Suetonius Section L - Translation

Question 1

tunc scrobem coram fieri imperavit

Answer 1

then he ordered a grave to be made in front of him

Question 2

dimensus ad corporis sui modulum

Answer 2

(the correct size for his body)

lit. having measured it to the size of his body

Question 3

componique simul, si qua invenirentur, frusta marmoris

Answer 3

and at the same time, [for] pieces of marble, (if any were) to be found, to be arranged

lit. if somehow there were

Question 4

et aquam simul ac ligna conferri

Answer 4

and water and firewood to be brought together

Question 5

curando mox cadaveri

Answer 5

for the immediate care of his corpse

Question 6

flens ad singula atque identidem dictitans

Answer 6

weeping at each thing being done, he (kept on saying)

lit. repeated again and again

Question 7

‘qualis artifex pereo’

Answer 7

‘what an artist, yet I perish’

Question 8

ferrum iugulo adegit iuvante Epaphrodito a libellis

Answer 8

(with the help of Epaphroditus), his secretary, he drove a sword through his throat

lit. with Epaphroditus helping

Question 9

semianimisque adhuc irrumpenti centurioni … respondit

Answer 9

[he was] still half-alive [when] he responded to a centurion [who], bursting in

Question 10

paenula ad vulnus adposita in auxilium se venisse simulanti

Answer 10

(placed his cloak on the wound) pretending he had come to help

lit. with his cloak placed on the wound

Question 11

non aliud [respondit] quam: ‘sero’ et: ‘haec est fides’

Answer 11

[saying] nothing other than: ‘too late’ and ‘this is loyalty’

Nero speaking

Question 12

atque in ea voce defecit

Answer 12

in the midst of speaking, he died

Question 13

extantibus rigentibusque oculis usque

Answer 13

with his eyes bulging and glazed

Question 14

ad horrorem formidinemque visentium

Answer 14

to the horror and fear of those who saw him

Question 15

nihil prius aut magis a comitibus exegerat

Answer 15

he had demanded beforehand nothing more from his companions

Question 16

quam ne potestas cuiquam capitis sui fieret

Answer 16

than that (the chance of having his head) might not be given to anyone

lit. control [over] his head

Question 17

ut quoquo modo totus cremaretur

Answer 17

that his body might be cremated whole by whatever means

Question 18

permisit hoc Icelus, Galbae libertus

Answer 18

Icelus, Galba’s freedman, allowed this

Question 19

non multo ante vinculis exolutus

Answer 19

[he had] not long before [been] freed from prison

Question 20

in quae primo tumultu coniectus fuerat

Answer 20

into which he had been thrown (when the first revolt had broken out)

lit. in the first revolt