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), 31.2

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[1] At about the same time, ambassadors both from King Attalus of Pergamum and from the Rhodians arrived in Rome and brought word that the cities of Asia also were being stirred up to discontent.

[2] To these embassies the senate replied that they would look into the matter, and the whole question of the Macedonian war was referred to the consuls¹ who were then in the provinces.

[3] Meanwhile three ambassadors, Gaius Claudius Nero, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Publius Sempronius Tuditanus, were sent to King Ptolemy² of Egypt, to announce the defeat of Hannibal and the Carthaginians, to thank the king because, in a

[4] critical time, when even allies nearer home had revolted, he had remained loyal, and to ask that if the Romans, compelled by their wrongs, should declare war on Philip, he should preserve his ancient attitude toward the Roman people.

[5] At about the same time the consul, Publius Aelius, who was in Gaul, having learned that before his arrival the Boi had been raiding the fields of the allies,³ enrolled an emergency force of two legions, to deal with this uprising, and

[6] adding to them four cohorts from his own army, he ordered Gaius Ampius, the commander of the allied forces, to take this⁴ improvised force and with it to invade the territory of the Boi, marching by way of Umbria, through the district known as the tribus Sapinia.⁵ Aelius himself led his forces thither by the open road over the mountains.

[7] Ampius, after entering the enemy's country, at first conducted raids with considerable success and without losses; then, choosing, near the fortified town of Mutilum, a camp-site suitable for reaping the crops — for the grain was now ripe — he

[8] set out without reconnoitring the neighbourhood or establishing sufficiently strong posts of armed men to protect the unarmed parties who were intent upon the work, and, when the Gauls made an unexpected attack, he and his foragers were surrounded. Thereupon terror and panic laid hold even of those who were under arms.

[9] About seven thousand men, scattered through the grain-fields, were killed, among them Gaius Ampius himself, the officer in command; the rest were driven by terror into the camp.

[10] Thence, on the next night, there being no one definitely in command, the soldiers by general consent abandoned most of their possessions, and travelling through well-nigh impassable forests rejoined the consul.

[11] He, having in his province accomplished nothing worth mentioning, except that he had ravaged the fields of the Boi and had made a treaty with the Ingauni Ligures,⁶ returned to Rome.

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.) — 31.2 focus

[1] sub idem fere tempus et ab Attalo rege et Rhodiis legati venerunt nuntiantes Asiae quoque civitates sollicitari.

[2] his legationibus responsum est curae eam rem senatui fore; consultatio de Macedonico bello integra ad consules, qui tunc in provinciis erant, reiecta est.

[3] interim ad Ptolomaeum, Aegypti regem, legati tres missi, C. Claudius Nero, M. Aemilius Lepidus, P. Sempronius Tuditanus, ut nuntiarent victum Hannibalem Poenosque et gratias agerent regi,

[4] quod in rebus dubiis, cum finitimi etiam socii Romanos desererent, in fide mansisset, et peterent, ut, si coacti iniuriis bellum adversus Phililpum Philippum suscepissent, pristinum animum erga populum Romanum conservaret.

[5] eodem fere tempore P. Aelius consul in Gallia, cum audisset a Boiis ante suum adventum incursiones in agros sociorum factas,

[6] duabus legionibus subitariis tumultus eius causa scriptis additisque ad eas quattuor cohortibus de exercitu suo C. Ampium, praefectum socium, hac tumultuaria manu per Umbriam, qua tribum Sapiniam vocant, agrum Boiorum invadere iussit; ipse eodem aperto itinere per montes duxit.

[7] Ampius ingressus hostium fines primo populationes satis prospere ac tuto fecit; delecto deinde ad castrum Mutilum satis idoneo loco ad demetenda frumenta — iam enim maturae erant segetes — profectus neque explorato circa nec stationibus satis firmis,

[8] quae armatae inermis atque operi intentos tutarentur, positis improvise improviso impetu Gallorum cum frumentatoribus est circumventus. inde pavor fugaque etiam armatos cepit.

[9] ad septem milia hominum palata per segetes sunt caesa, inter quos ipse C. Ampius praefectus;

[10] ceteri in castra metu compulsi. inde sine certo duce consensu militari proxima nocte relicta magna parte rerum suarum ad consulem per saltus prope invios pervenere.

[11] qui, nisi quod populatus est Boiorum finis et cum Ingaunis Liguribus foedus icit, nihil quod esset memorabile aliud in provincia cum gessisset, Romam rediit.

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).) — 30.2 focus

[1]

In Siciliam tria milia militum sunt scripta, quia ¹ quod roboris ea provincia habuerat in Africam transvectum fuerat; et quia, ² ne qua classis ex ³ Africa traiceret, quadraginta navibus custodiri placuerat Siciliae maritumam oram,

[2] tredecim novas naves Villius secum in Siciliam duxit, ceterae in Sicilia veteres refectae.

[3] huic classi M. Pomponius, prioris anni praetor, prorogato imperio praepositus novos milites ex Italia advectos in naves imposuit.

[4] parem navium numerum Cn. Octavio, praetori item prioris anni, cum pari iure imperii ad tuendam Sardiniae oram patres decreverunt; Lentulus praetor duo milia militum dare in naves iussus.

[5] et Italiae ora, quia incertum erat quo missuri classem Carthaginienses forent—videbantur autem quidquid nudatum praesidiis esset petituri—M. Marcio, praetori prioris anni, cum totidem navibus tuenda data est.

[6] tria milia militum in eam ⁴ classem ex decreto patrum consules scripserunt et duas legiones urbanas ad incerta belli.

[7] Hispaniae cum exercitibus imperioque veteribus imperatoribus, L. Lentulo et L. Manlio Acidino, decretae. viginti omnino legionibus et centum sexaginta navibus longis res Romana eo anno gesta.

[8] praetores in provincias ire iussi. consulibus imperatum ut, ⁵ priusquam ab urbe proficiscerentur, ludos magnos facerent quos T. Manlius Torquatus ⁶ dictator in quintum annum vovisset, si eodem statu res publica staret.

[9] et novas religiones excitabant in animis hominum prodigia ex pluribus locis nuntiata. aurum in Capitolio corvi non lacerasse tantum rostris crediti sed etiam edisse;

[10] mures Antii coronam auream adrosere; ⁷ circa Capuam omnem agrum locustarum vis ingens, ita ut unde advenissent parum constaret, complevit;

[11] eculeus Reate cum quinque pedibus natus; Anagniae sparsi primum ignes in caelo, dein fax ingens arsit;

[12] frusinone arcus solem tenui linea amplexus est, circulum deinde ipsum maior solis orbis extrinsecus inclusit; Arpini terra campestri agro ⁸ in ingentem sinum consedit;

[13] consulum alteri primam hostiam immolanti caput iocineris defuit. ea prodigia maioribus hostiis procurata; editi a collegio pontificum dei quibus sacrificaretur.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 31.2 focus

[1]

sub idem fere tempus et ab Attalo rege et Rhodiis legati venerunt nuntiantes Asiae quoque civitates sollicitari.

[2] his legationibus responsum est curae eam rem senatui fore; consultatio de Macedonico bello integra ad consules, qui tunc in provinciis erant, reiecta est.

[3] interim ad Ptolomaeum, Aegypti regem, legati tres missi, C. Claudius¹ Nero, M. Aemilius Lepidus , P. Sempronius Tuditanus , ut nuntiarent victum Hannibalem Poenosque et gratias agerent regi, quod in rebus dubiis,

[4] cum finitimi etiam socii Romanos desererent, in fide mansisset, et peterent, ut, si coacti iniuriis bellum adversus Philippum suscepissent, pristinum animum erga populum Romanum conservaret.

[5] eodem fere tempore P. Aelius consul in Gallia, cum audisset a Boiis ante suum adventum incursiones in agros sociorum factas,

[6] duabus legionibus subitariis tumultus eius causa scriptis additisque ad eas quattuor cohortibus de exercitu suo C. Ampium . praefectum socium, hac tumultuaria manu per Umbriam, qua ² tribum Sapiniam vocant, agrum Boiorum invadere iussit; ipse eodem aperto itinere per montes duxit.

[7] Ampius ingressus hostium fines primo populationes satis prospere ac tuto fecit; delecto deinde ad castrum Mutilum satis idoneo loco ad demetenda frumenta—iam enim maturae erant segetes—profectus neque explorato circa nec stationibus satis firmis,

[8] quae armatae inermis atque operi intentos tutarentur, positis improviso impetu Gallorum cum frumentatoribus est circumventus. inde pavor fugaque etiam armatos cepit.

[9] ad septem milia hominum palata per segetes sunt caesa, inter quos ipse C. Ampius praefectus;

[10] ceteri in castra metu compulsi. inde sine certo duce consensu militari proxima nocte relicta magna parte rerum suarum ad consulem per saltus prope invios pervenere.

[11] qui, nisi quod populatus est Boiorum finis et cum Ingaunis Liguribus foedus icit, nihil quod esset memorabile aliud in provincia cum gessisset, Romam rediit.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 31.2 focus

[1]

About the same time, ambassadors arrived both from king Attalus, and from the Rhodians, with information that the Macedonian was tampering with the states of Asia.

[2] To these embassies an answer was given, that the senate would give attention to the affairs of Asia. The determination with regard to the making war on him, was left open to the consuls, who were then in their provinces.

[3] In the mean time, three ambassadors were sent to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, namely, Caius Claudius Nero, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Publius Sempronius Tuditanus, to announce their conquest of Hannibal and the Carthaginians;

[4] to give thanks to the king for his faithful adherence to his engagements in the time of their distress, when even the nearest allies of the Romans abandoned them; and to request that if, compelled by ill treatment, they should undertake a war with Philip, he would preserve his former disposition towards the Roman people.

[5] In Gaul, about this time, the consul, Publius Aelius, having heard that, before his arrival, the Boians had made inroads on the territories of the allies, levied two occasional legions on account of this disturbance;

[6] and adding to them four cohorts from his own army, ordered Caius Oppius, the prefect, to march with this tumultuary band through Umbria, (which is called the Sappinian district,) and to invade the territories of the Boians. He himself led his own troops thither openly, over the intervening mountains. Oppius, on entering the same, for some time committed depredations with tolerable success and safety.

[7] But afterwards, having pitched on a place near a fort called Mutilum, convenient enough for cutting down the corn, (for the crops were now ripe,) and setting out without having reconnoitred around, and without establishing armed posts of sufficient strength to protect those who were unarmed and intent on their work, he was suddenly surrounded, together with his foragers, by an unexpected invasion of the Gauls.

[8] On this, panic and flight seized even on those who were furnished with weapons.

[9] Seven thousand men, dispersed through the corn fields, were put to the sword, among whom was the commander himself, Caius Oppius.

[10] The rest were driven by terror into the camp; from whence, in consequence of a resolution of the soldiers, they set out on the following night, without any particular commander; and, leaving behind a great part of their baggage, made their way, through woods almost impassable, to the consul, who returned

[11] to Rome without having performed any thing in his province worth notice, except that he ravaged the lands of the Boians, and made a treaty with the Ingaunian Ligurians.

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.) — 31.2 focus

[1]

Just about the same time envoys arrived from King Attalus and also from Rhodes with the information that Philip was trying to gain the States of Asia Minor.

[2] The reply made to both deputations was that the situation in Asia was engaging the attention of the senate. The question of war with Macedonia was referred to the consuls, who were at the time in their respective provinces.

[3] In the meanwhile, C. Claudius Nero, M. Aemilius Lepidus and P. Sempronius Tuditanus were sent on a mission to Ptolemy, king of Egypt, to announce the final defeat of Hannibal and the Carthaginians and to thank the king for having remained a staunch friend to Rome at a critical time, when even her nearest allies deserted her.

[4] They were further to request him, in case Philip's aggressions compelled them to declare war against him, that he would maintain his old friendly attitude towards the Romans.

[5] During this period P. Aelius, the consul who was commanding in Gaul, learnt that the Boii, prior to his arrival, had been raiding the territories of friendly tribes.

[6] He hastily raised a force of two legions in view of this disturbance and strengthened it with four cohorts from his own army. This force, thus hurriedly collected, he entrusted to C. Ampius, a prefect of allies, and ordered him to march through the canton of Umbria called Sapinia and invade the country of the Boii.

[7] He himself marched over the mountains by an open road. Ampius crossed the enemy's frontier, and after devastating his country without meeting any resistance, he selected a position at the fortified post of Mutilum as a suitable place for cutting the corn which was now ripe.

[8] He commenced the task without previously examining the neighbourhood or posting armed parties in sufficient strength to protect the foragers, who had laid aside their weapons and were intent on their work. Suddenly he and his foragers were surprised by the Gauls who appeared on all sides.

[9] The panic and disorder extended to the men on guard; 7000 men who were dispersed through the cornfields were killed, amongst them C. Ampius himself, the rest fled to the camp.

[10] The following night the soldiers, as they had no regular commander, decided to act for themselves, and leaving most of their possessions behind made their way through almost impassable forests to the consul.

[11] Beyond ravaging the Boian country and making a league with the Ligurian Ingauni the consul did nothing worth mentioning in his province before his return to Rome.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. They were Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus and Publius Aelius Paetus.

2. Ptolemy Epiphanes, now nine years old and on the throne for the past four years. His father and the regents, rather than the boy-king himself, were obviously responsible for Egypt's fidelity to Rome.

3. Many of the tribes of Cisalpine Gaul had joined Hannibal (XXI. xxv. 2, etc.), and the subjugation of the region had begun anew.

4. B.C. 201

5. A local name for a district south of Ravenna. Sapinia is not the name of one of the Roman political divisions known as tribes.

6. The Ingauni seem to have been a Ligurian tribe living to the south-west of the modern Genoa.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 31.2

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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