Livy Lines 1-10 - Analysis

◇ = Analysis of Latin || ✪ = Context

“Senators,” he said, “I wish to cross the Tiber¹

◇1: transire Tiberim: Mucius puts the main point first – crossing the Tiber – emphasised by the alliteration of t and r.  The infinitive normally follows the object, but here it is emphatically placed.

not as a brigand, nor as an avenger² in retaliation for the enemy’s plundering;

◇2: non praedo nec populationum: alliteration of p to emphasise his point; he is not going as a cattle rustler, nor is he going on a retaliatory mission.

if the gods help, I have a greater deed in mind³.”

◇3: maius (in animo) … facinus: maius is emphatic at the beginning of the clause, as a description it is also enclosing what it is exactly that he has in mind, something greater.

The senators approved⁴;

◇4: adprobant patres: by reversing the normal word order of subject, verb, Livy is emphasising the approval of the senators.

He approached⁵ the Senate. “Senators,” he said, “I wish to cross the Tiber and, if I can, enter the camp of the enemy, not as a brigand, nor as an avenger in retaliation for the enemy’s plundering; if the gods help, I have a greater deed in mind.” The senators approved⁵; having hidden a sword inside his clothing, he set off⁵.

◇5: adit … adprobant … proficiscitur: historic present tense verbs used to make the scene more vivid.

When he arrived there, [5] he took up a position⁶ near the royal platform in the thickest part of the crowd.

◇6: constitit: the tense of the verb has changed from historic present to the perfect tense as Mucius comes to a halt.

When he arrived there, [5] he took up a position near the royal platform in the thickest⁷ part of the crowd.

◇7: confertissima: the superlative explains why he remained undetected – he took up his position in the thickest part of the crowd. The position of the adjective in front of the noun emphasises this even more.

and the soldiers were generally approaching him⁸,

◇8: eumque: the pronoun is emphatically placed in order to highlight Mucius’ mistake. The enclitic -que has been used rather than et for joining clauses so that the first word can be further emphasised and enhanced.

lest by not knowing the king he might reveal who he⁹ was himself⁹,

◇9: semet ipse: the juxtaposition of the two pronouns emphasises the danger of revealing his identity by asking which of the two was the king.

as fortune blindly directed the deed, [10] he slew¹⁰ the clerk instead of the king.

◇10: obtruncat: Livy has returned again to using the historic present tense. This is a strong word to use for killing, and is often used to impart the meaning of ‘cut to pieces’ (i.e. a very violent method of killing).