Orberg Cap XLIV

Latin Learning Latin
1

Huic orationi cum Servius intervenisset a trepido nuntio excitatus, extemplo a vestibulo Curiae magna voce “Quid hoc” inquit, “Tarquini, rei est? Qua tu audacia, me vivo, vocare ausus es patres aut in sede considere mea?”

Cum ille ferociter ad haec — ‘se patris sui tenere sedem: filium regis multo potiorem regni heredem esse quam servum; illum satis diu per licentiam illusisse dominis’ — clamor ab utriusque fautoribus oritur et concursus populi fiebat in Curiam.

Lucius Tarquinius has been trashing Servius to the assembled senators - paying particular attention to Servius’ supposedly servile origins. Hearing him Servius intervenes. I have a couple of questions:

  1. Is the sense of the cum-clause ‘cum Servius intervenisset…’ designed to convey what was Servius’ intention and reaction on hearing the insults - told by Livy as something that happened in the past ’ - Stirred up, in a trembling voice he would have interrupted this speech…'.

  2. Replying Lucius Tarquinius says ‘…illum satis diu per licentiam illusisse dominis’ that he had for long enough mocked his masters.

I’m taking it that ‘dominis’ is not referring specifically to anyone here but merely referring back to the theme of Lucius’ earlier assertions that Servius was really a servant sitting on a king’s throne.

2
  1. This is just a cum clause with pluperfect subjunctive that “describes the circumstances that accompanied or preceded the action of the main verb.” See Allen & Greenough sec. 546 (and contrast with section 545, cum clause with indicative that merely “dates or defines the time at which the action of the main clause occurred”).

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=AG+546&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0001

  1. That’s more or less right–a reference to his servile origins–although I think there’s a suggestion that the senators should properly be considered his masters.
3

Hylander, thank you so much.

Paul