1
'quaedivinaresdumconficiebatur,quaesivitame,vellemnesecumincastraproficisci.
3
Grammarquae ... a connecting relative, linking back to the sacrifice just mentioned.
Grammardum conficiebatur dum ('while') is normally followed by the present tense in Latin, so the imperfect here is a bit unusual.
Grammarvellemne subjunctive, because this is an indirect question after quaesivit ('he asked whether...').
1–3
idcumlibenteraccepissematqueabeopeterecoepissemnedubitaretducere,tumille,'Faciam',inquit'simihifidem,quampostulo,dederis'.
3
Grammarab eo refers to Hamilcar.
Grammarne dubitaret ducere an indirect command/request after petere.
Style'Faciam', inquit 'si mihi fidem...' this is a speech inside a speech: Hamilcar's actual words, quoted by Hannibal, inside the speech Hannibal is making to Antiochus. Nested direct speech like this makes the memory feel more vivid and immediate for the reader.
3–5
simulmeadaramadduxit,apudquamsacrificareinstituerat,eamqueceterisremotistenentemiurareiussitnumquammeinamicitiacumRomanisfore.
5
Grammaream refers to the altar; ceteris remotis is an ablative absolute.
Grammarfore an alternative form of futurum esse.
Contexteamque ... tenentem Romans usually swore an oath with a hand on an altar; Hannibal is described here following a Roman practice, though we don't actually know what the real Carthaginian custom was.
Alliterationsacrificare instituerat, eamque ceteris remotis tenentem iurare iussit all the s-sounds hiss through this clause, which suits the bitterness of the oath being sworn.
Stylenumquam is placed in an emphatic position (right at the front of its clause) to stress just how absolute this promise is.
6–7
idegoiusiurandumpatridatumusqueadhancaetatemitaconservavi,utneminidubiumessedebeat,quinreliquotemporeeademmentesimfuturus.
3
Grammarut nemini dubium esse debeat a result clause after ita.
Grammareadem mente ablative of quality.
Contextiusiurandum an oath was a serious business for Romans, usually strengthened by calling a god to witness — needed for treaties, conspiracies, marriages, officials taking up posts. By using this word, Nepos makes Hamilcar's demand feel like more than just a personal grudge — almost official Carthaginian policy.
8–9
quare,siquidamicedeRomaniscogitabis,nonimprudenterfeceris,simecelaris;cumquidembellumparabis,teipsumfrustraberis,sinonmeineoprincipemposueris.'
4
Grammarfeceris future perfect of facio; celaris is a syncopated future perfect for celaveris (celo takes a double accusative: the person kept in the dark and the thing hidden).
Grammarme ... principem principem is in apposition, 'me as leader'.
Litotesnon imprudenter literally 'not unwisely', a negative used to make a positive point more forcefully. This is litotes.
Balancesi...cogitabis...feceris, si...celaris; cum...bellum parabis, te...frustraberis, si non...posueris the sentence is carefully balanced between two options for Antiochus: peace (amice) or war (bellum), a wise choice (non imprudenter) or a bad one (frustraberis). It's Hannibal laying out an ultimatum with real rhetorical polish, even though he's supposedly speaking off the cuff.
9–10
hacigitur,quadiximus,aetatecumpatreinHispaniamprofectusest.
2
Grammarqua this is ablative because it's 'attracted' into the case of the word it refers back to, hac ... aetate, which is ablative.
ContextThe historian Livy actually didn't believe this whole oath story — he says fama est, 'there is a story', which is Latin for 'take this with a pinch of salt'.
1
'While this religious ceremony was being performed, he asked me whether I would like to set out with him for the camp.
1–3
When I had eagerly accepted this and had begun to beg him not to hesitate in taking me, he then said: 'I will do it, if you will give me the pledge that I ask.'
3–5
With that he led me to the altar on which he had begun to make the sacrifice, and after he had dismissed all the others, he ordered me, touching it, to swear that I would never be in friendship with the Romans.
6–7
I, up to my present time of life, have kept this oath given to my father so faithfully, that there should be no doubt for anyone that in the time remaining I shall be of the same mind.
8–9
Therefore, if you shall have friendly thoughts about the Romans, you will not be acting unwisely if you hide them from me; indeed, when you prepare for war, you will go against your own interests if you do not make me its general.'
9–10
Therefore at this age, which I have named, with his father, he set off into Spain.