Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 28.4.25

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Chapter

← Previous Next →

[25] Another, if he finds a creditor of his demanding his due with too great urgency, resorts to a charioteer¹ who is all too ready to dare any enterprise, and causes the creditor to be charged with being a poisoner; and he is not let off until he has surrendered the bill of indebtedness and paid heavy costs. And besides, the accuser has the voluntary debtor² put in prison as if he were his property, and does not set him free until he acknowledges the debt.

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

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

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).) — 28.4.25 focus

[25] Alius si creditorem suum flagitare molestius adverterit debitum, ad aurigam confugit, audentem omnia praelicenter, eumque ut veneficum curat urgeri: unde non nisi reddita cautione, dispendioque afflictus gravi discedit. Et additur huic, debitorem voluntarium includit ut proprium, nec ante eius professionem absolvit.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. Charioteers were notorious for the use of magic arts against their rivals, and in general; see xxvi. 3, 3, note; xxviii. 1, 27.

2. The voluntary debtor is one who, to avoid a criminal charge, promises his accuser a sum of money; see Sen., De Benef. v. 19, 6,

dico me tibi obligatm pro filio; non quia sum, sed quia volo me offerre tibi debitorem volun. tarium.

He thus becomes a debtor, and is put in prison.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 28.4.25

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers