcum est? Nunquam terram tuam attigimus. Quī sīs, unde veniās, licetne ignōrāre in vastīs silvīs vīventibus? Neque cuīquam servīre possumus nec imperāre in animō est. Dōna nōbīs data sunt—nē Scythārum gentem ignōrēs—iugum boum et arātrum, hastā, sagittā, paterā. Hīs ūtimur et cum amīcīs et adversus inimīcōs. Frūgēs amīcīs damus, boum labōre quaesītās: patera cum iīsdem vīnum dīīs lībāmus: hostēs sagittā ēminus, hastā cōminus petimus. Sīc Syriae rēgem et posteā Persārum Mēdōrumque superāvimus, patuitque iter nōbīs usque in Aegyptum.
sit—after cui consecutive.
232. Beware of Covetousness
At tū, quī tē glōriāris ad latrōnēs persequendōs venīre, omnium gentium, quās adistī, latrō es. Lȳdiam cēpistī, Syriam occupāstī, Persidem tenēs, Bactriānōs habēs in potestāte, Indōs petīstī; iam etiam ad pecora nostra avārās et īnsatiābilēs manūs porrigis. Quid tibi dīvitiīs opus est, quae tē ēsurīre cōgunt? Prīmus omnium satietāte parāstī famem, ut, quō plūra habērēs, ācrius, quae nōn habēs, cuperēs. Nōn succurrit tibi, quamdiū circum Bactra haereās? dum illōs subigis, Sogdiānī bellāre coepērunt. Bellum tibi ex victōriā nāscitur. Nam ut maior fortiorque sīs quam quisquam, tamen aliēnigenam dominum patī vult nēmō.
quo plura haberes—‘the more you have;’ quo abl. of measure. The subjunctive is due to the generic force of quo; i.e. nothing particular is mentioned, and Alexander’s possessions are spoken of as an unknown quantity.
non succurrit tibi—'does it not strike you?’ The interrogative particle is omitted, as at the beginning of section 231.
quisquam—only used in negative sentences, or in comparisons.
non succurrit tibi—'does it not strike you?’ The interrogative particle is omitted, as at the beginning of section 231.
quisquam—only used in negative sentences, or in comparisons.
233. We are Dangerous Enemies but Useful Friends
Trānsī modo Tanaim: sciēs quam lātē pateant fīnēs nostrī, nunquam tamen cōnsequeris Scythās. Paupertās nostra vēlōcior erit quam exercitus tuus quī praedam tot nātiōnum vehit. Rūrsus, cum procul abesse nōs crēdēs, vidēbis in tuīs castrīs, eadem enim vēlōcitāte et sequimur et fūgimus. Proinde fortūnam tuam pressīs manibus tenē; lūbrica est nec invīta tenērī potest. Salūbre cōnsilium sequēns quam praesēns tempus ostendit melius. Dēnique, sī deus es, tribuere mortālibus beneficia dēbēs, nōn ēripere: sīn autem homō es, id quod es, semper esse tē cōgitā. Quibus bellum nōn intulerīs, bonīs amīcīs poteris ūtī. Quōs vīcerīs, amīcōs tibi esse cave crēdās: inter dominum et servum nūlla amīcitia est. Utrum imperiō tuō fīnitimōs hostēs an amīcōs vēlīs esse cōnsīderā.
pressis manibus--‘with tight-closed hands.’
sequens--with tempus.
cave credas--ne understood.
sequens--with tempus.
cave credas--ne understood.
234. Crossing the Jaxartes and Defeat of the Scythians
Contrā rēx fortūnā suā et cōnsiliīs eōrum sē ūsūrum esse respondet: nam et fortūnam, cui cōnfīdat, et cōnsilium suādentium nēquid temere et audācter faciat, secūtūrum. Tum ratibus ad id praeparātis, frūstrā resistente hoste, exercitum trādūcit. Rēx inter prīmōs in ulteriōrem rīpam ēscendit, datō negōtiō ducibus, ut reliquōs quam prīmum subsidiō sibi submitterent. Cum aliquamdiū cōminus pugnātum esset, hostēs fugam capessunt. Cuius victōriā fāma cum percrebuisset, Sacae lēgātōs miserē quī pollicērentur gentem imperāta factūram. Mōverat eōs rēgis nōn virtūs magis quam clēmentia in dēvictōs; captīvōs enim omnēs sine pretiō remīserat, ut fidem faceret sibi cum ferōcissimīs gentium dē fortitūdine nōn dē īrā fuisse certāmen.
Sacae—a nomad tribe.
ut fidem faceret--‘to prove.‘
gentium—partitive genitive depending on ferocissimis.
ut fidem faceret--‘to prove.‘
gentium—partitive genitive depending on ferocissimis.
235. Murder of Clitus
Massagetīs, Dahīs, Sogdiānīs subāctīs, Scythae suī rēgis fīliam Alexandrō coniugem offerunt. Et cum barbarīs vēnābātur rēx in silvīs: quae nemora mūris cinguntur turrēsque habent vēnantium receptācula. Quātuor continuīs aestātibus intāctum saltum rēx cum tōtō exercitū ingressus ferās agitārī iussit, leōnem necnōn eximiā magnitūdine ūnō ictū ipse occīdit. Tum quātuor mīlibus ferārum dēiectīs in eōdem saltū epulātus est. Inde Maracanda regressus epulās in honōrem Clītī, quem ūnicē dīligēbat, exhibuit. Quō in convīviō rēx cum multō incaluisset merō, immodicus aestimātor suī celebrāre ea quae gesserat, coepit. Tum Clītus Philippum laudibus efferre, eundem Alexandrō antepōnere, et ipse per vīnolentiam observantiae ergā rēgem oblītus. Is īra īnfēnsus, cuius aliōquīn impotēns erat, in Clītum impetum fēcit; tum cohibentibus quī epulīs aderant occāsiōnem opperiēbātur. Brevī spatiō interiectō Clītum ex aedibus ēgredientem hastīlī cōnfodit.
Massagetis, Dahis—both nomad Scythian tribes.
uno--emphatic; ‘a single.‘
Maracanda, (-orum)--(Samarkand), the capital of Sogdiana.
aestimator sui--‘praising himself;’ concrete Latin for abstract English so constantly, auctor fuit= he proposed.
cuius--erat—‘which moreover he could never restrain.‘
uno--emphatic; ‘a single.‘
Maracanda, (-orum)--(Samarkand), the capital of Sogdiana.
aestimator sui--‘praising himself;’ concrete Latin for abstract English so constantly, auctor fuit= he proposed.
cuius--erat—‘which moreover he could never restrain.‘
236. Alexander's Grief
Inde excussā ēbrietāte, sērō dēmum tantī sceleris poenitēre rēgem, quī ubi prīmā lūce ante aedēs cadāver amīcī afferrī iussit, scissā veste, ōre unguibus laniātō, diū effūsīs lacrimīs gemēbat. Vīvendum esse sibi in sōlitūdine mōre ferae, terrentīs aliās, aliās timentīs. Illam nūtrīcī suae grātiam rettulisse, cuius duo fīlī prō suā glōriā in aciē dīmicantēs occīdissent; illum frātrem, ūnicum orbitātis sōlātium, ā sē inter epulās occīsum. Quō sē convertī miseram posse? sēsē interfectō amīcō ita in patriam reversūrum ut nē dextram quidem nūtrīcī sine memoriā calamitātis offerre posset. Inde trīduum iacuit inclūsus. Quem ut armigerī ad moriendum obstinātum esse cognōvērunt, ūniversī in aedēs irrumpunt, diūque precibus reluctātum aegrē vīcērunt ut cibum caperet. Quoque minus caedis pudēret, iūre interfectum dēcernunt, sepultūra quoque prohibitūrī nī rēx humārī iussisset.
sero demum—‘when too late.’
more ferae--‘like a wild beast.‘
obstinatum--‘determined.’
prohibituri—‘ready to deny him.‘
more ferae--‘like a wild beast.‘
obstinatum--‘determined.’
prohibituri—‘ready to deny him.‘
237. Alexander's Kindness to a Soldier
Posteā rēx exercitum ex hībernīs mōvit, ut regiōnem, quae Gabaza appellātur, adīret. Quō in itinere nimiā vī frīgoris paene opprimuntur mīlitēs, spem salūtis abiectūrī, nī rēx labōrantēs cohortātus ita animōs cōnfirmāsset ut novīs receptīs vīribus in mītiōrem regiōnem sē reciperent. Et forte Macedō gregārius mīles aegrē sē et arma sustentāns in castra pervēnerat. Quō vīsō rēx, quanquam ipse tum maximē admōtō igne refovēbat artūs, ē sellā exsiluit torpentemque mīlitem et vix compotem mentis dēmptīs armīs in suā sēde iussit cōnsīdere. Ille diū nec ubi requiēsceret nec ā quō esset exceptus agnōvit. Tandem receptō calōre ut rēgiam sēdem rēgemque vīdit, territus surgit. Quem intuēns Alexander, Ecquid intelligis, mīles, inquit, quantō meliōre sorte quam Persae sub rēge vīvātīs? Illīs enim in sellā rēgis cōnsēdisse capital foret, tibi salūtī fuit.
hibernis—understand castris.
tum maxime—‘that very moment.‘
tum maxime—‘that very moment.‘
238. Notes on India
Inde Alexander in Indiam contendit, semper bellō quam post victōriam clārior. Ea terra līnī ferāx est: inde plērīsque sunt vestēs. Librī arborum, tenērī haud secus quam chartae, līterārum nōtās capiunt. Avēs ad imitandum hūmānae vōcis sonum docilēs sunt. Animālia inūsitāta cēterīs gentibus, nisi invecta. Eādem terrā rhinocerotās alit, nōn generat. Elephantōrum maior est vīs quam quōs in Āfricā domitant: et vīribus magnitūdō respondet. Aurum flūmina vehunt, quae lēnī modicōque lāpsū sēgnēs aquās dūcunt. Gemmās margarītāsque mare lītoribus īnfundit. Ingenia hominum, sīcut ubīque, apud illōs quoque locōrum situs fōrmat. Corpora usque ad pedēs carbasō vēlant, soleīs pedēs, capita linteīs vinciunt: lapillī ex auribus pendent: brāchia quoque et lacertōs aurō colunt, quibus inter populārēs aut nōbilitās aut opēs ēminent. Capillum pectunt saepius quam tondent: mentum semper intōnsum est; reliquam ōris cutem ad speciem levitātis exaequant.
in Indiam—through the Khyber or Kuram pass, through both of which our troops entered Afghanistan.
quos in Africa domitant---African elephants are never tamed for use now.
locorum situs--‘their surroundings.’
ad speciem levitatis—‘to look smooth.’
quos in Africa domitant---African elephants are never tamed for use now.
locorum situs--‘their surroundings.’
ad speciem levitatis—‘to look smooth.’
239. The Luxury of Indian Kings
Cum rēx sēmet in pūblicō cōnspicī patitur, tūribula argentea ministrī ferunt, tōtumque iter odōribus complent. Aurea lectīca, margarītīs circumpendentibus, recubat: distīncta sunt aurō et purpurā carbasa quae indūtus est: lectīcam sequuntur armātī corporisque cūstōdēs, inter quōs in rāmīs avēs pendent, quās cantū sēriīs rēbus obstrepere docuērunt. Rēgia aurātās columnās habet: tōtās eās vītīs aurō caelāta percurrit, aviumque, quārum vīsū maximē gaudent, argenteae effigiēs opera distinguunt. Rēgia adeuntibus patet, cum rēx capillōs pectit atque ōrnat: tūne respōnsā lēgātiōnibus, tūne iūra populāribus reddit. Dēmptīs soleīs, odōribus illinuntur pedēs. Vēnātus maximus labor est, inclūsa animālia inter vōta cantūsque assentātōrum fīgere. Breviōra itinera equō cōnficit: longior ubi expedītiō est, elephantī vehunt currum, et tantārum bēluārum corpora tōta contegunt aurō.
quae indutus est—‘with which he is clad.’ This use of the accusative with a passive verb is common, especially in Vergil, and seems to be an imitation of the Greek use of the accusative after middle and passive verbs.
seriis rebus obstrepere—‘to interrupt grave matters,‘
seriis rebus obstrepere—‘to interrupt grave matters,‘
240. Customs and Seasons
Quis crēdat inter haec vitia cūram esse sapientiae? Ūnum agreste et horridum genus est, quōs sapientēs vocant. Apud hōs occupāre fātī diem pulchrum, et vīvōs sē cremārī iubent, quibus aut sēgnis aetās aut incommoda valētūdō est: expectātam mortem prō dēdecore vītae habent. Nec ūllus corporibus, quae senectūs solvit, honōs redditur: inquinārī putant ignem nisi quī spīrantēs recēpit. Illī quī in urbibus pūblicīs mōribus dēgunt, sīderum mōtus scītē spectāre dīcuntur et futūra praedīcere. Nec quenquam admovēre lētī diem crēdunt, cui exspectāre interritō liceat. Deōs putant, quicquid colere coepērunt, arborēs maximē, quās violāre capital est. Mēnsēs in quīnōs dēnōs dēscrīpsērunt diēs, annī plēna spatia servantur. Lūnae cursū notant tempora, nōn ut plērīque, cum orbem sīdus implēvit, sed cum sē curvāre coepit in cornua, et idcircō breviōrēs habent mēnsēs quī spatium eōrum ad hunc lūnae modum dīrigunt.
quis credat—dubitative conjunctive.
occupare--‘to anticipate.’
pro--habent--‘they consider a disgrace to life.’ vitae, genitive.
quae senectus solvit--‘which old age sets free,’ i.e ‘which die of old age‘
spirantes--‘living people.’
publicis moribus--‘like other people;’ opposed to agreste et horridum genus, above.
admovere--‘hasten the approach of.‘
interrito--attracted to cui.
quinos denos--the months are divided into halves.
qui—dirigunt—‘those who settle their duration by this phase of the moon.’
occupare--‘to anticipate.’
pro--habent--‘they consider a disgrace to life.’ vitae, genitive.
quae senectus solvit--‘which old age sets free,’ i.e ‘which die of old age‘
spirantes--‘living people.’
publicis moribus--‘like other people;’ opposed to agreste et horridum genus, above.
admovere--‘hasten the approach of.‘
interrito--attracted to cui.
quinos denos--the months are divided into halves.
qui—dirigunt—‘those who settle their duration by this phase of the moon.’