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

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1 Olim quidem non modo praetor aut consul sed privati etiam mittebantur
qui provincias viserent et quid de cuiusque obsequio videretur referrent;
trepidabantque gentes de aestimatione singulorum: at nunc colimus
externos et adulamur, et quo modo ad nutum alicuius grates, ita promptius
accusatio decernitur. 2 decernaturque et maneat provincialibus potentiam
suam tali modo ostentandi: sed laus falsa et precibus expressa perinde
cohibeatur quam malitia, quam crudelitas. 3 plura saepe peccantur, dum
demeremur quam dum offendimus. quaedam immo virtutes odio sunt,
severitas obstinata, invictus adversum gratiam animus. 4 inde initia
magistratuum nostrorum meliora ferme et finis inclinat, dum in modum
candidatorum suffragia conquirimus: quae si arceantur, aequabilius atque
constantius provinciae regentur. nam ut metu repetundarum infracta
avaritia est, ita vetita gratiarum actione ambitio cohibebitur.’
privati: to what does this refer?
Explain the mood of viserent and referrent.
Discuss the contrast Thrasea draws between olim and nunc: what has changed?
Explain the mood of decernatur, maneat, and cohibeatur.
What type of verb is ostento (whence ostentandi)?
Why does Thrasea regard dishonest praise (laus falsa) as worse than malice (malitia)
and cruelty (crudelitas)? Do you agree?
Explain the syntax and analyse the design of severitas obstinata, invictus adversum
gratiam animus.
aequabilius atque constantius: the phrase recalls a passage in Sallust (cited in the
commentary). Briefly discuss the effect of this literary echo.
Explain the significance of the moods and tenses of regentur and cohibebitur.
Stylistic Appreciation: Look back over the entirety of Thrasea’s speech (usu ... cohibebitur,
20.3 – 21.4). How does Tacitus make this a powerful piece of persuasive oratory?
Discussion Point: Is Thrasea right that some virtues inspire hatred? Can you think of instances
when this point has been made, or ought to have been made, to our leaders today? What do you
make of Thrasea’s scorn for those who seek popularity ‘like electoral candidates’? What does
it tell us about Thrasea? He seems to link the pursuit of popular approval with instability and
poor governance: does he have a point? (You could consider this from a modern perspective,
or from that of first-century Rome at the head of an empire.)