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), 38.28

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Section

← Previous Next →

[1] While this was going on in Asia things¹ were quiet in the other provinces. At Rome² the censors Titus Quinctius Flamininus and Marcus Claudius Marcellus chose the senate; as princeps senatus³ Publius Scipio Africanus was chosen for the third time; only four senators were passed over, none of whom had held curule

[2] office. In the review of the equites⁴ also the censorship was quite

[3] lenient. Contracts were let for the building of a substructure above the Aequimelium⁵ on the Capitoline and for the paving with flint of the road from the Porta Capena to the temple of

[4] Mars.⁶ The Campanians asked the senate for a decision as to where they should be listed by the censors; it was decreed that they should be listed in Rome.⁷ There were great floods that year; the Tiber on twelve occasions overflowed the Campus Martius and the level districts of the

[5] city. The war with the Gauls in Asia having been finished by the consul Gnaeus Manlius, the other consul, Marcus Fulvius, after conquering the Aetolians, crossed to Cephallania⁸ and sent agents around the island to inquire of the cities whether they preferred to surrender themselves to the Romans or to try the fortune of

[6] war. Fear prevailed upon all of them not to refuse submission. Hostages were then requisitioned and supplied by the cities, poor in proportion⁹ to their strength, twenty each by the Cranians, the Palensians and the

[7] Sameans.¹⁰ The radiance of unexpected peace had shone upon Cephallania when suddenly one city, the Sameans, it is uncertain for what reason,

[8] revolted. Because the city enjoyed a strategic position, they said that they were afraid that they would be compelled by the Romans to move away. But whether they had invented this alarm for themselves and in baseless terror had roused a sleeping evil, or the subject had been discussed by the Romans and reported to them, nothing has been ascertained, except that when they had already given hostages they suddenly closed their gates and not even in response to the prayers of their own people

[9] —for the consul had sent some of them to the foot of the walls to stir up pity for their parents and fellowcountrymen —were they willing to abandon their undertaking. Then, when their replies showed no pacific intent, the siege of the city

[10] began. He had all the equipment of artillery and siege-engines transferred from the siege of Ambracia, and what works had to be constructed the soldiers zealously

[11] undertook. Accordingly, the battering-rams were moved up in two places and the walls attacked.

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.) — 38.28 focus

[1] dum haec in Asia geruntur, in ceteris provinciis tranquillae res fuerunt. censores Romae T. Quinctius Flamininus et M. Claudius Marcellus senatum legerunt;

[2] princeps in senatu tertium lectus P. Scipio Africanus; quattuor soli praeteriti sunt, nemo curuli usus honore. et in equitatu recensendo mitis admodum censura fuit.

[3] substructionem super Aequiaelium Aequimelium in Capitolio et viam silice sternendam a porta Capena ad Martis locaverunt.

[4] Campani, ubi censerentur, senatum consuluerunt; decretum, uti Romae censerentur. aquae ingentes eo anno fuerunt; Tiberis duodeciens campum Martium planaque urbis inundavit.

[5] ab Cn. Manlio consule bello in Asia cum Gallis perfecto, alter consul M. Fulvius perdomitis Aetolis cum traiecisset in Cephallaniam, circa civitates insulae misit percontatum, utrum se dedere Romanis an belli fortunam experiri mallent.

[6] metus ad omnes valuit, ne deditionem recusarent. obsides inde imperatos pro viribus inopes populi * * vicenos autem Cranii et Palenses et Samaei dederunt.

[7] insperata pax Cephallaniae adfulserat, cum repente una civitas, incertum quam ob causam, Samaei desciverunt.

[8] quia opportune opportuno loco urbs posita esset, timuisse se aiebant, ne demigrare cogerentur ab Romanis. ceterum ipsine sibi eum finxerint metum et timore vano quietum excitaverint malum,

[9] an iactata sermonibus res apud Romanos perlata ad eos sit, nihil comperti est, nisi quod datis iam obsidibus repente portas clauserunt et ne suorum quidem precibus — miserat enim sub muros consul ad temptandam misericordiam parentium populariumque — desistere ab incepto voluerunt.

[10] oppugnari deinde, postquam nihil pacati respondebatur, coepta urbs est.

[11] apparatum omnem tormentorum machinarumque travectum ab Ambraciae oppugnatione habebat, et opera quae facienda erant, inpigre milites perfecerunt. duobus igitur locis admoti arietes quatiebant muros.

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.) — 38.28 focus

[1]

dum haec in Asia geruntur, in ceteris provinciis tranquillae res fuerunt. censores Romae T. Quinctius Flamininus et M. Claudius Marcellus senatum [per] legerunt;

[2] princeps in senatu tertium lectus P. Scipio Africanus ; quattuor soli praeteriti sunt, nemo curuli usus honore. et in equitatu recensendo mitis admodum ¹ censura fuit.

[3] substructionem super Aequimelium in Capitolio et viam silice sternendam a porta Capena ad Martis locaverunt.

[4] Campani, ubi censerentur, senatum consuluerunt: decretum, uti Romae censerentur. aquae ingentes eo anno fuerunt; Tiberis duodeciens campum Martium planaque urbis inundavit.

[6] metus ad omnes valuit, ne deditionem recusarent. obsides inde imperatos ² pro viribus inopes populi vicenos autem Cranii et Palenses et Samaei dederunt.

[7] insperata pax Cephallaniae adfulserat, cum repente una civitas, incertum quam ob causam, Samaei desciverunt.

[8] quia opportuno loco urbs posita esset, timuisse se aiebant, ne demigrare cogerentur ab Romanis. ceterum ipsine sibi eum finxerint metum et timore vano quietum excitaverint malum, an iactata sermonibus res apud Romanos perlata ad eos sit, nihil comperti est,

[9] nisi quod datis iam obsidibus repente portas clauserunt et ne suorum quidem precibus — miserat enim sub muros consul ad temptandam misericordiam parentium ³ populariumque —

[10] desistere ab incepto voluerunt. oppugnari deinde, postquam nihil pacati respondebatur, coepta urbs est. apparatum omnem tormentorum machinarumque travectum ab Ambraciae oppugnatione habebat, et opera quae facienda erant, inpigre milites perfecerunt.

[11] duobus igitur locis admoti arietes quatiebant muros.

Translations (2)

History of Rome Perseus (Spillan, D.; Edmonds, Cyrus; McDevitte, William A., translators. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1849-1868. (Bohn's Classical Library)) — 38.28 focus

[1]

During the time of those transactions in Asia, affairs were tranquil in the other provinces. At Rome, the censors, Titus Quintius Flamininus and Marcus Claudius Marcellus, read over the roll of the senate;

[2] Publius Scipio Africanus was, a third time, declared prince of the senate, and only four members were struck out, none of whom had held any curule office. In their review of the knights, also, their censorship was very mild.

[3] They contracted for the erection of a building in the $Aequimaelium, on the capitoline mount, and for paving, with flint, a road from the gate Capena to the temple of Mars.

[4] The Campanians consulted the senate respecting the place where they should have their census; and an order was passed that they should be rated at Rome. Extraordinary quantities of rain fell this year; twelve times the Tiber overflowed the field of Mars and the lower parts of the city.

[5] The war with the Gauls in Asia having been brought to a conclusion by the consul Cneius Manlius, the other consul, Marcus Fulvius, as the Aetolians were now completely reduced, passed over to Cephallenia, and sent messengers round the states of the island, to inquire whether they chose to submit to the Romans, or to try the fortune of war.

[6] Fear prevailed so strongly on them all, that they did not refuse to surrender. They gave the number of hostages demanded, which was proportioned to tile abilities of a weak people, the Nesians, Cranians, Pallenians, and Samaeans, giving twenty each.

[7] An unhoped-for peace had now shone on Cephallenia, when one state, the Samaeans, suddenly revolted, from some motive not yet ascertained.

[8] They said, that as their city was commodiously situated, they were afraid that the Romans would compel them to remove from it. But whether, they conceived this in their own minds, and, under the impulse of a groundless fear, disturbed the general quiet, or whether, such a project

[9] had been mentioned in conversation among the Romans, and reported to them, nothing is ascertained, unless that after having given hostages they suddenly shut their gates, and would not relinquish their design, even for the prayers of their friends, whom the consul sent to the walls, to try how far they might be influenced by compassion for their parents and countrymen. When no pacific answer was given, the city began to be besieged.

[10] The consul had all the apparatus, engines and machines, which had been brought over from Ambracia; and the soldiers executed with great diligence the works necessary to be formed.

[11] The rams were therefore brought forward in two places, and began to. batter the walls.

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.) — 38.28 focus

[1]

During these operations in Asia things were quiet in the other provinces. In Rome the censors T. Quinctius Flamininus and M. Claudius Marcellus revised the roll of senators.

[2] P. Scipio Africanus was for the third time selected to lead the Senate, and only four members were struck off the roll, none of whom had held any curule office. The censors showed great forbearance also in revising the list of equites.

[3] They contracted for the building of the substructure on the Capitol over the Aequimelium and also the laying down of a paved road from the Porta Capena to the temple of Mars.

[4] The Campanians asked the Senate to decide where their census should be taken, and it was decreed that it should be taken in Rome.

[5] There were very heavy floods this year; on twelve several occasions the Tiber inundated the Campus Martius and the low-lying parts of the City. After Cn. Manlius had brought the war against the Gauls in Asia to a close, the other consul, M. Fulvius, now that the Aetolians were subjugated, sailed across to Cephallania, and sent round to the

[6] various cities in the island to ask them which they preferred-surrender to the Romans or the chances of war. Fear prevented them all from refusing to surrender, and they gave the hostages, which the consul demanded in proportion to their scanty resources.

[7] Peace beyond their hopes had now dawned upon the Cephallanians, when suddenly, for some unknown reason, one city that of Same, revolted.

[8] They said that, as their city occupied an advantageous position, they were afraid that the Romans might compel them to live elsewhere.

[9] Whether this was an invention on their part, and their breach of the peace was due to imaginary fears, or whether the matter had been talked about amongst the Romans and so come to their ears, is quite uncertain. What is certain is that after giving hostages they closed their gates, and though the consul sent these hostages to the walls to appeal to the sympathies of their fellow-citizens and kinsmen, they refused to abandon their opposition.

[10] As no peaceable reply was given, the siege of the city was begun.

[11] The consul had all the siege-engines brought from Ambracia, and the soldiers rapidly completed what works had to be made. The rams began to batter the walls in two directions.

Notes on the current edition

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

1. B.C. 189

2. Livy now enumerates briefly events in Rome during the period occupied by the Aetolian and Galatian campaigns. The narrative thus supplements that of XXXVII. lii —lviii incl.

3. Cf. XXXIV. xliv. 4 and the note. Scipio had received this distinction in 199 B.C. (when he had been one of the censors) and in 194 B.C.

4. The censors performed the function of revising the list of equites and removing from the list such individuals as the facts as they found them warranted.

5. Neither the meaning of the word nor the situation of the place is quite certain, although if it was near the vicus Iugarius the work may have been necessitated by the landslide of 192 B.C. (XXXV. xxi. 6).

6. This temple lay between a mile and two miles outside the Porta Capena on the Via Appia.

7. These were probably Campanians who had been driven from their homes during the Second Punic War and had settled in other parts of Italy. They were not, however, citizens of the towns in which they resided, and the censors could not take cognizance of them there.

8. Cf. ix. 10 above and the note.

9. B.C. 189

10. The text is hopelessly corrupt, and I have not indicated the lacuna in the translation. It is uncertain whether pro viribus goes with imperatos, with inopes, as I have translated it, or with something omitted. Moreover, the fourth city on the island (Thuc. II. xxx. 2; Plin. N.H. IV. 54) is not mentioned. Finally, the number of hostages is very large (cf. xi. 6 above), which ill accords with inopes, unless the interpretation here given of pro viribus nopes is accepted.

Titus Livius (Livy) Ab urbe condita 38.28

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