18.04.25: H & B; level 2; reading; chivalry in war

Rōmānīs, ubi cum Pyrrhō bellum gerēbant, praeerat Fābricius. Multa in historiā dē Fābriciō, multa dē Pyrrhō nārrantur. Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’ Respondit Fābricius, ‘ingrātior erit nōbīs eiusmodī victōria quam miserrima clādēs: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.’ Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant. Mōvit rēgis animum Fābriciī līberālitās: statim omnēs captīvōs Rōmānīs sine pretiō reddidit. Contrā Rōmānī lēgātōs ad Pyrrhum mīsērunt. ‘Dē pāce,’ inquiunt, ‘Rōmānī cum hostibus, dum in Ītaliā sunt, nōn dissērunt: tibi tamen, virō omnium generōsissimō, libenter concēdimus indūtiās.’

[1] Lines 1 – 2 (Rōmānīs … narrāntur)

[i] What was the role of Fabricius in the war with Pyrrhus? (1)

[ii] How do we know about these two men? (1)

[2] Lines 2 – 4; translate into English (10)*:

Ōlim trānsfuga ē Graecōrum exercitū ad castra Rōmāna vēnit: statim ad imperātōrem ductus est. ‘Via ad victōriam facillima Rōmānīs aperītur,’ inquit; ‘sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō.’

Note:

[i] word order; position of the genitive case: ē Graecōrum exercitū

[ii] What type of adjective is facillima?

[iii] tense usage (Latin / English): sī pecūniam mihi dabis, castra petam, rēgem venēnō necābō

Before you read the rest of the text, I suspect you know more than enough about Roman attitudes to guess what the commander’s reaction will be.

[3] Lines 5 – 6 (Respondit … vincimus)

Explain in your own words why Fabricius’s response reflects the title of the text. (3)**

[4] Lines 6 – 8 (Tum … reddidit)

[i] What command did Fabricius give? (2)

[ii] What action did the king take in return and why? (3)

[iii] Tum imperātōris iussū eum ad Graecōrum castra mīlitēs redūcunt tōtamque rem Pyrrhō nārrant.

[a] What tense is used here and why? (2)

[b] How is the phrase imperātōris iussū translated? (1)

[5] Lines 8 – end (Contrā … indūtiās)

[i] How did the Romans react to Pyrrhus’s actions? (1)

[ii] Why was their statement to Pyrrhus different on this occasion? (4)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Fabricius_Luscinus

Fabricius negotiating with Pyrrhus after Heraclea (Ferdinand Bol: 1656)

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* [2] [i] A deserter ¦ [ii] from the Greek army [= the army of the Greeks] [i] once (at one time) ¦ [iii] to the Roman camp: ¦ [iv] he was immediately led to the commander. ¦ [v] “A very easy way / the easiest way to victory ¦ [vi] is (being) open(ed)  ¦ [vii] for the Romans,” he said ¦ [viii] “If you give [literally: will give] me money, ¦ [ix] I’ll make for the camp (and) ¦ [x] I will kill the king with poison.”

** [3] The Romans would only wish to win through military skills, physical strength and bravery rather than treachery; for Fabricius a victory without virtūs (virtue), that quintessential Roman characteristic, would be tantamount to defeat: virtūte, nōn perfidiā, hostēs vincimus.