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), 21.25

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[1]

In Italy meanwhile nothing more was known than that Hannibal had crossed the Ebro —which was the news that Massiliot envoys brought to Rome —when, as though he had already crossed the Alps, the Boi, after rousing up the Insubres, revolted. ¹ To this they were incited not so much by their old animosity against the Roman People as by vexation at the recent establishment of colonies in Gallic territory, near the Po, at Placentia and

[2] Cremona. ² Flying to arms they made an incursion into that very district, and spread such terror and confusion that not only the rural population, but the Roman commissioners themselves, who had come for the purpose of assigning lands, not trusting to the walls of Placentia, fled to Mutina. (Their names ³ were Gaius Lutatius, Gaius Servilius, and Marcus Annius. There is no question about Lutatius: for Annius and Servilius, some annals have Manius Acilius and Gaius Herennius, others Publius Cornelius Asina and Gaius Papirius

[3] Maso. This, too, is uncertain, whether envoys sent to expostulate with the Boi were maltreated, or an attack was made upon the three commissioners as they were measuring off the

[4] land.) Whilst they lay shut up in Mutina, the Gauls —who know nothing of the art of assaulting cities, and, besides, are very indolent in regard to siege-works, and were now sitting idly down before the walls without attempting them

[5] —feigned a readiness to treat for peace; and their leaders having invited the Romans to send out spokesmen to confer with them, they seized these envoys, in violation not only of the

[6] law of nations, but also of a pledge which they had given for this time, and declared that they would not let them go unless their own hostages were restored to them. ⁴ When word arrived of this affair of the envoys, and Mutina and its garrison were in danger, Lucius Manlius, the praetor, blazing with resentment, set out for Mutina with his army in loose marching

[7] order. ⁵ In those days the road led through a forest, as the country was not, for the most part, under cultivation, and Manlius, advancing without reconnaissance, plunged into an ambush, and after sustaining heavy losses, managed with difficulty to get through into the open

[8] fields. There he entrenched a camp, and since the Gauls lacked heart to assail it, ⁶

[9] the soldiers recovered their spirits, though it was no secret that as many as five hundred men had

[10] fallen. Then they began their march again, nor, so long as the column advanced through open country, was the enemy to be seen; but when they had once more got into the woods, the Gauls attacked

[11] their rear, and throwing the whole column into terror and confusion, slew seven hundred soldiers and carried off six ensigns. ⁷ The alarming onsets of the Gauls and the panic of the Romans ended when they got clear of the trackless

[12] woods and thickets. Thereafter, marching across open ground, the Romans had no difficulty in protecting their column, and hastened to Tannetum, a village lying near the Po, where by means of temporary fortifications and

[13] supplies got in by the river, and with the help also of the Brixian Gauls, they defended themselves against the enemy, whose numbers were increasing daily. ⁸

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.) — 21.25 focus

[1] in Italiam interim nihil ultra quam Hiberum transisse Hannibalem a Massiliensium legatis Romam perlatum erat,

[2] cum, perinde ac si Alpis iam transisset, Boi sollicitatis Insubribus defecerunt, nec tam ob veteres in populum Romanum iras, quam quod nuper circa Padum Placentiam Cremonamque colonias in agrum Gallicum deductas aegre patiebantur.

[3] itaque armis repente arreptis in eum ipsum agrum impetu facto tantum terroris ac tumultus fecerunt, ut non agrestis modo multitudo sed ipsi triumviri Romani, qui ad agrum venerant adsignandum, diffisi Placentiae moenibus Mutinam confugerint, C. Lutatius C. Servilius M. Annius.

[4] Lutati nomen baud haud dubium est; pro Annio Servilioque M’. Acilium et C. Herennium habent quidam annales, alii P. Cornelium Asinam et C. Papirium Masonem.

[5] id quoque dubium est, legati ad expostulandum missi ad Boios violati sint, an in triumviros agrum metantis impetus sit factus.

[6] Mutinae cum obsiderentur, et gens ad oppugnandarum urbium artes rudis, pigerrima eadem ad militaria opera, segnis intactis adsideret muris,

[7] simulari coeptum de pace agi, evocatique ab Gallorum principibus legati ad conloquium non contra ius modo gentium sed violata etiam, quae data in id tempus erat, fide conprehenduntur, negantibus Gallis, nisi obsides sibi redderentur, eos dimissuros.

[8] cum haec de legatis nuntiata essent, et Mutina praesidiumque in periculo esset, L. Manlius praetor ira accensus effusum agmen ad Mutinam ducit.

[9] silvae tunc circa viam erant plerisque incultis. ibi inexplorato profectus in insidias praecipitatur multaque cum caede suorum aegre in apertos campos emersit.

[10] ibi castra communita et, quia Gallis ad temptanda ea defuit spes, refecti sunt militum animi, quamquam ad quingentos cecidisse satis constabat.

[11] iter deinde de integro coeptum, nec, dum per patentia loca ducebatur agmen, apparuit hostis;

[12] ubi rursus silvae intratae, tum postremos adorti cum magna trepidatione ac pavore omnium septingentos milites occiderunt, sex signa ademere.

[13] finis et Gallis territandi et pavendi fuit Romanis ut e saltu invio atque impedito evasere. inde apertis locis facile tutantes agmen Romani Tannetum, vicum propinquum Pado, contendere.

[14] ibi se munimento ad tempus commeatibusque fluminis et Brixianorum etiam Gallorum auxilio adversus crescentem in dies multitudinem hostium tutabantur.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 21.25 focus

[1]

in Italiam interim nihil ultra quam Hiberum transisse Hannibalem a Massiliensium legatis Romam perlatum erat,

[2] cum, perinde ac si Alpes iam transisset, Boii sollicitatis Insubribus defecerunt, nec tam ob ueteres in populum Romanum iras quam quod nuper circa Padum Placentiam Cremonamque colonias in agrum Gallicum deductas aegre patiebantur.

[3] itaque armis repente arreptis, in eum ipsum agrum impetu facto tantum terroris ac tumultus fecerunt ut non agrestis modo multitudo sed ipsi triumuiri Romani, qui ad agrum uenerant adsignandum, diffisi Placentiae moenibus Mutinam confugerint, C. Lutatius , C. Seruilius , M. Annius .

[4] —Lutati nomen haud dubium est; pro Annio Seruilioque M'. Acilium et C. Herennium habent quidam annales, alii P. Cornelium Asinam et C. Papirium Masonem .

[5] id quoque dubium est legati ad expostulandum missi ad Boios uiolati sint [incertum] an in triumuiros agrum metantes impetus sit factus.

[6] Mutinae cum obsiderentur et gens ad oppugnandarum urbium artes rudis, pigerrima eadem ad militaria opera, segnis intactis adsideret muris, simulari coeptum de pace agi;

[7] euocatique ab Gallorum principibus legati ad conloquium non contra ius modo gentium sed uiolata etiam quae data in id tempus erat fide comprehenduntur, negantibus Gallis, nisi obsides sibi redderentur, eos dimissuros.

[8] cum haec de legatis nuntiata essent et Mutina praesidiumque in periculo esset, L. Manlius praetor ira accensus effusum agmen ad Mutinam ducit. siluae tunc circa uiam erant, plerisque incultis.

[9] ibi inexplorato profectus in insidias praecipitat multaque cum caede suorum aegre in apertos campos emersit.

[10] ibi castra communita et, quia Gallis ad temptanda ea defuit spes, refecti sunt militum animi, quamquam ad cecidisse satis constabat.

[11] iter deinde de integro coeptum nec, dum per patentia loca ducebatur agmen, apparuit hostis;

[12] ubi rursus siluae intratae, tum postremos adorti cum magna trepidatione ac pauore omnium septingentos milites occiderunt, sex signa ademere.

[13] finis et Gallis territandi et pauendi fuit Romanis ut ex saltu inuio atque impedito euasere. inde apertis locis facile tutantes agmen Romani Tannetum, uicum propinquum Pado, contendere.

[14] ibi se munimento ad tempus commeatibusque fluminis et Brixianorum etiam Gallorum auxilio aduersus crescentem in dies multitudinem hostium tutabantur.

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).) — 21.25 focus

[1]

in Italiam interim nihil ultra quam Hiberum transisse Hannibalem a Massiliensium legatis Romam perlatum erat,

[2] cum perinde ac si Alpes iam transisset, Boi sollicitatis solllcitatis Insubribus defecerunt nec tam ob veteres in populum Romanum iras quam quod nuper circa Padum Placentiam Cremonamque colonias in agrum ¹ Gallicum deductas aegre patiebantur.

[3] itaque armis repente arreptis in eum ipsum agrum impetu facto tantum terroris ac tumultus fecerunt ut non agrestis modo multitudo sed ipsi triumviri Romani, qui ad agrum venerant adsignandum, diffisi Placentiae moenibus Mutinam confugerint, C. ² Lutatius C. Servilius ³ M. Annius. ⁴

[4] Lutati nomen haud dubium est; pro Annio Servilioque M'. Acilium ⁵ et C. Herennium habent quidam annales, alii P. Cornelium Asinam et C. Papirium Masonem. ⁶

[5] id quoque dubium est, legati ad expostulandum missi ad Boios violati sint, ⁷ an in triumviros agrum metantes impetus sit factus.

[6] mutinae cum obsiderentur et gens ad oppugnandarum urbium artes rudis, pigerrima eadem ad militaria opera, segnis intactis adsideret muris, simulari coeptum de pace agi,

[7] evocatique ab Gallorum principibus legati ad conloquium, non contra ius modo gentium sed violata etiam quae data in id tempus erat fide, comprehenduntur, negantibus Gallis nisi obsides sibi redderentur eos dimissuros.

[8] cum haec de legatis nuntiata essent et Mutina praesidiumque in periculo esset, L. Manlius praetor ira accensus effusum agmen ad Mutinam ducit.

[9] silvae tunc circa viam erant plerisque incultis. ibi inexplorato profectus in insidias praecipitatur ⁸ multaque cum caede suorum aegre in apertos campos emersit.

[10] ibi castra communita, et quia Gallis ad temptanda ea defuit spes, ⁹ refecti sunt militum animi, quamquam ad quingentos ¹⁰ cecidisse satis constabat.

[11] iter deinde de integro coeptum nec, dum per patentia ¹¹ loca ducebatur agmen, apparuit ¹² hostis;

[12] ubi rursus silvae intratae, tum postremos adorti cum magna trepidatione ac pavore omnium septingentos milites occiderunt, sex signa ademere.

[13] finis et Gallis territandi et pavendi fuit Romanis ut e saltu ¹³ invio atque impedito evasere. inde apertis locis facile tutantes agmen Romani Tannetum, vicum propinquum Pado, contendere.

[14] ibi se munimento ad tempus commeatibusque fluminis et Brixianorum etiam Gallorum auxilio adversus crescentem in dies multitudinem hostium tutabantur.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 21.25 focus

[1]

In the mean time no further intelligence had been brought into Italy to Rome by the ambassadors of Marseilles, than that Hannibal had passed the Iberus;

[2] when the Boii, as if he had already passed the Alps, revolted after instigating the Insubrians; not so much through their ancient resentment towards the Roman people, as on account of their having felt aggrieved that the colonies of Placentia and Cremona had been lately planted in the Gallic territory about the Po. Having, therefore,

[3] suddenly taken up arms, and made an attack on that very territory, they created so much of terror and tumult, that not only the rustic population, but even the Roman triumvirs, Caius Lutatius, Caius Servilius, and Titus Annius, who had come to assign the lands, distrusting the walls of Placentia, fled to Mutina.

[4] About the name of Lutatius there is no doubt: in place of Caius Servilius and Titus Annius, some annals have Quintus Acilius and Caius Herennius; others, Publius Cornelius Asina and Caius Papirius Maso. This point is also uncertain, whether the ambassadors sent to expostulate to the Boii suffered violence, or whether an attack was made on the triumvirs while measuring out the lands.

[5] While they were shut up in Mutina, and a people unskilled in the arts of besieging towns, and,

[6] at the same time, most sluggish at military operations, lay inactive before the walls, which they had not touched, pretended proposals for a peace were set on foot;

[7] and the ambassadors, being invited out to a conference by the chiefs of the Gauls, are seized, not only contrary to the law of nations, but in violation of the faith which was pledged on that very occasion; the Gauls denying that they would set them free unless their hostages were restored to them.

[8] When this intelligence respecting the ambassadors was announced, and that Mutina and its garrison were in danger, Lucius Manlius, the praetor, inflamed with rage, led his army in haste to Mutina. There were then woods on both sides of the road, most of the country being uncultivated.

[9] There, having advanced without previously exploring his route, he fell suddenly into an ambuscade; and after much slaughter of his men, with difficulty made his way into the open plains.

[10] Here a camp was fortified, and because confidence was wanting to the Gauls to attack it, the spirit of the soldiers revived, although it was sufficiently evident that their strength was much clipped.

[11] The journey was then commenced anew; nor while the army was led in march through the open tracts did the enemy appear:

[12] but, when the woods were again entered, then attacking the rear, amid great con- fusion and alarm of all, they slew eight hundred soldiers, and took six standards.

[13] There was an end to the Gauls of creating, and to the Romans of experiencing terror, when they escaped from the pathless and entangled thicket; then easily defending their march through the open ground, the Romans directed their course to Tanetum, a village near the Po; where, by a temporary fortification, and the

[14] supplies conveyed by the river, and also by the aid of the Brixian Gauls, they defended themselves against the daily increasing multitude of their enemies.

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.) — 21.25 focus

[1]

No intelligence, meanwhile, had reached Rome beyond the fact reported by the Massilian envoys, namely that Hannibal had crossed the Ebro.

[2] No sooner was this known than the Boii, who had been tampering with the Insubres, rose in revolt, just as though he had already crossed the Alps, not so much in consequence of their old standing enmity against Rome as of her recent aggressions. Bodies of colonists were being settled on Gaulish territory in the valley of the Po, at Placentia and Cremona, and intense irritation was produced.

[3] Seizing their arms they made an attack on the land, which was being actually surveyed at the time, and created such terror and confusion that not only the agricultural population, but even the three Roman commissioners who were engaged in marking out the holdings, fled to Mutina, not feeling themselves safe behind the walls of Placentia. The commissioners were C. Lutatius, C. Servilius, and M. Annius.

[4] There is no doubt as to the name Lutatius, but instead of Annius and Servilius some annalists have Manlius Acilius and C. Herennius, whilst others give P. Cornelius Asina and C. Papirius Maso.

[5] There is also doubt as to whether it was the envoys who had been sent to the Boii to remonstrate with them that were maltreated, or the commissioners upon whom an attack was made whilst surveying the ground.

[6] The Gauls invested Mutina, but as they were strangers to the art of conducting sieges, and far too indolent to set about the construction of military works, they contented themselves with blockading the town without inflicting any injury on the walls.

[7] At last they pretended that they were ready to discuss terms of peace, and the envoys were invited by the Gaulish chieftains to a conference. Here they were arrested, in direct violation not only of international law but of the safe-conduct which had been granted for the occasion. Having made them prisoners the Gauls declared that they would not release them until their hostages were restored to them.

[8] When news came that the envoys were prisoners and Mutina and its garrison in jeopardy, L. Manlius, the praetor, burning with anger, led his army in separate divisions to Mutina. Most of the country was uncultivated at that time and the road went through a forest.

[9] He advanced without throwing out scouting parties and fell into an ambush, out of which, after sustaining considerable loss, he made his way with difficulty on to more open ground.

[10] Here he entrenched himself, and as the Gauls felt it would be hopeless to attack him there, the courage of his men revived, though it was tolerably certain that as many as 500 had fallen.

[11] They recommenced their march, and as long as they were going through open country there was no enemy in view; when they re-entered the forest their rear was attacked and great confusion and panic created.

[12] They lost 700 men and six standards.

[13] When they at last got out of the trackless and entangled forest there was an end to the terrifying tactics of the Gauls and the wild alarm of the Romans. There was no difficulty in repelling attacks when they reached the open country and made their way to Tannetum, a place near the Po. Here they hastily entrenched

[14] themselves, and, helped by the windings of the river and assisted by the Brixian Gauls, they held their ground against an enemy whose numbers were daily increasing.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Livy has said nothing of any negotiations between Hannibal and the Boi, preferring, in his love of dramatic effect, to let us see this Gallic outbreak as it appeared to the Romans 2 —like a bolt from the blue. See chap. xxix. § 6.

2. These were of the type called Latin colonies. To each of them six thousand colonists had been assigned. They had hardly got settled when the Gauls broke out (Polybius, III. xl. 3-6).

3. B.C. 218

4. Apparently the Gauls left hostages with the Romans when they arranged for the Romans to send representatives to talk things over with them in the Gallic camp.

5. Neither Polybius nor Livy tells us where Manlius was when the news reached him. Weissenborn-Mueller think he was at Placentia, engaged in strengthening the new fortifications.

6. B.C. 218

7. This second attack —Polybius records but the one —is suspiciously like the first. Livy, or Livy's immediate source, may unconsciously have made two episodes out of slightly different accounts of the same affair.

8. Tannetum (now Tanneto) was really about ten miles south of the Po, on the Via Aemilia Lepida. If commeatibus fluminis is correctly translated, we may suppose (1) that Livy thought Tannetum was much nearer the Po, or (2) that he has confused Brixia (Brescia) with Brixellum (Bresciello), which is nearly north of Tanneto and close to the Po, and might have served as an entrepôt for supplies sent down from Placentia. The statement in chap. lv. § 4 that the Cenomani (whose capital was Brixia) were the only Gallic tribe that was loyal to Rome favours (1).

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 21.25

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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