Nepos, Epaminondas 10

Epam. 10.1Hic uxōrem numquam dūxit.

He never married.

Epam. 10.1In quō cum reprehenderētur ā Pelopidā, quī fīlium habēbat īnfāmem, maleque eum in eō patriae cōnsulere dīceret, quod līberōs nōn relinqueret, "vidē" inquit "nē tū peius cōnsulās, quī tālem ex tē nātum relictūrus sīs.

When he was criticized for this by Pelopidas, who had a son of bad reputation, and Pelopidas said he was serving his country badly in this, because he was not leaving children, Epaminondas said: "Be careful that you are not serving it worse, since you are going to leave behind such a son.

Note. In quō: 'in this matter'. vidē nē: 'see that you don't ...', 'take care that ...'. relictūrus sīs: periphrastic future in a subordinate subjunctive clause.

Epam. 10.2Neque vērō stirps potest mihi dēesse: namque ex mē nātam relinquō pugnam Leuctricam, quae nōn modo mihi superstes, sed etiam immortālis sit necesse est."

Besides, I cannot lack descendants: for I leave behind a daughter born of me, the battle of Leuctra, which must not only outlive me but also be immortal."

Note. A memorable reply: his 'daughter' is the battle of Leuctra (pugna is feminine, hence nātam). necesse est takes a subjunctive without ut: sit necesse est, 'must be'.

Epam. 10.3Quō tempore duce Pelopidā exulēs Thēbās occupārunt et praesidium Lacedaemoniōrum ex arce expulērunt, Epamīnōndās, quamdiū facta est caedēs cīvium, domō sē tenuit, quod neque dēfendere malōs volēbat neque impugnāre, nē manūs suōrum sanguine cruentāret: namque omnem cīvīlem victōriam fūnestam putābat.

At the time when the exiles under Pelopidas' leadership seized Thebes and drove the Spartan garrison out of the citadel, Epaminondas stayed at home as long as the killing of citizens went on, because he wished neither to defend the bad men nor to attack them, so as not to stain his hands with the blood of his own people: for he thought every victory in civil strife was a disaster.

Note. In 379 BC Theban exiles led by Pelopidas killed the pro-Spartan leaders and drove the Spartan garrison from the Cadmea. Epaminondas would not take part in killing fellow citizens. nē ... cruentāret: purpose.

Epam. 10.3Īdem, postquam apud Cadmēam cum Lacedaemoniīs pugnārī coeptum est, in prīmīs stetit.

Yet when fighting began against the Spartans at the Cadmea, he stood in the front rank.

Note. Cadmēa: the citadel of Thebes, named after its founder Cadmus. in prīmīs stetit: 'he stood in the front rank'.

Epam. 10.4Huius dē virtūtibus vītāque satis erit dictum, sī hoc ūnum adiūnxerō, quod nēmō ībit īnfitiās, Thēbās et ante Epamīnōndam nātum et post eiusdem interitum perpetuō aliēnō pāruisse imperiō, contrā ea, quamdiū ille praefuerit reī pūblicae, caput fuisse tōtīus Graeciae.

Enough will have been said of his virtues and his life if I add this one thing, which no one will deny: that Thebes, both before Epaminondas was born and after his death, was always under the rule of others, but, on the other hand, for as long as he led the state, it was the head of all Greece.

Note. īnfitiās ībit: 'will deny' (literally 'go to denial'). The indirect statement Thēbās ... pāruisse ... caput fuisse depends on adiūnxerō. contrā ea: 'on the other hand'.

Epam. 10.4Ex quō intellegī potest ūnum hominem plūris quam cīvitātem fuisse.

From this it can be understood that one man was worth more than the whole city.

Note. plūris: genitive of value, 'of more worth'. Nepos ends with his main point: Thebes was great only while Epaminondas led it.