[393] _Impensius modo_ may be 'still more strongly,' his despondency having already been mentioned; or _modo_ is the ablative, and _impensius modo_ is stronger than the (ordinary) measure; that is, beyond measure, _ultra modum_. [394] _Cultus_ is everything belonging to the regulation of life, apart from eating and drinking; so that _pueritiae cultus_ comprises the regulations for a youth's residence, his education, and the things and persons by whom he is surrounded. [395] 'And other things fit to contain water;' probably vessels to keep water in, and apparatus to purify and mix water, for example, with vinegar, a beverage usually drunk by the soldiers. [396] 'Where they should be assembled.' [397] _Modo_ is commonly used only to denote that something is less than it might be, but has here the unusual meaning of 'that alone,' or 'even that alone.' 76. Sed rex nihil jam infectum Metello credens,[398] quippe qui omnia, arma tela, locos tempora, denique naturam ipsam ceteris imperitantem industria vicerat, cum liberis et magna parte pecuniae ex oppido noctu profugit, neque postea in ullo loco amplius uno die aut una nocte moratus simulabat sese negotii gratia properare; ceterum proditionem timebat, quam vitare posse celeritate putabat; nam talia consilia per otium et ex opportunitate capi. At Metellus, ubi oppidanos proelio intentos, simul oppidum et operibus et loco munitum videt, vallo fossaque moenia circumvenit. Deinde locis ex copia[399] maxime idoneis vineas agere, aggerem jacere et super aggerem impositis turribus opus et administros tutari. Contra haec oppidani festinare, parare; prorsus ab utrisque nihil reliquum fieri. Denique Romani multo ante labore proeliisque fatigati,[400] post dies quadraginta quam eo ventum erat, oppido modo potiti, praeda omnis ab perfugis corrupta. Ii postquam murum arietibus feriri resque suas afflictas vident, aurum atque argentum et alia, quae prima ducuntur, domum regiam comportant; ibi vino et epulis onerati, illaque et domum et semet igni corrumpunt, et quas victi ab hostibus poenas metuerant, eas ipsi volentes pependere.[401] [398] 'That for Metellus nothing was now impossible,' the perfect participle with the negative prefix denoting impossibility--as _invictus_, invincible; _incorruptus_, incorruptible; _inaccessus_, inaccessible. See Zumpt, S 328. [399] _Ex copia_, 'according to circumstances,' here referring especially to the different nature of the locality. _Vinea_, properly 'a bower formed of vines;' hence 'a protecting roof,' under which the soldiers attacked the fortifications of the enemy. [400] 'After they had previously worn themselves out by great exertions:' _ante_ here is superfluous. [401] _Poenas pendere_, the same as _poenas solvere_, 'to pay a penalty.' In _corrumpunt_ we may notice a zeugma, as out of _corrumpunt_ we have to take _interficiunt_. See Zumpt, S 775.