Nepos, Hannibal 9

Hann. 9.1Antiochō fugātō verēns nē dēderētur, quod sine dubiō accidisset, sī suī fēcisset potestātem, Crētam ad Gortȳniōs vēnit, ut ibi, quō sē cōnferret, cōnsīderāret.

When Antiochus had been put to flight, fearing that he would be handed over, which would no doubt have happened if he had let himself fall into their power, he came to the Gortynians in Crete, so as to consider there where he should go.

Note. Antiochō fugātō is an ablative absolute. verēns nē dēderētur 'fearing that he would be handed over' (a clause of fearing with nē). sī suī fēcisset potestātem 'if he had given (them) power over himself'. The peace with Antiochus required Hannibal's surrender.

Hann. 9.2Vīdit autem vir omnium callidissimus in magnō sē fore perīculō, nisi quid prōvīdisset, propter avāritiam Crētēnsium: magnam enim sēcum pecūniam portābat, dē quā sciēbat exīsse fāmam.

But he, the cleverest of all men, saw that he would be in great danger because of the greed of the Cretans unless he took some precaution: for he was carrying a large sum of money with him, and he knew that word of it had got out.

Note. nisi quid prōvīdisset: after nisi, quid = aliquid. The Cretans had a proverbial reputation for greed and lying.

Hann. 9.3Itaque capit tāle cōnsilium.

So he hit on this plan.

Note. capit, complet, operit, dēpōnit: a run of historic presents speeds the story along.

Hann. 9.3Amphorās complūrēs complet plumbō, summās operit aurō et argentō.

He fills a number of jars with lead and covers their tops with gold and silver.

Hann. 9.3Hās praesentibus prīncipibus dēpōnit in templō Diānae, simulāns sē suās fortūnās illōrum fideī crēdere.

In the presence of the leading men he deposits these in the temple of Diana, pretending that he was entrusting his fortune to their good faith.

Note. praesentibus prīncipibus is an ablative absolute: 'with the leading men present'. simulāns sē … crēdere: 'pretending that he was entrusting…'.

Hann. 9.3Hīs in errōrem inductīs statuās aēneās, quās sēcum portābat, omnī suā pecūniā complet eāsque in propatulō domī abicit.

Having led them into this mistake, he fills some bronze statues which he was carrying with him with all his money, and throws them down in the open courtyard of his house.

Note. in propatulō domī 'in the open court of his house': the bronze statues, which no one would think worth stealing, held the real treasure.

Hann. 9.4Gortȳniī templum magnā cūrā custōdiunt, nōn tam ā cēterīs quam ab Hannibale, nē ille īnscientibus iīs tolleret sua sēcumque dūceret.

The Gortynians guard the temple with great care, not so much against others as against Hannibal, so that he might not take his property without their knowing and carry it off with him.

Note. nōn tam ā cēterīs quam ab Hannibale 'not so much against others as against Hannibal'. nē … tolleret is a purpose clause.