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Cornelius Nepos · Conon §3.1-3.4

Conon's Mission to Artaxerxes and Refusal of Proskynesis

Passage 3 of 5 · Latin

Summary

Conon is sent to King Artaxerxes to accuse Tissaphernes of treason. When informed by the chiliarch Tithraustes of the requirement to prostrate himself before the king, Conon chooses to submit his message in writing instead of a personal audience to preserve the honor of Athens.

§3.1Defecerat a rege Tissaphernes, neque id tam Artaxerxi quam ceteris erat apertum: multis enim magnisque meritis apud regem, etiam cum in officio non maneret, valebat.
Tissaphernes had defected from the king, and this was not as obvious to Artaxerxes as to the others; for he was of great influence with the king due to many and great services, even when he was not remaining in his duty.
neque id erat mirandum, si non facile ad credendum adducebatur, reminiscens eius se opera Cyrum fratrem superasse.
And it was not to be wondered at, if he was not easily induced to believe, remembering that he had overcome his brother Cyrus by his help.
§3.2huius accusandi gratia Conon a Pharnabazo ad regem missus posteaquam venit, primum ex more Persarum ad chiliarchum, qui secundum gradum imperii tenebat, Tithrausten accessit seque ostendit cum rege colloqui velle.
When Conon, sent by Pharnabazus to the king for the purpose of accusing him, had arrived, he first, according to the custom of the Persians, approached the chiliarch Tithraustes, who held the second rank in the empire, and declared that he wished to speak with the king.
§3.3huic ille 'nulla' inquit 'mora est, sed tu delibera, utrum colloqui malis an per litteras agere quae cogitas.
To him the other said: "There is no delay, but you consider whether you prefer to speak or to transact by letter what you have in mind.
necesse est enim, si in conspectum veneris, venerari te regem (nemo enim sine hoc admittitur).
For it is necessary, if you come into his presence, that you prostrate yourself before the king (for no one is admitted without this).
hoc si tibi grave est, per me nihilo setius editis mandatis conficies quod studes. ' §3.4tum Conon 'mihi vero' inquit 'non est grave quemvis honorem habere regi, sed vereor ne civitati meae sit opprobrio, si, cum ex ea sim profectus, quae ceteris gentibus imperare consuerit, potius barbarorum quam illius more fungar. ' itaque quae volebat huic scripta tradidit.
If this is burdensome to you, you will nevertheless accomplish what you desire through me, by setting forth your instructions." Then Conon said: "To me, indeed, it is not burdensome to pay any honor whatsoever to the king; but I fear lest it be a disgrace to my state if, having set out from one which has been accustomed to rule over other nations, I should follow the custom of foreigners rather than hers." Therefore he handed over what he wished written down to him.

Notes

  1. §3.1si — The conjunction `si` after expressions of wondering (here the adjective `mirandum`) introduces a substantive clause, translated as 'that' or 'if'.
  2. §3.1eius se opera — The pronoun `eius` is the genitive of `is` (referring to Tissaphernes) modifying the ablative of means `opera` ('by his help'). The reflexive pronoun `se` is the subject accusative of the infinitive `superasse` in the indirect statement governed by `reminiscens`, referring back to the main subject Artaxerxes.
  3. §3.2huius accusandi gratia — Gerundive construction. The genitive pronoun `huius` (referring to Tissaphernes) is modified by the gerundive `accusandi` in agreement, both being governed by the postpositive preposition `gratia` ('for the purpose of').
  4. §3.4civitati meae sit opprobrio — Double dative construction. `civitati meae` is the dative of reference ('to my state'), and `opprobrio` is the dative of purpose or result ('as a disgrace/reproach').
  5. §3.4potius barbarorum quam illius more fungar — The deponent verb `fungar` (subjunctive present first person singular, governed by `vereor ne`) takes the ablative case, here `more` (custom). The genitive singular feminine `illius` refers back to `civitati` (Athens).

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Conon §3.1-3.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo009.humanitext-lat2:3.1-3.4

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