+Why he failed.+ ‘From lack of accurate information he wholly underestimated the power of Rome. Here was the great error in his calculation, an error for which he can hardly be held responsible.’ --Ihne.
THE WAR WITH THE TARENTINES AND PYRRHUS. (6)
_Manius Curius Dentatus, an old-time Roman._
A. Possum persequi permulta oblectamenta rerum rusticarum, sed ea ipsa quae dixi sentio fuisse longiora. Ignoscetis autem, nam et studio rerum rusticarum provectus sum, et senectus est natura loquacior, ne ab omnibus eam vitiis videar vindicare. { 5} Ergo in hac vita M’. Curius, cum de Samnitibus, de Sabinis, de Pyrrho triumphavisset, consumpsit extremum tempus aetatis; cuius quidem ego villam contemplans, abest enim non longe a me, admirari satis non possum vel hominis ipsius continentiam { 10} vel temporum disciplinam. Curio ad focum sedenti magnum auri pondus Samnites cum attulissent, repudiati sunt: non enim aurum habere praeclarum sibi videri dixit, sed eis qui haberent aurum imperare.
+Context.+ The speaker is Cato the Censor, 184 B.C., the founder of Latin Prose, whose manual of Agriculture, +de Re Rustica+, is still extant.
[Linenotes: 1. +Possum persequi+ = _I might follow out_. +oblectamenta+ = _amusements_ (cf. _de-lecto_, _delight_). 4. +provectus sum+ = _I have been carried away_. --J. S. Reid. 8. +extremum tempus aetatis+ = _the closing season of his life_. 9. +a me+ (= +a mea villa+) = _from my country-house_. 11. +disciplinam+ = _morals_ (lit. _teaching_). 11-13. After the close of the war Curius had become +patronus+ of the Samnites, and they were bringing the customary offering of +clientes+.--J. S. R.]
Curius parvo quae legerat horto Ipse focis brevibus ponebat holuscula.
[Linenotes: 78-79. Plutarch, _Cato_ 2, tells the story. Curius was one of Milton’s ‘Men so poor | who could do mighty things.’ --Duff. 79. +holuscula+ (dimin. of +hŏlus+) = _small herbs or vegetables_.]
Hunc et incomptis Curium capillis Utilem bello tulit et Camillum Saeva paupertas et avitus apto Cum lare fundus. 44
[Linenotes: 41. +Hunc+ = Fabricius. 43. +paupertas+ = _frugality_, not _poverty_ (= _egestas_). 43-44. +apto cum lare+ = _with its cottage home to match_ (+apto+). --W. ‘Hurrah! for Manius Curius The bravest son of Rome, Thrice in utmost need sent forth, Thrice drawn in triumph home.’ --Macaulay.]