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), 36.34

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[1] While Philip was thus engaged, Titus Quinctius, after recovering Zacynthos from the Achaean council, crossed to Naupactus, which for two months now —and

[2] it was near destruction by this time —had been undergoing the siege, and if it were captured by force the whole name¹ of the Aetolians there seemed destined to come to annihilation.

[3] But though he was justly angry at the Aetolians because he remembered that they alone had cavilled at his glory when he was liberating Greece, and that they

[4] had not been moved by his influence when he warned them in advance that that would happen which did actually occur, and tried to deter them from their mad

[5] purpose, yet, believing it to be his task to see² that no people of the Greece which had received its freedom from him should be utterly destroyed, he began to walk around the walls, so that he was easily seen by the Aetolians.

[6] Immediately he was recognized by the advanced sentinels and the word went through all the ranks that Quinctius was there.

[7] So there was a general rush from all quarters to the walls, each stretching out his hands to him and with uniform cries calling upon Quinctius by name to come to their rescue and save them.

[8] And for the moment, at least, although he was affected by these words, he showed by a gesture that there was no power in him to help them;

[9] but when he came to the consul³

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.) — 36.34 focus

[1] dum haec a Philippo geruntur, T. Quinctius recepta Zacyntho ab Achaico concilio Naupactum traiecit, quae iam per duos menses —

[2] et iam prope excidium erat — oppugnabatur, et si capta vi foret, omne nomen ibi Aetolorum ad internecionem videbatur venturum.

[3] ceterum quamquam merito iratus erat Aetolis, quod solos obtrectasse gloriae suae, cum liberaret Graeciam, meminerat, et nihil auctoritate sua motos esse, cum, quae tum maxime accidebant, casura praemonens a furioso incepto eos deterreret,

[4] tamen sui maxime operis esse credens nullam gentem liberatae ab se Graeciae funditus everti, obambulare muris, ut facile nosceretur ab Aetolis, coepit.

[5] confestim a primis stationibus cognitus est, vulgatumque per omnes ordines, Quinctium esse. itaque concursu facto undique in muros manus pro se quisque tendentes consonante clamore nominatim QLinctium Quinctium orare, ut opem ferret ac servaret.

[6] et tum quidem, quamquam moveretur his vocibus, manu tamen abnuit quicquam opis in se esse; ceterum postquam ad consulem venit, “ futrum utrum fefellit” inquit “te,

[7] M’. Acili, quid agatur, an, cum satis pervideas, nihil id magnopere ad summam rem periinere pertinere censes?”

[8] erexerat expectatione consulem; et “quin expromis” inquit, “quid rei sit?” tur tum Quinctius “ecquid vides te devicto Antiocho in duabus urbibus oppugnandis tempus terere,

[9] cum iam prope annus circumactus sit imperii tui, Philippum autem, qui non aciem, non signa hostium vidit, non solum urbes sed tot iam gentes, Athamaniam Perrhaebiam Aperantiam Dolopiam, sibi adiunxisse, et victoriae tuae praemium te militesque tuos nondum duas urbes, Philippum tot gentes Graeciae habere?

[10] atqui non tantum interest nostra Aetolorum opes ac vires minui, quantum non supra modum Philippum crescere.”

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.) — 36.34 focus

[1]

dum haec a Philippo geruntur, T. Quinctius recepta Zacyntho ab Achaico concilio Naupactum traiecit, quae iam per duos menses—

[2] et iam prope excidium erat—oppugnabatur, et si capta vi foret, omne nomen ibi Aetolorum ad internecionem videbatur venturum.

[3] ceterum quamquam merito iratus erat Aetolis, quod solos obtrectasse gloriae suae, cum liberaret Graeciam, meminerat, et nihil auctoritate sua motos esse, cum, quae tum maxime acciderant, casura praemonens a furioso incepto eos deterreret,

[4] tamen sui maxime operis esse credens nullam gentem liberatae ab se Graeciae funditus everti, obambulare muris, ut ¹ facile nosceretur ab Aetolis, coepit.

[6] et tum quidem, quamquam moveretur his vocibus, manu tamen abnuit quicquam opis in se esse;

[7] ceterum postquam ad consulem venit, “utrum fefellit” inquit “te, M. Acili , quid agatur, an, cum satis pervideas, nihil id magnopere ad summam rem pertinere censes?”

[8] erexerat expectatione consulem; et “quin expromis” inquit “ quid rei sit?” tum Quinctius” ecquid vides te devicto Antiocho in duabus urbibus oppugnandis tempus terere, cum iam prope annus circumactus sit imperii tui,

[9] Philippum autem, qui non aciem, non signa hostium vidit, non solum urbes sed tot iam gentes, Athamaniam Perrhaebiam Aperantiam Dolopiam, sibi adiunxisse?

[10] atqui non tantum interest nostra Aetolorum opes ac vires minui, quantum non supra modum Philippum crescere, et victoriae tuae praemium te militesque tuos nondum duas urbes, Philippum tot ² gentes Graeciae habere.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 36.34 focus

[1]

While Philip was thus employed, Titus Quinctius, after receiving from the Achaean council the cession of Zacynthus, crossed over to Naupactum, which had stood a siege of near two months, but was now reduced to a desperate condition;

[2] and it was supposed, that if it should be taken by storm, the whole nation of the Aetolians would be sunk thereby in utter destruction.

[3] But, although he was deservedly incensed against the Aetolians, from the recollection that they alone had attempted to depreciate his merits, when he was giving liberty to Greece; and had been in no degree influenced by his advice, when he endeavoured, by forewarn- ing them of the events, which had since occurred, to deter them from their mad undertaking:

[4] nevertheless, thinking it particularly his business to take care that none of the states of Greece which had been liberated by himself should be entirely subverted, he first walked about near the walls, that he might be easily known by the Aetolians.

[5] He was quickly distinguished by the first advanced guards, and the news spread from rank to rank that Quinctius was there. On this, the people from all sides ran to the walls, and eagerly stretch- ing out their hands, all in one joint cry besought Quinctius by name, to assist and save them.

[6] Although he was much affected by these entreaties, yet for that time he made signs with his hands, that they were to expect no assistance from him.

[7] However, when he met the consul he accosted him thus: —

Manius Acilius, are you unapprized of what is passing; or do you know it, and think it immaterial to the interest of the commonwealth?

[8] This inflamed the consul with curiosity, and he replied,

But explain what is your meaning.

Quinctius then said, —

Do you not see that, since the defeat of Antiochus, you have been wasting time in besieging two cities, though the year of your command is near expiring;

[9]

but that Philip, who never faced the enemy, or even saw their standards, has annexed to his dominions such a number, not only of cities, but of nations, —Athamania, Perrhaebia, Aperantia, Dolopia?

[10]

But, surely, we are not so deeply interested in diminishing the strength and resources of the Aetolians, as in hindering those of Philip from being augmented beyond measure; and in you, and your soldiers, not having yet gained, to reward your victory, as many towns as Philip has gained Grecian states.

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.) — 36.34 focus

[1]

While Philip was thus engaged T. Quinctius, after taking over Zacynthus from the Achaean council, sailed to Naupactus, which had been standing a siege for two months, but was now nearing its fall.

[2] Its forcible capture would probably have brought ruin on the Aetolians as a nation. Quinctius had every reason for being embittered against them;

[3] he had not forgotten that they were the only people that had spoken slightingly of him when he was winning the glory of liberating Greece and had refused to be guided by him when he sought to dissuade them from their mad project by forewarning them as to what would happen to them, a forewarning which events had just now proved to be true.

[4] As, however, he looked upon himself as especially bound to see that no State in the Greece which he had freed was utterly destroyed, he decided to walk up to the walls so that the Aetolians could easily see who he was.

[5] He was at once recognised by the advanced posts, and the news rapidly spread throughout the city and troops that Quinctius was there. There was a general rush to the walls; the people all held out their hands in supplication, and with one voice appealed to him by name and implored him to come to their succour and save them.

[6] He was deeply moved by this appeal, but at the same time he made signs to them that it was not in his power to help them.

[7] When he saw the consul he said to him, "M. Acilius, do you fail to see what is going on, or if you are quite aware of it do you consider that it in no way touches the supreme interest of the Republic?"

[8] The consul's attention was aroused and he replied, "Why are you not explicit? What do you mean?" Quinctius continued, "Do you not see, now that Antiochus is crushed, how you are wasting time in laying siege to a couple of cities when your year of office has almost expired, while Philip, who has never seen the standards or the battle-line of the enemy, has been annexing not cities only, but all those States, Athamania, Perrhaebia, Aperantia, Dolopia?

[9] And yet it is not so important to us that the strength and resources of the Aetolians should be weakened as it is that Philip should not be allowed to extend his dominions indefinitely and hold all those States as the prize

[10] of victory while you and your soldiers cannot pride yourselves on the conquest of two cities."

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Nomen is not infrequently used in the sense of

people

: cf., e.g., III. viii. 10 and the similar usage in the phrase nomen Latinum.

2. B.C. 191

3. This incident raises the question of the relation between Quinctius and Acilius (see also the note to i. 8 above). The actions of Quinctius at this time are hardly normal activities of a military subordinate, although they might 10?? be covered by the powers granted him by the senate (

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 36.34

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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