VIRGILIO E STESICORO Una ricerca sulla Tabula Iliaca Capitolina *

194 David Wardle
Iecero. According to Lacey ([above, n. 21] 86 n. 41) this future
perfect tense looks forward, not back from the moment of the
decree’s publication, but that Augustus at the moment of his vow
is looking back at some evidence of his saving activity (which
would, he hoped, increase) cannot be excluded and is preferable,
whatever date we assign to the edict.
Before moving on to more speculative issues, it is worth summarising
key conclusions from this detailed study of Augustus’
edict: first and foremost, the form and the language indicate that
the words Suetonius quotes were (part of?) a prayer, a votum,
which the princeps wished to publicise; and secondly, that Ceausescu’s
‘fundamentalist’ reading of the construction metaphor
should be rejected.
II. Translation
On the basis of the phrase by phrase investigation of the language
of the decree and its origin in the form of a solemn vow I
propose the following translation:
May I so set the state safe and sound on its rightful base and reap the
benefit of that achievement (which is my aim) that I may be called the
author of the finest state of affairs and that I may carry with me, whenever
I die, the hope that the foundations I have laid will remain in their
place. 46
46) Cf. Scott (above, n. 36) 46–7: “I pray that it may be my lot to establish
the state safe and sound upon its foundations, and that I may reap of this act the
fruit which I seek, namely that I may be called the author of the best state and that
when I die I may bear with me the hope that its foundations will remain fast as I
shall have laid them”; Judge (above, n. 9) 302: “Augustus speaks of laying foundations
for the nation, of settling it safe and sound in its place and of winning a reputation
as the founder of the best possible order”; Lacey (above, n. 21) 86: “he may
set the res publica safe and sound in its place and see the fruits of this in such a manner
that he may be called the author of the best state of affairs and carry with him
when he died the hope that the foundations of the res publica which he had laid
will remain in their place”; A. Thomson, revised by T. Forester, The Lives of the
Twelve Caesars, London 1926: “may it be permitted to me to have the happiness of
establishing the commonwealth on a safe and sound basis, and thus enjoy the
reward of which I am ambitious, that of being celebrated for moulding it into the
form best adapted to present circumstances; so that, on my leaving the world, I may