Noctes Atticae

On what principle the ancients said cum. partim hominum.

PARTIM homninum venerunt is a common expression, meaning

a part of the men came,

that is,

some men.

For partim is here an adverb and is not declined by cases. Hence we may say cum partim hominum, that is,

with some men

or

with a certain

v2.p.247

part of the men.

Marcus Cato, in his speech On the> property of Florius has written as follows: [*](p. 64. 8, Jordan.)

There she acted like a harlot, she went from the banquet straight to the couch and with a part of them (cum partim illorum) she often conducted herself in the same manner.

The less educated, however, read cum parti, as if partim were declined as a noun, not used as an adverb.

But Quintus Claudius, in the twenty-first book of his Annals, has used this figure in a somewhat less usual manner; he says:

For with the part of the forces (cum partim copiis) of young men that was pleasing to him.

[*](Fr. 87, Peter. The passage is corrupt and unintelligible.) Also in the twenty-third book of the Annals of Claudius are these words: [*](Fr. 89, Peter.)

But that I therefore acted thus, but whether to say that it happened from the negligence of a part of the magistrates (neglegentia partim magistratum), from avarice, or from the calamity of the Roman people, I know not.

In what connection Cato said iniuria mihi factum itur.

I HEAR the phrase illi iniuriam factum iri, or

injury will be done to him,

I hear contumeliam dictum iri, or

insult will be offered,

commonly so used everywhere, and I notice that this form of expression is a general one; I therefore refrain from citing examples. But contumelia illi or iniuria factum itur,

injury or insult is going to be offered him,

is somewhat less common, and therefore I shall give an example of that. Marcus Cato, speaking For Himself against Gaius Cassius, says: [*](p. 63. 6, Jordan.)

And so it happened, fellow citizens, that in this insult which is going to be put upon me (quae mihi factum itur) by the insolence of this man I also, fellow citizens (so help me!), pity our country.

But just as contumeliam factum iri means

to go to inflict an injury,

that is, to take pains that it be inflicted, just so contumelia nihi factum itur expresses the same idea, merely with a change of case.