Gellius III: Res Divina, Scipio, et Pyrrus Gellius|III|Divine|Divine|Scipio|and|Pyrrhus Gellius III : Questions divines, Scipion et Pyrrhus Gellius III: Divine Matters, Scipio, and Pyrrhus

II.28. II II.28. Non esse compertum, cui deo rem divinam fieri oporteat, cum terra movet. Not|to be|determined|to whom|god|thing|divine|to be done|ought|when|earth|moves It is not established to which god the divine matter ought to be performed when the earth shakes. 1 Quaenam esse causa videatur, quamobrem terrae tremores fiant, non modo his communibus hominum sensibus opinionibusque incompertum, sed ne inter physicas quidem philosophias satis constitit, ventorumne vi accidant specus hiatusque terrae subeuntium an aquarum subter in terrarum cavis undantium pulsibus fluctibusque, ita uti videntur existimasse antiquissimi Graecorum, qui Neptunum seisichthona appellaverunt, an cuius aliae rei causa alteriusve dei vi ac numine, nondum etiam, sicuti diximus, pro certo creditum. what|to be|cause|seems|why|of the earth|earthquakes|occur|not|only|these|common|of men|senses|and opinions|uncertain|but|not|among|physical|indeed|philosophies|sufficiently|established|of winds|by the force|occur|caves|and openings|of the earth|of those who go under|or|of waters|beneath|in|of the earth|cavities|of waves|by the pulses|and by the waves|thus|as|they seem|to have thought|the most ancient|of the Greeks|who|Neptune|the shaker of the earth|called|or|of whom|other|things|cause|of another|god|by the force|and|divine power|not yet|even|just as|we said|for|certain|believed 1 What seems to be the reason why earthquakes occur is not only unknown to the common senses and opinions of men, but it has not been sufficiently established even among physical philosophies, whether they happen due to the force of winds affecting the caves and openings of the earth, or due to the waters surging beneath the earth in the hollows, as the very ancient Greeks seemed to believe, who called Neptune Seisichthon, or for some other reason due to the power and divinity of another god, which has not yet been firmly believed, as we said. 2 Propterea veteres Romani cum in omnibus aliis vitae officiis tum in constituendis religionibus atque in dis inmortalibus animadvertendis castissimi cautissimique, ubi terram movisse senserant nuntiatumve erat, ferias eius rei causa edicto imperabant, sed dei nomen, ita uti solet, cui servari ferias oporteret, statuere et edicere quiescebant, ne alium pro alio nominando falsa religione populum alligarent. therefore|ancient|Romans|when|in|all|other|life|duties|both|in|establishing|religions|and|in|gods|immortal|noticing|most chaste|and most cautious|when|land|had moved|they had sensed|or it had been announced|was|holidays|of that|matter|for the sake of|by an edict|they ordered|but|of the gods|name|so|as|is accustomed|to whom|to be observed|holidays|it was necessary|to establish|and|to proclaim|they were ceasing|lest|another|in place of|another|naming|false|religion|people|they would bind 2 Therefore, the ancient Romans, being very pure and cautious in all other duties of life, especially in establishing religions and in observing the immortal gods, when they sensed that the earth had moved or it had been reported, they would command a holiday for that reason by edict, but they would refrain from establishing and declaring the name of the god, as is customary, to whom the holiday ought to be observed, lest they bind the people with false religion by naming one god for another. 3 Eas ferias si quis polluisset piaculoque ob hanc rem opus esset, hostiam "si deo, si deae" immolabant, idque ita ex decreto pontificum observatum esse M. Varro dicit, quoniam, et qua vi et per quem deorum dearumve terra tremeret, incertum esset. Those|holidays|if|anyone|had polluted|and by atonement|on account of|this|matter|need|were|victim|if|god|if|goddess|they sacrificed|and that|thus|from|decree|of the priests|observed|to be|Marcus|Varro|says|since|and|by what|force|and|through|whom|of the gods|or of the goddesses|earth|trembled|uncertain|was 3 If anyone had polluted the holidays and it was necessary to atone for this, they would sacrifice a victim saying "if to the god, if to the goddess," and this was observed as per the decree of the priests, as Marcus Varro says, since it was uncertain by what force and through whom the earth of the gods or goddesses trembled. 4 Sed de lunae solisque defectionibus non minus in eius rei causa reperienda sese exercuerunt. But|concerning|moon|sun|eclipses|not|less|in|its|matter|cause|to be discovered|themselves|exerted 4 But they did not hesitate to exercise themselves in the cause of the eclipses of the moon and the sun. 5 Quippe M. Cato, vir in cognoscendis rebus multi studii, incerta tamen et incuriose super ea re opinatus est. Indeed|Marcus|Cato|man|in|knowing|things|much|study|uncertain|nevertheless|and|carelessly|about|that|matter|opined|he was 5 Indeed, Marcus Cato, a man of much diligence in understanding matters, nevertheless speculated uncertainly and carelessly on this issue. 6 Verba Catonis ex originum quarto haec sunt: "Non lubet scribere, quod in tabula apud pontificem maximum est, quotiens annona cara, quotiens lunae aut solis lumine caligo aut quid obstiterit. Words|of Cato|from|origins|fourth|these|are|Not|pleasing|to write|what|in|tablet|at|pontiff|greatest|is|whenever|grain supply|expensive|whenever|of the moon|or|of the sun||darkness|or|anything|has hindered 6 The words of Cato from the fourth book of Origins are these: "It is not pleasing to write what is in the record at the chief priest, whenever the grain is expensive, whenever there is darkness from the light of the moon or the sun, or something has obstructed it. "7 Vsque adeo parvi fecit rationes veras solis et lunae deficientium vel scire vel dicere. up to|so|small|made|calculations|true|of the sun|and|of the moon|of the deficient|either|to know|or|to say "7 He made the true calculations of the eclipses of the sun and moon so small that he neither knew nor spoke of them. III.4. 3 III.4. Quod P. Africano et aliis tunc viris nobilibus ante aetatem senectam barbam et genas radere mos patrius fuit. That|Publius|Africanus|and|others|then|men|noble|before|age|old age|beard|and|cheeks|to shave|custom|ancestral|was It was the ancestral custom for P. Africanus and other noble men at that time to shave their beards and cheeks before the age of old age. 1 In libris, quos de vita P. Scipionis Africani compositos legimus, scriptum esse animadvertimus P. Scipioni, Pauli filio, postquam de Poenis triumphaverat censorque fuerat, diem dictum esse ad populum a Claudio Asello tribuno plebis, cui equum in censura ademerat, eumque, cum esset reus, neque barbam desisse radi neque non candida veste uti neque fuisse cultu solito reorum. In|the books|which|about|life|Publius|Scipio|African|composed|we read|written|to be|we noticed|Publius|Scipio|Paul|son|after|about|the Punics|he had triumphed|and he|had been|day|appointed|to be|to|the people|by|Claudius|Asellus|tribune|of the plebs|to whom|horse|in|the census|he had taken away|and him|when|he was|accused|nor|beard|to have ceased|to be shaved|nor|not|white|garment|to use|nor|to have been|in appearance|usual|of the accused 1 In the books that we have read about the life of P. Scipio Africanus, we have noticed that it was written that P. Scipio, son of Paulus, after he had triumphed over the Carthaginians and had been censor, was said to have addressed the people by the tribune Claudius Asellus, from whom he had taken away a horse in the census, and that he, while being accused, neither ceased to shave his beard nor to wear a white toga nor was he in the usual attire of the accused. 2 Sed cum in eo tempore Scipionem minorem quadraginta annorum fuisse constaret, quod de barba rasa ita scriptum esset, mirabamur. But|when|in|that|time|Scipio|younger|forty|of years|had been|it was established|because|about|beard|shaved|thus|written|it was|we were wondering 2 But since it was established that Scipio the Younger was forty years old at that time, and it was written about the shaved beard, we were amazed. 3 Comperimus autem ceteros quoque in isdem temporibus nobiles viros barbam in eiusmodi aetate rasitavisse, idcircoque plerasque imagines veterum, non admodum senum, sed in medio aetatis, ita factas videmus. We have learned|however|the others|also|in|the same|times|noble|men|beard|in|such|age|had shaved|and therefore|most|images|of the ancients|not|very|old men|but|in|middle|of age|thus|made|we see 3 Moreover, we have discovered that other noble men also shaved their beards at such an age during those same times, and for this reason we see many images of the ancients, not of very old men, but in the middle of life, made in this way.

III.8. 3 III.8. Litterae eximiae consulum C. Fabricii et Q. Aemilii ad regem Pyrrum a Q. Claudio scriptore historiarum in memoriam datae. Letters|exceptional|of the consuls|Gaius|Fabricius|and|Quintus|Aemilius|to|king|Pyrrhus|by|Quintus|Claudius|writer|of histories|in|memory|given The remarkable letters of the consuls C. Fabricius and Q. Aemilius to King Pyrrhus, recorded by Q. Claudius, the historian. 1 Cum Pyrrus rex in terra Italia esset et unam atque alteram pugnas prospere pugnasset satisque agerent Romani et pleraque Italia ad regem descivisset, tum Ambraciensis quispiam Timochares, regis Pyrri amicus, ad C. Fabricium consulem furtim venit ac praemium petivit et, si de praemio conveniret, promisit regem venenis necare idque facile esse factu dixit, quoniam filii sui pocula in convivio regi ministrarent. When|Pyrrhus|king|in|land|Italy|was|and|one|and|another|battles|successfully|had fought|sufficiently|acted|the Romans|and|most|Italy|to|king|had revolted|then|of Ambracia|someone|Timochares|of the king|Pyrrhus|friend|to|Gaius|Fabricius|consul|secretly|came|and|reward|sought|and|if|about|reward|they agreed|he promised|king|with poisons|to kill|and that|easily|to be|done|he said|since|sons|his|cups|in|banquet|to the king|would serve 1 When King Pyrrhus was in Italy and had fought one or two battles successfully, and the Romans were doing well and most of Italy had defected to the king, then a certain Ambraciote named Timochares, a friend of King Pyrrhus, secretly came to consul C. Fabricius and sought a reward, and if an agreement could be reached regarding the reward, he promised to kill the king with poison, saying that it would be easy to do so, since his sons served the king at the banquet. 2 Eam rem Fabricius ad senatum scripsit. It|matter|Fabricius|to|the senate|wrote 2 Fabricius wrote this matter to the Senate. 3 Senatus ad regem legatos misit mandavitque, ut de Timochare nihil proderent, sed monerent, uti rex circumspectius ageret atque a proximorum insidiis salutem tutaretur. The Senate|to|the king|envoys|sent|and commanded|that|about|Timocharus|nothing|they would benefit|but|they would warn|that|the king|more cautiously|acted|and|from|nearby|ambushes|safety|he would protect 3 The Senate sent envoys to the king and instructed them not to reveal anything about Timochares, but to warn him to act more cautiously and to protect his safety from the plots of those nearby. 4 Hoc ita, uti diximus, in Valeri Antiatis historia scriptum est. This|thus|as|we said|in|Valerius|of Antias|history|written|is 4 This is written in the history of Valerius Antias as we have said. 5 Quadrigarius autem in libro tertio non Timocharem, sed Niciam adisse ad consulem scripsit neque legatos a senatu missos, sed a consulibus, et Pyrrum populo Romano laudes atque gratias scripsisse captivosque omnes, quos tum habuit, vestivisse et reddidisse. Quadrigarius|however|in|book||not|Timocharis|but|Nicia|having approached|to|consul|he wrote|nor|envoys|by|the senate|sent|but|by|the consuls|and|Pyrrhus|to the people|Roman|praises|and|thanks|he wrote|and the captives|all|whom|then|he had|he had clothed|and|he had returned 5 Quadrigarius, however, wrote in the third book that Nicias, not Timomachus, went to the consul and that the envoys were not sent by the Senate, but by the consuls, and that he wrote praises and thanks to Pyrrhus for the Roman people and that he dressed and returned all the captives he then had. 6 Consules tum fuerunt C. Fabricius et Q. Aemilius. The consuls|then|were|Gaius|Fabricius|and|Quintus|Aemilius 6 The consuls at that time were C. Fabricius and Q. Aemilius. Litteras, quas ad regem Pyrrum super ea causa miserunt, 7 Claudius Quadrigarius scripsit fuisse hoc exemplo: 8 "Consules Romani salutem dicunt Pyrro regi. The letters|which|to|king|Pyrrhus|about|that|cause|they sent|Claudius|Quadrigarius|wrote|to have been|this|example|The consuls|Roman|greetings|say|to Pyrrhus|king The letters that they sent to King Pyrrhus regarding this matter, 7 Claudius Quadrigarius wrote were as follows: 8 "The Roman consuls greet King Pyrrhus." Nos pro tuis iniuriis continuis animo tenus commoti inimiciter tecum bellare studemus. We|for|your|injuries|continuous|mind|to the extent|moved|hostilely|with you|to fight|we strive We, deeply moved in spirit by your continuous injuries, strive to wage war against you. Sed communis exempli et fidei ergo visum, ut te salvum velimus, ut esset, quem armis vincere possimus. But|common|of example|and|of faith|therefore|seen|so that|you|safe|we want|so that|he were|whom|by arms|to conquer|we could But for the common example and faith, therefore it seemed good to us that we wish to save you, so that there would be one whom we could conquer with arms. Ad nos venit Nicias familiaris tuus, qui sibi praemium a nobis peteret, si te clam interfecisset. To|us|came|Nicias|friend|your|who|to himself|reward|from|us|would seek|if|you|secretly|had killed Your friend Nicias came to us, who sought a reward from us if he had secretly killed you. Id nos negavimus velle, neve ob eam rem quicquam commodi exspectaret, et simul visum est, ut te certiorem faceremus, ne quid eiusmodi, si accidisset, nostro consilio civitates putarent factum, et quod nobis non placet pretio aut praemio aut dolis pugnare. That|we|denied|to want|nor|on account of||matter|anything|advantageous|would expect|and|at the same time|it seemed|is|that|you|more informed|we would make|lest|anything|of that kind|if|should happen|our|plan|states|would think|done|and|that|to us|not|pleasing|by price|or|by reward|or|by deceit|to fight We denied that we wanted this, nor did we expect any advantage for that reason, and at the same time it seemed good to us to inform you, lest any city think that something of this kind had been done by our plan, and that we do not like to fight for price, reward, or deceit. Tu, nisi caves, iacebis." You|unless|take care|you will lie down You, unless you take care, will lie down.