Note 116 — TRANSLATION

Literally, ‘he seemed to do something rather bold for one holding his hands inside.’ Didot renders as though Caesar were referred to as keeping his hands beneath his toga: ‘arrivé près de César, qui tenait ses mains sous sa toge.’ It is scarcely possible to derive such an interpretation from the Greek as it stands. The translation ‘for a suppliant’ was suggested by Plautus, Amph., 257, ‘velatis manibus orant, ignoscamus peccatum suom.’ There ‘veiled hands’ (bearing fillets) are a mark of supplication; ‘εἴσω τὰς χεῖρας ἔχοντος’ as applied to Cimber may have a similar meaning, particularly since he is described as feigning to intercede with Caesar for his brother; and Nicolaus may not have understood the Latin expression (compare App. 2, 117; Suet., Caes., 82; Plut., Caes. 66; Brut. 17).