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), 36.35

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[1] ¹

[2] he said,

Has it perhaps escaped you, Manius Acilius, what you are doing, or, since you see it clearly, do you not think that it has a great deal to do with our ultimate policy?

[3] He had worked the consul up to a high pitch of wonder, and he asked,

Why not explain what you mean?

Then Quinctius replied:

Do you not see that you, after defeating Antiochus, are wasting time by besieging two cities, although now the year of your command is almost ended, but that Philip, who had not set eyes on the battle-line or the standards of the enemy, has already joined to himself, not cities alone, but so many nations —Athamania,

[4]

Perrhaebia, Aperantia, Dolopia —and that as rewards for your victory you possess as yet not even two cities, while Philip has so many peoples of Greece? Yet it is not so much to our interest that the power and strength² of the Aetolians should be diminished as that Philip should not grow beyond measure.

[5] XXXV. The consul agreed with this, but shame, if he should withdraw before finishing what he had begun, came over him. The whole decision was then referred to Quinctius. He went back again to the section of the walls where the Aetolians had harangued him a little while before.

[6] When with greater fervour they begged him to have compassion on the Aetolian people, he ordered some of them to come out to him. Phaeneas himself and other chiefs at once came out. As they threw themselves at his feet, he said,

Your plight makes me restrain both my wrath and my language.

[7]

Those things have happened which I told you in the beginning would happen, and not even this is left to you, that they may seem to have happened to the undeserving; yet I, appointed by some destiny for the cherishing of Greece, shall not cease to do good even to ungrateful men. Send ambassadors to the consul to ask for a truce for such a space of time that you may send delegates to Rome through whom you may put your case before the senate; I shall be with the consul to support and defend your cause.

[8] So they did as Quinctius had suggested, nor did the consul reject the embassy; granting them a truce for a definite period, in which the embassy could report back from Rome, he raised the siege and sent the army back to Phocis. The consul with Titus Quinctius crossed to Aegium to the Achaean council.

[9] There the debate concerned the Eleans and the restoration of the Spartan exiles; neither question was settled, because the Achaeans wished the case of the exiles left as a means of gaining favour for themselves; while the Eleans³ preferred that they be united with the Achaean League on their own initiative rather than under pressure from the Romans.

[10] Ambassadors from the Epirotes came to the consul; it was clear that they had not observed the treaty of alliance with true fidelity; yet they had sent no troops to Antiochus; they were accused of having aided him with money; they did not even themselves deny that they had sent ambassadors to him.⁴

[11] When they asked that they be permitted to remain in their old status of friendship, the consul replied that he did not yet know whether to reckon them among enemies or among defeated foes; the senate would be the judge of that; he was referring the whole question of their status to Rome; for that purpose he granted them a truce for ninety days.

[12] The Epirotes sent to Rome and appealed to the senate. When they enumerated hostile acts which they had not performed rather than cleared themselves of the charges made against them, a reply was given them from which they could seem to have obtained forgiveness, not to have established their case. Ambassadors from King Philip also were at this time presented to the senate with congratulations on the victory. Their request that they be allowed to sacrifice on the Capitoline and to deposit a gift of gold in the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was granted by the senate.⁵

[13] A golden crown of one hundred pounds' weight was placed there. Not only was a gracious response given to the ambassadors of the king, but also Demetrius, the son of Philip, who was a hostage at Rome,⁶ was handed over to the ambassadors to be restored to his father.

[14] The war which was waged with King Antiochus in Greece by Manius Acilius⁷ the consul came thus to an end.

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.) — 36.35 focus

[1] adsentiebatur his consul; sed pudor, si irrito incepto abscederet obsidione, occurrebat. tota inde Quinctio res permissa est.

[2] is rursus ad ear eam partem muri, qua paulo ante vociferati Aetoli fuerant, rediit. ibi cum impensius orarent, ut misereretur gentis Aetolorum,

[3] exire aliquos ad se iussit. Phaeneas ipse principesque alii extemplo egressi sunt. quibus provolutis ad pedes “fortuna” inquit “vestra facit, ut et irae meae et orationi temperem.

[4] evenerunt quae praedixi eventura, et ne hoc quidem reliqui vobis est, ut indignis accidisse ea videantur; ego tamen sorte quadam nutriendae Graeciae datus ne ingratis quidem benefacere absistam.

[5] mittite oratores ad consulem, qui indutias tanti terporis temporis petant, ut mittere legatos Romam possitis, per quos senatui de vobis permittatis; ego apud consulem deprecator defensorque vobis adero.”

[6] ita, ut censuerat Quinctius, fecerunt, nec aspernatus est consul legationem; indutiisque in diem certam datis, qua legatio renuntiari ab Roma posset, soluta obsidio est et exercitus in Phocidem missus.

[7] consul cum T. Quinctio ad Achaicum concilium Aegium traiecit. ibi de Eleis et de exulibus Lacedaemoniorum restituendis actum est; neutra perfecta res, quia suae gratiae reservari exulum causam Achaei, Elei per se ipsi quam per Romanos maluerunt Achaico contribui concilio.

[8] Epirotarum legati ad consulem venerunt, quos non sincera fide in amicitia fuisse satis constabat; militem tamen nullum Antiocho dederant; pecunia iuvisse eum insimulabantur; legatos ad regem ne ipsi quidem misisse infitiabantur.

[9] iis petentibus, ut in amicitia pristina esse liceret, respondit consul se, utrum hostium an pacatorum eos numero haberet, nondum scire;

[10] senatum eius rei iudicem fore; integram se causam eorum Romam reicere; indutias ad id dierum nonaginta dare.

[11] Epirotae Romam missi senatum adierunt. iis magis, quae non fecissent hostilia, referentibus quam purgantibus ea, de quibus arguebantur, responsum datum est, quo veniam impetrasse, non causam probasse videri possent.

[12] et Philippi regis legati sub idem tempus in senatum introducti, gratulantes de victoria. iis petentibus, ut sibi sacrificare in Capitolio donumque ex auro liceret ponere in aede Iovis optimi maximi, permissum ab senatu.

[13] centum pondo coronam auream posuerunt. non responsum solum benigne regis legatis est, sed filius quoque Philippi Demetrius, qui obses Romae erat, ad patrem reducendus legatis datus est.

[14] bellum, quod cum Antiocho rege in Graecia gestum est a M’. Acilio consule, hunc finem habuit.

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).) — 30.35 focus

[1]

In tempore Laelius ac Masinissa pulsos ¹ per aliquantum spatii secuti equites, revertentes in aversam hostium aciem incurrere. is demum equitum impetus perculit ² hostem.

[2] multi circumventi in acie caesi; multi ³ per patentem circa campum ⁴ fuga sparsi tenente omnia equitatu passim interierunt.

[3] Carthaginiensium sociorumque caesa eo die supra viginti milia; par ferme numerus captus cum signis militaribus centum triginta duobus, ⁵ elephantis undecim; victores ad mille et quingenti ⁶ cecidere.

[4] Hannibal cum paucis equitibus inter tumultum elapsus Hadrumetum perfugit, omnia et ante aciem et in proelio, ⁷ priusquam excederet pugna, expertus,

[5] et confessione etiam Scipionis omniumque peritorum militiae illam laudem adeptus, singulari arte aciem eo die instruxisse:

[6] elephantos in prima fronte, quorum fortuitus impetus atque intolerabilis vis signa sequi et servare ordines, in quo plurimum spei ponerent, Romanos prohiberent;

[7] deinde auxiliares ante Carthaginiensium aciem, ne homines mixti ex ⁸ conluvione omnium gentium, quos non fides teneret, sed merces,

[8] liberum receptum fugae haberent, simul primum ardorem atque impetum ⁹ hostium excipientes fatigarent ac, si nihil aliud, volneribus suis ferrum hostile ¹⁰ hebetarent;

[9] tum, ubi omnis spes esset, ¹¹¹² milites Carthaginienses Afrosque, ut, omnibus rebus aliis pares, eo quod integri cum fessis ac sauciis pugnarent superiores essent; Italicos intervallo quoque diremptos, ¹³ incertos socii an hostes essent, in postremam aciem summotos.

[10] hoc edito velut ultimo virtutis opere, Hannibal cum Hadrumetum refugisset, ¹⁴ accitusque inde Carthaginem sexto ac tricesimo post anno quam puer inde profectus erat redisset,

[11] fassus in curia est non proelio modo se sed ¹⁵ bello victum, nec spem salutis alibi quam in pace impetranda ¹⁶ esse.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 36.35 focus

[1]

” adsentiebatur his consul; sed pudor, si irrito incepto abscederet obsidione, occurrebat. tota inde Quinctio res permissa est.

[2] is rursus ad eam partem muri, qua paulo ante vociferati Aetoli fuerant, redit. ibi cum impensius orarent, ut misereretur gentis Aetolorum, exire aliquos ad se iussit.

[3] Phaeneas ipse principesque alii extemplo egressi sunt. quibus provolutis ad pedes “fortuna” inquit” vestra facit, ut et irae meae et orationi temperem.

[4] evenerunt quae praedixi eventura, et ne hoc quidem reliqui vobis est, ut indignis accidisse ea videantur: ego tamen sorte quadam nutriendae Graeciae datus ne ingratis quidem benefacere absistam.

[5] mittite oratores ad consulem, qui indutias tanti temporis petant, ut mittere legatos Romam possitis, per quos senatui de vobis permittatis; ego apud consulem defensor deprecatorque vobis adero.

[6] “ ita, ut censuerat Quinctius, fecerunt, nec aspernatus est consul legationem; ¹ indutiisque in diem certam datis, qua legatio renuntiari ab Roma posset, soluta obsidio et exercitus in Phocidem missus.

[7] consul cum T. Quinctio ad Achaicum concilium Aegium traiecit. ibi de Eleis et de exulibus Lacedaemoniorum restituendis actum est; neutra perfecta res,* quia suae gratiae reservari eam Achaei, Elei per se ipsi quam per Romanos maluerunt Achaico contribui concilio.

[9] iis petentibus, ut in amicitia pristina esse liceret, respondit consul se, utrum hostium an pacatorum eos numero haberet, nondum scire;

[10] senatum eius rei iudicem fore; integram se causam eorum Romam reicere; indutias ad id dierum nonaginta dare.

[11] Epirotae Romam missi senatum adierunt. iis magis, quae non fecissent hostilia, referentibus quam purgantibus ea, de ² quibus arguebantur, responsum datum est, quo veniam impetrasse, non causam probasse videri possent.

[13] centum pondo coronam auream posuerunt. non responsum solum benigne regis legatis est, sed filius quoque Philippi Demetrius, qui obses Romae erat, ad patrem reducendus legatis datus est.

[14] bellum, quod cum Antiocho rege in Graecia gestum est a M'. Acilio consule, hunc finem habuit.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 36.35 focus

[1]

The consul assented to these remarks, but a feeling of shame suggested itself to him —if he should abandon the siege with his purpose unaccomplished.

[2] At length the matter was left entirely to the management of Quinctius. He went again to that part of the wall whence the Aetolians had called to him a little before; and on their entreating him now, with still greater earnestness, to take compassion on the nation of the Aetolians, he desired that some of them might come out to him.

[3] Accordingly, Phaeneas himself, with some others of the principal men, instantly came and threw themselves at his feet. He then said, —

Your condition causes me to restrain my resentment and my reproofs.

[4]

The events which I fore- told have come to pass, and you have not even this reflection left you, that they have fallen upon you undeservedly. Nevertheless, since fate has, in some manner, destined me to the office of cherishing the interests of Greece, I will not cease to show kindness even to the unthankful.

[5]

Send intercessors to the consul, and let them petition him for a suspension of hostilities, for so long a time as will allow you to send ambassadors to Rome, to surrender yourselves to the will of the senate.

[6]

I will intercede, and plead in your favour with the consul.

They did as Quinctius directed; nor did the consul reject their application. He granted them a truce for a certain time, until the embassy might bring a reply from Rome; and then, raising the siege, he sent his army into Phocis.

[7] The consul, with Titus Quinctius, crossed over thence to Aegium, to confer with the council of the Achaeans about the Eleans, and also the restoration of the Lacedaemonian exiles. But neither was carried into execution, because the Achaeans chose to reserve to themselves the merit of effecting the latter; and the Eleans preferred being united to the Achaean confederacy by a voluntary act of their own, rather than through the mediation of the Romans.

[8] Ambassadors came hither to the consul from the Epirots, who, it was well known, had not with honest fidelity maintained the alliance. Although they had not furnished Antiochus with any soldiers, yet they were charged with having assisted him with money; and they themselves did not disavow having sent ambassadors to him.

[9] They requested that they might be permitted to continue on the former footing of friendship. To which the consul answered, that

he did not yet know whether he was to consider them as friends or foes.

[10]

The senate must be the judge of that matter. He would therefore take no step in the business, but leave it to be determined at Rome; and for that purpose he granted them a truce of ninety days.

[11] When the Epirots, who were sent to Rome, addressed the senate, they rather enumerated hostile acts which they had not committed, than cleared themselves of those laid to their charge; and they received such an answer that they seemed rather to have obtained pardon than proved their innocence.

[12] About the same time ambassadors from king Philip were introduced to the senate, and presented his congratulations on their late successes. They asked leave to sacrifice in the Capitol, and to deposit an offering of gold in the temple of Jupiter supremely good and great.

[13] This was granted by the senate, and they presented a golden crown of a hundred pounds' weight. The senate not only answered the ambassadors with kindness, but gave them Demetrius, Philip's son, who was at Rome as an hostage, to be conducted home to his father.

[14] — Such was the conclusion of the war waged in Greece by the consul Manius Acilius against Antiochus.

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.) — 36.35 focus

[1]

The consul quite agreed, but he felt it somewhat humiliating to abandon the siege without accomplishing anything. Finally the matter was left for Quinctius to settle.

[2] He went back to that section of the walls from which the Aetolians had been calling out to him. They were still there and began to implore him still more earnestly to take pity on the nation of the Aetolians.

[3] On this he told some of them to come out to him; Phaeneas and others of their leaders at once went out. As they prostrated themselves at his feet, he said, "Your unhappy plight makes me check the expression of my angry feelings.

[4] What I told you beforehand would come to pass has actually happened, and you have not even the comfort left you of believing that you do not deserve your fate. Since, however, I have been somehow destined to be the nursing father of Greece, I shall not desist from showing kindness even to those who have shown themselves ungrateful.

[5] Send a deputation to the consul and ask him for an armistice to allow you time to send envoys to Rome with instructions to place yourselves entirely at the mercy of the senate. I will support you before the consul as your advocate and intercessor."

[6] They followed his advice and the consul was not deaf to their appeal; an armistice was granted until the result of the mission to Rome was known; the siege was raised and the army sent into Phocis.

[7] The consul accompanied by T. Quinctius went to Aegium to attend a meeting of the Achaean council. The subjects of discussion were the entrance of the Eleans into the league and the restoration of the Lacedaemonian exiles. Neither question was settled; the Achaeans preferred that the latter should be left to them to carry out as an act of grace, and the Eleans wished their incorporation into the league to be spontaneous on their part rather than that it should be effected through the Romans.

[8] A deputation from the Epirots visited the consul. It was pretty generally understood that their professions of friendship were insincere, for though they had not furnished Antiochus with troops it was alleged that they had given him pecuniary assistance and they made no attempt to deny that they had opened negotiations with him.

[9] Their request to be allowed to continue on the old friendly footing was met by the consul with the remark that he did not know whether he was to regard them as friends or as foes.

[10] The senate would decide that; he referred their whole cause to Rome, and for that purpose he granted them an armistice for ninety days.

[11] When they appeared before the senate they were more concerned to mention acts of hostility which they had not committed than to clear themselves from the actual charges made against them.

[12] The reply they received was such as to make them understand that they had obtained pardon rather than proved their innocence. Just before this a deputation from Philip was introduced into the senate to present his congratulations upon the recent victory and to request to be allowed to offer sacrifices in the Capitol and place an offering of gold in the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.

[13] On receiving the senate's permission they deposited a golden crown weighing 100 pounds. Not only was this gracious reception accorded to them, but Philip's son Demetrius, who was living in Rome as a hostage, was placed in their hands to be taken back to his father.

[14] Such was the close of the campaign which Manius Acilius the consul conducted against Antiochus in Greece.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. xxiii. 5). One infers that Livy, and probably the Romans generally, did not understand the situation. Acilius had just witnessed a dramatic demonstration of the influence of Quinctius with the Greeks, and there is nothing strange about his compliance with his suggestion, even though Quinctius had no authority over the consul.

2. B.C. 191

3. B.C. 191

4. Cf. v. 3-8 above.

5. This was a mark of special honour, since foreigners had no share in Roman ritual.

6. Cf. XXXIII. xxx. 10; XXXV. xxxi. 5 and the note.

7. B.C. 191

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 36.35

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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