Somnium Scipionis (De Re Publica 6.12)

Rep. 6.12.1Hīc tū, Āfricāne, ostendās oportēbit patriae lūmen animī, ingeniī cōnsiliīque tuī.

Then, Africanus, you will have to show your country the light of your spirit, your talent and your judgment.

Note. ostendās oportēbit: oportet with the subjunctive and no ut, 'you will have to show'. Africanus addresses Aemilianus by the title he will earn. lūmen animī, ingeniī cōnsiliīque tuī: three genitives depend on lūmen.

Rep. 6.12.1Sed eius temporis ancipitem videō quasi fātōrum viam.

But at that time I see the path of fate divided, as it were, in two.

Note. ancipitem … viam: 'a two-way road'. Fate may go either way: Aemilianus will either save the state or be murdered. eius temporis: 'of that time'.

Rep. 6.12.1Nam cum aetās tua septēnōs octiēns sōlis ānfrāctūs reditūsque converterit, duoque iī numerī, quōrum uterque plēnus alter alterā dē causā habētur, circuitū nātūrālī summam tibi fātālem cōnfēcerint, in tē ūnum atque in tuum nōmen sē tōta convertet cīvitās, tē senātus, tē omnēs bonī, tē sociī, tē Latīnī intuēbuntur, tū eris ūnus, in quō nītātur cīvitātis salūs, ac, nē multa, dictātor rem pūblicam cōnstituās oportet, sī impiās propinquōrum manūs effūgeris.

For when your age has completed eight times seven turnings and returns of the sun, and these two numbers, each of which is held to be perfect for a different reason, have by nature's cycle made up the sum fated for you, the whole state will turn to you alone and to your name; the senate will look to you, all good men will look to you, the allies, the Latins; you will be the one man on whom the safety of the state rests, and, to be brief, as dictator you must set the republic in order, if you escape the wicked hands of your kinsmen.'

Note. A long and solemn sentence. septēnōs octiēns … anfrāctūs reditūsque: 'eight times seven circuits and returns of the sun', that is, 56 years; Aemilianus died suddenly in 129 BC at the age of 56. Both seven and eight were held 'full' or perfect numbers by the Pythagoreans. tē senātus, tē omnēs bonī …: anaphora of tē, all with intuēbuntur. nē multa: 'not to say much', 'in short'. dictātor …: Aemilianus never became dictator; the hint is that he would have, had he lived. impiās propinquōrum manūs: rumour said he was murdered by his own relatives.

Rep. 6.12.1Hīc cum exclāmāsset Laelius ingemuissentque vehementius cēterī, lēniter arrīdēns Scīpiō: St!

At this Laelius cried out and the others groaned rather loudly, but Scipio said with a gentle smile: 'Hush!

Note. Back in the frame dialogue: Laelius and the other listeners react to the prophecy of Scipio's death. exclāmāsset is the contracted form of exclāmāvisset. St: a hushing sound, 'Sh!'.

Rep. 6.12.1quaesō, inquit, nē mē ē somnō excitētis, et parumper audīte cētera.

Please don't wake me from my sleep; listen a little longer to the rest.'

Note. nē … excitētis: nē with the subjunctive in a polite request, 'please don't wake me'. The joke is that Scipio is only telling a dream.