Accius, Historical Plays in Roman Dress

LCL 314: 554-555

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Accius

4–5

Nonius, 224, 6: ‘Sanguis’ . . . neutro . . . —

Vim Gallicam obduc contra in acie exercitum; lue patrum hostili fuso sanguen sanguine.

6–7

Nonius, 185, 20: ‘Verruncent’ id est vertant . . . —

Livius

Te sancte venerans precibus invicte invoco portenta ut populo patriae verruncent bene.

8

Nonius, 174, 22: ‘Segnitas’ pro segnitia . . . —

Livius

Et nunc—

Decius

Quo deorum segnitas?

Livius

—ardet focus.

554

Historical Plays in Roman Dress

4–5

Fabius orders Decius to take the left wing:

Nonius: ‘Sanguis’. . . in a neuter form . . .—

Againsta the Gallic force lead on your troops In battle-line; atone our fathers’b blood By bloodshed of our foes.

6–7

A priest, Marcus Livius, conducts a sacrifice and prayer, after the omenc of the hind and the wolf:

Nonius: ‘Verruncent,’ that is, ‘vertant’. . .—

Livius

Thee I invoke, imploring thee in prayer, Holy, unconquerable; let the portents be Deep rooted, for my people and my country, In fortune fair. 8

In the case of Decius, the omens are not wholly favourable:

Nonius: ‘Segnitas’ for ‘segnitia’. . .—

Livius

And now— Decius Whither tends this slackness of the gods? Livius —The hearth is blazing.
555
DOI: 10.4159/DLCL.accius-historical_plays_roman_dress.1936