[Linenotes: 1. +Iam+ = _presently_. 1-2. +regiae moles+ = _princely piles_. +moles+, lit. _masses_, of _huge buildings_. 2-4. +undique ... lacu+ = _and fish-ponds_ (+stagna+) _of wider extent than the L. lake will be sights to see_ (+visentur+).--Wickham. 4. +platanus caelebs+ = _the bachelor plane_, so called because vines were not _wedded to it_ (i.e. trained upon it).--Gow. 6. +omnis copia narium+ = _all that is sweet to smell_. Lit. _all the fulness of the nostrils_. 10. +ictus+ (sc. _solis_). The point is that formerly trees were stripped to admit the sun to the vines and olives: nowadays the sun is excluded. --Gow. 11. +intonsi+ (= _antiqui_) = _old-fashioned_. Cf. Cic.’s use of _barbatus_. 13. +census erat brevis+ = _list of property was short_. 14. +commune+ (= τὸ κοινόν) = _the common (public) stock_. 14-15. +decempedis metata privatis+ = _measured with ten-foot rods for private owners_. In old days the +porticūs+ were always _publicae_. 17. +fortuitum caespitem+ = _the chance-cut (handy) turf_. 20. +novo saxo+ = _with fresh-hewn stone_, i.e. hewn on purpose. --W.]
+Parallel Passages.+ Livy xxxix. 6. 40. 41; Sallust, _Catiline_ 12, 13.
‘Cato saw the greatness of Rome in the olden time, and he endeavoured without success to bring this old time back.’ --Ihne.
Movebat imperii maiestas, gloria viri, ante omnia aetas, quod maior sexaginta annis iuvenum munia in parte praecipua laboris periculique capessebat. Intervallum, quod inter caetratos at phalanges erat, implevit legio, atque aciem hostium interrupit. A { 5} tergo caetratis erat, frontem adversus clipeatos habebat: chalcaspides appellabantur. Secundam legionem L. Albinus consularis ducere adversus leucaspidem phalangem iussus; ea media acies hostium fuit. In dextrum cornu, unde circa fluvium { 10} commissum proclium erat, elephantos inducit et alas sociorum; et hinc primum fuga Macedonum est orta. Nam sicut pleraque nova commenta mortalium in verbis vim habent, experiendo, cum agi, non quemadmodum agatur edisseri oportet, sine ullo { 15} effectu evanescunt, ita tum elephantorum impetum sustinere non poterant, et commenta Macedonum nomen tantum sine usu fuerunt. Elephantorum impetum subsecuti sunt socii nominis Latini, pepuleruntque laevum cornu. { 20}