Tacitus Section 5

Question 1

Miles urbanus longo Caesarum sacramento imbutus

Answer 1

The city soldier, steeped in a long[-standing] oath of loyalty to the Caesars

Question 2

et ad destituendum Neronem arte magis et impulsu quam suo ingenio traductus,

Answer 2

and brought over to desert Nero by cleverness and instigation [of others] rather than by their own nature,

Question 3

postquam neque dari donativum sub nomine Galbae promissum

Answer 3

after he realised* that the donative, promised under Galba name, was not to be given,

Question 4

eque magnis meritis ac praemiis eundem in pace quem in bello locum

Answer 4

that there was not the same place for great services and rewards in peace which [there was] in war,

Question 5

praeventamque gratiam intellegit apud principem a legionibus factum,

Answer 5

and that favour was pre-secured with an Emperor created by the legions,

Question 6

pronus ad novas res scelere insuper Nymphidii Sabini praefecti imperium sibi molientis agitatur

Answer 6

[the city soldier] tending to revolution, was roused* further by the crime of Nymphidius Sabinus, the prefect, striving for the empire for himself.

Question 7

et Nymphidius quidem in ipso conatu oppressus, set quamvis capite defectionis ablato,

Answer 7

And indeed Nymphidius was crushed in the very attempt, but, though the head of the mutiny was removed,

Question 8

manebat plerisque militum conscientia, nec deerant sermones senium atque avaritiam Galbae increpantium.

Answer 8

there remained the conscience [of guilt] for the majority of the soldiers, nor were comments absent reproaching the old age and avarice of Galba.

Question 9

laudata olim et militari fama celebrata severitas eius angebat aspernantes

Answer 9

His strictness, once upon a time praised and celebrated in the talk of the soldiers, was annoying them,

Question 10

aspernantes veterem disciplinam atque ita quattuordecim annis a Nerone adsuefactos ut haud minus vitia principum amarent quam olim virtutes verebantur.

Answer 10

as they scorned the olddiscipline and were accustomed in such a way in fourteen years by Nero that they loved the faults of the emperors no less than once they used to respect [their] virtues

Question 11

accessit Galbae vox pro re publica honesta, ipsi anceps, legi a se militem, non emi; nec enim ad hanc formam cetera erant.

Answer 11

A saying of Galba’s added [itself] (in favour of an honourable Republic, but doubtful to himself) that a soldier was chosen by him, not bought; yet everything else [about Galba] was not up to this standard.