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), 30.24

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[1]

About that time Gnaeus Servilius, the ¹ consul, who had no doubt that to him belonged the glory of giving peace to Italy, as if in pursuit of a Hannibal whom he had driven out himself, crossed over to Sicily, intending to cross from there to Africa.

[2] When this was noised abroad at Rome, at first the senators had voted that the praetor ² should write to the consul that the senate thought it proper for him to return to Italy.

[3] Then, as the praetor said that Servilius would disregard his letter, Publius Sulpicius ³ was made dictator for that very purpose; and by virtue of his higher authority he recalled the consul to Italy.

[4] The rest of the year he spent with his master of the horse, Marcus Servilius, ⁴ in making the rounds of such cities in Italy as had been estranged by the war and in hearing their cases one after another.

[5] During the armistice a hundred transports sent from Sardinia by the praetor Publius Lentulus ⁵ with supplies and convoyed by twenty war-ships crossed to Africa over a sea safe from the enemy and safe from storms.

[6] Gnaeus Octavius, crossing over from Sicily with two hundred transports and thirty war-ships, was not so fortunate. When he had almost come in sight of Africa after a favourable passage, the wind at first failed him;

[7] then shifting into a southwester, it damaged and scattered the ships far and wide.

[8] He himself with the war-ships battled against head seas by great efforts on the part of the oarsmen and reached the Promontory of Apollo. ⁶ Most of the transports were carried to the island of Aegimurus ⁷ —which

[9] on the seaward side closes the ⁸ bay upon which lies Carthage, about thirty miles from the city —the rest of them to Aquae Calidae, ⁹ opposite the city itself. Everything could be seen from Carthage; and so from all parts of the city people ran to the market-place.

[10] The magistrates summoned the senate; the people before the entrance of the Senate House protested against letting go so much booty out of their sight and reach.

[11] While some objected, pleading the sanctity of peace negotiations, others that of the armistice —for its term had not yet expired —the meeting of the senate was all but merged with that of the people. It was agreed that Hasdrubal should sail over to Aegimurus with his fleet of fifty ships, and then gather up the Roman ships scattered along the shore and in the harbours.

[12] Deserted by the flight of their crews the transports were towed by the stern to Carthage, first from Aegimurus and then from Aquae.

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.) — 30.24 focus

[1] per eos dies Cn. Servilius consul, haud dubius, quin pacatae Italiae penes se gloria esset, velut pulsum ab se Hannibalem persequens in Siciliam, inde in Africam transiturus, traiecit.

[2] quod ubi Romae vulgatum est, primo censuerant patres, ut praetor scriberet consuli senatum aequum censere in Italiam reverti eum;

[3] dein cum praetor spreturum eum litteras suas diceret, dictator ad id ipsum creatus P. Sulpicius pro iure maioris imperii consulem in Italiam revocavit.

[4] reliquum anni cum M. Servilio magistro equitum circumeundis Italiae urbibus, quae bello alienatae fuerant, noscendisque singularum causis consumpsit.

[5] per indutiarum tempus et ex Sardinia a P. Lentulo praetore centum onerariae naves cum commeatu viginti rostratarum praesidio et ab hoste et ab tempestatibus mari tuto in Africam transmiserunt.

[6] Cn. Octavio ducentis onerariis, triginta longis navibus ex Sicilia traicienti non eadem fortuna fuit.

[7] in conspectum ferme Africae prospero cursu evectum primo destituit ventus, dein versus in Africum turbavit ac passim naves disiecit.

[8] ipse cum rostratis per adversos fluctus ingenti remigum labore enisus Apollinis promunturium tenuit;

[9] onerariae pars maxima ad Aegimurum — insula ea sinum ab alto claudit, in quo sita Carthago est, triginta ferme milia ab urbe — , aliae adversus urbem ipsam ad Calidas Aquas delatae sunt.

[10] omnia in conspectu Carthaginis erant. itaque ex tota urbe in forum concursum est; magistratus senatum vocare; populus in curiae vestibulo fremere, ne tanta ex oculis manibusque amitteretur praeda.

[11] cum quidam pacis petitae, alii indutiarum — necdum enim dies exierat — fidem opponerent, permixto paene senatus populique concilio consensum est, ut classem quinquaginta navium Hasdrubal Aegimurum traiceret, inde per litora portusque dispersas Romanas naves colligeret.

[12] desertae fuga nautarum primum ab Aegimuro, deinde ab Aquis onerariae Carthaginem puppibus tractae sunt.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 30.24 focus

[1]

per eos dies Cn. Seruilius consul, haud dubius quin pacatae Italiae penes se gloria esset, uelut pulsum ab se Hannibalem persequens, in Siciliam, inde in Africam transiturus, traiecit.

[2] quod ubi Romae uolgatum est, primo censuerant patres ut praetor scriberet consuli senatum aequum censere in Italiam reuerti eum;

[3] dein, cum praetor spreturum eum litteras suas diceret, dictator ad id ipsum creatus P. Sulpicius pro iure maioris imperii consulem in Italiam reuocauit.

[4] reliquum anni cum M. Seruilio magistro equitum circumeundis in Italia urbibus quae bello alienatae fuerant noscendisque singularum causis consumpsit.

[5] per indutiarum tempus ex Sardinia a P. Lentulo praetore centum onerariae naues cum commeatu uiginti rostratarum praesidio, et ab hoste et ab tempestatibus mari tuto, in Africam transmiserunt.

[6] Cn. Octauio ducentis onerariis triginta longis nauibus ex Sicilia traicienti non eadem fortuna fuit.

[7] in conspectum ferme Africae prospero cursu uectum primo destituit uentus, deinde uersus in Africum turbauit ac passim naues disiecit.

[8] ipse cum rostratis per aduersos fluctus ingenti remigum labore enisus Apollinis promunturium tenuit:

[9] onerariae pars maxima ad Aegimurum insulam—ea sinum ab alto claudit in quo sita Carthago est, triginta ferme milia ab urbe—, aliae aduersus urbem ipsam ad Calidas Aquas delatae sunt. omnia in conspectu Carthaginis erant.

[10] itaque ex tota urbe in forum concursum est; magistratus senatum uocare: populus in curiae uestibulo fremere ne tanta ex oculis manibusque amitteretur praeda.

[11] cum quidam pacis petitae, alii indutiarum—necdum enim dies exierat—fidem opponerent, permixto paene senatus populique concilio consensum est ut classem quinquaginta nauium Hasdrubal Aegimurum traiceret, inde per litora portusque dispersas Romanas naues conligeret.

[12] desertae fuga nautarum primum ab Aegimuro, deinde ab Aquis onerariae Carthaginem puppibus tractae sunt.

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).) — 30.24 focus

[1]

per eos dies Cn. Servilius consul, haud ¹ dubius quin pacatae Italiae penes se gloria esset, velut pulsum ab se Hannibalem persequens, in Siciliam, inde in ² Africam transiturus, traiecit.

[2] quod ubi Romae volgatum est, primo censuerant patres ut praetor scriberet consuli senatum aequum censere in Italiam reverti eum;

[3] dein, cum praetor spreturum eum litteras suas diceret, dictator ad id ipsum creatus P. Sulpicius pro iure maioris imperii consulem in Italiam revocavit.

[4] reliquum anni cum M. Servilio magistro equitum circumeundis Italiae ³ urbibus quae bello alienatae fuerant noscendisque singularum causis consumpsit.

[5] per indutiarum tempus ex ⁴ Sardinia a P. Lentulo praetore centum onerariae naves cum commeatu viginti rostratarum praesidio, et ab hoste et ab tempestatibus mari tuto, in Africam transmiserunt.

[6] Cn . Octavio ducentis onerariis, triginta ⁵ longis navibus ex Sicilia traicienti non eadem fortuna fuit.

[7] In conspectum ferme Africae prospero cursu evectum ⁶ primo destituit ventus, dein versus in Africum turbavit ac passim naves disiecit.

[8] ipse cum rostratis per adversos fluctus ingenti remigum labore enisus Apollinis promunturium tenuit;

[9] onerariae pars maxima ad Aegimurum—insula ea ⁷ sinum ab alto ⁸ claudit in quo sita Carthago est, triginta ferme milia ab urbe—, aliae adversus urbem ipsam ad Calidas Aquas delatae sunt.

[10] omnia in conspectu Carthaginis erant. itaque ex tota urbe in forum concursum est; magistratus senatum vocare; populus in curiae vestibulo fremere ne tanta ex oculis manibusque amitteretur praeda.

[11] cum quidam pacis petitae, alii indutiarum—necdum enim dies exierat—fidem opponerent, permixto ⁹ paene senatus populique concilio consensum est ut classem ¹⁰ quinquaginta navium Hasdrubal Aegimurum traiceret, inde per litora portusque dispersas Romanas naves colligeret.

[12] desertae fuga nautarum primum ab Aegimuro, deinde ab Aquis onerariae Carthaginem puppibus tractae sunt.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 30.24 focus

[1]

About the same time Cneius Servilius, the consul, not doubting but that he should enjoy the glory of having restored Italy to a state of peace, pursued Hannibal, whom he consi- dered had fled before him, and crossed over into Sicily, with the intention of proceeding thence into Africa.

[2] As soon as this became known at Rome, at first the fathers gave it as their opinion, that the praetor should inform the consul by letter that the senate thought it proper that he should return into Italy;

[3] but afterwards, the praetor declaring that he would not heed his letter, Publius Sulpicius, who was created dictator for this very purpose, recalled the consul to Italy, in virtue of his superior authority.

[4] The remainder of the year he employed in conjunction with Marcus Servilius, his master of the horse, in going round to the cities of Italy, which had been alienated from the Romans during the war, and in taking cognizance of the cases of each.

[5] During the time of the truce, Lentulus the praetor sent over into Africa, from Sardinia, a hundred transports with stores, under a convoy of twenty ships of war, without meeting with any injury either from the enemy or storms.

[6] The same good fortune did not attend Cneius Octavius, while crossing over from Sicily with two hundred transports and thirty men of war.

[7] Having experienced a prosperous voyage until he arrived almost within sight of Africa, at first the wind dropped, but afterwards changing to the south-west, it dispersed his ships in every direction. He himself with the ships of war, having struggled through the opposing billows by the extraordinary exertions of his rowers, made the promontory of Apollo.

[8] The greater part of the transports were driven to Aegimurus, an island filling the mouth of the bay on which Carthage stands, and about thirty miles from the city;

[9] the rest were driven on shore directly opposite the city, near the warm baths. The whole occurrence was within sight of Carthage, and, accordingly, the people ran in crowds to the forum, from every part of the city.

[10] The magistrates summoned the senate, and the people were yelling in the vestibule of the senate-house, lest so great a booty should escape from their hands and their sight.

[11] Though some urged as an objection the obligation imposed upon them by having solicited peace, and others the restraint occasioned by the existence of a truce, the period of which had not yet expired, it was agreed in an assembly, made up almost of a mixture of the senate and people, that Hasdrubal should cross over to Aegimurus with fifty ships, and, proceeding thence, pick up the Roman ships scattered along the coasts and in the different ports.

[12] First the transports from Aegimurus, and then those from the baths, abandoned by the crews, were towed to Carthage.

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.) — 30.24 focus

[1]

The consul Cnaeus Servilius, fully persuaded that the credit of restoring peace in Italy was due to him, and that it was he who had driven Hannibal out of the country, followed the Carthaginian commander to Sicily, intending to sail from there to Africa.

[2] When this became known in Rome the senate decided that the praetor should write to him and inform him that the senate thought it right that he should remain in Italy.

[3] The praetor said that Servilius would pay no attention to a letter from him, and on this it was resolved to appoint P. Sulpicius Dictator, and he by virtue of his superior authority recalled the consul to Italy.

[4] The Dictator spent the remainder of the year in visiting, accompanied by M. Servilius, his Master of the Horse, the different cities of Italy which had fallen away from Rome during the war, and holding an enquiry in each case.

[5] During the armistice a hundred transports carrying supplies and escorted by twenty warships were despatched from Sardinia by Lentulus the praetor and reached Africa without any damage either from the enemy or from storms. Cnaeus Octavius sailed from Sicily with two hundred transports and thirty warships, but was not equally fortunate.

[6] He had a favourable voyage until he was almost within sight of Africa, when he was becalmed; then a south-westerly wind sprang up which scattered his ships in all directions.

[7] Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the rowers against the adverse waves, Octavius succeeded in making the Promontory of Apollo.

[8] The greater part of the transports were driven to Aegimurus, an island which forms a breakwater to the bay on which Carthage is situated and about thirty miles distant from the city.

[9] Other were carried up to the city itself as far as the Aquae Calidae ("hot-springs"). All this was visible from Carthage, and a crowd gathered from all parts of the city in the forum.

[10] The magistrates convened the senate; the people who were in the vestibule of the senate-house protested against so much booty being allowed to slip out of their hands and out of their sight. Some objected that this would be a breach of faith whilst peace negotiations were going on, others were for respecting the truce which had not yet expired.

[11] The popular assembly was so mixed up with the senate that they almost formed one body, and they unanimously decided that Hasdrubal should proceed to Aegimurum with fifty ships of war and pick up the Roman ships which were scattered along the coast or in the harbours.

[12] Those transports which had been abandoned by their crews at Aegimurum were towed to Carthage, and subsequently others were brought in from Aquae Calidae.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 203

2. The city praetor Aelius Paetus (i. 9), presiding in the senate. But he lacked authority to give orders to a consul. Hence the resort to a dictator, whose maius imperium must be respected by the consul.

3. Consul in 211 and 200 B.C.

4. Brother of the consul Gaius Servilius Geminus and himself consul in the following year; xxvi. 1; xxvii. 1.

5. Cf. i. 9; ii. 4; xxxvi. 2 f.

6. See p. 315, n. 2.

7. Zembra (Djamur); cf. p. 315, n. 5.

8. B.C. 203

9. Across the bay from Carthage and to the south-east (near Carpis), now Hammam Kourbes. The hot springs are mentioned by Strabo XVII. iii. 16, and the Tabula Peutingeriana. They are still frequented by the people of Tunis.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 30.24

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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