Latin Readings
Sallust: The Peoples of Africa (1)
Bellum Iugurthinum 17:1-2

This introductory section is interesting because of the care with which it approaches the question of evidence: how reliable is our information?

Res postulare videtur Africae situm paucis exponere
My subject would seem to require that I explain a little about Africa

et eas gentis, quibuscum nobis bellum aut amicitia fuit, attingere.
and to touch on those peoples with whom we have had either war or friendship.

Sed quae loca et nationes ob calorem aut asperitatem,
But those places and tribes which because of the heat or the difficulty [of access],

item solitudines minus frequenta sunt,
or else because of the deserts, are less frequented,

de eis haud facile compertum narraverim.
of those I could not readily give a competent account.

Cetera quam paucissumis absolvam.
The rest I shall dispose of as briefly as possible.

 

26 Jan 2007 / Contact The Project / Exit to Latin Index Page