Ammianus Marcellinus, Res Gestae, John C. Rolfe (Translator), 30.4.12

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[12] In order to seem to have a deeper knowledge of the law, they talk of Trebatius,¹ Cascellius,² and Alfenus,³ and of the laws of the Aurunci and Sicani,⁴ which were long since forgotten and buried many ages ago along with Evander’s mother.⁵ And if you pretend that you have purposely murdered your mother, they promise, if they have observed that you are a moneyed man,⁶ that their many recondite studies will secure an acquittal for you.

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).) — 30.4.12 focus

[12] Hi ut altius videantur iura callere, Trebatium loquuntur et Cascellium et Alfenum, et Auruncorum Sicanorumque iam diu leges ignotas, cum Evandri matre abhinc saeculis obrutas multis. Et si voluntate matrem tuam finxeris occidisse, multas tibi suffragari absolutionem lectiones reconditas pollicentur, si te senserint esse nummatum.

Notes on the current edition

History

1. Horace, Serm. ii. 1; Cicero, Ad Fam. vii. 5, 8, 17.

2. Of the time of the first triumvirate; cf. Val. Max., vi. 2, 12; Hor., A.P. 371.

3. Alfenus Varus, cf. Hor., Serm. i. 3, 130.

4. Typical of antiquity; cf. Virg., Aen. viii. 51 ff.; Hor., Serm. i. 3, 91; Gell. i. 10, 1, 2.

5. A humorous superlative of antiquus. Evander is typical of antiquity (Hor., Serm. i. 3, 91; etc.), and his mother carries us back a generation.

6. Cf. xiv. 6, 12, note 3; Cic., Agr., ii. 22, 59.

Ammianus Marcellinus Res Gestae 30.4.12

John C. Rolfe (Translator)

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