Somnium Scipionis (De Re Publica 6.11)

Rep. 6.11.1Vidēsne illam urbem, quae pārēre populō Rōmānō coācta per mē renovat prīstina bella nec potest quiēscere?

Do you see that city, which was forced through me to obey the Roman people but is renewing its old wars and cannot stay quiet?'

Note. Vidēsne: -ne makes a question. illam urbem: Carthage, made to submit to Rome after Africanus' victory in the Second Punic War. per mē: 'through me', by my doing. renovat: Carthage had just provoked the Third Punic War (149-146 BC).

Rep. 6.11.1(ostendēbat autem Karthāginem dē excelsō et plēnō stellārum illūstrī et clārō quōdam locō) ad quam tū oppugnandam nunc venīs paene mīles.

(he was pointing out Carthage from a high place, bright and shining and full of stars) 'which you are coming now to attack as little more than a soldier.

Note. The parenthesis is the narrator's: Africanus showed Carthage from a high place in the heavens. ad quam … oppugnandam: ad with the gerundive, purpose: 'to attack which'. paene mīles: 'little more than a common soldier', since Aemilianus was then only a military tribune.

Rep. 6.11.1Hanc hōc bienniō cōnsul ēvertēs, eritque cognōmen id tibi per tē partum, quod habēs adhūc ā nōbīs hērēditārium.

Within two years from now you will overthrow it as consul, and you will have the surname, won by your own efforts, which until now you hold as an inheritance from us.

Note. hōc biennio: 'within these two years'; he took Carthage in 146 BC as consul. cognōmen: the surname Āfricānus, which Aemilianus had so far only inherited (hērēditārium) by adoption, and would now earn himself (per tē partum).

Rep. 6.11.1Cum autem Karthāginem dēlēveris, triumphum ēgeris cēnsorque fueris et obieris lēgātus Aegyptum, Syriam, Asiam, Graeciam, dēligēre iterum cōnsul absēns bellumque maximum cōnficiēs, Numantiam excindēs.

And when you have destroyed Carthage, celebrated a triumph, been censor, and travelled as an envoy to Egypt, Syria, Asia and Greece, you will be chosen consul a second time in your absence, and you will finish a very great war: you will destroy Numantia.

Note. A string of future perfects (dēlēveris, ēgeris, fueris, obieris) for things that will be done before the main futures. obieris lēgātus: in 140 BC he toured Egypt and the East on an embassy. dēligēre: second person singular future passive, 'you will be chosen'. Numantia, a Spanish town that had defied Rome for years, fell to him in 133 BC.

Rep. 6.11.1Sed cum eris currū in Capitōlium invectus, offendēs rem pūblicam cōnsiliīs perturbātam nepōtis meī.

But when you have been carried in your chariot up to the Capitol, you will find the republic thrown into turmoil by the plans of my grandson.

Note. cum eris … invectus: 'when you have been carried', a future perfect passive written with eris. nepōtis meī: Tiberius Gracchus, the reforming tribune of 133 BC, was the elder Africanus' grandson through his daughter Cornelia.