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), 38.21

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] The Gauls, being quite confident that their position could not be approached from the two flanks, in order to block with arms the road on the side which faces the south, sent about four thousand armed men to hold a hill overlooking the road and less than a mile from the camp, thinking that from this, as from a redoubt, they would hinder the approach.

[2] When the Romans perceived this they prepared for battle. A moderate distance in front of the standards marched the skirmishers¹ and Cretan archers and slingers furnished by Attalus and the Trallianians and Thracians;

[3] the standards of the infantry, moving over difficult ground, proceeded at a slow rate, the men holding their shields before them so as only to ward off missiles, whilst they did not seem disposed to fight at close quarters.

[4] The discharge of missiles from a distance began the fighting, which at first was even, the Gauls having the advantage of position, the Romans of variety and a plentiful supply of weapons; as the battle continued there was no longer any equality. Their shields, long, but not wide enough for the size of their bodies and, moreover, flat,² offered poor protection to the Gauls. They had at this time no other weapons than their swords, for which there was no³ use, since the enemy did not meet them in hand-tohand conflict.

[5] Stones —but

[6] not of suitable size, since they had made no preparations in advance, but took each what happened to come to his hand in his hasty search —they did use, but like men untrained in their employment, with neither skill nor strength to add effectiveness to the blow.

[7] Arrows, sling-bullets, darts, coming from all sides wounded them unexpectedly, nor did they see what to do, as their minds were blinded by rage and fear, and they were involved in a kind of battle for which they were very ill-adapted.

[8] For, as in hand-to-hand fighting, where they can receive and inflict wounds in turn, passion inflames their minds, so when they are struck by light weapons, coming from unseen and distant sources, and when they have no place at which they can charge with blind violence, like wounded animals they rush headlong upon their own friends.

[9] The fact that they fight naked makes their wounds conspicuous and their bodies are fleshy and white, as is natural, since they are never uncovered except in battle;⁴ so that both more blood flowed from their abundant flesh and the wounds stood out to view more fearfully and the whiteness of their skins was more stained by the black blood.

[10] But they are not much disturbed by open wounds; indeed, sometimes they cut away the skin, when the gash is broad rather than deep, and think that thus they gain greater glory in the fight; the same men, when the sting of an arrow or of a bullet that has buried itself in the flesh torments them, having caused a wound small to look at,

[11] and, as they search for a way to extract the missile, it does not come out, turning to madness and shame at being destroyed by so small⁵ a thing, throw their bodies upon the ground. So in this instance they lay prostrate here and there; some, rushing against the enemy, were wounded from every side, and when they had come to close quarters they were slain by the swords of the skirmishers.⁶

[12] This type of soldier carries a three-foot shield and, in his right hand, javelins⁷ which he uses at long range;

[13] he is also equipped with a Spanish sabre;⁸ if he is compelled to fight hand to hand, he shifts his javelins to his left hand and draws his sword.

[14] By now there were few of the Gauls surviving, and they, when they saw themselves defeated by the light troops and that the legionary standards were drawing near, in headlong flight sought their camp, which was already full of panic and confusion, as the women and children and the rest of the unarmed crowd were gathered there. The victorious Romans took possession of the hills abandoned by the flight of the enemy.

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.) — 38.21 focus

[1] Galli et ab duobus lateribus satis fidentes invia esse, ab ea parte, quae in meridiem vergeret, ut armis clauderent viam, quattuor milia fere armatorum ad tumulum imminentem viae minus mille passuum a castris occupandum mittunt,

[2] eo se rati veluti castello iter impedituros. quod ubi Romani viderunt, expediunt sese ad pugnam. ante signa modico intervallo velites eunt et ab Attalo Cretenses sagittarii et funditores et Tralli et Thraeces;

[3] signa peditum, ut per arduum, leni gradu ducuntur,

[4] ita prae se habentium scuta, ut missilia tantum vitarent, pede collato non viderentur pugnaturi. missilibus ex intervallo loci proelium commissum est, primo par, Gallos loco adiuvarfte, adiuvante, Romanos varietate et copia telorum; procedente certamine nihil iam aequi erat. scuta longa ceterum ad amplitddinem amplitudinem corporum parum lata, et ea ipsa plana, male tegebant Gallos.

[5] nec tela iam alia habebant praeter gladios, quorum, cum manum hostis non consereret, nullus usus erat.

[6] saxis nec modicis, ut quae non praeparassent, sed quod cuique temere trepidanti ad manum venisset, et ut insueti, nec arte nec viribus adiuvantes ictum, utebantur.

[7] sagittis glande iaculis incauti et ab omni parte configebantur nec, quid agerent, ira et pavore occaecatis animis cernebant, et erant deprensi genere pugnae, in quod minime apti sunt.

[8] nam quemadmodum comminus, ubi in vicem pati et inferre vulnera licet, accendit ira animos eorum, ita, ubi ex occulto et procul levibus telis vulnerantur, nec, quo ruant caeco impetu, habent, velut ferae transfixae in suos temere incurrunt.

[9] detegebat vulnera eorum, quod nudi pugnant, et sunt fusa et candida corpora, ut quae numquam nisi in pugna nudentur; ita et plus sanguinis ex multa carne fundebatur, et foediores patebant plagae, et candor corporum magis sanguine atro maculabatur.

[10] sed non tam patentibus plagis moventur; interdum insecta cute, ubi latior quam altior plaga est, etiam gloriosius se pugnare putant;

[11] iidem, cum aculeus sagittae aut glandis abditae introrsus tenui vulnere in speciem urit, et scrutantis, qua evellant, telum non sequitur, tur tum in rabiem et pudorem tam parvae perimentis versi pestis prosternunt corpora humi, sicut tur tum passim procumbebant;

[12] alii ruentes in hostem undique configebantur et, cum comminus venerant, gladiis a velitibus trucidabantur.

[13] hic miles tripedalem parmam habet et in dextera hastas, quibus eminus utitur; gladio Hispaniensi est cinctus; quodsi pede collato pugnandum est, translatis in laevam hastis stringit gladium.

[14] pauci iam supereraut supererant Gallorum, qui, postquam ab levi armatura superatos se viderunt et instare legionum signa, effusa fuga castra repetunt pavoris et tumultus iam plena, ut ubi feminae puerique et alia imbellis turba permixta esset.

[15] Romanos victores deserti fuga hostium acceperunt tumuli.

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).) — 43.21 focus

[1]

L. Coelius, legatus Romanus, praeerat Illyrico; qui moveri non ausus cum in iis locis rex esset, ¹ post profectionem demum eius conatus in Penestis Uscanam recipere, a praesidio quod ibi Macedonum erat cum multis vulneribus repulsus Lychnidum ² copias reduxit.

[2] inde post dies paucos M. Trebellium Fregellanum cum satis valida manu in ³ Penestas misit ad obsides ab iis ⁴ urbibus quae in amicitia cum fide permanserant accipiendos;

[3] procedere etiam in Parthinos — ii quoque obsides dare pepigerant—iussit. Ab utraque gente sine tumultu exigit. ⁵ Penestarum equites Apolloniam, Parthinorum Dyrrachium, — tum Epidamni magis celebre nomen Graecis erat — missi.

[4] Ap . Claudius acceptam in Illyrico ignominiam corrigere cupiens Phanotam, ⁶ Epiri castellum, adortus oppugnare ⁷ est. auxilia Chaonum Thesprotorumque ⁸ praeter Romanum exercitum, ad sex milia hominum, secum adduxit;

[5] neque operae pretium fecit Cleua, ⁹ qui relictus a ¹⁰ Perseo erat, cum valido praesidio defendente. et Perseus, Elimeam profectus et circa eam exercitu ¹¹ lustrato ad Stratum vocantibus Epirotis ducit.

[6] Stratus validissima tum urbs Aetoliae erat ¹² ; sita est super Ambracium sinum prope ¹³ amnem Inachum. ¹⁴ cum decem milibus peditum eo profectus est et equitibus trecentis, quos pauciores propter angustias viarum et asperitatem duxit.

[7] tertio¹⁵ die cum pervenisset ad Citium montem, vix transgressus propter altitudinem nivis locum quoque castris aegre invenit.

[8] profectus inde, magis quia manere non poterat, quam ¹⁶ quod tolerabilis aut via aut tempestas esset, cum ingenti vexatione praecipue iumentorum altero die ad templum Iovis, Nicaeum quem vocant, posuit castra.

[9] ad Aratthum ¹⁷ inde flumen itinere ingenti emenso retentus altitudine amnis . . . ¹⁸ mansit. quo spatio temporis ponte perfecto, traductis copiis diei progressus iter obvium Archidamum, principem Aetolorum per quem ei ¹⁹ Stratus tradebatur habuit.

Ab urbe condita libri, erklärt von M. Weissenborn Perseus (Weissenborn, W.; Müller, H. J., editors. Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung, 1873-1883.) — 38.21 focus

[1]

Galli et ab duobus lateribus satis fidentes invia esse, ab ea parte, quae in meridiem vergeret, ut armis clauderent viam, quattuor milia fere armatorum ad tumulum imminentem viae minus mille passuum a castris occupandum mittunt, eo se rati veluti castello iter impedituros.

[2] quod ubi Romani viderunt, expediunt sese ad pugnam. ante signa modico intervallo velites eunt et ab Attalo Cretenses sagittarii et funditores et Tralli et Thraeces;

[3] signa peditum, ut per arduum, leni gradu ¹ ducuntur, ita prae se habentium scuta, ut missilia tantum vitarent, pede collato non viderentur pugnaturi.

[4] missilibus ex intervallo loci proelium commissum est, primo par, Gallos loco adiuvante, Romanos varietate et copia telorum; procedente certamine nihil iam aequi erat. scuta longa ceterum ad amplitudinem corporum parum lata, et ea ipsa plana, male tegebant Gallos.

[5] nec tela iam alia habebant praeter gladios, quorum, cum manum hostis non consereret, nullus usus erat.

[6] saxis nec modicis, ut quae non praeparassent, sed quod cuique temere trepidanti ad manum venisset, et ut insueti, nec arte nec viribus adiuvantes ictum, utebantur.

[7] sagittis glande iaculis incauti et ab omni parte configebantur nec, quid agerent, ira et pavore occaecatis animis cernebant, et erant deprensi genere pugnae, in quod minime apti sunt.

[9] detegebat vulnera eorum, quod nudi pugnant, et sunt fusa et candida corpora, ut ² quae numquam nisi in pugna nudentur; ita et plus sanguinis ex multa carne fundebatur, et foediores patebant plagae, et candor corporum magis sanguine atro maculabatur.

[10] sed non tam patentibus plagis moventur; interdum insecta cute, ubi latior quam altior plaga est, etiam gloriosius se pugnare putant;

[11] iidem, cum aculeus sagittae aut glandis abditae introrsus tenui vulnere in speciem urit, et scrutantis, qua evellant telum non sequitur, tum in rabiem et pudorem tam parvae perimentis versi pestis prosternunt corpora humi.

[12] sic tum passim procubuere; alii ruentes in hostem undique configebantur et, cum comminus venerant, gladiis a velitibus trucidabantur.

[13] hic miles tripedalem parmam habet et in dextera hastas, quibus eminus utitur, gladio Hispaniensi est cinctus; quodsi pede collato pugnandum est, translatis in laevam hastis stringit gladium.

[14] pauci iam supererant Gallorum, qui, postquam ab levi armatura superatos se viderunt et instare legionum signa, effusa fuga castra repetunt pavoris et tumultus iam ³ plena, ut ubi feminae puerique et alia imbellis turba permixta esset.

[15] Romanos victores deserti fuga hostium acceperunt tumuli.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 38.21 focus

[1]

The Gauls, (thoroughly satisfied that the ground on their two flanks was impassable,) in order to secure, by arms, the ascent on the side which was situated towards the south, sent about four thousand soldiers to keep possession of a hill which hung over the road, at the distance of near a mile from their camp; hoping that they might stop the enemies' progress by this as by a fortress.

[2] Which when the Romans saw, they prepared for battle. The light infantry marched a little in advance of the line, supported by draughts from Attalus's troops, composed of the Cretan archers and slingers, the Trallians and Thracians.

[3] The battalions of infantry, as the ground was steep, marched at a slow pace, holding their shields before them, merely to ward off missile weapons, as they did not seem likely to fight in a close engagement.

[4] The fight commenced with the missile weapons, at the proper interval, and was at first equal, as the situation aided the Gauls, the variety and abundance of weapons, the Romans. But, as the contest advanced, there was no longer any equality: their shields, long, but too narrow for the breadth of their bodies, and besides being flat, ill protected the Gauls.

[5] Nor had they now any other weapons except their swords, which they had no opportunity of using, as the enemy did not come to close action.

[6] They used stones, and these not of a proper size, as they had not previously laid them up, but whatever came to the hand of each in his haste and confusion, as persons unaccustomed generally do, aiding the blow neither by skill nor strength.

[7] Incautiously exposing themselves, they were transfixed on all sides by arrows, leaden balls, and darts; nor did they know what to do, their minds being paralysed by rage and fear; and they were engaged in a kind of fight for which they were least of all qualified.

[8] For, as in a close encounter, where they can receive and give wounds in turn, rage inflames their courage; so when they are wounded at a distance, with light weapons from unknown hands, and have no object on which they can rush in their blind fury, they rush forward at random, like wounded wild beasts, often upon their own party.

[9] Their wounds were more conspicuous because they always fight naked, and their bodies are large and white, since they are never stripped except in battle; thus more blood was poured from their large persons, and the cuts appeared the more shocking, while the whiteness of their skins offered a stronger contrast to the black blood. But they were not much moved by open wounds.

[10] Sometimes they even cut off the skin, when the wound was more broad than deep, thinking that in this condition they fought with the greater glory. But when the point of an arrow or a ball, sinking deep in the flesh, tormented them,

[11] with a wound small in appearance, and the weapon did not come forth although they used every effort to extract it, then they fell into fits of phrensy and shame, at being destroyed by so small a hurt; and dashing themselves on the ground, they lay scattered over the place. Some rushing against the enemy were overwhelmed with darts; and when any of them came near, they were slain by the swords of the light infantry.

[12] A soldier of this description carries a shield three feet long, and, in his right hand, javelins, which he throws at a distance.

[13] He is begirt with a Spanish sword, and when he must fight in close encounter, having shifted his spears into his left hand, he draws it.

[14] There were few of the Gauls now left; and these, seeing themselves overpowered by the light infantry, and the battalions of the legions advancing, fled in confusion to the camp, now full of tumult and dismay, as the women, children, and others unfit to bear arms, were all crowded together there.

[15] The hills, thus abandoned by the enemy, were seized by the victorious Romans.

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.) — 38.21 focus

[1]

The Gauls feeling confident that on two sides they were unassailable directed their attention to the southern slope. To close all access on this side they sent 4000 men to seize a height which commanded the road, distant rather less than a mile from their camp, where, as in a fort, they might prevent the enemy's advance.

[2] When they saw this, the Romans made ready for battle. Somewhat in front of the legions went the velites, the Cretan archers and slingers and the Tralli and Thracians under Attalus.

[3] The heavy infantry advanced slowly as the ground was steep and they held their shields in front of them, not because they expected a hand-to-hand contest, but simply to avoid the missiles.

[4] With the discharge of missiles the battle began, and at first it was fought on even terms as the Gauls had the advantage of their position, the Romans that of the variety and abundance of their missile weapons. As the struggle went on, however, it became anything but equal; the shields of the Gauls though long were not broad enough to cover their bodies, and being flat also afforded poor protection. Moreover, they had no weapons but their swords, and as they could not come to close quarters these were useless.

[5] They tried to make use of stones, but as they had not got any ready, they had to use what

[6] each man in his hurry and confusion could lay hands on, and unaccustomed as they were to these weapons, they could not make them more effective by either skill or strength.

[7] On all sides they were being hit by the arrows and leaden bullets and javelins which they were powerless to ward off; blinded by rage and fear they did not see what they were to do, and they found themselves engaged in the kind of fighting for which they were least fitted.

[8] In close fighting where they can receive and inflict wounds in turn, their fury stimulates their courage; so when they are being wounded by missiles flung from a distance by an unseen foe and there is no one against whom they can make a blind rush, they dash recklessly against their own comrades like wild beasts that have been speared.

[9] Their practice of always fighting naked makes their wounds more visible, and their bodies are white and fleshy as they never strip except in battle. Consequently more blood flowed from them, the open gashes appeared more horrible, and the whiteness of their bodies showed up the stain of the dark blood. Open wounds, however, do not trouble them much.

[10] Sometimes, where it is a surface bruise rather than a deep wound, they cut the skin, and even think that in this way they win greater glory in battle.

[11] But when the head of an arrow has gone in or a leaden bullet buried itself and it tortures them with what looks like a slight wound and defies all their efforts to get rid of it, they fling themselves on the ground in shame and fury at so small an injury threatening to prove fatal.

[12] So they were lying about everywhere, and some who rushed down on their enemy were being pierced with missiles from all sides; those who got to close quarters the velites slew with their swords. These soldiers carry a shield three feet long, javelins in their right hand for use at a distance and a Spanish sword in their belts.

[13] When they have to fight at close quarters they transfer the javelins to their left hands and draw their swords.

[14] Few of the Gauls now survived, and when they found themselves worsted by the light infantry and the legions coming on, they fled in disorder back to their camp, which was full of tumult and panic, as the women and children and other noncombatants were all crowded there together.

[15] The Romans took possession of the heights from which the enemy had fled.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. The velites were usually advance parties thrown out by the legions as a screen; in this case they seem to have been independent units under their own commanders, but the grammar of the sentence is not clear.

2. The Roman shield presented a convex surface to the enemy and so deflected weapons more successfully.

3. B.C. 189

4. The Gauls were not devotees of the exercise in the open air which tanned the Romans.

5. B.C. 189

6. It would be interesting to know the source of this highly realistic and picturesque description of the manners of the Gauls in battle. One thinks of the apparent relish with which the source which Livy followed in XXXI. xxxiv. 4 described the wounds suffered by Philip's cavalry in an engagement with Roman cavalry, and wonders whether the same person is responsible for the originals of the two passages.

7. According to XXVI. iv. 4 each man carried seven javelins.

8. If Livy speaks with technical accuracy, this was the heavy weapon, adapted to cutting, carried by Roman cavalry; the infantry sword, which was short and adapted to both cutting and thrusting, is called gladius Hispanus: cf. XXXI. xxxiv. 4 and the note.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 38.21

Benjamin Oliver Foster, Ph.D. (Editor), Frank Gardener Moore (Editor), Evan T. Sage, Ph.D. (Editor), Alfred C. Schlesinger, Ph.D. (Editor)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Perseus

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers