All 4 Uses of
arbitrary
in
The Aeneid
- In fear of this, the Father of the Gods Confin'd their fury to those dark abodes, And lock'd 'em safe within, oppress'd with mountain loads; Impos'd a king, with arbitrary sway, To loose their fetters, or their force allay.†
Book 1 *arbitrary = based on chance or impulse
- His sons, who seek the tyrant to sustain, And long for arbitrary lords again, With ignominy scourg'd, in open sight, He dooms to death deserv'd, asserting public right.†
Book 6
- Then kings, gigantic Tybris, and the rest, With arbitrary sway the land oppress'd: For Tiber's flood was Albula before, Till, from the tyrant's fate, his name it bore.†
Book 8
- It flourish'd long, In pride of wealth and warlike people strong, Till curs'd Mezentius, in a fatal hour, Assum'd the crown, with arbitrary pow'r.†
Book 8
Definition:
based on chance or impulse (rather than upon reasoning, consistent rules, or a proper sense of fairness)