213. sponte: a defective noun, used chiefly in the abl. = of (one’s) own accord, voluntarily, freely.
214. iniussu: another specialized abl. used adverbially, without the orders.
216. ut transfuga: as a deserter.
fortuna…adfirmante: ABL. ABS. giving the circumstances which would justify the accusation that Mucius was a transfuga.
crimen: here, as often, charge, accusation, rather than crime.
218. praedo: robber, pirate, plunderer.
populationum: populatio, plundering, devastation; OBJ. GEN. with ultor.
in vicem (219):in turn.
219. approbant: Livy’s narrative becomes suspenseful at this point, as the patres know the facinus and we as yet do not.
221. abdito: abdere, to put away, hide.
vestem: vestis,clothing, garment.
confertissima: confertus,closely packed, dense, crowded.
222. prope: prep. + acc., near; adv., nearly, almost.
Porsenna now besieges Rome.
Porsenna primo conatu repulsus, consiliis ab oppugnanda urbe ad obsidendam versis, praesidio in Ianiculo locato, ipse in plano ripisque Tiberis castra posuit, navibus undique accitis, et 200 ad custodiam, ne quid Romam frumenti subvehi sineret, et ut praedatum milites trans flumen per occasiones aliis atque aliis locis traiceret; brevique adeo infestum omnem Romanum agrum reddidit ut non cetera solum ex agris sed pecus quoque omne in urbem compelleretur, neque quisquam extra portas propellere 205 auderet.
Gaius Mucius resolves to do something about the desperate situation.
Obsidio erat nihilo minus et frumenti cum summa caritate inopia, sedendoque expugnaturum se urbem spem Porsenna habebat, cum C. Mucius, adulescens nobilis, cui indignum videbatur populum Romanum servientem, cum sub regibus esset, 210 nullo bello nec ab hostibus ullis obsessum esse, liberum eundem populum ab isdem Etruscis obsideri quorum saepe exercitus fuderit—itaque magno audacique aliquo facinore eam indignitatem vindicandam ratus, primo sua sponte penetrare in hostium castra constituit. Dein metuens ne, si consulum iniussu et 215 ignaris omnibus iret, forte deprehensus a custodibus Romanis retraheretur ut transfuga, fortuna turn urbis crimen adfirmante, senatum adit. “Transire Tiberim,” inquit, “patres, et intrare, si possim, castra hostium volo, non praedo nec populationum in vicem ultor: maius, si di iuvant, in animo est facinus.” Approbant 220 patres.
Mucius enters the Etruscan camp and is arrested as he attempts to assassinate Porsenna.
Abdito intra vestem ferro proficiscitur. Ubi eo venit, in confertissima turba prope regium tribunal constitit. Ibi cum stipendium militibus forte daretur, et scriba cum rege sedens pari fere ornatu multa ageret, eumque milites vulgo adirent, timens 225 sciscitari uter Porsenna esset, ne ignorando regem semet ipse aperiret quis esset, quo temere traxit fortuna facinus, scribam pro rege obtruncat. Vadentem inde, qua per trepidam turbam cruento mucrone sibi ipse fecerat viam, cum concursu ad clamorem facto comprehensum regii satellites retraxissent, ante 230 tribunal regis destitutus, turn quoque inter tantas fortunae minas metuendus magis quam metuens, “Romanus sum,” inquit, “civis; C. Mucium vocant. Hostis hostem occidere volui, nec ad mortem minus animi est quam fuit ad caedem: et facere et pati fortia Romanum est. Nec unus in te ego hos animos gessi; longus 235 post me ordo est idem petentium decus. Proinde in hoc discrimen, si iuvat, accingere, ut in singulas horas capite dimices tuo, ferrum hostemque in vestibulo habeas regiae. Hoc tibi iuventus Romana indicimus bellum. Nullam aciem, nullum proelium timueris; uni tibi et cum singulis res erit.”
223. pari…ornatu (224): ABL. OF DESCRIPTION with scriba.
224. vulgo: adv., here openly.
225. sciscitari: to inquire, seek to know.
semet: -met is an intensive suffix occasionally added to pers. prons.
226. aperiret: aperire, to open, reveal.
quo: adv., whither, where (motion to which—as opposed to qua in the next sent. = where in the sense of at which place); sc. something like proceeding, looking ahead to the next cl., i.e., proceeding where.
227. obtruncat: obtruncare, to cut down, kill.
vadentem: sc. Mucium, in a general way parallel to comprehensum and obj. of retraxissent; in view of the complexity of the sent., this phrase is perhaps best translated as an independent cl. = (He walked away) from there (the scene), proceeding where he had made….
228. cruento: bloody.
mucrone: mucro,sharp point (of a sword), sword.
229. satellites: satelles, attendant.
230. minas: mina, threat.
232. vocant: sc. me.
233. animi: PARTITIVE GEN. with minus; we would say nor am I less prepared.
234. Romanum: PRED. ADJ. (cp. errare humanum est); a fine epigram by which to describe Roman character at its best.
235. idem: with decus (honor), i.e., longus ordo (virorum) idem decus petentium.
proinde: adv., therefore.
in hoc discrimen:for this hazard, critical danger, explained by the two els. ut dimices and (ut) habeas.
236. accingere: reflexive pass. 2nd pers. sg. imper., arm yourself (be armed).
in singulas horas:from hour to hour.
