Chapter 14 Flashcards
Vetus illi cupido erat curriculo quadrigarum insistere, nec minus foedum studium cithara ludicrum in modum canere. concertare [e]quis regium et antiquis ducibus factitatum memora[ba]t, idque vatum laudibus celebre et deorum honori datum.
He had an old desire to take his stand upon a four horse chariot and a no less foul desire to sing with lute in a theatrical manner. He would say that to contend with horses was total and had been done frequently by former leader, and that it was celebrated with the praise of the poets and gave honour to the gods.
enimvero cantus Apollini sacros, talique ornatu adstare non modo Graecis in urbibus, sed Romana apud templa numen praecipuum et praescium. nec iam sisti poterat, cum Senecae ac Burro visum, ne utraque pervinceret, alterum concedere.
And what is more he said that song were sacred to Apollo, and he stands by with such an adornment, the foremost and foreshadowing divinity, not only in Greek cities but among Roman temples, and now he was not able to be stopped when it seemed good to Seneca and Burrus, so that he did not succeed in both matters, to allow one of the two.
clausumque valle Vaticana spatium, in quo equos regeret, haud promisco spectaculo. mox ultro vocari populus Romanus laudibusque extollere,
And a space was enclosed in the Vatican valley, in which the might steer the horses, without it being a public spectacle: soon rather surprisingly the Roman people were called and they raised him up with praise.
ut est vulgus cupiens voluptatum et, se eodem princeps trahat, laetum. ceterum evulgatus pudor non satietatum, ut rebantur, sed incitamentum attulit.
As one might expect from the fact that the common people are exceedingly fond of pleasure and happy if the emperor pulls them in the same direction, but his shame having been made public did not bring satisfaction, as thought though, but incentive.
ratusque dedecus moliri, si plures foedasset, nobilium familiarum posteros egestate venales in scaenam deduxit; quos fato perfunctos ne nominatim tradam, maioribus eorum tribuendum puto.
And having thought that the disgrace was softened, if he had polluted others, he escorted the dependents of the noble families onto stage, who were open to bribery through poverty. I think that, I will not record by name, dead having met their end, to pay tribute to their ancestors.
[nam et eius flagitium est, qui pecuniam ob delicta potius dedit, quam ne delinquerent.] notos quoque equites Romanos operas arenae promittere subegit donis ingentibus, nisi quod merces ab eo, qui iubere potest, vim necessitatis adfert.
For also the scandal is his who gave money for their offences rather than for them not misbehaving. He also forced well-known Roman Equites to promise their services in the arena with huge gifts, except for the fact that a fee from him, who is able to order, brings forth the force of compulsion.
