Pliny - On Scipio

Ever feel that due credit isn’t given in public affairs? Perhaps sentimentality can triumph over magnanimity? To put this quote in context, Pliny has just described how a publicly loved raven was given a public funeral. In contrast, there was no public funeral for the great Scipio Aemilianus, nor any other great and good human of that age. Scipionis vero Aemiliani post Carthaginem Numantiamque deletas ab eo nemo vindicaverat mortem. However, no one had avenged the death of Scipio Aemilianus after he had destroyed Carthage and Numantia. Scipionis and Aemiliani are genitive singular forms meaning “of Scipio Aemilianus.” Vero ("however" or "indeed") Post ("after") Carthaginem and Numantiamque ("Carthage" and "Numantia") are accusative singular forms of "Carthago" and "Numantia," indicating the cities destroyed by Scipio. Deletas ("destroyed") is the accusative plural form of "delere ," meaning "to destroy," agreeing with "Carthaginem" and "Numantiam." Ab eo ("by him"), referring to Scipio Aemilianus. Nemo ("no one") is in the nominative singular form. Vindicaverat ("had avenged") is the third person singular pluperfect active indicative of "vindicāre," meaning "to avenge." Mortem ("death") is the accusative singular form of "mors."

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