LH2: Lesson - Authentic Latin - Reading Suetonius

Image: a drawing of the Latin author and historian Suetonius

Suetonius 

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus lived from 70 - 140 CE, meaning he was born 56 years after Augustus' death. There were likely a few people around in Suetonius' childhood who would have been alive during Augustus' reign, but if there were, they were few and far between. Suetonius wrote his history of the Twelve Caesars (De Vita Caesarum) in the early 2nd century CE. Suetonius relies on several contemporaneous sources to try to write a complete picture of Augustus' life and reign.

The illustration of Suetonius to the right comes from a medieval manuscript.

His account of the death of Augustus is distinctly different in its approach from the account told by Eutropius. While Eutropius describes the broad effect of Augustus' death on Rome, Suetonius gives the reader a peek into the personal events surrounding the emperor's death. By using contemporaneous reports and sources, he was able to generally describe the day of Augustus' death.

Translation Handout

Translation Guide - Authentic Latin Links to an external site.

This document contains the Latin text for Suetonius, Eutropius, and Augustus. Please download this file to assist with reading and comprehension of the Latin passage. Answer the analysis questions for each passage. Contact your instructor with questions.

Latin Text

Below you will find the full reading passage for Suetonius. Read through the Latin and see what you can decipher on your own (some notes are included on the page to help with more complex structures). Then use the translation guide to provide additional details to help you form a better understanding of the passage. You may, if you wish, write out a complete translation in your notes, but it is not necessary to do so to achieve an understanding of the passage.

About Augustus’ Relationship with His Friends

[1] Amicitias neque facile admisit et constantissime retinuit, non tantum virtutes ac merita cuiusque digne prosecutus, sed vitia quoque et delicta, dum taxat modica, perpessus.

[3] Reliqui potentia atque opibus ad finem vitae sui quisque ordinis principes floruerunt, quanquam et offensis intervenientibus. Desideravit enim nonnumquam, ne de pluribus referam, et M. Agrippae patientiam et Maecenatis taciturnitatem, cum ille ex levi frigoris suspicione et quod Marcellus sibi anteferretur, Mytilenas se relictis omnibus contulisset, hic secretum de comperta Murenae coniuratione uxori Terentiae prodidisset.

NOTES:

  • non tantum...sed quoque: not only...but also
  • prosecutus...perpessus: assume + est: he not only honored the virtutes..., but he also endured the vitia...
  • dum taxat modica: as long as he valued them (the vitia et delicta) as moderate
  • Reliqui potentia...floruerunt: The others were prosperous in power... = The others enjoyed power...
  • quisque ordinis principes: with each one being the leader of their rank
  • quanquam et offensis intervenientibus: ablative absolute, Suetonius includes quanquam: Although sometimes offensis intervenientibus
  • ne de pluribus referam: not to mention the others
  • cum...contulisset: Agrippa came to believe that Augustus might have cooled on him, preferring Marcellus, and so carried himself (se contulisset) to another region (Mytilene), leaving everything behind (relictis omnibus). Cum is a special form here, introducing a type of subjunctive that we did not yet learn. Translate as “Because”. Why was Augustus concerned about the patience of Agrippa? The order should be - cum ille contulisset se Mytilenas, omnibus relictis, ex (because of) levi suspicione frigoris et quod (he thought) Marcellus anteferretur sibi.
  • ille...hic: former...latter. Former = Agrippa. Latter = Maecenas
  • cum...prodidisset: cum still governs the verb prodidisset: because the latter had revealed...

The End of Augustus’ Life

[1] Supremo die identidem exquirens, an iam de se tumultus foris esset, petito speculo capillum sibi comi ac malas labantes corrigi praecepit et admissos amicos percontatus, ecquid iis videretur mimum vitae commode transegisse, adiecit et clausulam:

Ἐπεὶ δὲ πάνυ καλῶς πέπαισται, δότε κρότον
Καὶ πάντες ἡμᾶς μετὰ χαρᾶς προπέμψατε.

Omnibus deinde dimissis, dum advenientes ab urbe de Drusi filia aegra interrogat, repente in osculis Liviae et in hac voce defecit: "Livia, nostri coniugii memor vive, ac vale!" sortitus exitum facilem et qualem semper optaverat.

Greek text translation: Since I’ve played my part so well, everyone clap your hands and dismiss me from the stage with applause.

NOTES:

  • an...esset: indirect question, introduced by the participle exquirens: asking whether there was...
  • petito speculo: ablative absolute
  • comi...corrigi: present passive infinitives with praecepit. capillum and malas labantes are their subjects
  • percontatus, ecquid iis videretur: having asked (admissos amicos) whether it seemed at all to them that he had...
  • omnibus...dimissis: ablative absolute, temporal: When...
  • advenientes: newcomers (literally: those having arrived), object of interrogat

Analysis Questions

Use the following analysis questions to support your understanding of the passage.

  • How did Augustus make friends?
  • Once he had a friend, how did he keep them?
  • What would cause Augustus to stop being friends with someone?
  • How well did Augustus’ friends do?
  • What happened to cause a rift between Agrippa and Augustus? Between Maecenas and Augustus?
  • What was Augustus like on the final day of his life?
  • What were his last words to the crowd? What were his last words to his wife? What do those last words reveal about Augustus?

Practice Activity

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