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), 37.11

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[1] There was a certain soldier of Antiochus who had come to Samos on private business, and was arrested as a spy and taken to Panhormus to the prefect.

[2] When the prefect asked what was going on at Ephesus —it is uncertain whether it was because of fear or from disloyalty to his own people —he

[3] revealed everything: the fleet, arrayed and equipped, was in the harbour; all the rowers had been sent to Magnesia; a few ships had been beached and the docks dismantled; never had greater energy been devoted to naval matters. That this story was not accepted as the truth was due to a mind preoccupied with falsehood and delusive hope.

[4] Polyxenidas, having now completed his arrangements and summoned the rowers by night from Magnesia, hastily launched the ships which had been drawn up on the shore, and when he had spent a day not so much in preparation as because he did not want the departing

[5] fleet to be seen, he set out after sunset, the wind being favourable, with seventy decked ships and before daylight reached the harbour of Pygela. He rested there by day for the same reason and during the next night crossed to the Samian country.

[6] Then he directed Nicander, a certain pirate chief, to proceed to Palinurus with five decked ships and then to lead the marines by the shortest road through the fields to Panhormus to take the enemy in the rear,¹ and he himself in the meantime, dividing the fleet that he might hold the entrance to the harbour on both sides, set out for Panhormus.

[7] Pausistratus at first, as one in an unexpected situation, was terrified for a while, then, being a veteran soldier, he quickly collected his thoughts and decided that it was better to resist

[8] the enemy on land than on sea, and led the troops in two columns to the promontories which, like horns projecting into the sea, form the harbour, expecting to repel the enemy easily with weapons falling upon them from both sides. When the sight of Nicander, coming by land, had upset this plan, he suddenly changed his intention and ordered them all to go aboard the ships.

[9] Then there was great confusion among the marines and sailors, and a sort of flight to the ships began, when they saw themselves surrounded by land and sea at once.

[10] Pausistratus thought that there was one way of safety, if he could force a way through the entrance of the harbour and escape into the open sea, and when he saw that all had embarked he ordered the rest to follow him, and at the head of the columns urging his ship forward with the oars, he made for the entrance of the harbour.

[11] As the ship was passing the entrance Polyxenidas with three quinqueremes surrounded it. The ship was struck by the beaks and sunk; the defenders were overwhelmed with missiles, and among them Pausistratus too, fighting bravely, was killed.

[12] Some of the remaining ships were taken outside the harbour and others inside, and some were captured by Nicander as they were pushing off from the beach;

[13] only five Rhodian and two Coan ships escaped, making a way for themselves among the crowded vessels by means of² the fear of darting flames; for each, with two poles projecting from their prows, carried ahead of it a great quantity of fire in iron drums.³

[14] When the triremes of Erythrae had met, not far from Samos, the fleeing Rhodian ships which they were coming to assist, they turned their course toward the Hellespont and the Romans.

[15] About the same time Seleucus recovered Phocaea, which was betrayed when one gate was opened by the sentinels; and Cyme and other towns of the same region revolted to him from fear.

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.) — 37.11 focus

[1] forte quidam Antiochi miles, cum Samum rei privatae causa venisset, pro speculatore deprehensus deducitur Panhormum ad praefectum.

[2] is percunctanti, quid Ephesi ageretur, incertum metu an erga suos haud sincera fide, omnia aperit:

[3] classem instructam paratamque in portu stare; remigium omne Magnesiam ad Sipylum missum; perpaucas naves subductas esse et navalia detegi; numquam intentius rem navalem administratam esse. haec ne pro veris audirentur, animus errore et spe vana praeoccupatus fecit.

[4] Polyxenidas satis omnibus comparatis, nocte remige a Magnesia accersito, deductisque raptim, quae subductae erant, navibus, cum diem non tam apparatu absumpsisset, quam quod conspici proficiscentem classem nolebat,

[5] post solis occasum profectus septuaginta navibus tectis vento adverso ante lucem Pygela portum tenuit. ibi cum interdiu ob eandem causam quiesset, nocte in proxima Samiae terrae traiecit.

[6] hinc Nicandro quodam archipirata quinque navibus tectis Palinurum iusso petere, atque inde armatos, qua proximum per agros iter esset, Panhormum ad tergum hostium ducere, ipse interim classe divisa, ut ex utraque parte fauces portus teneret,

[7] Panhormum petit. Pausistratus primo ut in re necopinata turbatus parumper, deinde vetus miles celeriter collecto animo terra melius arceri quam mari hostes posse ratus,

[8] armatos duobus agminibus ad promunturia, quae cornibus obiectis ab alto portum faciunt, ducit, inde facile telis ancipitibus hostem summoturus. id inceptum eius Nicander a terra visus cum turbasset, repente mutato consilio naves conscendere omnis iubet.

[9] tur tum vero ingens pariter militum nautarumque trepidatio orta, et velut fuga in naves fieri, cum se mari terraque simul cernerent circumventos.

[10] Pausistratus unam viam salutis esse ratus, si vim facere per fauces portus atque erumpere in mare apertum posset, postquam conscendisse suos vidit, seqlui sequi ceteris iussis princeps ipse concitata nave remis ad ostium portus tendit.

[11] superantem iam fauces navem eius Polyxenidas tribus quinqueremibus circumsistit. navis rostris icta supprimitur; telis obruuntur propugnatores, inter quos et Pausistratus impigre pugnans interficitur.

[12] navium reliquarum ante portum aliae, aliae in portu deprensae, quaedam a Nicandro, dum moliuntur a terra, captae;

[13] quinque tantum Rhodiae naves cum duabus Cois effugerunt terrore flammae micantis via sibi inter confertas naves facta; contis enim binis a prora prominentibus trullis ferreis multllm multum conceptum ignem prae se portabant.

[14] Erythraeae triremes cum haud procul a Samo Rhodiis navibus, quibus ut essent praesidio veniebant, obviae fugientibus fuissent, in Hellespontum ad Romanos cursum averterunt.

[15] sub idem tempus Seleucus proditam Phocaeam porta una per custodes aperta recepit; et Cyme aliaeque eiusdem orae urbes ad eum metu defecerunt.

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).) — 43.11 focus

[1]

haec et alia haud prospere in Macedonia gesta ¹ ex Sex. digitio tribuno militum, qui sacrificii ² causa Romam venerat, sunt audita.

[2] propter quae veriti patres ne qua maior ³ ignominia acciperetur legatos in Macedoniam M. Fulvium ⁴ Flaccum et M. Caninium Rebilum miserunt, qui comperta ⁵ quae agerentur referrent;

[3] et ut A. Atilius consul comitia consulibus rogandis ita ediceret, uti mense Ianuario confici ⁶ possent, et ut primo quoque tempore in urbem rediret.

[4] interim M. Raecio praetori mandatum, ut edicto senatores omnes ex tota Italia, nisi qui rei publicae causa abessent, Romam revocaret: qui Romae essent,

[5] ne quis ultra mille passuum ab Roma abesset. ea , uti senatus censuit, sunt facta.

[6] comitia consularia ante diem quintum ⁷ kal. febr . ⁸ fuere. creati consules sunt Q. Marcius Philippus iterum et Cn. ⁹ Servilius Caepio.

[7] post diem tertium praetores sunt facti C. ¹⁰ Decimius, M. Claudius Marcellus, C. Sulpicius Gallus, C. Marcius Figulus, Ser. ¹¹

[8] Cornelius Lentulus, P. Fonteius Capito. designatis praetoribus praeter duas urbanas quattuor provinciae sunt decretae: Hispania et Sardinia et ¹² Sicilia et classis.

[9] legati ex Macedonia exacto admodum mense Februario redierunt. hi quas res ea aestate prospere gessisset rex Perseus referebant, quantusque timor socios populi Romani cepisset tot urbibus in potestatem regis redactis.

[10] exercitum consulis infrequentem commeatibus vulgo datis per ambitionem esse; culpam eius rei consulem in tribunos militum, contra illos in consulem ¹³ conferre.

[11] ignominiam Claudi temeritate acceptam elevare eos patres acceperunt, ¹⁴ qui perpaucos Italici generis et magna ex parte ¹⁵ tumultuario dilectu conscriptos ibi milites amissos referebant.

[12] consules designati ubi primum magistratum inissent, de Macedonia referre ad senatum iussi; destinataeque provinciae iis sunt Italia et Macedonia.

[13] hoc anno intercalatum est: tertio die post Terminalia kalendae intercalariae ¹⁶ fuere. sacerdotes intra eum annum mortui sunt ¹⁷ L. Flamininus . .. ¹⁸ pontifices duo decesserunt, L. Furius Philus et C. Livius Salinator. in locum Furii T. Manlium ¹⁹ Torquatum, in Livi M. Servilium pontifices legerunt.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 37.11 focus

[1]

forte quidam Antiochi miles, cum Samum rei privatae causa venisset, pro speculatore deprehensus deducitur Panhormum ad praefectum.

[2] is percunctanti, quid Ephesi ageretur, incertum metu an erga suos haud sincera fide, omnia aperit:

[3] classem instructam paratamque in portu stare; remigium omne Magnesiam [ad Sipylum] missum; perpaucas naves subductas esse et navalia detegi; numquam intentius rem navalem administratam esse.

[4] haec ne pro veris audirentur, animus errore et spe vana praeoccupatus fecit. Polyxenidas satis omnibus comparatis, nocte remige a Magnesia accersito, deductisque raptim, quae subductae erant, navibus, cum diem non tam apparatu absumpsisset, quam quod conspici proficiscentem classem nolebat,

[5] post solis occasum profectus septuaginta navibus tectis vento adverso ante lucem Pygela portum tenuit. ibi cum ¹ interdiu ob eandem causam quiesset, nocte in proxima Samiae terrae traiecit.

[7] Pausistratus primo ut in re necopinata turbatus parumper, deinde vetus miles celeriter collecto animo terra melius arceri quam mari hostes posse ratus, armatos duobus agminibus ad promunturia,

[8] quae cornibus obiectis ab alto portum faciunt, ducit, inde facile telis ancipitibus hostem summoturus. id inceptum eius Nicander a terra visus cum turbasset, repente mutato consilio naves conscendere omnis iubet.

[9] tum vero ingens pariter militum nautarumque trepidatio orta, et velut fuga in naves fieri, cum se mari terraque simul cernerent circumventos.

[10] Pausistratus unam viam salutis esse ratus, si vim facere per fauces portus atque erumpere in mare apertum posset, postquam conscendisse suos vidit, sequi ceteris iussis princeps ipse concitata nave remis ad ostium portus tendit.

[11] superantem ² iam fauces navem eius Polyxenidas tribus quinqueremibus circumsistit. navis rostris icta supprimitur; telis obruuntur propugnatores, inter quos et Pausistratus impigre pugnans interficitur.

[12] navium reliquarum ante portum aliae, aliae, aliae in portu deprensae, quaedam a Nicandro, dum moliuntur a terra, captae;

[13] quinque tantum Rhodiae naves cum duabus Cois effugerunt terrore flammae micantis via sibi inter confertas naves facta: contis enim binis a prora prominentibus trullis ferreis multum conceptum ignem prae se portabant.

[14] Erythraeae triremes cum haud procul a Samo Rhodiis navibus, quibus ut essent praesidio veniebant, obviae fugientibus fuissent, in Hellespontum ad Romanos cursum averterunt.

[15] sub idem tempus Seleucus proditam Phocaeam porta una per custodes aperta recepit; et Cyme aliaeque eiusdem orae urbes ad eum metu defecerunt.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 37.11 focus

[1]

By chance one of Antiochus's soldiers, when he had come to Samos on account of private business, being seized as a spy, is brought to Panormus to the admiral.

[2] This man, it is uncertain whether through fear or treachery towards his countrymen, disclosed all things to him, inquiring what was going on at Ephesus:

[3] that the fleet lay in harbour, fully equipped and ready for sea; that all the rowers had been sent to Magnesia (at Sipylus); that very few of the ships had been hauled on land; that the docks were shut, and that never was the business of the fleet conducted with greater diligence. But the mind of Pausistratus, prepossessed by misplaced confidence and vain hopes, caused these things not to be attended to as true.

[4] Polyxenidas, having fully adjusted all his measures, having called in the rowers from Magnesia, and launched hastily the ships that were in dock, by night, after wasting the day not so much in preparation as because he was unwilling that

[5] the fleet should be seen going to sea, set sail after sun-set with seventy decked ships, and, the wind being contrary, put into the harbour of Pygelia before daylight. Where when he had rested during the day, for the same reason as before, he passed over in the night to the nearest part of the Samian territory.

[6] From this place, having ordered a certain Nicander, a chief pirate, to sail with five decked ships to Palinurus, and thence to lead his armed men by the shortest road through the fields towards Panor- mus, and so to come behind the enemy;

[7] he himself, in the mean time, with his fleet in two divisions, in order that it might command the mouth of the harbour on both sides, proceeded to Panormus.

[8] Pausistratus was at first confused for a little, as the thing was unexpected; but afterwards, being an old soldier, having quickly regained his courage, and judging that the enemy would be more easily repelled by land than by sea, he marched his armed forces in two bodies to the promontories, which, by their heads projecting into the deep, formed the harbour; under the impression that he could easily repel the enemy by weapons on both sides, from the two promontories.

[9] When the sight of Nicander on the land had disconcerted this undertaking, having suddenly changed his design, he ordered all to go on board the ships.

[10] Then truly a great confusion arose among soldiers and sailors alike, and a sort of flight to the ships took place, when they perceived themselves surrounded by land and sea at the same time. Pausistratus supposed that the only way of safety was to force through the narrow entrance of the port, and push out into the open sea; and after that he saw his men embarked, ordering the rest to follow, he himself the first, with ship urged vigorously by the oars, pressed to the mouth of the harbour.

[11] Just as his ship was clearing the entrance, Polyxenidas, with three quinqueremes, surrounded it.

[12] The vessel, shattered by their beaks, sunk; the crew were overwhelmed with weapons, and, among them, Pausistratus, fighting gallantly, was slain. Of the rest of the ships, some were taken outside of the harbour, some within, and others by Nicander, while they were putting off from the shore.

[13] Only five Rhodian and two Coan ships effected an escape, a passage being made for them through the thick of the enemy, by the terror of shining flames; for they carried before them, on two poles projecting from their prows, a great quantity of fire contained in iron vessels.

[14] The galleys of Erythrae, after meeting not far from Samos the Rhodian ships, then flying, which they were coming to succour, bore away to the Romans in the direction of the Hellespont.

[15] About the same time, Seleucus got possession of Phocaea by treachery, one gate being opened by the sentinels. Cyme, with the other cities on that coast, revolted to him through fear.

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.) — 37.11 focus

[1]

A soldier out of Antiochus' army happened to come to Samos on private business. He was arrested as a spy and brought before the commandant at Panhormus.

[2] When questioned as to what was going on at Ephesus, either through fear or acting as traitor to his countrymen he disclosed everything, and asserted that

[3] the fleet was lying in the harbour completely equipped and ready for action, that all the rowers had been sent to Magnesia, that very few ships had been hauled up, that the dockyards were closed and that the naval service had never been more carefully looked after. Pausistratus was so completely obsessed by the deception practiced upon him and the vain hopes it had aroused that he would not believe what he heard.

[4] When all his preparations were made, Polyxenidas brought up the rowers from Magnesia by night and hastily launched the ships which had been beached. He remained there through the day not to complete his dispositions so much as to prevent the fleet from being seen when it left the harbour.

[5] Starting after sunset with seventy decked ships, he put into the port of Pygela before daybreak as the wind was against him. Remaining there for the day for the same reason-to escape observation-he set sail at night for the nearest point on Samian territory.

[6] From there he ordered a man named Nicander, a pirate chieftain, to sail with five ships to Palinurus and take the troops from there by the shortest route across country to Panhormus in the rear of the enemy, whilst he himself proceeded thither with his fleet divided into two squadrons, so that he could hold the entrance to the harbour on either side.

[7] Pausistratus was at first somewhat perturbed by this unexpected turn of events, but the old soldier soon pulled himself together and thinking that the enemy

[8] could be more easily checked on land than on the sea he sent two divisions of his troops to occupy the headlands which curving inward from the sea like two horns, form the harbour. He expected to repulse the enemy easily by attacking him from both sides, but the sight of Nicander on the land above upset his plan, and suddenly changing his tactics he ordered all to go on board.

[9] There was terrible confusion amongst the soldiers and seamen, and something like a flight to the ships took place when they found themselves surrounded landwards and seawards at the same time.

[10] Pausistratus saw that his only chance of safety lay in his being able to force a passage through the harbour into the open sea, and as soon as he saw all his men on board he ordered the fleet to follow him while he led the way with his vessel rowed at full speed towards the mouth of the harbour.

[11] Just as he was clearing it Polyxenidas closed round him with three ships, and his vessel, struck by their beaks, was sunk, the defenders were overwhelmed by a hail of missiles and Pausistratus, who fought most gallantly, was killed.

[12] Of the remaining ships some were taken outside the harbour, others within, and some were captured by Nicander while they were trying to put off from the shore.

[13] Only five Rhodian vessels and two from Cos escaped. They had kindled fires in braziers which they hung from poles projecting over the bows, and the terrifying sight of these flames enabled them to clear a way through the crowded ships.

[14] The Erythraean triremes which were coming to reinforce the Rhodian fleet met the fugitive vessels not far from Samos, and thereupon changed their course to the Hellespont to join the Romans. Just before this Seleucus captured through an act of treachery the city of Phocaea; one of its gates was opened to him by a soldier on guard.

[15] The alarm this created led Cyme and other cities on that coast to go over to him.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 190

2. B.C. 190

3. Polybius (XXI. vi) describes these contrivances in greater detail. The drums or scoops were swung from the poles and could be tripped by suitable chains from the deck to spill fire on ships that approached.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 37.11

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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