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), 3.35

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[1]

But when the comitia for the election of decemvirs had been announced to take place in fourand-twenty days, ¹ there was a great outburst of ² canvassing;

[2] even the chief men in the state —from fear, I doubt not, that if they left the field this great power might fall into unworthy hands —solicited men's votes and humbly begged for an office which they had themselves opposed with all their influence, from those plebeians with whom they had contended.

[3] The risk of losing his position, at his time of life, and after holding the offices he had held, acted as a spur to Appius Claudius.

[4] One would not have known whether to reckon him among the decemvirs or the candidates. He was at times more like one who sought a magistracy than like one who exercised it.

[5] He vilified the nobles; praised all the most insignificant and low-born candidates; and surrounding himself with former tribunes, like Duillius and Icilius, bustled about the Forum, and through them recommended himself to the plebs; till even his colleagues, who had been singularly devoted to him until then, looked askance at him and wondered what this could mean.

[6] It was evident there could be nothing genuine about it; so proud a man would certainly not be affable for nothing; excessive self-abasement and mingling with private citizens were not so much the marks of one who was in haste to retire from office as of one who sought the means of re-election.

[7] Open opposition to his desires being more than they dared venture, they endeavoured by a show of complaisance to lessen its intensity; and unanimously appointed him, as their youngest colleague, to preside at the election.

[8] This was a trick, that he might be unable to declare himself elected, a thing which none but tribunes of the plebs (and even there the precedent was most vicious) had ever done. But Appius, strange as it ³ may seem, having promised, with a prayer for Heaven's blessing, to convene the comitia, turned the obstacle into an opportunity.

[9] He effected by collusion ⁴ the defeat of the two Quinctii, Capitolinus and Cincinnatus, of his uncle Gaius Claudius, a steadfast champion of the aristocratic cause, and of other citizens of the same exalted rank; and declared the election of decemvirs who were no match for these men in excellence.

[10] His own name he announced among the first, a thing which good citizens condemned with as perfect unanimity, now it was done, as they had before believed he would not dare to do it.

[11] With him were elected Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, Marcus Sergius, Lucius Minucius, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, Quintus Poetelius, Titus Antonius Merenda, Caeso Duillius, Spurius Oppius Cornicen, Manius Rabuleius. ⁵

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.) — 3.35 focus

[1] postquam vero comitia decemviris creandis in trinum nundinum indicta sunt,

[2] tanta exarsit ambitio, ut primores quoque civitatis — metu, credo, ne tanti possessio imperii vacuo ab se relicto loco baud haud satis dignis pateret — prensarent homines, honorem summa ope a se impugnatum ab ea plebe, cum qua contenderant, suppliciter petentes.

[3] demissa iam in discrimen dignitas ea aetate iisque honoribus actis stimulabat Ap. Claudium. nescires, utrum inter decemviros an inter candidatos numerares.

[4] propior interdum petendo quam gerendo magistratui erat: criminari optimates, extollere candidatorum levissimum quemque humillimumque,

[5] ipse medius inter tribunicios, Duillios Iciliosque, in foro volitare, per illos se plebi venditare, donec collegae quoque, qui unice illi dediti fuerant ad id tempus, coniecere in eum oculos, mirantes, quid sibi vellet.

[6] apparere nihil sinceri esse; profecto baud haud gratuitam in tanta superbia comitatem fore; nimium in ordinem se ipsum cogere et vulgari cum privatis non tam properantis abire magistratu quam viam ad continuandum magistratum quaerentis esse.

[7] propalam obviam ire cupiditati parum ausi obsecundando mollire impetum adgrediuntur. comitiorum illi habendorum, quando minimus natu sit, munus consensu iniungunt. ars haec erat,

[8] ne semet ipse creare posset, quod praeter tribunos plebi, et id ipsum pessimo exemplo, nemo umquam fecisset. ille enimvero, quod bene vertat, habiturum se comitia professus,

[9] impedimentum pro occasione arripuit deiectisque honore per coitionem duobus Quinctiis, Capitolino et Cincinnato, et patruo suo C. Claudio, constantissimo viro in optimatium causa, et aliis eiusdem fastigii civibus, nequaquam splendore vitae pares decemviros creat,

[10] se in primis, quod haud secus factum inprobabant boni, quam nemo facere ausurum crediderat.

[11] creati cum eo M. Cornelius Maluginensis, M. Sergius, L. Minucius, Q. Fabius Vibulanus, Q. Poetilius, T. Antonius Merenda, K. Duillius, Sp. Oppius Cornicen, M’. Rabuleius.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 3.35 focus

[1]

postquam vero comitia decemviris creandis in trinum nundinum indicta sunt,

[2] tanta exarsit ambitio ut primores quoque civitatis—metu, credo, ne ¹ tanti possessio imperii vacuo ab se relicto loco haud satis dignis pateret—prensarent homines, honorem summa ope a se impugnatum ab ea plebe cum qua contenderant ² suppliciter petentes.

[3] demissa³ iam in discrimen dignitas ea aetate iisque honoribus actis stimulabat Ap. Claudium. nescires utrum inter decemviros an inter candidatos numerares.

[4] propior interdum petendo quam gerendo magistratui erat. criminari optimates, extollere candidatorum levissimum quemque humillimumque, ipse medius inter tribunicios,

[5] duillios⁴ Iciliosque, ⁵ in foro volitare, per illos se plebi venditare, donec done collegae quoque, qui unice illi dediti fuerant ad id tempus, coniecere in eum oculos, mirantes quid sibi vellet:

[6] apparere nihil sinceri esse; profecto haud gratuitam in tanta superbia comitatem fore: nimium in ordinem se ipsum cogere et volgari cum privatis non tam properantis abire magistratu quam viam ad continuandum magistratum quaerentis esse.

[7] propalam obviam ire cupiditati parum ausi obsecundando mollire impetum adgrediuntur. comitiorum illi habendorum, quando minimus natu sit, munus consensu iniungunt.

[8] ars haec erat, ne semet ipse creare posset, quod praeter tribunos plebi—et id ipsum pessimo exemplo—nemo unquam fecisset. ille enimvero, quod bene vertat, ⁶ habiturum se comitia professus,

[9] impedimentum pro occasione arripuit, deiectisque honore per coitionem ⁷ duobus Quinctiis, Capitolino et Cincinnato, et patruo suo C. Claudio, constantissimo viro in optimatium causa, et aliis eiusdem fastigii civibus, nequaquam splendore vitae pares decemviros creat,

[10] se in primis, quod haud secus factum improbabant boni quam nemo facere ausurum crediderat.

[11] creati cum eo M. Cornelius Maluginensis M. Sergius L. Minucius Q. Fabius Vibulanus Q. Poetelius ⁸ T. Antonius Merenda K. Duillius ⁹ Sp. Oppius Cornicen M'. Rabuleius.

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).) — 3.35 focus

[1]

postquam vero comitia decemviris creandis in trinum nundinum indicta sunt,

[3] demissa³ iam in discrimen dignitas ea aetate iisque honoribus actis stimulabat Ap. Claudium. nescires utrum inter decemviros an inter candidatos numerares.

[4] propior interdum petendo quam gerendo magistratui erat. criminari optimates, extollere candidatorum levissimum quemque humillimumque, ipse medius inter tribunicios,

[7] propalam obviam ire cupiditati parum ausi obsecundando mollire impetum adgrediuntur. comitiorum illi habendorum, quando minimus natu sit, munus consensu iniungunt.

[8] ars haec erat, ne semet ipse creare posset, quod praeter tribunos plebi—et id ipsum pessimo exemplo—nemo unquam fecisset. ille enimvero, quod bene vertat, ⁶ habiturum se comitia professus,

[10] se in primis, quod haud secus factum improbabant boni quam nemo facere ausurum crediderat.

[11] creati cum eo M. Cornelius Maluginensis M. Sergius L. Minucius Q. Fabius Vibulanus Q. Poetelius ⁸ T. Antonius Merenda K. Duillius ⁹ Sp. Oppius Cornicen M'. Rabuleius.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 3.35 focus

[1]

But when the assembly for electing decemvirs was proclaimed for the third market-day, so strong

[2] a flame of ambition blazed forth, that the first men of the state began to canvass individuals, (through fear, I suppose, lest the posses- sion of such high authority might become accessible to persons not sufficiently worthy, if the post were left unoccupied by themselves,) suppliantly soliciting for an honour, which had been opposed by them with all their might, from that commons with whom they had so often contended.

[3] Their dignity now lowered to the risk of a contest, at such an age, and after passing through such honours, stimulated the exertions of Appius Claudius.

[4] You would not know whether to reckon him among the decemvirs or the candidates; he resembled more closely one canvassing for the office than one invested with it; he aspersed the nobility, extolled every most insignificant and humble candidate;

[5] surrounded by the Duilii and Icilii who had been tribunes, he bustled about the forum, through their means he recommended himself to the commons; until his colleagues even, who till then had been extremely devoted to him, turned their eyes on him, wondering what he meant.

[6] It was evident to them, that there was no sincerity in it;

that certainly such affability amid such pride would not be for nothing. That this excessive lowering of himself, and putting himself on a level with private citizens, was not so much the conduct to be expected from one hastening to go out of office, as of one seeking the means of continuing that office.

[7] Not daring openly to oppose his wishes, they set about baffling his ardour by humouring it. They by common consent confer on him, as being the youngest, the office of presiding at the elections.

[8] This was an artifice, that he might not appoint himself; which no one ever did, except the tribunes of the people, and that too with the very worst precedent.

[9] He, however, declaring that with the favour of fortune he would preside at the elections, seized on the (intended) obstacle ¹ as a happy occasion: and having by a coalition foiled the two Quintii, Capitolinus and Cincinnatus, and his own uncle, Caius Claudius, a man most stedfast in the interest of the nobility, and

[10] other citizens of the same eminence, he appoints as decemvirs men by no means equal in rank of life: himself in the first instance, which proceeding honourable men

[11] disapproved so much the more, as no one had imagined that he would have the daring to act so. With him were elected Marcus Cornelius Maluginensis, Marcus Sergius, Lucius Minutius, Quintus Fabius Vibulanus, Quintus Pœtelius, Titus Antonius Merenda, Caeso Duilius, Spurius Oppius Cornicen, Manius Rabuleius. ²

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.) — 3.35 focus

[1] But after notice had been given that the election of decemvirs would be held on

[2] the third market day,¹ such eagerness to be amongst those elected displayed itself, that even the foremost men of the State began an individual canvass as humble suitors for an office which they had previously with all their might opposed, seeking it at the hands of that very plebs with which they had hitherto

[3] been in conflict. I think they feared that if they did not fill posts of such great authority, they would be open to men who were not worthy of them. Appius Claudius was keenly alive to the chance that he might not be reelected, in spite of his age and the honours

[4] he had enjoyed. You could hardly tell whether to consider him as a decemvir

[5] or a candidate. Sometimes he was more like one who sought office than one who actually held it; he abused the nobility, and extolled all the candidates who had neither birth nor personal weight to recommend them; he used to bustle about the Forum surrounded by ex-tribunes of the Duellius and Scilius stamp and through them made overtures to the plebeians, until even his colleagues, who till then had been wholly devoted to him, began to watch him, wondering

[6] what he meant. They were convinced that there was no sincerity about it, it was certain that so haughty a man would not exhibit such affability for nothing. They regarded this demeaning of himself and hobnobbing with private individuals as the action of a man who was not so keen to resign office as to discover some way

[7] of prolonging it. Not venturing to thwart his aims openly, they tried to moderate his violence by humouring him. As he was the youngest member of their body, they unanimously conferred on him the office of presiding

[8] over the elections. By this artifice they hoped to prevent him from getting himself elected; a thing which no one except the tribunes of the plebs had ever done, setting thereby the worst of precedents.

[9] However, he gave out that, if all went well, he should hold the elections, and he seized upon what should have been an impediment as a good opportunity for effecting his purpose. By forming a coalition he secured the rejection of the two Quinctii — Capitolinus and Cincinnatus —his own uncle, C. Claudius, one of the firmest supporters of the nobility, and other citizens of

[10] the same rank. He procured the election of men who were very far from being their equals either socially or politically, himself amongst the first, a step which respectable men disapproved of; all the more because no one had supposed that he would have the audacity

[11] to take it. With him were elected M. Cornelius Maluginensis, M. Sergius, L. Minucius, Q. Fabius Vibulanus, Q. Poetilius, T. Antonius Merenda, K. Duillius, Sp. Oppius Cornicen, and Manlius Rabuleius.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. A nundinum contained 8 days. The name (novem = nine) came from the Roman way of counting the Sunday, as it were, with the old week, as well as the new.

2. B.C. 451

3. B.C. 451

4. Coitio is an understanding between two candidates whereby the stronger transfers a part of his support to the weaker, in order to defeat a third candidate.

5. Dion. Hal. XI. xxiii. says that Poetelius, Duillius, and Oppius were plebeians, as were probably Antonius and Rabuleius as well. But Livy tells us (IV. iii. 17) that they were all patricians.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 3.35

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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