1.17

Dictatorship of Cincinnatus, 458 BCE

(1) mīliāriō: for information on Roman milestones, see note in Brev. 1.4 

obsidērētur: imperfect subjunctive in a causal cum clause (AG 544)

L. Quīntius Cincinnātus: it was traditionally in 458 BCE that the consul Minucius was defeated by the Aequi at Mt. Algidus and the Roman army saved by a relief force under L. Quinctius Cincinnatus, the dictator, who resigned after sixteen days (Bird).

iūgerum: four iugera equals 2.8 acres or 1.134 hectares (Bird).

(2) Is: L. Quīntius Cincinnātus

arāns: Cincinnatus is often lauded for his work ethic and integrity. Roman authors emphasized Cincinnatus’ manual labor; for example, Dionysius of Halicarnassus says:

I am led to relate these particulars for no other reason than to let all the world see what kind of men the leaders of Rome were at that time, that they worked with their own hands, led frugal lives, did not chafe under honorable poverty, and, far from aiming at positions of royal power, actually refused them when offered. For it will be seen that the Romans of today do not bear the least resemblance to them, but follow the very opposite practices in everything—with the exception of a very few by whom the dignity of the commonwealth is still maintained and a resemblance to those men preserved (Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 10.17.6, trans. Cary).

esset inventus: subjunctive in a circumstantial cum clause (AG 546)

sūdōre dētersō: ablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)

togam praetextam: by metonymy the badge of office is put for the office itself. The toga praetexta had a red border woven in it. It was the badge of office of the higher magistrates and priests. It was worn by boys also until they reached the age of manhood and perhaps by some girls until they married (Hazzard).

caesīs hostibus: ablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)