Chapter 6.19 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Virī quantās pecūniās ab uxōribus dōtis nōmine accēpērunt tantās ex suīs bonīs aestimātiōne factā cum dōtibus commūnicant. Hūius omnis pecūniae coniūnctim ratiō habētur frūctūsque servantur: uter eōrum vītā superārit, ad eum pars utrīusque cum frūctibus superiōrum temporum pervenit. Virī in uxōrēs, sīcutī in līberōs, vītae necisque habent potestātem; et cum pater familiae illūstriōre locō nātus dēcessit, ēius propīnquī conveniunt et, dē morte sī rēs in suspīciōnem vēnit, dē uxōribus in servīlem modum quaestiōnem habent et, sī compertum est, īgnī atque omnibus tormentīs excruciātās interficiunt. Fūnera sunt prō cultū Gallōrum māgnifica et sūmptuōsa; omniaque quae vīvīs cordī fuisse arbitrantur in īgnem īnferunt, etiam animālia: ac paulō suprā hanc memoriam servī et clientēs quōs ab eīs dīlēctōs esse cōnstābat iūstīs fūneribus cōnfectīs ūnā cremābantur.

notes

Dowries. Status of wives. Funerals.

viri, quantas pecunias acceperunt, tantas cum dotibus communicant: ‘husbands add to the dowry as much property as they have received’ (Walker); 'the husband deposits, in a common fund, an amount equal to the wife’s marriage-portion' (Allen & Judson).

dotibus: Compare Roman dowry customs

communicant: place in a common fund. (Hodges)

coniunctim: adv.: jointly (Sihler)( A&G 215.2)

fructus: 'revenues', or 'profits' (Allen & Judson).

uter vita superarit: whichever of the two outlives the other receives both dos and donatio; with the interest which has accrued from each during the time of the marriage (Moberly).

Viri in uxores: Compare Roman marriage customs

vitae necisque potestatem: Compare the Roman Patria Potestas

funera: Compare Roman funeral customs

pro cultu: 'considering the degree of refinement' (Allen & Judson)( A&G 221.16).

vivis cordi fuisse: ‘were dear to them when alive’. The burning of the dead was not the only method used by the Gauls. Tombs have been opened which contained vases, rings, armor and the bones of horses and dogs. (Walker)

hanc: = nostram (Allen & Judson)( A&G 297.a).

iustis: 'right', by conventional rule. When these had been fulfilled, the sacrifice was added (Allen & Judson).

dilectos: distinguish from delectos (Allen & Greenough).

supra hanc memoriam: ‘before our time’ (Walker).

iustis funeribus: 'the regular funeral rites' (Hodges).

vocabulary

dōs, -ōtis f.: marriage portion, dowry

aestĭmātĭo, ōnis f.: the worth or value of a thing

commūnĭco, -āre: divide something with one, impart, share, communicate

con-jungo, -ere, -nxi, -nctum: join together, connect, bind together

ŭter, ūtra, ūtrum: whosoever of two, the one which, one of two

sīcŭti: see sicut

nex, nĕcis f.: death

illustris, -e: clear, bright, light, lustrous

dē-cēdo, -ere, -cessi, -cessum: retire, withdraw, decease, die, depart

propinquus, -i m.: a relation, relative, kinsman

suspīcio, -ōnis f.: suspicion, mistrust

servīlis, e: belonging to a slave, slavish, servile

quaestĭo, ōnis f.: inquiry, investigation, questioning

com-pĕrĭo, -ere, -pĕri, -pertum: disclose wholly, lay open, obtain knowledge, ascertain

tormentum, i n.: an engine for hurling missiles, a missile; instrument of torture, torture

ex-crŭcĭo, -āre: torment greatly, torture, rack, plague

Galli , -ōrum m.: Gauls, people from Gaul.

cultus, ūs m.: labor, care, cultivation; training, education; honoring, reverence; care for the finer things in life

magnĭfĭcus, a, um: noble, distinguished, eminent, great, splendid, rich

sumptŭōsus, a, um: very expensive or costly

crĕmo, -āre: burn, consume by fire

media

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