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), 21.12

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[1]

But the siege of Saguntum did not flag. Maharbal, the son of Himilco, whom Hannibal had left in charge, so bestirred himself that the absence of the general was felt neither by his countrymen nor by the enemy.

[2] He fought a number of successful skirmishes, and with three battering-rams laid low a considerable portion of the wall, and on Hannibal's return, showed him the place all covered with the newly fallen ruins.

[3] And so the troops were led at once against the citadel itself, and a fierce battle began, in which many on both sides were killed and a part of the citadel was taken.

An all but hopeless attempt to arrange a peace was then made by two men, Alco, a Saguntine, and a Spaniard named Alorcus.

[4] Alco, thinking that something might be effected by entreaties, went over to ¹ Hannibal in the night, without the knowledge of the Sanguntines. But finding that tears were of no avail and that the terms obtainable were such as a wrathful conqueror would impose, he changed from pleader to deserter, and remained with the enemy, declaring that anybody who should treat for peace on those conditions would be put to death.

[5] The conditions were as follows: they must make restitution to the Turdetani, and, delivering up all their gold and silver, quit their city with a single garment each and take up their abode where the Phoenician should direct them.

[6] When Alco asserted that the Saguntines would not accept such terms, Alorcus, affirming that where all else is conquered the heart is conquered too, undertook the negotiation of a peace. He was at that time a soldier in the service of Hannibal, but was officially recognized by the Saguntines as their friend and guest. ²

[7] Openly surrendering his weapon to the sentries, he passed the enemy's lines, and was conducted —by his own command —before the Saguntine general.

[8] A crowd of all descriptions immediately flocked together there; but all save the senators were sent away, and Alorcus, being permitted to address them, spoke as follows:

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.) — 21.12 focus

[1] nec Sagunti oppugnatio segnior erat Maharbale Himilconis filio — eum praefecerat Hannibal — ita inpigre rem agente, ut ducem abesse nec cives nec hostes sentirent.

[2] is et proelia aliquot secunda fecit et tribus arietibus aliquantum muri discussit strataque omnia recentibus ruinis advenienti Hannibali ostendit.

[3] itaque ad ipsam arcem extemplo ductus exercitus, atroxque proelium cum multorum utrimque caede initum et pars arcis capta est. temptata deinde per duos est exigua pacis spes, Alconem Saguntinum et Alorcum Hispanum.

[4] Alco insciis Saguntinis, precibus aliquid moturum ratus, cum ad Hannibalem noctu transisset, postquam nihil lacrimae movebant condicionesque tristes ut ab irato victore ferebantur, transfuga ex oratore factus apud hostem mansit, moriturum adfirmans, qui sub condicionibus iis de pace ageret.

[5] postulabatur autem, redderent res Turdetanis traditoque omni auro atque argento egressi urbe cum singulis vestimentis ibi habitarent, ubi Poenus iussisset.

[6] has pacis leges abnuente Alcone accepturos Saguntinos, Alorcus, vinci animos, ubi alia vincantur, adfirmans, se pacis eius interpretem fore pollicetur; erat autem tum miles Hannibalis, ceterum publice Saguntinis amicus atque hospes.

[7] tradito palam telo custodibus hostium transgressus munimenta ad praetorem Saguntinum — et ipse ita iubebat — est deductus.

[8] quo cum extemplo concursus omnis generis hominum esset factus, summota cetera multitudine senatus Alorco datus est, cuius talis oratio fuit:

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 21.12 focus

[1]

nec Sagunti oppugnatio segnior erat Maharbale Himilconis filio—eum praefecerat Hannibal—ita impigre rem agente ut ducem abesse nec ciues nec hostes sentirent.

[2] is et proelia aliquot secunda fecit et tribus arietibus aliquantum muri discussit strataque omnia recentibus ruinis aduenienti Hannibali ostendit.

[3] itaque ad ipsam arcem extemplo ductus exercitus atroxque proelium cum multorum utrimque caede initum et pars arcis capta est. temptata deinde per duos est exigua pacis spes, Alconem Saguntinum et Alorcum Hispanum.

[4] Alco insciis Saguntinis, precibus aliquid moturum ratus, cum ad Hannibalem noctu transisset, postquam nihil lacrimae mouebant condicionesque tristes, ut ab irato uictore, ferebantur, transfuga ex oratore factus apud hostem mansit, moriturum adfirmans qui sub condicionibus iis de pace ageret.

[5] postulabatur autem, redderent res Turdetanis traditoque omni auro atque argento egressi urbe cum singulis uestimentis ibi habitarent ubi Poenus iussisset.

[6] has pacis leges abnuente Alcone accepturos Saguntinos, Alorcus, uinci animos ubi alia uincantur adfirmans, se pacis eius interpretem fore pollicetur; erat autem tum miles Hannibalis, ceterum publice Saguntinis amicus atque hospes.

[7] traditio palam telo custodibus hostium transgressus munimenta ad praetorem Saguntinum—et ipse ita iubebat—est deductus.

[8] quo cum extemplo concursus omnis generis hominum esset factus, submota cetera multitudine senatus Alorco datus est, cuius talis oratio 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).) — 21.12 focus

[1]

nec Sagunti oppugnatio segnior erat Maharbale, ¹ Himilconis ² filio—eum praefecerat Hannibal —ita impigre rem agente ut ducem abesse nec cives nec hostes sentirent.

[2] Is et proelia aliquot secunda fecit et tribus arietibus aliquantum muri discussit strataque omnia recentibus ruinis advenienti Hannibali ostendit.

[3] itaque ad ipsam arcem extemplo ductus exercitus, atroxque proelium cum multorum utrimque caede initum et pars arcis capta est.

temptata deinde per duos est exigua pacis spes, Alconem Saguntinum et Alorcum Hispanum.

[4] Alco³ insciis ⁴ Saguntinis precibus aliquid moturum ratus, ⁵ cum ad Hannibalem noctu transisset, postquam nihil lacrimae movebant condicionesque tristes ut ab irato victore ⁶ ferebantur, transfuga ex oratore factus apud hostem mansit, moriturum adfirmans qui sub condicionibus iis de pace ageret.

[5] postulabatur autem, redderent res Turdetanis ⁷ traditoque omni auro atque argento egressi urbe cum singulis vestimentis ibi habitarent ubi Poenus iussisset.

[6] has pacis leges abnuente Alcone accepturos Saguntinos, Alorcus, vinci animos ubi alia vincantur adfirmans, se pacis eius interpretem fore pollicetur; erat autem tum miles Hannibalis, ceterum publice Saguntinis amicus atque hospes.

[7] tradito palam telo custodibus hostium transgressus munimenta ad praetorem Saguntinum—et ipse ita iubebat est deductus.

[8] quo cum extemplo concursus omnis generis hominum esset factus, submota cetera multitudine senatus Alorco ⁸ datus est, cuius talis oratio 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)) — 21.12 focus

[1]

Nor was the siege of Saguntum, in the mean time, less vigorously maintained; Maharbal, the son of Himilco, whom Hannibal had set over the army, carrying on operations so actively that neither the townsmen nor their enemies perceived that the general was away.

[2] He both engaged in several successful battles, and with three battering-rams overthrew a portion of the wall; and showed to Hannibal, on his arrival, the ground all covered with fresh ruins.

[3] The army was therefore immediately led against the citadel itself, and a desperate combat was commenced with much slaughter on both sides, and part of the citadel was taken. The slight chance of a peace was then tried by two persons; Alcon a Saguntine, and Alorcus a Spaniard.

[4] Alcon, thinking he could effect something by entreaties, having passed over, without the knowledge of the Saguntines, to Hannibal by night, when his tears produced no effect, and harsh conditions were offered as from an exasperated conqueror, becoming a deserter instead of an advocate, remained with the enemy; affirming that the man would be put to death who should treat for peace on such terms.

[5] For it was required that they should make restitution to the Turdetani; and after delivering up all their gold and silver, departing from the city each with a single garment, should take up their dwelling where the Carthaginian should direct.

[6] Alcon having denied that the Saguntines would accept such terms of peace, Alorcus, asserting that when all else is subdued, the mind becomes subdued, offers himself as the proposer of that peace. Now at that time he was a soldier of Hannibal's, but publicly the friend and host of the Saguntines.

[7] Having openly delivered his weapon to the guards of the enemy and passed the fortifications, he was conducted, as he had himself requested, to the Saguntine praetor;

[8] whither when there was immediately a general rush of every description of people, the rest of the multitude being removed, an audience of the senate is given to Alorcus; whose speech was to the following effect:

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.) — 21.12 focus

[1]

The attack on Saguntum was not slackened; Maharbal, the son of Himilco, whom Hannibal had left in command, carried on operations with such energy that the general's absence was not felt by either friends or foes.

[2] He fought several successful actions, and with the aid of three battering rams brought down a considerable portion of the wall, and on Hannibal's return showed him the place all strewn with the newly-fallen wall.

[3] The army was at once led to an assault on the citadel; a desperate fight began, with heavy losses on both sides, and a part of the citadel was captured. Attempts were now made in the direction of peace, though with but faint hopes of success. Two men undertook the task, Alco, a Saguntine, and Alorcus, a Spaniard.

[4] Alco, thinking that his prayers might have some effect, crossed over without the knowledge of the Saguntines to Hannibal at night. When he found that he gained nothing by his tears, and that the conditions offered were such as a victor exasperated by resistance would insist upon, harsh and severe, he laid aside the character of a pleader and remained with the enemy as a deserter, alleging that any one who advocated peace on such terms would be put to death.

[5] The conditions were that restitution should be made to the Turdetani, all the gold and silver should be delivered up, and the inhabitants should depart with one garment each and take up their abode wherever the Carthaginians should order them.

[6] As Alco insisted that the Saguntines would not accept peace on these terms, Alorcus, convinced, as he said, that when everything else has gone courage also goes, undertook to mediate a peace on those conditions. At that time he was one of Hannibal's soldiers, but he was recognised as a guest friend by the city of Saguntum.

[7] He started on his mission, gave up his weapon openly to the guard, crossed the lines, and was at his request conducted to the praetor of Saguntum.

[8] A crowd, drawn from all classes of society, soon gathered, and after a way had been cleared through the press, Alorcus was admitted to an audience of the senate. He addressed them in the following terms:

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 219

2. The stranger in an ancient city had no commercial or legal status but had to depend on the good offices of some citizen. Guest-friendship ( hospitium ) was a species of permanent (and even hereditary) alliance entered into by two citizens of different states for purposes of mutual comfort and protection in commercial and other intercourse. When a city honoured a member of another state by formally conferring upon him the title of hospes publicus, it gave him the right to entertainment at the public cost, and to buy and sell and bring actions in the courts.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 21.12

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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