At Germanicus, quamquam contracto exercitu et parata in defectores ultione, dandum adhuc spatium ratus, si recenti exemplo sibi ipsi consulerent, praemittit litteras ad Caecinam, venire se valida manu ac, ni supplicium in malos praesumant, usurum promisca caede. eas Caecina aquiliferis signiferisque et quod maxime castrorum sincerum erat occulte recitat, utque cunctos infamiae, se ipsos morti eximant hortatur: nam in pace causas et merita spectari, ubi bellum ingruat innocentis ac noxios iuxta cadere. illi temptatis quos idoneos rebantur, postquam maiorem legionum partem in officio vident, de sententia legati statuunt tempus, quo foedissimum quemque et seditioni promptum ferro invadant. tunc signo inter se dato inrumpunt contubernia, trucidant ignaros, nullo nisi consciis noscente quod caedis initium, quis finis.
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Title
Description
Germanicus's plans
Germanicus is being very careful:
2 abl. absolutes, linked by et (verb first in each to show action/preparation)
ultione is v. strong
ratus - shows planning, and si... consulerent - use of hypothetical shows that he is considering all possible options
sibi ipsi - collection of 'reflexive' pronouns emph idea of the men thinking too
Germanicus's threat
e.p. of praemittit shows action/force
emphatic promisca
caede is last - the last resort
conditional clause: ni.... usurum highlights cause and effect - esp with ellipsis of [sum] which makes it sound less of a hypothetical conditional
praemittit and praesumant both have the prae to show pre-planning
malos - blunt, shows deep disrespect
valida emph his strength and the destruction of his potential attack
Caecina's exhortations
tricolon of confidants:
names two most important groups aquiliferis signiferis, esp given all the centurions are dead
superlative maxime
inclusion of occulte shows danger, fact he fears his own men
two commands - r.b. and possibly zeugma:
cunctos infamiae is first, showing importance of reputation/etc. to the Romans - since punishment might come with infamy
ipsos vs cunctos suggests he thinks some people are unsaveable
r.b. of in pace and ubi bellum - w/ antithesis of pace and bellum
couplet causas et merita
couplet innocentis ac noxios - w/ antithesis, and iuxta
Planning for an attack
h.b. of maiorem partem emphasises size
officio, sententia legati all emphasises the fact that this is sanctioned killing
superlative foedissimum, pejorative seditioni
foedissimum is not necessarily seditioni promptum, as linked by et - allows Germanicus to get rid of multiple annoyances
ferro emph. armed assault
The attack
abl. abs. signo dato emph speed/action
inter se within emph exclusiveness
violence of trucidant, and inrumpunt are both advanced
both present verbs for more vividness
ignaros could be ignorant of either the plan or the mutiny - mixing guilty with innocent, potentially
triple negative/litotes nullo nisi noscente
contrast of consciis with noscente - same root = polyptoton