Ab Urbe Condita 1.39

Liv. 1.39.1Eō tempore in rēgiā prōdigium vīsū ēventūque mīrābile fuit: puerō dormientī, cui Serviō Tulliō fuit nōmen, caput ārsisse ferunt multōrum in cōnspectū.

At that time a portent occurred in the palace, wonderful to see and in its outcome: they say that the head of a sleeping boy, whose name was Servius Tullius, blazed with fire in the sight of many people.

Note. vīsū: supine in -ū with an adjective, 'wonderful to see'. cui Serviō Tulliō fuit nōmen: dative of possession with the name in the dative too, attracted to cui.

Liv. 1.39.2Plūrimō igitur clāmōre inde ad tantae reī mīrāculum ortō excitōs rēgēs, et cum quīdam familiārium aquam ad restinguendum ferret, ab rēgīnā retentum, sēdātōque eam tumultū movērī vetuisse puerum, dōnec suā sponte experrēctus esset.

Then, when a great outcry arose at so marvellous a thing, the king and queen were roused; and when one of the servants was bringing water to put it out, he was held back by the queen, and when the uproar had been calmed she forbade the boy to be moved until he woke up of his own accord.

Note. excītōs (esse) rēgēs: 'the king and queen were roused'; rēgēs can mean king and queen together. The whole sentence is indirect statement depending on ferunt in 42. ad restinguendum: gerund of purpose.

Liv. 1.39.3Mox cum somnō et flammam abīsse.

Soon the flame left him together with sleep.

Note. cum somnō: 'together with sleep'. The flame was taken as a sign of future greatness.

Liv. 1.39.3Tum abductō in sēcrētum virō Tanaquīl "vidēn tū puerum hunc" inquit, "quem tam humilī cultū ēducāmus?

Then, taking her husband aside in private, Tanaquil said: "Do you see this boy, whom we are bringing up in such humble style?

Note. vidēn = vidēsne, colloquial. Tanaquil was an Etruscan, and the Etruscans were famous for interpreting portents.

Liv. 1.39.3Scīre licet hunc lūmen quondam rēbus nostrīs dubiīs futūrum praesidiumque rēgiae adflīctae;

You may be sure that one day he will be a light to us in our troubles and a defence of the royal house when it is in distress;

Note. scīre licet: 'you may be sure'. lūmen … futūrum (esse): 'he will be a light'. rēgiae adflīctae: genitive, 'of the royal house in distress' — Tanaquil already foresees danger.

Liv. 1.39.3proinde māteriam ingentis pūblicē prīvātimque decoris omnī indulgentiā nostrā nūtriāmus."

so let us nurture with all our care this source of great glory for the state and for our family."

Note. māteriam … decoris: 'the source of great glory'. nūtriāmus: hortatory subjunctive, 'let us nurture'.

Liv. 1.39.4Inde puerum līberum locō coeptum habērī ērudīrīque artibus, quibus ingenia ad magnae fortūnae cultum excitantur.

From then on the boy began to be treated as one of their children and to be trained in the skills by which characters are prepared for high fortune.

Note. līberum locō: 'in the place of a child'; līberum is the old genitive plural of līberī. coeptum (est) with passive infinitives: when coepī governs a passive infinitive it is itself often passive.

Liv. 1.39.4Ēvēnit facile, quod diīs cordī esset: iuvenis ēvāsit vērē indolis rēgiae, nec, cum quaererētur gener Tarquiniō, quisquam Rōmānae iuventūtis ūllā arte cōnferrī potuit, fīliamque eī suam rēx dēspondit.

It turned out easily, as was the will of the gods: he grew into a young man of truly royal character, and when a son-in-law was sought for Tarquinius, none of the Roman youth could be compared with him in any skill, and the king betrothed his own daughter to him.

Note. quod dīs cordī esset: double dative, 'as was dear to the gods'; the subjunctive gives the reason as Livy's comment. ēvāsit: 'turned out to be'.

Liv. 1.39.5Hic quācumque dē causā tantus illī honōs habitus crēdere prohibet servā nātum eum parvumque ipsum servīsse.

This great honour paid to him, whatever its cause, forbids us to believe that he was born of a slave woman and was himself a slave as a small child.

Note. Livy argues: such honour makes it hard to believe the story that Servius was born a slave. The name Servius was popularly connected with servus.

Liv. 1.39.5Eōrum magis sententiae sum, quī Corniculō captō Servī Tullī, quī prīnceps in illā urbe fuerat, gravidam virō occīsō uxōrem, cum inter reliquās captīvās cognita esset, ob ūnicam nōbilitātem ab rēgīnā Rōmānā prohibitam ferunt servitiō partum Rōmae ēdidisse in Prīscī Tarquinī domō;

I am more of the opinion of those who say that when Corniculum was captured, the wife of Servius Tullius, who had been the leading man in that city, was pregnant when her husband was killed; and that when she was recognised among the other captive women, the Roman queen, because of her exceptional rank, kept her from slavery, and she gave birth at Rome in the house of Tarquinius Priscus;

Note. Livy gives the version he prefers. Corniculō captō: ablative absolute. ob ūnicam nōbilitātem: 'because of her exceptional rank'. partum ēdidisse: 'gave birth'.

Liv. 1.39.6inde tantō beneficiō et inter mulierēs familiāritātem auctam, et puerum, ut in domō ā parvō ēductum, in cāritāte atque honōre fuisse;

that from so great a kindness the friendship between the women grew, and the boy, brought up in the house from childhood, was held in affection and honour;

Note. ā parvō: 'from childhood'. All of this is still indirect statement depending on ferunt in 51.

Liv. 1.39.6fortūnam mātris, quod captā patriā in hostium manūs vēnerit, ut servā nātus crēderētur, fēcisse.

and that his mother's fortune — falling into enemy hands when her country was captured — caused him to be thought the son of a slave woman.

Note. quod … vēnerit: the subjunctive marks the reason as part of the reported view. The edition prints matlis here; the reading is mātris.