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), 30.34

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[1]

On both sides the Punic battle-line had been stripped of its cavalry when the infantry clashed, now no longer matched either in their hopes or in their strength. In addition there were what seem small things to mention, but at the same time were highly important in the battle: a harmony in the shouting of the Romans, which consequently was greater in volume and more terrifying;

[2] on the other side discordant voices, as was natural from many nations with a confusion of tongues; for the Romans a battle of little movement, as they pressed on into the enemy by their own weight and that of their arms; on ¹ the other side repeated charges at high speed but with less power.

[3] Consequently by the first attack the Romans at once dislodged the enemy's line.

[4] Then beating them back with their shoulders and the bosses of their shields, ² being now in close contact with men forced from their position, they made considerable progress, as no one offered any resistance, while as soon as they saw that the enemy's line had given way, even the rear line pressed upon the first, a circumstance which of itself gave them great force in repulsing the enemy.

[5] Among the enemy so far was their second line, the Africans and Carthaginians, from supporting the auxiliaries as they gave way, that on the contrary they even drew back for fear the enemy, by slaying the men of the first line if these stoutly resisted, should reach themselves.

[6] Accordingly the auxiliaries suddenly retreated and facing their own men, some found refuge in the second line, others, having been refused aid shortly before, and also admission now to the ranks, slashed at those who would not make place for them.

[7] And by this time there were almost two battles in one, since the Carthaginians were forced to engage with the enemy and at the same time with their own men.

[8] Nevertheless even so they did not admit the panic-stricken, angry men into the line, but closing up their ranks, they forced them out upon the wings and into the empty plain on this side and that outside of the battle, in order not to contaminate their own line, still intact and fresh, with soldiers alarmed by the flight and their wounds.

But such heaps of bodies and arms had covered the ³ place where the auxiliaries had stood shortly before that to make their way across was almost more difficult than it had been through the dense mass of the enemy.

[10] Accordingly the men of the front line, the hastati, pursuing the enemy wherever they could over heaps of bodies and arms and through pools of blood, broke up both their own maniples and their ranks.

[11] The maniples of the principes also began to waver, as they saw the unsteady line in front of them. When Scipio saw this he ordered the recall to be sounded at once for the hastati, and after withdrawing the wounded to the rear line, he led the principes and triarii to the wings, in order that the centre, composed of hastati, might be safer and steadier.

[12] Thus began an entirely new battle. ⁴ For they had reached the real enemy, ⁵ their equals in the character of their weapons and their experience in war and the celebrity of their deeds and the greatness whether of their hopes or of

[13] their danger. But the Roman was superior both in numbers and in spirit, because he had already routed the cavalry, had already routed the elephants, and was already fighting against the second line, having repulsed the first.

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.) — 30.34 focus

[1] utrimque nudata equite erat Punica acies, cum pedes concurrit, nec spe nec viribus iam par. ad hoc dictu parva, sed magna eadem in re gerenda momenta: congruens clamor ab Romanis eoque maior et terribilior, dissonae illis, ut gentium multarum discrepantibus linguis, voces;

[2] pugna Romana stabilis et suo et armorum pondere incumbentium in hostem, concursatio et velocitas illinc maior quam vis.

[3] igitur primo impetu extemplo movere loco hostium aciem Romani. ala deinde et umbonibus pulsantes, in summotos gradu inlato, aliquantum spatii velut nullo resistente incessere,

[4] urgentibus et novissimis primos, ut semel motam aciem sensere, quod ipsum vim magnam ad pellendum hostem addebat.

[5] apud hostes auxiliares cedentes secunda acies, Afri et Carthaginienses, adeo non sustinebant, ut contra etiam, ne resistentes pertinaciter primos caedendo ad se perveniret hostis, pedem referrent.

[6] igitur auxiliares terga dant repente, et in suos versi partim refugere in secundam aciem, partim non recipientes caedere, ut et paulo ante non adiuti et tune tunc exclusi.

[7] et prope duo iam permixta proelia erant, cum Carthaginienses simul cum hostibus, simul cum suis cogerentur manus conserere. non tamen ita perculsos iratosque in aciem accepere,

[8] sed densatis ordinibus in cornua vacuumque circa campum extra proelium eiecere, ne pavido fuga et vulneribus milite sinceram et integram aciem miscerent.

[9] ceterum tanta strages hominum armorumque locum, in quo steterant paulo ante auxiliares, compleverat, ut prope difficilior transitus esset, quam per confertos hostes fuerat.

[10] itaque, qui primi erant, hastati per cumulos corporum armorumque et tabem sanguinis, qua quisque poterat, sequentes hostem et signa et ordines confuderunt. principum quoque signa fluctuari coeperant vagam ante se cernendo aciem.

[11] quod Scipio abi vidit, receptui propere canere hastatis iussit et sauciis in postremam aciem subductis principes triariosque in cornua inducit, quo tutior firmiorque media hastatorum acies esset.

[12] ita novum de integro proelium ortum est; quippe ad veros hostes perventum erat, et armorum genere et usu militiae et fama rerum gestarum et magnitudine vel spei vel periculi pares.

[13] sed et numero superior Romanus erat et animo, quod iam equites, iam elephantos fuderat, iam prima acie pulsa in secundam pugnabat.

Ab urbe condita Perseus (Conway, Robert Seymour; Walters, Charles Flamstead; Johnson, Stephen Keymer, editors. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1914-1935. (Oxford Classical Texts)) — 30.34 focus

[1]

utrimque nudata equite erat Punica acies cum pedes concurrit, nec spe nec uiribus iam par. ad hoc dictu parua sed magna eadem in re gerenda momenta: congruens clamor ab Romanis eoque maior et terribilior, dissonae illis, ut gentium multarum discrepantibus linguis, uoces;

[2] pugna Romana stabilis et suo et armorum pondere incumbentium in hostem, concursatio et uelocitas illinc maior quam uis.

[3] igitur primo impetu extemplo mouere loco hostium aciem Romani. ala deinde et umbonibus pulsantes in summotos gradu inlato aliquantum spatii uelut nullo resistente incessere,

[4] urgentibus et nouissimis primos ut semel motam aciem sensere, quod ipsum uim magnam ad pellendum hostem addebat.

[5] apud hostes auxiliares cedentes secunda acies, Afri et Carthaginienses, adeo non sustinebant ut contra etiam, ne resistentes pertinaciter primos caedendo ad se perueniret hostis, pedem referrent.

[6] igitur auxiliares terga dant repente et in suos uersi partim refugere in secundam aciem, partim non recipientes caedere, ut et paulo ante non adiuti et tunc exclusi;

[7] et prope duo iam permixta proelia erant, cum Carthaginienses simul cum hostibus simul cum suis cogerentur manus conserere.

[8] non tamen ita perculsos iratosque in aciem accepere sed densatis ordinibus in cornua uacuumque circa campum extra proelium eiecere, ne pauido fuga uolneribusque milite sinceram et integram aciem miscerent.

[9] ceterum tanta strages hominum armorumque locum in quo steterant paulo ante auxiliares compleuerat ut prope difficilior transitus esset quam per confertos hostes fuerat.

[10] itaque qui primi erant, hastati, per cumulos corporum armorumque et tabem sanguinis qua quisque poterat sequentes hostem et signa et ordines confuderunt. principum quoque signa fluctuari coeperant uagam ante se cernendo aciem.

[11] quod Scipio ubi uidit receptui propere canere hastatis iussit et sauciis in postremam aciem subductis principes triariosque in cornua inducit quo tutior firmiorque media hastatorum acies esset.

[12] ita nouum de integro proelium ortum est; quippe ad ueros hostes peruentum erat, et armorum genere et usu militiae et fama rerum gestarum et magnitudine uel spei uel periculi pares;

[13] sed et numero superior Romanus erat et animo quod iam equites, iam elephantos fuderat, iam prima acie pulsa in secundam pugnabat.

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).) — 30.34 focus

[1]

utrimque nudata equite erat Punica acies cum pedes concurrit, nec spe nec viribus iam par. ad hoc dictu parva sed magna eadem in re gerenda momenta: ¹ congruens clamor ab Romanis eoque maior et terribilior, dissonae illis, ut gentium multarum discrepantibus linguis, voces;

[2] pugna Romana stabilis et suo et armorum pondere incumbentium in hostem, concursatio et velocitas illinc ² maior quam vis.

[3] igitur primo impetu extemplo movere loco hostium aciem Romani. ala deinde et umbonibus ³ pulsantes, in summotos gradu inlato, aliquantum spatii velut nullo resistente incessere,

[4] urgentibus et novissimis primos ut semel motam aciem sensere, quod ipsum vim magnam ad pellendum hostem addebat.

[5] apud hostes auxiliares cedentes secunda acies, Afri et Carthaginienses, adeo non sustinebant ut contra etiam, ne resistentes pertinaciter primos ⁴ caedendo ad se perveniret hostis, pedem referrent.

[6] igitur auxiliares terga dant repente, et in suos versi partim refugere in secundam aciem, partim non recipientes caedere, ut et paulo ante non adiuti et tunc tune exclusi.

[7] et prope duo iam permixta proelia erant, cum Carthaginienses simul cum hostibus, simul cum suis cogerentur manus conserere.

[8] non tamen ita perculsos iratosque in aciem accepere, sed densatis ordinibus in cornua vacuumque circa campum extra proelium eiecere, ⁵ ne pavido ⁶ fuga volneribusque ⁷ milite sinceram et integram aciem miscerent.

[9] ceterum tanta strages ⁸ hominum armorumque ⁹ locum in quo steterant paulo ante auxiliares compleverat ut prope difficilior transitus esset quam per confertos ¹⁰ hostes fuerat.

[10] itaque qui primi erant, hastati, per cumulos corporum armorumque et tabem ¹¹ sanguinis, qua quisque poterat, sequentes hostem et signa et ordines confuderunt. principum quoque signa fluctuari coeperant vagam ante se cernendo aciem.

[11] quod Scipio ubi vidit, receptui propere canere hastatis iussit et sauciis in postremam aciem subductis principes triariosque in cornua inducit, quo tutior firmiorque media hastatorum acies esset.

[12] ita novum de integro proelium ortum est; quippe ad veros hostes perventum erat, et armorum genere et usu militiae et fama rerum gestarum et magnitudine vel spei vel periculi pares.

[13] Sed et numero superior Romanus erat et animo, quod iam equites, iam elephantos fuderat, iam prima acie pulsa in secundam pugnabat.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 30.34 focus

[1]

The Carthaginian line was deprived of the cavalry on both sides, when the infantry, who were now not a match for the Romans in confidence or strength, engaged. In addition to this there was one circumstance, trifling in itself, but at the same time producing important consequences in the action. On the part of the Romans the shout was uniform, and on that account louder and more terrific; while the voices of the enemy, consisting as they did of many nations of different languages, were dissonant.

[2] The Romans used the stationary kind of fight, pressing upon the enemy with their own weight and that of their arms; but on the other side there was more of skirmishing and rapid movement than force.

[3] Accordingly, on the first charge, the Romans immediately drove back the line of their opponents;

[4] then pushing them with their elbows and the bosses of their shields, and pressing forward into the places from which they had pushed them, they advanced a considerable space, as though there had been no one to resist them, those who formed the rear urging forward those in front when they perceived the line of the enemy giving way; which circumstance itself gave great additional force in repelling them.

[5] On the side of the enemy, the second line, consisting of the Africans and Carthaginians, were so far from supporting the first line when giving ground, that, on the contrary, they even retired, lest their enemy, by slaying those who made a firm resistance, should penetrate to themselves also.

[6] Accordingly, the auxiliaries suddenly turned their backs, and facing about upon their own party, fled, some of them into the second line, while others slew

[7] those who did not receive them into their ranks, since before they did not support them, and now refused to receive them.

[8] And now there were, in a manner, two contests going on together, the Carthaginians being compelled to fight at once with the enemy and with their own party. Not even then, however, did they receive into their line the terrified and exasperated troops;

[9] but, closing their ranks, drove them out of the scene of action to the wings and the surrounding plain, lest they should mingle these soldiers, terrified with defeat and wounds, with that part of their line which was firm and fresh. But such a heap of men and arms had filled the space in which the auxiliaries a little while ago had stood, that it was almost more difficult to pass through it than through a close line of troops.

[10] The spearmen, therefore, who formed the front line, pursuing the enemy as each could find a way through the heap of arms and men, and streams of blood, threw into complete disorder the battalions and companies.

[11] The standards also of the principes had begun to waver when they saw the line before them driven from their ground. Scipio, perceiving this, promptly ordered the signal to be given for the spearmen to retreat, and, having taken his wounded into the rear, brought the principes and triarii to the wings, in order that the line of spearmen in the centre might be more strong and secure.

[12] Thus a fresh and renewed battle commenced, inasmuch as they had penetrated to their real antagonists, men equal to them in the nature of their arms, in their experience in war, in the fame of their achievements, and the greatness of their hopes and fears.

[13] But the Romans were superior both in numbers and courage, for they had now routed both the cavalry and the elephants, and having already defeated the front line, were fighting against the second.

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.) — 30.34 focus

[1]

When the infantry lines closed, the Carthaginians were exposed on both flanks, owing to the flight of the cavalry, and were losing both confidence and strength. Other circumstances, too, seemingly trivial in themselves but of considerable importance in battle, gave the Romans an advantage. Their cheers formed one united shout and were therefore fuller and more intimidating; those of the enemy, uttered in many languages, were only dissonant cries.

[2] The Romans kept their foothold as they fought and pressed the enemy by the sheer weight of their arms and bodies; on the other side there was much more agility and nimbleness of foot than actual fighting strength.

[3] As a consequence, the Romans made the enemy give ground in their very first charge, then pushing them back with their shields and elbows and moving forward on to the ground from which they had dislodged them, they made a considerable advance as though meeting with no resistance.

[4] When those in the rear became aware of the forward movement they too pressed on those in front thereby considerably increasing the weight of the thrust.

[5] This retirement on the part of the enemy's auxiliaries was not checked by the Africans and Carthaginians who formed the second line. In fact, so far were they from supporting them that they too fell back, fearing lest the enemy, after overcoming the obstinate resistance of the first line.

[6] should reach them. On this the auxiliaries suddenly broke and turned tail; some took refuge within the second line, others, not allowed to do so, began to cut down those who refused to admit them after refusing to support them.

[7] There were now two battles going on, the Carthaginians had to fight with the enemy, and at the same time with their own troops.

[8] Still, they would not admit these maddened fugitives within their ranks, they closed up and drove them to the wings and out beyond the fighting ground, fearing lest their fresh and unweakened lines should be demoralised by the intrusion of panic-struck and wounded men.

[9] The ground where the auxiliaries had been stationed had become blocked with such heaps of bodies and arms that it was almost more difficult to cross it than it had been to make way through the masses of the enemy.

[10] The hastati who formed the first line followed up the enemy, each man advancing as best he could over the heaps of bodies and arms and the slippery bloodstained ground until the standards and maniples were all in confusion. Even the standards of the principes began to sway to and fro when they saw how irregular the line in front had become.

[11] As soon as Scipio observed this he ordered the call to be sounded for the hastati to retire, and after withdrawing the wounded to the rear he brought up the principes and triarii to the wings, in order that the hastati in the centre might be supported and protected on both flanks.

[12] Thus the battle began entirely afresh, as the Romans had at last got to their real enemies, who were a match for them in their arms, their experience and their military reputation, and who had as much to hope for and to fear as themselves.

[13] The Romans, however, had the superiority in numbers and in confidence, since their cavalry had already routed the elephants and they were fighting with the enemy's second line after defeating his first.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 202

2. Livy here departs from Polybius' statements (xiii. 1), which probably had already suffered a text corruption still remaining in our MSS. and some editions. If the enemy were at once dislodged there would seem to be no need of pushing, instead of continuing to use their weapons. Cf. Meyer l.c. 408 f.; De Sanctis 607.

3. B.C. 202

4. After a pause, while Hannibal also was reforming his lines, in what manner we are not told. For Scipio's reorganization of his front —a notable feat —see Polybius xiv. 3 ff.

5. I.e. the Carthaginians in the second line, together with the Libyan and Macedonian mercenaries; xxxiii. 5. In Polybius xiv. 6 the new battle begins when Hannibal's third line (Italians so far held in reserve) is at last engaged. Of these troops as veterans Polybius had a much higher opinion than Livy and Frontinus l.c.; cf. xxxiii. 6 and xxxv. 9 fin.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 30.34

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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