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), 36.4

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[1] About the same time ambassadors arrived in Rome from two kings, Philip and Ptolemy,¹ King of Egypt; Philip promised aid and money and grain for the war; from Ptolemy also was brought the² sum of a thousand pounds of gold and twenty thousand pounds of silver.

[2] None of these gifts was accepted; thanks were expressed to the kings, and when each of them promised to come with all his forces to Aetolia and participate in the war, Ptolemy was excused from this;

[3] to the ambassadors of Philip the answer was given that it would be acceptable to the senate and

[4] the Roman people if he did not fail the consul Manius Acilius. Ambassadors also came from the Carthaginians and King Masinissa.

[5] The Carthaginians promised five hundred³ thousand modii of wheat and five hundred thousand modii of barley, and offered to transport half of it to Rome;

[6] they begged the Romans to accept it as a gift from them and they said that they would prepare a fleet at their own expense and would pay at once in a lump sum the tribute which they owed in successive instalments over a term of years.⁴

[7] The ambassadors of Masinissa promised that the king would send five hundred thousand modii of wheat and three hundred thousand of

[8] barley to Greece for the army, three hundred thousand modii of wheat and two hundred fifty thousand of barley to Rome, and five hundred cavalry and twenty elephants to Manius Acilius the consul.

[9] Regarding the grain, the answer was given both that the Roman people would use the grain if they would accept pay for it; the Carthaginians were released from their promise about the fleet, except with respect to the ships which -they owed under the treaty;⁵ as to the money also, the reply was⁶ that they would accept none before it was due.⁷

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.) — 36.4 focus

[1] sub idem tempus legati ab duobus regibus, Philippo et Ptolomaeo, Aegypti rege, Romam uenerunt, Philippo pollicente ad bellum auxilia et pecuniam et frumentum;

[2] ab Ptolomaeo etiam mille pondo auri, viginti milia pondo argenti adlata. nihil eius accepturn; acceptum;

[3] gratiae regibus actae; et cum uterque se cum omnibus copiis in Aetoliam venturum belloque interfuturum polliceretur, Ptolomaeo id remissum;

[4] Philippi legatis responsum gratum eum senatui populoque Romano facturum, si M’. Acilio consuli non defuisset.

[5] item ab Carthaginiensibus et Masinissa rege legati venerunt. Carthaginienses tritici modium * milia, hordei quingenta ad exercitum, dimidium eius Romam apportaturos polliciti;

[6] id ut ab se munus Romani acciperent,

[7] petere sese, et classem suorum suo sumptu comparaturos, et stipendium, quod pluribus pensionibus in multos annos deberent, praesens omne daturos;

[8] Masinissae legati quingenta milia modium tritici, trecenta hordei ad exercitum in Graeciam, Romam trecenta milia modium tritici, ducenta quinquaginta hordei, equites quingentos, elephantos viginti regem ad M’. Acilium consulem missurum.

[9] de frumento utrisque responsum, ita usurum eo populum Romanum, si pretium acciperent; de classe Carthaginiensibus remissum, praeterquam si quid navium ex foedere deberent; de pecunia item responsum, nullam ante diem accepturos.

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).) — 30.4 focus

[1]

cum legatis quos mitteret ad Syphacem calonum loco primos primes ordines spectatae virtutis atque prudentiae servili habitu mittebat,

[2] qui, dum in conloquio legati essent, vagi per castra alius alia aditus exitusque omnes, situm formamque et universorum castrorum et partium, qua Poeni, qua Numidae haberent, ¹ quantum intervalli inter Hasdrubalis ac regia castra esset,

[3] specularentur moremque simul noscerent stationum vigiliarumque, nocte an interdiu opportuniores insidianti ² essent; et inter crebra conloquia alii atque alii de industria, quo pluribus omnia nota essent, mittebantur.

[4] cum saepius agitata res certiorem spem pacis in dies et Syphaci et Carthaginiensibus per eum faceret, legati Romani vetitos se reverti ad imperatorem aiunt, nisi certum responsum detur:

[5] proinde, seu ipsi staret iam sententia, ³ . . . ⁴ seu consulendus Hasdrubal et Carthaginienses essent, consuleret; tempus esse aut pacem componi aut bellum naviter geri.

[6] dum consulitur Hasdrubal ab Syphace, ab ⁵ Hasdrubale Carthaginienses, et speculatores omnia visendi et Scipio ad conparanda ea ⁶ quae in rem erant tempus habuit.

[7] et ex mentione ac spe pacis neglegentia, ut fit, apud Poenos Numidamque ⁷ orta cavendi ne quid hostile interim paterentur.

[8] tandem relatum responsum, quibusdam, quia nimis cupere Romanus pacem videbatur, iniquis per occasionem adiectis, quae peropportune cupienti tollere indutias Scipioni causam praebuere.

[9] ac nuntio regis, cum relaturum se ad consilium dixisset, postero die respondit se uno frustra tendente nulli alii pacem placuisse; renuntiaret igitur nullam aliam spem pacis quam ⁸ relictis Carthaginiensibus Syphaci cum Romanis esse.

[10] ita tollit indutias, ut libera fide incepta exsequeretur; deductisque navibus—et iam veris principium erat— machinas tormentaque, velut a mari adgressurus Uticam,

[11] imponit, et duo milia militum ad capiendum quem antea tenuerat tumulum super Uticam mittit, simul ut ab eo quod parabat in alterius rei curam ⁹ converteret hostium animos,

[12] simul ne qua, cum ipse ad Syphacem Hasdrubalemque profectus esset, eruptio ex urbe et impetus in castra sua relicta cum levi praesidio fieret.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 36.4 focus

[1]

sub idem tempus legati ab duobus regibus, Philippo et Ptolomaeo, [Aegypti rege,] Romam venerunt, Philippo pollicente ad bellum auxilia et pecuniam et frumentum;

[2] ab Ptolomaeo etiam mille pondo auri, viginti milia pondo argenti adlata. nihil eius acceptum;

[3] gratiae regibus actae; et cum uterque se cum omnibus copiis in Aetoliam venturum belloque interfuturum polliceretur, Ptolomaeo id remissum;

[4] Philippi legatis responsum gratum eum senatui populoque Romano facturum, si M'. Acilio consuli non defuisset.

[5] item ab Carthaginiensibus et Masinissa rege legati venerunt. Carthaginienses tritici modium milia, hordei quingenta ad exercitum, dimidium eius Romam apportaturos polliciti:

[6] id ut ab se munus Romani acciperent, petere sese, et classem [suorum] suo sumptu comparaturos,

[7] et stipendium, quod pluribus pensionibus in multos annos deberent, praesens omne daturos;

[9] de frumento utrisque responsum, ita usurum eo populum Romanum, si pretium acciperent; de classe Carthaginiensibus ¹ remissum, praeterquam si quid navium ex foedere deberent; de pecunia item responsum, nullam ante diem accepturos.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 36.4 focus

[1]

A little before this time, ambassadors came to Rome from the two kings, Philip of Macedonia and Ptolemy of Egypt, offering aid of men, money, and corn towards the support of the war. From Ptolemy was brought a thousand pounds' weight of gold, and twenty thousand pounds' weight of silver.

[2] None of this was accepted. Thanks were returned to the kings. Both of them offered to come, with their whole force, into Aetolia.

[3] Ptolemy was excused from that trouble; and Philip's ambassadors were answered, that the senate and people of Rome would consider it as a kindness if he should lend his assistance to the consul, Manius Acilius.

[4] Ambassadors came, likewise from the Carthaginians, and from king Masinissa. The Carthaginians made an offer of sending a thousand pecks ¹ of wheat, and five hundred thousand of barley to the army, and half that quantity to Rome; which they requested the Romans to accept from them as a

[5] present. They also offered to fit out a fleet

[6] at their own expense, and to give in, immediately, the whole amount of the annual tribute-money which they were bound to pay for many years to come. The ambassadors of Masinissa promised, that their king should send five hundred thousand pecks of wheat, and three

[7] hundred thousand of barley, to the army in Greece, and three hundred thousand of wheat, and two hundred and fifty thousand of barley, to Rome; also five hundred horse, and twenty elephants, to the consul Acilius. The answer given to both, with regard to the corn, was, that the Roman people would make use of it, provided they would receive payment for the same. With regard to the

[8] fleet offered by the Carthaginians, no more was accepted than such ships as they owed by treaty; and, as to the money, they were told, that none would be taken before the regular days of payment.

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.) — 36.4 focus

[1]

Just before this a mission from the two sovereigns, Philip and Ptolemy, arrived in Rome. Philip offered to furnish troops, money and corn for the war; Ptolemy sent 1000 pounds of gold and 20,000 pounds of silver.

[2] The senate declined to accept any of it and passed a vote of thanks to both the kings.

[3] On their each offering to enter Aetolia with all their forces and take their part in the war, Ptolemy was excused, but Philip's envoys were informed that the senate and people of Rome would be grateful to him if he gave his support to Acilius.

[4] Similar missions were despatched by the Carthaginians and by Masinissa.

[5] The Carthaginians offered 100,000 modii of wheat and 50,000 of barley for the use of the army; half the amount they would transport to Rome, and they pressed the Romans to accept it as a free gift.

[6] They were further prepared to fit out a fleet at their own expense and pay in one lump sum the tribute of which many annual instalments had still to run.

[7] Masinissa's envoys stated that he was prepared to supply 50,000 modii of wheat and 300,000 of barley for the army in Greece, and 300,000 modii of wheat and 250,000 of barley for consumption in Rome.

[8] He would also furnish Acilius with 500 cavalry and 20 elephants. In the matter of corn both parties were informed that the Roman people would make use of it on condition that they paid for it;

[9] the Carthaginian offer of a fleet was declined, beyond the vessels which they were bound to supply under the terms of the treaty, and in reply to the offer of money the Romans refused to accept any before the dates at which the instalments became due.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. Ptolemy was the son-in-law of Antiochus (XXXV. xiii. 4).

2. B.C. 191

3. The quantity is doubtful (see the critical note). I have followed what seems to be the most trustworthy authority.

4. The treaty of peace with Carthage provided for annual payments of tribute for fifty years (XXX. xxxvii.. 5; Polybius XV. xviii). The Carthaginians were prepared to pay at once the entire balance. The financial reforms introduced by Hannibal (XXXIII. xlvii. 1-2) had apparently been effective.

5. The sources quoted in the preceding note say nothing of any obligation to furnish ships to Rome, aside from the surrender of vessels on hand at the close of the war. However, we see from xliv. 5 below that there were Carthaginian ships in the fleet of Livius in the east.

6. B.C. 191

7. Editors are disagreed as to the interpretation of this somewhat ungracious reply. Some say that Rome feared to lose her hold on Carthage; it is pleasanter to believe with others that Rome wanted to give the impression to Carthage as to Philip, both of whom seem exceedingly generous, that she was able with her own resources to meet even an emergency of this magnitude. It would be interesting to know whether these recent enemies were simply politic or were really as well-disposed as their offers of help indicates.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 36.4

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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