Fragment 2 of Cornelia

Read the translation of a letter written by Cornelia, an influential matron from the 2nd century BC, to her son Gaius Gracchus that she wrote from Misenum after leaving Rome following the murder of her son Tiberius Gracchus. Next, answer the questions.

Fragment 2:

“I would dare to take an oath solemnly, swearing that, except for those who have murdered Tiberius Gracchus, no enemy has foisted so much difficulty and so much distress upon me as you have because of the matters: you should have shouldered the responsibilities of all of those children whom I had in the past, and to make sure that I might have the least anxiety possible in my old age; and that, whatever you did, you would wish to please me most greatly; and that you would consider it sacrilegious to do anything of great significance contrary to my feelings, especially as I am someone with only a short portion of my life left”.

“Cannot even that time span, as brief as it is, be of help in keeping you from opposing me and destroying our country? In the final analysis, what end will there be? When will our family stop behaving insanely? When will we cease insisting on troubles, both suffering and causing them? When will we begin to feel shame about disrupting and disturbing our country? But if this is altogether unable to take place, seek the office of tribune when I will be dead; as far as I am concerned, do what will please you, when I shall not perceive what you are doing.”

Vivante, Bella (ed.) Women's Roles in Ancient Civilizations. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1999.

“When I have died you will sacrifice to me as a parent and call upon the god of your parent. At that time will it not shame you to seek prayers of those as gods, whom you had abandoned and deserted when they were alive and on hand?”

“May Jupiter not for a single instant allow you to continue in these actions or permit such madness to come into your mind. And if you persist, I fear that, by your own fault, you may incur such trouble for your entire life that at no time would you be able to make yourself happy.”

Hallett, J. P. 1996. "The Political Backdrop of Plautus' Casina." In R. W. Wallace and E. M. Harris, eds., Transitions to Empire: Essays in Greco-Roman History, 360-146 BCE, in Honor of E. Badian. Norman and London. 409-38.

1.- Write a short summary of fragment 2, based on the four sections of the text.

2.- What feelings can be inferred from the mother to her son?

3.- The Gracchi used their political positions as tribunes of the plebs to lead the people and intended some reforms that the optimates (aristocrats) rejected. Both the Gracchi and the aristocrats used violence as a means to achieve their goals.

    a.-Look up information and summarise the reforms that Cornelia's sons tried to establish. 

     b.-Cornelia educated her children and supported their political ideas. Why do you think she is not as combative now? 

4.- Write the translation of the Latin text under it and try to establish a correspondence between words. Keep the sections of the text in mind.

        a.- neminem inimicum tantum molestiae tantumque laboris, quantum te ob has res, mihi tradidisse

   -

        b.- ecquando desinet familia nostra insanire?

   -

        c.- ubi mortua ero, parentabis mihi et invocabis deum parentem

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       d.- ne ille sirit Iuppiter te ea perseverare, nec tibi tantam dementiam venire in animum

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5.- Translate the adapted sentences from the text.

       a.-Multae sunt molestiae laboresque quae mihi tradidisti  

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       b.- Tu  debebas meos filios  curare et tuae matri placere

   -

       c.-  Quousque familia nostra rem publicam miscebit et perturbabit?

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       d.- Cum ego non vivam, tu petitere tribunatum poteris

   -

       e.- Si tribunus plebis eris, numquam placidus vives

   -

Vocabulary

- curo, -as, -are, curavi, curatum: to take care of
- labor, -oris: fatigue
- misceo, -is, -ere, miscui, mistum: bewilder
- peto, -is, -ere, -tivi, -titum: to ask for, to reach towards
- placidus, -a, -um: placid
- possum, potes, potest, potui: to seize, to be able to
- quousque: until when? How long?
- trado, -is, -ere, -didi, -ditum: to hand over