(1) Sequentī annō cum in Algidō monte ab urbe duodecimō ferē mīliāriō Rōmānus obsidērētur exercitus, L. Quīntius Cincinnātus dictātor est factus, quī agrum quattuor iūgerum possidēns manibus suīs colēbat.

(2) Is cum in opere et arāns esset inventus, sūdōre dētersō togam praetextam accēpit et caesīs hostibus līberāvit exercitum.

    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)

    dōre dētersōablative 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 hostibusablative absolute using a perfect passive participle (AG 419)

    Core Vocabulary | Numbers | Dates

    Algidus, ī, m. a mountain in Latium
    fermē [for ferimē, sup. of ferē], adv.

    almost, about (especially of numbers)

    mīliārium, ī, n. a milestone, mile
    obsideō, ēre, sēdī, sessus to besiege, occupy; watch closely
    Quīntius, ī, m. the name of a Roman gens.
    Cincinnātus, ī, m.

    a Roman family name. L. Quīntius Cincinnātus, consul 460 B.C.; T. Quīntius Cincinnātus, conquered the Praenestini near the river Allia

    dictātor, ōris [dictō, to stay often], m.

    a dictator, a magistrate with supreme power, chosen at times of supreme peril

    iūgerum, ī [iungō], n.

    a measure of land, somewhat more than half an acre

    possideō, ēre, sēdī, sessus [sedeō] to occupy, hold, possess
    arō, āre, āvī, ātus to plow 2
    sūdor, ōris [sūdō, to sweat], m. sweat, fatigue
    dētergeō, ēre, tersī, tersus [dē + tergeō, to rub]

    to wipe off, remove, cleanse, empty

    toga, ae, f.

    the toga, the characteristic outer robe of the Romans

    praetexō, ere, uī, tus [texō, to weave]

    to provide with a border; toga praetexta, a (purple) bordered toga

    līberō, āre, āvī, ātus [līber] to set free, release

     

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