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

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1 Interea conferendis pecuniis pervastata Italia, provinciae eversae sociique
populi et quae civitatium liberae vocantur. inque eam praedam etiam dii
cessere, spoliatis in urbe templis egestoque auro quod triumphis, quod votis
omnis populi Romani aetas prospere aut in metu sacraverat. 2 enimvero
per Asiam atque Achaiam non dona tantum sed simulacra numinum
abripiebantur, missis in eas provincias Acrato ac Secundo Carrinate. ille
libertus cuicumque flagitio promptus, hic Graeca doctrina ore tenus
exercitus animum bonis artibus non induerat. 3 ferebatur Seneca quo
invidiam sacrilegii a semet averteret longinqui ruris secessum oravisse et,
postquam non concedebatur, ficta valetudine quasi aeger nervis cubiculum
non egressus. tradidere quidam venenum ei per libertum ipsius, cui nomen
Cleonicus, paratum iussu Neronis vitatumque a Seneca proditione liberti
seu propria formidine, dum persimplici victu et agrestibus pomis ac, si
sitis admoneret, profluente aqua vitam tolerat.
What were the civitates liberae, and what does Tacitus want to suggest by vocantur
here?
State and explain the case of missis.
What does Tacitus mean by Graeca doctrina ore tenus exercitus?
What type of ablative is bonis artibus?
Parse tradidere. What is the meaning of trado in this context? What is its subject?
With which noun are the participles paratum and vitatum agreeing?
State and explain the tense of tolerat.
Stylistic Appreciation: What is there in this section to contribute to our impression of Nero,
and how does Tacitus’ use of language draw attention to his wickedness?
Discussion Point: In his search for funds, Nero turns the empire upside down and shakes it.
When have countries or empires more recently behaved similarly? What impression of Nero
as an emperor does this give? What sort of things would Graeca doctrina have entailed? Who in
our times might most closely fit Tacitus’ acid description of Carrinas the hypocrite? Is Seneca
much better? Are we to view his withdrawal from public life as principled or craven?