08-30-2019, 07:19 PM
Maniples, primi ordinis and ante signa in Marcus Fabius Quintilianus, Declamationes Maiores
Miles Marianus, or a Soldier under Marius
I had knowledge of this text for some time, but recently I found (the only?) translation in any modern language in a 17th century book. This text, I believe, contains some authentic information on the structure of the Roman Army.
Latin Text
https://latin.packhum.org/loc/1002/3/2/10277-10284#2
English Translation (Starting at Page 55)
https://books.google.nl/books?id=G1BoAAA...&q&f=false
*
Maniples
The chief thing now in debate, is, Whether it be lawful hereafter to levy Foul Pathicks amongst the Bands of the Roman Legions, and drag Soldiers, who have taken a Solemn Oath, to unclean villany, by your Authority?
[apud quos ante principia gerendum
est.] ecce cum maxime hoc agitur, ut inter Romanarum
legionum manipulos scorta deligere et ad stuprum trahere
sacramento rogatos post haec liceat ex decreto tuo.
*
ante signa
1. This very thing, That he ran foremost before the Ensigns, that being but a Tiro he was more forward than the Veterans, that he used to return clotted with Blood and Dust, This, this, I say, was the reason, why he was so gallant a Stripling.
hoc ipsum,
quod primus ante signa procurrit, quod veteranos tiro prae-
cedit, quod redit pulvere et cruore concretus, istud, istud
quod tam vir est.
2. He laid violent hands upon him, he drew him from his assigned Post and Station, to make him a beastly Prostitute.
inicitur manus, et ab adsignata statione
miles abducitur, ut stuprum patiatur
3. There put him in the Fore-Front, place him, I say, not among the Punys, but ( let me speak a proud word) even before the Standard, where most danger is, and where the greatest throng of the Enemy presses the sorest.
pone
in prima acie, pone ante signa, fortiter dixerim, non inter
tirones, ubi plus periculi, quo maximus hostium globus in-
gruet
*
primi ordinis
He is a stout man, he hath Authority for what he doth, the Law of Arms commands it.
vir est enim; '<at> auctorem habet, ho<mo> primi ordinis iube[n]t
Here I do not agree with the translation of primi ordinis with: “Law of Arms”, especially in regards to the next sentence, which might be interpreted as a centurion ordinarius (ordines ducet).
Vir est enim; <at> auctorem habet, ho<mo> primi ordinis iube[n]t
Brave man is truly: at least authority have, man military formation commands
I interpret this as:
He is a brave man, he has authority, he commands the primi ordinis.
It seems this part of the text as I see it, relates to the tribune.
If this is correct then it seems we have discovered a rare army doctrine of the primi ordines are commanded by the tribunus?!
Miles Marianus, or a Soldier under Marius
I had knowledge of this text for some time, but recently I found (the only?) translation in any modern language in a 17th century book. This text, I believe, contains some authentic information on the structure of the Roman Army.
Latin Text
https://latin.packhum.org/loc/1002/3/2/10277-10284#2
English Translation (Starting at Page 55)
https://books.google.nl/books?id=G1BoAAA...&q&f=false
*
Maniples
The chief thing now in debate, is, Whether it be lawful hereafter to levy Foul Pathicks amongst the Bands of the Roman Legions, and drag Soldiers, who have taken a Solemn Oath, to unclean villany, by your Authority?
[apud quos ante principia gerendum
est.] ecce cum maxime hoc agitur, ut inter Romanarum
legionum manipulos scorta deligere et ad stuprum trahere
sacramento rogatos post haec liceat ex decreto tuo.
*
ante signa
1. This very thing, That he ran foremost before the Ensigns, that being but a Tiro he was more forward than the Veterans, that he used to return clotted with Blood and Dust, This, this, I say, was the reason, why he was so gallant a Stripling.
hoc ipsum,
quod primus ante signa procurrit, quod veteranos tiro prae-
cedit, quod redit pulvere et cruore concretus, istud, istud
quod tam vir est.
2. He laid violent hands upon him, he drew him from his assigned Post and Station, to make him a beastly Prostitute.
inicitur manus, et ab adsignata statione
miles abducitur, ut stuprum patiatur
3. There put him in the Fore-Front, place him, I say, not among the Punys, but ( let me speak a proud word) even before the Standard, where most danger is, and where the greatest throng of the Enemy presses the sorest.
pone
in prima acie, pone ante signa, fortiter dixerim, non inter
tirones, ubi plus periculi, quo maximus hostium globus in-
gruet
*
primi ordinis
He is a stout man, he hath Authority for what he doth, the Law of Arms commands it.
vir est enim; '<at> auctorem habet, ho<mo> primi ordinis iube[n]t
Here I do not agree with the translation of primi ordinis with: “Law of Arms”, especially in regards to the next sentence, which might be interpreted as a centurion ordinarius (ordines ducet).
Vir est enim; <at> auctorem habet, ho<mo> primi ordinis iube[n]t
Brave man is truly: at least authority have, man military formation commands
I interpret this as:
He is a brave man, he has authority, he commands the primi ordinis.
It seems this part of the text as I see it, relates to the tribune.
If this is correct then it seems we have discovered a rare army doctrine of the primi ordines are commanded by the tribunus?!
