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[elduce]

I am translating passage #5 of Loci Immutati, Cicero's 'vitriolic denunciation...' I have come to a sentence that has me confused:

Line 31:

Nimium diu te imperatorem tua illa Manliana castra desiderant.

I tried this: Too long the camp desires you general your former Manlius. (miserum quidem!)

1. desiderant is third person pl., so I assume castra is the subject, but the subject may be implied and castra is an object.
2. Is tua paired with castra or Manliana or is illa paired with Maliana or castra?
3. If this is an indirect statement, where is the infinitive or is it implied? Be it implied, I have no clue what C is talking about.

Gratias ago

[amans]

salue elduce,

ah, in Catilinam . . . You've come far with the piece in question: let me try to help with the last bits.

I am translating passage #5 of Loci Immutati, Cicero's 'vitriolic denunciation...' I have come to a sentence that has me confused:

Line 31:

Nimium diu te imperatorem tua illa Manliana castra desiderant.

I tried this: Too long the camp desires you general your former Manlius. (miserum quidem!)

very good

1. desiderant is third person pl., so I assume castra is the subject, but the subject may be implied and castra is an object.

stick to your first assumption: castra desiderant

2. Is tua paired with castra or Manliana or is illa paired with Maliana or castra?

actually, tua, Manliana and illa all go with castra - one could translate it thus: that 'Manlian' camp of yours

3. If this is an indirect statement, where is the infinitive or is it implied? Be it implied, I have no clue what C is talking about.

oh, I think you are looking for an ACI, are you? Try this instead. The camp wants the direct object: te. Then try inserting a little 'as' (it's a predicative accusative): I think you'll get it to make sense then

[elduce]

Amans, denique id habeo!

Lege: For too long that Manlian camps (of) yours longs you (to be/as) general.

Those Romans. They loved to imply. It must have been a mark of sophistication to leave out as much as possible.

Gratias Amans ac vale!