106 



ARXOLn'S NEPOS. 



distinguished both for the antiquity of his family, and for the glory of 

 his ancestors, and for his own unassuming behavior.' 



We have here a fine example of tlie figure of rhetoric called poly- 

 syndeton^ (i. e. 'much connected.') This figure consists in the accumu- 

 lation of the connective particles, so as to give a suitable gravity to the 

 discourse, by allowing the mind to rest on the addition of each partic- 

 ular. The figure asyndeton^ (i. e. ' unconnected, ') would lay a stress on 

 the import of each particular. 



Milt. II, 2. JYeque minus in ea re prudenlia, quam felicitate, adjutus 

 est. ' Nor was he aided in that thing more by good fortune, than by 

 liis own prudence. ' 



Here we have an example of the zeugma, (i. e. 'junction.' This fig- 

 ure is a grammatical construction in which one and the same word, be- 

 sides its proper meaning in one relation, has also an improper or differ- 

 ent meaning in another relation. This figure, according to the latest 

 and most exact philologists, is a species of breviloquence or brachylogy 

 and not of the ellipsis, as it has been commonly regarded. The idea or 

 element supposed to be wanting is evolved, although in different ways, 

 from the word or idea which is expressed. In this example, the generic 

 idea is evolved from the specific as if it read thus : 'Nor was he aided 

 in that thing more by good fortune, than (benefited) by his own pru- 

 dence. ' 



Milt. Ill, 4. JS'amsi cum his copiis, qiias secum transportaverat, inter- 

 isset Darius. ' For if Darius should perish with these forces, which 

 he had brought over with him. ' 



Transportaverat^ in the oratio obliqua, is here in the indicative in- 

 stead of the subjunctive mode, because the historian slips or passes in 

 his own mind from the oratio obliqua to the oratio recta. The differ- 

 ence cannot be exhibited in English. 



Milt. IV, 4. Domi autem creant decern praeforcs, qui exercitui prae- 

 cssent, in eis Miltiadem. ' But at home they appoint ten generals, to 

 command the army ; among them Miltiades.' 



' Creant, ' they appoint.' The present is here used for the historic 

 past, to give animation to the discourse. The same is permissible in 

 English. 



Praeiores, 'generals.' The word praetor is used here, not in its 

 technico-political sense as the name of a special civil magistrate, but in 

 the meaning which it has by virtue of its etymology, as if prae-itor, 

 one that goes before,' scil. an army, i. e. a general. This meaning is 

 retained in praetorium, ' a general's tent.' 



Praeessent. The imperfect here follows a present tense, because 



