Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 17.10.2

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[2] And he that had often encouraged one and all to brave deeds, now advised against fighting and seemed despicable and timid—perhaps through fear of his coming death, as we read in the books of Tages¹ or of Vegoe² that those who are shortly to be struck by lightning are so dulled in their senses that they can hear neither thunder nor any louder crashes whatsoever. And contrary to his usual custom, he had marched so lazily that he intimidated the guides, who were leading the way rapidly, and threatened them with death unless they would all agree, and unanimously make a statement, that they were wholly ignorant of the region. So they, being thus forbidden, and in fear of his authority, on no occasion went ahead after that.

Res Gestae. Ammianus Marcellinus. John C. Rolfe (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1935-1940.

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Current edition Perseus

History (English) (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).)

Editions (1)

Res Gestae Perseus (Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., editor. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).) — 17.10.2 focus

[2] Et qui saepe universos universes ad fortiter faciendum hortabatur et singulos, tunc tune dissuasor pugnandi, contemptus videbatur et timidus, mortem fortasse metuens adventantem, ut in Tageticis libris legitur vel¹ Vegonicis Vegoicis² fulmine mox tangendos adeo hebetari, ut nec tonitruum³ nec maiores aliquos possint audire fragores. Et iter ignaviter egerat praeter solitum, ut ductores, viarum praeeuntes alacri gradu, ultima minitando terreret, ni omnes conspirantes in unum, se loca penitus ignorare firmarent. Qui interdicti, metuentes auctoritatem, nusquam deinde sunt progressi.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. According to Censorinus, De Die Nat. 4, 13, and others, these books came from a certain Tages, who came up from the ground when a peasant was ploughing near Tarquinii in Etruria, and taught the people who flocked to him the secrets of prophecy. He is described as a boy with the wisdom of an old man; see Cic., De Div. ii. 23, 50 and Pease’s note. The Tarquitian books of xxv. 2, 7 are perhaps the same.

2. Cf. Servius, on Aen. vi. 72,

libri Begoes nymphae, quae artem scripserat fulguritorum apud Tuscos.

The correct spelling is Vegoe.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 17.10.2

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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