Bellum Alexandrinum 55

B. Alex. 55.1Cassius eōs, quī nōminātī erant cōnsciī caedis, iubet comprehendī;

Cassius ordered the arrest of those who had been named as accomplices in the attempt on his life;

Note. cōnsciī caedis: 'accomplices in the murder (attempt)'. comprehendī: present passive infinitive after iubet.

B. Alex. 55.1legiōnem V in castra remittit cohortibus XXX retentīs.

he sent the Fifth legion back to camp, keeping thirty cohorts.

Note. cohortibus xxx retentīs: ablative absolute. Cassius kept thirty cohorts (three legions' worth) with him.

B. Alex. 55.2Indiciō Minuciī cognōscit L. Racilium et L. Laterēnsem et Annium Scapulam, maximae dignitātis et grātiae prōvinciālem hominem sibique tam familiārem quam Laterēnsem et Racilium, in eādem fuisse coniūrātiōne nec diū morātur dolōrem suum, quīn eōs interficī iubeat.

From Minucius' evidence he learned that Lucius Racilius and Lucius Laterensis and Annius Scapula, a provincial of the highest standing and influence and as close to him as Laterensis and Racilius, had been in the same conspiracy; and he did not long delay his resentment before ordering them to be put to death.

Note. Indiciō Minuciī: 'on Minucius' evidence'. Annium Scapulam, … hominem: in apposition. maximae dignitātis et grātiae: genitive of quality. tam familiārem quam Laterēnsem et Racilium: 'as close as Laterensis and Racilius'. nec diū morātur dolōrem suum quīn …: 'he did not long delay his resentment (from ordering)…'.

B. Alex. 55.3Minucium lībertīs trādit excruciandum, item Calpurnium Salviānum, quī profitētur indicium coniūrātōrumque numerum auget, vērē, ut quīdam exīstimant, ut nōnnūllī queruntur, coāctus.

He handed Minucius over to his freedmen to be tortured, and likewise Calpurnius Salvianus, who turned informer and increased the number of conspirators, truthfully, as some think, under compulsion, as some complain.

Note. excruciandum: gerundive expressing purpose after trādit, 'handed over to be tortured'. Slaves and freedmen were used for torture. profitētur indicium: 'turned informer'. vērē, ut quīdam exīstimant, ut nōnnūllī queruntur, coāctus: the author gives both views: 'truthfully, as some think; under compulsion, as some complain'.

B. Alex. 55.4Īsdem cruciātibus adfectus L. Mercellō… Squillus nōminat plūrēs;

Put to the same tortures, Lucius Mercello … Squillus named more;

Note. Īsdem = eīsdem. The text has a gap (marked by dots) after Mercello: a verb or more names have been lost.

B. Alex. 55.4quōs Cassius interficī iubet exceptīs iīs, quī sē pecūniā redēmērunt.

Cassius ordered these to be put to death, except for those who bought themselves off with money.

Note. exceptīs iīs: ablative absolute, 'except for those'. sē … redēmērunt: 'bought themselves off'.

B. Alex. 55.5Nam palam HS LX cum Calpurniō pacīscitur et cum Q. Sēstiō L. Quod sī maximē nocentēs sunt multātī, tamen perīculum vītae dolorque vulnerum pecūniae remissus crūdēlitātem cum avāritiā certāsse significābat.

For he openly bargained with Calpurnius for sixty thousand sesterces, and with Quintus Sestius for fifty. Even if the guiltiest were punished, still, the fact that danger to life and the pain of wounds were remitted for money showed that cruelty had been competing with greed.

Note. HS lx: sixty thousand sesterces (HS is the sign for sesterces; with numerals it means thousands). cum Q. Sēstiō l.: 'with Quintus Sestius for fifty (thousand)'. The splitter has joined two sentences here because of the numeral. Quod sī: 'but if, even if'. maximē nocentēs: 'the guiltiest'. pecūniae remissus: 'remitted for money'; the participle agrees with the nearer noun, dolor. certāsse = certāvisse.