Chapter 12
The death of Hannibal · Life of Hannibal · A-level Latin · OCR H443/03
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SubjectObjectVerbGenitiveDativeAblativeConjunctionAdverb
Latin
English
quae dum in Asia geruntur, accidit casu ut legati Prusiae Romae apud T. Quinctium
While these events were unfolding in Asia, it happened by chance that envoys of Prusias were dining in Rome with
Flamininum consularem cenarent atque ibi de Hannibale mentione facta ex his unus diceret
the ex-consul Titus Quinctius Flamininus, and when Hannibal's name came up in conversation, one of them mentioned
eum in Prusiae regno esse.
that he was living in Prusias's kingdom.
id postero die Flamininus senatui detulit. patres conscripti, qui Hannibale vivo numquam se
Flamininus reported this to the senate the next day. The senators, who felt they would never be free
sine insidiis futuros existimarent, legatos in Bithyniam miserunt, in his Flamininum, qui ab
of plots as long as Hannibal lived, sent envoys to Bithynia — Flamininus among them —
rege peterent, ne inimicissimum suum secum haberet sibique dederet. his Prusias negare
to ask the king not to keep Rome's bitterest enemy at his court, but to hand him over. Prusias did not dare
ausus non est:
refuse them outright,
illud recusavit, ne id a se fieri postularent, quod adversus ius hospitii esset: ipsi, si possent,
but he did object to one thing: they should not demand that he himself do something that was against the laws of hospitality. Let them arrest him themselves, he said, if they could;
comprehenderent; locum ubi esset, facile inventuros. Hannibal enim uno loco se tenebat, in
they would easily find the place where he was. For Hannibal stayed in
castello, quod ei a rege datum erat muneri, idque sic aedificarat, ut in omnibus partibus
one place, in a fortress that the king had given him as a gift, which he had built in such a way
aedificii exitus haberet, scilicet verens, ne usu veniret, quod accidit.
that he had exits on every side of the building, clearly afraid that what actually happened might come about.
huc cum legati Romanorum venissent ac multitudine domum eius circumdedissent, puer ab
When the Roman envoys reached the place and surrounded his house with a large body of troops, a boy
ianua prospiciens Hannibali dixit plures praeter consuetudinem armatos apparere. qui
watching from the doorway told Hannibal that an unusual number of armed men were appearing. Hannibal
imperavit ei, ut omnes fores aedificii circumiret ac propere sibi nuntiaret, num eodem modo
ordered him to go around every door of the building and quickly report back whether it was surrounded
undique obsideretur.
on every side in the same way.
puer cum celeriter, quid esset, renuntiasset omnesque exitus occupatos ostendisset, sensit
When the boy had quickly reported what the situation was and shown that every exit was blocked, Hannibal realised
id non fortuito factum, sed se peti neque sibi diutius vitam esse retinendam. quam ne alieno
this had not happened by chance, but that he himself was the target, and that he should no longer keep his life. So as not to lose it
arbitrio dimitteret, memor pristinarum virtutum, venenum, quod semper secum habere
at the will of another, and mindful of his past courage, he took the poison he always kept
consuerat, sumpsit.
with him.
Style notes this section · 20Word order · 1Repetition and structure · 3Word choice · 10Imagery and tone · 2Grammar · 4
in Asia … RomaeContrast
in Asia … at Rome
The scene switches from Hannibal's victories in Asia to Rome, where his fate is about to be decided.
accidit casuEmphasis
it happened by chance
Nepos stresses chance: Hannibal's downfall begins with a careless remark at a dinner, not with a defeat in battle.
apud … Flamininum consularem cenarentVivid detail
they were dining at the house of the ex-consul Flamininus
The relaxed setting of a dinner party contrasts with its deadly result, which makes the betrayal seem casual.
de Hannibale mentione factaAblative absolute
when Hannibal was mentioned
The ablative absolute makes the mention of his name seem offhand, just a turn in the conversation.
Hannibale vivoAblative absolute
while Hannibal lived
Two words express the senate's view: as long as Hannibal is alive, Rome is not safe. It is a striking tribute to the fear he still inspires as an old exile.
numquam se sine insidiis futurosEmphatic negative
that they would never be free of plots
numquam and sine together make Rome's fear absolute.
inimicissimum suumSuperlative
their bitterest enemy
The superlative sums up the Roman view of Hannibal and recalls the lifelong hatred described in chapter 1.
negare ausus non estLitotes
he did not dare to refuse
The understatement shows Prusias' weakness: the king Hannibal served is too afraid of Rome to protect him.
adversus ius hospitiiCharacterisation
against the law of hospitality
Prusias keeps to the letter of hospitality while betraying its spirit: he will not hand Hannibal over himself, but tells the Romans where to find him.
locum ubi esset, facile inventurosIrony
they would easily find where he was
facile echoes Hannibal's own confident facile in chapter 10; now the word is used against him.
sic aedificarat, ut in omnibus partibus aedificii exitus haberetCharacterisation
he had built it so that it had exits on every side
Hannibal's foresight shows in the design of his house: he has planned for exactly this danger.
exitus … exitusRepetition
exits … exits
The exits he built so carefully are all blocked: the repeated word shows his precautions defeated.
ne usu veniret, quod acciditForeshadowing
that what did happen might happen
quod accidit tells the reader that the feared moment has come, which creates suspense before the scene itself.
puer ab ianua prospiciensVivid detail
a boy looking out from the door
The scene is seen through the eyes of a slave boy at the door, which makes Hannibal's last moments small and personal.
num eodem modo undique obsidereturIndirect question
whether it was surrounded in the same way on every side
Hannibal's calm, practical question shows a commander still assessing his position at the very end.
non fortuito factum, sed se petiAntithesis
it had not happened by chance, but he was the target
The story began with chance (casu) and ends with a deliberate hunt for Hannibal. He sees the truth at once.
neque sibi diutius vitam esse retinendamGerundive
that he could no longer keep his life
The gerundive presents his death as a conclusion he reaches calmly, not a moment of panic.
ne alieno arbitrio dimitteretCharacterisation
so as not to lose it at another's will
Hannibal chooses the manner of his own death, so even in defeat he keeps control.
memor pristinarum virtutumCharacterisation
mindful of his former courage
Nepos presents the suicide as an act worthy of his past, in keeping with the Roman ideal of a noble death.
venenum … sumpsitEmphatic position
he took the poison
The poison comes early in its clause and sumpsit is held to the very end, so the narrative of the Life closes on his final act.
Notes on the text 4
PrusiaePrusias
of Prusias
Prusias I, king of Bithynia (about 230 to 182 BC), who gave Hannibal refuge and made him a commander in his war against Eumenes of Pergamum.
Flamininum consularemFlamininus
the ex-consul Flamininus
Titus Quinctius Flamininus, consul in 198 BC, defeated Philip V of Macedon at Cynoscephalae in 197 and proclaimed the freedom of the Greeks in 196. He led the embassy that came for Hannibal in about 183 BC.
patres conscriptiPatres conscripti
the senators
The formal title of the members of the Roman senate, literally "enrolled fathers".
venenumThe poison
poison
Livy (39.51) says Hannibal had kept the poison ready for a long time against exactly this; Juvenal (Satire 10) says it was carried in a ring.
Questions to think about · 3
- How does Nepos make Hannibal's death a fitting end to the Life? Consider in particular memor pristinarum virtutum.
- How are Prusias and the Romans portrayed in this chapter? Does anyone apart from Hannibal come out of it well?
- The episode begins with chance (accidit casu) and ends with Hannibal realising it was no accident (non fortuito). What is the effect of this contrast?
The death of Hannibal background
Hannibal died at Libyssa in Bithynia, on the coast of the Sea of Marmara, in about 183 BC. The Roman embassy that came for him was led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, the victor of Cynoscephalae, and Prusias, who could not afford to defy Rome, let it surround Hannibal's house.
The story was told by many ancient writers, and they differ in the details. Livy (39.51) gives Hannibal a scornful last speech about relieving the Romans of their long anxiety; Juvenal (Satire 10) says that the poison was kept in a ring. Plutarch (Flamininus 21) reports that many Romans thought Flamininus had acted cruelly in hounding an old and powerless exile to his death. Nepos keeps his version short and lets Hannibal die with dignity, by his own choice.
Vocabulary in this section · 135 wordsVocabulary tester
qui, quae, quod who, which; (connecting) this, he
dum (conj.) while
in (prep. + abl.) in, on, among
Asia, -ae (f.) Asia (Minor)
gero, gerere, gessi, gestum carry on, do; (pass.) happen, go on
accido, accidere, accidi happen
casus, -us (m.) chance, accident
ut (conj.) that
legatus, -i (m.) envoy, ambassador
Prusias, -ae (m.) Prusias, king of Bithynia
Roma, -ae (f.) Rome
apud (prep. + acc.) at the house of, with
Titus, -i (m.) Titus (first name, abbreviated T.)
Quinctius (Quintius) , -i (m.) Quinctius, family name of Flamininus
Flamininus, -i (m.) Flamininus, Roman general and ex-consul
consularis, -is (m.) ex-consul, man of consular rank
ceno, cenare, cenavi, cenatum dine, have dinner
atque (conj.) and
ibi (adv.) there
de (prep. + abl.) about, concerning
Hannibal, -alis (m.) Hannibal
mentio, -onis (f.) mention
facio, facere, feci, factum make, do; (pass.) happen, be done
ex (prep. + abl.) out of, from, of
hic, haec, hoc this; (pl.) these, they
unus, -a, -um one
dico, dicere, dixi, dictum say, mention
is, ea, id he, she, it; this, that
regnum, -i (n.) kingdom
sum, esse, fui be
posterus, -a, -um next, following
dies, diei (m.) day
senatus, -us (m.) senate
defero, deferre, detuli, delatum report, bring news of
pater, patris (m.) father; (pl.) senators
conscriptus, -a, -um enrolled; patres conscripti senators
vivus, -a, -um alive, living
numquam (adv.) never
sui, sibi, se (reflexive pron.) himself, themselves
sine (prep. + abl.) without
insidiae, -arum (f. pl.) plots, ambush, treachery
existimo, existimare, existimavi, existimatum think, consider, judge
in (prep. + acc.) into, to
Bithynia, -ae (f.) Bithynia, Prusias's kingdom in north-west Asia Minor
mitto, mittere, misi, missum send
a, ab (prep. + abl.) from, by
rex, regis (m.) king
peto, petere, petivi, petitum ask, seek; attack
ne (conj.) that not, not to
inimicus, -a, -um hostile; (as noun) personal enemy
suus, -a, -um his, her, its, their (own)
habeo, habere, habui, habitum have, keep
dedo, dedere, dedidi, deditum hand over, surrender
nego, negare, negavi, negatum refuse, say no, deny
audeo, audere, ausus sum dare (semi-deponent)
non (adv.) not
ille, illa, illud that; he, she, it
recuso, recusare, recusavi, recusatum refuse, object to
fio, fieri, factus sum be done, happen, become
postulo, postulare, postulavi, postulatum demand, ask
adversus (prep. + acc.) against
ius, iuris (n.) law, right
hospitium, -i (n.) hospitality, guest-friendship
ipse, ipsa, ipsum -self; themselves
si (conj.) if
possum, posse, potui be able, can
comprehendo, comprehendere, comprehendi, comprehensum seize, arrest
locus, -i (m.) place
ubi (adv.) where
facile (adv.) easily
invenio, invenire, inveni, inventum find
enim (conj.) for
teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum hold, keep
castellum, -i (n.) fort, fortress, stronghold
do, dare, dedi, datum give
munus, -eris (n.) gift, present; duty
is, ea, id + -que (conj.) he, she, it; this, that; and
sic (adv.) so, in such a way
aedifico, aedificare, aedificavi, aedificatum build
omnis, -e all, every
pars, partis (f.) part, side
aedificium, -i (n.) building
exitus, -us (m.) exit, way out
scilicet (adv.) clearly, evidently, of course
vereor, vereri, veritus sum fear
usus, -us (m.) use, experience; usu venire happen
venio, venire, veni, ventum come; usu venire happen
huc (adv.) here, to this place
cum (conj.) when
Romanus, -a, -um Roman; (as noun) a Roman
ac (conj.) and
multitudo, -inis (f.) large number, crowd
domus, -us (f.) house, home
circumdo, circumdare, circumdedi, circumdatum surround
puer, pueri (m.) boy; slave boy
ianua, -ae (f.) door, doorway
prospicio, prospicere, prospexi, prospectum look out, watch
plures, plura (gen. plurium) more, several
praeter (prep. + acc.) beyond, contrary to
consuetudo, -inis (f.) custom, habit
armatus, -a, -um armed; (as noun) armed man
appareo, apparere, apparui, apparitum appear, be visible
impero, imperare, imperavi, imperatum order, command (+ dat.)
foris, -is (f.) door (often plural)
circumeo, circumire, circumii, circumitum go round
propere (adv.) quickly, hastily
nuntio, nuntiare, nuntiavi, nuntiatum report, announce
num (conj.) whether
idem, eadem, idem the same
modus, -i (m.) way, manner
undique (adv.) on all sides, from everywhere
obsideo, obsidere, obsedi, obsessum besiege, blockade, surround
celeriter (adv.) quickly
quis, quid who, what
renuntio, renuntiare, renuntiavi, renuntiatum report back
omnis, -e + -que (conj.) all, every; and
occupo, occupare, occupavi, occupatum seize, occupy, block
ostendo, ostendere, ostendi, ostentum show
sentio, sentire, sensi, sensum realise, feel, perceive
fortuito (adv.) by chance, accidentally
sed (conj.) but
neque (conj.) and not, nor
diutius (adv.) any longer (comparative of diu)
vita, -ae (f.) life
retineo, retinere, retinui, retentum keep, hold on to, preserve
alienus, -a, -um belonging to another, someone else's
arbitrium, -i (n.) judgement, will, control
dimitto, dimittere, dimisi, dimissum let go, give up
memor, -oris mindful, remembering (+ gen.)
pristinus, -a, -um former, earlier, past
virtus, -utis (f.) courage, valour, excellence
venenum, -i (n.) poison
semper (adv.) always
consuesco, consuescere, consuevi, consuetum become accustomed; (perfect) be accustomed
sumo, sumere, sumpsi, sumptum take