Tacitus, Annals, 15.20­-23, 33­-45. Latin Text, Study Aids with Vocabulary, and Commentary, 2013a

This is another instance of Tacitean style, what Oakley calls ‘the
pointed use of et.’ He cites Annals 12.52.3 as an example: de mathematicis Italia
pellendis factum senatus consultum atrox et irritum and translates: ‘with regard
to the expulsion of the astrologers from Italy, a decree of the senate was
passed that was fearful – and ineffectual.’ 117 The same effect is in play here:
‘from this incident (unde) glory grew for these eminent men – and danger.’
This powerful metaphor gives the ominous sense of their futures:
glisco is literally ‘to swell up, blaze up.’ Tacitus is fond of it: he uses it at
the very beginning of the Annals to describe flattery and obsequiousness
‘swelling’ under Tiberius: gliscente adulatione (1.1). It belongs into the category
of recherché or archaic words that Tacitus and other historiographers prefer
over more common possibilities: ‘The similarity exhibited by Sallust, Livy,
Quintus Curtius Rufus (in his History of Alexander the Great) and Tacitus in
their choice of vocabulary allows the generalisation that Latin historical style
was marked by frequent employment of archaisms: e.g. the use of cunctus
for the more mundane omnis (‘all’), glisco for cresco (‘grow’) and metuo for
timeo (‘fear’).’ 118 Moreover, ‘grow’ is just what Nero’s baby didn’t manage
to do. And with her went – the whole shooting-match. Soon. Poppaea and
Nero, Seneca and Thrasea. The dynasty of Augustus, the Annals of Tacitus.
Annals 15.33–45
15.33–45 can be divided as follows:
i. 33.1–34.1: Nero’s coming-out party as stage performer
ii. 34.2–35.3: A look at the kind of creatures that populate Nero’s
court – and the killing of an alleged rival
iii. 36: Nero considers, but then reconsiders, going on tour to Egypt
iv. 37: To show his love for Rome, Nero celebrates a huge public
orgy that segues into a (publicly consummated) mock-wedding
with his freedman Pythagoras
v. 38–41: The fire of Rome
vi. 42–43: Reconstructing the Capital: Nero’s New Palace
vii. 44: Appeasing the gods and Christians as scapegoats
viii. 45: Raising funds for buildings
117 Oakley (2009b) 200, with further examples in n. 23.
118 Oakley (2009b) 196.