Controversia II AD
Calpurnius Flaccus - Exc. (Calpurnius FlaccusExc.36)
Text
“Desertor duci serviat”. “Viro forti praemium”. Pauper et dives inimici. Dives creatus est imperator. Pauper sub illo cum filio specioso adulescente militavit. Pauper fortiter fecit, adulescens deseruit. Dives iure agit, pater praemio petit, ut occidatur.
Translation
“A deserter shall become his commander’s slave”. “A war hero shall receive a reward”. A poor man and a rich man were enemies. The rich man was appointed commander of the army. The poor man served as a soldier under his command along with his handsome young son. The poor man fought heroically, but the young man deserted. The rich man institutes a proceeding according to the law, while the father seeks as his reward that his son be executed.
Main Characters
Poor men, Rich man
Characters
Deserter - son
Issues
Accusations
Execution of the son - reward
Narrative themes
Heroism, War
Legal references
Desertor duci serviat - desertion, Viro forti praemium - hero