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), 31.9

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[1] In the midst of the preparations for the war, ambassadors arrived from King Ptolemy, to say that the Athenians had asked the king's aid against Philip,

[2] but that, although they were allies in common, the king would send no fleet or army to Greece to defend or attack anyone without the authorization of the Roman people;

[3] he would either remain quiet at home, if the Romans planned to defend their allies, or permit the Romans to stay at home, if they preferred, and himself send such forces as could easily defend Athens against Philip.

[4] The senate thanked the king, saying that it was the intention of the Roman people to defend its allies; if need of anything for this war arose, they would inform the king, knowing that the resources of his kingdom were firm and trustworthy supports of the republic. Gifts of five thousand asses each were then presented to the ambassadors by order of the senate.

[5] While the consuls were levying troops and preparing¹ what was needful for the war, the state, ever concerned with religion, especially at the outset of new wars, having held thanksgivings and offered prayers at all the seats

[6] of the gods, that nothing might be left undone which had ever been done before, ordered the consul to whom the province of Macedonia had been assigned to vow games and a gift to Jupiter.

[7] A delay in the matter of this public vow was caused by Licinius the pontifex maximus, who said that a vow for an indefinite sum was not allowable; that a specific sum² should be vowed, because this money could not be used for war, but should be set aside at once and not mixed with other moneys; if this happened, he said, the vow could not be fulfilled in strict conformity to its terms. Although the consul was moved both by the argument and its author, he was nevertheless directed to appeal to the college³ of priests, to learn whether a vow for an indeterminate sum could properly be undertaken.

[8] The pontiffs replied that it was possible and even more correct.

[9] The consul, at the dictation of the pontifex maximus, recited his vow in the language formerly used in connection with the quinquennial games,⁴ with the exception that he promised games and a gift of an amount to be determined by the senate at the time the vow was paid.⁵

[10] The great games had been vowed eight times before for definite sums; this was the first vow for an indefinite amount.⁶

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.) — 31.9 focus

[1] in ipso adparatu belli legati a rege Ptolomaeo venerunt, qui nuntiarent Athenienses adversus Philippum petisse ab rege auxilium;

[2] ceterum, etsi communes socii sint, tamen nisi ex auctoritate populi Romani neque classem neque exercitum defendendi aut oppugnandi cuiusquam causa regem in Graeciam missurum esse;

[3] vel quieturum eum in regno, si populo Romano socios defendere libeat, vel Romanos quiescere, si malint, passurum atque ipsum auxilia, quae facile adversus Philippum tueri Athenas possent, missurum.

[4] gratiae regi ab senatu actae responsumque tutari socios populo Romano in animo esse; si qua re ad id bellum opus sit, indicaturos regi regnique eius opes scire subsidia firma ac fidelia suae rei publicae esse.

[5] munera deinde legatis in singulos quinum milium aeris ex senatus consulto missa. cum dilectum consules haberent pararentque,

[6] quae ad bellum opus essent, civitas religiosa, in principiis maxime novorum bellorum, supplicationibus habitis iam et obsecratione circa omnia pulvinaria facta, ne quid praetermitteretur, quod aliquando factum esset, ludos Iovi donumque vovere consulem, cui provincia Macedonia evenisset, iussit.

[7] moram voto publico Licinius pontifex maximus attulit, qui negavit ex incerta pecunia vovere licere; ex certa voveri debere, quia ea pecunia non posset in bellum usui esse seponique statim deberet nec cum alia pecunia misceri; quod si factum esset, votum rite solvi non posse.

[8] quamquam et res et auctor movebat, tamen ad collegium pontificum referre consul iussus, si posset recte votum incertae pecuniae suscipi. posse rectiusque etiam esse pontifices decreverunt.

[9] vovit in eadem verba consul praeeunte maximo pontifice, quibus antea quinquennalia vota suscipi solita erant,

[10] praeterquam quod tanta pecunia, quantam tur, tum, cum solveretur, senatus censuisset, ludos donaque facturum vovit. octiens ante ludi magni de certa pecunia voti erant; hi primi de incerta.

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).) — 30.9 focus

[1]

postero die Scipio Laelium Masinissamque cum omni Romano et Numidico equitatu expeditisque ¹ militum ad persequendos Syphacem atque Hasdrubalem mittit;

[2] ipse cum robore exercitus urbes circa, quae omnes Carthaginiensium dicionis erant, partim spe, partim metu, partim vi subigit.

[3] Carthagini erat quidem ingens terror, et circumferentem arma Scipionem omnibus finitimis raptim perdomitis ipsam Carthaginem repente adgressurum credebant.

[4] itaque et muri reficiebantur propugnaculisque armabantur, et pro se quisque quae diutinae obsidionis ² tolerandae sunt ex agris convehebat. ³

[5] rara mentio est pacis, frequentior legatorum ad Hannibalem arcessendum mittendorum;

[6] pars maxima classem quae ad commeatus excipiendos parata erat mittere iubent ad opprimendam stationem navium ad Uticam incaute agentem; forsitan etiam navalia castra, relicta cum levi praesidio, oppressuros.

[7] In hoc consilium maxime inclinant; legatos tamen ad ⁴ Hannibalem mittendos censent: quippe classi ut felicissime geratur ⁵ res, parte aliqua levari Uticae obsidionem;

[8] Carthaginem ipsam qui tueatur ⁶ neque imperatorem alium quam Hannibalem neque exercitum alium quam Hannibalis superesse.

[9] deductae ergo postero die naves, simul et legati in Italiam profecti; raptimque omnia stimulante fortuna agebantur, et in quo quisque cessasset prodi ab se salutem omnium rebatur.

[10] Scipio gravem iam spoliis multarum urbium exercitum trahens, captivis aliaque praeda in vetera castra ad Uticam missis, iam in Carthaginem intentus occupat relictum fuga custodum Tyneta.

[11] abest ab Carthagine quindecim milia ferme passuum locus, cum operibus tum suapte natura tutus, ⁷

[12] et qui et ab Carthagine conspici et praebere ipse prospectum cum ad urbem tum ad circumfusum ⁸ mare urbi possit. ⁹

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 31.9 focus

[1]

in ipso adparatu belli legati a rege Ptolomaeo venerunt, qui nuntiarent Athenienses adversus Philippum petisse ab rege auxilium;

[2] ceterum, etsi communes socii sint, tamen nisi ex auctoritate populi Romani neque classem neque exercitum defendendi aut oppugnandi cuiusquam causa regem in Graeciam missurum esse;

[5] munera deinde legatis in singulos quinum milium aeris ex senatus consulto missa. ¹

cum dilectum consules haberent pararentque, quae ad bellum opus essent, civitas religiosa, in principiis maxime novorum bellorum,

[6] supplicationibus habitis iam et obsecratione circa omnia pulvinaria facta, ne quid praetermitteretur, quod aliquando factum esset, ludos Iovi donumque vovere consulem, cui provincia Macedonia evenisset, iussit.

[8] quamquam et res et auctor movebat, tamen ad collegium pontificum referre consul iussus, si posset recte votum incertae pecuniae suscipi. posse rectiusque etiam esse pontifices decreverunt.

[9] vovit in eadem verba consul ² praeeunte maximo pontifice, quibus antea quinquennalia vota suscipi solita erant,

[10] praeterquam quod tanta pecunia, quantam tum, cum solveretur, senatus censuisset, ludos donaque facturum vovit. octiens ante ludi magni de certa pecunia voti erant; hi primi de incerta.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 31.9 focus

[1]

In the midst of the preparations for war, ambassadors came from king Ptolemy, who delivered a message; that

the Athenians had petitioned the king for aid against Philip;

[2]

but that although they were their common allies, yet the king would not, except with the sanction of the Roman people, send either fleet or army into Greece, for the purpose of defending or attacking any person.

[3]

That he would either remain quiet in his kingdom, if the Romans were at leisure to protect their allies; or, if more agreeable to them to be at rest, would himself send such aid as might easily secure Athens against Philip.

[4] Thanks were returned to the king by the senate, and this answer: that

it was the intention of the Roman people to protect their allies; that if they should have occasion for any assistance towards carrying on the war, they would acquaint the king; and that they were fully sensible, that the resources of his kingdom were the sure and faithful support of their own state.

[5] Presents were then, by order of the senate, sent to the ambassadors, of five thousand asses¹ to each. While the consuls were engaged in the levy, and preparing what was necessary for the war, the people, prone to religious observances, especially

[6] at the beginning of new wars, after supplications had been already performed, and prayers offered up at all the shrines, lest any thing should be omitted that had ever been practised, ordered, that the consul who was to have the province of Macedonia should vow games and a present to Jove. Licinius, the chief pontiff, occasioned some delay to this public vow, alleging, that

it ought not to be fulfilled from promiscuous funds.

[7]

For as the sum to be named could not be applied to the uses of the war, it should be immediately set apart, and not to be intermixed with other money; and that, unless this were done, the vow could not be properly performed.

Although the objection and the author of it were influential, yet the consul was ordered to consult the college of pontiffs, whether a vow could be undertaken at an indeterminate expense?

[8] The pontiffs determined, that it could; and that it would be even more in order to do it in that way.

[9] The consul, therefore, repeating after the chief pontiff, made the vow in the same words in which those made for five years of safety used to be expressed; only that he engaged to perform the games, and make the offerings, at such expense as the senate should direct by their vote, at the time when the vow was performed.

[10] Before this, the great games, so often vowed, were constantly rated at a certain expense: these first at an unspecified amount.

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.) — 31.9 focus

[1]

In the midst of these preparations for war a deputation came from King Ptolemy to bring information that the Athenians had sought his aid against Philip.

[2] Although both States were allies of Rome, the king would not-so the deputies stated-send either fleet or army to Greece to protect or attack any one without the consent of Rome.

[3] If the Romans were at liberty to defend their allies he should remain quietly in his kingdom; if on the other hand the Romans preferred to remain inactive he would himself send such assistance as would easily protect the Athenians against Philip.

[4] The senate passed a vote of thanks to the king and assured the deputation that it was the intention of the Roman people to protect their allies; if the need arose they would point it out to the king, and they were fully aware that the resources of his kingdom would prove a steady and loyal support for their commonwealth. To each of the deputies the senate presented 5000 ases.

[5] While the consuls were raising troops and preparing for war, the citizens were occupied with religious observances, especially those which were usual when a fresh war began.

[6] The special intercessions and prayers at all the shrines had been duly offered, but that nothing might be omitted the consul to whom Macedonia was allotted was authorised to vow Games in honour of Jupiter and an offering to his temple. This matter was delayed through the action of the Pontifex Maximus, Licinius, who laid it down that no vow ought to be made unless the sum required to discharge it was paid, because the money so appropriated could not be used in connection with the war, and ought to be at once set apart and not mixed up with other money.

[7] Unless this were done, the vow could not be duly discharged. Although the pontiff's authority and the reasons he gave had great weight, the consul was instructed to refer the question to the whole pontifical college as to whether a vow could be properly undertaken when the expense incurred was left uncertain.

[8] The pontiffs declared that it could, and would be made with even greater propriety under these conditions. The consul recited the words of the vow after the Pontifex Maximus in the same form in which vows to be discharged

[9] after an interval of five years were usually recited, the exception being that the senate was to determine the cost of its fulfilment at the time when it was discharged.

[10] Up to this time when the Games and offerings were vowed a definite sum had always been named; this was the first instance where the cost was not fixed at the time.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 200

2. The point which Licinius makes becomes clear when we recall the scrupulous exactness with which the Romans satisfied all their obligations to the gods. Licinius is responsible for the precision and propriety of the language used in the vow, and he fears that if the Romans make a vague and indefinite promise the gods will make a vague and indefinite response. Whatever the intention may have been, a vow of this sort inevitably assumes, to the outsider, the aspect of a bargain.

3. The pontiffs as a body had final jurisdiction as interpreters of the ius divinum, or body of ordinances controlling the relations of men to gods.

4. When the ludi Romani (cf. the note on iv. 5 above) became annual, special attention was devoted to those occurring every fifth year.

5. These games were held in 194 B.C.: cf. XXXIV. xliv. 6.

6. These statements cannot be verified.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 31.9

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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