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), 35.34

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[1] Quinctius and the ambassadors returned to Corinth. Then, as each message came from Antiochus, that the Aetolians might not seem to be doing nothing on their own account, but to be sitting still waiting

[2] for the coming of the king,¹ they held indeed no meeting of the entire people after the dismissal of the Romans, but through the² apocletes —so they call their inner council: it consists of selected persons —they considered the question in what manner revolutions might be caused in all Greece.

[3] It was evident to all that in the cities the leading men and all the aristocracy³ were in favour of the Roman alliance and were pleased with the present state of affairs, while the multitude and those whose affairs were not in the best condition desired a complete change.

[4] The Aetolians formed a plan not only bold but even shameless, both in its character and in its expectations, of seizing Demetrias, Chalcis,⁴ and Lacedaemon.

[5] One of their chiefs was sent to each city, Thoas to Chalcis, Alexamenus to Lacedaemon, Diocles to Demetrias.

[6] The last was aided by the exile Eurylochus, of whose flight and its cause I have spoken above,⁵ because he had no other hope of restoration to his home.

[7] Prompted by the letters of Eurylochus, his relatives and friends and those who belonged to the same party summoned his children and wife, dressed in mourning garb and carrying the badges of suppliants, into a crowded assembly, beseeching one and all not to permit a man, innocent and unjudged, to grow old in exile. And simpleminded men were moved by pity and wicked and seditious men by the hope of causing confusion by means of an Aetolian uprising.

[8] Thus each man for⁶ himself favoured a vote of recall.

[9] After these preliminaries Diodes with all the cavalry —and he was then the commander of the cavalry —setting out on the pretext of conducting home his exiled friend, completing a long march by day and night, when he was six miles from the city, at daybreak led the way with three picked troops, ordering the rest of the cavalry to follow.

[10] When he was near the gate he ordered them all to dismount and to lead their horses by the reins, breaking ranks just as if on a journey, that they might appear to be the commander's escort rather than an organized guard.

[11] Then, leaving one troop at the gate, that the cavalry in the rear might not be shut out, he conducted Eurylochus through the centre of the city and through the market-place, clasping him by the hand, while many men came up and congratulated him.

[12] Presently the city was full of troopers and the strategic points were occupied; then soldiers were sent to the houses to kill the leaders of the opposing party. Thus Demetrias fell into the possession of the Aetolians.

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.) — 35.34 focus

[1] Quinctius legatique Corinthum redierunt. inde, ut quaeque de Antiocho ** nihil per se ipsi moti et sedentes expectare adventure adventum viderentur regis,

[2] concilium quidem universae gentis post dimissos fRomanos Romanos non habuerunt, per apocletos autem — ita vocant sanctius consilium; ex delectis constat viris — id agitabant, quonam modo in Graecia res novarentur.

[3] inter omnis constabat in civitatibus principes et optimum quemque Romanae societatis esse et praesenti statu gaudere, multitudinem et quorum res non ex sententia ipsorum essent omnia novare velle.

[4] Aetoli consilium cum rei, tum spei quoque non audacis modo sed etiam impudentis ceperunt, Demetriadem Chalcidem Lacedaemonem occupandi.

[5] singuli in singulas principes missi sunt, Thoas Chalcidem, Alexamenus Lacedaemonem, Diocles Demetriadem.

[6] hunc exul Eurylochus, de cuius fuga causaque fugae ante dictum est, quia reditus in patriam nulla alia erat spes, adiuvit.

[7] litteris Eurylochi admoniti propinqui amicique et qui eiusdem factionis erant liberos et coniugem eius cum sordida veste, tenentes velamenta supplicum, in contionem frequentem acciverunt singulos universosque obtestantes, ne insontem indemnatum consenescere in exilio sinerent.

[8] et simplices homines misericordia et improbos seditiososque immiscendi res tumultu Aetolico spes movit. ita pro se quisque revocari iubebant.

[9] his praeparatis Diocles cum omni equitatu — et erat tum praefectus equitum — specie reducentis exulem hospitem profectus, die ac nocte ingens iter emensus, cum milia sex ab urbe abesset, prima luce tribus electis turmis, cetera multitudine equitum subsequi iussa, praecessit.

[10] postquam portae appropinquabat, desilire omnes ex equis iussit et loris ducere equos itineris maxime modo solutis ordinibus, ut comitatus magis praefecti videretur quam praesidium.

[11] ibi una ex turmis ad portam relicta, ne excludi subsequens equitatus posset, media urbe ac per forum mann manu Eurylochum tenens multis occurrentibus gratulantibusque domum deduxit.

[12] mox equitum plena urbs erat, et loca opportuna occupabantur; tur tum in domos missi, qui principes adversae factionis interficerent. ita Demetrias Aetolorum facta est.

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.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 35.34 focus

[1]

Quinctius legatique Corinthum redierunt. inde, ut quaeque ¹ de Antiocho nihil per se ipsi moti et sedentes expectare adventum viderentur regis,

[2] concilium quidem universae gentis post dimissos Romanos non habuerunt, per apocletos autem — ita vocant sanctius consilium; ex delectis constat viris — id agitabant, quonam modo in Graecia res novarentur.

[4] Aetoli consilium uno die spei quoque non audacis modo sed ² etiam impudentis ceperunt, Demetriadem Chalcidem Lacedaemonem occupandi.

[5] singuli in singulas principes missi sunt, Thoas Chalcidem, Alexamenus Lacedaemonem, Diocles Demetriadem.

[6] hunc exul Eurylochus, de cuius fuga causaque fugae ante dictum est, quia reditus in patriam nulla alia erat spes, adiuvit.

[7] litteris Eurylochi admoniti propinqui amicique et qui eiusdem factionis erant liberos et coniugem eius cum sordida veste , tenentes velamenta supplicum, contionem frequentem adierunt singulos universosque obtestantes, ne insontem indemnatum consenescere in exilio sinerent.

[8] et simplices homines misericordia et improbos seditiososque immiscendi res tumultu Aetolico spes movit:

[9] pro se quisque revocari iubebant. his praeparatis Diocles cum omni equitatu — et erat tum praefectus equitum — specie reducentis exulem hospitem profectus, die ac nocte ingens iter emensus, cum milia sex ab urbe abesset, prima luce tribus electis turmis, cetera multitudine equitum subsequi iussa, praecessit.

[10] postquam portae appropinquabat, desilire omnes ex equis iussit et loris ducere equos itineris maxime modo solutis ordinibus, ut comitatus magis praefecti videretur quam praesidium.

[11] ibi una ³ ex turmis ad portam relicta, ne excludi subsequens equitatus posset, media urbe ac per forum manu Eurylochum tenens multis occurrentibus gratulantibusque domum deduxit.

[12] mox equitum plena urbs erat, et loca opportuna occupabantur; tum in domos missi, qui principes adversae factionis interficerent. ita Demetrias Aetolorum facta est.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 35.34 focus

[1]

Quinctius and the ambassadors returned to Corinth. The Aetolians, that they might appear to intend taking every step through Antiochus, and none directly of themselves, and, sitting inactive, to be waiting for the arrival of the king, though

[2] they did not, after the departure of the Romans, hold a council of the whole nation, yet endeavoured, by their Apocleti, (a more confidential council, composed of persons selected from the rest,) to devise schemes for setting Greece in commotion.

[3] It was well known to them all, that in the several states the principal people, particularly those of the best characters, were disposed to maintain the Roman alliance, and well pleased with the present state of affairs; but that the populace, and especially such as were not content with their position, wished for a general revolution.

[4] The Aetolians, at one day's sitting, formed a scheme, the very conception of which argued not only boldness, but impudence, —that of making themselves masters of Demetrias, Chalcis, and Lacedaemon. One of their principal men was sent to each of these places; Thoas to Chalcis, Alexamenus to Lacedaemon, Diocles to Demetrias.

[5] This last was assisted by the exile Eurylochus, whose flight, and the cause of it, have been mentioned above, because there was no other prospect of his restoration to his country.

[6] Eurylochus, by letter, instructed his friends and relations, and those of his own faction, to order his wife and children to assume a mourning dress:

[7] and, holding the badges of supplicants, to go into a full assembly, and to beseech each individual, and the whole body, not to suffer a man, who was innocent and uncondemned, to grow old in exile. The simpleminded were moved by compassion; the ill-disposed and seditious, by the hope of seeing all things thrown into confusion, in consequence of the tumults which the Aetolians would excite; and every one voted for his being recalled.

[8] These preparatory measures being effected, Diocles, at that time general of the horse, with all the cavalry, set out under pretext of escorting to his home the exile, who was his guest.

[9] Having, during that day and the following night, marched an extraordinary length of way, and arrived within six miles of the city at the first dawn, he chose out three troops, at the head of which he went on before the rest of the cavalry, whom he ordered to follow.

[10] When he came near the gate he made all his men dismount, and lead their horses by the reins, without keeping their ranks, but like travellers on a journey, in order that they might appear to be the retinue of the general, rather than a military force.

[11] Here he left one troop at the gate, lest the cavalry, who were coming up, might be shut out; and then, holding Eurylochus by the hand, conducted him to his house through the middle of the city and the forum, and through crowds who met and congratulated him.

[12] In a little time the city was filled with horsemen, and convenient posts were seized; and then parties were sent to the houses of persons of the opposite faction, to put them to death. In this manner Demetrias fell into the hands of the Aetolians.

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.) — 35.34 focus

[1]

Quinctius and the other legates returned to Corinth. The Aetolians, who were continually receiving intelligence about Antiochus' movements, wished to make it appear that they were doing nothing themselves and simply waiting for his arrival; consequently they did not hold a council of the whole league after the Romans had left.

[2] Through their "Apokleti," however-the designation they give to their inner council-they were discussing the best means of effecting a revolution in Greece.

[3] It was everywhere understood that the leading men and the aristocracy in the various States were partisans of Rome and perfectly contented with things as they were, whilst the mass of the populations and all whose circumstances were not what they wished them to be were eager for change.

[4] On the day of their meeting the Aetolians decided upon a project alike audacious and impudent, namely the occupation of Demetrias, Chalcis and Lacedaemon. One of their leaders was sent to each of these cities: Thoas went to Chalcis, Alexamenus to Lacedaemon, Diocles to Demetrias.

[5] Eurylochus, whose flight and the reason for it have been already described,

[6] came to the assistance of Diocles, as in no other way did he see any prospect of returning home. He wrote to his friends and relatives and the members of his party, and they brought his wife and children dressed in mourning and carrying suppliant emblems into the assembly, which was crowded.

[7] They appealed to those present individually and implored the assembly as a whole not to allow a man innocent and uncondemned to waste his life in exile. The simple and unsuspecting were moved by pity, the evil-minded and seditious by the prospect of profiting by the confusion which the Aetolian agitation would cause.

[8] Everyone voted for his recall. This preparatory step having been taken, Diocles, who was at that time in command of the cavalry, started with the whole of his force, ostensibly to escort the exile home.

[9] He covered an immense distance, marching through the day and the night, and when he was six miles from the city he went on in advance at daybreak with three picked troops, the rest being under orders to follow.

[10] As they approached the gate he bade his men dismount and lead their horses as though they were accompanying their commander on his journey instead of acting as a military force. Leaving one troop at the gate to prevent the cavalry who were coming up from being shut out, he took Eurylochus, holding

[11] him by the hand, through the heart of the city and the forum to his house amidst the congratulations of many who came to meet them. In a short time the city was filled with cavalry-and the commanding positions were seized.

[12] Then parties were told off to go to the houses of the leaders of the opposition and put them to death. In this way Demetrias was gained by the Aetolians.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The lacuna which seems to exist somewhere in this sentence (see the critical note) renders the meaning uncertain. I have supplied what seems to be necessary for both thought and syntax.

2. B.C. 192

3. The institutions of Flamininus (see particularly XXXIV. li. 6) had an aristocratic character, and the Aetolian interpretation of Greek sentiment is in all probability correct. But no Roman who lived in the first century B.C. could say

optimum quemque

without thinking of the political connotations of the phrase in his own time. To such a person the term implied both an

aristocrat

by birth or political success and a political or economic

conservative,

Moreover, to members of that party, but not necessarily to others, it was equivalent to

patriotic.

My translation emphasizes what I believe was the Aetolian definition of the word: Livy and his contemporary readers no doubt believed that the true patriots among the Greeks were found in the pro-Roman party.

4. These were two of the three

fetters of Greece

of XXXII. xxxvii. 4. The Aetolian strategy was skilful.

5. Cf. xxxii. 1 above. No formal vote of exile is mentioned.

6. B.C. 192

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 35.34

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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