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), 37.37

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[1] When everything was ready for the execution of his designs and when he had moved from his base, the consul first advanced to Dardanus and then to Rhoeteum, and both peoples thronged¹ to meet him.

[2] Then he went on to Ilium, and encamping on the level ground which lies below the walls, he went up to the city and the citadel and offered sacrifice to Minerva, the guardian of the citadel;

[3] the people of Ilium, on their part, with every mark of honour in deed or word proclaiming the Romans as descendants, and the Romans rejoicing in their descent.² Departing thence, on the sixth day of marching they came to the mouth of the Caïcus river.

[4] Thither too came King Eumenes, having first tried to conduct his fleet back from the Hellespont to Elaea to winter, but then when on account of opposing winds he could not for several days round the promontory of Lecton, he disembarked at the nearest point, so as not to miss the preliminaries of the campaign, and hastened to the Roman camp with a small force.

[5] From his camp he was sent back to Pergamum to obtain supplies, and when he had delivered the grain to the consul as he was directed, he returned to the same station. From there the plan was, after previously preparing several days' rations, to march against the enemy before winter should prevent.³

[6] The king's camp was near Thyatira. When Antiochus learned there that Publius Scipio was sick and had been taken to Elaea, he sent ambassadors to return his son to him.

[7] The gift was not only grateful to a father's heart, but the joy was healing also to his⁴ body;

[8] and at length sated with embracing his son, he said,

Take the message to the king that I tender my thanks to him, but at present I can show my gratitude in no other way than to counsel him not to come forth in line of battle until he hears that I have returned to camp.

[9] Although sixty thousand infantry and more than twelve thousand cavalry sometimes inspired his mind with hope as to the battle, yet Antiochus, moved by the authority of so great a man (in whom, having regard to the uncertain issues of war, he had placed his every hope of assistance), retired, crossed the river Phrygius and established his camp in the vicinity of Magnesia, which is near Sipylus;

[10] and, inasmuch as he wished to delay matters, that the Romans might not attempt his fortifications, when he had constructed a ditch six cubits deep and twelve cubits wide, on the outside he threw a double wall around the trench, on the inner lip of which he

[11] raised a wall with numerous towers, whence the enemy could easily be prevented from crossing the ditch.⁵

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.) — 37.37 focus

[1] consul omnibus praeparatis ad proposita exsequenda cum ex stativis movisset, Dardanum primum, deinde Rhoeteum utraque civitate obviam effusa venit.

[2] inde Ilium processit, castrisque in campo, qui est subiectus moenibus, positis in urbem arcemque cum escendisset,

[3] sacrificavit Minervae praesidi arcis et Iliensibus in omni rerum verborumque honore ab se oriundos Romanos praeferentibus et Romanis laetis origine sua. inde profecti sextis castris ad caput Caici amnis pervenerunt.

[4] eo et Eumenes rex, primo conatus ab Hellesponto reducere classem in hiberna Elaeam, adversis deinde ventis cum aliquot diebus superare Lecton promunturium non potuisset, in terram egressus, ne deesset principiis rerum, qua proximum fuit, in castra Romana cum parva manu contendit.

[5] ex castris Pergamum remissus ad commeatus expediendos, tradito frumento quibus iusserat consul, in eadem stativa rediit. inde plurium dierum praeparatis cibariis consilium erat ire ad hostem, priusquam hiems opprimeret.

[6] regia castra circa Thyatiram erant. ubi cum audisset Antiochus P. Scipionem aegrum Elaeam delatum, legatos, qui filium ad eum reducerent, misit.

[7] non animo solum patrio gratum munus, sed corpori quoque salubre gaudium fuit;

[8] satiatusque tandem complexu filii “renuntiate” inquit “gratias regi me agere, referre aliam gratiam nunc non posse, quam ut suadeam, ne ante in aciem descendat, quam in castra me redisse audierit.”

[9] quamquam sexaginta milia peditum, plus duodecim milia equitum animos interdum ad spem certaminis faciebant, motus tamen Antiochus tanti auctoritate viri, in quo ad incertos belli eventus omnis fortunae posuerat subsidia, recepit se et transgressus Phrygium amnem circa Magnesiam,

[10] quae ad Sipylum est, posuit castra; et ne, si extrahere tempus vellet, munimenta Romani temptarent, fossam sex cubita altam, duodecim latam cum duxisset,

[11] extra duplex vallum fossae circumdedit, interiore labro murum cum turribus crebris obiecit, unde facile arceri transitu fossae hostis posset.

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).) — 43.23 focus

[1]

Rex cum non ¹ minore vexatione iumentorum hominumque quam venerat in Macedoniam rediit; Appium tamen ab obsidione Phanotes fama ducentis ad Stratum Persei summovit.

[2] Cleuas cum praesidio impigrorum iuvenum insecutus sub radicibus prope inviis montium ² ad mille hominum ex agmine impedito occidit, ad ducentos cepit.

[3] Appius superatis angustiis in campo quem Meleona vocant stativa dierum paucorum habuit. interim Cleuas assumpto Philostrato, qui quingentos ex ³ Epirotarum gente habebat, in agrum Antigonensem transcendit. ⁴ Macedones ad depopulationem profecti;

[4] Philostratus⁵ cum cohorte sua in insidiis loco ⁶ obscuro consedit. in palatos populatores cum erupissent ab Antigonea armati, ⁷ fugientes eos persequentes effusius in vallem insessam ab hostibus praecipitant.

[5] ibi ad mille ⁸ occisis, centum ferme captis, et ubique prospere gesta re prope stativa Appi castra movent, ne qua vis sociis suis ab Romano exercitu inferri possit.

[6] Appius nequiquam in his locis terens tempus, dimissis Chaonum Thesprotorumque ⁹ et si qui alii Epirotae erant praesidiis, cum Italicis militibus in Illyricum regressus, per Parthinorum ¹⁰ socias urbes in hiberna militibus divisis, ¹¹ ipse Romam sacrificii causa redit.

[7] Perseus ex Penestarum gente mille pedites, ducentos equites revocatos Cassandream, praesidio ut essent, misit.

[8] Ab Gentio eadem adferentes redierunt. nec deinde alios atque alios mittendo temptare eum destitit, cum appareret, quantum in eo praesidii esset, nec tamen impetrare ab animo posset, ut impensam in rem maximi ad omnia momenti faceret.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 37.37 focus

[1]

consul omnibus praeparatis ad proposita exsequenda cum ex stativis movisset, Dardanum primum, deinde Rhoeteum utraque civitate obviam effusa venit.

[2] inde Ilium processit, castrisque in campo, qui est subiectus moenibus, positis in urbem arcemque cum escendisset,

[3] sacrificavit Minervae praesidi arcis et Iliensibus in omni rerum verborumque honore ab se oriundos Romanos ¹ praeferentibus et Romanis laetis origine sua. inde profecti sextis castris ad caput Caici amnis pervenerunt.

[6] regia castra circa Thyatiram erant. ubi cum audisset Antiochus P. Scipionem aegrum Elaeam delatum, legatos, qui filium ad eum reducerent, misit.

[7] non animo solum patrio gratum munus, sed corpori quoque salubre gaudium fuit;

[9] quamquam sexaginta milia peditum, plus duodecim milia ² equitum animos interdum ad spem certaminis faciebant, motus tamen Antiochus tanti auctoritate viri, in quo ad incertos belli eventus omnis fortunae posuerat subsidia, recepit se et transgressus Phrygium amnem circa Magnesiam, quae ad Sipylum est, posuit castra;

[10] et ne, si extrahere tempus vellet, munimenta Romani temptarent, fossam sex cubita altam, duodecim latam cum duxisset,

[11] extra duplex vallum fossae circumdedit, interiore labro murum cum turribus crebris obiecit, unde facile arceri transitu fossae hostis posset.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 37.37 focus

[1]

The consul having made every preparation for the execution of his designs, when he had quitted the post where he lay, marched first to Dardanus, and then to Rhœteum; from both states the people came out in crowds to meet him.

[2] He then advanced to Troy, and having pitched his camp in the plain which is under the walls, when he had gone up to the city and into the citadel, he offered sacrifices to Minerva, the guardian of the citadel;

[3] the Trojans, by every act and expression of respect, showing themselves proud of the Romans being descended from them, and the Romans expressing their delight in their origin. The army marching thence, arrived, on the sixth encampment, at the source of the Caicus.

[4] To this place also king Eumenes came. He at first endeavoured to bring back his fleet from the Hellespont to Elaea, for the winter; subsequently, when by adverse winds he could not, for several days, pass the promontory of Lectos, that he might not be absent at the commencement of operations, he landed and came, with a small body of men, by the shortest road to the Roman camp.

[5] From the camp he was sent home to Pergamus, to hasten supplies of provisions; and when the corn was delivered to the persons whom the consul had ordered to receive it, he returned to the same camp. The plan was, provisions for several days being prepared, to march hence against the enemy, before the winter should prevent them.

[6] The king's camp was near Thyatira; and Antiochus, hearing there that Publius Scipio had fallen sick and was conveyed to Elaea, sent ambassadors to conduct his son to him.

[7] As this present was highly grateful to the mind of the father, so was the satisfaction which it gave no less salutary to his body.

[8] At length, being sated with the em- braces of his son, he said to the ambassadors,

Tell the king that I return him thanks; that at present I can make him no other requital than my advice; which is, not to come to an engagement, until he shall have heard that I have rejoined the army.

[9] Although sixty-two thousand foot, and more than twelve thousand horse, inspired the king at times with hopes in the result of a battle; yet, moved by the advice of so great a man as Scipio, in whom, when he considered the uncertainty of the events of war, he placed safety in any reverse of fortune, he retired, and having crossed the Phrygian river, pitched his camp near Magnesia, which is at Sipylus.

[10] And lest, if he wished to prolong the time, the Romans might attack his works, he drew round it a fosse six cubits deep and twelve broad, and on the outside surrounded the fosse with a double rampart:

[11] on the inside bank, he raised a wall flanked with towers at small distances, by which the enemy could easily be prevented from crossing the fosse.

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.) — 37.37 focus

[1]

The preparations for carrying out his plans being now completed, the consul broke up his camp and advanced to Dardanus and then on to Rhoeteum, the inhabitants of both cities coming out to meet him.

[2] He then marched to Ilium, and after fixing his camp in the plain below the walls, he went up to the citadel, where he offered sacrifices to Minerva, the tutelary deity of the place.

[3] The Ilians did their utmost to show by their words and deeds the pride they felt in the Romans as their descendants, and the Romans were delighted at visiting their original home.

[4] A six days' march from there brought them to the source of the Caicus. Here Eumenes joined them. He had intended to take his fleet back from the Hellespont into winter quarters at Elea, but the wind was against him, and for several days he was unable to round the Cape of Lectos. Anxious not to miss the opening of the campaign he landed at the nearest point, and with a small body of troops hurried on to the Roman camp.

[5] Here he was sent back to Pergamum to expedite the delivery of supplies and, after seeing the corn handed over to those appointed by the consul to receive it, returned to the camp.

[6] The king's camp was near Thyatira. When he heard that Scipio was detained at Elea by illness he sent some of his officers to escort his son back to him.

[7] The boon was not only grateful to the father's feelings, but it helped also towards his recovery. After embracing his son to his heart's content, he said to the escort:

[8] "Take back word that I thank the king; I cannot now show my gratitude in any other way than by advising him not to go down to battle before he learns that I have returned to camp."

[9] Although his 60,000 infantry and 12,000 or more cavalry made the king hope at times for success in the battle, Antiochus was swayed by the authority of the man on whom, in view of the doubtful issue of the war, he had rested all his hopes of support, whatever might betide him.

[10] Withdrawing beyond the river Phrygius he encamped in the neighbourhood of Magnesia ad Sipylum, and in case the Romans should attempt to force his lines while he was waiting, he surrounded his camp with a fosse six cubits deep and twelve wide, and outside the fosse he threw up a double rampart, on the inner edge he constructed a wall flanked at

[11] short intervals with turrets, from which the enemy could be easily prevented from crossing the fosse.

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. The tradition of the Roman descent from the Trojans was already familiar in the second century B.C.: cf. XXIX. xii. 14.

3. The maladjustment of the Roman calendar makes the chronology of the campaign difficult, and efforts to find a solution must be regarded as unsuccessful. It suffices here to assemble the evidence of Livy: (1) the eclipse of March 14, dated by Livy July 11 (iv. 4 and the note); (2) the preparations for wintering made by Aemilius (xxxii. 14) and by Eumenes (sect. 4 above); (3) the prospective approach of winter (xxxix. 2); (4) the observance, probably belated, of the festival of the ancilia (xxxiii. 6). Beloch (p. 387, quoting Diest through Kromayer) says that the rainy season in this region begins in November.

4. B.C. 190

5. Livy's description is vague and the fortifications unusual in design if I have interpreted correctly. I understand fossae with labro.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 37.37

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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