velut haec tota fabella veteris et plurimarum fabularum poetriae quam est sine argumento, quam nullum invenire exitum potest! quid enim? isti tot viri (nam necesse est fuisse non paucos, ut et comprehendi Licinius facile posset et res multorum oculis esset testatior) cur Licinium de manibus amiserunt? qui minus enim Licinius comprehendi potuit, cum se retraxit, ne pyxidem traderet, quam si tradidisset? erant enim illi positi, ut comprehenderent Licinium, ut manifesto Licinius teneretur, aut cum retineret venenum aut cum tradidisset.
- poetriae [veteris et plurimarum fabularum], plurimarum fabularum is a genitive of quality
- quid enim = what of it
For example, this entire little play of an experienced female poet with many plays is and of very many tales of a female poets, is very without proof, very nothing can come to an end! What of it? These so very many men—for it is necessary that not a small number had been present, so Licinius can be seized easily and a thing with eyes of many is more indisputable—why did they send Licinius away from their hands? For why was Licinius able to be seized less, when he retracted himself, without giving the box, than if he had given it? For they were positioned to seize Licinius, so that Licinius can be held openly, either when he was holding the poison or when he had given it.
hoc fuit totum consilium mulieris, haec istorum provincia, qui rogati sunt; quos quidem tu quam ob rem "temere prosiluisse" dicas atque ante tempus, non reperio. fuerant ad hoc rogati, fuerant ad hanc rem collocati, ut venenum, ut insidiae, facinus denique ipsum ut manifesto comprehenderetur.
- rogati sunt - perfect passive
- quam ob rem is probably going with temere prosiluisse, not tu ... dicas???? or is it????
- fuerant subject is quos (clodia's henchmen). rogati is apparently a PPP here and not a noun. no i do not think fuerant...rogati is a perfect passive.
This was the whole plan of the woman, these tasks of those men, who were asked [to undertake the task]; indeed, I don't see why they would—as you say—"thoughtlessly jump out" before (the appropriate) time. They were requested for this, they were positioned for this business, so that the poison, the trap, and finally so that the deed itself can be seized openly.