Titus Livius (Livy), Ab urbe condita, Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor), 1.10

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[1]

The resentment of the brides was already much diminished at the very moment when their parents, in mourning garb and with tears and lamentations, were attempting to arouse their states to action. Nor did they confine their complaints to their home towns, but thronged from every side to the house of Titus Tatius, king of the Sabines; and thither, too, came official embassies, for the name of Tatius was the greatest in all that country.

[2] The men of Caenina, Crustumium, and Antemnae, were those who had had a share in the wrong. It seemed to them that Tatius and the Sabines were procrastinating, and without waiting for them these three tribes arranged for a joint campaign.

[3] But even the Crustuminians and Antemnates moved too slowly to satisfy the burning anger of the Caeninenses, and accordingly that nation invaded alone the Roman territory. But while they were dispersed and engaged in pillage, Romulus appeared with his troops and taught them, by an easy victory, how ineffectual is anger without strength.

[4] Their army he broke and routed, and pursued it as it fled; their king he killed in battle and despoiled; their city, once their leader ¹ was slain, he captured at the first assault.

[5] He then led his victorious army back, and being not more splendid in his deeds than willing to display them, he arranged the spoils of the enemy's dead commander upon a fame, suitably fashioned for the purpose, and, carrying it himself, mounted the Capitol. Having there deposited his burden, by an oak which the shepherds held sacred, at the same time as he made his offering he marked out the limits of a temple to Jupiter, and bestowed a title upon him.

[6]

Jupiter Feretrius,

he said,

to thee I, victorious Romulus, myself a king, bring the panoply of a king, and dedicate a sacred precinct within the bounds which I have even now marked off in my mind, to be a seat for the spoils of honour which men shall bear hither in time to come, following my example, when they have slain kings and commanders of the enemy.

[7] This was the origin of the first temple that was consecrated in Rome. ² It pleased Heaven, in the sequel, that while the founder's words should not be in vain, when he declared that men should bring spoils thither in the after time, yet the glory of that gift should not be staled by a multitude of partakers. Twice only since then, in all these years with their many wars, have the spoils of honour been won; so rarely have men had the good fortune to attain to that distinction. ³

Ab urbe condita. Titus Livius (Livy). Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor). Medford, MA. .

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

History of Rome (English) (Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Sage, Evan T.; Schlesinger, Alfred C., translators. Cambridge, Mass.; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959. (Loeb Classical Library))

Editions (3)

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Pars I-IV, Libri I-XL. Editio Stereotypica. Weissenborn, Wilhelm; Mueller, Moritz, editors. Leipzig: Teubner, 1884-1911.) — 1.10 focus

[1] iam admodum mitigati animi raptis erant; at raptarum parentes tum maxime sordida veste lacrimisque et querellis civitates concitabant. nec domi tantum indignationes continebant, sed congregabantur undique ad T. Tatium, regem Sabinorum, et legationes eo, quod maximum Tatii nomen in iis regionibus erat, conveniebant.

[2] Caeninenses Crustuminique et Antemnates erant, ad quos eius iniuriae pars pertinebat. lente agere his Tatius Sabinique visi sunt; ipsi inter se tres populi communiter bellum parant.

[3] ne Crustumini quidem atque Antemnates pro ardore iraque Caeninensium satis se inpigre movent; ita per se ipsum nomen Caeninum in agrum Romanum impetum facit.

[4] sed effuse vastantibus fit obvius cum exercitu Romulus levique certamine docet vanam sine viribus iram esse. exercitum fundit fugatque, fusum persequitur; regem in proelio obtruncat et spoliat; duce hostium occiso urbem primo impetu capit.

[5] inde exercitu victore reducto ipse, cum factis vir magnificus tum factorum ostentator haud minor, spolia ducis hostium caesi suspensa fabricato ad id apte ferculo gerens in Capitolium escendit ibique ea cum ad quercum pastoribus sacram deposuisset, simul cum dono designavit templo Iovis finis cognomenque addidit deo.

[6] “Iuppiter Feretri” inquit, “haec tibi victor Romulus rex regia arma fero templumque his regionibus, quas modo animo metatus sum, dedico, sedem opimis spoliis, quae regibus ducibusque hostium caesis me auctorem sequentes posteri ferent.”

[7] haec templi est origo, quod primum omnium Romae sacratum est. ita deinde diis visum, nec inritam conditoris templi vocem esse, qua laturos eo spolia posteros nuncupavit, nec multitudine conpotum eius doni vulgari laudem. bina postea inter tot annos, tot bella opima parta sunt spolia; adeo rara eius fortuna decoris fuit.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 1.10 focus

[1]

iam admodum mitigati animi raptis erant; at raptarum parentes tum maxime sordida ueste lacrimisque et querellis ciuitates concitabant. nec domi tantum indignationes continebant sed congregabantur undique ad T. Tatium regem Sabinorum, et legationes eo quod maximum Tati nomen in iis regionibus erat conueniebant.

[2] Caeninenses Crustuminique et Antemnates erant ad quos eius iniuriae pars pertinebat. lente agere his Tatius Sabinique uisi sunt: ipsi inter se tres populi communiter bellum parant.

[3] ne Crustumini quidem atque Antemnates pro ardore iraque Caeninensium satis se impigre mouent; ita per se ipsum nomen Caeninum in agrum Romanum impetum facit.

[4] sed effuse uastantibus fit obuius cum exercitu Romulus leuique certamine docet uanam sine uiribus iram esse. exercitum fundit fugatque, fusum persequitur: regem in proelio obtruncat et spoliat:

[5] duce hostium occiso urbem primo impetu capit. inde exercitu uictore reducto, ipse cum factis uir magnificus tum factorum ostentator haud minor, spolia ducis hostium caesi suspensa fabricato ad id apte ferculo gerens in Capitolium escendit; ibique ea cum ad quercum pastoribus sacram deposuisset, simul cum dono designauit templo Iouis fines cognomenque addidit deo:

[6] 'Iuppiter Feretri' inquit, 'haec tibi uictor Romulus rex regia arma fero, templumque his regionibus quas modo animo metatus sum dedico, sedem opimis spoliis quae regibus ducibusque hostium caesis me auctorem sequentes posteri ferent.'

[7] haec templi est origo quod primum omnium Romae sacratum est. ita deinde dis uisum nec inritam conditoris templi uocem esse qua laturos eo spolia posteros nuncupauit nec multitudine compotum eius doni uolgari laudem. bina postea, inter tot annos, tot bella, opima parta sunt spolia: adeo rara eius fortuna decoris fuit.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Livy in Fourteen Volumes. Foster, Benjamin Oliver; Moore, Frank Gardener; Schlesinger, Alfred C., editors. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, Ltd., 1919-1959 (printing).) — 1.10 focus

[1]

iam admodum mitigati animi raptis erant; at raptarum parentes tum maxime sordida veste lacrimisque et querellis civitates concitabant. nec domi tantum indignationes continebant, sed congregabantur undique ad T. Tatium regem Sabinorum, et legationes eo, quod maximum Tatii nomen in iis regionibus erat, conveniebant.

[2] Caeninenses Crustuminique et Antemnates erant ad quos eius iniuriae pars pertinebat. lente agere his Tatius Sabinique visi sunt: ipsi inter se tres populi communiter bellum parant.

[3] ne Crustumini quidem atque Antemnates pro ardore iraque Caeninensium satis se impigre movent Inovent ; ita per se ipsum nomen Caeninum in agrum Romanum impetum facit.

[4] sed effuse vastantibus fit obvius cum exercitu Romulus levique certamine docet vanam sine viribus iram esse. exercitum fundit fugatque, fusum persequitur: regem in proelio obtruncat et spoliat; duce hostium occiso urbem primo impetu ¹ capit.

[5] inde exercitu victore reducto, ipse, cum factis vir magnificus tum factorum ostentator haud minor, spolia ducis hostium caesi suspensa fabricate ad id apte ferculo gerens in Capitolium escendit ibique ea cum ad quercum pastoribus sacram deposuisset, simul cum dono designavit templo Iovis finis cognomenque addidit deo.

[6]

iuppiter uppiter Feretri

inquit,

haec tibi victor Romulus rex regia arma fero, templumque his regionibus quas modo animo metatus sum dedico sedem opimis spoliis, quae regibus ducibusque hostium caesis me auctorem sequentes posteri ferent.

[7] haec templi est origo quod primum omnium Romae sacratum est. ita deinde diis visum, nec inritam conditoris templi vocem esse qua laturos eo spolia posteros nuncupavit, nec multitudine conpotum eius doni volgari laudem. bina postea inter tot annos, tot bella, opima parta sunt spolia; adeo rara eius fortuna decoris fuit.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 1.10 focus

[1]

The minds of the ravished virgins were soon much soothed, but their parents by putting on mourning, and tears and complaints, roused the states. Nor did they confine their resentment to their own homes, but they flocked from all quarters to Titus Tatius, king of the Sabines; and because he bore the greatest character in these parts, embassies were sent to him.

[2] The Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates were people to whom a considerable portion of the outrage extended. To them Tatius and the Sabines seemed to proceed somewhat dilatorily. Nor even do the Crustumini and Antemnates bestir themselves with sufficient activity to suit the impatience and rage of the Caeninenses.

[3] Accordingly the state of the Caeninenses by itself makes an irruption into the Roman territory. But Romulus with his army met them ravaging the country in straggling parties, and by a slight engagement convinces them, that resentment without strength is of no avail.

[4] He defeats and routs their army, pursues it when routed, kills and despoils their king in battle, and having slain their general takes the city at the first assault.

[5] From thence having led back his victorious army, and being a man highly distinguished by his exploits, and one who could place them in the best light, went in state to the capitol, carrying before him, suspended on a frame curiously wrought for that purpose, the spoils of the enemy's general, whom he had slain, and there after he had laid them down at the foot of an oak held sacred by the shepherds, together with the offering, he marked out the bounds for a temple of Jupiter, and gave a surname to the god:

[6]

Jupiter Feretrius,

he says,

I, king Romulus, upon my victory, present to thee these royal arms, and to thee I dedicate a temple within those regions which I have now marked out in my mind, as a receptacle for the grand spoils, which my suc- cessors, following my example, shall, upon their killing the kings or generals of the enemy, offer to thee.

This is the origin of that temple, the first consecrated at Rome.

[7] It afterwards so pleased the gods both that the declaration of the founder of the temple should not be frustrated, by which he announced that his posterity should offer such spoils, and that the glory of that offering should not be depreciated by the great number of those who shared it. During so many years, and amid so many wars since that time, grand spoils have been only twice gained, ¹ so rare has been the successful attainment of that honour.

History of Rome Perseus (Volumes 1-2. Roberts, Canon, Rev, translator. London, New York: J. M. Dent and Sons; E. P. Dutton and Co., 1912.) — 1.10 focus

[1] The¹ feelings of the abducted maidens were now pretty completely appeased, but not so those of their parents. They went about in mourning garb, and tried by their tearful complaints to rouse their countrymen to action. Nor did they confine their remonstrances to their own cities; they flocked from all sides to Titus Tatius, the king of the Sabines, and sent formal deputations to him, for his was the most influential name in those parts.

[2] The people of Caenina, Crustumerium, and Antemnae were the greatest sufferers; they thought Tatius and his Sabines were too slow in moving, so these three cities prepared to make war conjointly.

[3] Such, however, were the impatience and anger of the Caeninensians that even the Crustuminians and Antemnates did not display enough energy for them, so the men of Caenina made an attack upon Roman territory on their own account.

[4] Whilst they were scattered far and wide, pillaging and destroying, Romulus came upon them with an army, and after a brief encounter taught them that anger is futile without strength. He put them to a hasty flight, and following them up, killed their king and despoiled his body; then after slaying their leader took their city at the first assault.

[5] He was no less anxious to display his achievements than he had been great in performing them, so, after leading his victorious army home, he mounted to the Capitol with the spoils of his dead foe borne before him on a frame constructed for the purpose. He hung them there on an oak, which the shepherds looked upon as a sacred tree, and at the same time marked out the site for the temple of Jupiter , and addressing the god by a new title, uttered the following invocation: “Jupiter Feretrius!

[6] these arms taken from a king, I, Romulus a king and conqueror, bring to thee, and on this domain, whose bounds I have in will and purpose traced, I dedicate a temple to receive the spolia opima which posterity following my example shall bear hither, taken from the kings and generals of our foes slain in battle.”

[7] Such was the origin of the first temple dedicated in Rome . And the gods decreed that though its founder did not utter idle words in declaring that posterity would thither bear their spoils, still the splendour of that offering should not be dimmed by the number of those who have rivalled his achievement. For after so many years have elapsed and so many wars been waged, only twice have the spolia opima been offered.² So seldom has Fortune granted that glory to men.

Notes on the current edition

Ab Urbe Condita With An English Translation, books 1-10, 21-45, with periochae 11-20

1. B.C. 753-717

2. Jupiter Feretrius (etymology unknown) was the pure Italian Jupiter, whose worship was later overshadowed by the Etruscan god of the great temple on the Capitol. See Fowler, Fest. p. 229.

3. The other instances were the victories of Cossus over Tolumnius, king of Veii (iv. 20), and of Marcellus over Virdomarus, king of the Insubrian Gauls. Propertius tells the three stories in iv. 10.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 1.10

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

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