1.15

Coriolanus, 491 BCE

(1) Q. Mārcius: According to tradition, Cn. Marcius Coriolanus, who captured Corioli, was afterwards expelled from Rome for opposing the distribution of grain to starving plebeians. He led a Volscian army against Rome, supposedly in 491 BCE, but after succumbing to the entreaties of his mother and wife he turned back and was executed by the Volsci (Bird).

(2) ad quīntum mīliārium: for a note on Roman milestones, see Brev. 1.4

oppūgnātūrus: "would have attacked." The future participle is not used by prose writers of the classical period to denote purpose (Hazzard).

lēgātīs quī pācem petēbant repudiātīs: ablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)

nisi ad eum māter Veturia et uxor Volumnia ex urbe vēnissent: "if his mother, Veturia, and his wife, Volumnia, hadn't left the city." Past contrary to fact condition (AG 514.C.2). According to Cassius Dio, after his mother’s tearful plea, Coriolanus declared:

"See, mother, I yield to you. Yours is the victory, and to you let all the others ascribe this favor. For I cannot endure even to see those men, who after receiving such great benefits at my hands have treated me in such a way. Hence I will never even enter the city. But do you keep your country instead of me, since you have so wished it; and I will depart out of the way of you all." With these words he withdrew. (Dio, Roman History 5.18.11–12, trans. Cary)

quī dux contrā patriam suam esset: English word order: Atque hīc secundus dux post Tarquinium fuit, quī contrā patriam suam esset. quī is a relative clause of characteristic with an indefinite antecedent (AG 535).