Nepos, Hannibal 10

Hann. 10.1Sīc cōnservātīs suīs rēbus omnibus Poenus illūsīs Crētēnsibus ad Prūsiam in Pontum pervēnit.

So, having saved all his property and tricked the Cretans, the Carthaginian came to Prusias in Pontus.

Note. Poenus 'the Carthaginian', i.e. Hannibal. Prusias' kingdom was Bithynia; Nepos loosely calls it Pontus, the region on the Black Sea.

Hann. 10.1Apud quem eōdem animō fuit ergā Ītaliam neque aliud quicquam ēgit quam rēgem armāvit et exacuit adversus Rōmānōs.

With him he kept the same attitude toward Italy, and did nothing else but arm the king and spur him on against the Romans.

Note. neque aliud quicquam ēgit quam 'did nothing other than', followed by plain indicatives armāvit, exacuit.

Hann. 10.2Quem cum vidēret domesticīs opibus minus esse rōbustum, conciliābat cēterōs rēgēs, adiungēbat bellicōsās nātiōnēs.

When he saw that Prusias was not strong enough in his own resources, he tried to win over other kings and kept bringing warlike nations to his side.

Hann. 10.2Dissidēbat ab eō Pergamēnus rēx Eumenēs, Rōmānīs amīcissimus, bellumque inter eōs gerēbātur et marī et terrā;

Eumenes, king of Pergamum, a very close friend of the Romans, was at odds with Prusias, and war was being waged between them both on sea and on land;

Hann. 10.3sed utrōbīque Eumenēs plūs valēbat propter Rōmānōrum societātem.

but in both places Eumenes was stronger because of his alliance with the Romans.

Note. utrōbīque 'in both places', on sea and on land.

Hann. 10.3Quō magis cupiēbat eum Hannibal opprimī, quem sī remōvisset, faciliōra sibi cētera fore arbitrābātur.

For this reason Hannibal was all the more eager for him to be crushed, thinking that if he removed him everything else would be easier for himself.

Note. Quō magis 'and all the more'. quem sī remōvisset … arbitrābātur: the condition is part of what Hannibal thought; cētera fore = cētera futūra esse.

Hann. 10.3Ad hunc interficiundum tālem iniit ratiōnem.

To kill him he hit upon this scheme.

Note. interficiundum is an older spelling of interficiendum (gerundive with ad, expressing purpose).

Hann. 10.4Classe paucīs diēbus erant dēcrētūrī.

They were to decide the matter with their fleets in a few days.

Note. classe … erant dēcrētūrī 'they were going to decide the issue with their fleets': the future participle with erant expresses intention.

Hann. 10.4Superābātur nāvium multitūdine: dolō erat pugnandum, cum pār nōn esset armīs.

He was outnumbered in ships: he had to fight by a trick, since he was not equal in arms.

Note. dolō erat pugnandum 'he had to fight by a trick': impersonal gerundive with sum expressing necessity.

Hann. 10.4Imperāvit quam plūrimās venēnātās serpentēs vīvās colligī eāsque in vāsa fictilia conicī.

He ordered as many poisonous snakes as possible to be collected alive and put into earthenware jars.

Note. quam plūrimās 'as many as possible': quam with a superlative. The infinitives colligī and conicī are passive after imperāvit.

Hann. 10.5Hārum cum effēcisset magnam multitūdinem, diē ipsō, quō factūrus erat nāvāle proelium, classiāriōs convocat iīsque praecipit, omnēs ut in ūnam Eumenis rēgis concurrant nāvem, ā cēterīs tantum satis habeant sē dēfendere.

When he had gathered a great number of them, on the very day on which he was going to fight the sea battle, he calls the marines together and instructs them all to make together for the one ship of King Eumenes, and against the rest to be content simply to defend themselves.

Note. Hārum … multitūdinem 'a great number of these (snakes)'. diē ipsō quō 'on the very day on which'. In indirect commands after praecipit: ut … concurrant, and (without ut) tantum satis habeant 'let them be satisfied merely…'.

Hann. 10.5Id illōs facile serpentium multitūdine cōnsecūtūrōs.

They would easily manage that, he said, with the great number of snakes.

Note. Indirect speech continues: Id illōs … cōnsecūtūrōs [esse] 'that they would easily achieve this'.

Hann. 10.6Rēx autem in quā nāve veherētur, ut scīrent, sē factūrum: quem sī aut cēpissent aut interfēcissent, magnō iīs pollicētur praemiō fore.

He would make sure they knew which ship the king was sailing in; if they either captured or killed him, he promises that it will bring them a great reward.

Note. Still indirect speech: sē factūrum [esse] ut scīrent 'that he would make sure they knew'. The clause in quā nāve veherētur is an indirect question placed first. magnō … praemiō fore 'it would bring (them) a great reward': praemiō is a dative of purpose, with magnō agreeing.