recusavit?

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phil
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recusavit?

Post by phil »

Marcus Regulus has been captured, and sent to Rome to arrange the return of prisoners.

Quī cum Rōmam vēnisset, inductus in senātum mandāta exposuit; sententiam nē dīceret, recūsāvit; quam diū iūreūrandō hostium tenērētur, sē nōn esse senātōrem.

Who, when he got to Rome was led into the senate and set forth the demands. So that he might not give his opinion, he refused. As long as he was restrained by the enemy's promise, he regarded himself not to be a senator.

My problem is with recusavit. Did he refuse to go into the senate? I don't think so - inductus implies he was there. So, he simply refused to give his opinion. Why doesn't that require a complimentary infinitive? e.g. recusavit dicere. "He refused to speak, so that he wouldn't voice his opinion". Is it implied, or is there something else going on here?

Can someone please help?

Cheers
Phil

rkday
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Re: recusavit?

Post by rkday »

Lewis and Short notes that recuso can be used with a ne-clause (1d in that link), which seems to be a purpose clause which should be translated into English idiom as an infinitive - the sense clearly seems to be that he doesn't regard himself as a senator, so is refusing to vote/take part in the senatorial debate.

Alatius
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Re: recusavit?

Post by Alatius »

Evidently, recuso can be constructed with "ne". In fact, exactly this passage is quoted in Oxford Latin Dictionary, under recuso 3: "to reject, oppose (the proposition, idea, etc., that)." So according to that, the meaning is "he rejected the notion that he should express his opinion".

phil
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Re: recusavit?

Post by phil »

Thank you all for your help. That's great!
Phil

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